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Liu Xiang Cruising in Beijing Test Event

Friday, 23rd May 2008 ~ Maggie ~ Link ~ Comments (0)

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The first day of the Good Luck Beijing Athletics Open saw 110-meter hurdler and world record holder Liu Xiang head into the semifinals with a time of 13.63 seconds in his first heat. Li Yanfeng won the event's first gold, in women's discus, with a throw of 63.79 meters.

With one of China's biggest stars in Liu Xiang, and one of the Beijing Olympics' most hyped venues in the Bird's Nest, this event should be pretty hard to get into. But you can try your luck with one of the ticketing outlets listed on the Good Luck Beijing Web site.

National Stadium, aka the Bird's Nest, debuted last month with the finish of the marathon and race walking test events, but this weekend's four-day track and field meet is the venue's most complex event to date. In fact, it is probably the most important test event in terms of gauging Beijing's readiness to host the Olympics in August. The homepage for this event also happens to be the best that Good Luck Beijing has produced yet, with regular results updates and a wealth of video, photo and written content.

Image: Good Luck Beijing

Tags: Bird's Nest, events, Good Luck Beijing, Liu Xiang, National Stadium, track and field

Sichuan Sports Infrastructure Hit, Athletes Relocating

Friday, 23rd May 2008 ~ Maggie ~ Link ~ Comments (0)

The 8.0-magnitude earthquake that hit Sichuan May 12 has seriously affected athletic facilities in Sichuan, says Xinhua. Wenchuan's new complex at Aba Normal Institute—including a gymnasium, a swimming pool and a stadium—have been destroyed. A 3,000-seat gymnasium in Jiangyou city has also been leveled. In the Chengdu area, the Zhang Shan Training Center and the Land Sports Training School have been designated "hazardous buildings."

Sichuan–based athletes on both Olympic and provincial teams are now being relocated to other parts of China. Track and field athletes will stay in Beijing after this weekend's Good Luck Beijing test event; gymnasts and wushu athletes will train in Guangxi; provincial wrestling, swimming, diving and women's soccer teams are headed to Shandong; some volleyball teams are headed to Yunnan. Shanghai and Guizhou will be the training sites for the synchronized swim team and Guizhou will take table tennis players.

While no specific reports have come in, it seems inevitable that many athletes have lost loved ones and/or seen major damage to their family homes.

Tags: Sichuan, Wenchuan earthquake