Archives

The Canadian Press: IOC says Right to Play not welcomed at Olympic Games any more

The IOC’s website says one of the goals of the Olympic movement is to build a peaceful and better world by educating youth through sport practiced without discrimination of any kind. Unless of course there is money to be made then they would rather have the sponsors then their values.

 

IOC says Right to Play not welcomed at Olympic Games any more

The international humanitarian organization Right to Play has been told by the International Olympic Committee it is not welcomed at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games, or future Olympics.

Johann Koss, president and chief executive officer for Right to Play, learned of the IOC’s decision in a Dec. 23 letter.

“My understanding of this letter is we can not be involved in any of the Olympic venues or the Olympic village,” Koss told The Canadian Press in an interview from Toronto.

The ban will continue for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London and the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, Russia.

“My understanding, based on this letter, is we are excluded from future Olympics as well,” said Koss, a four-time Olympic gold medallist in speedskating.

The IOC gave no reason for the ban.

Complete Article:
The Canadian Press: IOC says Right to Play not welcomed at Olympic Games any more

Possible Related Posts:

January 24th, 2009 | Tags: , , | Category: Olympic Games, Sports |Print This Post Print This Post |Email This Post Email This Post | 2 comments |

10.0 Spotlight: Elyse Hopfner-Hibbs

UCLA – Meet the freshman Olympian from Toronto in the first 10.0 spotlight of the season.

Freshman Elyse Hopfner-Hibbs is the featured gymnast in 10.0 Spotlight, which will profile a member of the UCLA Gymnastics squad throughout the season. Hopfner-Hibbs came to UCLA directly from the 2008 Olympic Games, where she earned a Top 16 finish in the all-around. The Toronto, ON native made history in 2006 when she became the first Canadian woman ever to win a medal at the World Championships, earning a bronze on the balance beam.

What has been the biggest adjustment for you coming from elite gymnastics to college gymnastics?

The biggest adjustment would have to be training for a team.When I was at home preparing for the Olympics, I was training for an individual competition, which is a different experience altogether. Now everything is team-oriented, and I love it!! It’s something completely new and exciting for me. My UCLA Bruin family is so supportive, and it makes training so much fun!

How has the transition been between living in Canada and living in Southern California? What do you miss most about Canada?

The transition from Canada to California has been the hardest part for me so far. I really love living in Canada, so moving away from home was difficult for me. The things I miss most from Canada are the seasons. I love autumn and winter, and here in California, they don’t really exist! I’m not complaining about the sun, that’s for sure, but its just one more adjustment I need to make.

Talk about your Olympic experience a little bit. What was the highlight of your Olympic Games?

My Olympic experience was a memorable one, to say the least. Unfortunately, I didn’t have my best competition, but I still had some amazing routines in Beijing.I have two main highlights from my experience. First were the closing ceremonies. We got to march into the Bird’s Nest (the stadium where both the opening and closing ceremonies were held), which was packed full of spectators, and all the athletes celebrated the closing of the Games. Secondly was the fact that both my mom and my sister were able to come to China and watch me compete.They have never travelled to one of my international competitions before, so for them to get to come to this one was a big deal for me, as well as them.

Do you have any plans to continue competing elite?

In December, the World Cup Finals are being held in Spain, and if I’m invited to those, I am ready to attend. Gymnasts get invited based on the points accumulated over the past few years at the World Cup competitions.

How would you describe your gymnastics style?

I would say that my style is powerful and aggressive. Those are the two things that help me train and compete successfully.

What is your most favorite skill to compete, and what skill do you most wish to perfect?

A lot of the skills in my beam routine are unique, and not many gymnasts compete them. These are the skills that I enjoy competing because they tend to catch the eyes of the spectators. I do an aerial cartwheel, layout step-out that is world-original, and I also compete an illusion turn and a spin double on the beam.The thing I need to work on the most is being able to stay in bounds on floor when I compete.

What was your most memorable gymnastics moment?

My most memorable gymnastics moment was when I won a bronze medal at the 2006 World Championships in Denmark. It was the first-ever medal at a World Championships for a Canadian female gymnast.

What is the best thing about being a Bruin?

I love training with my Bruin team. We have a lot of fun in the gym (and outside of it too), and we all get along awesomely!!!

What do you like to do outside of gymnastics?

Outside of the gym I love to read, dance, and most of all shop!

We hear that you’re obsessed with the Christmas season. What is it about Christmas that you enjoy so much?

I love anything and everything to do with the Christmas season! What I love most is the atmosphere of Christmas-time, as well as the decorations, lights, and the fact that I get to see my entire family (something I don’t get to do too often because of my busy gymnastics schedule!).When I was traveling for elite gymnastics, I got a Christmas tree ornament from every country I went to.

UCLA Gymnastics Team

2008-12-14_004621

Possible Related Posts:

December 14th, 2008 | Tags: , , , , | Category: Gymnastics, Sports |Print This Post Print This Post |Email This Post Email This Post | Leave a comment |

FIG investigating China’s 2000 team, too

A month after the Beijing Games ended, the investigation into the eligibility of the Chinese gymnasts continues, maybe we haven’t heard the end of this?

The investigation into the ages of China’s gold-medal women’s gymnastics team has been expanded to include members of the 2000 team that won a bronze in Sydney, the Associated Press has learned.

International gymnastics officials are examining whether Yang Yun and Dong Fangxiao, in particular, were old enough to compete at the Sydney Olympics. Gymnasts must turn 16 during the Olympic year.

“If we had a look at all the articles that came before, during and after the games, there were always rumors about the ages of China’s athletes in Sydney,” Andre Gueisbuhler, secretary general of the International Gymnastics Federation, told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

“We did not have another choice,” he said. “If we want to remain credible, then we have to look into things.”

Yang’s birthdate is listed as Dec. 2, 1984, which would have made her eligible for Sydney because she would turn 16 during 2000. But Yang, who also won a bronze medal on uneven bars, said in a June 2007 interview that aired on state broadcaster China Central Television that she was 14 at the Olympics…

Read Complete Article:

The Associated Press: FIG investigating China’s 2000 team, too

The Google hacker who unearthed a trove of damning evidence about alleged age fakers in China’s Olympic gymnastics team has forced the sport’s world governing body to extend its investigations to include the Chinese team that competed in the 2000 Sydney Games.

Mike Walker, a security consultant with Washington DC-based Intrepidus Group, has teamed up with fellow blogger Heather Lawver, and posted an English subtitled excerpt of a June 2007 China Central Television (CCTV) documentary in which Yang Yun – a dual bronze medallist at the Sydney Olympics – refers to herself as being aged 14 at the time of the 2000 Games.

Possible Related Posts:

September 24th, 2008 | Tags: , | Category: Gymnastics, Olympic Games, Sports |Print This Post Print This Post |Email This Post Email This Post | Leave a comment |
 
  Older Entries »