Phelps breaks Olympic record in first heat

US swimming star Michael Phelps safely cleared the first hurdle in his quest to win eight gold medals on Saturday when he broke his Olympic record to qualify fastest for the 400 metres individual medley final.

The American cruised through his heat in 4 minutes, 7.82 seconds, wiping 0.44 seconds off the Olympic record he set to win the gold medal in Athens four years ago.

Hungarian Laszlo Cseh, who finished third behind Phelps at Athens then won the world title in Montreal a year later when Phelps skipped the event, was second fastest in 4:09.26.

Italian Luca Marin was third in 4:10.22 while American Ryan Lochte, who looms as the one of the biggest dangers to Phelps' bid to win an unprecedented eight golds, was fourth in 4:10.33.

Phelps' time was the third fastest and just 2.57 outside the world record of 4:05.25 he set at the US trials six weeks ago to book his place in Sunday's final.

Clean shaven but not wearing a full bodysuit, he was under world record pace halfway through the backstroke leg but eased down over the final freestyle leg to conserve his energy for the final.

- Reuters

Chen Xiexia wins China 1st gold medal

Gold medalist Chen Xiexia of China shows the gold medal at the awarding ceremony of the women's 48kg weightlifting event at Beijing 2008 Olympic Games at the Beijing University of Aeronautics & Astronautics Gymnasium in Beijing, China, Aug. 9, 2008. Chen won the first gold for the Chinese Delegation with a total of 212 kilos.

BEIJING, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- China's Chen Xiexia won the women's 48kg weightlifting title, the first gold medal for the host at the Beijing Olympic Games here on Saturday.

Chen snatched 95kg and jerked 117kg for a winning total of 212kg, a new Olympic record. It's also the country's first Olympic gold in this category.

"I'm very happy to be informed (it's the first gold for China). It added different meaning to the medal," said Chen.

Despite competing on home soil, Chen didn't feel a lot of pressure. "What I thought was to make every good attempt and achieve as much as I can," said the 25-year-old.

However, Chinese weightlifting team leader Ma Wenguang said he shed tears when Chen successfully made her first attempt in snatch.

He revealed that Chen was injured 28 days ago during a training session when attempting to jerk 115kg, which she succeeded in her second attempt in Saturday's competition.

"All the pressure is worthwhile," Ma said.

Chen Xiexia (C) of China, Sibel Ozkan (L) of Turkey and Chen Wei-Ling (R) of Chinese Taipei wave to spectators at the awarding ceremony of the women's 48kg of weightlifting event at Beijing 2008 Olympic Games at the Beijing University of Aeronautics & Astronautics Gymnasium in Beijing, China, Aug. 9, 2008. Chen Xiexia, Sibel Ozkan and Chen Wei-Ling won the gold, silver and bronze medals respectively.

The 1st Gold Medal Goes to Czech Republic

Markswoman Katerina Emmons of Czech celebrates after women's 10m air rifle final awarding ceremony of Beijing Olympic Games at Beijing Shooting Range Hall in Beijing, China, Aug. 9, 2008. Katerina Emmons won the gold medal in the event with 503.5 points.

Katerina Emmons of the Czech Republic gained first gold medal at the women's 10-meter air rifle at the Beijing Olympic Games Saturday morning, according to CCTV reports.

Meanwhile, Russia's Lioubov Galkina won the silver medal and Snjezana Pejcic from Croatia gained the bronze medal.

Chinese sharp shooter Du Li failed to be included into the top three.

Relative of US volleyball coach killed in Beijing

A relative of the US men's volleyball coach has been killed and another family member seriously injured in an attack in Beijing, the US Olympic Committee has said in a statement.

The man killed was a US citizen and the injured victim was an American woman, Beijing police said in a statement.

The two family members were stabbed during the attack by what local law enforcement authorities have indicated was a lone assailant, the statement said.

The man attacked the two Americans as well as their Chinese guide at the historic Drum Tower monument, a popular tourist site, at 12:20 pm (local time), the official Xinhua news agency has reported.

After the attack, the assailant then committed suicide by jumping off the second story of the monument.

A Beijing police spokesman has confirmed the tourist had been killed and the other two had been injured, but gave no further details.

Xinhua identified the attacker as Tang Yongming, a 47-year-old man from the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou.

The attack occurred despite China deploying massive security in Beijing for the Olympics, with more than 150,000 police and other personnel on patrol across the city.

An estimated 450,000 foreigners are expected to come to Beijing for the Olympics, which opened on Friday night and will finish on August 24.

The killing also occurred as US President George W Bush was in the city to attend the Games.

A US embassy spokesman, Richard Buangan, said he was aware of the report but could give no details.

"I can tell you that we are working with the family and the Chinese authorities while we speak," Mr Buangan said, declining to comment further.

The Drum Tower is in the historic heart of Beijing. Together with the Bell Tower, the sites were once used for banging of drums and bells to tell time.

Now the Drum and Bell towers are tourist sites, with visitors able to stroll from them to the city's famed old lakes and other historic areas.

Police closed off the Drum Tower following the incident.

Olympics begin with fireworks

The 2008 Olympic Games open with a burst of fireworks above the Bird's Nest stadium.

Around 80 world leaders, including U.S. President George W. Bush joined 91,000 spectators on Friday (August 8) for the opening show. The global television audience for the event is being put at more than one billion viewers. China's President Hu Jintao said "the historic moment we have long awaited is arriving."

Opening ceremony hailed as 'success'

The Olympic Games are underway in Beijing after an opening ceremony that featured thousands of drummers, floating Olympic rings and a glowing globe around which ran runners who seemed to defy gravity.

The ceremony culminated in the cauldron being lit by Chinese gymnastics champion and sportswear businessman Li Ning, who was suspended from, and appeared to run around, the roof of the National Stadium in Beijing.

More than 90,000 people were in the stands to watch the ceremony that launched the 29th Olympic Games.

China's President Hu Jintao declared the games officially open, after an invitation from the head of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Jacques Rogge.

Mr Rogge acknowledged that China had for years dreamed of hosting the Games.

"Tonight, that dream comes true," he said. "Congratulations, Beijing!"

Thousands of athletes marched into the National Stadium, known popularly as 'the bird's nest', to witness the official opening.

Australia was among the last of the teams to enter the stadium, arriving before Zambia and host nation China.

Six-time Olympian James Tomkins led more than 200 Australian athletes into the stadium as flag bearer.


China's team of more than 600 competitors was last to enter the stadium to huge cheers from the crowd.

Basketballer Yao Ming led the team alongside Lin Hao, a primary school student from the quake-devastated Sichuan province.

Mr Rogge said the focus should now be on sport.

"I say to the athletes, 'These games were created for you'," he said.

"'These games belong to you. Let them be the athletes' Games - have fun.'"

But the IOC chief said that enjoyment of the competition also comes with responsibility, and called on athletes to reject doping and cheating.

"Remember that you are role models for the youth of the world," he said.

"Make us proud of your achievements and conduct."

China has spent about $40 billion to host the games in an event seen by some observers as a 'coming out' party for the communist nation.

Much of last night's ceremony was devoted to highlighting China's history and culture and its role in the development of technologies like gunpowder and writing.

But more controversial aspects of Chinese history, such as the Cultural Revolution and its invasion by Japan, were left out along with overt references to Communism or its Chinese founders.

Organisers have labelled the ceremony a big success.

Ceremony director Zhang Yimou says he feels he has done his job.

"We have one target, one goal - that is to show the world an excellent opening ceremony; we have done that," he said.

"For our team, it is a very memorable day for us. After many years of hard effort, we know this ceremony is a full success."

Despite forecasts of rain, the weather remained dry although humid and overcast throughout the ceremony.

A heavy mist that had hung over Beijing for much of the day had cleared slightly by the evening, which culminated in a spectacular display of fireworks.

In Beijing, spectators gathered to watch the ceremony on large outdoor screen, cheering at times and booing at others.

When the national teams walked in, most were cheered, but when United States President George Bush appeared on camera, the crowd booed.

On the other hand, they cheered Russian leader Vladimir Putin and went awkwardly quiet when France's Nicolas Sarkozy stood up.

Then the Chinese team entered the stadium and everyone stood up cheering and chanting.

Elsewhere, spectators clashed with the authorities when guards tried to stop them getting into Tiananmen Square to watch the fireworks.

Beijing Olympics: World prepares for opening ceremony

”The Chinese government and people have seriously implemented the solemn commitments made to the international society since Beijing won the Olympic bid in 2001,” Mr Hu said at a welcoming banquet.

”I am confident that, with the support of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Olympic Family, and together with you, we will deliver a high-standard Olympic Games with distinctive features.”

The luncheon banquet's guestlist including President George W. Bush and his wife Laura, President Nicolas Sarkozy of France - without his wife, Carla Bruni - and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin of Russia. In all, 80 heads of state or government, or members of royal families, were there.

Gordon Brown, the prime minister, has chosen not to come to the opening ceremony, though he will be at the closing ceremony for the handover of the Olympic flag to London.

Mr Hu made a distinctly non-political speech, full of gratitude for the help China has received in staging the Games from the rest of the world and in particular for support with rescue and clear-up efforts after the devastating Sichuan earthquake, which killed at least 70,000 people in May.

But he may have had in mind wider controversies over whether China had lived up to pledges on human rights and other issues when he addressed his hopes for the Games, which will start with a lavish fireworks display at the opening ceremony in the “Bird's Nest” National Stadium tonight.

Beijing opening ceremony gets off to spectacular start

The moment China has been working towards for seven years, the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games, is underway.

A heavy smog remains stationary over the Bird's Nest stadium, but nothing can dampen the spirits of those who are lucky enough to have tickets to the opening ceremony.

A dazzling display of fireworks and lights began the ceremony, which is expected to last for around three-and-a-half hours.

Firecrackers rippled around the rim of the arena, strobe lights flickered and the forest of drumsticks turned a luminous red, flashing bright in the hazy, humid air.

Around 80 world leaders, including Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and US President George W Bush, joined 91,000 excited spectators in the stadium for the opening show.

Australia will be 203rd out of the 205 countries to march, according to the Chinese alphabet.

Legendary Chinese gymnast Li Ning will light the cauldron to signify the start of the Games of the 29th Olympion.

Some 14,000 performers and 29,000 fireworks have given the Games a glittering start. Inside the stadium, 2008 Chinese drums sound.

The ceremony caps seven years of work that reshaped Beijing and set the seal on an economic boom that has seen China and its 1.3 billion people become an emerging superpower.

An estimated global audience of at least one billion will watch the ceremony.

Thousands of spectators poured into the stadium hours ahead of the ceremony and were treated to pulsating Chinese dance troops, performing routines with titles like Galloping Horse Dance, Acrobatic Lion Dance and Flowery Drum Dance.

Film director Zhang Yimou, whose work was once banned in China, worked on the show for three years and promises to condense 5,000 years of history into one evening.

Chinese basketball superstar Yao Ming will carry the flag for the host nation, while six-time Olympian James Tomkins will lead out the Australian team.

The Olympics were due to be formally opened at around 11:00pm local time ( 1:00am AEST) by the president of the International Olympic Committee, Jacques Rogge.

The Games run until August 24, with 10,500 athletes from a record 204 nations chasing 302 gold medals in 28 sports.

Olympics 2008: Beijing is ready!

Water Cube: The World of Dreams

Wow, it's been more than one week since my last Olympic diary. This time, I want to say something about the Water Cube, where I will be reporting diving competitions from Sunday, August 10th.

I have been to the Water cube for several times. Each time I found something new. In the first tour there, I was thinking about a word that could describe it: astonishing, incredible, beautiful....... none of them is strong enough. Perhaps the Water Cube is a place that you can feel, not describe. The seats are in color of white and blue and will not distract athletes. But the most beautiful thing is water in the swimming and diving pools, it is so peaceful, light and vivid, that I and my colleague even wanted to touch the water. But of course we are forbidden to touch the water.

The second time I was in the Water Cube, many swimmers were doing training there. That was perhaps the first time that I saw top-level swimming! Although it was just training, the atmosphere was tough, because that's the training for world's fastest swimmers. Coaches were giving guidance by the pool, with serious facial expressions. It was a little bit noisy, but I like it, that's sports.

BEIJING 2008: We Are Ready!

With the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing Games only a few days away, Liu Qi, the President of the Beijing 2008 Organising Committee (BOCOG), made his final pre-Games presentation to the IOC Session at its meeting in the Chinese capital. Seven years after presiding over the Chinese delegation that won the bid for Beijing, on 13th July 2001 in Moscow, Liu Qi presented to the IOC Members the fruits of BOCOG’s hard work.

We are ready!

The message from President Liu Qi was clear – we are ready! As those in Beijing or watching from afar on TV will have been able to observe, the athletes are arriving, the stadiums are ready to go and the fans are excited – let the Games begin. With several thousand staff and about 70’000 volunteers, trained, motivated and ready to go, the Beijing Games are gearing-up to be a truly spectacular event, where smiling and enthusiastic faces will be a common sight at each Olympic venue.

Achievements

Since Beijing’s election, BOCOG and its local partners have had some truly impressive achievements. The construction of 30 venues and 44 training centres has been completed, public transport in the city has been improved with the addition of new subway lines and express bus routes, polluting factories have been removed from the city, green spaces for the public have increased, and 42 sports events have been successfully held to test the Olympic sites.

Successful Games

The big question that remains though is will all this preparation pay off? Following Liu Qi’s presentation, no one can be left in any doubt that BOCOG and its partners have done everything in their power to prepare for an outstanding 16 days of competition. When the Opening Ceremony starts on the eighth of the eighth 2008 at eight o’clock, it will be the culmination of a dream, not just for Liu Qi and the staff of BOCOG but for an entire nation - a spectacular feast for the eyes and ears.

Sri Lankan Olympic team leaves for Beijing

Sri Lanka's competitors in the Beijing Olympic Games left here Monday morning for Beijing, officials said.

The Sri Lankan contingent, headed by the woman sprinter Susanthika Jayasinghe, comprises of eight players and six officials

Jayasinghe, a bronze medallist in the 200 meters women sprint event in the Sydney Games in 2000, was to fly directly to Beijing from the United States, where she was on a one-year training program.

Track and field, badminton, boxing, rifle shooting, javelin, swimming and weight lifting are major events that Sri Lanka will be taking part in in Beijing, local National Olympic Committee officials said.

Captain Jayasinghe and the javelin thrower Nadeeka Lakmali werethe only ones to qualify for the Games with others making their entries through the wild card system allowed for developing sporting nations, local officials said.

1,800 volunteers to provide multi-language services in hotels during Games

Scene of the press conference

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Full coverage: Press conference on Beijing Olympic Games service

(BEIJING, August 2) -- "The Games of the XXIX Olympiad will receive 52,000 registered guests, including 17,000 athletes and team officials who will reside in the Beijing Olympic Village," said Xiang Ping, deputy director of BOCOG Games Services Department.

"The remaining 35,000 registered guests from the Olympic Family, Olympic sponsors and media agencies will stay at 119 contracted hotels and Media Village in Beijing," she continued.

At a press conference on Saturday, Xiang, along with Xiong Yumei, deputy director of Beijing Administration of Tourism and Kang Yi, chief of Catering Division of BOCOG Games Services Department, answered reporters' questions about Games-time services.

Xiang pointed out that in the three months before the opening of the Games, BOCOG Games Services Department and Beijing Tourist Administration have inspected 119 member hotels and are thereby able to guarantee installation facilities, hotel and service quality.

In addition, 1,800 volunteers, many of whom can speak different languages, have been installed at the hotels.

The photo taken on July 16, 2008 shows the illuminated National Stadium.

Beijing opening ceremony secrets