http://www.artwoo.com Returned search results for international olympic games Copyright 2008 Tue, 02 Dec 2008 04:21:41 +0000 http://www.artwoo.com/rss/international+olympic+games http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-olympic-games-the-history-of-the-olympic-games http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-olympic-games-the-history-of-the-olympic-games#comments Sat, 29 Jul 2006 16:27:05 +0000 ancient olympic gamesmodern olympic gameswinter gamesemperor theodosiusolympic truceolympic game2004 summer olympics http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-olympic-games-the-history-of-the-olympic-games Olympic Games is a multi-sports event which takes place once in four years and comprises of winter and summer games. It is an international event and almost all the countries in the globe participate in the games.

The first Olympic game was held in the year 776 BC in Olympia, Greece. The games were held in Greece till 393 AD. Subsequently in 1896, Pierre Fredy, Baron de Coubertin, a French nobleman revived the games which heralded the beginning of the Modern Olympic Games.

Starting from 1896, Games of the Olympiad or The Summer Olympics were held once in four years except during the World War 1 and 2.

The Olympic Winter Games, a special edition of winter sports was first held in 1924. In the beginning, both summer and winter editions of The Olympic Games were held simultaneously. >From 1944 onwards the summer and winter games have been held two years apart.

The origin of the ancient Olympic Games was surrounded by many legends. The ancient Greek concept of Olympic Truce is one such legend associated with The Olympic Games. The Olympic Games reached their zenith during fifth and sixth century BC.

The Olympic Games were held in honour of Pelops a mythical king and divine hero of the Greeks. Poems were written and statues were created immortalizing the winners of the events in the Olympic Games. Milo of Croton, a wrestler in the sixth century BC, was the only victorious athlete in six Olympic Games.

After the Romans captured power in Greece, there was a gradual decline in the importance of the Olympic Games. The Emperor Theodosius banned the Olympic Games in 393 CE citing the games as a Pagan Festival not suitable for the Christian Ethics.

Even though the Greek ceremonies included the bearing of a torch as its integral aspect, it was not included in the ancient Olympic Games. This was introduced later as a part of the modern Olympic Games.

In the 2004 Summer Olympics held in Athens, nearly 11,100 contestants from 202 countries participated in various events whereas there were only 245 participants from 15 nations in the 1896 edition of the Olympic Games. The Olympic Games has become one of the biggest events for the media. In the Sydney Olympics held in 2000, more than 16,000 journalists presented the events in various media format while 3.8 billion people watched the games on Television.

Munich Olympics held in 1972 saw the first act of terrorism in the .Olympic Games. Subsequently the Summer Olympics held in Atlanta, Georgia in 1996, and the Winter Olympics held in Salt Lake City, Utah in 2002 were also subjected to acts of terrorism.

For the Olympic Games scheduled to take place in London in 2012, 26 sports are included. Lucy Bartlett is a proud contributing author. Find more articles at http://financeandlegalportal.info/ For more info visit http://olympicsresource.info/sitemap.html or http://olympicsresource.info/special-olympics.html ]]> http://www.artwoo.com/article/olympic-results-everything-you-need-to-know http://www.artwoo.com/article/olympic-results-everything-you-need-to-know#comments Sat, 02 Aug 2008 14:15:22 +0000 2008 beijing olympicsbeijing international airportolympic enthusiastshigh definition televisionpollution in chinaolympic results2008 olympic games http://www.artwoo.com/article/olympic-results-everything-you-need-to-know 2008 Beijing Olympics are right around the corner. With all the buzz around the Olympic games, the big question remains where can you find up-to-the-date Olympic results? If you're an avid sports fan like myself, you don't want to miss one moment of the action that is about to happen in Beijing. The Beijing National Stadium, which was recently nicknamed the Birds Nest because of its structure is the center piece of the Olympic games. The stadium has a seating capacity of 80,000 people and will be the site of the opening ceremonies, soccer finals, many athletic events, and finally the closing ceremonies.

The Chinese have completely renovated and expanded its subway system in preparation for the Olympic games. It's been reported that eighty new stations were created, one with a direct link to the Beijing International Airport. As of June 2007, there had been over 2.2 million tickets sold for the upcoming Summer Olympics.

The reason why you are going to want to see the most up-to-the-date Olympic results is the amount of events that are being returned to Beijing. The program setup for Beijing 2008 is very similar to the Athens games that happened in 04. Olympic enthusiasts will see a total of 302 events. 165 men's events, 127 women's events, and a total of 10 mixed events. The buzz is definitely being held around the nine brand new events that are being held including cycling that closely resembles BMX. There are tons of new and old sports that are bringing back a lot of excitement to the Olympics.

The 2008 Olympic games will be the very first games in history to be completely produced and broadcasted in HDTV (high definition television). The estimated amount of viewers currently is over four billion during the duration of the games.

As the Olympic games comes close to the opening ceremonies there has been serious concerns over the amount of air pollution in China. The BOCOG (Beijing Organizing Committee) has said that many of China's factories will cease production in an effort to lower the amount of air pollution and smog that occurs during the outdoor events, such as running.

If you're considering traveling to Beijing, you'll definitely want to do your research on Beijing air pollution, Beijing Airport, and Beijing massacre.

While China is a very technologically and economically friendly country, there have been concerns over closed media access and even possible pro-Tibet protestors or terroristic groups. With all the drama, excitement, and fear over the 2008 Beijing Olympics you'll want to keep in close contact with various websites and television channels that will show the latest Beijing Olympic results. We recommend having a couple of good sources and contacts in China that can keep you updated as to what is happening with the Olympic Games in Beijing.

I wish all the athletes a very safe and exciting 2008 Olympics! May all the sports enthusiasts, athletes, volunteers, workers, and viewers have a safe and enjoyable summer games!S Millson is an avid sports researcher who has discovered how to give Olympic results quickly, accurately, and effectively.   Learn everything you need to know about the Beijing Olympics via http://www.olympicresultz.com]]> http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-politics-behind-olympics-games http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-politics-behind-olympics-games#comments Sat, 07 Oct 2006 14:27:02 +0000 olympic gamesinternational olympic committeeolympic medalsolympic victoriesiocchapletsthwarted http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-politics-behind-olympics-games Olympic victories than of battles won. Women, foreigners, slaves, and dishonored persons were forbidden to compete. Contestants were required to train faithfully for 10 months before the games and had to take an oath that they had fulfilled the training requirements before participating. At first, the Olympic Games were confined to running, but over time new events were added. The winners of the Olympics were crowned with chaplets of wild olive, and in their home city-states male champions were also awarded valuable gifts and privileges.

As a visible focus of world energies, the Olympic Games have been prey to many factors that have thwarted their ideals of world co-operation and athletic excellence. Like in ancient Greece, nationalistic fervour has fostered intense rivalries that have at times threatened the survival of the games. Although officially only individuals are able to win Olympic medals, nations routinely assign political significance to the feats of their citizens and teams. For example, between 1952 and 1988 rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union, rooted in mutual political antagonism, resulted in each boycotting games hosted by the other (Moscow, 1980; Los Angeles, 1984).

Politics has influenced the Olympic Games in other ways, from the propaganda of the Nazis in Berlin (1936) to pressures leading to the exclusion of white-ruled Rhodesia from the Munich games (1972). At Munich, nine Israeli athletes were kidnapped and murdered by Palestinian terrorists.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC), which sets and enforces Olympic policy, has struggled with the licensing and commercialisation of the games, the need to schedule events to accommodate television networks, and the monitoring of athletes who seek illegal competitive advantage, often through the use of performance-enhancing drugs. In 1998 a scandal erupted with revelations that bribery and favouritism had played a role in the awarding of the 2002 Winter Games to Salt Lake City, Utah, and in the selection of some earlier venues.

But, regardless of the Olympic Games tensions, it is historically proven that sports have acted as a liaison between nations and have greatly contributed to their evolution. Beginning with the sociological, psychological and physiological aspects of the human nature, sports have gained the praise of people worldwide, as they have contributed to their well being. Group-oriented, since in order to be a winner one has to compete, sport brings people closer together and generates team-spirit along with mind and physical awareness. But, whether or not the contemporary Olympic Games act as an opportunity for nations to learn from one another and cooperate or are just another opportunity for people to engage in competitive and hostile rivalries, only historians of the future will be able to judge with some certainty. Jonathon Hardcastle writes articles for http://fitnessandourworld.com/ - In addition, Jonathon also writes articles for http://learntobecloser.com/ and http://fitness-talk.net/ ]]> http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-a-web-site-became-a-ticket-to-the-2008-beijing-olympics http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-a-web-site-became-a-ticket-to-the-2008-beijing-olympics#comments Mon, 30 Apr 2007 23:50:00 +0000 olympic fencingwww fencingfencing teamolympic gamesbeijingolympic guiderecently learned that http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-a-web-site-became-a-ticket-to-the-2008-beijing-olympics Beijing Olympic Games?

Craig Harkins, the owner and operator of Fencing.Net, recently learned that he had become one of only 5,600 members of media worldwide to earn a spot in Beijing covering the Olympic Games. The Atlantan will be going to Beijing in 2008 to report on the progress of the US Olympic Fencing Team as their members attempt to improve on the Gold and Bronze medal brought back from the 2004 Athens Games.

"When I was reporting on the Olympics in 2000, I was staying up late, using my Internet connection to view the fencing and relying on past interviews with the Olympians" said Craig Harkins. "After that, my goal was to make it to the next Olympics. When I learned that the USOC had awarded Fencing.Net a media credential for the Beijing Olympics, I did a little dance!"

Fencing.Net has been featured in the most recent publication of the United States Fencing Association and recognizedas a key site on Olympic Fencing by Yahoo!'s Olympic guide as far back as the 2000 Games. The site, found at http://www.fencing.net/ offers a wide range of information about the sport as well as up to date news, training tips, and a thriving community site where fencers can discuss the latest news and share tips and gossip.

"US Fencing is delighted to hear that fencing.net will be making the trip to Beijing. We know that the U.S. market will be provided with real-time news and interviews with the U.S. team and international athletes from across the world." said Cindy Bent Findlay, Media Coordinator for the United States Fencing Association. "Fencing.net has taken reporting on our sport to a new level and so we look forward to more great coverage from Beijing."

Since 1995, Fencing.Net has provided resources for beginning fencers as well as experienced fencers looking to improve their level of competitiveness in the sport. Now the company site has extended its services to help people find fencing clubs and camps in their area and to provide the necessary equipment for participation in the sport.

Harkins, who is taking a break from competitive fencing, now runs Fencing.Net as a full-time enterprise, having recently opened an online fencing equipment store at http://shop.fencing.net/. Craig Harkins has been an active fencer for over 20 years and has been credentialed to report at the Beijing Olympic Fencing competitions. For more fencing news and fencing equipment, go to http://shop.fencing.net. ]]> http://www.artwoo.com/article/extreme-skydive-games http://www.artwoo.com/article/extreme-skydive-games#comments Tue, 21 Nov 2006 02:27:11 +0000 skydiving gamesparachute gamesolympic gamesworld gamesgames goldx gamesgames association http://www.artwoo.com/article/extreme-skydive-games parachute games and competitions that test the skill and expertise of pros and daredevils alike.

Skydiving may not be traditional Olympic sport, but participants interested in parachute games can find contests and competitions held annually in various parts of the world. The International World Games Association, which is recognized by the International Olympic Committee, sponsors skydiving competitions.

The 2005 World Games, which were held in Duisburg, Germany, included many parachuting events. Participants competed in canopy piloting, formation skydiving, freeflying, freestyle stunts, and accuracy landing events. Just as in the traditional Olympic games, gold, silver, and bronze medals are awarded to the individuals or teams placing first, second, and third in these skydiving games. Skydiving has also been included in the x-games, which hosts competitions for "extreme sports."

Speed skydiving is one type of "extreme" parachute games in which jumpers exit an aircraft at 13,000 feet and then accelerate in a vertical, head-first position into a measuring zone, which begins at 8,850 feet and extends to 5,570 feet. Altimeters attached to the racing skydivers measure average speeds across the measuring zone.

Skysurfing and BASE jumping are two skydiving games that are gaining in popularity. Skysurfing, which can be extremely dangerous -- especially for inexperienced skydivers -- involves the use of a small board (similar to a snowboard) attached to the jumper's feet. With this board, skysurfers can try radical maneuvers not otherwise possible. Participants can kick the board loose just prior to landing; some experienced skysurfers are able to land with the board still attached to their feet and glide to a stop. Only very experienced skydivers should choose to participate in skysurfing and should only do so after speaking with people who have tried skysurfing. Classes and instructional videos are available from some skysurfers and from board manufacturers.

"BASE" stands for Buildings, Antennas, Spans (bridges), and Earth (cliffs) -- fixed objects that skydivers jump from rather than from aircraft. BASE jumping is one parachute game that relatively inexperienced skydivers may try; however, there are some limitations. First, finding a place where BASE jumping is legal can be difficult. Second, although extensive skydiving experience is not necessary, BASE jumpers must ensure that they are skilled in parachute packing and canopy control and should have sharp reflexes and good body-position awareness. John Ewing enjoys writing for http://www.skydiving-parachuting-guide.com . With tips for first time jumpers and Skydive lessons at http://www.skydiving-parachuting-guide.com/learn-how-to-skydive.html ]]> http://www.artwoo.com/article/olympic-aftermath-beijing-china-and-the-environment http://www.artwoo.com/article/olympic-aftermath-beijing-china-and-the-environment#comments Fri, 05 Sep 2008 14:43:22 +0000 global warming and climate changesprint eventswestern journalistsmedal tallyequality of opportunityspecial olympicshuman excellence http://www.artwoo.com/article/olympic-aftermath-beijing-china-and-the-environment sprint events, or team G.B's new record gold medal tally, it is perhaps expected that that which dominated media coverage before the event - the environmental policy of Beijing - has fallen temporarily to the sidelines.

But talk before and during the games signaled Beijing as a particularly special Olympics because of the political resonance of the event; the various political divisions that many see as characterising China as a nation state, including their human rights record, their dominance in trade, and their continuing commitment to the 'One Party State'. Indeed it has been difficult over the last year to avoid discussion of the integrity of Beijing and the Chinese government, and whether their domestic and international policies represent a nation that was worthy of holding an international event with the stature of the Olympics.

That argument manifested itself quite cogently in the months before the event, in the coverage of the nation's environmental efforts, mostly because journalists could make an obvious connection between Chinese national policy and the health of the Olympic athletes, rendering the broader political interest in the games as directly relative to the sport itself.

Armed with the humanist metaphor of the Olympic games and its association with fairness, equality of opportunity and the quest for human excellence, the world's media set about a deconstruction of China's ideologies and intentions, using the environment as its motif; the most fashionable topics on the planet, CO2 emissions, global warming, and climate change, were a fitting combination of concepts that could be used to attack a nation that many believe to be unethical on a number of fronts.

That began in earnest with discussions on the measures that Beijing had put in place since its Olympic bid in 2001, of which a majority of Western journalists deemed there were little; indeed many claim that it was only in the short term that China has made any difference to its environmental performance, when it closed hundreds of harmful factories and removed an estimated 1.5m cars from its roads.

Critics simply claimed that it was 'too little, too late', and used environmental policy as a case in point for what they believe to be China's disregard for individual and national welfare, and the international community at large. For skeptics, it was a key battle that China had lost; they had not used the Olympics as a way to develop sustainable infrastructures for the improvement of the nation's environment and ecosystems, just as it had not matched its successful Olympic bid with a more co-operative foreign or human rights policy, as critics argued they had shown over Tibet, of which there was much media coverage in the countdown to the games.

What Beijing 2008 has shown us, then, is that the environment is just as important as a concept as it is in reality; the importance of climate change, global warming and CO2 emissions to the media and the general public at large has grown so considerably that it is the chief political tool in the discussion, promotion and criticism of countries, companies and politicians.

That combination of the metaphorical and the actual is a powerful combination indeed.Chris Woolfrey is an expert on Chinese domestic and foreign policy, and specializes in environmental issues. He writes for http://www.ecoswitch.com]]> http://www.artwoo.com/article/free-online-trivia-game-questions http://www.artwoo.com/article/free-online-trivia-game-questions#comments Thu, 15 Mar 2007 13:21:41 +0000 blue whaleinternational olympic gamesmodern olympic gameslargest mammalsquare kilometerstallest mountain in the worldteaser http://www.artwoo.com/article/free-online-trivia-game-questions tallest mountain in the world?

Answer: Everest

Trivia Teaser: Mt. Everest, on the border of Nepal and Tibet, China, is the world's tallest mountain and highest elevation with a peak at 29,035 feet (8850 meters).

Question: What language is the most spoken in the world?

Answer: Mandarin Chinese

Trivia Teaser: Chinese (Mandarin) is the most spoken with approximately 1,075,000,000 speakers followed by English with 514,000,000 speakers.

Question: When were the first international Olympic games held? Answer: 1896

Trivia Teaser: The 1896 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the I Olympiad, were held in 1896 in Athens, Greece. These games were the first modern Olympic Games and the first Games since Roman emperor Theodosius I banned the Ancient Olympic Games in 393. They were held between Monday, April 6 and Wednesday, April 15, 1896.

Question: What is the largest mammal to ever live?

Answer: Blue whale

Trivia Teaser: The Blue Whale, Balaenoptera musculus, is the largest mammal living today and is also the largest mammal to have ever lived. In fact, the Blue whale is the largest animal ever to have lived on the planet as far as we know; bigger by far than even the largest Dinosaur. The longest Blue Whale ever measured was a female, 33.58 meters or 110 feet long. The heaviest weighed an estimated 190+ tons.

Question: What is the largest country in the world?

Answer: Russian Federation

Trivia Teaser: Russia covers 17,075,400 square kilometers. Prior to its dissolution in 1991, the Soviet Union had an area of 22,402,200 square kilometers. Canada is the second largest country with 9,970,610 square kilometers.

Question: How many planets are there in our solar system?

Answer: Nine

Trivia Teaser: Our solar system officially has nine planets and one star: the Sun. In order from the Sun out, the planets are: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto. The discovery of an object larger than Pluto in 2005 rekindled the debate over whether such objects, belonging to the andquot;Kuiper Beltandquot; -- a collection of icy bodies located beyond Neptune-- should be called planets. Pluto itself belongs to the Kuiper Belt. If you enjoy Free Online Trivia Game and Free Trivia Questions and Answers you should visit the Trivia Teaser Online Contest at http://TriviaTeaserOnline.com ]]> http://www.artwoo.com/article/hello-from-calgary-exploring-cop-canada-olympic-park http://www.artwoo.com/article/hello-from-calgary-exploring-cop-canada-olympic-park#comments Fri, 12 Oct 2007 11:30:00 +0000 canada olympic parkolympic medal winnersolympic winter gamesolympic gamesolympic hall of fameolympic torchescool runnings http://www.artwoo.com/article/hello-from-calgary-exploring-cop-canada-olympic-park Canada Olympic Park, visited every year by more than 1.3 million people. This is the flagship site of the XV Olympic Winter Games, which were held in Calgary in 1988. It is located just 15 minutes from downtown on the west side towards the Rocky Mountains.

What makes Canada Olympic Park unique is that it continues to function as a multi-purpose competition, training and recreation area that is available year round to athletes as well as the general public. During the winter, almost 300,000 skiers and snowboarders visit the park. It also houses the second largest snow academy in the country, making lessons and programs available to people of all ages and abilities.

During the summer, Canada Olympic Park turns into mountain biking facilities with more than 25 kilometers of trails, an obstacle course, trials park and facilities for BMX bikers and freeride stunts.

We started off with the Olympic Hall of Fame and Museum which houses a whole variety of Olympic-themed exhibits and paraphernalia. This is the only Canadian museum devoted to the Olympic Games in Canada, and it is the largest in all of North America. Exhibits on two floors chronicle Canada's participation at the Olympic Winter Games since their inception in 1924.

A particularly fascinating exhibit are the 20 of the 31 Olympic torches, dating back all the way to the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin. The Blood, Sweat and Cheers exhibit pays tribute to Canada's Olympic Medal winners at the Salt Lake City Winter Games in 2002. The flags displayed in the museum and in the Plaza represent all the nations that competed in the 1988 Olympic Games in Calgary.

Key highlights of the Museum are a reproduction of the bobsleigh used by the Jamaican bobsleigh team in the 1988 Olympics (the film "Cool Runnings" was based on this story), an original hockey jacket from 1956 which inspired the 1988 Olympic attire, and medals for all 12 sports that were held in Calgary in the 1988 Olympics.

Snowboarders love the Superpipe, opened in 2002 and the only pipe of its kind in Alberta, with walls that are at least 15 feet high. It is also used for training Canadian athletes to compete at international and Olympic competitions.

Our guide Jocelyne also took us to the Icehouse which is the world's only indoor refrigerated track where luge, bobsleigh and skeleton athletes practice the ever-important push start techniques. All the tracks feature multiple cameras and interval timing mechanisms that allow the athletes to analyze their push-start technique moving from frame to frame in intervals of a fraction of a second. Many foreign teams come to this facility to practice their push-start techniques.

The Ice House

The Ice House features some interesting statistics:

- it is 143 m along (almost the length of one football field) and four stories high

- nine kilometers of steel piping is used to cool the three tracks

- tracks are kept at a constant temperature of -2 to -3 degrees Celsius

- a unique monorail system automatically returns the bobsleigh and skeleton sleds to the push-start area while allowing for continuous training

- a vide system incorporates standard video and the latest DVD playback technology.

After our visit to the Ice House we drove up the hill past the Olympic Bobsleigh Track which includes 14 twists and turns, the place where the Jamaican Bobsleigh Team made their first Olympic appearance and won the hearts of spectators all over the world. It is still used as a Word Cup circuit venue for bobsleigh, luge and skeleton events.

Our next stop was the 90 meter ski jump tower =96 incidentally the highest point in Calgary and today, as the weather was clearing up, we started to get a great view of the downtown area. Jocelyne explained that with today's new ski jumping techniques, the 90 m ski jump can no longer be used since skiers are now able to jump 120 m and more and there would not be enough space for them to land safely. Nevertheless, riding the glass elevator up to the observation level of this tower and peering down the ski jump is an awesome experience.

Jocelyne explained that Canada Olympic Park is also an archeological site where remains have been found that indicate that this hill used to be a buffalo jump, a place that native tribes used to hunt buffalo.

Many of the Canadian Olympic athletes who did so well at the recent 2006 Torino Olympics actually train at Canada Olympic Park, and this year's success of Canadian Olympic athletes bodes well for the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games. Susanne Pacher is the publisher of http://www.travelandtransitions.com, a web portal for unconventional travel and cross-cultural connections. Check out our brand new FREE ebooks about travel. ]]> http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-do-you-book-hotels-for-the-2010-olympic-games http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-do-you-book-hotels-for-the-2010-olympic-games#comments Sun, 09 Nov 2008 23:08:32 +0000 2010 winter olympic gameswinter olympic gamesolympic eventsolympic gameshotel roomslotteriesperiod of time http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-do-you-book-hotels-for-the-2010-olympic-games 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, it is good to know when and how you can book your hotel. This is very important so that you can find a place to stay that doesn't result in you driving or using public for a long period of time in order to get to the events you have tickets for. Some individuals make this mistake because they think that there are enough hotel rooms available when a huge event such as the Olympics is going on. The truth is that there are a lot of hotel rooms available, but they fill up quickly. Thousands upon thousands from around the world attend Olympic events, so you have to be on your toes.

Getting your tickets

Being that tickets are not guaranteed when you request them, it can be difficult to know whether or not to book your hotel. You don't want to book your hotel and pay a deposit, only to find out you couldn't get your tickets because the event was sold out and you were not chosen in the ticket lotteries that are held to determine who gets tickets and who doesn't. Depending on the hotel, you may be penalized a certain amount of your deposit for canceling your reservation, so you want to do everything you can to make sure you are definitely going to be there.

As soon as you're notified that you will be able to purchase at least one ticket, make your reservations immediately. The good news is that those in charge of selling the tickets are going to do so as quickly as possible so that they can begin on the seating arrangements for the events. They have to know how many tickets they have sold before they can move on to the next phase and determine how many unsold tickets they have.

The reservation

It can be tricky as to what dates to make your reservation for. If you wait until you are approved for all of your tickets, you're risking those individuals who have gotten at least one ticket beating you to the closest hotels. However, they are in the same boat as you when it comes to when to make reservations. So find out what dates the events you want to attend are held on and make sure your stay covers that time period. Even if you are unable to attend one event, chances are you'll be able to attend the other events. So on the days that you don't have an event to attend, simply go for a stroll around Vancouver. There is plenty to do in between Olympic events.

Look at it as a vacation and don't be too upset if something happens that you have made reservations during the dates that cover a specific event that you couldn't get tickets for. Fortunately, the Olympics have several events running simultaneously, so there is bound to be another sport going on during that time that you can enjoy. There are events that have unsold tickets, so you can buy last minute tickets if you need to. That way you can have the fullest Olympic spectator experience. There's plenty to do and plenty to see, so you shouldn't be too disappointed if you are unable to attend an event you wanted to attend. Just make sure you try to get your hotel as close to the Olympic venues as you possibly can so that you can avoid as much frustration as possible. You want to spend more time at the games than travel time to get there.Sports travel company offers superior Winter Olympics hotels accommodation, preferred seating and Winter Olympics packages plus much more.]]> http://www.artwoo.com/article/china-and-the-2008-olympic-games http://www.artwoo.com/article/china-and-the-2008-olympic-games#comments Mon, 07 Jul 2008 11:01:22 +0000 american educational systemeugene chenthomas wangchinese voicechinese teamlondon britainmodern china http://www.artwoo.com/article/china-and-the-2008-olympic-games Modern China, begins in the middle of the 19th century when China was nicknamed, by the Western Powers, as the "Sick Man of East." When Eugene Chen (my late father-in-law), fought to get rid of this label, there were other characters in my book who were fighting the same good fight. One was Zhang Boling, a great educator, who founded Nankai School on the principles of the American educational system after he had graduated from his American Alma Mater, and made the school sports an important part of training. The slogan was: Healthy people makes a strong nation.

As early as in 1915, patriots like Zhang Boling worked for getting Chinese into the Olympic Games, but the West jeered at them, just like they did Eugene Chen. Excluded, Zhang, with Thomas C.T. Wang, another character in my book and Eugene's colleague, planned to launch a separate Far-East Olympic, the predecessor of Asian Olympic, in Shanghai. But the only place which could accommodate this event was the training ground of the British forces, and it had never admitted a Chinese. That stirred up a huge furor, and it took all the diplomatic skill of Thomas Wang to persuade the British to rent the place to them. On the opening day, Zhang Boling marched into the arena at the head of the Chinese team.

In 1928, Chinese team was still banned from the Olympic, but there happened a lone Chinese voice from the stands: "Wo Neng Bi A!," meaning "I can compete!" Fortunately because it sounded like "Olympia," the man, named Song Ruhai, was not driven out.

It was not until 1932 that China was invited to compete in the Olympic. China was not able to put together a team, so the patriots pooled their resources and helped a runner, named Liu Changchun, to go to London. Britain, eager to cater to the Strong Man of Asia - Japan, intentionally mistook Liu for a representative from the quisling government of Manchukuo, the northeastern part of China which had been occupied by the Japan in 1931. Liu did not win, and the Western media reported the failure of the "Little Chinaman," laughing at Liu's short stature.

In 1936 China managed to send a small team to the Olympic held in Berlin. They were defeated. A Western paper carried a cartoon, depicting a group of haggard Chinese men in traditional long gown holding a huge egg, and the caption was: the "Sick Man of East."

In 1937, Japan started an all-out war on China. After the end of Second World War, China sent a team to attend the 1948 Olympic Games. No victory. In 1949, the Chinese Communist Party took over the mainland and China was again banned.

The brief history above proves that the chase of the Olympic Dream had begun long before the Chinese Communist Party came into being. The 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing is more than a showcase of the Chinese government. It is a coming-out party for the Chinese.Yuan-tsung was born in China, and immigrated to USA in 1972. Her first book, THE DRAGON'S VILLAGE, (was published by Pantheon, and) its Penguin paperback sells an average of 3,000 copies per year since 1981. Her latest book (nonfiction), RETURN TO THE MIDDLE KINGDOM, is now available through the Union Square Press of Sterling Publishing. Visit Yuan-tsung Chen.]]> http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-fencers-qualify-for-the-beijing-olympic-games http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-fencers-qualify-for-the-beijing-olympic-games#comments Fri, 08 Jun 2007 11:34:56 +0000 olympic fencingfencing competitioninternational fencingfencing federationolympic gamesepeesabre team http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-fencers-qualify-for-the-beijing-olympic-games fencing competition?

The mandated levels of athlete participation has led to changes in the selection process for the Games. Each nation is no longer guaranteed an athlete in each sport - now nations and athletes have to compete against not only their countrymen, but against others in their region or continent for an Olympic slot.

In the 2004 Olympic Games all of the men's events (epee, foil, and saber) were included, but two of the three women's events did not hold the team competition.

The international fencing federation (FIE) rotates the events which will sit out the team portion of the Olympics, and for the 2008 Olympic Fencing competition, Men's Foil and Women's Epee will only hold an individual tournament.

Who gets to go?

Athletes are competing for slots based on their nation's standing in the world (for team events) and based on individual world rankings (for the individual events.) Here's a breakdown of what it will take for an aspiring swordsman (or swordswoman) to get a ticket to Beijing:

Weapons with Team Events (Men's Epee, Men's Sabre, Women's Foil, Women's Sabre):

Team Events are comprised of teams of 3 fencers with 1 alternate. A total of 8 teams can compete in each team event (9 if China fails to qualify a team directly).

The top 4 teams in the world standings will qualify directly to the Olympics. The remaining 4 teams are chosen based on regional qualification. The top team from each region (Americas, Asia, Europe, Africa) that is not already qualified will earn a regional berth.

The individual event is a tournament with a field of 39 fencers. For the individual competition, the 24 fencers that competed in the team event qualify. After the first 24 fencers are chosen, the top 3 in the World standings qualify, with only one fencer from any one country. The next 7 are pulled from the Olympic zones as the top 2 from Europe, 2 from Asia, 2 from the Americas, and 1 from Africa, again with only 1 fencer from a country. The remaining 5 slots are determined by a continental qualifying competition with 2 from Europe and 1 from each of the remaining regions.

What about Men's Foil and Women's Epee?

A different set of criteria is used to pick the 24 fencers who will compete in the Men's Foil and Women's Epee events. Because there is no team event, each individual will have to qualify on their own merit and not on the ranking of their national team. The following formula is used to pick the 24 individual entries:

The top 8 in the World rankings get their tickets punched (but only 2 can go from the same country from this set.) After the first 8 are chosen, the next 8 in are picked by region based on adjusted world rankings. (There are 3 slots for Europe, 2 for Asia, 2 for the Americas, and 1 for Africa.) The last 8 qualify based on continental competitions where countries that haven't qualified any fencers on the first 2 rounds. In the last round, the allocation of slots remains at 3 Europe, 2 Asia and Americas, and 1 for Africa.

Outlook for the United States

Will the US earn a medal in 2008?

The United States earned Bronze and Gold medals in Women's sabre in 2004. Sada Jacobson and Mariel Zagunis are still at the top of the world rankings and are joined by young fencing phenom Becca Ward, who last year won the individual world championship title at the Cadet, Junior, and Senior levels of competition. The US is favored to medal in Women's Sabre.

In the other weapons, the best hopes are with Men's Sabre as the individual team members are posting good results for the season. Craig Harkins has been an active fencer for over 20 years and has been credentialed to report at the Beijing Olympic Fencing competitions. For more fencing news and sport fencing equipment, go to http://shop.fencing.net. ]]> http://www.artwoo.com/article/estonia-casinos http://www.artwoo.com/article/estonia-casinos#comments Sun, 25 Nov 2007 11:35:00 +0000 casinosvideo gaming machinesaladdin casinotable gamesolympic casinosports bettingrapla http://www.artwoo.com/article/estonia-casinos casinos is legal at 21, in Estonia, a small country in Eastern Europe, and there are many casinos scattered throughout its 12 cities. Estonia casinos are bright, typical gaming places, with gaming tables set up in the center of the lobby, and slot machines fixed in corners or even in separate rooms. The casinos include many of the popular international games such as Blackjack, Roulette, Baccarat, and Poker, and a few offer sports betting, as well. Estonia casinos follow strict gambling rules and security regulations. They also offer a de-addiction program for customers who may have a gambling problem.

Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, has the most casinos, with 38 facilities and numerous slot machines. The Reval Casino in the Park Hotel is the largest Estonia casino, with 15 table games and 75 slot/video gaming machines. There are a number of other casinos in Tallinn, open 24 hours, including Bally's, Aladdin, Casino Mapau, the Monte Carlo, and the Metropol. Other smaller casinos such as the Olympic Casino Baltic Station, the Russian Czar, the Ulemeiste, and the Viking Club and Casino offer only slot and video gaming machines.

The Olympic Casino in Tartu has three table games and 42 slots, and the Kristiine Kasiino, also in Tartu, has 16 slots. Another popular casino is the Mirage in Parnu. This casino has 20 slots and three table games of Poker, Blackjack, and Roulette.

Many of the Estonia casinos in different towns such as Rakvere, Rapla, Keila, Poltsaama, and Valga, or in the suburbs of Tallinn, are simply known in the individual town or area as the Play-In-Casino. These casinos have various opening hours and only offer slot or video gaming machines. In addition, there are a number of slot machine Videomat casinos in various other towns including Parnu, Haapsalu, Johvi, and Narva. They are generally open from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m., and some have a bar and restaurant, happy hour, and occasional jackpots.

Estonia is one of the countries that has been selected as a stop on the Small Town Poker Baltic Championships due to its excellent gambling facilities and the number of amateur poker players here. There's a good chance of winning a seat to the Amateur Poker Championships held in Las Vegas should you win at an Estonia casino. This article is the property of http://www.estonia-casinos.com ]]> http://www.artwoo.com/article/fencer-nominated-for-sportswoman-of-the-year http://www.artwoo.com/article/fencer-nominated-for-sportswoman-of-the-year#comments Thu, 18 Oct 2007 17:20:00 +0000 international fencinglas vegas grand prixfencing federationolympic gold medalistsports foundations sportsgold medal http://www.artwoo.com/article/fencer-nominated-for-sportswoman-of-the-year Sports Foundation.



Founded in 1974 by Billie Jean King, the Women's Sports Foundation is a national charitable educational organization seeking to advance the lives of girls and women through sports and physical activity. The Foundation's Participation, Education, Advocacy, Research and Leadership Programs are made possible by gifts from individuals, foundations and corporations.

Ward earned a nomination from the Women's Sports Foundation due to her strong results in international fencing over the past two seasons. In 2006 she won the world championship in women's sabre, defeating teammate and reigning Olympic gold medalist Mariel Zagunis.

In 2006, Rebecca Ward also won the Cadet and Junior world championships, a triple-crown performance that was the first time any fencer had held all three titles at the same time.

In May 2007, Ward won the silver medal in the sabre event, at both the Hanoi Women's World Cup and the England World Cup. Also in the month of May, she won the gold medal at the Klagenfurt Women's World Cup. At the Las Vegas Grand Prix in June, Ward won the gold medal defeating 2000 Olympic silver medalist Xue Tan. Her win at Las Vegas made her the World Cup Champion for the 2006-2007 season. Ward is also ranked No. 1 in the world in the saber by the International Fencing Federation (FIE) ranking list.

Becca has continued winning key matches and is currently ranked #1 in the world heading into the 2007 World Championships. Upcoming tournaments will be the Americas Zonal Championships in August and then the 2007 World Championships in St. Petersburg, Russia - both are Olympic qualifying events.

In addition to the individual accolades, Becca Ward is also a member of the US Women's Sabre team, which is ranked #1 in the world heading into the 2007 World Championships. Craig Harkins of http://shop.fencing.net/ runs http://Fencing.Net - with resources on Olympic Fencing and also has a Fencing Equipment Store that offers a wide range of fencing blades, uniforms and other gear for beginning to advanced competitors. ]]> http://www.artwoo.com/article/table-tennis-importance-of-good-footwork http://www.artwoo.com/article/table-tennis-importance-of-good-footwork#comments Fri, 16 Jun 2006 09:32:05 +0000 point gameinternational table tennis federationtable tennis federationfootworkittfgameswinner http://www.artwoo.com/article/table-tennis-importance-of-good-footwork
Aggressive blockers must be handled with care, since any lapses in concentration on your part will be swiftly punished with lightning counter-attacks. You can't afford to let up against these guys at all - you must stick to your game plan at all costs. Every weak attack or bad push that you make will cost you. I'll talk a bit more about what your plan should be in a little while, so stick with me.

The winner is the first to score 11 points, with each player alternating serves every two points. At 10-10 (or deuce) the players alternate with every serve. The winner is the first person to gain a clear two points advantage over his opponent. The 11 point game is an International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) change which occurred in 2001. The 21 point game is still widely played at recreational level. All games played at national level and at international tournaments (ITTF) are played to 11 points in either a best of five (5) games (preliminaries) or best of seven (7) games format (championship matches).

The point of using footwork is to get you to the ball so that you can hit the same stroke as much as possible. Good footwork allows you to consistently use your best technique, instead of having to stretch, be cramped, or bend from the waist.

Good footwork is not just about sheer speed.

It's also about moving the right amount at the right time. A slow player who moves correctly will have better footwork than a quick player who goes to the wrong place, or with his feet the wrong way around.

One of the most common errors I see from beginners is what I call the 'all or nothing' syndrome. This is the habit beginners have of not moving their feet at all if they can stretch for the ball, even though this puts them off balance. Then, for balls that they can't reach by stretching, they move too far, and actually get too close to the ball, cramping their stroke. You can avoid this problem by remembering to always move to the ball, even if you only move six inches or so. Get in the habit of moving into position, and you will soon be able to get into the right position to hit the ball, whether it is near or far away. Table tennis is an Olympic sport, "ping-pong" is the recreational version of the same sport. Come to http://PingPong.ewhy.info ]]> http://www.artwoo.com/article/green-olympics-london-and-the-environment-in-2012 http://www.artwoo.com/article/green-olympics-london-and-the-environment-in-2012#comments Thu, 31 Jul 2008 13:43:26 +0000 2008 beijing olympicsthermal power plantseuropean space agencynitrogen dioxidelondon gamesdavid higginsolympic host http://www.artwoo.com/article/green-olympics-london-and-the-environment-in-2012 2008 Beijing Olympics, it is important to remember that sport and the environment can go hand in hand.

In the last year, the Chinese capital has been the subject of much media scrutiny surrounding its environmental and emissions policy. In 2005, the European Space Agency declared that Beijing contained unnecessarily high levels of nitrogen dioxide, a bi-product of many industrial processes, including thermal power plants. It is poisonous to inhale, and since the revelation, the Chinese government have been accused of endangering sportsmen and spectators with the volume of air pollution that affects the capital.

For the environmentally conscious, it represents a serious concern. Historically, the designation of Olympic host has a symbolic resonance; it has been held by great cities, welcome to community spirit and accepted as representatives of an age old sporting tradition. That is not to deny that Beijing is a great city, but - for environmentalists - it has been difficult to reconcile the tradition and history of the city with a poor environmental and emissions policy.

Many spectators, then, will be watching closely. And they will also be looking to London in 2012, which will be subject to the same media scrutiny.

The Olympic Delivery Authority - the body who are in charge of developing the infrastructure for the London games - have so far acted carefully. David Higgins, the Chief Executive of the ODA, has officially stated that "Ensuring a sustainable approach to building the Games will help ensure London 2012 is remembered not only as two weeks of fantastic sporting action, but also as the greenest games to date", championing the connection between the tradition of the event and the importance of a suitable environmental policy.

It is a positive statement, and one that is backed by the 'Towards a One Planet Olympics' initiative, which is the lynch-pin of the London games' environmental policy, and was developed from the WWF/Bioregional's 'One Planet Living', which lists ten main environmental initiatives that can be implemented throughout the world. These can be grouped into three key areas: carbon emission, sustainability, and culture and natural habitats.

The Committee for London 2012 has drawn these into five points: combating climate change, reducing waste, enhancing biodiversity, promoting inclusion, and improving healthy living. These tie in neatly with the original initiative, which targets - as some examples - 'zero carbon' and 'zero waste', sustainable transport and materials, and 'health and happiness'.

In theory, then, the commitment is clear, and the aim is an all encompassing one; to be the first fully sustainable Olympic games. And - as the Beijing Olympics prepares to open - the London bid is already working towards that aim. The ODA announced in January of this year that it is already beating its target of recovering 90% of all demolition waste for recycling and reuse. It has also begun to create new habitats for any wildlife that might be found on Olympic sites, and is recycling complete buildings to be re-assembled away from original Olympic sites.

Certainly, 2012 is a long way away. Beijing comes first, and its environmental policy since the original bid has improved. When the London games come, it will have China as a blueprint, plus another four years of work towards sustainability. If it succeeds in its aim, it might be one of the world's first large demonstrations of a link between tradition and a new 'green-consciousness'. Something to look forward to.Chris Wright is the Olympics expert at www.EcoSwitch.com The environmental social network EcoSwitch]]> http://www.artwoo.com/article/are-you-satisfied-with-the-current-sports-news http://www.artwoo.com/article/are-you-satisfied-with-the-current-sports-news#comments Wed, 17 Sep 2008 15:22:31 +0000 president massimo morattiproject management departmenteuropean cup championsroberto mancinijose mourinhoolympic officialszhang jian http://www.artwoo.com/article/are-you-satisfied-with-the-current-sports-news Roberto Mancini and replacing him is Jose Mourinho, a former manager of Chelsea, but still for confirmation. The 43-year-old Mancini had a meeting with the club president Massimo Moratti and in spite of his three successive titles, he was told that he was no longer needed in the club.

Despite the three Serie A titles, Mancini was not able to make the Inter Milan feasible contenders. It would come as a big surprise if Mancini had been kicked out, as what his agent, Giorgio De Giorgis, said.

Meanwhile during the last 16 of the champion's league, Mancini had announced that he was leaving at the end of the season. But withdraw his statement the next day.

Since the 1965 win, Inter did not regain the title of the European Cup/Champions League.

Rain poured down during the third day of the French Open and still it was expected throughout the day. Total of 72 first round matches was scheduled to be played, but all courts remained covered in the early afternoon.

It was in 2000 championship game, when a full day's play was lost due to the heavy rains. It was the following day where all 21 courts were cleared to play.

Men's top division, Nadal was set to face Thomaz Bellucci of Brazil and in Women's top division, its Sharapova versus Evgeniya Rodina of Russia.

Despite the condition, players remained in the mood to play. And American, Venus Williams, was very much pleased to finish the game before the rain got worse.

Beijing Olympic officials have assured foreigners planning to visit China for the August Games that the country is safe despite an earthquake that killed some 10,000 people and possibly many more.

The Chinese capital is expected to welcome more than half a million foreign visitors for the August 8-24 Games and Zhang Jian of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games (BOCOG) said they should not be concerned about natural disasters.

Zhang Jian, director of the project management department, assured reporters that the foreign visitors as well as Olympics participants are safe, Beijing is safe, China is safe.

Li Zhanjun, director of the BOCOG media centre, said that earthquakes had been taken into account when building the 31 venues in Beijing and the manpower required for the clean-up operation in Sichuan would not impact on the Games' security.

Like the Five Olympic Rings from which they draw their color and inspiration, Fuwa will serve as the Official Mascots of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, carrying a message of friendship and peace -- and good wishes from China -- to children all over the world.

Designed to express the playful qualities of five little children who form an intimate circle of friends, Fuwa also embody the natural characteristics of four of China's most popular animals -- the Fish, the Panda, the Tibetan Antelope, the Swallow -- and the Olympic Flame.

Each of Fuwa has a rhyming two-syllable name -- a traditional way of expressing affection for children in China. Beibei is the Fish, Jingjing is the Panda, Huanhuan is the Olympic Flame, Yingying is the Tibetan Antelope and Nini is the Swallow.

When you put their names together -- Bei Jing Huan Ying Ni -- they say "Welcome to Beijing," offering a warm invitation that reflects the mission of Fuwa as young ambassadors for the Olympic Games.

Fuwa also embody both the landscape and the dreams and aspirations of people from every part of the vast country of China. In their origins and their headpieces, you can see the five elements of nature -- the sea, forest, fire, earth and sky -- all stylistically rendered in ways that represent the deep traditional influences of Chinese folk art and ornamentation.Jon Caldwell is a professional content manager. Much of his articles can be found at http://sportsworldinsider.com]]> http://www.artwoo.com/article/olympic-fire-let-it-shoot-from-your-wrists-with-cufflinks http://www.artwoo.com/article/olympic-fire-let-it-shoot-from-your-wrists-with-cufflinks#comments Sat, 20 Sep 2008 06:43:38 +0000 trumpet fanfaresponsorship moneynational pridegymnastsprofessional athleteswinter gamessaturday mornings http://www.artwoo.com/article/olympic-fire-let-it-shoot-from-your-wrists-with-cufflinks national pride.

The Olympic Games.

Oh,wait...I guess the Games are bit different to what they were when most of us were growing up. First of all, they're every two years now, since the decision to split the Winter Games and Summer Games to consecutive even-numbered years to provide more sponsorship money. Oh - and professional athletes are allowed to compete now, so I suppose it's not so selfless an endeavor as it once was, since there's money involved.

And - I do hate to be churlish, but are the Olympics really what they once were, now that it's not Them - by Them, of course, I mean the Communists - against Us? And by Us, of course, I mean the Good Guys. Sure, there are still Bad Guys out there, but none of them (small 'T') compares athletically to what They were, back in the day.

Still, it's hard not to get all fired up when the Olympic Games begin. First of all, there's a lot of pomp, and really - who doesn't like pomp? It's not like there's a lot of it in our everyday lives. Hardly anybody blows a trumpet fanfare when I burst off the elevator to show up at work in the morning, and very rarely do heads of state gather in bunting-laden stadiums to shout my glories when I make my 100-yard dash through the drive-through at Burger King.

Secondly, all the athletes are pretty good. By pretty good I mean much better than the guys at the YMCA that I play basketball with on Saturday mornings. As for the women - the gymnasts are much well, bendier, than most of the women I've come in contact with, and the swimmers look like they could carry groceries in themselves when I'm trying to watch the game on ESPN, thank you very much.

And third - there is that whole issue of national pride. Yes, we pretty much know now that we can kick the collective poo out of just about any nation on the planet with military force, but how about in rhythmic gymnastics or dressage? It may just be that we have a little something to learn when it comes to tossing a ball over our heads and catching it with our feet, and when it comes right down to it, isn't that just as heart-warming as anything you'd see on the Oxygen television network?

Last but not least, there's always the chance that there will be some cockle-toasting moment when some underdog either wins or doesn't win. They'll have worked really hard to get there and really aren't up to the level of competition, and they'll win or they'll lose really badly, and either way the network will play their story to the tune of Wind beneath my Wings and admit it - if you've had a beer or two, you're very likely to get all choked up.

Okay, I confess - I love the Olympics. You get to see another country's version of what glory and honor are. In Japan, they sang songs about the day that children ruled the world (which was a little odd because some of the athletes were definitely not children), and in Australia, they really touted the glories of the aborigines and the prisoners who got transported there to colonize it. I don't know much about China beyond what I read about lead paint in children's toys, but I've got to guess that a country of more than a billion people is going to put on one heck of an amazing show.

And this is a banner Olympics! Thanks to the invention of the DVR, I no longer have to call in sick for two weeks to squeeze in every minute of Olympic-watching glory available into my brain. I can go to work for the two weeks starting August 8, 2008, and then I'll have other people with whom to discuss, debate, and reenact the Games.

I don't happen to work in a place where I can wear a USA baseball cap or T-shirt. As such, I have my handy collection of America-touting cufflinks available to show my colors. I have flag cufflinks - either actual replicas of Old Glory or abstract (dare I say "artistic"?) renderings of the Stars and Stripes. I also have my Uncle Sam cufflinks, and a number of pairs that represent various sports. In short, I am ready to epitomize all that is great about the United States and this amazing competition.

Not only will the cufflinks add a stylish note to my already dapper ensembles, they bring my cuffs together in a spirit of unity. Just like the Olympic Games themselves.Whether your interests are in silver, gold, artistic, sports, or other theme-related cufflinks we've got you covered. Cufflink Aficionado carries a broad range of mens cufflinks designed to meet each connoisseur's individual style and interest. Our selection of patriotic cuff links are sure to top off that perfect look.]]> http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-do-you-buy-tickets-for-the-2010-olympic-games http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-do-you-buy-tickets-for-the-2010-olympic-games#comments Tue, 30 Sep 2008 17:37:20 +0000 2010 winter olympicsnational olympic committee2010 olympicswinter olympicsticket allocationticket requestsolympic officials http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-do-you-buy-tickets-for-the-2010-olympic-games 2010 Winter Olympics are already being sought, which means some events may be sold out before some individuals even think about buying tickets. That is why you need to know what you need to do in order to get tickets for the 2010 Olympics before your favorite event sells out. However, there is a process to buying your tickets. It is not just a matter of being able to go online, shop, and then hit a "buy" button. The process is carried out carefully to ensure that everyone is admitted fairly to the event.

Buying the tickets

First of all, the Winter Olympics will be held in Vancouver. It has been announced that the tickets requests will start being accepted on October 3, 2008. There are phases to the ticket buying process that you need to be aware of. Now keep in mind that on October 3, it is simply a request for tickets and not an actual opportunity to buy. It has also been stated by Olympic officials that there may be instances in which a lottery must be held to determine who can buy tickets to certain events and who can't. This is how the Olympic Committee ensures that the ticket allocation is fair.

Here are the phases:

- On October 3rd, Canadian residents will be able to submit a form through the website www.vancouver2010.com. Those unable to submit online will be able to request a ticket request form via the telephone. The form will then be mailed to them. Non-Canadian residents will be able to contact the National Olympic Committee in their country to purchase their tickets. For those events that have more requests than seats available, the lotteries will be held if they are needed. Before early 2009, all parties will be notified whether or not their ticket requests were granted. Individuals will also be able to add-on unsold tickets to their ticket package.

- In early 2009, the remaining unsold tickets will be allowed to be sold to the public. Canadian residents who missed phase one will be able to buy these unsold tickets.

- In phase three, the seating assignment phase will be completed. If there are any tickets still unsold, the tickets will be sold directly to individuals requesting them. These individuals will then fill the remaining empty seats for that particular sporting event.

For specific ticket information, it is important that you contact your National Olympic Committee. That information can be obtained through a simple internet search, being that it depends on your residing country as to who you contact. Every country involved in the Olympics has a National Olympic Committee on their soil.

Being patient

The idea behind purchasing tickets for the 2010 Olympics is to be patient. The process is carried out the way it is to ensure that everyone has a fair shot at tickets. If you've watched the opening ceremonies in the past, then you are aware of how many people attend. Each one of those individuals had to go through the request and purchase process. Unfortunately, there are some events that some individuals are unable to attend. However, the process was fair and they more than likely had the opportunity to attend another event within the Olympics.

So make sure you keep track of what is going on with ticket sales. Once October 3, 2008 rolls around, the process begins so make sure you stay vigilant so that you can attend the events that you wish to attend.Looking to buy winter olympics tickets? Road Trips provides customized 2010 winter olympics packages so you and all your friends can see your favourite Olympic sporting events in style!]]> http://www.artwoo.com/article/archery-history http://www.artwoo.com/article/archery-history#comments Fri, 09 Feb 2007 02:27:22 +0000 target archeryarchery websiteworld archeryarchery practicefield archerybow and arrowarrow heads http://www.artwoo.com/article/archery-history bow and arrow has been around for at least 20,000 years. Findings of stone arrow heads in Africa indicate that the bow was invented there possibly as early as 50,000 BC. The bow is considered to be the first machine constructed by humans that could store energy. The principle has always been the same, the archer transfers his muscle energy into the bow with help of the string and then the bowstring passes on the power to the arrow and gives it a tremendous speed. The impact of an arrow is lethal to any pray or enemy.

The bow has been a popular weapon in warfare for thousands of years. The Egyptians used the bow against the Persians 5,000 BC.

Skilled archers has been a valuable asset for many Kings through history, and as a hilarious example of that is James II, King of England who in 1457 AD stated that football and golf took to much time from archery practice and therefore should be banned!

Archery has a long history as a sport, and the Scottish club Kilwinning Archers was formed in 1483 and thus one of the oldest sports clubs in the world. Archery was an event at the Olympic Games in 1900, 1904, 1908 and 1920. The International Archery Federation -- FITA was founded in 1931 and the first World Championships took place the same year. During the 1940s international archery began to grow. Target Archery is since 1972 again a game in the Olympics. Archery can be practiced in many forms, but the most common styles beside Target Archery is Field Archery and 3-D Archery. Flight shooting is another branch of the sport and it exits on shooting an arrow as long as possible. A more rare style of the sport is Clout Archery. The target is on the ground and the distance is 165 meters for men and 125 meters for women. Per Graeve has been an archer for more than 30 years. He is the former of the Archery website Archery Gold. The website contains articles on archery, forums and blogs. http://www.archerygold.com ]]> http://www.artwoo.com/article/go-get-that-table-tennis-dvd http://www.artwoo.com/article/go-get-that-table-tennis-dvd#comments Fri, 09 Feb 2007 16:27:05 +0000 table tennis tabletable tennis playerstennis enthusiastsdvd coversreflex sportsdvdssports videos http://www.artwoo.com/article/go-get-that-table-tennis-dvd sports videos in the recent years. More and more companies are producing various videos in different formats such as DVDs. A table tennis DVD might be a compilation of previous Olympic games, World Championships or even an instructional one meant to guide a beginner to the sports and enhance the skills of a professional player.

One table tennis DVD that has acquired immense popularity is the "Table Tennis Beyond Imagination" video. This table tennis DVD is produced by Reflex Sports and sold in the internet site http://tabletennisvideos.com, an interesting site selling table tennis videos of different themes. A compilation table tennis DVD, "Table Tennis Beyond Imagination" features highlights of world championships in table tennis from 1985 to 2000.

It also contains the highlights of previous table tennis DVDs produced by Reflex Sports. It is the most recent in a series of compilation of table tennis DVDs. There are other two DVDs, entitled "The Wonderful and Wacky World of Table Tennis" and "More From the Wonderful World of Table Tennis".

Table tennis enthusiasts find this video helpful and appealing at the same time because they are able to view previous game matches that used to be unavailable to them. For those who are new to the sports, watching the best game matches of the last 15 years might create a deep sense of interest for them to enhance their skills.

Due to the span of time that this table tennis DVD covers, it also contains a slight touch of history as professional table tennis players of today can be seen playing during their early struggling, amateurish days. It can also demonstrate the evolution of the game into a full-pledged Olympic sports, and show what type of modifications and enhancements have been done through the years.

The "Table Tennis Beyond Imagination" DVD is a must-have for table tennis enthusiasts. It contains the best film clips for the past 15 years from 1985 to 2000 that show impressive shots, remarkable points and amazing finishes by the best players of the game from all over the world. For solid 500 hours of high-quality DVD, viewers will be in awe by the excellent skills of players in this table tennis DVD.

Players demonstrate superb skills in attacking and counter-attacking their opponents, show backhand swatting skills, diving returns and other unusual but rare playing moments in the history of table tennis.

Included in the table tennis DVD is a count down to the top 10 game plays of the last 15 years, and a slow motion replay of each high point play. A special feature of the table tennis video is a series of the China versus Sweden games, considered to be the titans of table tennis, in their decades-long fight to be the number one in numerous World Championship Games.

Sellers and buyers of this table tennis DVD say that viewers watching this video will not only appreciate the game, but also learn to improve their playing skills. Testimonials from people who bought and watched the DVD say that the quality of this video is excellent, organized with good picture and audio quality.

Tabletennisvideos.com is in an exclusive contract with the International Table Tennis Federation until 2007. This exclusive contract allows http://tabletennisvideos.com to produce DVDs and other table tennis videos featuring World Championship games in table tennis. Mario Churchill is a freelance author and has written over 200 articles on various subjects. For more information on table tennis checkout http://www.tabletennismaster.com. ]]>