The 2008 Olympic Games are underway! The Olympic Games are Greek. Their old Greek home was the religious sanctuary of Olympia. Olympia was home to the gargantuan Statue of Zeus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The ancient Olympic games were abolished in AD 393. The statue of Zeus crumbled a few decades later.
Nike was the Greek Goddess of Victory.
According to legend, the Olympics began in 776 BC, with a footrace held during Olympia's Zeus festival. After that, when Greeks flocked to Olympia's rural sanctuary every four years to praise Zeus, they stayed for the thrill of Nike and the agony of defeat. Similar games were held at Delphi and other sanctuaries, but Olympia's games reigned supreme.
Like the modern games, these competitions were intended to reveal the most skilled athletes. But a lack of protective gear, random pairings that failed to account for size, and few rules made the ancient Olympics into a most dangerous game. Athletes could die trying to please the crowd.
Battered Ears, Broken Men
Forget restrictions against low blows, kidney punches, and hitting a man while he's down. Ancient boxing was closer to a barroom brawl. Fighters were free to unleash a flurry of blows on a cowering opponent. Rounds didn't exist; men simply fought until one cried uncle or got knocked out cold.
At first, boxers wrapped soft leather straps called himantes around their hands to lessen the impact of their blows. But with each passing Olympiad, the straps grew harder. In some cases, metal was added for an especially memorable right hook. It's hardly surprising, then, that in one of his dialogues, Plato refers to boxers as "those with the battered ears."
Wrestlers couldn't bite, gouge eyes, or grab genitals. But choke holds and joint locks were legit. One particularly violent event, the pankration, combined wrestling and boxing. Athletes fought barehanded (without himantes), punching, kicking, and grappling to win. On one occasion, an athlete who was strangled to death was judged the winner, and his corpse was crowned with the prized olive wreath.
The Quick and the Nude
Those with Hermes's speed proudly raced barefoot and naked, but legend suggests that this wasn't always so. An ancient story circulated that the tradition of nudity among athletes at the games began in 720 BC when an eager sprinter simply lost his shorts.
Runners had four races to choose from, all measured by the length of the 210-yard (192-meter) stadium. The first was called the stadion or stade, a sprint exactly one stadium long. The next race was double that length, while the third was long distance--between 7 and 24 stades.
The other race was the hoplitodromos, an exhausting two- to four-stade sprint by runners encumbered with 50 to 60 pounds (23 to 27 kg) of hoplite armor. Eventually, nakedness won out there, too, and racers just grabbed heavy helmets and shields. A starting rope ensured few jumped the gun; those who did were beaten.
Chariots of Fire
Like the fighters and the runners, Greek jockeys also competed sans pants. No saddles or stirrups either. But they never got much credit for being real athletes. As in modern times, it was expensive to buy, stable, and train a horse. Jockeys were considered mere employees. The victorious owner, not the jockey, was crowned with the olive wreath.
The real glamour lay in the chariot races. The four-horse chariot race, called the tethrippon, was the real crowd pleaser. According to some accounts, Greek women could vie for the olive wreath in this category as horse owners--though under practically every other circumstance, married women were expressly forbidden to watch the games.
Complaints that the horse races were rigged cropped up frequently. In AD 67, the extravagant and eccentric Roman emperor Nero staged a unique ten-horse chariot race. Judges declared him the winner despite the fact that he fell from his chariot and failed to complete the race. Later historians duly struck Nero's name from the list of champions.
And for the Overachiever . . .
There was the pentathlon--"pent" for five events: sprinting, long jumping, javelin hurling, discus throwing, and wrestling. The philosopher Aristotle called pentathlon competitors the most beautiful athletes of all, since their bodies were "capable of enduring all efforts."
Discus and javelin hurling required balance, agility, and strength. The saucer-shaped discus was more or less a lead or stone Frisbee, while the wood javelin was a six-foot (2-meter) pole with a leather thong near the center to help the hurler keep a firm hold. Long jumpers used barbell-shaped weights called halteres to increase their distance, in a swinging motion physicists say really does work.
The games concluded as they began: with a sacrifice to the gods. Winners returned home to be feted with banquets, parades, and money. Some were even granted free meals for the rest of their lives. The defeated went home in disgrace.
--Claire Vail
Chariots of Fire
Like the fighters and the runners, Greek jockeys also competed sans pants. No saddles or stirrups either. But they never got much credit for being real athletes. As in modern times, it was expensive to buy, stable, and train a horse. Jockeys were considered mere employees. The victorious owner, not the jockey, was crowned with the olive wreath.
The real glamour lay in the chariot races. The four-horse chariot race, called the tethrippon, was the real crowd pleaser. According to some accounts, Greek women could vie for the olive wreath in this category as horse owners--though under practically every other circumstance, married women were expressly forbidden to watch the games.
Complaints that the horse races were rigged cropped up frequently. In AD 67, the extravagant and eccentric Roman emperor Nero staged a unique ten-horse chariot race. Judges declared him the winner despite the fact that he fell from his chariot and failed to complete the race. Later historians duly struck Nero's name from the list of champions.
And for the Overachiever . . .
There was the pentathlon--"pent" for five events: sprinting, long jumping, javelin hurling, discus throwing, and wrestling. The philosopher Aristotle called pentathlon competitors the most beautiful athletes of all, since their bodies were "capable of enduring all efforts."
Discus and javelin hurling required balance, agility, and strength. The saucer-shaped discus was more or less a lead or stone Frisbee, while the wood javelin was a six-foot (2-meter) pole with a leather thong near the center to help the hurler keep a firm hold. Long jumpers used barbell-shaped weights called halteres to increase their distance, in a swinging motion physicists say really does work.
The games concluded as they began: with a sacrifice to the gods. Winners returned home to be feted with banquets, parades, and money. Some were even granted free meals for the rest of their lives. The defeated went home in disgrace.
Read from Claire Vail, Knowledge News
Friday, August 15, 2008
Indian scientist explains Phelps phenomenon
Indian scientist explains Phelps phenomenon-USA-World-The Times of India
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Indian scientist explains Phelps phenomenon-USA-World-The Times of India
Indian scientist explains Phelps phenomenon-USA-World-The Times of India
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Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Beijing Faking Olympics
ABC News: Faking Their Way to a Perfect Olympics
Olympics Ceremony Featured Fake Fireworks, Fake Singer, All in the Name of National Interest src="http://a.abcnews.com/assets/images/showlogos/carousel_nightline_logo.gif" border="0" />
Faking Their Way to a Perfect Olympics
Olympics Ceremony Featured Fake Fireworks, Fake Singer, All in the Name of National Interest src="http://a.abcnews.com/assets/images/showlogos/carousel_nightline_logo.gif" border="0" />
Eager to put on a perfect Olympics, Beijing has swept its streets of fake designer handbags, pirated DVDs and phony corporate logos.
That dedication to authenticity apparently does not extend to Olympics ceremonies.
In recent days the Chinese Olympics organizers have admitted to faking the "footprint" fireworks that dazzled television audiences around the world.
And today they conceded that the perfect little girl who stole the show while singing "Ode to the Motherland" wasn't singing at all. She was lip synching for another little girl who was deemed -- for the good of the country -- not cute enough for China's national image.
For more on this story watch "Nightline" tonight at 11:35 p.m. ET
Fake Fireworks
Part of Friday night's jaw-dropping opening ceremonies revealed sweeping shots of the footprints in the skies over Beijing marching from Tiananmen Square north to the Bird's Nest.
Viewers were led to believe they were synchronized fireworks going off across the city.
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Days later it was revealed that the images were computer generated and were only seen by those watching television. There were actual fireworks in Beijing but viewers didn't see them. Producers were fearful that they wouldn't be able to properly capture the images live on TV.
At a press conference today, Wang Wei, Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games (BOCOG) vice-president and spokesman acknowledged that the fireworks may not have been live.
"On the day of the ceremony there were actual footprint fireworks from the south to the north of the city," Wang said to reporters. "However, because of poor visibility on the night, some previously recorded footage may have been used."
But he did not admit that they were digitally created.
However, the Beijing Times newspaper quoted the head of the ceremony's visual effects team, Gao Xiaolong, saying that a 55-second sequence of steps was digitally recreated because it was impossible to film by helicopter.
Fake Singer Three days after the opening ceremony, the China Daily newspaper headline declared, "Nine-year-old Lin Miaoke becomes instant star with patriotic song."
Her perfect smile and pixie face accompanied by a perfect rendition of "Ode to the Motherland" made her a national sweetheart. Her moment in the spotlight was considered one of the most memorable parts of China's mesmerizing opening.
But a few days later, the musical director of the opening ceremony, Chen Qigang, told Beijing Radio that Lin, who was memorably clad in a red dress and white shoes, did not actually sing "Ode to the Motherland." Lin was lip-synching to another girl's voice.
(Landov/AP Photo/ABC)
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Chen says that an alternative singer was chosen in a last-minute switch.
In the recordings that happened before the opening ceremonies, Chen said, "Lin Maoke's voice didn't quite meet our standard, the breadth and depth wasn't quite up to our standards. So, at last, we decided from a sound perspective to use Yang Peiyi."
But Chen Qigang also suggested, however, that Yang Peiyi wasn't cute enough.
"The performer was Lin Miaoke, but the sound was Yang Peiyi. The reason...is this: One was for the benefit of the country. The child on camera should be flawless in image, internal feelings, and expression, and Lin Miaoke meets our requirements in those aspects."
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"However, from a sound perspective, our entire team unanimously agreed that Yang Peiyi fulfilled all of our requirements and more. She is the best."
But if Yang Peiyi was the best, why was she not on camera? A photo of Yang posted Tuesday on popular Web site Sina.com shows a smiling girl with bangs and crooked teeth.
National Interest
In his interview, Chen claimed that the last minute change-up was a "sad decision that we did not want to make."
In fact, the change happened at such a late notice that Chen said, "The voice that Lin Miaoke heard was actually Yang Peiyi's sound, but she herself may not have realized this."
"We've heard Lin Miaoke's recording," Chen said as he shook his head. "It was played live at a rehearsal. There were many different departments, especially leaders from the Politburo [the Central Communist Party leadership] who all gave us their opinions that it must change. So, we had no choice."
Chen believed that replacing Lin's voice with Yang's was fulfilling an obligation to society. "We have a responsibility to face the Chinese audience," Chen said.
"I think all of the listeners and audience should also understand this situation. This is for the benefit of the country, the national culture. This is the face, the image of the national music culture. Especially the entrance of our national flag, this is an extremely important, extremely serious matter."
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"I think this situation is fair for Lin Miaoke and Yang Peiyi, it's fair for both of them. This is to say, [we] have the best image, and the best sound and we combined the two.
Blogosphere Reacts
Chinese bloggers generally accepted the lip synching and some even approved of it.
"Why was the original girl not on stage? Because she was having dental work done," justified a blogger on Sina.com.
Another blogger wrote, "Fake singing is not good but for the image and interests of the country, fake singing now and again is acceptable."
"On a sidenote, we should recognize that lip synching is in fact a form of art," the same blogger said sarcastically, in an attempt to provoke others.
Others found nothing wrong with the lip-synching.
"Lip synching has been happening for decades. Putting on the best performance we can is the most important. Plus two girls, not just one, got a chance to be famous. Their futures are very bright."
The Associated Press and ABC News' Cao Jun contributed to this story.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Abhinav Bindra Wins Olympic Gold Medal for India after 27 years
Abhinav Bindra Wins First Ever Individual Olympic Gold Medal in Beijing 2008Olympics.Abhinav won the gold in 10m Air Rifle event. Abhinav Bindra scored 700.5 points in the final.Abhinav Bindra achieved the feat beating China and Finland shooters.
Although India had won 8 gold medals in Olympics hockey, it never won any individual gold medals. This is the first time any Indian won a gold medal in an individual event. The last time India had won an Olympic gold medal was in 1980 Moscow Olympics where the hockey team had claimed the gold.
Between 1928-1956 India at the Olympics, won the gold medal consecutively, 6 times. India played 24 Olympic matches, won all 24, scored 178 goals (at an average of 7.43 goals per match) and conceded only 7 goals. The two other gold medals for India came in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and the 1980 Moscow Olympics. For over 20 years, the only triple gold medallists for India were the `Hockey Wizard` Dhyan Chand and goalkeeper Richard James Allen (1928-1936). After the 1956 Olympics, Balbir Singh Sr., Randhir Singh Gentle and Ranganathan Francis became the other triple gold medallists for India (1948-1956).
Although India had won 8 gold medals in Olympics hockey, it never won any individual gold medals. This is the first time any Indian won a gold medal in an individual event. The last time India had won an Olympic gold medal was in 1980 Moscow Olympics where the hockey team had claimed the gold.
Between 1928-1956 India at the Olympics, won the gold medal consecutively, 6 times. India played 24 Olympic matches, won all 24, scored 178 goals (at an average of 7.43 goals per match) and conceded only 7 goals. The two other gold medals for India came in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and the 1980 Moscow Olympics. For over 20 years, the only triple gold medallists for India were the `Hockey Wizard` Dhyan Chand and goalkeeper Richard James Allen (1928-1936). After the 1956 Olympics, Balbir Singh Sr., Randhir Singh Gentle and Ranganathan Francis became the other triple gold medallists for India (1948-1956).
Did Jesus play cricket as a child? Dr Abraham Terian of Hebrew University of Jerusalem says "Yes"
'Jesus played cricket as a child'-Health/Sci-The Times of India
'Jesus played cricket as a child'
10 Aug 2008, 0040 hrs IST,ANI
MELBOURNE: It is possible that cricket, a game venerated all over the Commonwealth, is older than currently thought.
In fact, Jesus may have played the game (or a similar bat-and-ball combination) as a child, according to an ancient Armenian manuscript.
Long before the English launched cricket some 300 years ago, similar games were being played as early as the 8th century in the Punjab region, Derek Birley writes in his Social History of English Cricket.
But an Armenian scholar says there is good reason to believe that similar games were played in the Middle East long before that time.
Dr Abraham Terian, recently a visiting professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem as Fulbright Distinguished Chair in the Humanities, points to a rare manuscript as his source.
Terian notes that in the Armenian Gospel of the Infancy, translated into Armenian in the 6th century from a much older lost Syriac original, a passage tells of Jesus playing what may well be the precursor of cricket, with a club and ball.
Terian, who discovered the manuscript more than a decade ago at the Saint James Armenian Monastery in the Old City of Jerusalem, says he has now identified the same passage in a couple of other manuscripts of the same gospel of which some 40 copies exist in various archival collections in Europe and the Middle East, including the oldest copy now in Yerevan, the capital of the Armenian Republic.
The latter manuscript is dated 1239, whereas the undated Jerusalem manuscript is considerably later.
Quoting from his Armenian source, Terian says the gospel relates how Jesus, at the age of nine, had been
apprenticed to a master dyer named Israel in Tiberias, on the shores of the Sea of Galilee.
"Jesus is instructed to watch Israel's house and not leave the place while the master goes away on a tour to collect clothes to be dyed. But no sooner has Israel left the house, than Jesus runs out with the boys," The Daily Telegraph quoted Terian, as saying.
"The most amazing part of the story of the nine-year-old Jesus playing a form of cricket with the boys at the sea shore, is that he would go on playing the game on water, over the sea waves," he added.
He gives the following translation: "He (Jesus) would take the boys to the seashore and, carrying the playing ball and the club, he would go over the waves of the sea as though he was playing on a frozen surface, hitting the playing ball.
'Jesus played cricket as a child'
10 Aug 2008, 0040 hrs IST,ANI
MELBOURNE: It is possible that cricket, a game venerated all over the Commonwealth, is older than currently thought.
In fact, Jesus may have played the game (or a similar bat-and-ball combination) as a child, according to an ancient Armenian manuscript.
Long before the English launched cricket some 300 years ago, similar games were being played as early as the 8th century in the Punjab region, Derek Birley writes in his Social History of English Cricket.
But an Armenian scholar says there is good reason to believe that similar games were played in the Middle East long before that time.
Dr Abraham Terian, recently a visiting professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem as Fulbright Distinguished Chair in the Humanities, points to a rare manuscript as his source.
Terian notes that in the Armenian Gospel of the Infancy, translated into Armenian in the 6th century from a much older lost Syriac original, a passage tells of Jesus playing what may well be the precursor of cricket, with a club and ball.
Terian, who discovered the manuscript more than a decade ago at the Saint James Armenian Monastery in the Old City of Jerusalem, says he has now identified the same passage in a couple of other manuscripts of the same gospel of which some 40 copies exist in various archival collections in Europe and the Middle East, including the oldest copy now in Yerevan, the capital of the Armenian Republic.
The latter manuscript is dated 1239, whereas the undated Jerusalem manuscript is considerably later.
Quoting from his Armenian source, Terian says the gospel relates how Jesus, at the age of nine, had been
apprenticed to a master dyer named Israel in Tiberias, on the shores of the Sea of Galilee.
"Jesus is instructed to watch Israel's house and not leave the place while the master goes away on a tour to collect clothes to be dyed. But no sooner has Israel left the house, than Jesus runs out with the boys," The Daily Telegraph quoted Terian, as saying.
"The most amazing part of the story of the nine-year-old Jesus playing a form of cricket with the boys at the sea shore, is that he would go on playing the game on water, over the sea waves," he added.
He gives the following translation: "He (Jesus) would take the boys to the seashore and, carrying the playing ball and the club, he would go over the waves of the sea as though he was playing on a frozen surface, hitting the playing ball.
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