China Daily 0725 C6.Indd

6 olympics WEDNESDAY, JULY 25, 2012 CHINA DAILY briefl y ATHLETICS Idowu called to explain injury British triple jumper Phil- lips Idowu has been asked to account for an injury that has clouded his Games build-up. The 33-year-old, a silver medalist in Beijing in 2008, failed to travel to a pre-Games camp in Portugal on Monday. That has led to the British Olympic Association to ask him to explain why he missed the trip and to clarify his injury. CYCLING Evans ready to ride in London Former Tour de France win- ner Cadel Evans has arrived in Britain and declared himself ready to get back on his bike for Australia at the London Olym- pics despite his disappointing defense of the yellow jersey. Evans finished seventh in Paris on Sunday as Bradley Wiggins gave the Olympic host a pre-Games boost by becom- ing the fi rst British rider to win the endurance classic. “The Tour has been tiring for us and my Tour wasn’t up FRIENDS UNTIL THEY GET WET to my expectations, or anyone’s expectations, but for us eight PHOTO BY DAVID GRAY / REUTERS days is a lot of recovery,” Evans said upon arrival in Britain. Michael Phelps (left ) and Ryan Lochte chat during a training session on Tuesday for the US swimming team at the main pool of the Aquatics Centre as they prepare for the London 2012 Olympic Games. Th e Phelps-Lochte rivalry in the pool is one of the most anticipated highlights of the Injured cyclist to Games. Th ey’ll get the chance to test each other quickly — their fi rst meeting will come on Saturday in the 400m individual medley. skip Olympics Polish road cyclist and medal hopeful Maja Wloszczowska will skip the Olympics because of a foot injury. Her doctor, Krzysztof Ficek, said on Monday that tests in Poland showed the 2010 world champion and Beijing silver medalist had two broken bones The real home of the Games and torn tendons in her right foot. He says the injuries make it impossible for Wloszczowska to take part in the Olympics. encouragement of his school. Th e 28-year-old cyclist injured English town of Much Wenlock “There is a bridge between her right foot on Friday during begat the modern Olympics this and the Olympics,” he said. training in Italy. “It is good for juniors and other BADMINTON By CECILY LIU and Paralympic Games named people who cannot participate Lee’s fi tness in Shropshire, England the offi cial 2012 Olympics mas- in the Olympics to come here.” [email protected] cot Wenlock. Competing in junior school a state secret Simon MacVicker, chair- biathlon is Maddie Wong, a Th e fi tness of Olympic bad- While London’s Olympics man of the Wenlock Olym- 14-year-old second-generation minton silver medalist Lee Chong Wei is a state “secret” are just over a week away, the pian Society, said the Wenlock immigrant from Hong Kong. that cannot be revealed before 700-year-old English town of Olympian Games have under- “I enjoy the atmosphere,” the Games, according to Malay- Much Wenlock is celebrating gone signifi cant changes over she said. “Last year, there was sia’s chef de mission. the 126th edition of its own the years to include 24 sporting a small amount of people, but The top seed Lee, Malay- Olympics. events, 500 volunteers, 3,000 this year, they have more par- sia’s brightest hope of a maid- en Olympic gold medal, has With young athletes running, athletes and 3,000 spectators. ticipants, maybe because of the been battling to get back to spectators shouting and medals Biathlon and equestrian were Olympics.” peak form for the July 28-Aug waiting to be given, the scene is added two years ago, and mara- The Wenlock Olympics is 5 tournament at Wembley reminiscent of the real Games. thon and gliding were added held on three consecutive Sat- Arena since injuring an ankle The resemblance is not an this year. urdays in July. To celebrate its during a Th omas Cup match in May. accident. Much Wenlock is the “We’re very much taking link with the London Olym- “He is here. I cannot tell you birthplace of the modern Olym- things forward,” MacVicker pics, the town put on a variety about his form, but he is here,” pics. said. “Th is is very much a living WANG YU FOR CHINA DAILY of music, arts and entertain- Malaysia chef de mission Tun Th e link dates back to Wil- game, not just a historical soci- Organizers off er a donkey ride for children as a part of a festival to celebrate Much Wenlock’s link ment on the second Saturday. Ahmad Sarji said. liam Penny Brookes, a doctor ety looking at the old times.” to the London Olympics. Another highlight was a per- WALKING in the town 200 kilometers But some traditions con- formance of the play Much Ado northwest of London, who tinue. Because Brookes hoped June, the team completes its Another link between the two and will represent Britain in About Wenlock, a retelling of Chinese walkers believed in the benefits of sports would benefi t everyone, administration work, seeks Olympics is that some previ- London this year. Brookes’ story in front of his old on right path physical exercise for “every not just the elites, the Wenlock permission to use public facili- ous competitors at the Wenlock “She is a great friend of house, performed by five stu- Chinese race walkers are on grade of man”. Olympian Games allow anyone ties and updates its website. In Olympian Games later went on our society, and we wish her dents from the William Brookes track to shine at the London In 1850, Brookes set up the to enter on a fi rst-come, fi rst- June and July, the focus shift s to participate in the Olympics. the very best for the Games,” School. Games, according to their Ital- annual Wenlock Olympian served basis. to details like buying bottled Harold Langley, a Birming- MacVicker said. Much Wenlock, a remote ian coach, Sandro Damilano. Games featuring soccer, run- “In all events, you’ll see some water, briefing the volunteers ham resident who won the Fourteen-year-old swimmer town with winding streets, tra- Damilano, 62, a coach immersed in race walking for ning and hopping. His ideas beginners, you’ll see some peo- and putting in place temporary Wenlock pentathlon gold in Oliver Preece from Th omas Til- ditional white-and-black tim- nearly 40 years, was confi dent significantly influenced the ple doing better, but everybody car parks. 1923, represented Britain in the ford School already has Olym- ber beamed houses and lime- that the four Chinese athletes French aristocrat Baron Pierre is welcome,” MacVicker said. “Some people just come to triple jump at the 1924 Paris pic dreams and trains seven stone cottages, was scarcely he has been training over the de Coubertin, who subsequent- As the Wenlock Olympian enjoy a day out. Other people Olympics. times a week.“I am working known until 1990, when a vis- past three years are physically, ly led the revival of the modern Games are a massive event for a see it as a proper sports event. Alison Williamson, who really hard,” he said. “Hopefully, iting academic studying Olym- mentally and technically pre- pared for the Olympics. Olympics in Athens in 1896. town of 2,500, a team of 30 com- It’s not the same as getting to received a silver medal in Much I am on my way.” pic history went through a box “I did change a lot about To celebrate Brookes’ impor- mittee members have to start London, but in a small way, Wenlock in 1981 at the age of Th is year is Preece’s fi rst time of letters between Brookes and them, both technically and tant role, the London Organiz- preparations every September. people feel they’re a part of that,” 10, later won bronze in archery competing in the Wenlock De Coubertin and publicized mentally, and also their way ing Committee of the Olympic From September to early MacVicker said. at the 2004 Athens Olympics Olympian Games, with the its links with the Olympics. of living life. I believe we did a good job and I think we can hope to see them do really well in London,” he said. AP—REUTERS —AFP— Democracy comes fi rst for volleyball boss XINHUA By REUTERS supervise the most democratic the sport at a high level with the you just need a sand pit, a net in Lausanne, Switzerland elections in the history of the Nanjing University team. and a ball and you can play,” he FIVB,” said Wei, a sprightly “I wanted to limit the term of said. Volleyball’s governing body 75-year-old who was formerly future FIVB presidents, but the Wei said that the FIVB was had only two presidents for the head of the Asian Volleyball executive committee would not still searching for the right kind fi rst 51 years of its existence, so Confederation. Since I am not looking agree to that.” of technology to help referees it was something of a surprise “I think it’s the right thing to Doug Beal of the United States, make decisions. when the current incumbent do, to show that now we are a to be re-elected, I can Ary Graca of Brazil and Austra- Th e Hawkeye system used in said he would give up his post truly democratic organization.” ‘organize‘ and supervise lia’s Chris Schacht will be standing tennis was too expensive and the aft er only one term.

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