Ü9]abaf_ÜFdqeha[ÜJYadaf_ÜI]_YllY 9]abaf_ Fdqeeha[ÜJYadaf__ÜI]_YllY 24 FRIDAY AUGUST 22, 2008 Olympic British continue to shine park gives has long been the most infl u- “I don’t take the results all too the feeling of Percy, Simpson win Star class, ential person in my sailing seriously,” he added. career,” said Simpson. Percy and Simpson have their nation’s fourth gold in sailing He then chose the highly tech- worked well as a team since a ‘champion’ nical Finn class to herald in his joining forces at the beginning By Zhang Ying Steve Mitchell. professional career, achieving im- of 2007, winning a bronze medal By Zhang Xiaomin “It’s been a killer four years pressive results, including gold at in their fi rst major test, the ISAF and I am so glad it’s behind the 2003 Finn US Nationals. World Championships, and fi n- QINGDAO: Iain Percy and me.” His teammate Percy said the ishing sixth in the test event QINGDAO: The theme park Andrew Simpson capped a Brazil’s Robert Scheidt unpredictability of the wind is held in Qingdao a year ago. in the Olympic Sailing Cen- superb Olympic regatta for and Bruno Prada took silver the toughest part of the sport. Percy was then eagerly ter has become a popular Britain, winning the Star class and Fredrik Loof and Anders The 32-year-old Percy is looking forward to adding to recreation site for residents, to secure a fourth sailing gold Ekstrom of Sweden won bronze one of Britain’s most success- his Olympic medal collection, sailors and tourists to feel for the 2012 Games host. in the fi nal race of the regatta. ful sailors with titles under while Simpson was intent on the charm of the Games in Britain fi nished the Qingdao Simpson said the need for fl ex- the belt that include gold in triumph in his first Olympic Qingdao, the host city of the regatta as the top sailing nation ibility during competition is the the Finn class from the 2000 foray in Qingdao. Olympic Sailing Regatta. for the third straight Olympics greatest challenge because the Sydney Olympics. Simpson will compete in Brit- The park has attracted with a haul of six medals. weather is so unpredictable. Percy turned professional ain’s challenge for the America’s more than 100,000 people Percy, 32, won gold in the After starting sailing at age in 1998 and represented his Cup next year along with Ben since opening to the public Finn dinghy in 2000 but said 6 with his father, Simpson soon homeland at the Olympics just Ainslie, the 2008 Olympic gold on Aug 10. this triumph was “sweeter”. decided it was his passion. He two years later. He was honored medalist in the Finn class, who Covering more than 10,000 “It was unbelievable, so spe- was spotted by coach Jim by the Queen with a Member of was named skipper of Team sq m, it is adjacent to Qingd- cial. We felt good this morn- Saltonstall, who brought out the Order of the British Empire Origin, the boat to be used in ao’s famous May 4th Square ing, I knew we weren’t going the best in talented Simpson (MBE) for his gold in Sydney. Britain’s campaign. and the Music Square to the to bottle it and we didn’t,” and made it fun for the young Contemplating his own west. said Percy, who was sixth in sailor. strengths in sailing yesterday, Agencies contributed to the One of its attractions is the the Star in Athens along with “He taught me so much and Percy said he is “level headed”. story 6m-hign torch at the end of the Olympic Memorial Dock, which flies the Olympic and national flags on both sides. Spanish pair secure Tornado gold The torch, lighted when the sailing competition began on Aug 9, is used as a popular QINGDAO: Spain’s Fernando tourist photo backdrop. Echavarri and Anton Paz held From the park, visitors their nerve in choppy seas to have a close view of the sail- win gold in the Tornado yes- ors launching their boats and terday, possibly the last time returning. They can also take the class will appear in the part in various entertain- Olympics. ment and sports activities Australia’s Darren Bundock organized by the Olympic and Glenn Ashby won silver partners and sponsors. and Argentina’s Santiago In the Haier interactive Lange and Carlos Espinola experience venues, children took bronze. are enthralled by tennis The Spaniards, eighth and table tennis computer in Athens four years ago, games. There is usually a led their Australian rivals long queue waiting at a simu- by three points going into lated podium for the Olympic the medal race but a fourth medal ceremony. Wearing a place in gusting winds on gold medal and the uniform Thursday, with Bundock and of the Chinese team, people Ashby fifth, was enough to experience the excitement take gold. of being an Olympic gold “After 10 years of training, we medalist. fi nally got our fi rst Olympic med- “I felt excited when I was al,” Echavarri told reporters. Fernando Echavarri (left) and Anton Paz of Spain compete in Tornado Class. Ju Chuanjiang standing on the podium “We feel like we’re the lucki- with my son,” said Liu Hon- est here. We’ve been winning under. But it was really breezy Olympic boat since 1976 and ar- appealed to CAS asking that gtao, holding his baby in his championships and regattas, out there.” guably the most spectacular of Denmark’s 49er team be dis- arms. but this is the most important Twice Olympic champions the Olympic fl eet, it was left out qualifi ed from gold following “I think he can be an win of them all.” Roman Hagara and Hans of the London 2012 schedule. a controversial medal race on Olympic winner when he Bundock, who also won Peter Steinacher of Austria, Spain’s Tornado triumph Sunday. Spain’s Iker Martinez grows up,” he added. Olympic Tornado silver in 2000 winners in Sydney and Ath- was the country’s fi rst gold of and Xavier Fernandez are in Beer Square is a brew- along with John Forbes, said a ens, sneaked into the medal the regatta, although it could silver position. lover’s paradise, where tour- disastrous start to the medal race after a disappointing yet be awarded a second by the The Danes took gold after bor- ists can taste fresh Tsingtao race proved costly. preliminary series and fin- Court of Arbitration for Sport rowing a boat from the Croatian while appreciating the Olym- “We stuffed up at the start ished ninth overall. (CAS). team after their mast snapped pic competition and the latest and we parked,” he said. The Qingdao regatta is the The Spanish Olympic Com- on the way to the start. news on big TV screens. “We broke our mast swivel last Games for the Tornado class mittee (COE), along with “I like the feeling here. I and that’s OK in 5 knots or for the foreseeable future. An its Italian counterparts, has Agencies like the beer. When you are in Qingdao, it is impossible that you do not have a taste of Tsingtao Beer,” said Jiang Da- Qingdao residents devoted to Games wei from Jiangsu province. Visitors can also buy au- By Huang Yanhong is “cheering the Olympics with “It is a pity that I could not Olympic areas,” said Wang. thorized Olympic souvenirs and Guo Xin our songs”. cheer for the Chinese sailors Qingdao has 2,100 Games in the park’s licensed shop “We prepared more than 10 competing on the venues,” he volunteers, 1,000 city vol- and appreciate a photograph English songs. When the for- said. unteers and 10,000 social exhibition that captures mo- QINGDAO: “I am so happy to eign visitors pass by, hearing “But what I can do is to work volunteers. ments in the 2006 and 2007 have the chance to participate us singing English songs, they well, presenting the passengers The number who registered Qingdao International Sail- in the Olympics in my home- joined us,” said Zhong. my best service and taking all to be volunteers reached ing Regatta. town in my old age,” 71-year- Citizens like Zhong partici- of them safely to their destina- 420,000 for the Olympics and Another highlight of the old Zhong Yumin told China pating in the Olympics with tions,” he said. Paralympics. theme park is the interna- Daily. their own ways can be seen When city volunteer Wang As the Games approaches its tional sculpture tour exhi- “It is really a once-in-a-life- throughout Qingdao. Tiantian arrives at her work end, citizens’ smiles, civilized bition, which was moved time opportunity,” she added. Shang Jieqing, a quality place at the No 2 gate of the manners and enthusiasm have around the world to Hong “I like singing very much. Ev- inspector for Haier Group, has Qingdao Olympic Sailing Cen- left deep impressions on the Kong, Seoul, Washington, ery morning I join the amateur been learning English in her ter, the furnishings are very athletes, company offi cials and Chicago and 23 other cit- choir to sing for the Olympics at spare time over a year. simple — one desk and four the overseas media. ies. It presents more than Music Square,” she said. “The Olympics presents chairs under an awning. Hein Verbruggen, chairman 100 pieces created by well- “I just want to participate in Qingdao the opportunity to be- Wang is a sophomore of Qin- of the International Olympic known sculptors from nearly the Olympics in the best way I come internationally famous.