CHINA DAILY FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2012 olympics 3 Another brutal setback off track ... EASY RIDER

A Chinese farmer said for Chinese gymnastics on Thursday he spent two years riding nearly 40,000 miles (60,000 kilometers) through 16 Teng forced to countries on a rickshaw to reach in time withdraw with for the Olympic Games. Chen Guanming, 57, injury; Guo will said his goal had been to “spread the Olympic be replacement spirit” on his journey through war zones, By CHEN XIANGFENG fl oods, and extreme in London temperatures in coun- [email protected] tries including Turkey and Iraq. Just because it’s bad for “During this rickshaw doesn’t mean it’s good for Japan. journey, I’ve travelled Japan, which won the team silver through 16 countries, at the 2010 and 2011 World Cham- and a distance of more pionships behind China, wasn’t than 40,000 miles,” Chen told AFP in London’s central Soho cheering after Teng Haibin’s last- district, a day before the Games begin. minute withdrawal from the London “I wanted to arrive on time for the opening ceremony. I had Games. to face both fl oods and very hot and dry conditions.” Instead, head coach Tomita He added: “Londoners are very welcoming, the city is wel- Hiroyuki asked his athletes to remain coming the whole world in a very nice way.” focused. It was not possible to independently verify his account of his “(I do not care) who is injured and journey or how he managed to go through so many countries. pulls out of the Games. What we But the BBC showed footage of Chen displaying a passport should do is focus on the competi- fi lled with visas allowing him entry to countries along the route, tions,” Hiroyuki said. as well as pictures of him with his three-wheeled vehicle at sev- “Th ere are not many diff erences eral international landmarks. between Japan, China and the US, YouTube footage also appeared to show him in in May. so it comes down to eliminating mis- He told the BBC he was inspired to make the journey while takes in the team competition. Th e watching London Mayor Boris Johnson accept the Olympic Japanese team won the gold medal fl ag from inside the Bird’s Nest stadium in at the 2008 closing ceremony. in Athens in 2004, and it feels the same here.” It was a dramatic turn of events for LATE-NIGHT FIREWORKS Teng and his replacement, Guo Wei- yang, as their worlds were upended just two days before the opening It was a midnight Olympic light show — unexpected and free ceremony. — for residents of London’s Stratford area. Teng, the 2004 Olympic pommel A technical rehearsal for the opening ceremony wrapped up horse champion, was forced to with- past midnight with two minutes of fi reworks early on Thursday over the Olympic Stadium, a spectacular (if loud) treat for the draw aft er suff ering a pulled muscle neighborhood that adjoins Olympic Park. On Stratford’s High in his forearm. Guo, a 2011 World Street, people making their way home stopped, looked up and Championship team winner, fell into oohed and ahhed. the vacated slot. Will it off set the expected gridlock they’re girding for in their Teng and his teammates were in community? Maybe not. But it was a nice late-night gift for tears. those out and about late. Teng wrote on his micro blog that he was grateful for the support and had tried to hold on until the last RISE AND SHINE moment. “Thank you for your support Lots of visitors were up and at it early. But then again, it was and encouragement, thank you my easy to be fresh in the morning. brothers for all your comfort, thank Why? Because most pubs in London close between 11 pm JULIE JACOBSON / you to the leadership for your trust and midnight — far earlier than much of the world is used to. in giving me the opportunity so I can China’s Teng Haibin prepares to practice during a training session at the London Olympics on Wednesday. Teng, the 2004 Olympic pommel horse champion, was replaced by Guo Weiyang after he injured his left arm. That’s old news to the locals, but it was a bit of a bummer to fi ght for the dream with the last ves- visitors who were just getting warmed up at that hour. tige of my strength,” he wrote. “Rest Maybe it was a blessing, though. With the Olympic torch hit- assured I will be strong. I will be fuel letes shouldered China’s gymnastics ting central London on Thursday and due to pass many land- for my brothers! I will stand together hopes the past 12 years. Let’s give marks, navigating was sure to be tricky and probably best done with you, fi ghting with you!” him a big hand.” without a pounding headache. Guo wrote one sentence on his Th e loss of Teng is a blow to the own micro blog: “London, I’m com- Chinese men, who will be in a tough ing.” battle to defend their Olympic team MINISTERS BET Guo was training in Northern Ire- competition title. Teng, the 2003 land when he got the news. world champion and 2004 Olympic Britain’s sports minister will be forced to put on an Australia He said he has remained in good champion on the pommel horse, was hockey shirt and knock a ball around central London if the host shape. expected to contribute strong scores nation fails to win more gold medals than its former colony at “I have been systematically train- in that event and the parallel bars. the Olympics, his Australian counterpart said on Thursday. ing in Northern Ireland and kept Teng famously performed disas- Kate Lundy, Australia’s sports minister, told a news confer- in good form,” he said. “I have no trously during the team fi nals at the ence at Olympic Park that she had made a bet with Hugh problem competing. I will try my 2004 Olympics in Athens, where Robertson on which of the nations would fi nish higher on the best to deliver something for the China finished out of the medals. medal table. men’s team.” He failed to make the team in 2008, “It’s all in good humor, of course, both of us play a little bit of Some former teammates were but returned to help China win the sport and so if we come out on top, he will don a Kookaburra regretful. 2010 and 2011 Worlds. shirt and a hockey stick and dribble a ball around Australia “It’s big loss for everyone,” said According to a public poll on House right in the center of London,” she said. former women’s Olympic and world Sohu.com, 53 percent of respon- I have no problem competing. I will try my best to de- “If the result goes the other way, I have to wear a Stella champion Liu Xuan. “I watched dents said they trusted Guo, believ- McCartney Union Jack T-shirt and row a length of the lake at him train before they left for Lon- ing he is as competent as Teng. liver something for the men’s team.” the Olympic venue at Eton Dorney.” At the last Olympics in Beijing, Britain (fourth) fi nished don. It should have been his third Only 22 percent said they were not GUO WEIYANG, Olympic Games. It’s not easy for confi dent in his abilities and are con- MEMBER OF THE 2011 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS TEAM TITLE WINNER, ON HIS SUDDEN INCLU- above Australia (sixth) on the medal table for the fi rst time him. He and the other veteran ath- cerned about the team’s prospects. SION IN THE OLYMPICS since the 1988 Seoul Games.

behind Park at Beijing. Sun’s got the talent, but does he have the heart? Cotterell has picked up ‘‘ enough Mandarin to conduct basic training sessions, but relies By in London ting his Chinese paymasters. smash Hackett’s decade-long 1,500 world me interested in the Games. It’s re-affi rm- on translators to help communi- He cannot help but lavish praise on record in the World Championship fi nal ing that my program is still valid and that cate the deeper messages to his Proud and patriotic, China’s Sun Yang is the rangy pin-up boy of Chinese swim- in Sun’s home pool at