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Who's carrying Old Glory tonight? Georgian-American Khatuna Lorig, that's who.

August 24, 2008 9:01 AM

By Jo Ling Kent, ABC News Beijing Bureau

Hailing from the great melting pot of immigrants, Team USA cares about major events happening in the world today and hasn't been shy about making a statement about them in Beijing. Bookended by Sudanese-American and Georgian-American flag bearers at the opening and closing ceremonies, this Olympics is clearly about more than just sports for Americans.

Just 13 months after he became an American citizen, Sudanese-American Lopez Lomong, a middle distance runner and a former lost boy of Sudan's civil war, marched into the opening ceremonies waving the Stars and Stripes.

Tonight, three-time Olympian archer originally from the Republic of Georgia, Khatuna Lorig will lead her teammates out.

Just as they did for Lomong, captains from U.S. sports team met in the Athlete's Village on Friday and voted for the Tblisi-born archer to carry the flag.

"Being named the U.S. flag bearer for the Closing Ceremony is almost like winning a gold medal, maybe even better," Lorig said in a statement. "I thought I could win a gold medal in competition, but I never thought I'd have this opportunity. I am truly, truly so proud to be an American citizen and part of the U.S. Olympic Team."

Lorig is one of nine foreign-born athletes competing for the United States and one of a few athletes ever to have represented three different countries in four Olympics.

In the 1992 Barcelona Games, Lorig competed for the Unified Team of former Soviet republics, for whom she won the bronze medal in the team competition.  In 1996 and 2000, she represented her home country of Georgia – the country, not the state.

Following Sydney in 2000, Lorig immigrated to the United States. She didn't obtain her American citizen in time to represent Team USA and didn't make the Georgian team. As a result, Lorig sat out of the 2004 Athens games.  By the time the 2008 Olympic trials rolled around, Lorig was a naturalized American citizen and made Team USA.

Here in Beijing, Lorig – the 26th seed -  advanced to the quarterfinals of the women's archery individual elimination round by upsetting the No. 10 seed Ana Maria Rendon of Columbia. She went on to lose to Korean world record holder Yun Ok-Hee, who eventually won the bronze medal.

Beijing is not the last time Lorig will represent the United States. She and her husband, fellow archer Archil Onashvili, hope to compete together at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

"I wouldn't want to compete for any other country," she said.

August 24, 2008 in Jo Ling Kent | Permalink | User Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

IOC President Tells Jamaican 'Showbolt' to Simmer Down, Carl Lewis Says He's Just Young

August 21, 2008 8:46 AM

By JO LING KENT, ABC News Beijing

In case you haven't heard, Usain Bolt is kind of a big deal – and the Olympic champ knows it. In the 100-meter and 200-meter races, Bolt not only won both golds but also set two world records in the process, becoming the first man in history to accomplish such a feat.

With a huge lead in the final 20 meters of Saturday's 100-meter final, Bolt slowed down, outstretched his arms, and fist-bumped his chest before crossing the finish line in a world record time of 9.69 seconds. The crowd, caught up in the heat of the moment, ate it up.

On Wednesday in the 200-meter final, Bolt thrilled the crowd again. He broke American Michael Johnson's 12-year-old record, wrapped himself in a Jamaican flag, and immediately began galloping around the track on his victory lap. Moving to reggae music, he peered into a television camera yelling, "I am No. 1!"

For his fans in the Bird's Nest and around the world, Bolt's celebrations were a welcome theatrical addition to one of the most popular events at the Olympics. But in the eyes of others, Bolt - or "Showbolt" as some fondly call him here in the ABC News' Beijing bureau - may have gone a little too far.

The criticism came straight from the top. Today, the president of the International Olympics Committee, Jacques Rogge, chided Bolt for showing what he thought was a lack of respect to other competitors after his record-breaking gold medal performances.

Of course, Rogge first hailed Bolt's impressive achievements in the two sprints and compared him to American track and field legend Jesse Owens.

"Bolt is in another dimension in sprints," Rogge said in a news conference. "Bolt must be considered now the same way like Jesse Owens should have been in the 1930s."

But as for Bolt's post-race celebration, Rogge said, "That's not the way we perceive being a champion."

"I have no problem with him doing a show," the IOC chief told the Associated Press. "I think he should show more respect for his competitors and shake hands, give a tap on the shoulder to the other ones immediately after the finish and not make gestures like the one he made in the 100 meters."

"I understand the joy," Rogge continued. "He might have interpreted that in another way, but the way it was perceived was 'catch me if you can.' You don't do that. But he'll learn. He's still a young man."

He is a young man indeed. Today is Bolt's 22nd birthday. He certainly has a lot to celebrate, but Rogge is hoping he'll simmer down.

"He still has to mature," Rogge said. "I would love him to show more respect for his competitors. That's not the way we perceive being a champion. But he will learn in time. He should shake hands with his competitors and not ignore them. He'll learn that sooner or later. But [he's] a great athlete, of course."

Bolt is the first man since Carl Lewis in 1984 to win the 100-meter and 200-meter gold medals at a single Olympics. Jesse Owens did the same at the 1936 Berlin Games, snagging long jump and relay gold medals as well.

Lewis, who is in Beijing rooting for American athletes, told ABC News today, "I think everybody gets caught up in the heat of it sometimes, especially when you're young."

"You can't always talk down to [young people] so I think it was a good message saying, 'Hey, be mindful of that.'"

Whether or not Bolt will heed Rogge's advice is neither here nor there. After all, today's his birthday and he'll do what he wants.

The Associated Press contributed reporting to this story.

August 21, 2008 in Jo Ling Kent | Permalink | User Comments (95) | TrackBack (0)

Ready for vacation but Phelps has no plans to retire

August 18, 2008 5:00 AM

By Jo Ling Kent, ABC News Beijing

The number 8 is a lucky number here in China. Sunday, with eight gold medals in hand, Michael Phelps agreed.

"I guess it's a lucky number for me now too," Phelps said at a news conference this afternoon. "Seeing 8/8/08 and the opening ceremonies starting at 8:08, I guess it was meant to be."

Over the past 9 days, Phelps has also set seven world records and an Olympic record.

Chinese fans are calling him the "Forrest Gump of the swimming pool" and an "alien from the same speed-breeding planet as 100-meter track gold medalist Jamaican Usain Bolt."

Phelps chalked up his success to luck and a great deal of preparation. "For this to happen, everything had to fall into perfect place," he said.

Phelps and his coach Bob Bowman called Phelps's rigorous training program for the Beijing Olympics "putting money in the bank."

"I guess I put a lot of money in the bank over the last four years and we withdrew pretty much every penny in the bank," he said.

Phelps's recovery routine between races was also integral to his week-long success.

After the 200-meter individual medley, Phelps recalled being exhausted to the core. To recharge, Phelps said he did nothing but focus on bouncing back with sleep, movie-watching, ice baths, massages, and "eating right." The downtime allowed him to bounce back in time for his 100-meter fly semi-final race.

"The only thing that I would have wanted to change was the 200 fly. I think I could have gone faster in that event. It was a wardrobe malfunction," Phelps said, referring to his cracked goggles that blocked his vision. Despite the physical obstacle, Phelps won a gold medal.

Next Stop: Rome

What will Phelps do with all his gold medals? He isn't going to Disneyland but he's eagerly anticipating time with his mother and sisters and heading home for a much-needed vacation. Phelps will remain in Beijing until August 21 at which point he will return home to his hometown of Baltimore.

"I can't wait to get back home...I want to lay in my own bed for five minutes, at least," Phelps said. "I'm going to take a vacation where I won't do anything and I'll sit around...be on my clock and be able to have some fun and hang out with my friends."

As for his illustrious swimming career, Phelps is not retiring anytime soon. "There are still some things I want to do. I want to raise the bar of swimming more," he said Sunday after picking up his eighth gold medal in Beijing.

"After [coach] Bob and I both have a little break, it'll be time to start re-depositing," Phelps said, invoking his banking metaphor for training.

Fans can expect to see Phelps in next year's U.S. national championships in Indianapolis and world championships in Rome. "My mom just told me I better make the team because she wants to go to Rome."

ABC News' Alex Stone contributed reporting to this story.

August 18, 2008 in Jo Ling Kent | Permalink | User Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)

China Gets Tough On Olympic Cheats

August 15, 2008 10:58 AM

By Jo Ling Kent, ABC News Beijing

As the Chinese love to say (and sing) about their Olympics: they are ready. Ready for competitions, ready for tourists and – yes – even ready for doping athletes.

The China Anti-Doping Agency, the largest center of its kind in the world, was established in Beijing in 2007 to enforce what International Olympic Committee (IOC) president acques Rogge said would be a "zero-tolerance" policy on doping. And this week, the agency is officially open for business.

Today in Beijing, two athletes -- a North Korean shooter and a Vietnamese gymnast -- were disqualified from the Games for failing doping tests administered as part of what organizers claim will be the most comprehensively monitored Games ever.

This morning, the IOC announced that North Korean shooter Kim Jong Su was stripped of his silver medal in the 50-meter pistol and bronze in the 10-meter air pistol after testing positive for propranolol.

This morning, the IOC announced that North Korean shooter Kim Jong Su was stripped of his silver medal in the 50-meter pistol and bronze in the 10-meter air pistol after testing positive for propranolol, a calming drug that lowers heart rate and blood pressure.

Vietnamese gymnast Thi Ngan Thuong Do, who finished last in the women's gymnastics floor exercise, was also disqualified after testing positive for the diuretic furosemide. Both of the athletes were disqualified and banned from the Beijing Games, effective immediately.

This brings the total number of athletes disqualified thus far from these Games to three. On Monday, Spanish cyclist Maria Isabel Moreno, 27, was Beijing's first competitor to fail a drug test, just hours after her arrival. She was immediately sent back to Spain. Experts and test administrators at the anti-doping agency expect to conduct approximately 4,500 tests in Beijing, inside and outside of competition.

The testing comes as no surprise. IOC president Jacques Rogge signaled early on that the doping would be aggressively investigated in Beijing. At the opening ceremonies, he not-so-subtly reminded athletes that doping of any kind was unacceptable. He said, "Remember that you are role models for the youth of the world. Reject doping and cheating. Make us proud of your achievements and your conduct."

In the Chinese blogosphere, there's been almost no buzz about the anti-doping incidents that unfolded today. Newspapers and magazines have yet to cover it. In general, fans seem to be fixated with Michael Phelps's sixth gold medal today and the American women's gymnastics domination of the medals podium. Today was an uncharacteristically slow day for Chinese gold medals. So far, they've picked up only two -- one in judo and another in women's weightlifting.

Photo Credit: Associated Press

August 15, 2008 in Jo Ling Kent | Permalink | User Comments (22) | TrackBack (0)

Day 3 at the Olympics

August 10, 2008 10:36 AM

Jo Ling Kent, ABC News, Beijing

The sheets of rain in Beijing today didn't stop the Olympic drama from spilling out from every direction. Americans set world records in speed and age in the Water Cube, China tightened security in Beijing, and more protestors were carted away.

Phelps Wins, Anthem Cuts Off, Torres Sets Age Record

Michael Phelps swam his way to his first gold medal today in the futuristic, glowing blue Water Cube, smashing his own world record in the 400-meter individual medley. President George W. Bush Bush, who was in attendance with his father President George H.W. Bush, stood up and gave Phelps a double thumbs up from the stands as thousands of fans went wild.

After Phelps won the first of what many anticipate will be eight gold medals in swimming, he put his hand on his heart and began singing along to the United States national anthem. Just as the anthem was concluding, the notes were unexpectedly cut off with twenty seconds remaining. Phelps, with tears streaming down his cheeks, broke out into a good-natured smile during the awkward silence. When it seemed that the music would not continue, the crowd roared with applause and the three medalists gathered for photos.

The Associated Press reported that after spectators left the Water Cube, the U.S. anthem was played again in full to prevent any future mishaps.

Dara Torres, a 41-year-old American mother, also set an impressive record of her own when she took home a silver medal in the 400 meter freestyle.  Torres became the oldest athlete to win an Olympic swimming medal in history.

"The water doesn't really know what age you are," she told reporters.

More Tiananmen Square Protests

On the same day President Bush met with Chinese President Hu Jintao, protestors yet again made their cases known at Tiananmen Square. This afternoon, five activists, including a Tibetan woman from Germany, 21-year-old Padma-Dolma Fielitz, staged a free Tibet protest waving a Tibetan flag just outside of Tiananmen Square. This protest was the first to have included someone from Tibet, according to a press release from the organization, Students for a Free Tibet.

The other four protestors, who were all American, and Feilitz were detained by Chinese authorities. One of the activists was John Hocevar of Austin, Texas who had been in Beijing since August 4 blogging about Tibet for the Wall Street Journal and other outlets. He is the founding director of Students for a Free Tibet.

Across town this morning, a Chinese Christian activist was reportedly detained while riding his bike to attend a service at Kuan Jie Protestant Church, which President Bush also attended.

"I told him not to go because it's during the Olympic Games and this period is sensitive," Hua Huilin told the Associated Press over the phone. "But he was determined to go because he said that church was where he was baptized. So I went with him hoping to protect him."

The line was disconnected three times during Hua's conversation, a sign that authorities were monitoring the call, said the Associated Press.

The string of protests and activism during the Olympics thus far has Beijing security and police forces on high alert. According to the Associated Press, the phone call with Hua was disconnected on three occasions, signaling that the conversation was monitored.

Official visit to American family

As the authorities crawled the streets for protestors, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei visited the victims of yesterday's attack at the Drum Tower, which left a relative of a U.S. men's volleyball coach dead. He Yafei visited the hospital to the victim's wife and the Chinese tourguide, who were both injured in the attack.

"Relevant law enforcement departments had started investigation and would promptly handle the case in according with the Chinese law," said He. Beijing has announced they have further tightened security for the Games and declared the incident a random act of violence.

The dark clouds that hung over Beijing today finally exploded in sheets rain this afternoon. The heavy showers continued into the evening as China hit the basketball court versus Team USA in the most anticipated match thus far in the Games.

August 10, 2008 in Jo Ling Kent | Permalink | User Comments (3) | TrackBack (0)

Tragedy Strikes on Second Day of Beijing Olympics

August 09, 2008 11:05 AM

Jo Ling Kent, ABC News, Beijing

The celebratory atmosphere of the Olympics quickly took a turn for the worse on Day 2 with the news of a double stabbing in central Beijing Saturday afternoon. Two American family members of a coach of the U.S. men's indoor volleyball team and their Chinese tour guide were attacked in central Beijing at 12:20 p.m. local time on the second level of the ancient Drum Tower, a popular tourist attraction that dates to the 13th century.

According to the Beijing Municipal Government Information Office, the attacker, Tang Yongming, killed the American man and injured the American woman and the female guide. The attacker was identified by an identity card found on the body of a 47-year-old man from the eastern city of Hangzhou. Shortly after the attack, Tang "killed himself by jumping from the second story of the Drum Tower,'' Xinhua Agency reported. The second story is approximately 130 feet high. It is unclear what motivated the attack.

"Our priority in this hour is to attend to the needs of the family members, the U.S. Olympic Men's Indoor Volleyball Team and Staff, and the entire U.S. Olympic Delegation," the United States Olympic Committee said in a statement. "The USOC is working closely with the United States Embassy, United States law enforcement authorities and local law enforcement authorities."

Darryl Seibel, a spokesman for the U.S. Olympic Committee, said of the volleyball team, ''They are deeply saddened and shocked.'' 

U.S. officials told ABC News that the two Americans who were attacked were not wearing anything that would have identified them as Americans or as a supporting part of the U.S. team. 

Richard Buangan, the assistant spokesperson for the American Embassy in Beijing, told ABC News, "We are actively following up with the Chinese authorities and the victim's family."

Buangan declined to comment further citing privacy regulations. "We are respecting family's privacy and can't comment on any specifics," he told ABC News. 

August 9, 2008 in Jo Ling Kent | Permalink | User Comments (8) | TrackBack (0)

The Time Has Come!

August 08, 2008 7:03 AM

Jo Ling Kent, ABC News, Beijing

The atmosphere in Beijing today reminds me of being at home before an important guest arrives. The city is scrambling with last-minute cleanup and 11th-hour decisions in time for the opening ceremony. It's such a big day here that the government declared a state holiday in Beijing. An estimated 16,400 couples have registered to get married today, which has been widely deemed as auspicious.

However, unlike most holidays, when Beijingers take to the streets and parks, the sidewalks are relatively empty. Stores are closing early this evening and traffic is almost nonexistent, all in preparation for the fast-approaching opening ceremonies.

Volunteers were out in full force crawling the streets while Chinese President Hu Jintao, President George W. Bush and other heads of state sat for a state banquet in the People's Congress. With around 80 heads of state and royal family members in attendance, the Chinese government did its best not to seat any enemies or rivals next to one another.

At the head table, Hu entertained Bush and French President Nicolas Sarkozy, both of whom have been among the most vocal about the government's actions in Tibet and China's human rights record. Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and China's loyal friend, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, also sat with Hu. Seated next to Hu was International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge, the guest of honor.

Controversy and political tension were left off the menu. Pork was nowhere to be found, out of respect for Muslim and Jewish guests, including Israeli President Shimon Peres and the king of Malaysia.

As dignitaries prepared to feast on beefsteak and Peking duck, tourists visiting Tiananmen Square were cleared away to guarantee the security of the dignitaries. There was not a soul to be found except for security guards. Local Chinese and tourists have also been adversely affected by other security measures. Last night in an emergency meeting, district authorities reportedly decreased the number of outdoor screens showing the anticipated opening ceremonies, out of fears that Beijing doesn't have enough security forces to handle the crowds. However, the city is trying to make up for the tightened measures. Subways that typically close at 11 p.m. will remain open for 44 hours straight to shuttle the crowds, buses will run along special routes and a free public wireless Internet network will be available in Beijing.

Now to the question that everyone wants to ask: how is the air? It's been a fairly hazy day in Beijing, but it looks marginally better that yesterday's heavy blanket of pollution. Tonight's forecast predicts rain but it hasn't fallen yet. Soon we will find out if the Chinese Communist Party can overcome Mother Nature's plans with its weather control efforts.

Although security has dampened the mood, people seem to be in high spirits. Fortunately, fireworks will be launched from 32 locations inside Beijing for one and all to see. Overall, the opening ceremonies seem like they are going to go off without a hitch but with that said, we've still got hours to go. Anything could happen.

Sidenote: Last night in central Beijing, it felt like the Olympics were already well under way. Almost a thousand fans gathered to watch the China v. New Zealand qualifying soccer game last night on giant television in Wang Fu Jing, a famous pedestrian shopping avenue that last night felt more crowded than Times Square at New Years. The nearby McDonald's was packed with customers watching the game on a flatscreen television, cheering on China. One family camped out for three hours, feasting on soft serve ice cream, fries and hamburgers. Each time the Chinese team came close to scoring, the crowd roared with delight. Finally, the Chinese team scored a goal to tie the game.

August 8, 2008 in Jo Ling Kent | Permalink | User Comments (15) | TrackBack (0)

Putting The China Bus Blast Into Context

July 22, 2008 7:53 AM

By Jo Ling Kent, ABC News Beijing

With three short weeks remaining until the Beijing Olympics kick off, security and tension in China are at rare levels. When two buses exploded in downtown Kunming on Monday morning, the rumor mill started turning. Was it a traffic accident? Disgruntled farmers? Terrorism?

Before the Kunming blasts are chalked up to terrorism or pre-Olympic protests, it's important to note three recent developments in China.

First, bus explosions do occur throughout China from time to time. In May, days prior to the Sichuan earthquake, a self-detonated bus bomb killed three people in Shanghai. Often, blasts like these go unreported. Such attacks are typically carried out by angry workers or farmers airing their grievances over corruption, wages or poverty. The Kunming incident, while tragic, is not something new.

Second, with the Olympics around the corner, the Chinese government has been clamping down on activity that could be considered suspect and publicizing it more than usual. Officials want to address the unrest at a local or provincial level in order to reduce the likelihood that potential activists and terrorists will come knocking on Beijing's door next month. Without the world's watchful eyes on Beijing and the Olympics, this bus explosion could have gone unreported altogether.

Third, the Kunming bus explosions happened during a highly sensitive period for China.  A lot of unrest has been bubbling to the surface over the past few months and especially in recent weeks. Just two days ago, Yunnan police opened fire and killed two rubber farmers in the province's Menglian County. Forty-one police officers were injured during that incident, which was reportedly caused by a dispute between farmers and a private rubber company, Xinhua stated. The Kunming and Menglian incidents are most likely unrelated. The government has sent a group to investigate.

Less than two weeks ago, 82 suspects in the Xinjiang Autonomous Region were detained. According to Chen Zhuangwei, head of the Public Security Bureau of Urumqi, the individuals were arrested for allegedly plotting sabotage activities against the Beijing Olympics.

Thousands of protesters in Guizhou and Guangdong provinces have also rioted in the past month, grabbing headlines and making their case.

With the Games just around the corner, the atmosphere in China is certainly far from normal.

As for the Kunming blasts themselves, various reports are in the air about who is behind the blast. The state-run Xinhua news agency blamed the explosions on "sabotage."

The Southwest Metropolis Daily, a Chinese newspaper, reported that several residents received cryptic text messages early Monday.

"The general mobilization of ants... [I] hope citizens receiving this message will not take bus lines 54, 64 and 84 tomorrow morning," the newspaper quoted the message as saying.

In an effort to squash rumors, the Ministry of Public Security immediately dispatched an investigative team to Kunming yesterday and tightened security to prevent potential suspects from escaping.

Roadside checkpoints have been instituted in the city as well.

Kunming, the capital of Yunnan province, is 1,500 miles southwest of Beijing. Though far away, the blasts managed to aggravate the capital. In reaction to the incidents, the police voiced growing concern that domestic terrorism is on the rise and may disrupt the Olympics.

Beijing is also doing its very best to prevent any unwanted interruptions during the Olympics by instituting safety measures from all angles. In June, police began searching and scanning bags at subway entrances. Vehicles entering Beijing city limits are now subject to police inspection, which has caused a great deal of congestion and inconvenience.

According to Xinhua, the city has organized an anti-terror force of 100,000, as well as nearly 300,000 volunteers and 150,000 security guards to help maintain order during the games. Last week, the Ministry of Public Security published a safety handbook for citizens that explains how to identify suspicious behavior during the Olympics.

Whether these tightened security measures will allow Beijing to maintain a "harmonious society" during the Olympics remains to be seen. As China inches closer to the Olympics, Beijing is on high alert.

July 22, 2008 in Jo Ling Kent | Permalink | User Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)