Beijing Olympic Games

Brazil C de Souza to miss Olympic Games

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (Ticker) - Brazil women’s basketball center Erika de Souza will miss the Olympic Games due to injury.

Brazil national coach Paulo Bassul revealed that de Souza has pulled out of the squad after injuring her right leg during the Atlanta Dream’s WNBA game against the New York Liberty on Sunday.

“I am disappointed with her absence because we will miss a key player in our tactical scheme,” said Bassul on the Brazilian Basketball Confederation’s official web site.

“Now we must find the way to build a strong squad for the Olympics.”

Graziane Coelho, who plays for Hungarian side Mizo Pecs, has been confirmed as de Souza’s replacement for Beijing.

“Grazi is totally used to our system in the national team and she will certainly contribute to our team,” Bassul explained.

Most of the team’s players are currently in Sydney for warm-up friendlies against Australia.

Center Kelly Santos is playing in the WNBA for the Seattle Storm before joining the squad in Beijing while forward Micaela is recovering from a right leg injury.

Brazil qualified for the Olympics by winning the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Madrid last month with a 72-67 win over Cuba.

Americans play meet and greet at first practice

By JANIE McCAULEY, AP Sports Writer

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP)—Brandon Knight did all of six sprints from pole to pole in the outfield during the U.S. baseball team’s first practice before he grew seriously tired.

“I think that was the roughest six poles I’ve run in my life,” the 32-year-old pitcher said Tuesday.

Nobody could blame him for feeling a bit fatigued.

On Saturday, Knight made an emergency start for the New York Mets while Pedro Martinez was gone for his father’s funeral in the Dominican Republic. New York designated Knight for assignment the next day, allowing him to stay on the Olympic team for next month’s Beijing Games because he was off the Mets’ major league roster.

The Americans traveled West to the Bay Area on Monday night for their first practice together Tuesday along with Olympic registration and orientation, then were headed out of town again Wednesday morning for North Carolina to play four exhibition games against Canada before departing for Beijing on Aug. 5. Team USA’s first game in China is Aug. 13 against Korea.

“I think it’s just finally caught up with me, all the travel. It’s been interesting that’s for sure,” Knight said. “I wouldn’t miss it. It’s all worth it. It’s special, absolutely surreal.”

Team USA was greeted by a few hundred fans and blaring music at Santa Clara University’s sparkling 3-year-old Stephen Schott Stadium, where the school’s players and athletic staff were on hand to help and serve as a welcoming committee.

“Here we are. It’s good to get on the field and get moving. This is the next step and we’ve kind of got that Christmas giddiness going on,” USA Baseball executive director Paul Seiler said. “We’re excited, we’re nervous, we’re anxious—all those things.”

Nate Schierholtz, in Triple-A for the San Francisco Giants organization, and Matt LaPorta, acquired by Cleveland in the trade that sent CC Sabathia to Milwaukee earlier this month, both crushed several home runs that had the crowd cheering. One Schierholtz shot hit high up on a condo building beyond the right-field fence.

“Way to go, Nate!” one fan yelled.

Even with only a quick first impression of his team, manager Davey Johnson came out of the session with a good feeling about his club’s chances and balance. He’s been scouting and studying some of these players for more than a year, finalizing the team just last week.

Johnson—dressed from head to toe in navy blue Team USA gear and No. 5 on his back—stood along the first-base line for part of the workout with his arms crossed as he observed infield drills and batting practice, then moved to the outfield for more of the same while visiting with his coaching staff and greeting players throughout.

The 65-year-old Johnson already has a rough idea of his rotation and lineup, though he ultimately will let the players’ performances dictate who plays. The starters will go three or four innings during the upcoming exhibition games against the Canadians.

“I put positions to faces and have an idea of the kind of player they are and the kind of player they’re going to be, so that was a big thrill for me,” said Johnson, who spent 14 seasons as a big league manager, highlighted by his 1986 World Series win with the Mets. “I love looking at talent and young talent on their way to the big leagues. We have to do it now. We’ve got to produce it now, and I liked what I saw.”

The players were happy to be back on the field after a couple of days off since they left their minor league clubs.

“It’s nice to get out here with everybody and get some blood going again after we’ve been sitting around the last couple of days,” shortstop Jason Donald said. “Everybody has been pretty anxious to get the ball rolling and get started and see what we have as a team. It’s a good group of guys that likes to get after it.”

During their Olympic orientation, they even were paid a visit by former soccer star Brandi Chastain, who showed off her own gold medal from the 1996 Atlanta Games. Team USA also saw highlights from past Olympics—including pitcher Ben Sheets and the Americans carrying the flag on the field after winning gold in baseball at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. That provided some motivation considering Team USA didn’t qualify in 2004.

“We all know what we’re capable of,” said right-hander Jake Arrieta, slated to be one of Johnson’s five starters.

They also know the Japanese and Cubans will do everything in their power to bring home gold from what is now the last Olympic baseball tournament as the sport comes off the program for the 2012 London Games.

Johnson called the Japanese the “odds-on favorite over there.” Many of his players say they don’t feel added pressure just because this is baseball’s last hurrah. They are confident that if this team comes together, the positive results will come.

“We know it’s not going to be easy,” Johnson said. “Everybody wants to beat us in baseball.”

Eton schoolboy rides for China

By Raissa Kasolowsky

WESTBURY (Reuters) - Olympic host country China has pinned its hopes of equestrian success on a lanky Eton schoolboy sponsored by a Guangzhou property tycoon.

Last September, 18-year-old Alex Hua Tian, the son of an English mother and a Chinese father, swapped Eton’s coat-tails and top hat for riding helmet and outfit to train to become China’s first Olympic three-day eventer.

He qualified in June on not just one but four horses, no mean feat considering every horse has to be trialed separately, although only the fittest one will go to the Olympics with him.

“It does turn a few heads. I was the first Chinese rider to be registered with the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI), so I think a few people will possibly be a bit doubtful,” he said, next to his horse Chico, a dapple grey.

“But I think I have proved myself over the last year and hopefully they’ll be cheering me on.”

Five other Chinese riders will compete at the Olympics in show jumping and dressage, but Hua Tian is different from the others.

Not only is he the team’s only three-day eventer, but the caliber of his training sets him apart from his team mates too.

“I’ve had possibly the best start in riding anyone could have. In Hong Kong, the riding school had fun instructors, good ponies and we just had a blast whizzing around, jumping a few fences,” he said.

REAL OPPORTUNITY

A real opportunity came when he left Hong Kong for Britain at the age of 10 and began training with husband and wife Lucinda and Clayton Fredericks. Clayton is a former World Cup eventing champion and the couple will be going to the Olympics themselves, albeit to represent Australia.

“It was all a bit of dream a couple of years ago when his mother came and said ‘Right, this is the plan,”’ said Lucinda.

“We all know each other very well and I think it’s very important he has the trust in us when he gets there. But he has to do a certain amount on his own—I can’t be holding his hand all the time.”

Hua Tian also has a powerful sponsor. Jiang Fengcan has invested some 30 million yuan ($4.39 million) in the boy, whose mother says they have not had to spend anything on getting him to the Olympics.

NOT FLUENT

Having spent so much of his life in Britain, Hua Tian’s Mandarin is not fluent and yet he bristles with pride at the idea of representing China at the Games.

“How do you explain how you feel about going to the biggest sporting event in the world for your home country? It’s the biggest honor. I try not to think about it really,” he said.

“In the end I am probably in the best situation out of all the people there because I’ve never been to the Olympics before, so I don’t know what I don’t know.”

His relaxed attitude will help him go far, say members of the 12-strong team that will accompany Hua Tian to Hong Kong, where the Beijing Olympic equestrian events will be held.

“He’s the most laid-back member of the whole team,” said Elodie Frost, who as head girl is responsible for the welfare of the horses.

“He does have his teenage-boy moments though. He loses his phone all the time and he does tend to leave things to the last minute,” she said, prompting murmurs of agreement from both Hua Tian’s mother and the team’s physiotherapist.

IN CHARGE

Family is important to Alex, especially his mother who managed all aspects of his riding career until the recent appointment of a chef d’equipe in charge of the logistics.

“I wouldn’t have started riding without my mother,” Hua Tian said. “She’s always been a pony club mother—well, that’s probably a bit harsh—but she’s always been good about supporting me.”

Eton allowed Hua Tian a year off school to concentrate on his riding, but he goes back in September to finish off his A-levels (senior examinations).

“How can you say you’re missing out when you’re going to the Olympics?” he said.

“It’s a real shame that I’m missing my friends from my year because they’ll have gone by the time I get back, but I don’t see it as missing as anything really.”

He has one week between the closing ceremony in Beijing and the start of term.

“I’ve put myself down for double maths, physics and chemistry, but I might skip one of those,” he said.

“I’m not sure if I’ll be energetic enough to do all four after the Olympics.”

(Editing by Dave Thompson)

(For more stories visit our multimedia website “Road to Beijing” at http://www.reuters.com/news/sports/2008olympics; and see our blog at http://blogs.reuters.com/china)

Indian boxers ready to punch above their weight

By Sanjay Rajan

MUMBAI (Reuters) - Eight years after agonizingly missing out on their first Olympic boxing medal, Indian boxers will enter the ring in Beijing buoyed by their impressive showing in the build-up to the Games which start next week.

Medal-starved India will send its largest-ever boxing team to the Olympics after five made the grade with Vijender (one name) and Akhil Kumar having defeated Olympic medalists this year.

Middleweight Vijender beat the man voted the best boxer from the 2004 Athens Games in a competition in Taiwan in May while bantamweight Kumar defeated Thailand’s Athens silver medalist Worapoj Petchkoom to win a qualifying tournament in February.

Vijender upset Bakhtiyar Artayev on points in the 75-kg class quarter-finals of the AIBA President’s Cup and the Kazakh, welterweight champion in Athens, will again feature in China.

National coach Gurbux Singh Sandhu sees his squad brimming with confidence with their achievements being recognized by more fancied foreign teams.

“Their victories over Olympic medalists have made the international boxing fraternity sit up and take notice,” he told Reuters. “We are considered worthy opponents now.”

POOR RECORD

The world’s second-most populous nation has won only four individual Olympic medals, none of them gold, since it started sending its own team to the Games in 1928.

India have produced many talented boxers but they have won just one Asian Games gold medal since 1982.

Although India’s build-up to Beijing was dented by the failure of their men’s hockey team, eight-time champions, to even qualify for the Olympics for the first time, the boxing camp is upbeat.

“These performances give a strong indication we are on the right track,” boxing federation secretary Muralidharan Raja told Reuters.

“If we get a good draw they will definitely be among medals, he said,” looking ahead to the August 8-24 Games.

NEAR MISS

India missed a boxing medal by a whisker at Sydney in 2000 when light-heavyweight Gurcharan Singh was within seconds of a semi-final spot which would have assured him at least a bronze medal until it agonizingly slipped away in the quarters.

Singh led Ukrainian Andri Fedtchouk 11-10 on points with just 14 seconds left, but a flurry at the end tied the final score at 12-12 and his rival clinched the tiebreak 60-42 on a countback.

Sandhu, a ringside witness to that heartbreak, said the miss had in fact instilled the belief among Indian boxers that Olympic glory was not out of reach.

“That was a great push to Indian boxing, our boxers started believing they can win medals,” he said. “Talking to my boxers every day, I realize they have medals on their minds.”

Vijender and Kumar, participating in their second Olympics, will be joined by first-timers Dinesh Kumar (81kg), Anthresh Lakra (57kg) and Jitender Kumar (51kg)

HIGHLY MOTIVATED

An Asian Games bronze medalist and a Commonwealth Games finalist, a teenaged Vijender made a first-round exit in Athens.

“The first time I just about got to know what the Olympics really meant,” the 22-year-old told domestic media.

“The experience of so many international tournaments has helped me know what to do and what not.”

Akhil Kumar, considered an aggressive boxer, won the bantamweight title at the 2006 Commonwealth Games.

Sandhu illustrated how Indian boxers were earning recognition abroad.

“In a recent meet in Germany, where several Beijing-qualified boxers participated, we won two silver and three bronze medals,” he said.

“Foreign countries are interested in training with us because of what our boxers have achieved. We were invited to Germany and for the first time they paid all our expenses.”

One club coach, Jagdish Singh from India’s northern state of Haryana, is already celebrating as all the Beijing-bound boxers barring Lakra come from his Bhiwani Boxing Club.

“What else do I want?” Singh told India media. “I’m the happiest person on earth and waiting for the day one of them wins the country’s first ever Olympic boxing medal.”

(Editing by Dave Thompson)

(For more stories visit our multimedia website “Road to Beijing” at http://www.reuters.com/news/sports/2008olympics; and see our blog at http://blogs.reuters.com/china)

“Yellow bull” scalpers run with Olympics tickets

By Ken Wills

BEIJING (Reuters) - Tickets for the Beijing Games have officially sold out, setting off China’s own running of the bulls—“yellow bull” scalpers who want big profits for tickets to the Olympics’ hottest events.

Despite threats of fines and possible detentions of up to 15 days, scalpers are offering thousands of pricey tickets on scores of websites, making enforcement efforts all but a farce.

“We prohibit the resale of tickets,” Zhu Yan, director of the Beijing Olympic Ticketing Centre, told a recent news conference. “If people want to transfer a ticket to someone else, that is OK, but you cannot resell it for profit.”

But that’s exactly what scalpers, known in Chinese as “huang niu” or yellow bulls, are doing.

Officials were not available at the ticketing office phone number and did not reply to emailed requests for an interview about widespread profiteering, although a series of measures have been put in place aimed at thwarting scalpers who buy up large amounts of tickets and then resell them later at inflated prices.

The number of tickets individuals could buy was restricted, and the most sought-after tickets to the opening and closing ceremonies are equipped with tags that hold ticket-holders’ personal passport and other details.

Opening and closing ceremony tickets can only be transferred once, and anyone whose personal details don’t match those on the ticket won’t get in.

But attempts to stop the scalpers have still fallen miserably short as buyers and sellers around the globe meet online on swap marts and other Internet auction sites— rendering national borders meaningless.

Some ticket prices are being jacked up 10 or more times the face value, which in China ranged from 30 yuan ($4.40) to 1,000 yuan (about $150) for regular sporting events.

And just days before Wednesday’s transfer deadline for closing ceremony tickets, a choice ticket with a face price of 3,000 yuan (about $440) was being offered on one website for 30,000 yuan, or nearly $4,400.

Even so, the seller wasn’t worried no one would be willing to pay that much.

“I am just selling my spare tickets, and if they don’t go, I will be very happy to watch the Games myself,” she told Reuters, quickly adding, however, “my prices are negotiable.”

Xinhua reported that one opening ceremony ticket purchased for 5,000 yuan was resold for 210,000 yuan (nearly $30,800).

China has cracked down on a few unfortunate sellers. State media said some 60 scalpers had been caught as of Sunday, including at least 44 who will face either criminal charges or detention.

But that’s a drop in the ocean of scalpers online, many of whom are physically out of reach of Chinese authorities.

Games’ organizers have said the “resale of Olympics tickets for profit is illegal,” but that is being loosely interpreted by many ticket-sellers.

“I don’t think I need to worry about the police,” said one Shanghai man offering a closing ceremony ticket for 12 times its 400 yuan face value.

“I haven’t read the specific rules, but it’s not big money, just a single ticket,” said the seller, who asked that his name not be used in case police might come looking for him.

“They are more interested in the professional sellers,” he said hopefully.

Some organized scalpers dispatched ranks of helpers to buy the maximum number of tickets allowed. Later, these tickets were combined and offered for resale online, a virtual smorgasbord for buyers.

“I took the cost and time to get it, so it’s reasonable to sell it with a higher price,” said one Beijing-based ticket seller in justifying his hefty mark-ups.

Judging from the vast number of tickets being offered online, not to mention those that might be hawked on the streets, prices might soon start to plummet as scalpers worry about losing their investments and aim simply to unload their inventory.

With that in mind, at least one potential buyer in the United States sought to appeal to scalpers’ softer side.

“Desperately want tickets,” read the posting from a student, Ling Lin, in New Jersey.

“However, I am not really keen on paying for overpriced tickets. I am a poor college student … If you are a considerate person who is really passionate about the Olympic Games and want to transfer the ticket to someone who is equally passionate, please contact me.”

As of Monday, the 20-year-old business major had no takers.

Shanghai resident Carolle Chen had a great opportunity to make a killing on her highly prized ticket to the opening ceremony.

She purchased the ticket for 1,500 yuan, but says she wasn’t even tempted to sell it for 10 times that amount after her 68-year-old father asked her to transfer it to him instead.

“Money is important, but happiness is more important,” she said. “If my father is satisfied with seeing the opening ceremony in person, that’s better than money.”

Warren, Andrade hope to shake U.S. boxing woes

By Kevin Pedersen PA SportsTicker Staff Writer

The United States boxing team has not had much success in recent Olympic Games but, as the 2008 Olympics in Beijing approach, Team USA has reason for optimism thanks to a pair of world champions.

Flyweight Rau’Shee Warren and welterweight Demetrius Andrade headline the nine boxers that make up the American squad that will compete in this year’s Olympics.

Both Warren and Andrade won gold medals at the 2007 World Championships in Chicago and the duo gives the U.S. its best chance of winning more than one Olympic gold medal for the first time since Team USA took home three at Seoul in 1988.

The Americans won just two medals (one gold, one bronze) at the 2004 Games in Sydney - their worst showing in 56 years. Team USA won just one gold medal in 1992 and 1996 and was shut out in 2000.

But Warren, who was in Athens as a 17-year-old, will be the first American boxer since 1976 to complete in multiple Olympics and says that his experience will help him be more successful this time around.

“I’m more mature,” the Cincinnati native said. “I’ve learned the judging and the styles. I’ve spent the past four years listening and finding ways to use my speed against them.”

Warren’s main competition will be France’s Jerome Thomas, who won the bronze in 2000 and the silver medal in 2004. Thomas, however, lost in the first round at the 2007 Worlds to Russia’s Georgy Balakshin.

Despite the experience of Thomas, U.S. coach Robert “Herb” Martin believes that Warren has what it takes to become the first American flyweight since 1984 to capture Olympic gold.

“He’s the fastest I’ve ever seen,” Martin said. “He’s got hand speed, foot speed, and a good eye. He always knows where he is in the ring. He doesn’t get hit a lot. I believe he will have that gold medal.”

Andrade was convincing in his run to the title at the 2007 Worlds, capped by a second-round technical knockout of Thailand’s Non Boonjumnong.

The Providence, Rhode Island native says he will not be overconfident heading into Beijing because the target is now on his back.

“I gotta work even harder because I’m No. 1,” Andrade said. “Everyone’s going for me and I don’t know what they’ve been doing out there (to prepare).”

Luis Yanez, who was reinstated on July 16 after a series of appeals following his ban from the team for missing training, will compete in the light flyweight division and is a contender to win a medal in a division headlined by China’s Zou Shiming.

Shiming won bronze in 2004 - the first Olympic medalist in China’s history - and claimed back-to-back world titles in 2006 and 2007. He is the favorite to become the nation’s first Olympic gold medalist.

While the United States is just hoping to win multiple gold medals, Russia is viewed as the favorite to win the most medals in Beijing.

The Russians won three golds and eight medals total, dominating the 2007 World Championships.

Middleweight Matvei Korobov, bantamweight Sergey Vodopyanov and featherweight Albert Selimov all lead the loaded Russian team after capturing gold medals at last year’s Worlds.

Lightweight Aleksei Tichtchenko, who won bronze at the World Championships, is also a leading contender for the Russians. The 24-year-old won gold in Athens at featherweight and is moving up one weight class for the games in Beijing.

Heavyweight Rakhim Chakhkeiv, light heavyweight Artur Beterbiev and light welterweight Gennady Kovalev all won the silver medal in 2007 and will contend as well for the Russian team.

Generally not considered a boxing powerhouse, Italy also performed well in Chicago and is hoping to make a splash in Beijing. Heavyweight Clemente Russo and super heavyweight Roberto Cammarelle both claimed gold medals at last year’s World Championships.

Cammarelle won Italy’s only medal in Athens, claiming the bronze.

Cuba, which dominated the 2004 Olympics - winning five gold medals and eight medals total - will not be as strong with most of those fighters turning pro. The Cubans have won 21 medals at the last three Olympics and still should be able to take home multiple medals.

Other members of Team USA who could contend for a medal are bantamweight Gary Russell, Jr. and 6-8 power-punching heavyweight Deontay Wilder.

But if the Americans are hoping to make a name for themselves at the upcoming games, they will have to rely on the experience and leadership of Warren, who is ready for the competition.

“I’ve been thinking about it so much,” Warren said. “I want to fight for (the gold) right now. I want to go in the ring today.”

U.S. men indoor volleyball seeks first medal in 16 years

By Zach Ingraham PA SportsTicker Staff Writer

Tom Hoff will captain the United States men’s volleyball team that hopes to capture its first medal in 16 years at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

Hoff is entering his third Olympics and was on the squad that finished fourth in Athens in 2004, which was the Americans’ best finish since winning the bronze in 1992. The U.S. also won gold medals in 1984 and 1988.

“Hopefully we will draw strength in seeing both our great comeback versus Greece (in 2004), knowing to never give up,” Hoff said. “We also saw how small the difference is between winning a medal and not when we played Russia (in the bronze-medal match).”

The team does not lack experience as Hoff and Ryan Miller were on the last two Olympic squads, while setter Lloy Ball will become the first U.S. volleyballer to compete in four Olympic Games.

“As you get older and have more big-match experience, you become more confident in your own game as an individual player and also as a team,” the 36-year-old said. “We have a solid team, one through 12. The Olympics is such a different kind of tournament. It’s such an emotional ride up and down.

“It takes a real strong athlete and a real strong team to do well. I thought we had that in the last Olympics and since we have so many guys carrying over from that team, I think we will have it this time.”

That experience has already paided some dividends, as the U.S. squad captured its first FIVB World League title with a 3-1 victory over Serbia in Brazil on July 27.

The Americans went 12-4 in the event, with wins over Brazil and Poland in the knockout stage. Both the Brazilians and Poles are expected to be the top contenders in Beijing.

Along with its veterans, the U.S. have four more players that were on the 2004 club, while five players are making their first appearance in the Olympics.

“We feel very confident that we have selected the best team to represent this country at the upcoming Olympic Games,” coach Hugh McCutcheon said. “We have a good mix of experience and youth and we have 12 very good volleyball players on this roster. They work well together both on and off the court and they compete at a very high level.”

The U.S. National Team is currently ranked third in the world and received a favorable draw, being grouped in Pool A with Bulgaria, China, Italy, Japan and Venezuela.

Italy poses the biggest challenge in that group as it has medaled in each of the last three Olympics. China will have the crowd on its side but not history as it and Venezuela have never medaled in men’s indoor volleyball.

Bulgaria’s only medal was a silver in 1980 and Japan’s last one came at the 1972 Munich Games when it took the gold.

Brazil headlines Pool B along with Egypt, Germany, Poland, Russia and Serbia. The Brazilians won the gold medal in the 2004 Games in Athens, their second gold in four Olympics.

After winning the gold medal in each of the first two Olympics where beach volleyball was an official competition, the U.S. was held out of the top three in 2004 and will now turn to some first-time Olympians in hopes of ending that trend.

The 2007 World Champions, Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers, are riding a wave of momentum into the Beijing Games. The top-ranked American duo have won five of its last six tournaments, including a string of three FIVB championships in Europe in June.

Dalhausser and Rogers claimed their 30th tournament title together against fellow Olympians Jake Gibb and Sean Rosenthal at the Chicago Open on July 12.

“I hope this is going to be the gold-medal match in Beijing,” Dalhausser shouted to the crowd after the straight-set victory.

“We played in Australia the first tournament of the year against them. When we shook hands, that’s what we talked about: ‘It’s the start of a good year. Let’s end it in Beijing in the gold-medal match,’” Gibb said. “They’re playing really well right now. We have a lot of work to do.”

Gibb and Sean Rosenthal turned the tables in the Long Beach Open on July 26 with a straight-sets victory, giving the U.S. hopes for multiple medals.

Despite their recent loss, Rogers and Dalhausser have won eight of 10 AVP tournaments they’ve entered this year prior to heading to Beijing.

While the Rogers-Dalhausser tandem is the top-ranked team in the world, they will receive a challenge from a pair of Brazilian teams. Brazil’s Ricardo Santos and Emanuel Rego are the second-seeded team in front of compatriots Marcio Araujo and Fabio Luiz.

Santos and Rego won the gold medal in 2004.