Beijing Olympic Games

Updated: 2008-07-28

(BEIJING, July 28) — Thirty-three horses that will compete in the Olympic Equestrian events in Hong Kong this August arrived in the Special Administrative Region on July 25 without any problems, the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) confirmed on its website. The 33 horses are the first of 219 horses that will arrive in Hong Kong between July 19 and August 6.

The horses arrived from the Netherlands and the United States on three flights and will be competing for Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, the Republic of Korea, the Netherlands and Switzerland.

The horses passed preliminary tests done immediately upon arrival in Hong Kong and were in stables less than two hours after landing.

The Equestrian events of the Olympic Games begin in Hong Kong on August 9.

Updated: 2008-07-31 From: Xinhuanet

Members of the Ukraine national fencing team practise.

Members of the Ukraine national fencing team practise during a training session inside the Fencing Hall of National Convention Center, in Beijing July 30, 2008. The venue will host the Fencing and Modern Pentathlon (fencing and shooting) at the Beijing Olympic Games.

(Photo credit: Xinhua)

Members of the Olympic fencing teams practice.
A foil fencer from the Roumanian Olympic team gets instruction from her coach.

Updated: 2007-06-20 From: Xinhuanet

Brazilian football star Roberto Carlos on Tuesday signed the official two-year contract with Turkish league champion Fenerbahce football club.(Xinhua Photo)

ANKARA, June 19 (Xinhua) — Brazilian football star Roberto Carlos on Tuesday signed the official two-year contract with Turkish league champion Fenerbahce football club, the semi-official Anatolia news agency reported.

The signing ceremony took place at Fenerbahce’s home ground Sukru Saracoglu Stadium in Turkish largest city of Istanbul with the participation of Fenerbahce fans.

The 34-year-old defender, having played for Real Madrid for 11 years, took medical in Istanbul’s Acibadem Hospital on Tuesday, hours after arriving in Turkey to sign the contract, the report said.

Roberto Carlos was greeted by hundreds of Fenerbahce fans at Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport at midnight.

He said after medical that he was very surprised when he saw the crowd at the airport.

“It was really surprising for me to see such interest. A huge crowd greeted me at the airport. I am really happy to be here,” Carlos told a Spanish TV channel.

Real Madrid’s Roberto Carlos celebrates after their Spanish First Division soccer victory over Real Mallorca at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid June 17, 2007.(Xinhua File Photo)

Updated: 2007-06-20 From: Xinhuanet

JOHANNESBURG, June 19 (Xinhua) — FIFA president Sepp Blatter on Tuesday expressed his full confidence in South Africa’s preparations for the 2010 Soccer World Cup.

During his visit to Cape Town, one of nine hosting cities, Blatter said the preparatory work was on track, the South African Press Association (SAPA) reported.

“I am a happy FIFA president. ..Everything is on track,” Blatter was quoted as saying after his meeting with South African President Thabo Mbeki in Cape Town.

He said it had been a challenge to bring the competition to the African continent because it had been very difficult to convince international organizations to have confidence and trust in Africa.

But, he said: “We have to go to Africa, because we have to revolt and make justice to African football.”

The head of the international soccer governing body is on a two-day visit to South Africa, which include meetings with local officials and members of the FIFA local organizing committee, as well as venue inspections.

Visiting the site of Cape Town’s Green Point stadium on Tuesday afternoon, Blatter said he had no doubt that the controversy-ridden venue would also be ready in time, the SAPA reported.

Renovation of the stadium has been dogged by planning disputes for months before it officially started recently.

Blatter also rubbished worries that crime would affect the World Cup.

“Go to any big city in the world and you will find the same problems,” he said.

Blatter also announced that a special match between South Africa’s national squad and an international side would be played in Cape Town on July 18 to commemorate former President Nelson Mandela’s 89th birthday, the SAPA said.

“I’m sure it will be a spectacular match and I’m sure Bafana Bafana will field a good team, because for the time being, it’s the only team qualified for the World Cup 2010,” he joked.

On Monday, Blatter visited the Soccer City Stadium in Soweto outside Johannesburg that will host the opening and closing matches, where he declared “nothing but God” could impede the staging of the World Cup in South Africa.

Updated: 2007-06-20 From: Xinhuanet

MONTEVIDEO, June 19 (Xinhua) — The under-20 national soccer teams of Uruguay and Chile drew 2-2 on Tuesday in Uruguay’s capital, Montevideo, in the last South American friendly ahead of the under-20 World Cup which begins June 30 in Canada.

The Chilean team opened scoring in the second minute thanks to Gerardo Cortes, in a match played in front of an audience of 2,000 in Montevideo’s Centenario Stadium. After the junior team match, the all-ages team played a farewell match.

Uruguayan forward Edison Cavani scored an equalizer in minute 56, but Cortez struck back less than 10 minutes later from a free kick in minute 65.

Despite the sending off of winger Marcel Roman in minute 60 Uruguay got a draw in minute 84, thanks to an own goal from Chile’s Hans Martinez.

The Chilean team, managed by Jose Sulantay, will be in Group A of the under-20 World Cup facing Canada, Austria and the Congo.

Uruguay, managed by Gustavo Ferrin, is in Group B facing Spain Zambia and Jordan.

Updated: 2007-06-20 From: Xinhuanet

MACAO, June 19 (Xinhua) — Huang Wei-Yi scored a fast-breaking goal for Chinese Taipei against Hong Kong here on Tuesday, giving his team a 1-1 draw and a top spot in the Group A of the East Asian Football Championship preliminary competition.

After a scoreless first half, Chinese Taipei scored after just four minutes in the second half as midfielder Huang beat Hong Kong goalkeeper Fan Chung-Yip.

Hong Kong fought back six minutes later, Lo Chi-Kwan scored the equalizer for Hong Kong in the 56th minute.

Chinese Taipei had a good chance to restore their lead in the 65th minute as Cheung Kin-Fung of Hong Kong received his second yellow card to leave the field and the Chinese Taipei team rewarded a penalty, but Chen Po-Liang’s shot was blocked by Fan.

“This is our second match in the tournament, and players were a little bit tired playing under the hot weather,” said Toshiaki Imai, head coach of Chinese Taipei team. “Hong Kong is a strong team, so we focused on the defense and it is a pity that we wasteda penalty.”

The Chinese Taipei team trounced Guam 10-0 on Sunday and now had four points in hands, while Hong Kong, who played their first match in the tournament, had one point. If Hong Kong wants to top the group and enter the final, they have to score more than 10 goals in the match against Guam.

Also on Tuesday, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea thrashed Mongolia 7-0.

Just 20 minutes into the game, Long Tae-Se made a penalty to gift DPR Korea 1-0 lead. DPR Korea performed more aggressively after their first goal while Long finished his hat-trick in the 32nd minute with a powerful shot.

Leading 6-0 into the second half, Long helped the DPR Korea team enjoy a 7-0 lead with another goal in the 55th minute. Mongolia tried to gear up to narrow the gap, but could not create a chance to make a goal.

DPR Korea’s victory ensured them an upper hand place in the Group B. If DPR Korea ties with or wins their next opponent Macao, China, they will advance into the final.

There are six teams participating in the tournament, including Chinese Taipei, Guam, Mongolia, DPR Korea, Hong Kong and Macao. The winner of the tournament will qualified for the East Asian Football Championship in 2008.

The final of the tournament will be held on Sunday.

Updated: 2007-06-20 From: Xinhuanet

TEL AVIV, Isreal, June 19 (Xinhua) — Newly-crowned Spanish football league champion Real Madrid arrived in Israel on Tuesday for a friendly match against a mixed team of Israeli and Palestinian players.

The Spanish club paid the visit to Israel at the invitation of the Peres Center for Peace, which is established by Israeli President-elect Shimon Peres.

The game will be played at Ramat Gan Stadium in Tel Avivi later on Tuesday evening.

Prior to the peace match, the Spanish football stars will also meet with Palestinian and Israeli children from the Peres Center’s “Twinned Peace Football School”.

The proceeds from the game will benefit the “Twinned Peace Football School” program.

The Real Madrid stars that arrived in Israel on the day including Raul Gonzalez, Van Nistelrooy, Guti, Emerson, Gassillas, Salgado, Sergio Ramos, Cannavaro and Helguera.

Israeli national team captain and the West Ham midfielder Yossi Benayun is expected to play for the peace team.

English football star David Beckham, whose contract with Real has expired by the end of the season, is not in the squad.

Real President Ramon Calderon said at a press conference held on Tuesday that he hope the match will promote the peace building cause of the Middle East.