Paralympic Spirit lives Letters to the Future

Tonight the Paralympic Games have closed in China.

In a very emotional closing ceremony, the Paralympic Athletes gathered once again in the National "Birds Nest" Stadium to pay tribute to thier achievements, triumphant and corageous.

These Paralympic Games have truly been a watershed for the movement and something all of China can be most proud. All fans of sport for athletes with a disability should be proud of their achievements too, for it is they who have travelled to the venues and stages of Beijing, and to China from near and far via the internet and television like never before.

From a personal perspective, the most emotional and uplifting moment this evening has been the segment entitled "A Letter to the Future". Each of the 90,000 crowd, spectators and broadcasters alike received a special postcard and envelope on which they can write a message to the world about what they were thinking and feeling on this special night. These cards and envelopes were only available in Beijing and can only be posted in China.

Over the next week or two these postcards will be delivered around the world with the messages inside them. A message for the future of sport for elite athletes with a disability.

Transcendence, Integration, Equality ... the mission accomplished, the spirit of Beijing will live on, just as it has done so in Sydney. My personal dream would be for the volunteers of Beijing to form a group similar to ours and not just remember this dream but continue to live it as we have done these past eight years.

More success for Jayme Paris in Beijing

Jayme Paris just missed out on a second Bronze medal at the Beijing Paralympics on Wednesday being pipped by New Zealand's Paula Tesoreiro by just four hundredths of a second.

In posting her time, in the 3000m Individual Pursuit, Jayme beat her personal best by 15 seconds.

Well done Jayme we're so proud of your achivements.

Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games

The Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games will be televised by the Internet. In addition to this the games website is now available (see screen shot).

To sign up for video updates please visit paralympicsport.tv and to view the official games website please visit Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games

Special Olympic Moments # 1

There are many special moments that make up an Olympic Games but what just occurred at the end of the 800 metres final for men, to me defines what the games are about.

To me it said, I am your opposition, but most of all I am your friend.

When Bungei of Kenya just won the 800 metres he used every last bit of energy to remain ahead of Ismael of Sudan. After the race Bungei laid on the track to catch his breath and for a moment seemed quite distressed.

Ismael, gracious in defeat, came over to Bungei to speak with him, then helped Bungei to his feet with his arm wrapped around him. It was almost as if to say, I am sorry I had to push you so hard.

To me that's what the games are all about. Enemies in battle with their own limitations, and with each other, but friends forever.

Volunteers in Beijing

Our wonderful foundation members Laurie and Barbara Smith have been volunteering in Beijing. They were kind enough to drop us a line ...

"
We have a volunteer job with the AOC in the village working with Michael Mercer in admin in the area Jayme will live in. The village is fantastic and there is even a pool for the team to relax in as well as all the usual things.

So far the temperature is better than Athens so that is great.

The people have gone out of there way to make you feel welcome but most volunteers have no idea of what information to tell you and most can't speak English unless they are working in the village.

The taxi drivers are the same. You must have your address written in Chinese and the location of where you want to go as well and then there is a one in three chance you will get to the right location."

Participation

Today's events reminded me of the importance of the word participation.

No doubt many have read by now the news of a prominent Australian withdrawing from the Beijing Olympic Torch relay in Canberra to be held on Thursday. This post goes beyond the barriers that separate, and dictate the why's and wherefore's of this action. It is a personal thing for someone to make a protest, and for making it in a peaceful manner the person should be congratulated, whether you agree with it or not.

Participation? It's at the heart of sport, and in the heart of the worlds volunteers.

Where would sport, the Olympics and so many other events be without the unbridled enthusiasm of the worlds do-ers, thinkers, and passionate citizens.

Regardless of whether one agrees with the Olympics being held in China or not, it's important to recognise that there are participants, do-ers and achievers, striving to make this event a success. Indeed, it will be a success, because of them and the athletes in this great festival of sport, and fellowship.

It's time to remember what this is all about, the Olympic Games and the glory of sport, not the political machinations of a host nation.

[Peter - Editor]

Beijing 2008 Volunteer Manuals Launched

The volunteer manual for volunteers at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games has been made available on-line via the Beijing website. The following links point to the various sections of the manual and make very interesting reading. (Note : You need the Adobe Acrobat Reader to read these, and I'd recommend a fast internet connection.)

Cover
Contents
Volunteers and Volunteering
Olympic Movement and Volunteers
BEIJING 2008 and Volunteering
Organisation and Administration
Volunteer Positions and Requirements
Volunteering Skills
Olympic Cities

Beijing's Smile Wristband

The "International Version" of Beijing's Volunteer "Smile Wristband" has been launched at the New Year Celebrations on the site of Beijing's Drum Towers.

The wristbands feature the words "Volunteers Smile - Beijing's Image", the logo's of the Olympic and Paralympic games, and a bar code.

FULL STORY

Sydney Olympic Games Volunteers Mark 7th Anniversary

Volunteers from the Spirit of Sydney Group commemorated the 7th Anniversary of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games with a celebratory lunch at the Noble Dragon Restaurant in Sydney's Chinatown on Saturday 15th September.



The group was honoured to have present, Sandy Hollway, (former CEO of the Sydney Organising Committee - SOCOG), who shared with us his wonderful memories of the best games ever. Sandy also spoke about the business opportunities Australian industry gains from showing the world how we handle large events.

Presentations were also made by Rosemary Mula who spoke about her experiences volunteering at the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro earlier this year. In the absence of Daniel Beniston, Rosemary also shared information about accommodation choices and pricing in Beijing for the 2008 Olympic Games. Rosemary then spoke about London 2012 and the opportunities she has from being associated with teams at the Pan-Am games.

Team poet, Vera Rothwell, came out of retirement to write an inspirational poem that brought back so many memories of the Opening Ceremony. Vera also mentioned that the pen-pal program she started with Atlanta 1996 volunteers, could be restarted with volunteers in London.

Special thanks go out to Mavis Booth, our e-Mail Co-Ordinator and Social Secretary who once again has co-ordinated our lunch and meeting to perfection. Thanks also to our Treasurers and Administration Co-Ordinators, Ralph and Joan Stilgoe who again helped to make the day such a wonderful success.

Finally, to the excellent staff and owners of the Noble Dragon Restaurant, a hearty well done! Your food, and great service continues to make us all happy, content and rolling out the door with big smiles on our faces. The Noble Dragon is in Chinatown, at the corner of Dixon and Little Hay Street, Sydney.

From a personal perspective, I am still amazed and inspired by this wonderful groups of friends, once strangers, but brought together by the Olympic Games in 2000. Each of you, through your volunteer efforts continue to make us all proud, and keep our spirit alive. Let there be many more anniversaries of this great moment in Australian history. (Peter Konnecke).

The next meeting of our group will be held on Saturday 16th February 2008.

Tags: sydney 2000 volunteers, sydney 2000 olympic games, olympic volunteers, australian volunteers, volunteers, sydney volunteers, spirit of sydney, spirit of sydney volunteers, spiritofsydney, peter konnecke, konnecke, spiritofsydney.com, beijing 2008, beijing olympics, 2008 olympic games, beijing 2008 olympic games

Olympic families Tour Beijing

One of the more unusual promotional activities BOCOG is using to promote the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games is an online contest to select ten families to tour the Olympic facilities before the games.

Click here to read the story

Technorati Tags: beijing 2008, olympic games, olympics

Beijing Interns Tour venues

I'm assuming these interns may be used for escorting dignitaries around the venues or as managers for spectator services. The attached story doesn't speak much of their roles however. They are currently assigned to various departments within BOVOG.

Read the story here

Website Updates

Some of you may receive an item update from the site this evening relating to a story about a Ford Falcon selling for a record price. This message was not an attempt to spam you.

This post was an error on my part and was intended for another news service which I run.

I've placed some new code into our site which will prevent accidental cross posting in future.

On another topic .... London's new logo will launch in the next few hours and I look forward to bringing you all the news as it happens then.

Technorati Tags: peter konnecke, website news, volunteers, spirit of sydney, london2012

Beijing Taxi Ride

scan
Originally uploaded by Peter Konnecke.

Recently we discovered some of the more unusual customs of the next Olympic city. I'm sure they'll "be alright on the night". Nobody ever really fails to deliver the games.

Click the image at the right to read more.

Tags: beijing, beijing 2008, olympics, olympic games, olympic games 2008, 2008 olympic games

2008 Beijing Olympics tickets go on sale

BEIJING, April 16 -- More than seven million very affordable tickets are now on sale for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG) announced Sunday. About 75% of the tickets will be sold domestically and the rest will be available to the overseas public.



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Beijing flushes out pubic toilets - Lost in Translation

Have a good laugh at some of the comical translated English of signages and restaurant menus in Beijing.Beijing is undergoing a frenetic makeover of citywide proportions. Urban planners seem to have taken the Olympic motto "Faster, Higher, Stronger" to heart, as construction workers toil to complete Olympic infrastructure on schedule.

read more | digg story

Technorati Tags: beijing 2008, olympics, olympic games, spirit of sydney, peter konnecke

Chinese Advisor wants Bible in Hotel Rooms

Chinese media have reported that a political advisor wants Bibles to
be placed in hotel rooms over the period of the Olympic Games when they
take place in Beijing in 2008.

Liu Banyan, vice-president of the state-sanctioned China Patriotic

Catholic Association, believes placing the Bibles in the hotel rooms
would help repair China’s reputation abroad as a religiously intolerant
country, the Xingu news agency reported.

Read More

Technorati Tags: , beijing 2008, olympic games, olympics, spirit of sydney, peter konnecke

Beijing Olympic Parade

2008 Balloons
Originally uploaded by Sam Proof.

Hollywood hosted a Beijing 2008 Olympic parade this past week, and celebrated the Year of the Pig in style.

AOC Appoints Ticket and Travel Partner

Global Sports Consultants LLC, which does business in Australia under the brand name of CoSport, announced today the conclusion of a sponsorship agreement with the Australian Olympic Committee (“AOC”) and the Australian Olympic Team as the official sponsor for hospitality programs, management services, corporate and consumer ticket and travel packages, and individual tickets through the 2012 Olympic Games.
Read more here

Sherpas to carry Olympic torch atop Mt Everest

The unveiling of a plan this week by Beijing to do a rehearsal this Spring for next year’s Olympic torch relay atop Mount Everest, or ‘Qomolangma’ in Chinese, has Nepal’s sports and mountaineering authorities excited.
Read more here

Dive team rebuilds for Beijing

AUSTRALIA head diving coach Hui Tong has described the Melbourne world championships as a stepping stone for the national team as it rebuilds for the 2008 Olympic Games.
Read more here

Beijing edict: Be nice or else!

In preparation for the 2008 Olympic Games, Beijing is intent on putting on a new face. The city, home to 15.3 million people, is building a 91,000-seat Olympic Stadium and "Water Cube" aquatic center, among other curiosities.
Read More Here

Hopes rise for a single Korean Team at Beijing

LONDON, Dec 22 (Reuters) - The IOC said on Friday it was pleased with the progress made by North and South Korea on the prospect of having a joint team for the 2008 Beijing Games.

Read more

BEIJING 2008 : WADA president happy with China's anti-doping effort

BEIJING 2008 : WADA president happy with China's anti-doping effort

China and WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) commonly understand that great attention should be paid to the anti-doping issue to ensure a clean Olympic Games.

Pardon the Dust: Beijing Puts Its Games Face On

The screech of saws mixes with the screams of tall, lean women spiking volleyballs. The pounding of hammers accents the sound of teenage boxers slapping pavement as they jog past scaffolding in a parking lot. Chalk dust flies from the hands of young gymnasts training inside just as the construction dust rises outside.

Click the link to read more on this story

Pardon the Dust: Beijing Puts Its Games Face On

Tags: beijing 2008, olympics, beijing, olympic games, sos.beijing2008

Beijing Stadium

BEIJING, Sept. 17 -- The main venue for the 2008 Olympic Games was unveiled for the first time when the supporting frameworks for the National Stadium was removed on Sunday.

Tags: sos.beijing2008, olympics, beijing2008

Pictograms of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games unveiled

Pictograms of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games unveiled (photo attached)

(BEIJING, August 7) -- The Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG) released the Pictograms of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on the occasion of the 2-year countdown to the opening of the Games.