AJLynn Posted August 21, 2008 Share Posted August 21, 2008 I wouldn't be surprised if they went and blocked forums in general, e.g. by blocking anything with /vb/ in the URL. Anybody else see the news story about the two 70-something year old women who are going to be sent to a "reeducation through labor" center for a year, for applying for a permit to protest their houses being demolished. (Not for protesting. For applying for a permit.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RyanSpaulding Posted August 21, 2008 Author Share Posted August 21, 2008 I did. It's garbage. It's China. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ky Lane Posted August 21, 2008 Share Posted August 21, 2008 Crap your hands for the Orympics! Its all a farce. Theyre so used to just covering up/banning/disappearing all their problems without opposition, that now the rest of the world is involved, its downright embarassing. Some of the independant news reports we're getting here are a joke. Video of one journo literally getting beaten by 2 chinese police officers while he's pleading with them to read his olympics press pass... its a joke, and I hope that all chinese people are ashamed of their country and try to do something about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RyanSpaulding Posted August 22, 2008 Author Share Posted August 22, 2008 *FIST PUMPS* They're looking into He's age now! http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/olympics/article4583174.ece Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJLynn Posted August 22, 2008 Share Posted August 22, 2008 I wonder if Major League Baseball has a minimum age. China's got 3 14-year-old gymnasts who are going to looking for work and I bet they can pitch better than Sidney Ponson. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Koper Posted August 22, 2008 Share Posted August 22, 2008 Yikes you Yanks, what happened in the 100 relay? that is sooo dissapointing to have the men and woman drop the batton, and not even making the final, oi va voi, that was sad..... i would rather have seen the batton being dropped in the final:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince Paske Posted August 22, 2008 Share Posted August 22, 2008 *FIST PUMPS* They're looking into He's age now! http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/olympics/article4583174.ece What I found so unsettling was her performance. I know absolutely nothing about gymnastics, but she wobbled so much even I could tell she didn't really deserve the score she got. Bribary, coercion amongst the judges?? In situations like these, I feel sorry for the athletes who have worked all their lives at levels of stress, pain, etc..that we will never know. Here's another link to the age scandal: http://www.dailytech.com/Update+Search+Engine+Hacker+Reveals+Chinese+Gymnasts+True+Age/article12728.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobNJ73 Posted August 22, 2008 Share Posted August 22, 2008 (edited) Well, after an exhaustive 12-hour investigation, the IOC and FIG (International Gymnastics Federation) have concluded that the gymnasts are all of age: http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/beijing/gymnastics/news?slug=dw-iocprobe082208&prov=yhoo&type=lgns And in more Olympic news, it seems that Michael Phelps has returned home. Edited August 22, 2008 by RobNJ73 Just because I felt like it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kippu Posted August 22, 2008 Share Posted August 22, 2008 yippeeeeeeeeeee we won 3 medals ....wooohoooooooooo party Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RyanSpaulding Posted August 22, 2008 Author Share Posted August 22, 2008 Well, after an exhaustive 12-hour investigation, the IOC and FIG (International Gymnastics Federation) have concluded that the gymnasts are all of age: I still think it stinks...the documents found by NY Times (old passports) have her birthdate at 1994. These specific documents are now gone, missing, kaput...just like anything else getting in China's way... So what are these old documents? And what stops a major govt from creating new passports with fraudulant data on them in order to save face and embarassment in the games they held at home? Still fishy IMO. One can see why the IOC wouldn't want to offend the host during their games with something like this. I believe that Alecia Sacramonie got robbed in another even, where the Chinese silver medalist screwed up 2 major moves and was docked less that Alecia's one mistake. I'm telling you, all this ish is funky. Lord help us if China ever reaches #1 super power in the world. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobNJ73 Posted August 22, 2008 Share Posted August 22, 2008 Sorry, I probably should have hit the sarcasm button harder this morning. A 12-hour investigation isn't an investigation... I've had more thorough searches for my car keys Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaneis Posted August 22, 2008 Share Posted August 22, 2008 If the IOC had found He to be under aged, would the news headlines read "CHINESE GYMNAST UNDER AGE!!!" or "WORLDS BEST BEATEN BY A 'LITTLE GIRL'" ??? Even if they were to strip her of her medal, no-one can take away the fact that she won and for that fact alone, congratulations are in order. In a sporting world corrupted by money and drugs, I think it's kind of cool that there's a scandal like this. Compared to the Ben Johnson's and Marion Jones' of the world, I think she's absolutely awesome. Well done He Kexin, no matter how old you are! I still think it stinks... ...just like anything else getting in China's way... ...Still fishy IMO.... ...I believe that Alecia Sacramonie got robbed... ...Lord help us if China ever reaches #1 super power in the world. Hmm, have you ever considered nominating yourself for goodwill ambassador of the year? It's good to see you're right into the spirit of the Olympics there Ryan. "Fight the good fight, precious" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RyanSpaulding Posted August 22, 2008 Author Share Posted August 22, 2008 I don't like shady dealings. A scandal is a scandal...no matter what your opinion is or what you think is a 'cool scandal'. Lying is cheating. She'll get her chance again when she's 18. Being young, is mentally and advantage and physically an advantage. If you dont see the advantage in being small and light in aerial acrobatics, don't know what to tell you. If you read up on it, you'll find there ARE documents...there ARE cached files up on Chinese search engines showing a birthdate of 1994... What kind of moral precedent do you set if you teach young people that you can still reach gold by breaking the rules? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claudio Branch Posted August 22, 2008 Share Posted August 22, 2008 In a sporting world corrupted by money and drugs, I think it's kind of cool that there's a scandal like this. I'm glad to see that you at least draw an ethical line at money and drugs. You have lost your mind... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJLynn Posted August 22, 2008 Share Posted August 22, 2008 They can't enforce the rules against the Ben Johnson / Marion Jones types while flagrantly failing (heck, not even trying) to enforce other rules. A freakin' government coverup to enable an eligibility violation is a big problem. Because it's no longer about the young child's dream, it's about national advancement and politics. Which makes it child abuse. It's somewhere between pretty unfortunate and really f'ed up that "women's" gymnastics seems to lend itself to very young competitors, because given the amount of pain, medication and unhealthy side effects involved it seems like something that really should be done by consenting adults. The 33 year old Russian/German mother who won a medal is, IMO, the best story from women's gymnastics this year if for no other reason than that it shows it's possible for an adult to compete. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaneis Posted August 23, 2008 Share Posted August 23, 2008 ...If you dont see the advantage in being small and light in aerial acrobatics, don't know what to tell you... Oh, so that's why Newton and Einstein kept on including mass (m) velocity (v) and distance (d) in their formulae! Sheesh, I thought they were doing it because "m", "v" and "d" were secret Masonic codes pertaining to the New World Order. Thanks for the head's up! I'm glad to see that you at least draw an ethical line at money and drugs. You have lost your mind... It seems you think I'd condone child abuse! You are wrong. Very wrong. You neither know me nor have never met me so please don't presume to question my principles, morals, ethics and sanity. I'm looking at this with as wide-a-view as possible...and I'm certainly not taking a suspected breach of a sporting rule and manipulating it into some delusional world domination construct fuelled by patriotic zeal! 1904 - US marathon runner wins while under the influence of strychnine and brandy concoction which was given to him by his coach even during the race. (Strychnine produces an effect similar to LSD) 1928 - The Soviet Union, in opposition to and to supplement the Modern "capitalist" Olympics, organise and hold the first of many Spartakiads - where athletes from Communist nations and close allies of the Soviet Union participated either by choice or because they were barred from participating in the Olympics. Entry for athletes was open to all citizens, record participation being 90 million in the 6th Summer Spartakiad. 1936 - Amidst the Berlin Games, German Nazi Party promotes the superiority of the Aryan race and Fascist politics. Consequently... 1940/1944 - Games cancelled due to WWII. 1952 - The Soviet Union participates in the Olympics for the first time, the Spartakiads also continue though they had begun occurring more often on a national level. 1956 - The Netherlands, Spain and Switzerland boycott in protest of the Soviets suppressing the Hungarian uprising while Cambodia, Egypt, Iraq and Lebanon boycott in protest of the joint British, French and Israeli attacks on Egypt. 1960 - Rome, a Danish cyclist falls from his bicycle and later dies...under the influence of amphetamines. 1967 - IOC bans performance enhancing drugs. 1968 - First athlete tests positive (alcohol) and loses the bronze medal for men's pentathlon. US athletes Smith and Carlos perform the "Black Power" salute on the podium for the 200m track race. IOC orders the US to withdraw the entire US athletics team or send the two "offending" athletes home - Smith and Carlos were sent home. Ten days prior to the Mexico City Games, Mexican students use the increased attention of the World's media to mount a political demonstration. At least 200-300 were killed, possibly thousands. The amount of students arrested and detained is unknown. 1972 - South Africa and Rhodesia banned as a result of pressure from the African Nations, sparked by a New Zealand Rugby tour of the then pro-apartheid South Africa. New Zealand was not banned (rugby was not an Olympic sport). Eleven members of the Israeli team are held hostage by a Palestinian terrorist group. Nine Israelis were killed during the rescue attempt. 1976 - South Africa and Rhodesia still banned as a result of pressure from the African Nations, New Zealand is still not banned. Consequently, 22 countries boycott the '76 Montreal Games because New Zealand was not included in the bans. In the same year, China pressures Canada to disallow Taiwan to represent themselves as a separate nation. Taiwan boycotts the next two Games. 1980 - In total, 65 (Cold War) nations boycott the Moscow Games protesting the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan 1984 - In total, 15 (Cold War) nations boycott the Los Angeles Games for fear of their athlete's safety. The boycotting nations hold their own games, the Friendship Games, in the same year. 1988 - Ben Johnson tests positive and has medal revoked - medal is awarded to Carl Lewis who is also under suspicion of doping, although he has returned no positive tests. 1990 - Documents revealed that East German female athletes were unknowingly administered performance enhancing drugs by coaches and trainers. Subsequently, many of the officials involved have been tried and convicted under German law. 1996 - American terrorist detonates a bomb at the Atlanta Games - 2 killed, 111 injured. After the Atlanta Games, the FIG raises the minimum age for Olympic gymnasts from 15 to 16. 1998 - Several IOC members found to have accepted bribes from the US Organising Committee for their votes on Salt Lake City's 2002 Winter Olympics. Four IOC officials resigned, six were expelled. There was no re-vote. 1999 - World Anti-Doping Agency is formed. 2002 - First "high security" games. Held in Salt Lake City (post 9/11) USA. 2004 - Iranian judo competitor refuses to compete against an Israeli, complying with a blanket order passed down by the Iranian government to not compete in any heat, semi-final or final that includes Israeli athletes. This order still stands today. 2006 - IOC introduces blood testing at the Turino Winter Games. One medallist fails blood test and has medal revoked, twelve others found to have elevated levels of haemoglobin - suspended from competition for 5 days. 2007 - Marion Jones admits to having used performance enhancing drugs prior to the Sydney Games, 2000. Stripped of all Olympic medals from September 2000, onwards. 2008 - Calls for boycotting Beijing Games due to Chinese domestic human rights record, their treatment of Tibetan and Taiwanese citizens and their involvement in Darfur, Sudan. March 10th, 2008 marked the 49th anniversary of the Tibetan Uprising against Chinese rule. Activists use the increased World media attention to further expose the situation in Tibet. In the six months that followed, deaths total in the thousands. Official numbers are very, very vague. On the opening day of the Beijing Olympics, Russia invades Georgia. Outflow of information from foreign and domestic journalists in China to the rest of the world is heavily monitored. China's connection to the world-wide-web is censored. Five athletes (at present) test positive for performance enhancing drugs, bringing the total to 78 in forty years of testing. The gymnastics community is deeply divided on the age limit issue, ever since the age limitations were tightened in the early '80s. The one exception to the age rule applies the year before the Olympics, when gymnasts who are one year shy of the age requirement may compete as seniors at the World Championships and other meets for purposes of Olympic qualification and experience at an international level. Had the age limit been reduced 20 years prior, Olympic Champions Nadia Comaneci (USSR, 1976), Dominique Moceanu (USA, 1996) and Kerri Strug (USA, 1992) would all have been ineligible - they were all 14. Since the early '80s, there have been several suspicious and documented breaches of the age restrictions however, in only one situation has the FIG found it necessary to take any disciplinary action. That was against North Korean gymnast, Kim Gwang Suk who competed in 1989 at age 11. So I still stand by what I said; that compared to all the other controversy that has surrounded the Olympics in the past and will most certainly continue in the future, a controversy like this is hardly the tragedy it has been portrayed as. She's very good at what she does. If she's found to be too young, fine, revoke the medal and wait for 2012. If she was DNA tested and found to be 16, would the accusers/ doubters offer a sincere apology and offer recompense? Or perhaps continue on and cast doubt over the integrity of the blood sample? A freakin' government coverup to enable an eligibility violation is a big problem. Because it's no longer about the young child's dream, it's about national advancement and politics. Which makes it child abuse... Oh, please. US companies purchasing goods produced in child-filled Chinese sweatshops under government sanctioned trade agreements is child abuse. Children being handed a uniform, an AK-47's and told to go and fight in an adult's war is child abuse. A junior gymnast competing as a senior is not. Not even close. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claudio Branch Posted August 23, 2008 Share Posted August 23, 2008 It seems you think I'd condone child abuse! You are wrong. Very wrong. You neither know me nor have never met me so please don't presume to question my principles, morals, ethics and sanity. I'm looking at this with as wide-a-view as possible...and I'm certainly not taking a suspected breach of a sporting rule and manipulating it into some delusional world domination construct fuelled by patriotic zeal! I do not think you are crazy - I should have used the little () face! Please accept my apology for the comment. I think lying is WRONG. Simple enough? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nic H Posted August 23, 2008 Share Posted August 23, 2008 lol shane good rant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kippu Posted August 23, 2008 Share Posted August 23, 2008 nice long post shane...good read Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SandmanNinja Posted August 23, 2008 Share Posted August 23, 2008 How can this year be the last year for Baseball in the Olympics when they have ..er.. Trampolining??!? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJLynn Posted August 23, 2008 Share Posted August 23, 2008 You're right, worse things have happened. Time to start planning all the stuff I'll be getting away with under that standard. The existence of very bad problems at the Olympics does not excuse pretty bad problems at the Olympics, and the existence of very bad child abuse in the world does not excuse pretty bad child abuse. And the government conspiring with the children to cheat at ssports just adds one more layer to what was already a problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaneis Posted August 23, 2008 Share Posted August 23, 2008 You're right, worse things have happened. Time to start planning all the stuff I'll be getting away with under that standard. That's all very true Andrew. Good point, provided the suspicions surrounding He Kexin are proven to be true. Same with Carl Lewis - amidst great suspicion and doubt, the claims were left unsubstantiated and he still holds the medals to this day. Innocent until proven guilty... now that's a standard to uphold! 2008 (addition) - Cuban Tae Kwon Do competitor fails to return from in-match injury in due time, Kazakstani competitor is awarded the match. Cuban competitor and coach immediately and incorrectly protest, both refuse to stand down, Cuban competitor punches and kicks referee in the head . Cuban competitor and coach banned from all international competition for life . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJLynn Posted August 23, 2008 Share Posted August 23, 2008 That one was pretty bad. Not sure I agree about the lifetime ban for the coach though - unless he actually said "That guy pisses me off, go kick him in the head." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fran Posted August 24, 2008 Share Posted August 24, 2008 The thing about the underaged gymnasts that disturbs me is that I suspect that they don't have a choice (but it's a little different from being 14 and put in a uniform and given a rifle). To be forced to train for the Olympics isn't the worst thing that could happen to you in China - though the being forced thing sticks in the craw of most any person living in the free world. However, any girl in any country who isn't training specifically for official competition by a very early age is not likely to achieve world-class level. So to say that the required training for Olympic competition is not suitable for young girls doesn't hold water with me. There is a reason that not everyone is an Olympic competitor - it's damn hard and requires you to be focused on that goal from a very early age. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anvaraziz Posted August 24, 2008 Share Posted August 24, 2008 (edited) big jokes happening here too.... k guys now its time to change " free Tibet " to "free N.Ireland" Free Palestine ... Free Kurdistan.. Edited August 24, 2008 by anvaraziz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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