Olympic Notes
The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER’s Alex Dai reports DVD copies of the Beijing Games Opening Ceremony “went on sale Tuesday in major Chinese cities.” The two-disc set has a street price of US$8. Statistics from China Int’l Television Corp. showed that “of the 6,000 DVD sets that hit store shelves in Shanghai, 5,100 sold on the first day” (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 8/14).
GYMNASTICS FALLOUT: SI.com’s Selena Roberts reported the IOC “has stayed largely out of the debate" surrounding the controversy over the age of China's women’s gymnastics team, as the organization is "ever cautious not to offend host China.” Roberts: “They see blue skies when others see pollution. They distanced themselves from [former] Olympian Joey Cheek when his visa was revoked. They don’t dare rattle sponsors who crave the consumer love of 1.3 billion people.” No matter “how angered American fans might be … do not expect a peep out of the IOC this time” (SI.com, 8/13). Meanwhile, with USA Gymnastics (USAG) officials and gymnast Alicia Sacramone claiming a delay before Sacramone's floor exercise routine in the team finals resulted in a subpar performance -- which in part helped the U.S. team win the Silver Medal instead of Gold -- USAG President Steve Penny said, “There was a 2-minute delay, so the world feed could get Alicia’s routine into the world feed. That was unfortunate, but it is not unusual.” In Philadelphia, Marcus Hayes: "There was no conspiracy, despite her handlers’ most sinister suggestions” (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 8/14).
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: In DC, Michael Lee said in an online Q&A about the food in Beijing's event venues, "Be glad you are not in Beijing. There is NO food at these events. We'd kill for pizza, hot dogs and fried chicken. How does yogurt, crackers and soda sound? Those are our options at the basketball venue. I kid you not" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 8/13). Meanwhile, this morning’s edition of NBC’s “Today” featured a segment where NBC’s Al Roker went to the local food market in Beijing to sample some of the exotic foods available. After the taped report, the food items appeared on-set, where co-hosts Meredith Vieira, Anne Curry and Matt Lauer were encouraged to taste the samples. Vieira tasted a fried scorpion, but when it came time to sample a fried octopus ball, Vieira said, “I stop at the balls. I’m not doing that.” Vieira’s response elicited laughs from Curry and Lauer, as well as some off-camera chuckles (“Today,” NBC, 8/14).
LOSING MY RELIGION: In DC, Ariana Eunjung Cha reports the religious center at the Olympic Village “has become the target of a quiet protest by athletes, coaches and other delegates who say its staffing and services fall woefully short of the promises" BOCOG made before the Games. Previous Olympic hosts have welcomed foreign chaplains, “but China has banned them from living with the athletes” (WASHINGTON POST, 8/14).
HOUSE OF HOOPS: In Denver, Mark Kiszla writes the “camera-clicking, name chanting worship of [Lakers and U.S. G Kobe] Bryant by the local masses at the Olympics might be the strangest foreign love affair with a U.S. pop icon since the French decided Jerry Lewis was a comic genius.” Kiszla: “Please, somebody tell us: What drives this incredible Chinese obsession with Bryant?” Former Univ. of Utah basketball player Ma Jian: “It’s the power of Nike” (DENVER POST, 8/14).
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