Scots politicians told to stay out of Olympic football

GLASGOW (AFP) — Members of the Scottish Parliament have been told to stay out of the row over whether there should be a British football team at the 2012 London Olympics.

A Scottish Parliament committee agreed Tuesday to write to world football governing body FIFA to seek clarification on the position of a united UK team taking part in three years' time.

However, the Scottish Football Association (SFA) and their counterparts in Wales and Northern Ireland remain adamantly opposed to the concept.

They fear the creation of British team would, despite FIFA assurances to the contrary, jeopardise the independent status of the four Home Nations (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) and ultimately lead to the creation of a single UK team for all international football.

The English Football Association, whose players could expect to dominate a British team, are behind plans to field a unified team at the 2012 Games.

SFA chief executive Gordon Smith warned Wednesday that FIFA would not take kindly to political interference, saying: "If there is one thing that FIFA dislikes, it is political involvement in football issues.

"This is something that we would, of course, have told the members of the committee had they sought to ask us our views.

"It is also the case that, if they write to FIFA, then they will undoubtedly get a view that they have no issue with a one-off Team GB competing at the London Olympics.

"However, I would have thought that politicians would understand politics better than anyone," said Smith, who stressed FIFA could yet change their stance. "As we have made clear again and again it is not the view of the current FIFA members that matters - it is the views of members in the future that will count.

"Again, had we been asked, we would have made this clear."

Smith said politicians and the British Olympic Association should give up on the idea of a British team.

"Fans are against Team GB, players are against Team GB and three out of four governing bodies are against Team GB.

"It is time that people at Holyrood, Westminster and the BOA stopped treating this issue as a political football and let football govern football.

"For the avoidance of any doubt - Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are resolutely opposed to Team GB."

Copyright © 2009 AFP. All rights reserved.

2010 Olympics a great economic stimulus: Canadian Finance minister

Whatever the cost of putting on the 2010 Olympics, it is the best economic stimulus package a government could want, Finance Minister Colin Hansen said Thursday.

Without conceding the government has pumped more money into the Games than it had first promised, Hansen said he understands how taxpayers could be nervous. But he pointed to the benefits derived from Expo 86 and raised the spectre of the current worldwide financial meltdown to justify the hundreds of millions of taxpayers' dollars governments across Canada have devoted to the Games.

"When we talk about economic stimulus packages that governments around the world are trying to put in place, you could not find a better economic stimulus package than hosting an Olympic and Paralympic Games," he said.

The government has estimated the Olympics will generate $4 billion in direct economic benefits, half of it from venue construction programs and the other half from corporate sponsor programs. "That's not counting the multiplier effect in the B.C. economy of having that $4 billion infused directly into local businesses," he said.

Hansen said no one questions Expo 86 was a success as an economic generator -- and that was without the sustained worldwide television coverage the Olympics will bring to the province.

The province's $600-million Olympic budget remains fair, he said, even though he knows some people want to attach projects such as the Canada Line, Sea to Sky Highway upgrade and Vancouver Exhibition & Convention Centre as Olympic projects.

However, Hansen has acknowledged that the revised costs of Olympic security will exceed the province's $87.5-million budgeted share -- and could mean the province will exceed its $600-million cap. The bulk of security costs, which could reach $1 billion, will be paid by Ottawa.

In its 2002 bid book, the Vancouver Bid Corp. estimated it would cost $709 million to build new and refurbish existing venues, with $509 million coming from the federal and provincial governments and the rest -- primarily for the Vancouver Athletes' Village -- coming from other partners. At the time, Vancouver was already planning to sell the lands to a private developer to build an 1,100-unit residential neighbourhood. Vanoc eventually pegged venue costs at $470 million.

In April 2004, Vanoc acknowledged it needed more government money because of rising construction costs and because the bid was estimated in 2002 US dollars, as required by the IOC. Ottawa and Victoria eventually parcelled out another $55 million each.

jefflee@vancouversun.com

Source: http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/westcoastnews/story.html?id=ae708792-f2e5-41a8-8911-767528c5f9e4

Games tickets for Beijing venues sold out

July 28, 2008 11:26 ISTOlympic tickets for events in host city Beijing have completely sold out, Games organisers said, leaving only tickets for competitions in co-host cities still available.Organisers released the final tranche of 820,000 tickets on Friday, prompting chaotic scenes at ticket booths in Beijing, where queues of tens of thousands of people strained to break heavy police cordons.

"With a heated participation of ticket buyers, Games-time competition tickets of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games venues in Beijing have been sold out," the Beijing Organising Committee for the Olympic Games said on its website late on Sunday.

Some 250,000 of the final tranche were for Beijing-based events, with the rest for soccer qualifiers held in co-host cities Tianjin, Shanghai, Shenyang and Qinhuangdao.
A final batch of 14,000 tickets for equestrian events would go on sale in co-host city Hong Kong on Tuesday, organisers said on the competition website.

Tickets for many competitions in Beijing sold out within hours, with some buyers camping out at ticket booths two days before they opened.

Thousands of police and paramilitary troops struggled to keep order at booths during the last-chance sale, where scuffles broke out between frustrated ticket-buyers, security officials and reporters.

Beijing's sale of nearly 7 million Olympic tickets has been swift but not without incident. Prospective buyers complained on blogs and Internet chat-rooms of not being able to complete purchases after the third batch of tickets was released in May.

The former Olympic ticketing chief was sacked last November after the ticketing website crashed almost immediately on the opening day of the second round of sales.
The Beijing Games start on August 8. source: rediff.com

Olympic Emblem

Every emblem of the Olympics tells a story. The Beijing 2008 Olympic Games emblem "Chinese Seal, Dancing Beijing" is filled with Beijing's hospitality and hopes, and carries the city's commitment to the world.

Milestone

"Dancing Beijing" is a milestone of the Olympics. It serves as a classic chapter of the Olympic epic inscribed by the spirit of the Chinese nation, calligraphed by the deeper import of the ancient civilization, and molded by the character of Cathay's descendents. It is concise yet deep inside, bringing forth the city's gradual changes and development. It appears dignified yet bears a tune of romance, reflecting the nation's thoughts and emotions.

In the lead up to the Beijing 2008 Olympics, the emblem will attract more and more people from around the world to Beijing and China to join the great celebration with the Chinese people.
Commitment.

"Dancing Beijing" is a Chinese Seal. It is engraved with commitment made to the Olympic Movement by a country that has 56 ethnic groups and a population of 1.3 billion. While witnessing the advocacy of the Olympic Spirit by a nation with both ancient civilization and modern culture, it also unfolds a future-oriented city's pursuit of the Olympic Ideal.

It is a symbol of trust and an expression of self confidence, standing for the solemn yet sacred promise that Beijing - the host city of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games - has made to the world and to all mankind.

"Complete sincerity can affect even metal and stone (literally meaning sincerity smoothes the way to success)." The inception of our ancestors' wisdom and the image of a seal made of metal and stone allow the emblem to present Chinese people's respect and honesty for the Olympics.
The moment we earnestly imprint the emblem with the "Chinese seal", Beijing is about to show the world a grand picture of "peace, friendship, and progress of mankind" and to strike up the passionate movement of "faster, higher, and stronger" for mankind.

Image

"Dancing Beijing" serves as the city's foremost appearance. It is an image that shows the eastern ways of thinking and the nation's lasting appeal embodied in the Chinese characters. It is an expression that conveys the unique cultural quality and elegance of Chinese civilization.
With inspiration from the traditional Chinese art form - calligraphic art, the character "Jing" (the latter of the city's name) is developed into the form of a dancing human being, reflecting the ideal of a "New Olympics". The words "Beijing 2008" also resembles the vivid shapes of Chinese characters in handwriting, voicing in concise strokes of the countless feelings Chinese people possess towards the Olympics.

As people ponder on the rich connotations and charms of these Chinese characters, a "New Beijing" has thus been brought forward.

Beauty

"Dancing Beijing" is a favorite color of the Chinese people. The color "red" is intensively used in the emblem, pushing the passion up to a new level. It carries Chinese people's longing for luck and happiness and their explanation of life.

Red is the color of the Sun and the Holy Fire, representing life and a new beginning. Red is mind at ease, symbol of vitality, and China's blessing and invitation to the world.

Hero

"Dancing Beijing" calls upon heroes. Olympic Games functions as the stage where heroes are made known, miracles created and glories earned, and where every participant constitutes an indispensable part of the occasion.

The powerful and dynamic design of the emblem is a life poem written by all participants with their passion, affections, and enthusiasm. It is an oath every participant takes to contribute power and wisdom to the Olympics.

The emblem cheers for arts and for the Olympic heroes, who pass down the essence of the Olympic Spirit, which well connects sports and cultures.

Spirit

"Dancing Beijing" extends the totem of the Chinese nation. The form of a running human being stands for the beauty and magnificence of life. Its graceful curves are like the body of a wriggling dragon, relating the past and future of one same civilization; they are like rivers, carrying the century-old history and the nation's pride; they are like veins, pulsing with vitality of life.
The intrinsic values of sports -- athlete-centered and people-oriented - are well defined and upgraded in an artistic way in "the dance of Beijing." We sing if words fail to explain it all, and we dance if the singing does not explicitly tell the meaning.

Vigorous Beijing is looking forward to the celebration in 2008 and the Olympics wait all mankind to dance together.

Invitation

"Dancing Beijing" is a kind invitation. The open arms in the emblem say that China is opening its arms to welcome the rest of the world to join the Olympics, a celebration of "peace, friendship and progress of mankind."

"Is it not a joy to have friends come from afar?" The idiom portrays the feelings of friendly and hospitable Chinese people and expresses the sincerity of the city.

Come to Beijing, take a good look at the historical heritages of China's Capital city, and feel the pulse of the country's modernization; Come, share every piece of its joy, and experience the vigor of the country; Come, and let us together weave a peaceful and wonderful dream.

Source: http://en.beijing2008.cn/spirit/beijing2008/graphic/n214070081.shtml

About BOCOG

The Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG) was established on December 13, 2001, five months after Beijing won the right to host the 2008 Olympic Games.

BOCOG currently consists of 26 departments -- responsible for numerous Games functions ranging from venue planning to environmental management.

BOCOG will gradually expand its departments and staff to meet the time-sensitive demands of the Olympic preparations. By 2008, there will be more than 30 departments and 4,000 staff working under the BOCOG umbrella.

Headquarters: Beijing Olympic Tower, 267 Beisihuanzhonglu, Haidian, Beijing, P.R.China

Postal Code: 102008

Tel: +86 10 66692008 Fax: +86 10 66699229 E-mail: 2008@beijing2008.cn

Source: http://en.beijing2008.cn/bocog/

Ronaldinho's Olympic dream turns sour

(BEIJING, July 9) -- Despite being included in the Brazilian Olympic squad announced on Tuesday, football star Ronaldinho's road to Beijing is bumpier than expected. His club FC Barcelona has refused to release him for Beijing 2008.

FC Barcelona justified the move on its official website by saying that "the Olympics do not form part of the official FIFA calendar, and no official decision has ever been made in that respect, so the club is under no obligation to allow its player to travel."

The statement also says the club's objective is to "have as many players as possible ready in time for the Champions League qualifying games."

Another star from Barca, Lionel Messi, who has expressed many times his wish to play for his country Argentina in the Olympics, may also be affected by the club's hard-line decision.

Source: http://en.beijing2008.cn/news/sports/headlines/football/n214442802.shtml

Beijing Olympic Main Press Center opens

(BEIJING, July 8) -- The Main Press Center (MPC) for the Beijing Olympics formally opened on Tuesday, July 8 and will follow a 24-hour operation schedule between July 25 and August 27 for media crews from around the world, Director of the MPC and IBC operation team, Sha Wanquan, told reporters Tuesday.

The International Broadcast Center (IBC), nearby the MPC, also began operation Tuesday, stated Director of the BOCOG Median Operations Department, Sun Weijia, who joined Sha at the press conference.

The Chinese government, Beijing Municipal Government and BOCOG have attached great importance to media services with courtesy for media members a top consideration, both Sha and Sun stressed.

With a floor space of 62,000 square meters, the MPC is the largest media center in Olympic history. Located within reach of the "Bird's Nest", "Water Cube", National Indoor Stadium, the Olympic Fencing Hall, the Olympic Village, Media Village and other venues, the MPC allows for more convenient news coverage and easy access by journalists.

The two media hotels are conjoined to the MPC, allowing for direct flow between media work space and living quarters, setting a precedent for the Olympic Games, Sha said.

With 971 workstations, the press work room is also the largest in Olympic history. Among these workstations, 680 are equipped with electrical and network interface features to provide media crews with optimal communication capabilities. An additional 206 workstations will be available for photographers. W-LAN and laptop locks will accompany all stations for user convenience. To date a record 144 media organizations have rented 110 offices at the facility.

The MPC and IBC will follow international practice to provide information terminals, Games-time live broadcasting, competition results, and print and distribution service stations. "In addition, we have also set up a resource area offering a variety of international newspapers, magazines, and library facilities for members of the media," Sha said. "Abundant news coverage and press conferences addressing various topics will also be conducted to provide additional information," he added.

For added convenience, the MPC will offer facilities such as free of charge internet buffet, mobile phone charging stations, Internet IC card lending machine, a bank, a post office, a UPS center, a medical station, a pharmacy, a licensed product shop, a dry cleaning shop, a hair dresser, a travel agency, a convenient store and vending machines. The MPC will also offer a restaurant with a wide selection of international foods, media lounge, massage room, gym, showers and other spaces for relaxation.

Discussing the IBC, Sun said that it would also offer similar facilities for media teams. Additional information would be made available through press conferences from July 8 to 23. Starting July 8, the help desk will begin accepting applications for use of interview facilities and assisting crews with navigating the facility and addressing any concerns.

Offering optimal working conditions and cutting edge technology capabilities has been a priority for planners. "Ever since the early planning stage, we have been committed to top service and setting new Olympic precedents with our offerings," Sun said.

This would be the first time high definition signals would be provided to broadcasters to serve over four billion spectators around the world.

"This is also the first time that new media technologies such as the internet and mobile phones will be used for widespread broadcasting," Sun said.

Source: http://en.beijing2008.cn/news/official/preparation/n214441189.shtml

My Olympic Story: 100 days, 100 stories

(BEIJING, April 16) - Were you born on August 8, the date the Beijing Olympics begin? Are you full of knowledge about Olympic events? Then you're already playing a role in the Beijing Olympics.

If you think you have an Olympic destiny, don't keep it to yourself; tell your story and inspire others! Allow us to share your Olympic experience with the rest of the world today.

The official website of the Olympic Games is asking for stories that reflect your support for the Olympics and the contributions you are making towards the preparations for the Games. We welcome stories from all perspectives. You can also send pictures!

Entries will be accepted until August 6. Beginning April 29, on the occasion of the 100-day countdown to the start of the Games, we will select and post one story every day until August 6, for a total of 100 stories.

The star of every selected story will receive a special certificate and commemorative Olympic souvenir, and the 100 selected stories will be published as an anthology and become a part of the Olympic Museum collection as a cultural legacy of the Beijing Olympics.

Please log on to http://en.beijing2008.cn/story/ for more information.

Source: http://en.beijing2008.cn/news/dynamics/headlines/n214309769.shtml

Chinese vice president confident Olympic equestrian events will be successful

HONG KONG, July 7 (Xinhua) - Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping said here Monday he was confident that the Hong Kong will host warm, splendid and successful equestrian events during the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Xi made the remarks in his keynote speech at a welcoming dinner hosted by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government at the Shangri-La Hotel, noting that the HKSAR government and Hong Kong compatriots have contributed significantly to the preparations of the Beijing 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

As one of the six co-host cities, Hong Kong is going to stage the equestrian events, an important part of the Beijing Olympics.

Xi said the HKSAR government has led the preparatory work with great sense of commitment, and the Equestrian Committee (Hong Kong) and the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong have been working in close collaboration with all sectors of Hong Kong.

As a result of their hard work, Xi said, two high-quality modern equestrian venues for the Olympic Games have been built in just about three years and events-related preparations and the introduction of municipal services plans are well underway.

The whole country and the whole world are deeply impressed by Hong Kong people's enthusiasm, their level of participation and their passion for the Olympics, Xi said.

Hundreds of thousands of people joined the crowd to cheer for the Beijing Olympic torch relay on May 2 in Hong Kong, making it an event of festivity and harmony.

Source: http://en.beijing2008.cn/news/olympiccities/hongkong/n214440134.shtml

Beijing upgrades park toilets for Olympics

BEIJING, July 7 (Xinhua) - Beijing is upgrading its park toilets to better serve tourists during the August Olympiad.

This year, the capital had invested 15 million yuan (about 2.2 million U.S. dollars) in refurbishing 128 toilets in 11 city-managed parks. It was also building seven new ones.

According to a park administration center guideline, all park toilets must have their doors, windows and inner walls cleaned and painted. They also must be equipped with free soap, tissue, hand dryers and ultraviolet disinfection lamps.

Previously toilets at the famed Summer Palace saw long line-ups. Now, seating had been provided while they wait. Diaper tables have also been installed for tourists' convenience.

The upgraded toilets are all equipped with free soap and tissue and offer the disabled easy access and usage.

Each month, the Summer Palace's 23 toilets consumed 4,752 rolls of tissue, 214 liters of soap and 57.5 liters of detergent, a park spokesman said.

The expenditure on tissues alone in the 11 parks stood at 1.5 million yuan annually, an official with the park administration center said.

Source: http://en.beijing2008.cn/news/olympiccities/beijing/n214440126.shtml

Service in forty-four languages during Games-time

(BEIJING, July 7) - BOCOG President Liu Qi helped inaugurate the Olympic Games multi-language service center on Monday, July 7, at Beijing Foreign Studies University.

The creation of the multi-language service facility represents a joint effort by the BOCOG International Relations Department and the Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU).
According to chinanews.com, after the opening ceremony, Liu inspected the facility.
BFSU is one of China's most prestigious universities, with academics reaching 43 languages. Over 3,000 students have become Olympic volunteers.

Workers at the service center and BFSU students and teachers will be providing aid in forty-four languages during the Games.

A 24-hour telephone hotline will be available to aid in translation needs in 10 of the world's most widely spoken languages. An emergency response team will be supporting the work of the center.

The center will be fully and officially operating on July 24. It will close on September 21.

Source: http://en.beijing2008.cn/news/olympiccities/beijing/n214439845.shtml

One million Olympic tickets remain unsold

BEIJING, June 18 (Xinhua) -- Organizers of the Beijing Olympics said on Wednesday that about six million tickets for the Aug. 8-24 Games have been purchased, accounting for 86 percent of the total tickets available for sale.

Zhu Yan, head of the Beijing Olympics Ticketing Center, told a press conference that around one million tickets remain unsold now and the majority of them are the tickets for soccer competitions in the four co-host cities -- Tianjin, Shanghai, Qinhuangdao and Shenyang.

"We plan to put on sale the remaining tickets in late July, and people will be able to buy tickets at the Olympic venues by then," said Zhu.

According to Zhu, of the six million tickets that have been sold, the Chinese domestic public purchased 3.43 million, including 800, 000 reserved for the primary and middle-school students, while the rest went to the National Olympic Committees, the International Federations, the International Olympic Committee and sponsors.

Zhu said that as many as 185 NOCs have booked Olympic tickets, and it is a proof of the attraction of the Beijing Games.

"As far as we know, 185 is a record number in the history of the Olympic Games," he said. "So judging from the ticket sales, we can say that the Beijing Olympics is a grand party of the Olympic family."

Meanwhile, Zhu also announced that 830,000 tickets for the Sept.6-17 Paralympic Games will go on sale across China as of Friday, with the price ranging from 30 yuan (about 4.35 U.S. dollars) to 80 yuan (about 11.6 U.S. dollars).

Source: http://en.beijing2008.cn/tickets/news/n214441784.shtml

Four Chinese shuttlers, three Olympic tickets

(BEIJING, June 18) -- World No. 4 Zhang Ning of China hopes her performance at the ongoing Indonesia Super Series will help get her to the Beijing Olympics.

She will face some tough competition among her compatriots, as IOC rules stipulate that only three Chinese can compete in Beijing. World No.1 Xie Xingfang has already secured one of three badminton team, revealed that the shuttlers' performances in recent major world badminton tournaments could determine whether the players will have a chance to compete in the upcoming Olympic Games.

Source: http://en.beijing2008.cn/news/sports/headlines/badminton/n214409994.shtml

FLASH: China and Russia earn Olympic tickets in Men's Double

(BEIJING, June 18) -- Crews from China and Russia have qualified for the 2008 Olympics in the Men's Double after finishing in the top two spots at the Final Olympic Qualification Regatta on June 18, in Poznan, Poland.

Men's Double final results:

1. China -- 6:32.59
2. Russia -- 6:36.10
3. Bulgaria -- 6:36.39
4. Italy -- 6:38.87
5. Poland -- 6:39.98
6. Czech Republic -- 6:52.95

Source: http://en.beijing2008.cn/news/sports/headlines/rowing/n214409697.shtml

Olympic tickets distributed to Olympic Education Schools

With the Beijing Olympic Games one month away, BOCOG and the Ministry of Education distributed Olympic tickets allotted for schools involved in the Olympic education program nationwide on Tuesday.

Following the practice of previous Olympics, BOCOG is offering elementary and secondary schools under the program up to one million tickets, or 14 percent of the total ticket pool, at low prices of five yuan to ten yuan per ticket. Opening and closing ceremony tickets are not included in the special ticketing program.

To ensure sound arrangement for students' accommodations and transportation, ten high schools in Beijing have been designated as hosts to offer affordable services.

BOCOG and the Education Ministry have also issued a special invitation to 65 teachers and students from earthquake-hit areas in Sichuan Province to attend the Olympics as a part of the program.

Source: http://en.beijing2008.cn/tickets/news/n214441784.shtml

Beijing 2008: top players head Olympic tennis tournament

With the participation of 17 of the top 20 men and 18 of the top 20 women, the 2008 Olympic tennis tournament will certainly be an event not to be missed from 10 to 17 August on the courts of the new Olympic Tennis Centre in Beijing. The International Tennis Federation (ITF) has released the direct acceptance list for the Olympic tennis event in singles and doubles (document to be downloaded from the ITF website).
With the two world No.1sIn Beijing, the world No. 1s, Roger Federer (Switzerland) and Ana Ivanovic (Serbia) will lead the strongest field ever to enter the Olympic tennis event since tennis returned as a full medal sport in Seoul in 1988. All five of the top men will compete in Beijing, and seven of the top ten women. The number of competitors will be 172 maximum.
Who will succeed Massu and Henin?

In Beijing, Nicolas Massu from Chile will be able to defend his 2004 Olympic titles (singles and doubles) as he has received one of the six ITF places. In the women’s singles, to find out who will succeed the Belgian Justine Hénin as Olympic champion, we will have to wait until 16 August 2008. For the men’s and women’s doubles, the Olympic winners will be crowned on 16 and 17 August.

Source; http://www.olympic.org/uk/news/olympic_news/full_story_uk.asp?id=2626

Level of preparations for Beijing 2008 have set a gold standard for future Games

Exactly one month out from the start of the 2008 Olympic Games, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) today gave its assessment from the Chinese capital on how the organisers are faring.

At the close of a two-day meeting between the IOC and the Beijing Olympic Games Organising Committee (BOCOG), Hein Verbruggen, Chairman of the IOC’s Coordination Commission for Beijing 2008, heading up this week’s visiting 12-person IOC delegation said, “Here in the Chinese capital you can now really sense the excitement and anticipation. The city feels ready; it looks ready, with the stunning venues all completed. The quality of preparation, the readiness of the venues and the attention to operational detail for these Games have set a gold standard for the future. What our hosts have achieved is exceptional. For the Games to be an overriding success – and the IOC has an underlying confidence this will unquestionably be the case - the organisers need now to deliver the services pledged for, and therefore expected by, the various stakeholders who have begun to arrive for the Games. A very small number of open issues remain – such as some matters with broadcasters and our need to see how temporary measures in the city will make an impact on air quality. But across the board, for the number of areas we went through this week with BOCOG, we are satisfied. When athletes, sports officials, spectators and media arrive in this city over the coming weeks, I have no doubt they will be impressed when they see things with their own eyes; and they will be touched by the warmth of the welcome the Chinese people will show them.”

Source: http://www.olympic.org/uk/news/olympic_news/full_story_uk.asp?id=2628

Get Into The Olympics--The Easy Way

Wed, Jul 9 09:30 AM Peter Hoy, Forbes.com

Face it: You're not the perfect athlete.

You're no Michael Phelps, and you're no Carl Lewis; heck you probably didn't even make varsity in high school. So if you want a trip to the Olympics, and you didn't start training when you were 7 (Phelps did), you're probably going as a spectator. But don't despair--it's entirely possible that you can compete as an athlete in the London games in 2012 (it's far too late to qualify for Beijing). You are just going to have to take the road less traveled.

In Pictures: Five Strategies To Get Into The Olympics

If you just want to be able to call yourself an Olympian in the loosest sense of the word, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recognizes 31 demonstration sports, from bandy to korfball. Never heard of those? Neither have most people, which is why you'll have a (relatively) good shot at getting on a national team. Korfball, by the way, is a derivation of basketball that stresses minimal physical contact, and bandy is a cousin of ice hockey.

For the real deal, however, and a spot in London 2012, you're going to have to choose from one of the events on the IOC's official program. Your best bet is to find an easy sport and a non-competitive country to send you.

Of the 28 official Olympic summer sports, rowing might be your best choice--specifically, the seldom considered and oft-ridiculed position of coxswain, or the guy that motivates the rowers and steers the boat. By Olympic standards, it's a pretty easy job. You spend most of your time sitting down.

So easy, in fact, that in lieu of trials, China's state-run television launched an American Idol-type reality show in 2006 to find a pair of navigators who will sit in the sterns of China's racing shells for the Beijing Games.

Coxing requires little in the way of conditioning, speed or strength. You will, however, have to watch your weight--the American who coxed his eight-man boat to the gold medal in 2004 weighed only 121 lbs, and the Romanian gold medalist who coxed the women's eight that year weighed in at a slight 110 lbs.

Too old or too fat for coxing? Target shooting might be the call.

The Swedish shooter Oscar Swahn was 60 years old when he took home gold in the 1908 Olympics. He picked up a silver medal 12 years later when he was 72--almost 20 years older than life expectancy at the time.

Now you need to find a country willing to send you. Think small. Think non-competitive.

Countries like Ecuador and Paraguay, which each have won a grand total of one medal in the summer games, might have room on their Olympic squads. In fact, there are 205 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) qualified to participate in the summer games, and many of these don't have enough athletes to compete in every event.

If you are an American, you might not even have to give up your U.S. citizenship. Included among the smallest NOCs are U.S. commonwealths and protectorates such as American Samoa (pop. 58,000), Guam (pop. 176,000) and the Marshall Islands (pop. 62,000). American Samoa only sent two athletes to the 2004 Olympics, Guam sent three and the Marshalls will send their first-ever Olympic squad to Beijing in 2008. You could be part of their future.

Good luck.