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Tag: Olympic Games

  • Olympic Charter Referenced With Google Doodle Supporting Gay Rights

    Google has a doodle up on its homepage throughout the world today celebrating the Olympic Games, but also making a statement in favor of gay rights.

    Olympic Charter

    Not only does the doodle resemble a rainbow flag, Google has actually quoted the Olympic Charter on its homepage underneath the search box. It says:

    “The practice of sport is a human right. Every individual must have the possibility of practicing sport, without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play.” –Olympic Charter

    The link simply takes you to Google’s search results for “olympic charter,” which points to the document on Olympic.org as the top result underneath the news box. From there you can access it in PDF form.

    The quote Google uses appears as number 4 under “Fundamental Principles of Olympism”.

    The charter is the set of rules and guidelines for the games, and has been used throughout history to decide the outcome of various controversies. The organization has turned to it to rule on issues about citizenship, performance-enhancing drugs, and sexism, among other things.

    Obviously Google is aiming the doodle and message at Russian anti-gay law, and these appear on Google’s Russian homepage just like the rest of its international properties.

    Image via Google

  • Tonya Harding Talks Nancy Kerrigan Assault, Claims ‘The Media Sank Her’

    Yesterday marked 20 years since Tonya Harding’s infamous involvement in the assault of Olympic figure skater, Nancy Kerrigan.

    For those who aren’t aware of the astounding story that shocked the nation, Harding was actually a rival of Kerrigan’s. A premeditated assault on Kerrigan was orchestrated by Harding’s ex-husband Jeff Gillooly, and three other co-conspirators.

    On Jan. 6, 1994, six weeks before the Winter Olympics, Kerrigan was practicing the night before the U.S. Figure Skating Championships at Cobo Arena in Detroit.

    Kerrigan was brutally struck in the right knee with a police baton backstage by co-conspirator Shane Stant. As a result of the injury Kerrigan was forced to withdraw from the U.S. Championships. With Kerrigan’s withdrawal, Harding had a more probable chance of winning, and she ultimately walked out with the victory.

    While the infamous hit was actually meant to stifle and end Kerrigan’s career, it was actually only the beginning. Kerrigan recovered rather quickly and continued training. Seven weeks after the attack, Kerrigan skated what she declared, “the best two performances of her life,” winning the silver medal in the 1994 Lillehammer Winter Olympics at the Hamar Olympic Amphitheatre.

    The gut-wrenching incident, which became known as, “The Whack Heard Round the World,” actually catapulted Kerrigan to an unprecedented level of fame that went far beyond the rink. But, things were the exact opposite for Harding. As a matter of fact, her role in Kerrigan’s assault permanently tainted her career.

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    Now, 20 years after the incident, Harding speaks out on those lasting effects she’s endured due to her involvement in Kerrigan’s injury. She also shared how overwhelming the media attention became after the assault, reports ABC News.

    Harding actually denied having any involvement in Kerrigan’s assault to increase her chances of winning the gold at the 1994 Winter Olympics. But, to no avail. The media firestorm only grew worse, and Harding described it as ‘overwhelming.’

    You just get hit by everything all at once and you just want to crawl in a closet and say go away and leave me alone because you just don’t know what is going on,” she explained.

    However, two months after Kerrigan’s attack, Harding plead guilty to hindering the prosecution. She claims to have learned of the planned assault after it was carried out, but failed to report the knowledge. As a result, Harding was banned from competitive skating.

    Harding also claims she has apologized to Kerrigan for her ex-husband’s actions. Kerrigan has never responded.

    http://youtu.be/6T09XWRkq5M

    Image via Wikimedia | Tonya Harding

  • Lindsey Vonn May Compete 5-Weeks Ahead of Schedule

    In non-squirrel-related, Lindsey Vonn-related news, the world-class skier is reconsidering the idea of competing in the alpine skiing, World Cup opener at the end of the month. During the US Olympic Committee media summit on Wednesday, Vonn reported, “I’m feeling so strong and ready that I’m bringing that possibility back into the mix.”

    If Vonn does compete in the event held in Soelden, Austria, she will be five weeks ahead of her anticipated recovery from a terrifying crash last February at the world championships in Schladming, Austria. She returned to the slopes at the end of August, joining the US ski team at its training camp in Chile.

    Vonn explained that, at the time, “I was definitely pretty amped to get on snow… it was definitely worth it.” And the current queen of the Olympic downhill reports no pain or swelling to date. But she’s not taking reckless chances either, “I’m not going to race until I’m absolutely 100 percent.”

    No one wins those Olympic medals by sleeping in. Vonn Tweeted and Pic’d from her 5:30 am gym workout on the 1st: “530am wake up call, Not a lot of people in the gym this early #earlybirdgetstheworm #Sochi2014 #workhard”

    L Vonn Workout

    Vonn is picking her battles, focusing on her key events: downhill and speed. Slalom puts extra pressure on her knee and therefore is falling by the wayside. If Soelden becomes too soon for the almost 29-year-old (her birthday is the 18th of this month), she anticipates racing at the World Cup in Beaver Creek, Colorado, “for sure.”

    And Vonn is planning a medal-quality performance at the Sochi Games next year, “I know I can win a medal… I look forward to defending my title in Sochi.”

    Today, Vonn Tweeted from Minnesota—her birth-state—“Had an awesome time in Afton with the kids!” She was there as representative of Vail Resorts (pictured above), during a fan event put on by new member resort, Afton Alps. No rest for this busy skiing squirrel!

    [Image via Lindsey Vonn official Twitter.]

  • Paralympic Games Begin Tomorrow in London

    Paralympic Games Begin Tomorrow in London

    The 2012 Paralympic Games are set to kick off tomorrow evening in London. The 14th Paralympic Games will host around 4,200 athletes from 166 countries, including over 200 athletes from the U.S. Many of the U.S. athletes competing are military veterans who lost limbs or sustained other injuries during their service.

    Tonight a 24-hour torch relay will begin the countdown to the opening of the games. The Paralympic Flame will be carried by torches 92 miles through English communities. 116 teams of five people will carry the torch to its destination at the opening ceremony in Stoke Mandevill Stadium tomorrow evening. The torches will originate from the four highest mountain peaks in Scotland, Wales, England, and Northern Ireland.

    The London 2012 Paralympic Games will run from tomorrow until September 9 and will use many of the same venues that the London 2012 Olympic Games did. Many of the sports featured in the Paralympic Games are also the same as those in the Olympics, including, archery, equestrian, judo, powerlifting, rowing, and swimming. Special equipment is often used by Paralympic athletes when competing, and some sports, such as sitting volleyball, wheelchair fencing, wheelchair tennis, wheelchair rugby, and wheelchair basketball are unique to the Paralympic Games.

    The Summer Paralympics began in 1960 with the first games held in Rome. The Paralympic Games are held immediately following the Olympic Games, and Winter Paralympic Games began in 1976. Paralympic athletes compete in categories specific to their impairment, including limb deficiency or loss, ataxia, visual impairment, short stature, and intellectual impairment.

    Sports fans can watch the 2012 Paralympic Games from the Paralympics website, which will stream five different channels of live Paralympics coverage. Check out the preview video of the games below, which look every bit as exciting as this year’s Olympic Games.

  • Olympic Torches on eBay

    Olympic Torches on eBay

    Apparently the Olympics are more than just a time to show pride in one’s country. British Olympic torchbearers are selling the torches for a profit of up to $237,000 on eBay. 8,000 people were chosen to be torchbearers because of contributions to their communities, according to the AFP.

    The Olympic torch is a symbol of purity and is being turned into a quick buck. Actually a quick euro. Even though the example below only has one bid. The rational explanation is some people just don’t need a trophy to display the part they played in the Olympic games. They are selling it to someone that will appreciate the torch. But not all people are using the money for personal profit. One torchbearer is taking her profits and making a donation to a charity and a hospital who treated her son for cerebral palsy.

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    The relay started Saturday and will make it’s way around England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. It runs through the start of the London Olympics on July 27.