Beijing Countdown: masks, money and maybes
Published 31 July, 2008, 12:16
With just over a week to go till the 2008 Beijing Olympics, a number of offbeat stories are grabbing as much attention as the plight of the athletes themselves. From masks to improve breathing, to some heavy financial rewards, RT takes a look at some eye-catching innovations – from the oddball to the extraordinary.
Money, money, money
For some countries the glory of gold is not enough – they are dangling a huge financial carrot to help inspire their athletes. Azeri athletes are to get a six-fold increase from 2004, with gold now netting them $720,000.
When it comes to Russia, the reward for getting gold has tripled, from $50,000 to $155,000.
But the country with the biggest pay-day is the hosts China, reportedly offering $1 million to gold-winners.
At the other end of the scale, the U.S. gold medalists will bring home $25,000. This sum has remained the same since 1984. And Sweden and Norway pay their Olympic athletes nothing at all. For Scandinavians, it seems being in the Olympic team is reward enough in itself.
Reverse order
Order of appearance at the opening ceremony is traditionally determined by the Roman alphabet. But this time the order will be rearranged to suit the Chinese alphabet. The position of a country depends on the number of strokes in the first character of its Chinese name. As a result, Australia will be one of the last countries to enter the Olympic stadium, while Guinea and Japan are likely to be among the first.
In, out, and in again
A new twist has emerged in the story of Iraqi involvement. Its participation had been in doubt since June, when the International Olympic Committee (IOC) suspended the Iraqi National Olympic Committee (NOC) after the Iraqi government replaced the NOC's members. The Iraqi government said the suspension was unfair and accused the IOC of not fulfilling its duties.
Following a seven hour meeting between Iraqi officials and IOC members an agreement was finally reached on Tuesday, July 29th. But only two Iraqis will compete at the Games. Five others will not be allowed to compete because the entry deadlines for their events have already passed
Breathing concerns
Concerned about air pollution in Beijing, U.S. athletes are considering wearing masks. Meanwhile New Zealand’s athletes have been issued face masks with team equipment. The delegations of these countries allowed their athletes to wear respirators around the Olympic village. Obviously, come competition time, athletes will have to take them off.
Naming and modesty
Britain’s sailing squad has been forced to change the name of their boat. Organisers thought Jackie Big Tit's – named so after a song by the Kooks – was inappropriate for an Olympic vessel.
Ben Rhodes and Stevie Morrison, who man the boat, said it was a team tradition to get inspiration in the music world with past names including “a boat called Britney and another named Sally Cinnamon.”
Still the team abided to the demand and re-named the boat Little Miss Pipedream – also a song by the Wombats, reports Gigwise.com.
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