Jeremy's Olympic News Page.
10/01/2000 09:49:24 AM
Reuters Stories for September 29th after 7:00 PM: Which means in Sydney it is the FIFTEENTH Day of the Olympics, if you don't want to read, please close out the window now! If you are inclined to read, please continue! Remember that the whole world has not seen or heard of some of this yet. I have a feeling this years Olympics shall be a record setting year for everyone involved. My personal favorite from Swimming is Ian Thorpe. He will do some damage to the record books. I have a definite feeling of that! Keep in mind that all grammar in these stories is UK English written. I am from the United States though and some of the spelling is not a US English way. Newer stories are towards the bottom. Since you have not seen these things I felt that it was appropriate to list in order of news coming in from older to newer news.
Olympics-Olympic internet users fall below forecast
SYDNEY, Sept 30 (Reuters) - Far fewer people logged on to the Internet to keep
track of the Sydney Olympics than expected, senior Olympic officials said on
Saturday.
The International Olympic Committee's marketing division had forecast that some
35 million individuals, or ``unique users,'' would log on to www.olympics.com
and other official Games-related websites before the Sydney Olympics opened on
September 15....
Olympics-Water polo-Italy coach suspended after row
SYDNEY, Sept 30 (Reuters) - Italy's water polo coach Ratko Rudic was banned for
a year on Saturday following a furious outburst after his team were beaten by
Hungary in the quarter-finals of the Olympic tournament.
The International Amateur Swimming Federation (FINA), the sport's world
governing body, said Rudic, who has led both Yugoslavia and Italy to Olympic
titles, had been banned from the Olympics and all FINA tournaments for one year
for having brought the sport into disrepute....
Olympics-Athletics-Greene and U.S. win men's 4x100m gold
SYDNEY, Sept 30 (Reuters) - Sprint champion Maurice Greene collected his second
gold of the Sydney Olympics on Saturday when the United States won the men's
4x100 relay.
Greene, who won the 100 metres title a week ago, anchored the American quartet
to a time of 37.61, the fastest time this year, beating Brazil (37.90) and Cuba
(38.04).
It was the 15th time that the United States have won the event. They have only
been beaten across the finish line once -- by Canada in Atlanta four years
ago....
Olympics-Athletics-Jones misses out in 4x100m relay
SYDNEY, Sept 30 (Reuters) - Double sprint champion Marion Jones missed out on a
third Olympic title on Saturday as the Bahamas won the women's 4x100 metres
relay title.
Their quartet timed 41.95 seconds to beat Jamaica (42.13), with the United
States third (42.20).
The U.S. had been the massive favourites with the 24-year-old Jones, who won the
100 and 200 metres titles earlier in the Games, anchoring their quartet....
Olympics-Athletics-Tulu destroys field with late burst
SYDNEY, Sept 30 (Reuters) - Derartu Tulu produced a devastating burst on the
last lap to win a superb women's 10,000 metres final in Olympic record time on
Saturday.
The 1992 champion had been content to sit in a pack of five dragged round by
Briton Paula Ratcliffe until the bell but then she blasted clear....
Olympic
Visitors Vote Olympic Rendezvous @ Samsung the Star Attraction
SYDNEY, Australia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 30, 2000--Worldwide Olympic
Partner, Samsung Electronics, is celebrating the success of Olympic Rendezvous @
Samsung, the largest athlete and public entertainment centre in Sydney Olympic
Park.
Samsung hosted and entertained a staggering 1,081,657 visitors including
athletes, their families and members of the public during its 16-day program.
According to research commissioned by Samsung with Taylor Nelson Sofres,
Olympic Rendezvous @ Samsung in Sydney Olympic Park proved a star attraction for
athletes and their families, drawing more than 137,747 visits by athletes and
their family members during the course of the Games.
82% of athletes surveyed believed that the private Athletes Centre
contributed greatly to their enjoyment of the Games with 79% visiting up to four
times per week. Athletes particularly enjoyed the opportunity to stay in touch
with friends and family in their home countries through free Internet access and
free `Share the Moment' mobile phone calls available at the centre.
More than 900,000 spectators were also hosted at Olympic Rendezvous @
Samsung, attending daily entertainment events at the Rendezvous Plaza as well as
experiencing Samsung's mobile digital technology showcase.
94% of visitors surveyed believed that Samsung contributed greatly to the
excitement of the Games and provided lasting memories by providing the
opportunity to meet athletes, make free mobile phone calls and offering free
entertainment.
The mobile digital technology showcase was the star Ąttraction for 90% of
visitors surveyed, the majority of whom had most fun with Samsung's watch phone.
As well, over 42,000 free calls (126,000 minutes) have been made on Samsung
Olympic Games phones through the Samsung `Share The Moment' Call program.
"Our aim was to support athletes and their families as well as provide
Olympic fans and visitors with entertaining and memorable Olympic experiences.
We are delighted we have been able to contribute to the spirit and enjoyment of
the Sydney 2000 Millennium Games", Mr. Il-Hyung Chang, Vice President and Head
of Olympic Projects for Samsung Electronics, said.
Highlights of Olympic Rendezvous @ Samsung included:
-- Visits by world-class athletes including Michael Johnson (USA, Track &
Field), Nancy Johnson (USA, Shooting), Inge De Bruijn (Netherlands, Swimming),
Mike Powell (USA, Long Jump world record holder), Susie O'Neill (Australia,
Swimming), Todd Pearson (Australia, Swimming), Nova Peris-Kneebone (Australia,
Athletics), Matt Welsh (Australia, Swimming), Brad McGee (Australia, Cycling),
Terence Parkin (South Africa, Swimming), Liu Guoliang(China, Table Tennis),
Bong-Ju Lee (Korea, Marathon), Sandra Piresand Adriana Samuel(Brazil, Beach
Volleyball)
-- More than 8,000 athletes and 18,000 athlete family members registered for
the Athletes Centre
-- Daily Olympic Aid auctions that raised AUD $142,337.65 to date
- and are expected to reach more than $160,000 - for refugee children around the
world. Michael Johnson also donated one of his golden track shoes
-- More than 145 handprints from Olympic medalists at daily handprinting
ceremonies. At the completion of the Games, all handprints will be donated to
the Australian Olympic Committee as a permanent legacy of the Sydney 2000
-- 78 World of Entertainment Cultural performances by more than 960
performers
-- More than 35,000 spectators enjoyed 80 Digital Interlude performances
from an international cast of performance artists
Highlights of Other Samsung Olympic Programs included:
-- More than 72,000 spectators visited Samsung Digital @ Rocks, Samsung's
fun and interactive information and exhibition centre situated in a
heritage-listed building in Sydney's historic Rocks district
-- Samsung Athletes' Family Host 2000 program has enabled nearly 1,500
athlete family members from 123 countries to come to Sydney. They have been
hosted for an average of eight days each by nearly 1000 Sydney-siders, all of
whom have given their hospitality free.
-- More than 4,000 athletes visited the Samsung Rendezvous Lounge in the
Olympic Village
Olympics-Athletics-Greene gets second gold in 4x100
SYDNEY, Sept 30 (Reuters) - Sprint champion Maurice Greene collected his second
gold of the Sydney Olympics on Saturday when the United States won the men's
4x100 metres relay.
Greene, who won the 100 metres individual title a week ago, anchored the
American quartet to a time of 37.61 seconds, the fastest time this year, beating
Brazil (37.90) and Cuba (38.04).
The 26-year-old world champion received the baton level with the Brazilians but
pulled away in the final leg....
Olympics-Hockey-Pakistan lose bronze bid but see new Asian hope
SYDNEY, Sept 30 (Reuters) - Pakistan lost their bid for the men's hockey bronze
at the Sydney Olympics on Saturday but said they and others had served notice of
an Asian hockey revival.
Manager Islahuddin Siddiqui said South Korea's surprise emergence as a finalist
and improved performances from both Pakistan and India, former hockey
powerhouses who have faded from glory in recent years, boded well for the sport
in Asia....
Olympics-Jones fails in bid for third gold
SYDNEY, Sept 30 (Reuters) - Marion Jones's dream of taking her place in the
parade of Olympic greats was further dented on Saturday when she missed out on
gold in the 4x100 metres relay.
Jones and her U.S. team mates were favourites in the relay, one of the last
events of the Sydney Games, but were beaten into bronze position by the Bahamas
and Jamaica....
Olympics-Athletics-Wolde wins 5,000 gold
SYDNEY, Sept 30 (Reuters) - Ethiopian Millon Wolde upstaged Algeria's Ali
Saidi-Sief to win the men's 5,000 metres gold at the Sydney Games on Saturday.
The 21-year-old Wolde hung behind the Algerian entering the last 200 before
surging past to win in 13 minutes 35.49 seconds atfer a slow tactical race.
Bronze went to Brahim Lahlafi of Morocco....
Olympics-Athletics-Jones finishes with three golds, two bronzes
SYDNEY, Sept 30 (Reuters) - Marion Jones completed the Sydney Olympics on
Saturday with three gold medals and two bronzes.
The 24-year-old American said before the Games she planned to win an
unprecedented five Olympic track and field gold medals in the 100, 200, long
jump and both relays....
Olympics-Rhythmic gmnastics-Russia win on tie-break
SYDNEY, Sept 30 (Reuters) - Russia won a tie-break over Belarus to claim the
Olympic rhythmic gymnastics team gold medal on Saturday on a night punctuated
with boos, whistles and puzzling scoring.
Russia, bronze medallist in Atlanta where the team event made its Olympic debut,
finished level with Belarus on 39.500 points....
Olympics-Athletics-Hattestad caps career with javelin title
SYDNEY, Sept 30 (Reuters) - Veteran Norwegian Trine Hattestad won the women's
Olympic javelin gold medal on Saturday to cap a marvellous career.
The 34-year-old managed 68.91 metres with her first throw, just short of her own
world record of 69.48, to finish well clear of Mirella Maniani-Tzelili of Greece
(67.51) and Osleidys Menendez of Cuba (66.18)
Hattestad, a mother of two, had qualified for the final with 65.44 metres but
predicted she would break the world record in the final....
Olympics-Athletics-Jones fires U.S. to 4x400 relay victory
SYDNEY, Sept 30 (Reuters) - Marion Jones ran a sizzling third leg for the United
States in the women's 4x400 metres relay final on Saturday to set her team up
for victory at the Sydney Olympics and win herself a third gold medal.
Jones, the Olympic 100 and 200 metres champion, clocked an unofficial 49.57 for
the third leg after a conservative first half and electrifying final 200
metres....
Olympics-Diving-Tian Liang swoops to China's fifth gold
SYDNEY, Sept 30 (Reuters) - Tian Liang gave a master class on the highboard to
bring China their fifth diving title of the Olympics in a magnificent finale on
Saturday.
Tian led 17-year-old Hu Jia in a one-two which gave China their fifth gold and
fifth silver in the eight diving events in the Homebush Bay pool....
Olympics-Athletics-Johnson and U.S win men's 4x400m gold
SYDNEY, Sept 30 (Reuters) - Michael Johnson won his second gold of the Sydney
Olympics on Saturday as he anchored the United States to the 4x400 metres relay
title.
The Americans timed two minutes 56.35 seconds to beat Nigeria and Jamaica....
Olympics-Athletics-Jones wins third gold medal
SYDNEY, Sept 30 (Reuters) - Marion Jones completed the Sydney Olympics with
three gold medals on Saturday after an electrifying third leg in the women's
4x400 metres relay propelled the United States to victory.
Earlier she won her second bronze of the Games when she anchored the 4x100 team
to third place behind the Bahamas and Jamaica....
Olympics-Athletics-Factbox on Merah-Benida
SYDNEY, Sept 30 (Reuters) - Factbox on Algerian Nouria Merah-Benida who won the
women's 1,500 metres at the Sydney Olympics on Saturday:
Born; October 19 1970
Has been running the best season of her life and stepped out of international
obscurity with Saturday's victory.
Semifinalist in 800 at 1997 world championships but did not get past heats over
1,500 at last year's world championships in Seville....
Olympics-Athletics-Johnson makes golden farewell
SYDNEY, Sept 30 (Reuters) - Michael Johnson waved farewell to the Olympics with
a second Sydney gold as he anchored the United States' 4x400 metres relay team
to victory.
The American quartet timed two minutes 56.35 seconds to beat Nigeria and
Jamaica....