Nanjing 2014 Nanjing 2014 Nanjing 2014 Nanjing curtain-raiser sets the stage for the 2014 Youth Olympic Games ©IOC/Mine Kasapoglu, Ian, Jones, Ubald Rutar 16/08/2014 The 2014 Summer Youth Olympic Games officially got under way in Nanjing on 16 August at 20h00 local time, with a pulsating Opening Ceremony at the city’s Olympic Sports Centre. Images of the Ceremony quickly spread around the world thanks to thousands of “selfies” taken by athletes and spectators at the request of International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach. President Bach spoke directly to the 3,800 young athletes taking part in the Games to encourage them to share the moment with the world. “Dear young athletes, these are your Games. This is your moment,” said President Bach. “So, young athletes, please join me: let us all capture it – so get your smart phones out and let’s set a record for selfies,” he added, before being joined on stage by five YOG athletes for his own “YOG selfie”. Everyone in attendance was then asked to follow suit, and post their selfies on social media sites using the hashtag #YOGselfie. “By sending this selfie … you are sending a strong message around the world,” President Bach continued. The IOC President went on to underline the broader meaning of the YOG, which extends far beyond the sporting arena, and embraces the themes of culture, education and friendship. “You are showing your passion for sport and for fair competition. You are demonstrating that Olympic sport reaches beyond competition. It is also about sharing, learning and making friends across our globe,” he told the participants. Nanjing 2014 served up an impressive curtain-raiser. Nearly all of the performers were students from universities around China. Designed to appeal to young people and capture the youthful vitality and spirit of the YOG, the ceremony embraced the concept of the ‘sound and light’ show with an imaginative blend of colour, music and physical performance. Over 9,000 proposals for contributions to the ceremony had been submitted by local young people and many of these were incorporated into the final programme, very much reinforcing President Bach’s exhortation for young people to take ownership of the YOG. As is the custom for all Olympic opening ceremonies, proceedings kicked off with the Parade of Athletes. Each of the 204 country delegations comprised just a single flagbearer marching behind a Chinese “host”, while the rest of their team-mates enjoyed the spectacle from the stands, along with dignitaries such as the President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, and IOC Honorary President Jacques Rogge, whose brainchild the Youth Olympic Games had been during his tenure as President. In time-honoured Olympic tradition, Greece led the way in the Parade, which culminated with the host nation, China, who boasted the largest delegation, and whose athletes will be competing in all 28 disciplines at Nanjing 2014. The Olympic flag was borne into the stadium by six famous Chinese Olympians - Ren Cancan, Wu Minxia ,Liu Xiang, Lei Sheng, Wu Jingyu, Wang Liqin, Zhang Xi and Qiu Jian - before yet another core element of the Opening Ceremony was observed, as the Olympic Oath was taken by table tennis player Fan Zhendong (on behalf of the athletes), Zhou Qiurui (on behalf of the officials) and Li Rongxiang (on behalf of the coaches). With the formalities concluded, it was time for the entertainment to take centre stage. One of the main themes was the great history of Nanjing and China, its icons and landmarks, including the magnificent Purple Mountain Observatory. Explorer Zheng He's expeditionary voyages to the west and the development of the Silk Road were also showcased in the form of a fleet of fire-red boats, as the entire arena was transformed into a virtual ocean, to a backdrop of traditional Chinese drums. Among the highlights of the musical programme was a moving performance of the Nanjing 2014 theme song “Dianliang Weilai,” (“Light Up to Meet the Future”), which was performed by singers from China, the Republic of Korea and Russia. Symbolising the “building of the dream” – one of the key themes of Nanjing 2014 – a gravity- defying human tower reached into the sky, before the acrobats, all suspended on wires, broke into an beautifully choreographed mid-air ballet. Later, the spotlight switched to five pianists playing in perfect synchronicity and harmony, each seated a piano in one of the five colours of the Olympic rings, which represent the five continents of the Olympic Movement. In contrast to the classical music, we were reminded that Nanjing 2014 was harnessing the best of the technology age, as huge computer binary sequences were projected across the floor of the arena, before giving way to a vast map of the world, with the spotlight homing in on Nanjing to remind us that, for the next 12 days, Nanjing is very much the centre of the sporting world. A sea of white dancers then formed concentric circles that then morphed into the colours of the Olympic rings. Amidst this panoply of colour, the Games mascot Nanjinglele entered the stage, while the huge astronomical telescope at one end of the stadium – a symbol of reaching for the stars – also transformed into the five interlaced Olympic rings. Then a film montage showing the various stages of the Torch Relay then heralded the long-awaited entrance into the stadium of the Olympic torch, which was then transported on the final leg of its journey by a relay comprising of six China’s greatest Olympians: Lin Dan (two-time men’s Olympic badminton champion); Zhou Yang, (double Olympic short-track speed skating champion; Zhang Jike (reigning world and Olympic table tennis champion); Wu Jingyu (double Olympic taekwondo gold medallist); Chen Ding, (the race walker who won gold at London 2012); and finally diver Chen Ruolin, a native of Jiangsu Province, who also won gold at London 2012. She then carried the torch up onto a platform which then moved across the length of the stadium towards the Olympic cauldron above the stadium which was then lit in a blaze of pyrotechnical brilliance. The ceremony climaxed in a blaze of colour and noise, as all performers returned to the stage accompanied by the Nanjing 2014 anthem ‘Light Up the Future”. The anthem’s chorus translates as “The future is on its way, reach for the sky, follow your dreams” – a message that captures perfectly the spirit of the YOG and indeed the Olympic Movement. Five giant figures towered above them, finally linking hands in a symbol of unity and friendship. But we were not finished just yet. Echoing back to the IOC President’s exhortation to the young athletes to make the Games their own, the “selfie” which he had taken with the young athletes at the start of the Ceremony then appeared on the big screen!
The Seeded Entries for Badminton http://bwf.tournamentsoftware.com/sport/seeds.aspx?id=6DAC8D51-69B8-4194-B88C-8F157F3CBA20 The Seeded Entries: Note that in XD, the players are really mixed with partners from another country. Quite interesting if they can't communicate in a common language. Luck in the ballot will decide if you have a strong partner. Last updated: Sunday, August 17, 2014 6:20 AM [TABLE="class: seeds"] [TR] [TD] [TABLE="class: ruler seeding"] [TR] [TH="class: nowrap, colspan: 2"]MS [/TH] [/TR] [TR="bgcolor: transparent"] [TD]1 [/TD] [TD="class: nowrap"] [TABLE] [TR="bgcolor: transparent"] [TD][CHN] Yuqi Shi [/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [/TD] [/TR] [TR="bgcolor: transparent"] [TD]2 [/TD] [TD="class: nowrap"] [TABLE] [TR="bgcolor: transparent"] [TD][CHN] Gui Pu Lin [/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [/TD] [/TR] [TR="bgcolor: transparent"] [TD]3/4 [/TD] [TD="class: nowrap"] [TABLE] [TR="bgcolor: transparent"] [TD][INA] Ginting Anthony [/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [/TD] [/TR] [TR="bgcolor: transparent"] [TD]3/4 [/TD] [TD="class: nowrap"] [TABLE] [TR="bgcolor: transparent"] [TD][MAS] June Wei Cheam [/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [/TD] [/TR] [TR="bgcolor: transparent"] [TD]5/8 [/TD] [TD="class: nowrap"] [TABLE] [TR="bgcolor: transparent"] [TD][JPN] Kanta Tsuneyama [/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]5/8 [/TD] [TD="class: nowrap"] [TABLE] [TR] [TD][VIE] Cao Cuong Pham [/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]5/8 [/TD] [TD="class: nowrap"] [TABLE] [TR] [TD][GER] Max Weisskirchen [/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]5/8 [/TD] [TD="class: nowrap"] [TABLE] [TR] [TD][HKG] Cheuk Yiu Lee [/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [/TD] [/TR] [TR="class: seedinghigh"] [TH="class: nowrap, colspan: 2"]WS [/TH] [/TR] [TR] [TD]1 [/TD] [TD="class: nowrap"] [TABLE] [TR] [TD][JPN] Akane Yamaguchi [/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]2 [/TD] [TD="class: nowrap"] [TABLE] [TR] [TD][CHN] Bing Jiao He [/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]3/4 [/TD] [TD="class: nowrap"] [TABLE] [TR] [TD][THA] Busanan Ongbumrungpan [/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]3/4 [/TD] [TD="class: nowrap"] [TABLE] [TR] [TD][CHN] Jinjing Qin [/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]5/8 [/TD] [TD="class: nowrap"] [TABLE] [TR] [TD][SIN] Xiaoyu Liang [/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]5/8 [/TD] [TD="class: nowrap"] [TABLE] [TR] [TD][GER] Luise Heim [/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]5/8 [/TD] [TD="class: nowrap"] [TABLE] [TR] [TD][IND] Ruthvika Shivani G. [/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]5/8 [/TD] [TD="class: nowrap"] [TABLE] [TR] [TD][ESP] Clara Azurmendi [/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [/TD] [TD] [TABLE="class: ruler seeding"] [TR] [TH="class: nowrap, colspan: 2"]XD [/TH] [/TR] [TR="bgcolor: transparent"] [TD]1 [/TD] [TD="class: nowrap"] [TABLE] [TR="bgcolor: transparent"] [TD][UKR] Ruslan Sarsekenov [/TD] [/TR] [TR="bgcolor: transparent"] [TD][JPN] Akane Yamaguchi [/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [/TD] [/TR] [TR="bgcolor: transparent"] [TD]2 [/TD] [TD="class: nowrap"] [TABLE] [TR="bgcolor: transparent"] [TD][SRI] Sachin Premashan Dias Angodavidanalage [/TD] [/TR] [TR="bgcolor: transparent"] [TD][CHN] Bing Jiao He [/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [/TD] [/TR] [TR="bgcolor: transparent"] [TD]3/4 [/TD] [TD="class: nowrap"] [TABLE] [TR] [TD][CHN] Yuqi Shi [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD][AUS] Joy Lai [/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [/TD] [/TR] [TR="bgcolor: transparent"] [TD]3/4 [/TD] [TD="class: nowrap"] [TABLE] [TR="bgcolor: transparent"] [TD][CHN] Gui Pu Lin [/TD] [/TR] [TR="bgcolor: transparent"] [TD][KOR] Ga Eun Kim [/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [/TD] [/TR] [TR="bgcolor: transparent"] [TD]5/8 [/TD] [TD="class: nowrap"] [TABLE] [TR="bgcolor: transparent"] [TD][THA] Mek Narongrit [/TD] [/TR] [TR="bgcolor: transparent"] [TD][CHN] Jinjing Qin [/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [/TD] [/TR] [TR="bgcolor: transparent"] [TD]5/8 [/TD] [TD="class: nowrap"] [TABLE] [TR="bgcolor: transparent"] [TD][SRB] Dragoslav Petrovic [/TD] [/TR] [TR="bgcolor: transparent"] [TD][SIN] Xiaoyu Liang [/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [/TD] [/TR] [TR="bgcolor: transparent"] [TD]5/8 [/TD] [TD="class: nowrap"] [TABLE] [TR="bgcolor: transparent"] [TD][JPN] Kanta Tsuneyama [/TD] [/TR] [TR="bgcolor: transparent"] [TD][TPE] Chia Hsin Lee [/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [/TD] [/TR] [TR="bgcolor: transparent"] [TD]5/8 [/TD] [TD="class: nowrap"] [TABLE] [TR="bgcolor: transparent"] [TD][INA] Ginting Anthony [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD][SLO] Katarina Beton [/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE]
11:55 AM WS - Group A Akane Yamaguchi [1] Japan beat Seychelles Chlorie Cadeau 21-2, 21-1 Must be really tough for poor Chlorie of Seychelles against the No.1 seed! But a tough fight for the following that went to the decider: 11:20 AM WS - Group F Alida Chen Netherlands beat France Lole Courtois 18-21, 21-14, 21-15
http://nanjing.ovp.olympic.tv/ Now showing live: 1:30 PM MS - Group H Gui Pu Lin [2] China versus Chinese Taipei Chia Hung Lu
I think they want the youngsters to get to know each other better as the YOG is meant to unite the young people of the world towards world peace and understanding. There were no XD the last time in Singapore I think. In any case, the battle between China's #2 Gui and Taipei's Chia has now gone to the rubber, with Chia fighting back and winning G2.
Lee Chia Hsin on the verge of causing an upset, now leading by a game and 19-12 against the 3/4th seed Qin Jingjing of China. The Chinese potentially heading towards the tournament exit door.
Qin Jingjing's defeat opens up the way for Liang Xiaoyu to reach SF. Liang is slated to meet Qin in the QF. For the record, Lee Chia-Hsin has beaten Akane Yamaguchi and Liang Xiaoyu. If she does reach QF, she may go all the way to the Final!
English, just like we are doing here. May not be fully understandable, but at least it works . BTW, when the athlete were trained, they were train with the tactics, formation, etc necessary for the game, so I guess they will have common understanding. Sometimes at the club level, I didn't talk to much with my partner, even the new one, but we still can play. Ah, I forgot that, for some pair they are speaking the same or similar languages, Lu, Chia HungLee, Ying Ying, so it wouldn't be a problem. Maybe it's their advantage
watching the XD now, but the players don't seem like talk to each other due to language barrier. So, is this really a good way to understand each other?
Starting boy meets girl, a little bit tongue tied lah! Give them more time, then it will work miracles!
Shi Yuqi not even shake hand with her partner Joy Lai after their victory. No communication at all. They just play for the sake of YOG's competition format. No way to escape.
Kanta and Lee Chia Tsin was strange to each other in the 1st game. But in the second game, they started to cheer with each other. Their opponent Lee Cheuk Yiu is friendly towards her partner. That's a good sign. Also glad to see He Bingjiao and her Sri Lanka's partner getting along well with each other.
For the first time ever, the doubles players are coming from different nations, awkwardness between those teenagers The mixed doubles event in 2nd YOG steals the show => http://www.bwfbadminton.org/news_item.aspx?id=87053
Youth Olympic Games 2014 – Day 1: Mixed Doubles Steals the Show Sunday, August 17, 2014 - Text & Photos by Dev Sukumar Badminton broke new ground at the Youth Olympic Games today with the celebration of a transnational spirit in Mixed Doubles. The talking point of the opening day was the final session, in which singles players of different nationalities paired up for Mixed Doubles. This format, held for the first time, was a hit with the participants, coaches and spectators. Alida Chen (Netherlands), who won her opening Group A match with Andraz Krapez (Slovenia), said she had fun playing with a new partner from another country. “In the beginning it was weird, but after we settled down we could communicate well,” she said. “We’d practised together once and that helped.” Her coach Robbie Kneefil added that there was an atmosphere of friendliness in the Mixed Doubles. “This is special; it is good for the Olympic spirit,” Kneefil said. “We practised with her Slovenian partner yesterday and we could make a good connection. As a coach, I offered my suggestions to him too. This will lead to greater friendship among participants. I think the players are looking at this as a fun event and treating this in a friendly spirit, while in the singles there is greater pressure to perform.” Among the pairs that got off to a sound start were Ruslan Sarsekenov (Ukraine)/Akane Yamaguchi (Japan); China's Lin Gui Pu and Korea's Kim Ga Eun (BWF home page); Mek Narongrit (Thailand)/Qin Jinjing (China); Dragoslav Petrovic (Serbia)/Liang Xiaoyu (Singapore) and Dipesh Dhami (Nepal)/Busanan Ongbumrungpan (Thailand). With most of these pairs playing together for the first time, the players looked tentative at times, but for the most part they appeared enthusiastic and keen to help each other. Other winners included: Kanta Tsuneyama (Japan)/Lee Chia Hsin (Chinese Taipei) over Lee Cheuk Yiu (Hong Kong)/Magda Konieczna 15-21 21-8 21-15; Cheam June Wei (Malaysia)/Ng Tsz Yau (Hong Kong) over Wolfgang Gnedt (Austria)/Sabrina Solis (Mexico) 21-12 21-9 and Australia’s Daniel Guda/Indonesia’s Ruselli Hartawan (above) over Devins Nestar (Congo)/Mia Blichfeldt (Denmark). Earlier, two upsets in Women’s Singles caused a stir in the day’s proceedings. Sri Lanka’s Thilini Pramodika Hendahewa (left) made light of her vastly inferior ranking to Mia Blichfeldt and surprised the Dane in straight games before Chinese Taipei’s Lee Chia Hsin beat China’s Qin Jinjing. Hendahewa, ranked No.59 to Blichfeldt’s No.11, kept Blichfeldt under pressure throughout with her retrieving abilities. The Dane grew increasingly frustrated as Hendahewa’s sharp strokes found their mark with accuracy and the Sri Lankan eased to a 21-18 21-15 win in Group A. “This is my best result,” Hendahewa said. “The experience of playing in the Commonwealth Games recently helped a lot. My next match is against Akane (Yamaguchi). She’s very experienced and I just have to try my best.” Qin Jinjing’s loss in Group C to Lee Chia Hsin was just as big a surprise. A semi-finalist at the World Junior Championships, the ¾ seed lost a close first game and then was totally outclassed in the second, 21-19 21-13. Qin’s compatriot in Men’s Singles and title favourite Lin Gui Pu struggled in his Group H opener against Chinese Taipei’s Lu Chia Hung. Lin started strongly and appeared to be coasting to an easy victory, but got erratic when holding a lead in the second. The second seed sprayed his shots wide of the lines, helping his opponent equalise at a game apiece. However, the World Junior champion fired himself up once more in the decider and shot off to a 7-0 lead and even though Lu staged a belated challenge, Lin overcame his nerves at the end to seal the win: 21-15 16-21 21-15. Compatriot and top seed Shi Yuqi got a walkover in his Group A opener, while other strong contenders, like Vietnam’s Pham Cao Cuong (above), Malaysia’s Cheam June Wei, Japan’s Kanta Tsuneyama and Hong Kong’s Lee Cheuk Yiu cruised through in straight games.
Just saw the repeat telecast of the opening ceremony (missed the live show at 4 am) yesterday - what a spectacle, awe-inspiring. It's just the Youth Olympics and CHN,Nanjing, put up a phenomenal, truly exceptional display; even Gillian Clark commentating was gushing in her praise of it.
HBJ, what's happening, throwing points away in G1. Relax and composed yourself, no need to be so nervous at this group stage.
