Medal Count 2021 Olympics: Updated Standings, Highlights After Day 5 - by Nate Loop

Several more athletes had their dreams fulfilled on yet another action-packed day in Tokyo. Here's a look at the updated medal standings and some of the top highlights from Day 5.

Read more at: Medal Count 2021 Olympics: Updated Standings, Highlights After Day 5 | Bleacher Report | Latest News, Videos and Highlights

The Netherlands: Ice skating is a big deal in the Netherlands - by Mina Solanki

When you think of the Netherlands, you may not necessarily think of them as a nation of champion ice skaters, but that they certainly are. The Dutch are a bunch of ice skating fanatics and they are genuinely awesome at it!

It’s no wonder that as soon as it starts to freeze, you’ll hear Dutch people talking about “taking their skates out of the fat” and rumours of an Elfstedentocht. But, what is the Elfstedentocht actually?

The Elfstedentocht is, literally translated, the eleven cities tour. It is a 199-kilometre ice skating, and speed skating tour through eleven historical Frisian towns. The tour starts in Leeuwarden and journeys through the towns of Sneek, IJlst, Sloten, Stavoren, Hindeloopen, Workum, Bolsward, Harlingen, Franeker and Dokkum, before finishing again in Leeuwarden.

The route has participants skating on frozen lakes, canals and rivers. In order for the event to be held, the ice must be at least 15 cm thick- something that doesn’t happen very often.

Should the ice be satisfactory, a tour is announced and starts within 48 hours. The last Elfstedentocht was held in 1997 on January 4. This was the 15th ever Elfstedentocht, the first was held in 1909 on January 2.

The last two editions, in 1997 and 1986, were skated in temperatures of -3,6C and -6,9C respectively. It’s not something you just skate either; you first have to be a member of the Association of the Eleven Frisian Towns and pay for a starting permit and bib.

In the run-up to an Elfstedentocht, after a few days of freezing temperatures, speculations can be heard about whether or not the tour will be held, and the longer the freezing temperatures stay, the more excited people become about the possibility of the next edition. The Dutch even have the saying, “When it starts to freeze, the Frisians thaw”.

No one is sure when the next Elfstedentocht will be held, but one thing is for sure, if it starts freezing outside, you are sure to hear rumours of this legendary race.

Read more: Ice skating is a big deal in the Netherlands

Korea: Pence upstaged by 2 Koreas' efforts to warm ties

Vice President Mike Pence's efforts to keep North Korea from stealing the show at the Winter Olympics proved to be short-lived, quickly drowned out by the images of the two Koreas marching and competing together, as the South appeared to look favorably on warming ties on the Korean Peninsula.

Pence spent the days leading up to the games warning that the North was trying to "hijack the message and imagery of the Olympic Games" with its "propaganda." But the North was still welcomed with open arms to what South Korean President Moon Jae-in called "Olympic games of peace" and the U.S. appeared to be the one left out in the cold.

Moon was all smiles Saturday as he greeted Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, and Kim Yong Nam, the country's 90-year-old nominal head of state, for lunch at the presidential residence. Kim Yo Jong offered an invitation from her brother for Moon to visit the North, in the strongest sign yet of an expanding diplomatic opening opposed by the U.S.

Pence said Friday that the U.S. would oppose talks between the two Koreas until the North agreed to open negotiations on ending its nuclear program, and he was silent Saturday on the news of the invitation.

Note EU-Digest: Unfortunately the Trump Administration is not trusted to keep its word anymore around the world .

Read more: Pence upstaged by 2 Koreas' efforts to warm ties

Russia: Volgograd blasts: Terrorism threat at Sochi Games nagging at Russia - by Graeme Gill

The Olympic Games is no stranger to political controversy.

The 1972 Munich Games will forever be remembered for the massacre of Israeli athletes, while the 1980 Moscow Games saw significant Western boycotts in protest against the invasion of Afghanistan.

The Sochi Winter Games seem destined to follow in these footsteps, with the widespread reaction against recent anti-gay laws in Russia and, much more tragically, this week's bomb blasts in Volgograd.
The bomb blasts, at the main Volgograd station and on a bus, show how vulnerable society is to such acts of terrorism, but what sort of threat do they pose to the Games?

Russia has invested heavily in security, and at an event such as the Sochi Games where national pride is on the line all efforts will be made to ensure the safety of participants.

Security plans involve an effective exclusion zone around Sochi. There can be no guarantee that any such zone will be 100 per cent effective but it should ensure that the possibility of any threat is greatly reduced.
But the problem is less Sochi and the Games - rather, how people are to get there.

Read more: Volgograd blasts: Terrorism threat at Sochi Games nagging at Russia

Terrorism: Russia train station bombing kills at least 16 as Olympics near

A suicide bomber struck a busy railway station in southern Russia on Sunday, killing herself and at least 15 others and wounding scores more, officials said, in a stark reminder of the threat Russia is facing as it prepares to host February's Olympics in Sochi.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for the bombing in Volgograd, but it came several months after Chechen rebel leader Doku Umarov called for new attacks against civilian targets in Russia, including the Sochi Games.

Suicide bombings have rocked Russia for years, but many have been contained to the Caucasus, the centre of an insurgency seeking an Islamist state in the region. Until recently Volgograd was not a typical target, but the city formerly known as Stalingrad has now been struck twice in two months — suggesting militants may be using the transportation hub as a renewed way of showing their reach outside their restive region.

Volgograd, which borders the Caucasus, is 900 kilometres south of Moscow and about 650 kilometres northeast of Sochi, a Black Sea resort flanked by the North Caucasus Mountains.

Read more: Russia train station bombing kills at least 16 as Olympics near - World - CBC News

Germany wins 2nd straight Olympic field hockey gold, beating Netherlands 2-1

Germany successfully defended its Olympic men’s field hockey title by beating the Netherlands 2-1 on Saturday, ruining hopes of a Dutch golden double.

Jan Philipp Rabente scored two remarkable goals, a brilliant solo opener in the 33rd minute and the winner after running around behind the net with five minutes to go.

“The first one was phenomenal, unbelievable,” teammate Chris Zeller said. “A solo run from Rabi. The second one came just at the right time so we just had to defend for five more minutes. It was good because pressure from the Dutch was immense.”

Mink van der Weerden equalized for the Dutch in the 53rd with his tournament-best eighth goal.
The Dutch had hoped to pull off the first Olympic double after their women beat Argentina 2-0 on Friday.

Read more: Germany wins 2nd straight Olympic field hockey gold, beating Netherlands 2-1 - The Washington Post

London Olympics: Netherlands' Kromowidjojo wins 100m freestyle

 Dutch flyer Ranomi Kromowidjojo led from the blocks to win the women's 100m freestyle swimming gold medal on Thursday.

The Netherlands' newest Olympic swimming star went into the Olympic final as the fastest woman in the world this year and confirmed her ranking with victory in the pressure of a Games final.

The 21-year-old covered the first 50m in 27.24secs before hitting the wall in an Olympic record of exactly 53sec to land her country's second gold in the event in the last 12 years.
  
Kromowidjojo, whose father is from Surinam and paternal grandparents from Indonesia, was a member of the Dutch team that won gold in the 4x100m freestyle relay in Beijing.

Note EU-Digest: Another example that immigration and integration does have its benefits.
 

Read more: London Olympics: Netherlands' Kromowidjojo wins 100m freestyle - The Times of India

Corporate sponsors make a splash at the Olympics

The London Olympics are well underway and so far, generally, Britain has won plaudits for its running of the Games. But there has been some disquiet about the role of big corporate sponsors.

The London 2012 opening ceremony last Friday was heralded as a triumph around the world, even earning the distinction from Germany's tabloid Bild as being the "coolest show ever." Meanwhile, the French daily Liberation said the performance was full of "humor and unbridled imagination," while Le Parisien called it "magnificent, inventive and offbeat."

But within the country itself, there is a deeper sense of unease about the role of big corporate sponsors in the Games.

There have been complaints about global giants like Coca Cola and McDonald's. Between them, eleven giant corporate sponsors have paid more than a billion dollars for the exclusive use of the Olympic brand. But critics say that exclusivity has been enforced in a heavy-handed manner, quite alien to the Olympic spirit.

The Games have even attracted the attention of the American anti-consumerist preacher and comedian, Reverend Billy Talen, who chanted "Get the corporations out of the Olympics please! The Olympics are corrupt!" on the streets of London.

His comic ravings resonate with some Brits. Julian Cheyne has campaigned against the London Olympics.  "This is large corporations who profit," Cheyne told DW. "Large corporations are the sponsors. Small people are left aside."

Read more: Corporate sponsors make a splash at the Olympics | Europe | DW.DE | 02.08.2012

Tourism - Britain: London’s tourism sector not getting gold - by Doug Saunders

Looking for an out-of-the-way holiday destination this summer – some undiscovered place that’s off the tourist trail? Try London.

You might think the British capital would be jammed to the rafters with visitors flying in for the 2012 Olympics, which has attracted 100,000 spectators from other countries.

But in an economic phenomenon that repeats itself every four years, the Olympics have driven away most of the 300,000 tourists who’d usually be in London over the summer – a loss that far outweighs any tourism benefits from the Games.

The results are dramatic. This week you could roll a bowling ball through Covent Garden without striking anyone.  In Leicester Square, you can actually see the ground. Soho’s bars have plenty of patio seats available.  In any normal early August, these places would all be shoulder to shoulder.

The hotel industry is suffering from the lowest booking levels in years. A survey by the reviewing site TripAdvisor found that 58 per cent of Britain’s hoteliers felt that the Olympics and the Diamond Jubilee have been “non-events” that have had a “negative impact” on business.

Read more:  London’s tourism sector not getting gold

England: Olympic Games opening ceremony to escape the rain

London Olympics starting today

The opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympics is set to escape a band of heavy showers that are predicted in the capital today, according to forecasters.


Following a week of sunshine and scorching temperatures, a spell of rainy and possibly thundery weather is expected to hit the South East later as the countdown to the official start of the London Games reaches fever pitch.

London will be most at at risk during the morning and early afternoon, but experts said the showers should have cleared by 9pm when the eagerly awaited £27 million showpiece gets under way.

Temperatures are also expected to remain warm for tens of thousands of spectators making their way to the Olympic Stadium in Stratford, east London.  Claire Austin, a forecaster with MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said: "We are expecting some heavy showers around today in central and south-eastern parts of England. "They should have mostly died away by 7-8pm, so hopefully it should be dry from then onwards."

Read more: Olympic Games opening ceremony to escape the rain - Home News - UK - The Independent

Skating Olympics: Tuitert from the Netherlands beats Shani Davis of US in the 1500m

Mark Tuitert edged American hot favourite Shani Davis in the men's 1,500m speed skating here on Saturday, claiming the Netherlands' second gold at the Vancouver Olympic Winter Games.

Tuitert also became the first Dutch speed skater to win the event since Ard Schenk in 1972 and he is the third Dutchman in history to be crowned Olympic champion in this event. "I worked so hard for this over the last eight years. And then it comes out in such a moment and with so much respect," Tuitert said.

For more: Tuitert grabs Netherlands' second gold

Netherlands: Kramer takes the Gold for Holland in 3000 meters

Dutchman Sven Kramer took the gold, in an Olympic Record time of 6m 14.60s, which most experts would have correctly predicted.

But that's where every prediction would have stranded, since silver was taken by the unlikeliest of challengers, Seung-Hoon Lee of South Korea and bronze by Ivan Skobrev of Russia.

For more: Kramer Takes Gold, Lee Dreams In Speed Skating | Bleacher Report

Miami Herald: Olympics - For Brazil, Olympics mean the future finally has arrived - by Kevin G Hall

For the complete report from the MiamiHerald.com click on this link

Olympics - For Brazil, Olympics mean the future finally has arrived - by Kevin G Hall

For the longest time, a joke about Brazil made the rounds in the halls of international financial organizations: Latin America's largest and most populous nation had a great future - and always would. No one's laughing anymore, as Brazil joined the ranks of the big-boy countries after Rio de Janeiro, a city known for sun and sin, was named the host of the 2016 Olympic Games on Friday. The win, on top of an earlier award to host soccer's 2014 World Cup, recognizes Brazil as one of the pillars of the global economy. It's an amazing transformation, considering that just eight years ago it elected Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, a fiery former union leader who critics warned would lead his nation into socialism, or, worse, communism. For the longest time, a joke about Brazil made the rounds in the halls of international financial organizations: Latin America's largest and most populous nation had a great future - and always would. No one's laughing anymore, as Brazil joined the ranks of the big-boy countries after Rio de Janeiro, a city known for sun and sin, was named the host of the 2016 Olympic Games on Friday.The win, on top of an earlier award to host soccer's 2014 World Cup, recognizes Brazil as one of the pillars of the global economy.

It's an amazing transformation, considering that just eight years ago it elected Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, a fiery former union leader who critics warned would lead his nation into socialism, or, worse, communism.

USA Today: Olympics - Early knockout: Chicago fails to land 2016 Summer Olympics - by Vicki Michaelis,

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Olympics - Early knockout: Chicago fails to land 2016 Summer Olympics - Vicki Michaelis

Even the First Couple couldn't keep the USA from finishing dead last in the race for the 2016 Summer Olympics. In the boldest rejection yet of U.S. attempts to regain premier standing in the Olympic world, the International Olympic Committee on Friday sent Chicago out in the first round of voting for the 2016 host. Madrid and Rio de Janeiro are still in the final round of voting. The winner will be announced at 1 p.m. ET.

The official website of the BEIJING 2008 Olympic Games: Overall Medal Standings

For the complete report from The official website of the BEIJING 2008 Olympic Games click on this link

Overall Medal Standings

Fox 12: Olympics - Dutch Cancer Survivor Wins Marathon Swimming Gold

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Olympics - Dutch Cancer Survivor Wins Marathon Swimming Gold

Cancer survivor Maarten van der Weijden of the Netherlands captured the gold medal in the men's 10km open swimming race on Thursday at the Olympics, finishing a scant 1.5 seconds ahead of Great Britain's David Davies. Thomas Lurz of Germany won the bronze medal and was a full two seconds behind van der Weijden's pace of 1 hour, 51 minutes, 51.6 seconds. The result completed a fairy tale comeback for the 27-year-old van der Weijden, who was diagnosed with leukemia in 2001. That put a hold on his swimming career, but he came back for the 2003 and '04 Open Water World Championships. He now dedicates time to the fight against cancer.

allAfrica.com: Olympics Soccer: Nigeria: Dream Team Cruises to Olympics Soccer Final against Argentina - by Aliou Goloko

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Olympics Soccer: Nigeria: Dream Team Cruises to Olympics Soccer Final against Argentina - by Aliou Goloko

Nigeria qualified for the final of the soccer tournament at the Beijing Olympics on Tuesday by defeating Belgium by four goals to one, 12 years after winning the gold medal at the Atlanta games. They will be playing Argentina which won a 3-1 victory over Brazil for the gold medal.

LA Times: Olympics - Basketball - U.S. brings pain to Spain and soars past them, 119-82, in Olympic men's basketball game - by Mark Heisler

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Basketball - U.S. brings pain to Spain and soars past them, 119-82, in Olympic men's basketball game - by Mark Heisler

After buttering up undefeated Spain for two days, or convincing themselves the Spaniards were a threat, the U.S. routed them, 119-82, Saturday night in the Wukesong Arena. The U.S. is 4-0, leading Pool B. The only other undefeated team is Lithuania, which is 4-0 in Pool A. Despite the skepticism that comes with seven losses in the last three world competitions, it's becoming ever clearer this is an old-fashioned, dominant U.S. team. "When you commit to something, the hard work that you put in, you want the prize at the end, and they've identified the prize," said Jay Triano, the Toronto Raptors assistant who coached the U.S. select team against the big team in practices in Las Vegas.Posting up NBA-style, Gasol was like a human bull's-eye. The U.S. players have spent weeks adjusting to the international drive-and-kick game with its premium on three-point shooting. Post basketball is something they already know from the NBA. So the U.S. players double-teamed Spain's Gasol as if he were Shaquille O'Neal in his prime. Just for good measure, they ran the offense through Gasol's man, usually Dwight Howard, at the other end.

Asia Times Online: The Olympics as a political arena - by Dallas Darling

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The Olympics as a political arena - by Dallas Darling

When Georgia and Russia came to blows over the long-sought-after reunification of South and North Ossetia, it reminded me of ancient Sparta and Arcadia. In 420 and again in 360 BC, Sparta and Arcadia used the Olympic lull to attack and defeat several neighboring Greek city states. [1] For anyone who believes the Olympic Games brought peace and harmony, they are wrong. The Olympics have instead been used as a political instrument to either further imperialistic values and ambitions, or express international outrage against human rights abuses. In the mythical world that the ancient Greeks dreamed and wrote about, it would be easy to believe sports could be separate from politics and war. In the real world, though, sporting events, such as the Olympic arena, are often symbolic ritual performances of politics and conflicts.

NZHerald: China: Editorial: Games controversies provide a view of an unfamiliar world

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China: Editorial: Games controversies provide a view of an unfamiliar world

Halfway through the Olympic Games that pledged to show the world a "New China, New Beijing, New Olympics", the Chinese certainly seem to have their PR work cut out. For many, the abiding image is just as likely to be that of seven-year-old Yang Peiyi, who sings like an angel but was adjudged not pretty enough to appear before the eyes of billions at the opening ceremony. She was replaced by a lip-syncing Lin Miaoke who was, in the eyes of ceremony organizers - "flawless in image, internal feelings and expression". The switch was revealed in an interview with the ceremony's music designer, broadcast - apparently unapologetically and certainly unremarked-on - on state-run television, which suggests that Chinese television audiences may not have found it either remarkable or reprehensible. But in some corridor of power, the Western reaction was quickly noted: an immediate and hostile international response prompted the pulling of the interview from the Chinese news website sina.com, where it had been briefly posted.