Olympic Games Blog

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Transexuals Cleared to Compete at Olympics

History was created this week as Transexuals were given the go ahead to compete in the Athens Olympic Games in August.

'Under a proposal approved by the IOC executive board, athletes who have undergone sex-change surgery will be eligible for the Olympics if their new gender has been legally recognized and they have gone through a minimum two-year period of postoperative hormone therapy.

The decision, which covers both male-to-female and female-to-male cases, goes into effect starting with the Athens Olympics in August.

The IOC had put off a decision in February, saying more time was needed to consider all the medical issues.

Some members had been concerned whether male-to-female transsexuals would have physical advantages competing against women.

Men have higher levels of testosterone and greater muscle-to-fat ratio and heart and lung capacity. However, doctors say, testosterone levels and muscle mass drop after hormone therapy and sex-change surgery.' - Source

Tony Blair Assassination

Today was Assassinated in Greece at the Olympics. Well he was in the minds of Olympic security forces who tested their ability to handle 77 security disaster scenarios including such an assassination attempt.

'The U.S.-led drill covered 77 scenarios, among them a poisoning attempt on Games chief Gianna Angelopoulos, a rocket attack on an Air France plane, a suspected anthrax attack and riots and looting on the capital's streets, it said.'

Source - Olympic police practised Blair assassination plot

In other Olympic security news today:
- Security costs for the games are predicted to go over $1.2 billion mark - Source
- Greece will deploy their army to secure their railway system during the games. - Source

China Eyes Badminton Olympic Gold

'CHINA blasted a clear Olympic badminton warning with victory this weekend in the finals of the sport's prestige team competitions, the Thomas and Uber Cups.

The Chinese men beat Denmark 3-1 in the Thomas Cup 24 hours after the women overcame South Korea by the same score to retain the Uber Cup.' Source

US Simmers not phased by lack of Roof

The US Olympic Swimming Team says it is not concerned if the Olympic swimming venue does not have a roof in August.

'Athens organisers had come under intense criticism in March when construction delays forced builders to scrap plans to cover the swimming venue.

While spectators can expect to broil in the searing summer sun, American swimmers like 18-year-old Michael Phelps, who will attempt to match Mark Spitz's record of seven gold medals at a single Olympics, are predicting fast times and few problems.

"A pool is a pool," Phelps said. "We're all going to be competing under the same conditions and the swimmers will adapt.

"If a pool has lanes and water that's all you need."

There had been fears that without the protection provided by the steel and glass roof, swimmers would suffer under the elements and force drastic changes to training programs in the final build-up to the August 13to 29 Games.'

Source - Pool roof no worry for US

Greek Security Officals are Satisfied

'Greece's top security official is satisfied with the results of a four-day exercise testing the country's ability to respond to terror attacks during the Athens Games.

The joint Greek-U.S. exercise, code-named "Olympic Guardian II," started Thursday and involved more than 300 security personnel.'

Source - Greek security official pleased with Olympic test

Japan, Korea, Russia and Italy quality for Olympics Womens Volleyball

Japan, Korea, Russia and Italy have all won berths in the womens volleyball competition at the Olympic Games later this year in Athens.

Source

Pope Blesses Olympics

Pope Offers Blessings To Athens Organizers - 'Pope John Paul II urged the Athens Olympics to be a show of fraternity and peace, and he offered his blessings to the organizers....

"I express the wish that the next celebration of the Olympic Games in your city be a show of brotherhood for all the participants and a message of peace and union for all those who will be spectators across the world," John Paul said. "In this spirit, I invoke divine blessings for you and all the organizers of this celebration."'

U.S. Athletes Aware of Possible Backlash

The US Olympic team are aware of possible backlash at the Olympic Games in August this year.

'"When you're competing internationally, everyone wants the USA to lose," said Lopez, who won gold at the 2000 Sydney Games.

Lopez was one of several athletes who spoke Saturday at the U.S. Olympic Team Media Summit in New York. And he's not the only American athlete who has thought about a possible backlash at the games.

"We tend to rub everybody the wrong way, no matter how hard we try not to," men's volleyball player Lloy Ball said. "Whether it's the Ryder Cup, or whether it's carrying the flag around like some of the track athletes were doing after winning the last Olympics. That's the way we are, though. We're confident people."

Balancing that confidence with a sense of diplomacy is important to many American athletes - especially those who have been to the Olympics before and understand the joy of competing and living in a friendly environment.' - Source

Olympic Flag Raised on Everest

The Greek and Olympic Games flags have both been raised on top of Everest by the first Greek to climb the mountain - Source