Once Michael Phelps topped 4×100m Medley event, he broke 36-years record of Mark Spitz of maximum gold medals in a single Summer Games. As soon as my friend Andrews got this news, he started inquiring about the secret behind Phelps’s success. And in the evening he returned to the house with the news on the diet on which Michael Phelps survive.

Phelps consumes 10,000 to 12,000 calories daily. And according to Andrews, this daily diet of Phelps is the main cause behind Phelps’ success. Hardly can I agree to this theory of Andrews. I think it is very unjust to credit his diet solely for Phelps’s superhumanly performance. I reminded Andrews that Phelps trains himself at least 6 hours a day and in these training sessions he covers a distance of 50 miles every week.

I share with you what Andrews said about daily diet of Phelps. The break-up of Phelps’s food habit is as follows:
· Breakfast: 5-egg omelet, 3 fried egg sandwiches, tomatoes, cheese, fried onions, lettuce, 3 chocolate-chip pancakes, mayonnaise, bowl of grits, 3 slices of French toast with sugar-coats, and 2 cups of coffee.
· Lunch: 2 mega-sized ham and cheese sandwiches with mayonnaise, ½ kg of pasta, and energy drinks.
· Dinner: Big-sized pizza, ½ kg of pasta, and energy drinks.

So, what are you thinking for? Get start with the aforementioned food habit. But, you have to be careful to burn these calories. If you can’t burn them, you will hardly see yourself as a swimmer but as a sumo-wrestler.

Michael Phelps has already brought wide smile on the faces of sports lovers by bagging 5 gold medals. USA is much indebted to him for taking the country to the second position (in relation to the number of gold medals won) behind China in the medals tally in Beijing Summer Games (till August 14, 2008). Before the start of 2008 Summer Games, USA had secured 895 gold medals in the earlier 28 Summer Games. US hope to touch last Summer Games’ record of 35 gold medals this time. The country has much hope on their athletes to repeat the feat.

Athletics has always been stronghold for the USA. The country had won 8 gold medals (25 medals in all) in Athletics at 2004 Athens Summer Games. In 2008, USA is determined to better that mark. The world of sports is much eager for August 15, 2008. This day will see Athletics category to start at Beijing Games. And the very first day will be the witness to the heat round of the fastest event on the Earth – Men’s 100m.

Heat 1 of Men’s 100m Round 1 on August 15, 2008 will see the participation of Usain Bolt, the fastest man of the world. This Jamaican sprinter will compete for Games double: 100m and 200m sprint. The world expects Jamaican Asafa Powell and American Tyson Gay to throw steep challenges at Bolt. In the history of Summer Games, only US athlete Carl Lewis has achieved the unique feat of Games double in 1984.

The athletes will compete for 47 gold medals in the Athletics category at Beijing Summer Games. The schedules of a number of special Athletics events are as such:
·    Women’s 10,000m Final – August 15
·    Men’s 20km Walk – August 16
·    Men’s 100m Final – August 16
·    Women’s Heptathlon 800m Final – August 16
·    Women’s Marathon – August 17
·    Women’s 100m Final – August 17
·    Men’s 10,000m Final – August 17
·    Women’s 3000m Steeplechase Final – August 17
·    Men’s Long Jump Final – August 18
·    Men’s 3000m Steeplechase Final – August 18
·    Men’s 400m Hurdles Final – August 18
·    Women’s 400m Final – August 19
·    Women’s 100m Hurdles Final – August 19
·    Men’s 1500m Final - August 19
·    Men’s 200m Final – August 20
·    Women’s 400m Hurdles Final – August 20
·    Women’s 200m Final – August 21
·    Men’s 400m Final – August 21
·    Men’s 110m Hurdles Final – August 21
·    Women’s 4×100m Relay Final – August 22
·    Men’s 4×100m Relay Final - August 22
·    Men’s 800m Final – August 23
·    Men’s 5000m Final – August 23
·    Women’s 4×400m Relay Final – August 23
·    Men’s 4×400m Relay Final - August 23
·    Men’s Marathon – August 24

The Chinese were confident to host a ‘perfect’ Summer Games ‘for the people’. And they are materializing their dream at any cost. With the entire world, I was really dazzled to see the opening ceremony of 2008 Beijing Summer Games. But who would know at that time that there were some fake circles involving that dazzle?

One of the controversies is that the real singer Yang Peiyi was replaced by a ‘good looking’ popular figure Lin Mioke in the opening ceremony. The whole world had seen Lin Mioke, with a beautiful red dress on, singing in the ceremony. It is alleged by many sources that Yang Peiyi was the real singer and Lin Mioke only lip-synched in front of millions of spectators all around the world. Yang was not featured before the public since she was labeled ‘not looking good enough’.

There is another controversy regarding the opening ceremony. It is alleged that the broadcast of fireworks display involved some computer generation. The graphic artists had doctored images of fireworks display to present an image of a ‘perfect’ opening ceremony of Summer Games.

The other controversy that is dooming the ‘perfect’ image of Summer Games at Beijing is that black marketing of Games tickets is on full swing. The Chinese Games Authority claims to handle the issue of black-marketing strongly; but black marketers go on with their operation.

The Women’s Gymnastics team of China chased its country’s Men’s Gymnastics team in capturing gold in Artistic Gymnastics. Day 4 of Beijing Summer Games saw the re-emergence of Chinese Men’s Gymnastics team as the winner. Women’s Gymnastics team won gold for China in the Women’s Team Artistic Gymnastics for the first time in history of Summer Games on Day 5 of the tournament.

In the earlier Summer Games, China’s women could never stand on the highest podium in the Women’s Team Artistic Gymnastics. The Uneven Bars and Floor Exercise have always been China’s strongholds, but China’s women had always disappointed in Vault or Balance Beam. This time, He Kexin, Yang Yilin and Chang Fei gave a big lead to China on their challengers USA, Romania and Russia.

USA and Romania got the silver and bronze respectively in the event. A bronze for Romania was a surprise to many. No one had expected of a Romanian dominance over the Russians. But, the supremacy of Romania in the Floor Exercise and the poor performance of Russia in the Balance Beam helped Romania clinch a bronze.

Updated (till Women’s Individual Time Trial on 13/08/08) Medal Tally for 2008 Beijing Summer Games (countries to have won gold medals are mentioned in the tally):
China – 14 gold, 3 silver, 5 bronze
USA – 10 gold, 8 silver, 9 bronze
Korea – 5 gold, 6 silver, 1 bronze
Italy – 4 gold, 4 silver, 2 bronze
Australia – 4 gold, 2 bronze, 6 bronze
Germany - 4 gold, 1 bronze, 1 bronze
Japan – 3 gold, 1 silver, 3 bronze
Great Britain – 2 gold, 2 bronze, 3 bronze
Czech Republic – 2 gold
DPR Korea - 1 gold, 2 silver, 4 bronze
Azerbaijan - 1 gold, 2 silver
Netherlands – 1 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronze
Slovakia - 1 gold, 1 silver
Romania - 1 gold, 2 bronze
Spain – 1 gold, 1 bronze
Finland – 1 gold, 1 bronze
India – 1 gold
Thailand -1 gold

The world of swimming had dreamt of the US swimmer Michael Phelps making a number of world records in 2008 Beijing Summer Games. And Phelps did not disappoint them. He clinched 10th gold medal of the Summer Games, a feat never to have been achieved before by any sportsperson. He set this history on the 5th day of the tournament when he won 200m Butterfly gold in world record time. He clocked 1:52.03. Later in the day he won his 11th career Games gold when he led the US Men’s 4×200m Freestyle team to win gold.

Earlier, the Summer Games had seen a maximum of 9 gold medals to be won by an individual sportsperson. The four sportspersons, who have included themselves in nine-gold club, are Paavo Nurmi, Larsya Latynina, Mark Spitz, and Carl Lewis. Michael Phelps overpowered them to join the eleven-gold club. He is the only member of this newly formed club. He won 6 gold medals in Athens Summer Games.

Though Phelps achieved this unique feat, he has no intention to put a halt to his dream run. He has set himself a target of 8 gold medals in the Summer Games at Beijing. The swimming events lying ahead of him in this year’s tournament are 200m Individual Medley, 100m Butterfly, and 4×100m Medley Relay. Phelps is confident of breaking Mark Spitz’s record of 7 gold medals in a single Summer Game.

I will be waiting for 3 major events to be held on 15th August, 16th August and 17th August when Phelps will jump for gold medals. Hopefully, you will join me in the action. The schedule for swimming events (where Phelps will compete) is as follows:
200m Individual Medley Final – August 15 (10:48 AM)*
100m Butterfly Final – August 16 (10:10 AM)*
4×100m Medley Relay – August 17 (10:58 AM)*

*Starting Time in China Standard Time

“Deutschland!”, “Deutschland!” – went a huge roar behind me. I turned back to find an incomprehensible haze composed of black, red, and gold colors. Even more unbearable, was the deafening hullabaloo that I found myself in.

It was the final of Euro ’08. The men in black and white were looking to put up an inspired performance against a revived Spanish side, and clinch their fourth European title.

As I was approaching the giant screen put up at Brandenburg Gate, a sense of bewilderment surrounded me on seeing the national colors coupled with frenzy, all around. Flags, wigs, caps, hats, Hawaiian-style necklaces, all donned the same colors. A crowd of over five hundred thousand was expected to gather for the occasion, but to me, it seemed even more. The people who were literally making the most of the situation were the vendors with their flags, face-paints and national football shirts.

“Tonight will be ours”, said Luke, a 19 year-old Berliner who had the jersey number 20 of Lucas Podolski on. His girlfriend, Anna was going gaga over the German captain as she decked out in “Ballack 13” shirt.

Standing amidst all this, I was watching a nation, where every citizen was being driven by a common feeling, of patriotism that reached a new high ever since the nation hosted the FIFA World Cup of 2006.

I was further convinced of what I saw when I read in the Bild am Sonntag tabloid. According to its survey, as many as 70 million people (that comes to 85 percent of the population of Germany) followed the match and were tied by the uniform feeling of patriotism. German automakers like Daimler, Volkswagen and Audi shut down their production for the day to allow its employees to follow the match.

Though the national football side didn’t win the match that day, but the nation did!

Gymnastics had traditionally been China’s gold-hunt category of sports in Summer Games. Even in 2000 Sydney Summer games witnessed an easy win of a gold medal in athletics by China’s Men’s Gymnastics team. But, in 2004 Athens Games, men gymnasts of China put up a disastrous performance to end up with no medal in Men’s Gymnastics team event. Many sports analysts predicted of the end of rule of China in gymnastics.

But, the China’s Men’s Gymnastics team proved these analysts wrong by reclaiming the gold medal in Gymnastic Artistic Men’s Team event. The veterans – Yang Wei, Huang Xu, and Li Xiaopeng – represented Chinese Men’s Gymnastics team. China scored a total of 286.125 points. In the early rounds Japan posed a threat for China, but in the later part Japan was no match. Japan ended with a score of 278.875 points to win silver medal. USA won bronze medal with a score of 275.850 points.

Updated (till Men’s Double Trap Final on 12/08/08) Medal Tally for 2008 Beijing Summer Games (countries to have won gold medals are mentioned in the tally):
China – 11 gold, 3 silver, 4 bronze
USA – 7 gold, 6 silver, 8 bronze
Korea – 5 gold, 5 silver
Italy – 3 gold, 4 silver, 2 bronze
Australia – 3 gold, 4 bronze
Japan – 2 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze
Great Britain – 2 gold, 1 bronze
Czech Republic – 2 gold
Netherlands – 1 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze
Spain – 1 gold, 1 bronze
Finland – 1 gold, 1 bronze
Azerbaijan – 1 gold
India – 1 gold
Romania – 1 gold
Thailand -1 gold

In the third day of the Beijing Summer Games, India’s Abhinav Bindra won a gold medal in Men’s 10m Air Rifle event. On his way to getting the medal, he overcame the challenge of defending champion Zhu Qinan of China. Qinan was not the only threat to Bindra. Earlier, Bindra had braved a career-threatening spinal injury to return to the shooting arena.

Bindra was down with the injury since 2006 after he won the Shooting World Championship tournament. Ligament overstretching in the lumbodorsal region led to the spinal injury of Bindra. The injury was so serious that he could not even lift his 5-kg rifle. Many of his relatives and doctors had suggested him to leave the sport.

But Bindra showed the courage to overcome his physical problem. He had undergone a year of physiotherapeutic treatment. He assumed a thorough rehabilitation program. To fit into the game, Bindra even made some technical changes for a better posture. Patience and determination helped him recover his life-threatening injury. And his bravery finally paid off. India got Games gold medal after a gap of 28 years.

There are other instances where the sportspersons have braved to take unique decisions to end in achieving feats in Summer Games. Liu Xiang of China was a long jumper in his school days. But his sports school suggested him to give up this sport because a bone test had shown that he would never grow tall enough and thus he would never emerge as a world-class jumper.

Then Xiang shifted his focus to hurdle event. He started practicing himself as a hurdler. And he adapted to this game bravely. And his brave attempt first paid off in 2002 when he broke Renaldo Nehemiah’s 24-year-old world junior record for the 110m hurdles. 2004 Athens Summer Games witnessed his best performance where he clinched the first gold medal for China in athletics. He is determined to repeat the performance in this year’s Summer Games at Beijing.

India is the second most populous country in the world. But, when the number of Summer Games medalists comes, India has always been at the bottom. However, India’s Abhinav Bindra brings sunlight to the weather of his country by winning a gold medal in the Men’s 10m Air Rifle competition on the third day of the 2008 Beijing Summer Games.

Even till the last shot, it was not sure on who would win the gold medal in the event. Bindra and Finland’s Henri Hakkinen were tied at the first position in the last round. However, Bindra showed the strength of his nerves and shot the best shot of his final. He scored an outstanding 10.8 on his last shot. But, Hakkinen fumbled and scored a lowly 9.7. This poor shot of his helped China’s Zhu Qinan get the silver. Hakkinen could manage only a bronze.

In the qualifying round, Bindra’s show was not that good. He finished fourth, with Hakkinen notching the top position. However, Hakkinen could not continue with his rich performance and scored an average of 10.14. On the other hand, Bindra escalated his performance and averaged 10.45 in the final.

Even before the starting of Summer Games at Beijing, many sports analysts had counted on Abhinav Bindra to win a medal in the tournament. But, a gold medal was a dream-come-true for both himself and his fellow countrymen. Bindra had completed in the seventh position in the same event in the last Summer Games. Bindra showed his spark of brilliance in 2006 World Championships where he emerged winner in his events.

This gold medal was the first individual gold medal ever to be won by an Indian. Previous to this medal, India had won a total of 15 medals in Summer Games. Of these 15, hockey got 11 for India that included 8 gold medals. Double Trap Shooting event had won India a silver medal in 2004 Athens Summer Games, thanks to Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore.

Good news for athletes is here… IOC has launched a new program for athletes. The program has been launched during the Beijing 2008 Summer Games. This program will help you, all aspiring athletes around the world in focusing in your athletic careers.

The athlete career program has been designed with advices from the well known experts, coaches and athletes around the world. The IOC authority focuses on three main fields to encourage full growth of the athletes. This newly launched program focuses on education, which will help the athletes in pursuing alternative career options at the end of their athletic career.

The athlete career program will also emphasize on life-skill training. You will be given guidance about health management, time management and other practical tools, which will help you in enhancing your professional and social skills. The program will also help you in career development, which is the third aspect of the IOC program for athletes.

With the aim of encouraging more and more athletes round the world to participate in international athletic competitions, the IOC has introduced this athlete career program. With the launch during the Beijing Summer Games, athletes are made aware of this program. We all hope for success of this program. If the program is implemented successfully, in near future we can find new talents flourishing in the field of athletics.