Five things we loved about Day 1 in Beijing
A piece of paper was put up on a board in the press room giving the time for the post-race press conference involving the three medallists from the men’s marathon. It said that it would start after 10:20am.
Issued on: Modified:
Just as well. At 10:55, the press conference invigilator informed the fidgeting hoard of reporters that things had been delayed because the winner couldn’t be found. The silver and bronze lads were all present and correct, but golden boy? Nowhere to be seen.
“Perhaps he’s been channelled along the wrong line,” quipped the invigilator-turned-warm-up act. A few minutes after offering up apologies and asking for patience, the invigilator said Ghirmay Ghebreselassie had been found.
It was worth the wait
Asked a perfectly reasonable question about when he decided to break away for the finish, Ghebreselassie came over all Academy Awards ceremony. The 19-year-old thanked his sponsors, the door at the local shop, the gutter near his gran’s house as well as the third spike on his running shoe.
The review was outraged that he’d failed to hail the tree near his mate’s place round the corner back home. After all and sundry had been congratulated for their part in his rise, he turned to the reporter and without so much as a blink of the eye, added: “Now, coming back to your question … what was the question?"
A slick quick opening ceremony
It was all over within an hour. The IAAF president Lamine Diack said something. Actually he mumbled something. If it weren’t for the wonders of modern technology we wouldn’t have known what he was going on about. Six giant screens around the Bird’s Nest stadium deciphered the Diack’s emanations.
There were the usual platitudes about coming back seven years after the Beijing Olympics and bathing in the warmth of Chinese hospitality. A few other dignitaries told us how happy they were to greet the world and then the Chinese president formally declared the games open. It was all followed by singing and dancing and fireworks.
A little partisanship
Bingtian Su was given a huge cheer when his name was called out just before heat 2 of the men’s 100 metres. He qualified for the semi-final on day 2 in 10.03 seconds. Bingtian was second behind the Jamaican Asafa Powell.
Peiman Zhang also got a big roar before his heat. He didn’t qualify for the semi-final but at least he has the consolation of a season’s best time of 10.13. Whenever the Chinese women in the shot put final went up ... the crowd showed their love. They did it too for a very tall black man just before one of the heats for the 100 metres.
It’s shaping up for the showdown
The Americans Justin Gatlin, Tyson Gay and Trayvon Brommell all won their heats to qualify for the semi-final of the 100 metres on day two. Former world record holder Asafa Powell eased through his heat to advance and so did the Chinese defending world champion Usain Bolt. Well, yes, true, he was born in Jamaica but he’s lauded like a local.
Much has been made about his injury woes this season. But he looked relaxed as he won his heat in 9.96 seconds. Of course there could be surprises in the semi-finals but it’s looking good for the Manfight at the OK Testosterone.
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