A
abhi18033
Guest
i'm writing my first article for mmy school newspaper and i just wanna see what people think of it. it's a preview of the summer olympic games. is it good? here it is:
The Battle of Nations
Officially known as the games of the XXIX Olympiad, this year’s Summer Olympics are being held in Beijing, China. Widely regarded as the premier international sporting event, the Summer Olympics are losing popularity among casual American viewers. The athletes are competing in 302 events in 28 sports not only for individual achievement, but also to represent their respective nations with pride and dignity on the grandest stage of them all. However, back home in the states, many Americans will be tuning out during the two weeks that begin with opening ceremonies on August 8, 2008.
In the United States, there has never been a Summer Olympics telecast ranked in the top 45-network primetime telecasts of all time or even in the top 17 telecasts since the year 2000. Americans just seem to care more about mainly American programs such as the Super Bowl, “American Idol,” or the Academy Awards. Despite the fact that over 90 percent of the films are produced in Hollywood, the latter claims to be an international event. The Olympic Games are one of the very few events that really involve the entire world. However, not all of the 302 events in two weeks are worth watching. Only some sports will sufficiently entertain you and be a true spectacle.
What not to watch:
Archery, Canoeing, Rowing, Shooting, Handball, Equestrian, Fencing, Sailing
These types of events are exactly why some feel that the Olympics are boring and lack excitement. Who really wants to watch a group of men race boats and aim at targets in the wall with a bow-and-arrow? Although these were some of the original events in the first Olympics, they seem dull in comparison to today’s high paced and exhilarating sports like basketball and soccer.
What to watch:
Track and Field, Swimming, Soccer, Triathlon, Boxing, Basketball, Gymnastics
Now these are the type of events you should keep a keen eye on throughout this “Battle of Nations.” Events like these are the ones that define athleticism. From watching this, you can tell something like who is the fastest or strongest person in the world. The athletes are simultaneously representing the athletic skills of their entire countries. The “athletics” events were the original sports played during the first ever Olympics. Athletics is divided into many events varying from the breathtaking 100m dash to the overwhelming shot put. These are classic displays of both brute force and unparalleled concentration. Boxing might not be very popular, but it is one of the most amazing displays of human willpower and physical aptitude to achieve the ultimate goal of knocking out your opponent. Both track and field and boxing are short and sweet events because they don’t last very long but are absolutely thrilling. Soccer and basketball have been the most popular team sports for many decades. These two games are widely followed by people throughout the world mainly because they are very easy to learn and play. There is nothing like making a penalty kick in extra time or making a game winning shot with one second left on the shot clock as the whole world is watching. If you want to experience exhilarating moments like these, these events are an absolute must see.
American athletes to watch for:
Paul Hamm (gymnastics): How will he rebound after being robbed of the gold by the judges due to a recount at Athens in 2004? Although, the controversial scoring malfunction gave the South Korean Yang Tae Young the gold medal, Hamm refused to give it up because he believed it was rightfully his.
Nastia Liukin (gymnastics): The four-time U.S. National Champion is participating in her first ever Olympics. She will have tough competition in the All-Around event against the always impressive Romanians and Russians.
Michael Phelps (swimming): The six-time Olympic gold medalist from Baltimore is still the undisputed best swimmer in the world. He will try once again to break the gold medal record of 7 held by fellow American Michael Spitz. Australian Ian Thorpe is still his biggest challenge despite winning only two medals at the 2004 Games.
Kobe Bryant (basketball): The Los Angeles Lakers superstar is widely regarded as the best player on the planet and is expected to lead America back to the dominancy it once held. Ever since the 2002 World Championships, Team U.S.A. hasn’t won gold in a major international basketball tournament. The freshly crowned NBA Most Valuable Player is being counted on to give Team USA that extra leadership and outside shooting it desperately needs even though he is playing with a torn ligament in his pinkie. He is planning to delay surgery in hopes of winning his first ever Olympic gold medal.
Freddy Adu (soccer): The 18-year-old prodigy currently playing for the Portuguese football club SL Benefica has all the pressure on his back to lead the Americans to a medal in this tournament of only Under-23 players against the powerhouses of Brazil, Italy, France, England and Germany. American soccer is declining in popularity and an impressive showing in this year’s Olympics could encourage more young Americans to become more interested in watching the professional leagues in America and throughout the world.
Alyson Felix (track): She’ll need to have an impressive showing if the United States plans on winning big on the track field. After winning silver at Athens in the 200 m race, she plans on winning gold this year in both the 200m and with the USA relay squad in the 4X100 and 4X400.
Jeremy Wariner (track): The Texas native is the front-runner once again to win the 400m after dominating the competition at Athens in 2004. Known for wearing his sunglasses no matter the weather conditions, he is a dominant force for the Americans in the track and field category.
The Battle of Nations
Officially known as the games of the XXIX Olympiad, this year’s Summer Olympics are being held in Beijing, China. Widely regarded as the premier international sporting event, the Summer Olympics are losing popularity among casual American viewers. The athletes are competing in 302 events in 28 sports not only for individual achievement, but also to represent their respective nations with pride and dignity on the grandest stage of them all. However, back home in the states, many Americans will be tuning out during the two weeks that begin with opening ceremonies on August 8, 2008.
In the United States, there has never been a Summer Olympics telecast ranked in the top 45-network primetime telecasts of all time or even in the top 17 telecasts since the year 2000. Americans just seem to care more about mainly American programs such as the Super Bowl, “American Idol,” or the Academy Awards. Despite the fact that over 90 percent of the films are produced in Hollywood, the latter claims to be an international event. The Olympic Games are one of the very few events that really involve the entire world. However, not all of the 302 events in two weeks are worth watching. Only some sports will sufficiently entertain you and be a true spectacle.
What not to watch:
Archery, Canoeing, Rowing, Shooting, Handball, Equestrian, Fencing, Sailing
These types of events are exactly why some feel that the Olympics are boring and lack excitement. Who really wants to watch a group of men race boats and aim at targets in the wall with a bow-and-arrow? Although these were some of the original events in the first Olympics, they seem dull in comparison to today’s high paced and exhilarating sports like basketball and soccer.
What to watch:
Track and Field, Swimming, Soccer, Triathlon, Boxing, Basketball, Gymnastics
Now these are the type of events you should keep a keen eye on throughout this “Battle of Nations.” Events like these are the ones that define athleticism. From watching this, you can tell something like who is the fastest or strongest person in the world. The athletes are simultaneously representing the athletic skills of their entire countries. The “athletics” events were the original sports played during the first ever Olympics. Athletics is divided into many events varying from the breathtaking 100m dash to the overwhelming shot put. These are classic displays of both brute force and unparalleled concentration. Boxing might not be very popular, but it is one of the most amazing displays of human willpower and physical aptitude to achieve the ultimate goal of knocking out your opponent. Both track and field and boxing are short and sweet events because they don’t last very long but are absolutely thrilling. Soccer and basketball have been the most popular team sports for many decades. These two games are widely followed by people throughout the world mainly because they are very easy to learn and play. There is nothing like making a penalty kick in extra time or making a game winning shot with one second left on the shot clock as the whole world is watching. If you want to experience exhilarating moments like these, these events are an absolute must see.
American athletes to watch for:
Paul Hamm (gymnastics): How will he rebound after being robbed of the gold by the judges due to a recount at Athens in 2004? Although, the controversial scoring malfunction gave the South Korean Yang Tae Young the gold medal, Hamm refused to give it up because he believed it was rightfully his.
Nastia Liukin (gymnastics): The four-time U.S. National Champion is participating in her first ever Olympics. She will have tough competition in the All-Around event against the always impressive Romanians and Russians.
Michael Phelps (swimming): The six-time Olympic gold medalist from Baltimore is still the undisputed best swimmer in the world. He will try once again to break the gold medal record of 7 held by fellow American Michael Spitz. Australian Ian Thorpe is still his biggest challenge despite winning only two medals at the 2004 Games.
Kobe Bryant (basketball): The Los Angeles Lakers superstar is widely regarded as the best player on the planet and is expected to lead America back to the dominancy it once held. Ever since the 2002 World Championships, Team U.S.A. hasn’t won gold in a major international basketball tournament. The freshly crowned NBA Most Valuable Player is being counted on to give Team USA that extra leadership and outside shooting it desperately needs even though he is playing with a torn ligament in his pinkie. He is planning to delay surgery in hopes of winning his first ever Olympic gold medal.
Freddy Adu (soccer): The 18-year-old prodigy currently playing for the Portuguese football club SL Benefica has all the pressure on his back to lead the Americans to a medal in this tournament of only Under-23 players against the powerhouses of Brazil, Italy, France, England and Germany. American soccer is declining in popularity and an impressive showing in this year’s Olympics could encourage more young Americans to become more interested in watching the professional leagues in America and throughout the world.
Alyson Felix (track): She’ll need to have an impressive showing if the United States plans on winning big on the track field. After winning silver at Athens in the 200 m race, she plans on winning gold this year in both the 200m and with the USA relay squad in the 4X100 and 4X400.
Jeremy Wariner (track): The Texas native is the front-runner once again to win the 400m after dominating the competition at Athens in 2004. Known for wearing his sunglasses no matter the weather conditions, he is a dominant force for the Americans in the track and field category.