Beijing: 08-08-2008

epchick · #1 08-13-2008, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by honeychile

We have to remember that the current Chinese culture is one of allowing only one child - so if your not-quite-as-desired daughter was selected to do ANYTHING by the government, it truly is an honor for that whole family. Hey, maybe the government even lets them have a second child!

All those who posted about their health and lack of muscle mass are completely on the money! When you see a healthy, 5'3" American teenager do a tumbling run, then a 4'6" Chinese preteen do one, who is more likely to step out of bounds?

I don't think i'm understanding what you are saying. What does muscle mass have to do w/ stepping out of bounds?

And about the one-child thing. They are allowed to have more than one child. I think it might depend on the province but I do know that many of the Chinese that lived in my dorm had at least one sibling.

AGDee · #2 08-14-2008, 06:16 AM

They are allowed more than one child if they live in a rural area. This rule is explained well here:

http://geography.about.com/od/popula...a/onechild.htm

Taualumna · #3 08-14-2008, 10:16 AM

Because Asian women tend to be smaller, I don't think it was fair for the US media to compare the Chinese team to the US team, since there isn't an Asian athlete in the women's artistic gymnastics team. I did compare the Chinese team with the Japanese team, and there is a good 1 1/2"-2" difference on average for height and about 5-8 lb in weight. Many of the Japanese girls were around 4'11" and 85 lb, pretty normal for a 16 year old gymnast, I think. There was one tiny girl who is 4'7" but she isn't being singled out.

Kevin · #4 08-14-2008, 11:14 AM

The smoking gun has been discovered (and promptly taken off the internet by the Chinese gov't media).

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...sts/index.html

Quote:

BEIJING (AP) -- Just nine months before the Beijing Olympics, the Chinese government's news agency, Xinhua, reported that gymnast He Kexin was 13, which would have made her ineligible to be on the team that won a gold medal this week.

nittanyalum · #5 08-14-2008, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin

The smoking gun has been discovered (and promptly taken off the internet by the Chinese gov't media).

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...sts/index.html

Ooo, take the gold back, TAKE THE GOLD BACK!!!

(money says it'll never happen)

KSig RC · #6 08-14-2008, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taualumna

Because Asian women tend to be smaller, I don't think it was fair for the US media to compare the Chinese team to the US team, since there isn't an Asian athlete in the women's artistic gymnastics team. I did compare the Chinese team with the Japanese team, and there is a good 1 1/2"-2" difference on average for height and about 5-8 lb in weight. Many of the Japanese girls were around 4'11" and 85 lb, pretty normal for a 16 year old gymnast, I think. There was one tiny girl who is 4'7" but she isn't being singled out.

Soooooo . . . even between the Asian women, the Chinese team is significantly shorter and about 10% lighter?

Soooooo . . . like, maybe a couple of years younger?

KSigkid · #7 08-14-2008, 11:19 AM

This may have been just me, but from the non-sports side, was anyone a little bothered by Mary Carillo's (sp?) talking about Chinese cuisine last night? She tried a bunch of different things (fried Scorpion, duck's feet, etc.) and made it seem like some "Fear Factor" event. I can understand that it's not what we eat here, but she was making the comments right in front of the people who prepared the food. It annoyed me a bit, like it was playing right into the "Ignorant American Tourist" stereotype. Not to mention that it's a bit rude to turn your nose up at someone's cooking when they're standing right there.

I don't know; maybe I've been watching too much Anthony Bourdain, but that whole segment was kind of ridiculous.

Taualumna · #8 08-14-2008, 11:22 AM

Question: Does anyone know if the rule states that you actually have to actually be 16 or if it's that you have to turn 16 the year you compete?

Because one girl on the Japanese team doesn't turn 16 until September. Unless there's some sort of typo.

nittanyalum · #9 08-14-2008, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taualumna

Question: Does anyone know if the rule states that you actually have to actually be 16 or if it's that you have to turn 16 the year you compete?

Because one girl on the Japanese team doesn't turn 16 until September. Unless there's some sort of typo.

This is what the SI article said:

Quote:

Gymnasts have to be 16 during the Olympic year to be eligible for the games.

So technically, she's eligible.