Stories about Sport from August, 2012
Macedonia: Demanding Triumphal Welcome for Paralympics Champion
Macedonian social media users are calling [mk] for a state-sponsored celebration for Olivera Nakovska-Bikova, who won a gold medal in shooting at the Paralympic Games finals in London, after setting a world record during the qualifications.
Paralympic Games Kick Off in London
After hosting a most memorable Olympics, the British capital city of London welcomed the world's Paralympians for what is claimed to be the biggest Paralympics Games ever.
Zambian National Football Team Coach Granted Permanent Residence
Zambia has had many expatriate national football team coaches, but Frenchman Herve Renard, who led the team in scooping the Africa Cup of Nations in 2012, enjoys special affection. In recognition of his success, the government has accorded him permanent residence but the decision has assumed political overtones.
Bermuda: Learning from London
Respice Finem says that there are valuable lessons to be learned from the London Olympics.
Russia: Taxi Drivers Versus Dagestanis in Ryazan
A possible fight between Russians and Dagestani migrants perhaps led to dozens, possibly hundreds, of taxi drivers organizing a pogrom-like attack. Events like this raise questions about Russia's capacity to effectively cope with its multiculturalism, especially now, when the situation on the ground in the North Caucasus is so troubling.
Environmentalist Ex-NBA Star Visits Kenya on Anti-Poaching Tour
Since retiring from the National Basketball Association a year ago, Chinese star Yao Ming has become a committed environmentalist, working with WildAid. His most recent visit was to Kenya to campaign against poaching.
Peru: Football Player's Airport Joke Triggers Security Alert
A bad joke triggered security alarms at the San Jose International Airport as the Peruvian national football team was about to take the flight back to Lima after a friendly match in Costa Rica. Social networks are abuzz with comments.
The South Caucasus at the 2012 Olympics
This post is part of our special coverage of the London 2012 Olympics. The three South Caucasus countries have been participating independently in the Olympics since 1996, and they each followed up their records in Beijing this summer in London to walk away with gold, silver and bronze in the...
Thailand: Olympic Boxing Defeat Disappoints Fans
Thailand won two silvers and a bronze in the recently concluded London Olympic Games but the controversial defeat of a Thai boxer disappointed many fans who believe that the gold medal should be given to Thailand
Puerto Rico: An “Activated” Space for School Athletics
Photojournalist José Jiménez talks about his project, Activao, an online space dedicated exclusively to covering school athletics in Puerto Rico. Going beyond being a specialized medium for sports, the project is, above all, a space with a social mission for young people.
Russia: Ugly Side of Olympic Nationalism
"As a pureblooded Russian, and Russian patriot, it is distasteful to look at this disgrace. It’s better to have no medals, than to have Champions like this, ones who hardly speak Russian .." - Gold medal wins by Russian ethnic minorities anger some Russian nationalists.
Caribbean: Regional Sports Academy?
Following the success of the Caribbean region at the London Olympics, there is now talk of “a single sports academy…located in Jamaica, and funded by all the governments and private sectors of the Caribbean Community”, to which Weblog Bahamas’ Rick Lowe quips, “Come on.”
Puerto Rico: Jaime Espinal's Silver Medal Makes History
Puerto Rico celebrates Jaime Espinal's Olympic silver medal, the first to be won for the country in the freestyle wrestling. This is the second medal won for Puerto Rico in the London 2012 Olympics and only the second silver medal to be won in the country's history.
Saudi Arabia: Reaching the Line of Gender Equality
While saluting the decision of Saudi Arabia to send two female athletes to the London Olympics, the Saudi Women Driving deplores the fact that Saudi women cannot drive. “The whole world has been watching Saudi women and their triumphant appearance at the Olympics, and most news stories about them mention that...
Female Saudi Athletes – Out of the Olympics, Into the Twitter Storm
After stepping out of the Olympics, the first and only Saudi female athletes in the history of the Saudi sports, Sarah Attar and Wojdan Shahrkhani have received a storm of reactions on the Saudi twittersphere. Haifa Al Rasheed samples reactions which range from inspiration and hope to shame and disgrace.
Central Asia's Mixed Success at London Olympics
The 2012 Summer Olympics offered mixed successes for Central Asian states. While the Games proved nothing short of triumph for team Kazakhstan, the success of athletes from Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan was more moderate. And for Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan, the Olympics were largely a disappointment.
China: Netizens’ Comments on 2012 London Olympics
Fauna from ChinaSMACK translates Chinese netizens’ general comments and impressions of the 2012 London Olympics.
Afghanistan: When Bronze Means More than Gold
"In a year filled with suicide bombings, school poisonings and kidnappings, the bronze for Afghanistan was more than gold." The country celebrates its one and only Olympic winner - Bronze medalist and Taekwondo fighter Rohullah Nikpai.
Colombia Adds Gold and Bronze BMX Medals to Their List
Carlos Oquendo and Mariana Pajón added two medals to Colombia's collection. The country ended the Olympics achieving a historic eight medals. Mariana Pajón's medal is the second gold medal in Colombia's history in the Olympic Games.
Nicaragua: A Blogger's Olympic Dream
Mildred Largaespada from the blog 1001 trópicos [es] shares her “Olympic dream.” In 1984, Mildred was part of Nicaragua's National Junior Basketball Team and participated in the Central American Games of that year in Guatemala. Her dream was to make it to the Olympics, but after losing in Guatemala she...
Ecuador: Sprinter Álex Quiñónez Brings Country to Standstill During Final
Ecuador took to social networks to offer support for the Ecuadorian sprinter Álex Quiñónez as he represented the country for the first time in the London 2012 Olympics. Quiñónez reached the 200m finals, finishing in seventh place.
