Winter olympic 2010 Vancouver

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Business Community Seeking Inspiration in Figure Skating Star

By Kim Tae-gyu
Staff Reporter

The Olympic flame was extinguished a week ago but the fever for Korean figure-skating star Kim Yu-na, who topped the podium with record-breaking performances in the Vancouver games, continues to heat up the country.

In particular, large corporations in Asia's fourth-largest economy are spearheading the Kim Yu-na craze, praising the professionalism and perseverance that she demonstrated in winning the gold medal.

Observers liken the sensation to that for Guus Hiddink, who led the Korean team to the semifinals of the 2002 World Cup. Back then, a flurry of businessmen competed to imitate his efficient leadership.

This time around, the Korea National Oil Corp. Chief Executive Officer Kang Young-won initiated the corporate enthusiasm of trying to learn something from the 19-year-old heroine.

``We have watched Kim jump toward perfectionism despite heavy burdens on her slender shoulders. We are now in a transitional phase for growth just like she was,'' Kang said in a ceremony of celebrating the 31st anniversary of the entity early last week.

``By achieving the capability of producing 500,000 barrels of oil and providing a million barrels a day, we need to become as beloved here as Kim did.''

Lotte Department Store, the nation's top department store chain, asked its managers to emulate the professionalism shown by Kim during its recent monthly meeting.

``Kim successfully overcame the challenges of winning the Olympic gold medal after topping the World Championship. Likewise, we encourage our officials to establish new goals and put forth innovative efforts to attain them,'' a Lotte spokeswoman said.

The struggling Ssangyong Motor, the country's smallest carmaker ― currently under a debt workout program ― set Kim as a role model in recovering from its hardship.

``Kim soared to supremacy after going through many failures and breakdowns. We face some troubles right now but we will be able to revive our company by tiding over all the difficulties,'' a Ssangyong Motor official said.

Kim Yu-na Marketing

Some local firms are already reaping fruits thanks to Kim since no matter what items associated with her sells briskly from cheap accessories to expensive cars and home appliances.

Included in the beneficiaries are Korea's flagship firms such as Samsung Electronics and Hyundai Motor, which sponsored Kim before she won Korea's first Olympic medal in figure skating.

Samsung has chalked up fast growth in the sales of its air conditioners over the past few weeks thanks in large part to a commercial featuring Kim.

Should the strong sales continue, the company expects it will catch up with perennial leader LG Electronics this year on the domestic air conditioner market.

Another main sponsor of Kim, Hyundai Motor is looking to take advantage of her brand power to enhance its global awareness. Hyundai is the world's sixth-largest carmaker together with its sister company Kia Motors.

Maeil Dairies, the country's main manufacturer of dairy products for which Kim modeled, is also thinking of extending its sponsorship contract with the star as it too racked up increased sales.

 

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Kim Yu-na: Korean cyber attack on 2channel to avenge insults

You don't normally associate figure skating with the type of nationalistic hype Olympic hockey can whip up. But when the leading contenders for gold are from Japan and South Korea all bets are off. Last month at the Vancouver Olympics Kim Yu-na bested Japan's Mao Asada to take the gold medal, and this appears to have sparked some bad feeling.

A top internet forum in Japan, www.2ch.net (2channel), was offline earlier this week after a concerted cyber attack from South Korea. The provocation that led to the attack was Japanese criticism of Kim Yu-na's Olympic win posted on 2ch forum. South Korean users were also angered by the posting of the comment "Russia's good deed", in reference to the killing of a South Korean student in Irkutsk.

According to Yonhap news agency the attack involved more than 10,000 users who coordinated their activities through web communities. Japan Today reports that the DOS attack succeeded in taking down 30 of 2ch's 33 message boards.

Postings on 2ch claimed that Kim Yu-na won gold in Vancouver because South Korea bribed the Olympic judges. A clip from NTV that was widely aired added fuel to the fire. On the video the Russian skater Yevgeny Plushenko said he thought Mao Asada should have received a higher score. The video has pulled in massive hits on YouTube South Korea, along with hundreds of anti-Japanese comments.

 

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australian coin, buy buy buy!!

Why Kim Yu-na Coins Are Issued in Tuvalu

The Korean Olympic Committee on Friday said it will issue commemorative coins to celebrate Kim Yu-na's Olympic gold medal and share the moment of joy. But they will be issued in Tuvalu instead of Korea and have been minted in Perth, Australia. Tuvalu, a member of the British Commonwealth, lies northeast of Australia and has a population of just 12,000.

The Kim Yu-na commemorative coins come in gold and silver, with the face value denominated in Australian dollars. The gold coin with the face value of 25 dollars will sell for W880,000 (US$1=W1,141) and the 1-dollar silver coin for W121,000. "The Bank of Korea Act stipulates that coins minted by the Korea Minting and Security Printing Corporation cannot be sold to generate added value," said the KOC. "So we had no choice but to manufacture the coins overseas." Hwadong, the company that sells the coins, said it needed to look for a partner with the latest technology and signed a contract with the Perth Mint in Australia, which got direct approval from Tuvalu to circulate the coins there.

The head of the coins features an image of Kim's free skating performance and signature, and the KOC's insignia. A total of 30,000 gold and 30,000 silver coins have been minted. Portions of the profits will be used to help the development of sports in Korea. Hwadong has been involved in issuing commemorative coins for the late president Kim Dae-Jung made in Norway and for Cardinal Stephen Kim Sou-Hwan manufactured in Liberia.

 

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Korean markets slow as Olympics 'queen' Kim Yuna spins to gold

Seoul – Financial markets slowed and almost stopped here as Kim Yuna, “the Golden Queen” in Korea’s media, was running through a flawless free-skating performance, winning a gold medal for herself and unalloyed joy for Koreans.

“Everybody was in front of office televisions watching her,” says businessman Kim Yong-jin. “People came back early from lunch. Nobody was interested in the stock or bond markets. There were almost no transactions, nobody was looking at prices.”

Those not looking at TVs were most likely glued to their computers. Daum, a major Internet portal here, reported 440,000 people logged in at the same time to catch her in motion via the Web, according to Yonhap, the South Korean news agency.

That figure was well above the 340,000 who logged in during her short program on Wednesday (Tuesday night in Vancouver). Moreover, said Yonhap, Kim’s home page crashed from too many simultaneous hits.

As Ms. Kim twirled madly on Friday afternoon (Thursday night in Vancouver), then came to a sharp stop, a smile on her face, Koreans everywhere burst into what seemed like a nationwide roar of applause.

“We knew she had won,” says one office worker, even though Yuna's rival, Japan’s Mao Asada, was about to take to the ice.

Sealing goldMs. Asada was behind, having placed second to Kim in the short program, but the gold was by no means certain. Kim’s aggregate score of 228.56 was a world record – one that Asada still had a chance of besting.

But a couple of minor missteps – falters, not falls – in Asada’s routine guaranteed Kim the gold, while Asada seemed happy to take silver with 205.50 points.

After Asada’s score was announced, office workers returned to their desks, missing out on the emotional favorite, Joannie Rochette of Canada. Ms. Rochette, skating beautifully enough for bronze with 202.64 points, managed a smile through tears shed in mourning for her mother, who died of a heart attack four days earlier (The Monitor spoke with Mrs. Rochette in January: Read article).

For Korea, one of the major contenders in Vancouver with six golds, mostly in speed-skating, the Yuna moment was all about national pride.

“People were like, 'wow, wow,' every time she jumped,” says office worker Park Han-jin. “We were really holding our breath.”

As soon as Yuna had accepted the gold, the medal draped around her neck, South Korean President Lee Myung-bak caught the national mood, sending a message congratulating her for “passion and strong spirit” – all cause, he said, for “great jubilation for the people.”

Friendly rivalryMr. Park credits Korea’s overall drive as an economic powerhouse with bringing about success at the games. “It’s not easy for Korea,” he says. “We’ve done a great job. A lot of money was invested on training and facilities, a lot of hopes and vision were at stake.”

He sees Korea’s rise as a formidable Olympic competitor as paralleling the country’s economic rise. “A few years ago, we never thought we’d be winning all these gold medals. Now Korea has achieved a lot. It definitely gives people some joy.”

Still, Park managed a few sporting words for Asada – the Japanese skater who would have killed Korea's joy.

“People were saying, ‘That’s too bad,’ when she seemed to make a mistake,” he says.

Nor do he, and many others, see why Japan, with more than twice the population and an intensely competitive global economy, has not done better at the Games. South Korea has won a total of 10 medals at the Games, half of them gold. Japan has won three medals.

“What’s really strange, something we don’t understand,” he says, “is why no Japanese has yet won a gold medal.”

 

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Kim Yu-Na and South Korea rise in winter wonderland
Figure skating wonder girl Kim Yu-Na's golden Olympic debut has further raised South Korea's profile in the Winter Games hierarchy with their giant neighbours China hot on their trail.
But the sun refused to shine on old-timers Japan before the curtain went down on the Vancouver Games on Sunday.

South Korea led Asia's charge on the traditional battlefield for Europeans and North Americans with their record haul of 14 medals, six of them gold, to finish fifth on the 2010 leaderboard.

China, who dethroned the United States in the trophy hunt at the 2008 Summer Games at home, put in their best-ever five-gold performance and staked their claim as future hosts of the Games on snow and ice.

But Japan, once Asia's supreme winter sports power, missed out on their first gold medal in Vancouver by just two-hundredths of a second in the women's speed skating team pursuit final won by Germany on Saturday.

That left Japan with three silvers and two bronzes, compared with only one medal won in Turin four years ago when Shizuka Arakawa became Asia's first gold medalist in Olympic figure skating.

South Korea erupted with joy as President Lee Myung-Bak reportedly promised more money for winter sports and encouraged a third straight bid by the Korean resort of PyeongChang for the Winter Olympics, this time the 2018 edition.

"I'm quite happy," said South Korean Olympic Committee president Park Yong-Sung. "But this time we got gold medals from figure skating and (long track) speed skating. That makes us happier still."

Before Vancouver, South Korea had won all their gold medals in short-track skating since they first got on the Winter Olympic medal board in 1992 when the sport made its debut.

"We got a message from the president of our country," Park told reporter. "He promised to us, 'Okay we're doing our best and we will invest more money in winter sports'."

South Korea entered in all 15 sports except for curling, ice hockey and Nordic combined and all their medals came in skating events.

China won five titles - four of them in women's short-track speed skating led by three-gold Wang Meng, which left them seventh in a tie with Sweden. Their total haul of 11 medals equalled that in 2006.

 

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Kim Yuna is the #1 celebrity in Korea

If you’re to guess the #1 top celebrity in Korea, you’d probably think of megastars like Lee Hyori or Lee Byung Hun; both are incredibly sexy and majorly talented. But Forbes Korea recently conducted a survey and it’s been revealed that Korean Olympic figure skater Kim Yuna is currently the hottest celebrity in Korea!

But can this really come off as a surprise? This young skater went to the 2010Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada and won a gold medal and set a new world record all at the sweet age of 19! “Queen Yuna,” as she has been nicknamed, is the top earning female athlete in the entire Olympics due to her endless line-up of endorsements and enormous popularity & appeal.

On the chart below you may recognize some of your favorite idols like SNSD, Big Bang and Rain. It’s an honor just to be in the same league as them but to best them all and be #1? That’s quite an amazing feat and such an amazing achievement is almost as great as the creation of the Internet, the discovery of pumpkin pie, and the birth of Walmart. Heck, this accomplishment may be greater than her world breaking record…okay, maybe not but you get the point.

 

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paralympic opening - cannot find any tv station showing it live

Now, is the opening, but i cannot believe there are nothing on tv.

that bad.... the audience number is so small , even opening are not shown. i cannot imagine the rating for the sport.

yeah it is shown on internet, but sadly nothing on tv.

 

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for a moment, i thought all the people around the cauldron going to light it, that will be crazy.
but common sense prevail and only one kid light the cauldron, which is good.
not like the gay winter olympic 4 person to do 1 person job.

 

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Russian figure skater Yevgeny Plushenko who won silver medal at Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver sits in his new Audi Q5 crossover after a reception in honor of the national Olympic team in the Kremlin in Moscow on March 15, 2010. Russian government awarded national sportsmen Audi Q7 ($100K) for the gold, Audi Q5 ($60k) for the silver and Audi A4 ($50K) for the bronze medals. UPI/Alex Hatin

 

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Members of team Canada arrive during the opening ceremonies of the Winter Paralympic Games in Vancouver, Friday, March 12, 2010. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press,Jonathan Hayward)

(Left to right) Silver medalist Gerd Schonfelder of Germany, Gold medalist Adam Hall of New Zealand and Bronze medalist Cameron Rahles-Rahbula of Australia celebrate on the podium after the Men's Slalom Standing event during day 4 of the Winter Paralympics at Whistler Creekside on March 15, 2010 in Vancouver, Canada. (Hannah Johnston/Getty Images)

Switzerland's Chiara Devittorri-Valnegri falls at the finish during the women's 15km cross-country standing in Whistler, British Columbia on March 15, 2010. (REUTERS/Andy Clark)

U.S. athlete Monte Meier passes a gate during the second run of the Men's slalom standing of the 2010 Winter Paralympics at Whistler Creekside on Monday, March 15, 2010. (AP Photo/KEYSTONE/Dominic Favre)

Haitao Du #5 of China competes in the men's standing 20km free cross-country skiing race during Day 4 of the Winter Paralympics on March 15, 2010 in Vancouver, Canada. (Jamie McDonald/Getty Images)

 

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it is sad that on tv, there is no coverage at all about the winter paraolymic

 

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for people who miss the olympic figure skating

for people who happen to miss the olympic figure skating, which was very very good, of highest standard, you can see a lower standard one, where they normally play it safe and not go all out.

this week

The schedule of the ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2010 is as follows:

Tuesday, March 23: Compulsory Dance, Pairs Short Program
Wednesday, March 24: Men Short Program, Pairs Free Skating
Thursday, March 25: Original Dance, Men Free Skating
Friday, March 26: Ladies Short Program, Free Dance
Saturday, March 27: Ladies Free Skating
Sunday, March 28: Exhibition Gala

For more information, full entry lists and results please see: Entries/Results and http://www.torino2010.org/

try not to miss it.

 

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ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2010 - Preview
19 Mar 2010

The ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2010 will open in Torino, Italy, on March 22. It will be the 100th edition of World Figure Skating Championships. Torino is hosting the ISU World Figure Skating Championships for the first time, but has hosted the 2006 Olympic Winter Games and the ISU European Figure Skating Championships 2005. The ISU World Figure Skating Championships return to Italy for the first time in 47 years. Worlds took place in Italy only twice so far, in Milan in 1951 and in Cortina d’Ampezzo in 1963.

210 skaters/couples from 53 ISU members have been entered for the Championships. All skaters/couples will compete in the Short Program and the top 24 Men and Ladies and the top 16 Pairs will proceed to the Free Skating. In Ice Dance, all couples will compete in the Compulsory Dance and Original Dance and the top 20 dance teams will compete in the Free Dance.

Overview over the top contenders

2010 Olympic Champion Yu-Na Kim (KOR) headlines the Ladies’ field. The Korean wants to defend her World title to cap off a very successful season. Kim travels with a seasons best score of 228.56 points from the Olympic Winter Games to Torino. Competition should come from Olympic silver medallist Mao Asada (JPN), who, after a slow start into the season, has picked up a seasons best of 205.50 points in Vancouver and seems ready for the challenge. 2009 World bronze medallist Miki Ando (JPN) has set her eyes at the podium again after finishing fifth at the Olympic Winter Games (seasons best 188.86 points). After her fourth-place finish in Vancouver, Mirai Nagasu (USA/seasons best 190.15 points) is aiming at the World podium in what will be her debut at the event. Other contenders include European silver medallist Laura Lepistö (FIN), US Champion Rachael Flatt (USA), Grand Prix Final bronze medallist Akiko Suzuki (JPN), European Champion Carolina Kostner (ITA) and Alena Leonova (RUS).

Competition should be tough in the Men's event, even without newly crowned Olympic Champion Evan Lysacek (USA) and Olympic silver medalist Evgeni Plushenko (RUS), who withdrew Friday citing injury. 2010 Olympic bronze medallist Daisuke Takahashi (JPN/seasons best 247.23), 2009 World silver medallist Patrick Chan (CAN/seasons best 241.42) and Nobunari Oda (JPN/seasons best 243.36) are aiming at the podium. US Champion Jeremy Abbott (seasons best 235.38) and 2009 World bronze medallist Brian Joubert (FRA/seasons best 236.45) want to make up for their disappointment at the Olympic Winter Games.

The Ice Dance competition will be highlighted by a rematch between Olympic Champions Tessa Virtue/Scott Moir (CAN) and Olympic silver medallists Meryl Davis/Charlie White (USA). Virtue/Moir had lost to Davis/White at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in December, but beat them in Vancouver. The Canadians achieved a seasons best of 221.57 points at the Olympic Winter Games while the Americans scored 215.75 points. A group of strong challengers is aiming at the podium in Italy as well. 2010 European silver medallists Federica Faiella/Massimo Scali (ITA/seasons best 199.17 points), Nathalie Pechalat/Fabian Bourzat (FRA/seasons best 190.49), reigning European bronze medallists Jana Khokhlova/Sergei Novitski (RUS/seasons best 189.67 points) and Sinead Kerr/John Kerr (GBR/seasons best 186.01 points) are expected to fight for a spot on the podium or close to it.

In the Pairs, two-time and defending World Champions Aliona Savchenko/Robin Szolkowy (GER) will be up against 2010 Olympic silver medallists Qing Pang/Jian Tong (CHN) who beat them at the Grand Prix Final and in Vancouver. Pang/Tong picked up a seasons best of 213.31 points at the Olympic Games while the Germans got 211.72 points at the European Championships. 2010 European Champions Yuko Kavaguti/Alexander Smirnov (RUS/seasons best 213.15 points), who came fourth at the Olympic Games, will challenge the leaders again. Entering the mix are two-time European bronze medallists Maria Mukhortova/Maxim Trankov (RUS), 2008 World bronze medallists Jessica Dube/Bryce Davison (CAN) and 2009 World silver medallists Dan Zhang/Hao Zhang (CHN), who all have a shot at a medal in Torino as well.

Lavinia Borromeo Elkann arrives in Montecitorio Square to attend the press conference for the presentation of the Torino 2010 ISU World Figure Skating Championships, at Montecitorio Palace on March 10, 2010 in Rome, Italy.

(L-R) Lavinia Borromeo Elkann, President of Chamber of Deputies Gianfranco Fini, IOC executive Board member Mario Pescante, Pierpaolo Maza and Giancarlo Bolognini attend the press conference for the presentation of the Torino 2010 ISU World Figure Skating Championships, at Montecitorio Palace on March 10, 2010 in Rome, Italy.

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