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Only six months has passed since the Beijing Olympics and the Birds Nest stadium which hosted the spectacular opening and closing ceremonies is already beginning to lose its shine. The paint is peeling and stains have appeared on its famous lattice design. Accelerating the deterioration of the iconic National Stadium is the absence of a permanent tenant. [...]
Posted on 11 February 2009 | 12:06 am
The Olympics are now over, but my adventures continue. You can continue following my travels in Asia here.
Posted on 17 October 2008 | 1:17 am
The opening ceremony for the Paralympics was held last night in Beijing. The ceremony was spectacular but perhaps not on the scale of the ceremony for the Beijing Olympics. Most of the show was performed by people with disabilities, including Li Yue, who lost her left leg in the Sichuan earthquake and performed [...]
Posted on 6 September 2008 | 7:44 pm
The Beijing Paralympics are just a day away from starting. Here are some pictures from Tiananmen Square which has some pretty impressive floral displays on show now.
Posted on 4 September 2008 | 8:59 pm
Posted on 4 September 2008 | 7:47 pm
The ticket scammers who defrauded people by selling non-existent tickets through the internet are getting ready for the Vancouver and London Olympics. “I was shocked by the brilliance and hard work of the thieves fleecing the Olympic family — and they are setting up to do the same thing in Vancouver in 2010 and London in [...]
Posted on 2 September 2008 | 8:23 pm
Beijing did a lot to improve the air quality leading up to the Beijing Olympics, with mixed results. The days before the opening ceremony were pretty bad, but a burst of rain cleared the air and pollution became less of a talking point. Almost straight after the closing ceremony the hazy skies returned. A [...]
Posted on 1 September 2008 | 3:56 am
Beijing recorded 6.52 million visitors for the 2008 Olympics, with 382,000 of those coming from overseas. Authorities long estimated that 500,000 foreigners would visit the city, but tougher visa controls reduced that number. The Xinhua news agency reported that tourist spots in the city reported total revenues of 162 million yuan (US$23 million), according to [...]
Posted on 31 August 2008 | 8:34 pm
To the athletes tonight: You were true role models. You have shown us the unifying power of sport. The Olympic spirit lives in the warm embrace of competitive rivals from nations in conflict. Keep that spirit alive when you return home. These were truly exceptional Games! (Source: Dr Jacques Rogge, Chairman of the International Olympic [...]
Posted on 24 August 2008 | 4:39 pm
The fireworks are still going on over Beijing tonight as the Olympics comes to a close. The closing ceremony wasn’t as long as the first one and not as spectacular, but still very well done. We had a short section to mark the handover of the Olympics from Beijing to London. London’s mayor [...]
Posted on 24 August 2008 | 7:16 am
MEN
ILIYAN EFREMOV (POLE VAULT)
Born 02.08.1970 in Sofia. “AC “Levski”. Coach Miladin Parvanov (2.15 HJ). PB 5.70 (1998) & 5.70i (1998). Made 5.75 at Ostrava’s square on 12 June 2003. Balkan champion four times. Single. Other pb: HJ 190; 110 m h 14.62. Best result in 2004: 565 outdoors and 5.73 indoors.
SPAS BUKHALOV (POLE VAULT)
Born 14.11.1980 in Plovdiv. “Trakia 96 Plovdiv. Coach Angel Lafchiev. Pb 5.70 (2003 & 2004) and 5.51 ind (2003). Balkan champion indoors 2003. Single.
PETAR DACHEV (LONG JUMP)
Born 15.06.1979 in Troyan. “CSKA”. Coach Lilyana Moneva Videva – 183 HJ). 1st at WCj in Annecy ’98 (8.14). Third at EC Budapest ’98. 11th at Oly ’00 Sydney. 1st ECi ’00. 3d at Eci ’02. 7th at WCi ’03. Pb 8.30 (2000) & 8.27 indoors (2002). Other pbs 100 m 10.58 (99). Sb 8.20. Single. His sister Petya Dacheva has 13.26 at TJ (2003). SB in 2004 – 8.20.
NIKOLAY ATANASOV (LONG JUMP)
Born 11.12.1974 in Botevgrad. “Lokomotiv” Plovdiv. Coach Atanas Atanasov (8.31 record in 1984). His father Atanas Atanasov (what a coincidence!) was Bulgarian record holder at 800 m (1:48.6) and 1500 m (3:40.6) from 1972 and Balkan champion 1968 &69 at 1500. Pb 8.31 (2003) /equaled his coach’s best/. Other pbs: 100m 10.56 (2003); 200 21.34 (98); 400 47.42 (97); TJ 15.40 (02); HJ 200 (98). Married, with a son – Aleksandar. SB in 2004 – 8.14.
IVAYLO RUSENOV (TRIPLE JUMP)
Born 09.09.1979 in Pleven. “Lokomotiv” Plovdiv. Coach Stoyko Tsonov (17.02 TJ ’96). Second WCj ’98 in Annecy. 8th at EC U23 in Amsterdam 2001. Pbs 17.02 (2003) & 17.12w (2003); LJ 795 (2003). Single. His younger brother Atanas Rusenov (1981) was Balkan Junior Champion at LJ in 2000 and has pb 8.06 (2004). SB in 2004 – 16.80.
MOMCHIL KARAILIEV (TRIPLE JUMP)
Born 21.05.1982 in Sliven. “ASC Sliven”. Coach Atanas Ivanov (219 HJ). Fourth at EC U23 at TJ. Pb 17.16 (2004)& LJ 749 (2003). Single.
GALIN KOSTADINOV (SHOT PUT)
Born 25.12.1979 in Dobrich. First coach – Vasil Donev, now coached by Ivan Petrov. Third at CE in Plovdiv 2004 with 19.46. Two days later for the first time he putted the shot over 20 m – 20.02m. Not married.
WOMEN
IVET LALOVA (100 & 200m)
Born 18 May 1984 in Sofiya. “Levski” Sofiya. Coach Konstantin Milanov. Her father Miroslav Lalov was national sprinter with 10.4 at sixties. Double European Junior Champion in Tampere at 100 & 200 m. Sensational break of national record at 100 m in Plovdiv with 10.77 (seventh in the world for all time). Best at 200 m 22.51(plus 22.36 windy) also in 2004. Single.
MONIKA GACHEVSKA (100m / 200m)
Born in Pleven on 30 January 1974. First coach Penko Kozarski. Since 1993 coached by Khristo Stoyanov. Twice Balkan champion at 200 m. National champion at 100 m (3 times) and at 200 m (6 times). Participant at 200 m at Olympic games Atlanta 1996 & Sydney 2000. Pbs: At 100 m 11.30 (1996), at 200 m 22.73 (2004) and at 400 m 53.20 (2004). And indoors: 60 m 7.42 (1998) & 200 m 23.43 (1999).
MARIYANA DIMITROVA (400 & 400 m H)
Born 29.07.1982 in Sliven. “Akademik Sofiya”. Coach Khristo Stoyanov. Pbs: 100 11.56, 200 23.22 (22.95w) 2004; 400 51.20 (2004); 400 h 56.33 (2004). Single. Balkan champion at 400 m for 2004.
DANIELA YORDANOVA (1500m)
career CV to follow later
SVETLA DIMITROVA-PISHTIKOVA (100m H)
Born 27.01.1970 in Botevgrad. “Elit Vratsa”. Coach – her husband Iliyan Pishtikov (with son Christian) born 1995. Twice first at WCj (’86 & ’88) at hepthathlon. Disqualified (dope offence for sydnocarp) at EC multiple in Helmond 1989 when made world junior record at Hep (6534). Returned 1992 with national Hep record (6658). Fifth Oly ’92 at Hep. Fourth at WC’93 at Hep. Double European Champion at 100 m hurdles 1994 & 1998. Second at WC ’97 100 m h. Fifth at WC ’99 (100 h) and fourth at WC ’01 with the time equal with the bronz medalist. Eight at EC ’02 (100 h). Pbs: 200 m 23.10 &23.06w; 800 m 2:07.90; 100 m h 12.36; 400 m h 59.07; HJ 188; LJ 664; SP 15.50; JT 49.18; Hep 6658. Second at GP overall 1994. SB in 2004 – 13.23.
VENELINA VENEVA (HIGH JUMP)
Born 13.06.1974 in Ruse. “Elit Vratsa”. Coach Georgi Dimitrov. Has made 1.93 at 15y 8m 11d in Dobrich on 24.02.1990. Second ECj ’91 at HJ. Fifth at EC ’98. Fourth ECi 2000. Ninth at Oly ’00. At WCi ’01 third. Fourth at WC Edmonton 2001. Pb 204 (2000) & 202i (2002). Other pbs: TJ 12.51; LJ 6.17i (1990). Her older sister Kremena was inaugural Bulgarian TJ recordholder with 12.11i (1990). Married with a daughter Neapola. SB in 2004 – 2.01.
TANYA STEFANOVA (ex KOLEVA) (POLE VAULT)
Born 08.03.1972 in Plovdiv. “Trakia 96 Plovdiv”. Coached by Iva Prandzheva (6.90i LJ& 15.18 TJ). Was in bulgarian female football team in 1991-93 – central defender. The furst bularian over 4.00 m at PV. National recordholder outdoors 4.45 (2003) & indoors 4.40 (2001&03). 20th at WCi ’99. Fifth at WCi ’01. Sixth at WCi ’03. Devorced (ex-husband Desislav Kolev (2.18 HJ ’88). Best in 2004 – 4.40 (and 4.46 on market square).
MARIYA DIMITROVA (TRIPLE JUMP)
Born 07.08.1976 in Pleven. “Bononia Vidin”. Coach Valeri Tsvetkov (Bulgarian recordholder at HJ 2.19 ’79). Pb 14.52 (2004). Other pbs: LJ 6.39 (’04) & HJ 179. Single.
ANELIYA YORDANOVA-KUMANOVA (SHOT PUT)
Born 27.04.1972 in Mezdra. “AC Levski”. Coach Kharalampi Georgiev. Bulgarian recordholder at HT 65.35 (’00). Pb at SP 18.38 (2003). Other pb: DT 54.02 (’95). Married – her husband was at the time national wrestling competitor. SB in 2004 – 16.75.
TSVETANKA KHRISTOVA (DISCUS)
Born in Kazanlak on 14 March 1962. First coach was Sofiya Peeva. From 1977 to 1997 coached by Peter Rakhmanliev. Since 2000 coached herself. Khristova also is coaching the best Bulgarian discus thrower at the moment Encho Shterev (57.79). World champion in Tokio 1991. Second at OG in Barcelona and third at OG in Seoul 1988 at discus throwing. Third at WC in Roma 1987. European champion in Athens 1982 and winner of silver medal four years later at EC in Stuttgart 1986. Ten times Bulgarian champion at discus throwing. Has 14 contests with result of 70 m and more. Four times bate Bulgarian discus record. Pb: 73.22 (1987) – still remains Bulgarian national record holder. Married, with one son.
KHRISTINA GEORGIEVA (JAVELIN THROW)
Born in Sofiya on 03 January 1972. Her mother Mariya Chorbova was third at SP at EC indoors in Prague 1967. Balkan champion in 1999 & 2000. Bulgarian record holder with 63.22 from 2000. Coached by Delcho Karamarinov (the son of Dobromir Karamarinov). Best in 2004 – 62.32. Threw also 62.30 at CE in Plovdiv. Single.
NEVENA MINEVA (20 KM WALK)
Born in Gabrovo on 14 June 1972. Coached by her father Minyo Minev. Bulgarian record holder at 5 km (22:39) 10 km (46:04) & 20 km (1:32:11) at road. Twelfth at WC 2001 in Edmonton. Married, with one daughter. Best in 2004 – 1:43:28.
