We clapped and cheered at the amazing achievements of Michael Phelps, Yang Wei and other medallists at the Olympics.

Not everyone was fortunate enough though, to receive the recognition they have been training so hard for.

24 year old Janos Baranyai from Hungary, dislocated two bones in his right arm while trying to lift 145kg in his debut appearance at the Olympics. Officials told the media that there was no fracture, after concerns that the poor chap would not be able to lift weights again.

Image from AFP.

Video’s here. Note: Rather disturbing and distressing to watch.
The video has been removed.

First, the Prime Minister’s National Day Message lang-gar-ed with the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing Olympics. Now his National Day Rally lang-gars with the Table Tennis Team Finals.

For the first time ever, the Rally’s English broadcast will be aired one day later.

The event will still be held on Sunday evening, which means the Cabinet Ministers and invited guests will not be watching the match with the rest of us. I’m sure they have a nominal roll, and absentees better have a splendid reason for not attending the PM’s Rally.

Congratulations to our female paddlers for (narrowly) beating the impressive Koreans in the Table Tennis Semis and thus making it to the finals!

We’re assured of an Olympics medal after 48 years. WOW!

Photos by Xinhua for Beijing Olympics 2008

Feng Tianwei (SIN) vs Dang Ye Seo (KOR)- 11-5, 11-5, 11-2

Li Jiawei (SIN) vs Kim Kyung Ah (KOR) 11-5, 8-11, 11-9, 6-11, 9-11

Wang Yuegu/Li Jiawei (SIN) vs Park Mi Young/Kim Kyung Ah (KOR) 11-7, 11-6, 11-9

Wang Yuegu (SIN) vs Dang Ye Seo (KOR) 8-11, 12-14, 9-11

Feng Tianwei (SIN) vs Park Mi Young (KOR) 11-7, 12-10, 3-11, 11-9

Wah!

via BlinkyMummy

About 15,000 athletes from 204 countries and territories are in Beijing this month for the 29th Summer Olympics.

The Taiwanese supporters are also in the Chinese Capital to cheer for their sportsmen and women. Not wanting to stir more controversy and conflict by defying the Communists’ ban of the Taiwanese flag on Mainland China, they have resorted to waving Burmese flags instead.

How very creative! Their flag is banned, so they pick something similar!

Here’s a brief look at similar flag designs, if there’s a need to borrow flags in the future.