Day 11: Beijing

Mitch Sharber, Owensboro, KY

August 13, 2008

Today we woke up very early and had to finish our speeches. From there we walked to the weight lifting venue to watch the mens light-weight lifting contest. I really enjoyed watching this event, at least when I started to understand the rules and everything. Also while watching the guy that was lifting for the Hungarian team made his lift to the top, but when he did his shoulder rolled out from him and his elbow dislocated and was just dangling and he immediatly fell to the floor. I was impressed how fast people that worked the event came out to block the crowd from seeing him laying on the ground and how fast medical attention came to him. However I was also surprised that they replayed it on the big screen about four times. After that I was kind of worried that every lifter that followed may do the same thing. The guy competing for the USA did well on the first set, but did not complete his second lift at all which kept him from medalling. After we left there, we went back and ate lunch then headed to the tea show. The tea show was pretty cool...I didnt care for the tea too much but it was good entertainment. After there we went to the Beijing Xuannan Museum which was also pretty interesting. From there we went to the New Balance Pentathalon House. This place was awesome and we were able to listen to a representative of new balance and a representative of the pentathalon committee speak which was very interesting. It was cool to hear about how the Chinese standard of living is finally going up, therefore putting New balance on the market here since people can now start to afford their shoes. After we left there we went back to the hotel and had the free time to enjoy our last night in Beijing.