Ice dancers glide to center stage at Sochi Games

SOCHI, Russia - The climax to the Olympic ice dance competition will be a showdown between the United States and Canada in what should be the most captivating of seven medal events in Sochi on Monday.

Meryl Davis and Charlie White, seeking to become the first Americans to win the Olympic gold, lead going into the decisive free dance. They must hold off a challenge from reigning champions Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir of Canada.

The first bobsleigh medal of the Games will be decided at the Sanki Sliding Centre. Russian Alexander Zubkov raised home hopes that he could complete his Olympic medal collection by adding gold to the silver and bronze he already has after setting the pace at the halfway stage in the two-man event.

World champion snowboarder Alex 'Chumpy' Pullin takes on a field including medal contenders Markus Schairer of Austria and Norway's Stian Sivertzen in the cross as he aims to give Australia a first gold medal in Sochi.

After China's women failed to turn their dominance of freestyle aerials into Olympic gold, it's the turn of the men with Liu Zhongqing and Qi Guangpu expected to fight it out with Belarussian defending champion Alexei Grishin for the title.

There is a double dose of biathlon after fog forced the postponement of the men's 15-km mass start on Sunday.

Frenchman Martin Fourcade, who has already won two gold medals at these Games, is the favourite for another in a race to be held on Monday morning.

Darya Domracheva of Belarus also hopes to secure a hat-trick of Sochi Olympic titles. She starts the women's 12.5-km mass start as the hot favourite, while Norway's Tora Berger aims to add to her pursuit silver.

Unlike the last two Olympics, where Austria easily won the team ski jumping event, the competition looks like a tightly contested affair. Germany, Japan, Norway and Slovenia all pose a serious challenge and could leave the Austrians empty-handed. (Editing by Rex Gowar)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Pinay skater to perform at Olympics closing ceremony

MANILA, Philippines – A 13-year-old figure skater from Quezon City was invited to perform at the closing ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

Audrey Alcaraz, a student of Saint Pedro Poveda College and a friend of Filipino Olympian Michael Martinez, will be participating at the closing ceremony which takes place on February 23.

Alcaraz was invited by South Korea, which will be taking the hosting duties for the 2018 Winter Olympics.

“It’s kind of nerve-racking but actually an honor because not a lot of people get to go through this and get to experience things like this especially at my age” she said in an interview with Tempo’s Brian Yalung.

Alcaraz believes she was invited because she attended a skating camp in Korea in 2013.

Her expenses will be shouldered by the South Korean government, according to the report.

Alcaraz said she was happy with Martinez’s performance. She hopes to follow the footsteps of her friend, who became the first Filipino and Southeast Asian to compete in the Winter Olympics.

“Only time will tell but hopefully” she said.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Filipino Olympic skater Martinez gets global attention

MANILA – Filipino skater Michael Martinez, whose inspiring story has gained widespread attention, is seeking to make a respectable finish in the men’s figure skating medal round in the Winter Olympics on Friday.

Maria Calaguas, member of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) delegation to Sochi, said they hope Martinez gets to rank at least 10th or 12th in the free program.

“If he can get a good score… [then] at least he can make it to the 10th,” said Calaguas. “If even higher, then that would be better of course.”

Martinez, country’s lone representative to Sochi, Russia, made history after becoming the first Southeast Asian ever to qualify in the finals of the Winter Olympics men’s figure skating.

He garnered a component score of 31.50 and technical score of 33.31 for a total of 64.81 points in the short program, which is good enough to place him among the top 24 competitors.

Sports commentators described Martinez as “history in the making.”

"I think he has a big future because he doesn't train as much in the Philippines, but he actually does still skate at home," said one commentator after watching Martinez perform his routine.

His story has also gained the attention of foreign media.

"His spins were good, the rest of the program nicely skated. Most importantly, he didn’t look like a 17-year-old making his Olympic debut," wrote Tim Dahlberg of the Associated Press.

“In 2 minutes and 39 seconds, Martinez showed he belonged.”

Even before he competed, CNN.com came up with a story citing Martinez’s dedication to the sport amid his financial struggles.

"His mother told CNN in an email that the family patched together donations from a local shopping mall ice rink, friends and his skating club. She said the family's life saving has been depleted and that their family's farm in Luzon province had been damaged by typhoons last year," reported CNN's Madison Park.

Outpouring support

Netizens also celebrated after seeing Martinez qualify for the medal round.

“Laban ka bro at enjoy mu lang yan para dka kakabahan..isipin mu na marami kaming nanunuod sa t.v na sumusuporta at nagdarasal na magawa mu ang gusto mung gawin mamaya. GO FOR OLYMPIC GOLD,MAKE A OLYMPIC HISTORY BOY,” said Hisashi Mitsui.

“My heart, tears and prayers goes to this boy, I'm so proud of you! God bless you and your family,” said Jael Christia Manangkil-Ramos.

“I was teary eyed seeing ur prrformance... wow.. somehow u have uplifted the Filipino spirit amidst all the issues happening here..Good luck and God Bless u Michael Martinez..Go for the Gold!” said Chiradee Ann Gaddi Fronda.

“Congratulations for a job well done.khit di tau mkkuha ng gold proud p din kmi sau Mr. Martinez .thanks for representing our country the Philippines. Dpt yn ang cnosuportahan gov't ntin ung ngbibigay krangalan s ating bansa at hindi ung ngbibigay ng khihiyan. Mga politicians pkiusap lng po n sna throw your support to our athletes, tgumpay nila tgumpay nyo din. We are 1.We are all Filipino. Peace...,” said Jayson Feria Untalan.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

'Epic' Olympics opening ceremony a triumph for Putin

PARIS - The world press hailed the opening ceremony of the Sochi Winter Olympics as a triumph and show of power for Russian President Vladimir Putin seeking to showcase the post-Soviet revival of the former superpower.

Despite an embarrassing technical glitch at the start, there was general praise for the dazzling spectacle in the Black Sea resort, along with a dose of criticism over these Games' unprecedented price tag of $50 billion and the host country's rights record.

"A swaggering, resurgent Russia turned its Winter Olympic aspirations into reality," wrote the New York Times.

The stunning show of light that whisked spectators through centuries of Russian history was "epic," said the Sydney Morning Herald, its "scale bordered on the colossal," according to the Washington Post, a "gasp-inducing, visual journey," according to The Daily Telegraph.

"The opening ceremony is a big moment to let the President, under the spotlight, stress the revival of the great nation," wrote Japan's Yomiuri Shimbun.

"For Russia last night it marked its revival as a post-Soviet powerhouse, confident of its seat at the top table after two decades of doubt and despondency," wrote Jonathan McEvoy in Britain's Daily Mail.

"This was an unapologetic advert -- history on Russia's terms.

"There was no doubt who was the all-action hero of this piece. The light on the presidential box remained on when all others were switched off, in case anyone did not get the message," he wrote.

"Mr. Putin's ultimate goal is to regain its pride and boost patriotism and national prestige," wrote the Mainichi Shimbun in Japan.

Missing Ring

The ceremony got off to a shaky start when one of five illuminated snowflakes which were supposed to morph into the Olympic rings failed to appear, leaving an embarrassing set of just four rings.

Many pointed out that the missing ring was one representing the Americas, home of Russia's Cold War foe the United States, with whom it has repeatedly sparred over the past several years.

The US president joined several other key Western leaders in staying away from the Games in what is seen by many as a snub over Russia's now notorious anti-gay law.

Germany's Süddeutsche Zeitung called the mishap "silent propaganda."

The ceremony "highlighted the beauty of the Russian culture and strength of the Russian spirit ...(but) did little to lift the cloud of uneasiness hanging over a Games that began amid protests over Russian anti-gay laws and fear over terrorism," wrote the Los Angeles Times.

"For President Putin it is a chance to show off Russia as a resurgent superpower, but his efforts have been hampered by a plethora of problems and criticism from the gay community, human rights groups and even animal rights activists," wrote The Times in Britain.

Many Italian newspapers saw the multi-coloured uniforms of Germany -- the team's outfits were blue, yellow, green, white -- as a challenge to Russia's anti-gay law since they echoed the multi-coloured gay pride flag.

Criticism criticized

The price tag for the games in Sochi had come in at an unprecedented and staggering $50 billion amid cries of protest that corruption has seen much of the money siphoned off and that concerns for the environment had been discarded.

"Rarely have Olympic Games been personified or excessive to this point. Vladimir Putin, the Tsar of the Kremlin, worked alone for Sochi's destiny. Without worrying about the staggering costs or the flouted human rights," wrote France's L'Equipe sports newspaper.

"There was a lot of Russian-tinted pride to tell the world that the power of yesteryear is back," wrote Italy's La Stampa. But "the show was too big and costly for a Winter Olympics."

China's press said highlighting such concerns in the Games coverage only exposed the Western media bias.

"Booing Sochi only shows West's bigotry," wrote the Global Times newspaper, close to the ruling Communist Party.

"Since the ending of the Cold War, only the 2008 Beijing Games and the ongoing Sochi Games have experienced such criticism."

Russians swell with pride
Russians meanwhile gushed at the "fairy tale" spectacle, saying it restored pride missing for too long in the former superpower.

"We missed this for so many years... a pride for our country, a feeling for her power, unity and greatness. We missed this feeling, to be great people of a great power. Yesterday, we felt it," wrote the Moskovsky Komsomolets.

"Many of us feared that the ceremony would turn into a demonstration of might and power. This did not happen. It was humane and not just for export -- it was addressed at Russians as much as foreigners," wrote the Sport Express Daily.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com