Beijing Briefs -- Pistorius Aims for Three Medals, Chinese Athletes Cash in

At the IAAF Golden Gala in Rome in July, Pistorius competed in what he calls his most difficult race: the 400m. (Getty Images)Pistorius Wants Three for Three

South African sprinter Oscar Pistorius tells Pretoria media that despite having a tough year, he aims to win three Paralympic medals – one in each of the races he will contest. He'll run the 100m, 200m and 400m events; the first two earned him a bronze and a gold in 2004. If medals at just two of these races, he'll top South Africa's entire Olympic medal count.

Pistorius attributes part of the year's difficulty to the court battle with the IAAF over his eligibility to run in able-bodied races. The Court of Arbitration for Sport dismissed as insufficient the test results that the IAAF said showed Pistorius' prostheses constitute a mechanical advantage. Pistorius did not achieve an Olympic-qualifying time at IAAF-sanctioned events in the interim, but has said he is aiming for the London Olympics.

Swimmer Natalie Du Toit, a fellow South African, has already inspected Beijing, where she competed in the Olympics 10km swim. The Paralympic champion finished 16th in the open water race, just a minute behind the first-place finisher. In September, she will contest in six races in the Water Cube; in five of those, she is the defending champion.

Banking on Medals in China

Chinese Olympic champions can milk their medals for as much as China earned 51 first place finishes, but team events generated more than one champion. (Getty Images)$1 million, even before endorsements, according to an estimate in the Los Angeles Times. Chinese state media note the tax-free cash bounty from the central government of some $51,500. But after much larger rewards from Chinese corporations, and the home province or city government, some athletes walk away with more like $300,000 to $1 million, according to the U.S. paper. Weightlifer Chen Xiexia, for winning China's auspicious first 2008 gold, is expected to receive more than $1.15 million plus at least one house and car. According to the report she and other Chinese champions receives 2.2 pounds of gold from the Huo Yingdong Education Foundation, an outfit usually occupied with funding scientific research and teacher training.

Restocking Souvenir Shops

Official souvenir shops are shifting the mix of The Olympic Flagship Store served some 60,000 customers a day during the August Games. (Getty Images)merchandise ahead of the Paralympics opening. About 70 percent of the t-shirts, mugs and other goods on sale at the Olympic Flagship Store will feature mascot Fu Niu Lele or other Paralympics themes, according to a statement from the IPC. Some items relevant to both Games, like models of the Bird's Nest stadium, will stay on the shelves.

Beijing Briefs …

Some 350,000 people will be mobilized to fill unsold seats at the Paralympics, according to a report in state media. The Beijing Federation of Trade Unions is in charge of peopling the Bird's Nest stadium and other venues in order to add atmosphere, according to the Beijing Times. Conspicuous groups of yellow-shirted volunteers also filled empty seats en bloc at the Olympics. The report comes as other state media report that some 480,000 Paralympics are sold, of a total of 1.66 million for sale. Event ticket prices range from $4.40 to nearly $12.

Canada's Governor-General cancels her plan to attend the Paralympics opening ceremony, fuelling media speculation that she will soon be called upon to trigger a snap election. Ontario Lieutenant Governor David Onley will go in her stead. Canada is sending 143 athletes to the Games.

Written by Maggie Lee

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