Olympic Briefs: Israeli Insults China, Rahlves Skis Dubai, Samaranch on Beijing

Shahar Zubari receives Israel’s first medal in Beijing after placing third in the men’s windsurfing race at the Beijing Olympics. (Getty Images)Zubari's Remarks Ignite Firestorm

A reception for Israeli Olympians at the Chinese embassy in Tel Aviv set for Wednesday was cancelled after inflammatory comments from bronze medal windsurfer Shahar Zubari, reports the Jerusalem Post.

During an interview last week with the publication Yediot Aharonoth, Israel’s lone medalist from Beijing described the Chinese people as "sh*ts."

"They are difficult," he said. "They don't speak the language, their rituals are strange and even their pronunciation is weird."

He added the food was also a problem.

"I don't like [Chinese] food, I don't eat pig. Give me home cooked food, especially hummus. I can live off hummus." A friend of Zubari's brought hummus to the athlete while he was in China.

Olympic Committee of Israel secretary general Ephraim Zinger told the Chinese embassy that Zubari would make a public apology, reports the Post.

In an attempt to quell the uproar, Israeli Sports Minister Ghaleb Majadle stated Tuesday that he had written the Chinese Embassy and apologized. He also emphasized that he would explain to Zubari that his remarks were unacceptable.

Samaranch Praises Beijing’s Games Organization

Honorary IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch has a much more positive view of his experience in Beijing. He praised China's organization of the Beijing Olympics and Paralympics in an interview with state media on the occasion of his visit to the city last week for the opening of the Paralympics.

Honorary IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch attends the Opening Ceremony for the Beijing Paralympic Games on Sept. 6, 2008. (Getty Images)"For me, the Beijing Olympics has been the best games in the Olympic history," the 88-year-old Samaranch told Xinhuanet.com. "The Olympic Games and Paralympic Games have been the best success, not only for China, also for the Olympic Movement as well."

He said two factors made the Beijing Olympic Games successful: excellent preparation and excellent results of the Chinese team.

Samaranch also said Beijing's organization of the Paralympics provides the best conditions for athletes to perform, which is an honor for disabled people and will encourage them to participate in sports.

Beijing was a candidate city for the Olympics twice under Samaranch’s presidency: in 2003 for the 2000 Olympics and in 2001, elected as the 2008 at the final IOC Session over which he presided.

Slovakia Routs Bulgaria on the Ice

Slovakia’s women’s ice hockey team showed dominance on the rink after easily defeating Bulgaria 82-0 in an Olympic qualifying match.

Outshooting the competition 139-0, Slovakia set a record for the highest margin of victory in a women's International Ice Hockey Federation-sanctioned event.

"We took it as training," Slovakia coach Miroslav Karafiat remarked following Saturday's game.

Slovakia, which previously defeated Croatia, Latvia and Italy, will next face Germany, Kazakhstan or France. The winner of the qualifiers will land a spot at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. Daron Rhalves skis in the Men’s Giant Slalom event in Slovenia in 2005. (Getty Images)

Rahlves Beats the Heat in Dubai

Daron Rahlves, 2006 Olympian and the reigning X Games ski cross champion, spent a few days in Dubai conducting clinics with children and adults in the world's largest indoor ski facility.

"Walking into Ski Dubai and stepping onto the snow blew me away," said Rahlves, who is making a comeback for the 2010 debut of ski cross in Vancouver. "It's huge for an indoor ski hill. The snow is as close to natural as you could get in this climate-controlled facility."

The two days of clinics wrapped up with a giant slalom race for the 27 participants. Rahlves also got to answer a question from the Dubai skiers that he'd never thought about before: "Hey, Daron, what's it like to ski outdoors?"

Written by

Trista McGlamery

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