On the Scene in Beijing--A Fallen Star for China, IOC and BOCOG Cancel Daily Meetings, Britain Pleased with Performance

Tears Flow as Chinese Track Star Limps Out of Olympics

China's dream of Liu Xiang defending his Olympic title on home soil is shattered. Liu hobbled away from the starting blocks of his heat in the 110-meter hurdles.

The tears flowed as thousands of fans mourned the shock exit of 25-year-old Liu--one of the shining faces of the Olympics--at the Bird's Nest stadium and across the nation.

The 91,000 crowd was stunned into silence as China's best hope of athletics gold pulled up after a false start in his heat, grimacing with pain and clutching his right leg.

Burdened with the weight of the country's expectations, Liu had been struggling to shake off an Achilles tendon injury in recent weeks and he never looked comfortable in the warm-up to his eagerly anticipated appearance.

On Monday night, the Daily Telegraph of London quoted Liu's former coach on its web site saying the athlete was under "a bit too much expectation" preparing for the Games because of government applied pressure. "I think it is because of the intense training," Gu Baogang told the Telegraph from Shanghai. "If he had been more relaxed the injury might not have been so bad."

The Olympic stadium emptied quickly Monday morning, soon after Liu's departure down the trackside tunnel.

"Surprise, pity and sadness... It seems that no words can describe our mood now. However, no one could feel the pain more than Liu Xiang," wrote one Chinese commentator.

"I came here especially to see him. I am devastated. I just bought one ticket. The Olympics is over for me as well as Liu Xiang," one dejected fan told Agence France-Presse.

Liu's coach Sun Haiping broke down in tears at a press conference as he explained the nature of the hurdler's heel injury. Liu became an icon in China after claiming the country's first track gold at Athens 2004.

IOC, BOCOG Cancel Co-Commission Meetings

Organizers of the Beijing Olympics take the unprecedented step of cancelling a week of meetings where the daily progress of the Games is monitored.

Declaring that "the IOC is very relaxed and happy," IOC Communications Director Giselle Davies says that by mutual consent, BOCOG and the IOC have ended their daily meeting of the coordination commission. This group of IOC members, staff and BOCOG leaders began the Olympics meeting daily at the Beijing Hotel, but then moved to an every-other-day schedule when few problems came up to solve.

The day before the Games end, Aug. 23, is the next scheduled meeting for the commission, eight days after the group's last meeting Aug. 15.

"It very much reflects the very relaxed and happy position the IOC is in terms of how we view the success of the Games," explained Davies.

While gaps between meetings of a day or two have become commonplace at the Games, Davies confirms that eight days is an unprecedented development.

She added that should issues occur, the commission is available to meet. But she also noted that IOC and BOCOG staff do work together on a continual basis outside of formal meetings.

Davies spoke at the joint IOC / BOCOG briefing which resumed after a two-day absence. Unless news breaks out, the next briefing is set for Aug. 20, with an every-other-day schedule to follow.

Where's Jacques?

IOC President Jacques Rogge visited the equestrian venues in Hong Kong on Monday.

Beijing by the Numbers

The medical clinic at the Main Press Center said that by midday Aug. 18, more than 1,630 patients will have been treated since opening last month. The clinic is staffed by students, nurses and doctors from the Beijing Hospital.

Britain in Good Shape for London 2012

British Olympic Association Chairman Colin Moynihan tells ATR that the Beijing Olympics can be the inspiration to achieve fourth place in the medal table at London 2012 after a golden weekend for Team GB.

"It's a fantastic performance all-around. I think the overall performance, the strength of funding, the attention to detail [and] the preparations have all been first-rate," he said.

"We have got another week to go here, but it clearly motivates the team with London 2012 in sight."

Team GB had bagged 11 golds and 26 medals by late Monday; Britain started the day sitting third in the medals table behind the U.S. and China after winning 17 medals over the weekend. They have surpassed their nine golds from Athens in 2004 to equal the gold medal tally of 11 from Sydney.

"The team has come very well prepared, it has delivered," Moynihan told ATR. "We have seen a whole series of outstanding personal bests. The medal table will look after itself."

Moynihan applauded the Chinese, but insisted London 2012 organizers can match the Beijing Olympics in all areas.

"The quality of facilities for the athletes has been unparalleled in my lifetime," he stated.

"That said, London will do it differently, and put on a great Games for the athletes. It will be stamped with the original character of London and Great Britain."

Written by Ed Hula and Mark Bisson