World Briefs -- 2010 Test Event, News from Beijing

Vancouver Hosts Short Track Test

The first test event of this winter season for the Vancouver Olympics takes place this weekend.

Vancouver's Pacific Coliseum will be put to the test when the International Skating Union short track circuit pays a visit to the 2010 venue. Competition will take place through Sunday.

Among the skaters who will race are gold medalists Apollo Ohno from the U.S. and Wang Meng of China.

Vancouver 2010 V.P. for sports Tim Gayda said the event will provide valuable experience for Games organizers and the city.

"This is a great opportunity for people who may not be able to get a ticket to the Olympics to come see the same athletes doing the same thing they'll do at the Games in this venue," Gayda said.

Zhihua Appeals Death Sentence

Liu Zhihua, the former vice-mayor of Beijing sentenced to death for corruption involving Olympics construction has appealed his verdict.

Zhihua was in charge of overseeing construction for the Beijing Olympics, and while doing so, took more than a one million RMB in bribes.

His death penalty is suspended as long as Zhihua demonstrates good behavior while in prison. Nonetheless, he still faces life in prison.

China Rejects Praise of Outspoken Dissident

The European Parliament gave Hu Jia the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought on Thursday and was immediately lambasted by the Chinese government.

"This is gross interference in China's domestic affairs," said a government spokesperson. The government also said it felt "strong dissatisfaction" at the decision to honor "a jailed criminal in China." China’s ambassador to Europe said this would "bring serious damage to China-EU relations."

Jia was sentenced for three and a half years in prison for "inciting subversion against the state."

His crimes included publishing an open letter "The Real China and the Olympics" which told of the state’s abuses of human rights and urged the world to use the Olympics as a way to liberalize China. Additionally, Jia testified before a European Parliament committee on China’s crackdown on dissension before the Olympics.

Chinese Icon Seeks American Advice

Chinese track star Liu Xiang, will travel to the U.S. for advice on the injury that prevented him from running in the Beijing Olympics.

"We will be taking (X-ray) images and some materials from inspections for experts there to have a look at, and have them take a look at Liu Xiang’s foot," Xiang’s coach Sun Haiping said.

Xiang hurt his Achilles tendon and left the race track before running in the men's 110-meters in Beijing. He has only used traditional Chinese medicine to heal his injury.

"We'll ask them to provide diagnoses and some suggestions for treatment, but we won't decide on a course of action until we've returned home and weighed up all the options," Haiping said.

Xiang was the first Chinese person to hold an athletics crown: the world record, Olympic gold medal and world championship at the same time.

Dutch PM Lauds Beijing Olympics

Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende told Xinhua on Tuesday that the Beijing Olympics were “excellent."

"I would like to congratulate the Chinese people with the excellent organization of the Beijing Olympics. I thoroughly enjoyed attending the spectacular opening ceremony, " he said.

"The Olympic Games put China in the spotlight in the Dutch media, and the Dutch public learned a lot more about your country."

Alleged Olympic Terrorists on Chinese Wanted List

The Chinese government placed eight men accused of plotting terrorist attacks against the Beijing Olympics on a wanted list.

According to a spokesman for the ministry of public safety, the men are all part of the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, which seeks to liberate Uighur regions of China. Terrorist attacks before the Olympics were blamed on Uighur separatists, even though no one claimed responsibility.

British MP Wants Bottled-Water-Free Olympics

A member of Parliament has written to the minister for the Olympics, the mayor of London and 2012 organizers asking them to eliminate the use of bottled water and provide tap water during the Games.

Tom Brake, an MP representing parts of south London outlined his position in a letter saying: "everyone wants the 2012 Games to be the most sustainable on record. That must mean free non-bottled water for all visitors. Otherwise the discarded bottles will stretch to the moon and back. And there would be a great health spinoff from increased water consumption and a reduction in fizzy drink consumption.

"There is a head of steam building up behind the campaign, first launched by the Evening Standard's campaign Water on Tap, to cut back on bottled water," he said. "Having free non-bottled water at all the Olympic venues would be a major step forward."

A ban on bottled water for the Olympics would likely run afoul of TOP sponsor Coca-Cola, which includes bottled water as part of its sponsorship.

Written by Ed Hula III.