May Pang's Asian Media Internet News

The winning bid of the city to host the 2018 Winter Olympics was awarded to South Korea’s Pyeongchang on Wednesday, July 6th. The city had lost the two past biddings for the 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympic Games to Vancouver, Canada and to Sochi, Russia.  The people of Pyeongchang celebrated the winning victory with much excitement.

Pyeongchang was among two other cities, Munich, Germany and Annecy, France up for the Olympic vote.

This will be South Korea’s first time hosting the Winter Olympic games. The country’s capital Seoul hosted the Summer Olympics in 1988.

The slogan for Pyeongchang’s hosting of the winter games is “New Horizons.”

The announcement was made in Durban, South Africa with representatives from all three cities present to make their cases to the committee members.

source: The Baltimore Sun, CNN

Credit: Manan Vatsyayana (ABC Sport)

Congratulations Blue Samurai! Japan has won it’s fourth Asian Cup, beating Australia 1-0.

Substitute Tadanari Lee scored a left-foot volley during extra time, giving Japan their fourth Asian Cup at the Khalifa Stadium in Doha, Qatar.

The Japanese have previously won the Asian Cup in 1992, 2000, and 2004.

This new win gives the Blue Samurai a new title as the most successful team in tournament history.

Source: ABC Sport

It was a dreary day in Seoul after FIFA executives announced overnight that the 2022 World Cup tournament would not be returning to South Korea, but instead going to Qatar in the Middle East.

South Korea made a passionate plea during its bid presentation on Wednesday, saying that the event could be seen as a ‘gateway to a reunited Korea and a peaceful Asia’. The country had previously proposed allowing North Korea to host a couple of the games during the tournament, as a sign of goodwill. FIFA officials at first seemed interested in the idea, but it could have possibly ended up working against South Korea. Analysts say that the recent outbreak of military tension between North and South Korea, as well as the fact that South Korea co-hosted the tournament with Japan in 2002, could have been reasons behind its loss.

This is the first time for the world’s most watched sporting event to be held in the Middle East and citizens of Qatar celebrated upon hearing the news. An evaluation of all the bid countries held a few weeks ago listed the high summer temperatures in the region as a possible concern, but the country has promised to overcome the blistering heat with air-conditioned outdoor stadiums.

Qatar won in every round of voting yesterday, with a final vote of 14-8 over the United States. Representatives from the United States said the Middle East country won simply because of money, since it is rich in oil and natural gas. They also said Qatar may struggle with hosting the event because the number of visitors during the World Cup will be twice the size of its population of 1.7 million.

Other countries up for the bid were Japan and Australia. FIFA also announced that Russia, another first-time host, will have the 2018 World Cup.

The NBA season is right around the corner; to be exact, tip-off is tonight! This NBA season is going to be a real interesting one and I say that because of all the off-season transitions. Teams like the Miami Heat hit the jackpot BIG time by signing LeBron James and Chris Bosh to compliment my favorite player Dwyane Wade; but other teams count on the NBA draft. This will help to improve their team by making the the right choice on draft day.

The number one pick of this year’s draft was John Wall from the University of Kentucky. Then there’s point guard Jeremy Lin from Harvard University who was not drafted. Lin, who played for the Dallas Mavericks in the summer league is now signed with the Golden State Warriors. While playing in the summer league, Lin surprised a lot of people by upstaging the former #1 draft choice Wall when the Mavericks faced the Wizards. Lin, who is from Palo Alto, CA, which is a 45min drive to Oakland, grew up watching the Golden State Warriors, and is excited to play on the team he grew up watching. Lin will be the first basketball player from Harvard to play in the NBA after 50 years. He is definitely my pick for Rookie of the Year.

We wish luck to Jeremy Lin and the Golden State Warriors this upcoming season!

source: nytimes, nba.com, ESPN, wikipedia

On June 12, 2010 South Korea won their first initial appearance FIFA World Cup game 2-0 against Greece.  Thousands of supporters dressed in red jerseys crowded the streets in high-spirited celebration, but thousands more headed to the bedroom.  After the South Korean team’s huge victory against the 2004 European champions, the citizens of South Korea also ‘rose to the occasion’ resulting in a 500% increase in condom sales.

source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100614/wl_asia_afp/fblwc2010korfansoffbeat

On June 12, 2010 at 7:30 AM(EST) South Korea held their first victory game at the FIFA World Cup against Greece in South Africa. The team managed to score two goals, each goal set early in each half, against their opponent (2:0). Apparently, Greece’s defense was not enough for South Korea’s Park Ji-soon, as he was able to run passed two of Greece’s defenders and score the second goal for S.Korea.

South Korea is scheduled to play against Argentina on June 17th. Korea’s fan club, the Red Devils are celebrating their victory as we speak. If South Korea continues to play they way did against Greece, the world may be soaked in a sea of red.

source: fifa.com, espn, csmonitor.com

Three time Olympian Apolo Anton Ohno has done it! On Saturday night in the 1,000-meter short-track speed skating event, he won bronze making it his seventh medal. He broke Olympian Bonnie Blair’s previous record by one medal now making him the most decorated Winter Olympian in U.S. history. United States over all has received a total of 23 medals during this Olympics. Apolo now has two more events to come. Apolo, we are proud and honored to have you on our team. Go Team U.S.A.!

In watching the Olympics this year I have seen so many inspiring , triumphant stories. Some of the stories have an unbelievable surprise like Olympic figure skater, Nobunari Oda of Japan. He is a direct descendant, number 17 in line, of the daimyo Oda Nobunaga also known as the “Demon King”. I could barely contain myself when I heard the commentators talk about his noble ancestry. I have read so much on feudal Japan, because I was fascinated with it. I really liked learning about the war strategies and the stories behind all the leaders of that time. I remember reading about Oda Nobunaga, Tokugawa Ieyasu, and Toyotomi Hideyoshi to name a few. It’s thrilling to know that Nobunari Oda now skating in the Olympics is a part of ancient Japan’s great history.

This has been an awesome four days of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics so far. I’ve been a hardcore fan of the Olympics since I was a small child and I still get excited whenever I hear the Olympics’ theme song. This Olympics has had some powerful competitors and amongst them is a long list of Asian/Asian Americans who have practically been in every competition, especially  in speed skating.

American apple pie Apolo Ohno’s silver medal in the 1500M final February 13 is the sixth medal he has won now making him the most successful short track athlete in history. Ohno has surpassed Eric Heiden as the most decorated male for the Winter Olympics. The gold went to Korea’s Lee Jung-Su and the bronze to our very own J.R. Celski. I am extremely happy to see Celski up on his feet again after his almost tragic accident during the Olympic trials when the blade from his skate ripped his thigh almost cutting his femoral artery apart.

Figure skating has always been my most cherished sport. I watched all the pair skating these last two days on pins and needles! The jumps have always been my favorites and the skating is absolutely breath taking. In the short program Sunday night, China’s couple Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo performed a flawless short program receiving record scores.  What a way for them to start the Lunar New Year! Monday night Shen and Zhao won the gold in the free skate program, the first in China’s history which will make their wedding celebration that they have been holding off on even sweeter. Teammates Pang Qing and Tong Jian of China took the silver home for the free skate program.

Congratulations to all the winners and keep it up my Asian people!

Bollywood’s well known actor Akshay Kumar and star of the new Bollywood film “De Dana Dan” reveals his sporty side. The “De Dana Dan” star is to represent India for the 2010 Winter Olympics held in Vancouver, Canada. [hidepost]

Akshay is scheduled to receive the famous torch by Canadian Prime Minister Steven Harper on November 16th during a ceremony in Mumbai.
The games will start from January 30th to February 13th.

Congratulations to Akshay Kumar for being chosen to represent India and India’s entertainment industry![/hidepost]