Go Here for more pictures from Shunyi

A number of readers and commenters have asked for pictures of the rowing venue that Jason and I are spending so much time at. The Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park covers 402 acres (most of that water surface of course). Over 500 athletes from 47 teams and 60 countries are competing, half of them on the flat water course we are at. The weather has been hazy like the rest of Beijing for most of the week, but Jason is better qualified to say whether that has been a factor in the results. More»

Has anyone else noticed the overwhelming presence of scrunchies in the Olympics women’s gymnastics competition?? I was watching the individual finals last night and all the gymnasts were wearing scrunchies! Well, with the exception of Shawn-John, who apparently missed the memo.

I hadn’t seen that many scrunchies since circa ’88.

Most of the gymnasts were toddlers during the Sex & the City glory days and missed out watching every episode at least 3 times like most of us.  I’d love to hear what Carrie Bradshaw would have to say about Olympic gymnastscrunchy-fest ‘08.

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GO HERE for a few more photos from Beijing.

Ni Hao, or hello, from the 2008 Olympics! I’ve been in Beijing to follow the quest for gold on the rowing course, especially that of your favorite men’s pair (I can honestly say I’ve known them all their lives), which has gone exceptionally well so far (see them row in the finals on Saturday). I’m staying in the Shunyi area, which is also where the rowing/canoeing/kayak venue is.  One of the “outer boroughs” of Beijing, it’s much less crowded than the city, but it can take over an hour to get to the Olympic Park venues and the heart of the city.

More photos and story below:

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Jason Read has been out and about in Beijing, meeting up with princes, keeping an eye out for whale tails, and trying to keep that hot bod of his toned.  Bihvhar indeed!

If you want to send JR your wishes or any things that you would like for him to cover, you can email him at bihvhar [at] guestofaguest [dot] com.

The men’s crew races are really starting to heat up, but the REAL fun will begin in less than a week when the work is over and the partying can begin!

The fashionable ‘whale tail’ is a prominent feature in Russian culture. Pictured here is a coach of the Russian women’s quadruple scull (4x)

The Ukrainian quad has two very cute rowers. Most of the boys have been smiling and saying hi to them. Next week should be interesting when the rowing’s over!

[Let The Games Begin! Jason Read Gives Us The Scoop From Beijing!]
[JR's Olympic Odyssey: Bihvhar!]

An update from Beijing is on it’s way, but first, I’d like to introduce you to:

Bihvhar - (\’bi-vär\) It began with a core group of followers in the fall of 2003 and has since evolved into a life mantra. Though it can mean different things for different people, it is generally synonymous with beauty, strength, and positive energy. Several adjectives have arisen from Bihvhar, including bihvharious (of or relating to Bihvhar), and blowvhar (the opposite of Bihvhar). It has been spread on a grassroots level through internet blogs, websites, and shirts adorning the logo. Bihvhar shirts have been spotted around the world…it just doesn’t stop. It never stops.

And, after studying up on your Bihvhar! knowledge, you can head HERE and read my latest adventure for the WSJ where I dish on my frustrations with the internet here, on meeting royalty, and those hot facebook twins you guys love!!

[Bihvhar.com]
[Jason Read Gives Us The Scoop From Beijing!]

More Bihvharious photos below:

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God I love the Olympics.  Finally there is something good to watch on daytime television!  I realize many of you may not have such a non traditional work day as myself so let me tell you what has kept me on the verge of my seat the past hour:

Women’s Water Polo.  I couldn’t stop wondering how a girl gets started in this business.  Why wasn’t this an option for me growing up.  I would have gladly traded the ballet and tap lessons for some water polo.

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[Photo via The Guardian]

China vs. USA. Basketball. The most widely anticipated contest of the 2008 Olympic Games. Pricetag for the event? Thousands. (Comparable to the Opening Ceremony Tickets). Inarguably, a once in a lifetime experience. Thankfully, most of the crowd understood the magnitude of their luck of scoring a ticket to this event.  Except Mr. Henry Kissinger!

Falling asleep even though you’re behind the president of the United States…that I can sort of understand. Falling asleep while watching Yao Ming fall to the U.S. 101 to 70…completely unacceptable. But I suppose we will have cut Henry some slack, afterall he is 85 years-old!  No one was obviously sleeping during the men’s swimming relay…

[Pricetag On Olympic Opening Ceremony Tickets Made Dune's $2K Look Like Chump Change]

More photos below:

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Our correspondents in Beijing are getting PUMPED for opening ceremony which begun today.

Jason Read (Gold Medal Winner in Rowing in Athens) has found himself, once more, in the middle of an opportunity of a lifetime at the Beijing Games.  You can read about his adventures over at the Wall Street Journal HERE and HERE.  Today, he has shared his first of many photos to come.  Also, stay tuned for JR’s reports from the Beijing party circuit in week two when their events are over.  He’s already sent us a preliminary schedule and it looks like the guy is going to be tuckered out by the end of the ordeal.  If anyone can represent our country both on the water and in the clubs, it’s J.R.

The final leg of the Olympic torch relay began today. The flame has traveled 137,000 kilometers through 130 cities in 130 days. Its record setting journey will culminate tonight at the National Stadium where it will ignite the cauldron to signal the start of the 2008 Olympic Games.

Take a look at hottie Jason Read and his Beijing photos thus far:

More photos below:

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[Left: Brazilian swimmers Bia and Branca Feres; Right: U.S. Rowers Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss]

Have you guys seen the 20 year-old sister-synchronized-swimming-duo named Bia and Branca Feres from Brazi!? We may not be able to match them aesthetically speaking in the swimming pool, but what about our own set of twins making the news in a different kind of water? It seems destined that our own U.S. rowers Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss meet up with Bia and Branca Feres in Beijing…it would be the sport world’s equivalent of Hollywood’s Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie times 2!!

If anything, this quartet could at the very least give us a Doublemint TV commercial?

It’s time to check in with the athletes over in Beijing. Here are some pictures straight from the Athlete’s village. I love the guard on the stand at the edge of the “Olympic Green”, the entrance to the athlete’s village, quite the stoic. The last item is a photo of a list of the forbidden and restricted items for the Olympic village. Looks like you’re going to have to leave your cocaine, heroin, and radioactive isotopes at home guys. Shucks.

[GofG Coverage Of Beijing]