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Chinese Not Hoping For 'Day Of The Locust' Repeat

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 10, 2008

As if earthquake worries, polluted air and an algae-filled sea weren't enough, the Beijing Olympic organizers may have a Biblical-level challenge on their hands - a plague of locusts buzzing down from Inner Mongolia, where they already have chewed up about 5,000 square miles.

"The wind direction is blowing toward Beijing and the locusts may end up in the capital," a Mongolian agricultural official said Tuesday.

The city will begin tackling its notorious gray skies a week from Sunday when it takes up to 2 million cars off the road and shuts down factories and industrial sites.

Qingdao, which is hosting the sailing events, already has scooped up 400,000 tons of algae that were strangling a third of the Yellow Sea competition area, which Olympians have dubbed "the fairway" for its lush greenery.

But the locusts, which number up to 70 per square meter, are a different challenge.

More than 30,000 exterminators and 100,000 pesticide sprayers have been dispatched to the area, which is 110 miles north of Beijing.

Unlike other unwanted visitors, the Chinese government can't keep out the winged insects by denying them their visas.

Tough Gymnastics Position

Though Morgan Hamm got off with a warning from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency for taking an approved anti-inflammatory shot at the May nationals without asking for an exemption, it has caused a problem for USA Gymnastics.

Hamm was named to the Olympic team based on his combined scores from the nationals and trials, and his warning wiped out his May 24 results, which counted for 20 percent of the total. Though the federation could take him off the team, it's likely to let things stand. USADA said Hamm took the drug for a legitimate purpose and he readily took the blame. Without him, the U.S. medal chances undeniably would be weaker - Hamm is one of the squad's top four in four of the six events.

His twin, Paul, meanwhile, got the green light last week to resume training, roughly five weeks after having his broken right hand repaired. If he can show competitive readiness by the end of next week, Hamm will keep his place on the team. If not, one of the three alternates - Raj Bhavsar, Alexander Artemev or David Durante - will step in. "I have been here before; it is very, very difficult," said Bhavsar, who was an extra man in 2004. "You have to dig deep on days you don't want to do this. You dig to the center of your heart."

Abbott Tosses No-Hitter

PORTLAND, Ore. - Monica Abbott tossed a nine-inning no-hitter with 15 strikeouts and Stacey Nuveman hit a three-run homer in the U.S. Olympic softball team's 19-0 rout of the Portland All-Stars.

In Tuesday night's game, Abbott improved to 14-0 with her third no-hitter on the Americans' Bound 4 Beijing exhibition tour. The U.S. will be seeking a fourth straight gold medal in China.

Crystl Bustos and Tairia Flowers also homered for the U.S. team, which is 52-1 and has outscored the opposition 620-26 on the tour.

Joyce Added To U.S. Swim Team

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Kara Lynn Joyce is going to Beijing after all.

The 22-year-old Georgia swimmer has been added as an alternate to the 400-meter freestyle relay after Dara Torres withdrew from the 100 free.

Torres won the 100 free at last week's Olympic trials in Omaha, Neb., but dropped out to focus on the 50 free as her only individual event in Beijing.

Joyce finished seventh in the 100 free at the trials - one spot out of making the team, which left her in tears afterward. The top six finishers in both the men's and women's 100 and 200 freestyles qualified for the Olympics. Anyone on the U.S. team is eligible to compete on relays, which are chosen by the coaching staff.

Joyce earned two silver medals in Athens, in the 400 free and 400 medley relays.

Elsewhere

FIFA TO RULE: FIFA will issue guidelines by today to calm growing tension between clubs and countries concerning the use of players for the Beijing Olympics.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter, an International Olympic Committee member, is preparing to rule on whether players must report for national duty if selected for next month's Beijing Games, which conflict with the start of the European season.

Star Ronaldinho has been chosen for Brazil's team, but the 28-year-old midfielder's Spanish club FC Barcelona is refusing to let him go. Brazil is to play the host nation Aug. 13.

WORLD CHAMPION RAWLINSON OUT: A toe injury and related problems knocked 400-meter hurdles world champion Jana Rawlinson out of the Beijing Olympics on Wednesday, the day she officially was selected as part of her third Australian Summer Games team.

Compiled from Tribune wires

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