Sports and Recreation

The Beijing Olympic games opening ceremonies are scheduled for August 8th and the sporting events will run until August 24th. In keeping with Chinese folklore, the number 8 is a significant one meaning prosperity… therefore, the games official start time is 8:08 and 8 seconds pm local time on the eigth day of the 8th month of 2008.

Monday saw a celebration in the stadium park as the torch was paraded through among dancers and recreation and hoopla. In what may be the last global Olympic torch relay for the world’s sports event, the torch made it’s way through the Sichuan region of China where the powerful earthquake had wreaked damage in May of this year. The IOC Olympic Game committee is considering cancelling all future world torch runs due to security logistics. 

The future ceremonies before the sporting events will likely begin with the torch being lit in Greece and then being moved directly to the host country where the torch relay will take place, as opposed to a multi country torch run.

The sports that will be featured in this years games will be: aquatics, basketball, sailing, shooting, softball, table tennis, taekwondo, boxing, canoeing, cycling, equestrian, fencing, field hockey, football, gymnastics, handball, archery, athletics, badminton, baseball, judo, modern pentathlon, rowing,  tennis, triathlon, volleyball, weightlifting and wrestling…. making a total of 28.

So far California baseball is working out to be fine sport for Manny Ramirez, as he hit it out of the park in two straight games since debuting with the Dodgers in Los Angeles. Ramirez has four hits and three rbis against the Arizona Diamondbacks on August 3rd, which included the out of the park home run blast in the fifth inning being all the insurance they needed.

Manny Ramirez puts on a heck of a California baseball show making it look like easy recreation as he batted four for five in the 9-3 victory on a beautiful California day in Los Angeles. Manny is averaging a spectacular .615 since joining the Dodgers.

Sports and outdoor activities improve the quality of life for all members of society… no matter where you live, be it California or Washington or British Columbia or Oregon or Ontario, it is important for people to have an outlet from the day to day routine, and it gives a city or area an important bond… as they get behind a team and put their hopes and energies toward the goal of an award or achievement, there is no insurance of a victory so it is like the classic struggle that everyone leaves their home and gets in their car and forgets about their everyday life for a moment as they can cheer on their heroes.

No matter the sport, whether it is baseball, hockey, or golf… tennis, football, or the horse races or basketball, the thrill of the competition is the same, and all can be caught up in it, from members of the teams themselves to anyone watching from home or in the grandstands. Many outdoor recreation activities can also challenge, and become a kind of competition with one’s self… to be able to go hiking in a mountain park and enjoy the recreation of a climb up a steep rugged trail while enjoying the outdoors is another great way to enjoy life.