Ancient Olympics

 For the ancient Greeks, fire had divine connotations — it was thought to have been stolen from the gods by Prometheus. Therefore, fire was also present at many of the sanctuaries in Olympia, Greece. A fire permanently burned on the altar of Hestia in Olympia, Greece. During the Olympic Games, which honored Zeus, additional fires were lit at his temple and that of his wife, Hera. The modern Olympic flame is ignited at the site where the temple of Hera used to stand.

 The Olympic Flame from the ancient games was reintroduced during the 1928 Olympic Games. An employee of the Electric Utility of Amsterdam lit the first Olympic flame in the Marathon Tower of the Olympic Stadium in Amsterdam.

 The modern convention of moving the Olympic Flame via a relay system from Olympia to the Olympic venue began with the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany. 

The Torch Relay is an Olympic symbol of peace, brotherhood and enlightenment and represents a summons to the Olympic Games. The modern-day Torch Relay is derived from ceremonies once a part of the ancient Games of Olympia, Greece. Torch and relay races were important elements of the cultural festivals surrounding the Games, and heralds traveled throughout Greece to announce the Games of Olympia, declaring a sacred truce for the duration of the Games. These events carried a deep ritual significance – a significance that is still respected in the modern-day Olympic Torch Relay.  Carl Diem, an Olympic historian and philosopher, initiated the first modern-day Olympic Torch Relay for the Berlin 1936 Olympic Summer Games. Since that time, the Torch Relay has been a significant part of the Games, with each relay reflecting the culture of its host country. 

Facts – Olympic Torch Relay  v      In 1936, the first modern day Olympic Torch Relay took place when the torch travelled from Olympia, Greece to Berlin, Germany.v      At the London 1948 Olympic Summer Games – the first Olympic Games after World War II – the lead torchbearer was a corporal in the Greek army who changed out of his military uniform and laid down his arms to signify the sacred truce before carrying the Olympic Flame.

v      The first Olympic Winter Games Torch Relay occurred in 1952 in Oslo, Norway.

v      At the Montreal 1976 Olympic Summer Games, the Flame was transformed to an electronic pulse. The pulse was then carried by satellite from Athens to Montreal, where a laser beam was used to light the cauldron. 

v      A highlight of the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Summer Games was a special appearance by Muhammad Ali, a former Olympian recognized for his boxing success and battle with Parkinson’s disease. He was selected as the final torchbearer to enter the stadium and light the cauldron in what was a most inspiring moment of the Opening Ceremony.

v      The first global relay took place before the Athens 2004 Olympic Summer Games. The journey lasted 78 days, covered a distance of 78,000 kilometers and involved 11,300 torchbearers.

The short game is generally defined as any shot within or around 100 yards from the green. There are many aspects to the short game, and many different types of shots played from inside this distance. A good short game is key to cutting strokes off your score and playing better golf. Below is a brief description of the five types of shots that make up the short game.

• Pitching

The Pitch Shot involves hitting the ball fairly high into the air and letting it roll along the green to the hole. Typically, a pitching wedge or sand wedge will be used for this shot.

• Chipping

The Chip Shot typically involves hitting the ball a short distance in the air and rolling it along the green all the way to the hole. Depending on the lie, and granted there is a fairly unobstructed path to the hole, a club with less loft, like an 8-iron, can be played.

• Lobbing

The Lob Shot is a tricky one that requires much practice. It involves hitting the ball high in the air in an attempt to land it close to the target, and stopping it quickly. Typically a sand wedge or lob wedge is used for this shot, and again, will require hours of practice to master.

• Bunker Shots

Bunker Shots refer to shots played from either a sand or grass trap. For a sand shot, a player will use the sand wedge and allow the loft of the club to carry the ball out of the trap. Grass traps are rare, but you will find them on occasion. A lofted club like the lob wedge or the sand wedge should get you out of this type of trap. Keep in mind that both of these are hazards, so a player is not allowed to ground the club prior to the shot.

• Putting

Putting the golf ball effectively is one part of the game that requires practice, practice and more practice. Getting a feel and building confidence in your putting stroke takes time, but the time you invest will repay you on the course. Simply put: putting the ball involves moving the putter head back and then through in a pendulum swing motion that advances the ball toward the hole.

• Etiquette

Be considerate of your fellow players. Don’t talk, move, or distract a player in any other way during his swing.

• 14-club limit

The USGA allows a maximum of 14 clubs to be carried in a bag. Less than that is okay.

• Tee markers

When teeing off on a hole, the ball must be behind the tee markers. (Draw an imaginary line between the two markers and tee your ball behind that line.)

• 4- As it lies

Play the ball as it lies. This means you may not improve the way the ball is at rest. If you are on the green, you may mark and pick up your ball to clean it, but while in the fairway, you must play the ball as it lies. See the USGA rule book for special circumstances like winter rules, obstructions, standing water, etc.

• Away

The ball farthest from the hole is the one that is played first. The term is “away.” Example: “John, you are away, so go ahead and play first.” The person with the lowest score for the hole has “the honors,” and plays first on the next hole.

• Sand traps

If your ball lands in the sand trap, remember to rake it after you have played your shot. The groups behind you will appreciate this. Since this is a hazard, you cannot ground your club prior to the swing. Practice swings are okay, as long as you do not contact the sand.

• Out of bounds

If you hit your ball OB, there is a one-stroke penalty, and you must hit another ball. If you are not sure if the ball is OB, hit a “Provisional Ball” just in case. If you determine that the first ball is OB, then you continue on and play with the Provisional Ball.

• Water hazards

If you hit your ball into a water hazard, you may play it (could be messy), or play another ball from where you just hit (with a one-stroke penalty). Another option is to drop another ball where the original ball entered the hazard, incur a one-stroke penalty and play on.

• Putting green

When on the green, never walk across another player’s line of putt. The imprint that your feet leave on the green can alter the path of the ball. Always step over the line of the putt or around it.

• Have fun

Golf is a great game, so have fun with it and whenever possible, leave the golf course in the same shape that you found it.

Ice Skating

• Allow children to skate only on approved surfaces. Check for signs posted by local police or recreation departments, or call your local police department to find out which areas have been approved.
• Advise your child to: skate in the same direction as the crowd; avoid darting across the ice; never skate alone; not chew gum or eat candy while skating.

Sledding

• Keep sledders away from motor vehicles.
• Children should be supervised.
• Keep young children separated from older children.
• Sledding feet first or sitting up, instead of lying down head-first, may prevent head injuries.
• Use steerable sleds, not snow disks or inner tubes.
• Sleds should be structurally sound and free of sharp edges and splinters, and the steering mechanism should be well lubricated.
• Sled slopes should be free of obstructions like fire hydrants or fences, be covered in snow not ice, not be too steep (slope of less than 30º), and end with a flat runoff.
• Avoid sledding in overcrowded areas.

Snow Skiing and Snowboarding

• Children should be taught to ski or snowboard by a qualified instructor in a program designed for children.
• Never ski or snowboard alone. Young children should always be supervised by an adult. Older children’s need for supervision depends on their maturity and skill.
• The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children under age 7 not snowboard.
• Consider wearing a helmet.
• Equipment should fit the child. Skiers should wear safety bindings that are adjusted at least every year. Snowboarders should wear gloves with built-in wrist guards.
• Slopes should fit the ability and experience of the skier or snowboarder. Avoid overcrowded slopes.

Sun Protection

• The sun’s rays can still cause sunburn in the winter, especially when they reflect off snow. Make sure to cover your child’s exposed skin with sunscreen.

Snowmobiling

• The AAP recommends that children under age 16 not operate snowmobiles and that children under age 6 never ride on snowmobiles.
• Do not use a snowmobile to pull a sled or skiers.
• Wear goggles and a safety helmet approved for use on motorized vehicles like motorcycles.
• Travel at safe speeds.
• Never use alcohol or other drugs before or during snowmobiling.
• Never snowmobile alone.
• Stay on marked trails, away from roads, water, railroads and pedestrians.

Australian rookie Stephanie Gilmore has added the claimed the 2007 Billabong Pro Maui title to her ASP world surfing crown after a showdown against fellow finalist compatriot Jessi Miley-Dyer at Honolua Bay.

Australian rookie Stephanie Gilmore has added the claimed the 2007 Billabong Pro Maui title to her ASP world surfing crown after a showdown against fellow finalist compatriot Jessi Miley-Dyer at Honolua Bay

The final event of the 2007 Tour, the Billabong Pro Maui saw Gilmore claim the 2007 ASP Women’s World Title following Thursday’s (US time) Round three action, with Friday’s victory marking the young Australian’s fourth round win this season.

“It’s been such an incredible year for me,” Gilmore said. “Everything from traveling with my friends to winning events to claiming the title in Maui, it’s all been so much fun. I can’t believe it. To finish the year with another win, I’m just over the moon.”

Despite the final being somewhat wave-starved, Gilmore’s stylish forehand assault would prove victorious over the goofy-footer, Miley-Dyer.

“It was really special to finish the year out there with Jessi (Miley-Dyer),” Gilmore said. “The waves weren’t that great, but we still managed to get a few. We were just enjoying ourselves out there and talking. I’m super stoked to finish the year with a win.”

Miley-Dyer, who claimed the event’s high heat total of an 18.65 out of a possible 20 Round three, dominated the inconsistent righthanders througout the day, defeating opponents Keala Kennelly and Layne Beachley en route to her finals berth.