The Beijing Olympics 2008 & Sanshou Uk
Olympic Article
Sanshou UK Chief Instructors Nick and Panayiotis are honoured to have attended and represented Great Britain at the Wushu Tournament Beijing 2008 at the Beijing Olympic Games 2008.
Nick Evagorou one of Britain’s most respected Sanshou Fighters qualified to compete in the Men’s Sanshou 85kg category. He achieved 3rd place (Bronze) at the Wushu Tournament Beijing 2008 – Beijing Olympics 2008
Panayiotis was selected to attend the tournament by the British Council for Chinese Martial Arts, (BCCMA) the official Governing Body for Chinese martial arts recognized by the sports council as Team Leader and Sanshou Coach.
The Beijing Olympic Games was held during August 8-24, with over 10,000 athletes competing in 302 events of 28 sports. There were a total of 37 competition venues and 87 training venues. Athletes were able to reach all competition venues in Beijing, which were located in four different areas, within 15-30 minutes from the Olympic village.
During the Games of the 29th Olympiad, a wushu tournament was held to run alongside the Olympic games. Its purpose was to increase awareness to the world about wushu, with the intention of wushu to be included as an Olympic Sport.
The wushu tournament was approved by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and was hosted by the Beijing Organising Committee of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG), and the International Wushu Federation (IWuF)
Organised by the Beijing Wushu Association, the official name of the tournament was, ‘WUSHU TOURNAMENT BEIJING 2008’
The Wushu Tournament Beijing 2008 was held at the Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium from August 21-24. There were 10 Gold medals for Taolu and 5 Gold Medals for Sanshou
There were 128 men and women athletes from 43 countries and regions from all over the world, as well as 55 officials. The athletes were the top 6 place winners of Taolu and 8 place winners of Sanshou from the 9th world Wushu Championships 2007.
There were 28 athletes from Europe, 14 from America, 77 from Asia, among the 77 from Asia, 8 were Chinese.
The categories in Sanshou were; Men’s 56 kg; 70 kg; and 85 kg: Women’s: 52 kg and 60 kg.
The Wushu Tournament Beijing 2008 was conducted in accordance with the ‘competition regulations’, Rules for International Wushu Taolu Competition’ and ‘Rules for International Wushu Sanshiou Competition’. This was endorsed by the IWuF in force at the time of the tournament. The IWuf were responsible for the control and direction of the Wushu Tournament Beijing 2008.
Nick Evagorou qualified to compete in the Men’s Sanshou 85 kg category, after achieving 3rd place from the 9th World Wushu Championship 2007.
The Drawing of the Lots took place at the Chinese Wushu Association.
The Draw for the 85kg category was;
RUSSIA v AZERBAIJAN
GREAT BRITAIN v LEBANON
IRAN v SWITZERLAND
Nick beat Elie Saade from Lebanon to qualify for a medal placement. Elie Saade won the silver at the 8th World Wushu Championships in Hanoi, Vietnam.In the first round Nick was more dominant and was in control of the fight, catching Saade with punches and kick combinations and executing some good throws and takedowns. Judges scored 5-0 to Nick. Saade gave Nick a harder time in the second round, making the round almost even. Nick just clinched the second round scoring 3-2 from the judges. This qualified Nick to face the current World Champion Muslim Salikov (Russia) in the semi-finals. Nick had fought and beat Saade on two other occasions, in 2007 at the 9th World Wushu Championships, Beijing China, where the fight went to three rounds, Scoring 2-1 to Nick, and again in 2007 at the World Kung Fu wushu Championships, Italy, Judges scored all round to Nick.
Nick was determined to give the Russian a good fight and showed good punching and kicking technique and almost throwing Salikov with a single leg takedown. Salikov recomposed himself quickly and executed a spinning back kick to the side of Nick’s ribs. Nick was winded and was unable to beat the 8 count.
Salikov went on to win the Gold Medal beating Hossein Ojaghi (Iran) in the final within 30 seconds of first round.
The closing ceremony was a spectacular event to witness, the show followed the passing of the Olympic flag from the Mayor of Beijing to the President of the Olympic Committee, Jacques Rogge, who in turn hands over the Olympic Flag to the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, symbolising the transfer of the Games planning organisation responsibilities to London.
‘One world one dream was the message theme from the Beijing Olympics Games. It is only in sport that brings the world together in peace friendship and harmony. Although wushu originated in China, wushu belongs to the World.
The Beijing Olympic Games and the Wushu Tournmanet Beijing will be an unforgettable experience. Staying in the Olympic Village and sharing the same privileges as other Olympic Athletes from all over the world. These wonderful precious memories will be one that we will most cherish.
‘Will Wushu be an Olympic Sport’
The International Wushu Federation is one of the IOC’s 31 recognised federations.Wushu will need to prepare a strong file for submission to the IOC in 2011.
