Obama: No Usain Bolt
Olympics entered the political, campaign dialogue recently with President Barack Obama injecting athletic context to his presidential race.
While speaking at a fund-raising event in the Hyde Park, Chicago, neighborhood, home he lived before moving to the White House, the president said:
“This is not going to be a race like Usain Bolt where we’re like 40 yards ahead and we can just kind of start jogging 10 feet before the finish line.”
“We’re going to have to run through the tape. But we’re really well positioned to not just win but to keep America moving forward.”
Attended by approximately 100 people who paid US$40,000 a head for the exclusive invitation, the president referenced the Jamaican legend who recently won the 100 metres and 200 metres sprint double at the London Olympics.
He predicted a tough contest in November with Republicans Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan.
“Sparkle” Star Heads To Queen’s For Arthur Ashe Kids Fest
Singer/actress Jordin Sparks is among the celebrated entertainers billed for the 17th annual Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day in Flushing, Queens on Aug. 25.
Television’s “American Idol” winner and star of the movie “Sparkle” will co-host — with Quddus — entertainment by pop-vocal sensation The Wanted, chart-topping singer Carly Rae Jepsen, special guest performer Owl City, teen quartet Mindless Behavior and X-Factor star Rachel Crow at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
Spark’s appearance will follow her premiere debut acting performance in the film which also stars the late Whitney Houston.
CeeLo Green and Mike Epps also co-stars in the last film Houston made before her untimely passing earlier this year.
In the film Sparks is featured in a duet singing with Houston that will be released as the official single from the soundtrack of the film, “Sparkle: Music from the Motion Picture.”
“We are thrilled to kick off the 2012 US Open with the 17th annual Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day presented by Hess featuring the most popular names in sports and entertainment today,” Gordon Smith, USTA Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer said.
At 1 p.m., New York Rangers’ center, star Brad Richards will team up with current world rated number one rated Roger Federer, reigning US Open Champion Novak Djokovic, U.S. number one men’s singles player John Isner, three-time US Open Champion Kim Clijsters and Mardy Fish for a three-hour live, tennis exhibition match.
Kids 12-and-under with stadium show tickets will receive a free Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day hat from the USTA and Hess on a first-come, first-served basis.
“The event holds a long-standing history of providing a day of fun-filled family activities as attendees celebrate the life of Arthur Ashe and his mission to empower children of all ages through tennis.”
Throughout the years, Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day has featured many of music’s biggest acts including Justin Bieber, Rihanna, Jonas Brothers, Demi Lovato, Sean Kingston, Britney Spears, Ne-Yo, Gavin DeGraw, Jessica Simpson, Backstreet Boys, Cody Simpson, Bow Wow and Hanson.
Tennis at the stadium begins on Aug. 27 and continues thru Sept. 9.
$Millions, Luxury Home, Land, Holiday & Airline For Golden Tt Olympian
Trinidad & Tobago rolled out a red, black and white carpet to welcome teenaged, javelin Olympic champion Keshorn Walcott who brought gold and glory to the republic.
At Piarco Airport in the twin-island capital of Port-Of-Spain, thousands greeted the only athlete from the English Caribbean to win the event in 60 years.
His victory also marked the first Olympic gold for the republic in 36 years.
For his triumph, the 19-year-old was promised two and a half million TT dollars (US$390,000), a luxury home, acres of land, scholarship to university, a lighthouse and his name inscribed on one of the planes flown by Caribbean Airlines, the nation’s national carrier.
“Keshorn, each of these rewards honor you, there is nothing greater than the glory you have brought to this nation and no greater expression ever than the pride and gratitude every citizen feels,” Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar said.
She said the gifts represented gratitude for “bringing pride and recognition to the nation of Trinidad and Tobago.”
One day after declaring a national holiday to celebrate the victory, the leader addressed a crowd gathered at the airport to welcome the athletes saying:”A Caribbean Airlines aircraft will be commissioned to bear the proud name of Keshorn Walcott.”
The athlete gushed with pride and appeared emotional when the leader of the republic added that “The lighthouse a historical site, will now be known as the Keshorn Walcott Lighthouse standing as a beacon to guide us all towards what it takes to get to our dreams.”
The windfall also piled high, one million dollars “to be invested as he so desires.”
Walcott will also be given 20,000 square feet in his home village of Toco which is located, south of the capital.
There, a housing project called “The Keshorn Walcott Housing Development” will be established to provide housing and employment to residents of Toco.
In an emotional response, Walcott said; “I went out there and did my best.”
He praised God, his coach, manager and everyone for his success.
“I was proud to carry the flag of Trinidad and Tobago,” the athletic hero said.
“I would like to say thanks to everybody who supported me.”
“Thanks to everyone for all the support and thanks to mum, dad, my brothers and sister,” he told the crowd.
The teenager returned two days after the Sunday closing ceremony, along with the 10-member contingent who earned a record four medals overall at the London Olympics.
It was the republic’s biggest haul in the country’s history.
Walcott’s achievement headlined T&T’s performance, however, as he pulled off a stunning upset to become the first athlete from the English-speaking Caribbean to win gold in a javelin event and the first in 60 years from the Western Hemisphere.
She said Walcott, the youngest-ever gold medal winner of the javelin in Olympic history, will also be awarded a scholarship to the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) “to further his studies in his chosen field” while his coach Lopez will be placed in charge of an elite throws program at UTT where all future talent, including Keshorn, can develop in field events.
The men’s sprint relay team took bronze after Canada was disqualified for lane crossing.
The relay team and Lalonde Gordon in the 400 metres also returned home with bronze medallions.
Walcott’s achievement represented T&T’s second-ever Olympic gold medal behind the legendary Hasely Crawford who won the 100 metres at the 1976 Montreal Games.
He threw the javelin 227.51 feet to clinch the first ever gold in that event for the region in Olympic history.
He is the youngest and first non-European to win the men’s javelin since 1952.
The prime minister said that gifts for the other Olympians would be announced later.
Catch You On The Inside!
