St. Petersburg Times | tampabay.com | Know it now.
BEIJING (AP) — The fatal stabbing of the father of a former Olympian at a Beijing landmark cast a sad shadow over the first full day of Olympic competition Saturday, just hours after China’s jubilant opening of the Summer Games.
Drum Tower in Beijing, China Todd and Barbara Bachman of Lakeville, Minn. – parents of 2004 volleyball Olympian Elisabeth “Wiz” Bachman and in-laws of U.S. men’s volleyball coach Hugh McCutcheon – were attacked by a Chinese man while visiting the 13th-century Drum Tower.
The U.S. Olympic Committee confirmed Bachman died from knife wounds and that Barbara Bachman suffered life-threatening injuries. She and their Chinese tour guide, who was also injured in the attack, were being treated in a Beijing hospital.
[…]
The assailant, Tang Yongming, 47, leapt to his death from a 130-foot high balcony on the Drum Tower, just five miles from the main Olympics site, the official Xinhua News Agency reported.
Good to see the Chinese have their fair share of wackos too.
wow, china’s securty there is doing a great job………..
#1 – gquaglia
Agreed.
#2 – admfubar
How exactly do you protect a country from a person who’s determined to cause harm? Just look at how many head of states that have got whacked around the globe… and most of them had a security detail protecting them.
I’ve been to that exact same location and stood at the top of the tower.
It’s absolutely a wonderful view and amazing to take in the history of the place.
That tower has been there since 1420 AD and has been in regular use since. As an American, it’s sobering to walk down streets which where laid down almost 800 years ago.
Shameful that the drum tower will have this stain on it for most of the western world from one horrible crazy guy.
Nonetheless, I recommend reading this small article to get a better feel for the history of the place. Just imagine living in a city with this kind of history wherever you look!
http://tinyurl.com/5krn3o
As a side note, just to the left of the tower (as shown in the picture) is a manufacturer of original Ming Dynasty tableware.
Yes, the original china shop of the Emperors still exist and going strong these many hundreds of years.
Believe me, you’ve never seen anything like what they make. Imagine an intricate inlaid gold plate over an iridescent translucent porcelain (resembling mother-of-pearl) in a pattern so complex that it’s leaves one speechless. I’ve never seen anything like it.
Damn, I knew they were serious about the gold medal count, I guess I didn’t know how serious.
Saved the government a bullet by jumping.
This is really interesting stuff to get riled about. In other news…
China government announces that Bush’s attendance there is ‘world recognition of China freedoms’.
Why is it so difficult for the media to ask Bush why it’s critical to attend the Olympics in 2008 when it wasn’t in 2004 or any other year?
I don’t get it. Athens Greece (2004 Olympics) is the cradle of Democracy and China is a totalitarian government failing to tolerate free press, democracy or human rights.
Tavistock playing its mind games – laying the foundation for war vs China.
Let the good times roll…
#7 – Dallas – I don’t get it. Athens Greece (2004 Olympics) is the cradle of Democracy and China is a totalitarian government failing to tolerate free press, democracy or human rights.
Interesting observation. My guess is that Bush and his friends don’t have economic interests in Greece.
#7/9 –
Greece isnt the friendliest of places for US or British gov’t officials. Cyprus, the US backed Junta, and president johnsons words ensured that.
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“Then listen to me, Mr. Ambassador,” said the President of the United States, “fuck your Parliament and your Constitution. America is an elephant. Cyprus is a flea. If these two fleas continue itching the elephant, they may just get whacked by the elephant’s trunk, whacked good…. We pay a lot of good American dollars to the Greeks, Mr. Ambassador. If your Prime Minister gives me talk about Democracy, Parliament and Constitutions, he, his Parliament and his Constitution may not last very long.”
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Did you notice that the fireworks were faked?
They weren’t that good anyway, at least not the “Giant Footsteps” part.
http://tinyurl.com/5rjljb