This link will take you to this year’s schedule:  http://www.olympic.org/uk/news/calendars/calendar_sports_uk.asp?sportCode=MP

 Keep in mind that dates are listed dd/mm/yyyy. 

World Cup I 2009 is happening NOW, 27 MAR 09, in Mexico City.  Wish me luck!

Singapore is maybe the cleanest place I’ve ever been.  Chewing gum is not even allowed.  Seeing it from our balloon tether a hundred meters off the ground was spectacular.  The clear sky and clean city with the ocean and Malaysia in the distance created a picture I won’t soon forget. 

My return to Beijing was surprising, but the blue skies I found there I must have brought with me from Singapore, because they didn’t last long.  The denser, air returned on my second day back and progressively worsened until yesterday when rain cleared the air somewhat. 

Tomorrow is the day (tonight your time).  I’m surprisingly tranquil and ready to go.  It will begin tonight at 7:30PM CDT in the USA.  Wish me and Team USA luck!   [Written the day before the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Modern Pentathlon competition.]

 Official Site of the Beijing Games

http://en.beijing2008.cn/

Yahoo photo of Team USA in the opening ceremony — follow this link:

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/beijing/slideshow/ss.63#photoViewer=urn%3Anewsml%3Asports.yahoo%2Cgetty%3A20050301%3Aoly%2Cphoto%2Cebc88e6d1b9201f01c00db50bd5a2193-getty-81972990cc157_olympics_open%3A1

http://www.pentathlon.org/fileadmin/download/Invitations/DCAS_final080731.xls

Note that there are multiple worksheets in the workbook, the first is the Men’s Schedule, the second is the Women’s Schedule, if you can read the last two, then let me know what they mean; my guess is they’re Chinese for, ‘Men’s Schedule’, and ‘Women’s Schedule’. 

http://en.beijing2008.cn/cptvenues/schedule/

Competition Schedule

Thursday August 21, 2008
Session	Start: 8:30    End: 12:40	National Conference Center- Fencing Hall
0830 – 0850	Men’s Shooting
0950 – 1240	Men’s Fencing
Session	Start: 14:10  End: 14:35	Yingtung Natatorium
1410 – 1435	Men’s Swimming
Session	Start: 16:30    End: 19:40	National Olympic Sports Center - Stadium
1630 – 1820	Men’s Riding
1900 – 1915	Men’s Running
1930 – 1940	Men’s Medal Ceremony
Friday August 22, 2008
Session	Start: 8:30    End: 12:40	National Conference Center- Fencing Hall
0830 – 0850	Women’s Shooting
0950 – 1240	Women’s Fencing
Session	Start: 14:10  End: 14:35	Yingtung Natatorium
1410 – 1435	Women’s Swimming
Session	Start: 16:30    End: 19:40	National Olympic Sports Center - Stadium
1630 – 1820	Women’s Riding
1900 – 1915	Women’s Running
1930 – 1940	Women’s Medal Ceremony

 

The time difference between Beijing, China and the United States CDT is +13 hours; in other words, when it’s noon on a Monday in Arkansas, it’s 1:00AM Tuesday in Beijing.   

 Scroll down — there’s more!

Check out this article and video interview with Margaux!

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/summer/2008-05-13-teenpentathlete_N.htm?csp=34

The link below is to the hard copy from the Wednesday, 14 MAY 08 edition. 

steves-daughter.pdf

Margaux advanced to the finals in World Cup V competition in Kladno, Czech Republic today by taking first place among the Group B competitors.  Womens’ finals are Saturday — be there!

Margaux had a personal best in the swimming event in Madrid.  She had a strong performance in three of the other sports.  She drew a good horse, but she didn’t ride up to her potential. 

Tomorrow is another day.  Moving forward, she’ll focus on success and work on the rest.  Five, full sports in one day — if it was easy, then where’s the challenge?

Gaux Team USA!

Gaux girl! Gaux!

You can sign up for the UK’s free 247.tv internet service and watch the whole day’s events via streaming video in real time at http://www.247.tv/ — there is no charge for live Modern Pentathlon contests.

The 247.tv site also provides archival video and downloads for a fee. Whether you wish to use the free service or whether you use the for-fee services, you must sign up in advance of the event, receive your password (takes a couple of hours), and then book the event ahead of time. That way it’s all queued up and ready. Don’t wait until competition time.

Margaux had a respectable showing in Millfield.  She has her work cut out for her going forward.  She’s up for it!