Some secrets out about Olympics opening ceremony

Some secrets are out for the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics. One big one remains.

Video shot by South Korean television at a dress rehearsal this week was leaked, offering a first glimpse of the elaborate production.

Spoiler alert: Viewers can expect a dramatic countdown, giant whales, an illuminated globe and performers flying above the audience.

What remains a mystery is how the organizers — led by China's most famous filmmaker Zhang Yimou — plan to light the Olympic cauldron. The identity of the final torchbearer has been guarded like a state secret and a mock cauldron lighting was not a part of recent rehearsals.

Chinese media reports have speculated that the cauldron will be lit by a fire-breathing dragon or phoenix. Others say the ceremony will have five torchbearers who set ablaze a cauldron shaped like the five interlocked Olympic rings.

Another guess involves basketball star Yao Ming, saying he will hold aloft in his massive hands a child who survived the May 12 earthquake that rattled Sichuan province, with the child tipping the torch into the cauldron.

While the ending of the ceremony is anyone's guess, the video from South Korean broadcaster SBS offered the first preview of its opening. Rehearsals of the ceremony at the national stadium, known as the Bird's Nest, have been guarded by three rings of checkpoints, with cast and crew members required to sign confidentiality agreements.

Media invited to such rehearsals are usually told not to reveal any specific details of the ceremony; the rehearsals generally do not show the climactic cauldron-lighting, to preserve its secrecy.

A Beijing Olympics official said Thursday the SBS report was "disappointing." Sun Weide, spokesman for Beijing's Olympic organizing committee, would not say whether SBS would be punished, only that officials were "checking into the situation."

"But the fragments cannot demonstrate the full picture of the spectacular opening ceremony," Sun said in a statement.

There were no great surprises from the video shot in the darkened stadium, although it showed the lavishness of the 3 1/2-hour ceremony on Aug. 8, expected to boast a cast of 10,000. Zhang spent three years designing the spectacle, seeking to boil 5,000 years of Chinese history into a 50-minute show.

The leaked rehearsal footage showed undulating white columns apparently simulating a waterfall and giant blue whales projected onto the roof. An enormous blue-and-green illuminated globe appears on the floor of the stadium.

Dancers twirled ribbons, drummers drummed, and martial arts experts performed kicks and punches. Colorfully dressed performers suspended by wires floated above the audience.

One segment featured a half-dozen actors on a raised platform surrounded by hundreds of performers, while cymbals clanged noisily in the tradition of Beijing opera.

The most impressive part of the show is a countdown accompanied by drums, the SBS report said. Video showed rows of hundreds of people, flashing cards to form the number two, then one, while they chanted in Chinese and strobe lights flashed.

An SBS crew filmed the rehearsal without even having to sneak in, a network official said. SBS, one of South Korea's major TV networks, shares Olympic broadcasting rights in Korea with two other networks.

"Nobody stopped us when we entered the main stadium on Monday. Chinese officials let us in after we showed our ID cards and we shot the rehearsal," said the official, speaking with The Associated Press by phone from SBS's Beijing bureau. He asked not to be identified by name because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

SBS spokesman Park Jae-man said it was regrettable if Olympics organizers felt offended by the broadcast.

"The purpose of the broadcast was aimed at heightening enthusiasm toward the Beijing Olympics by showing South Korean viewers the magnificence of the opening ceremony. There was no other intention," Park said.

The video of the rehearsal circulated on Chinese message boards up until Thursday morning, but no working versions could easily be found in China by afternoon. It had also been removed from overseas video-sharing sites for apparent copyright violations.

A few details about the opening ceremony had already trickled out since rehearsals began at the stadium earlier this month.

Organizers couldn't hide the fireworks exploding around the stadium. The show will include dozens of smiley face bursts and is expected to feature fireworks in the shape of a yellow dragon with red peony flowers in the background.

The main artistic director of the fireworks said they will be launched from more than 1,800 sites around the city, including major urban areas from Tiananmen Square to the stadium.

Beijing manufactures its own scenery for Olympics

Polluted Beijing is usually shrouded in gray, so for the Olympics, Beijing city officials have tried to add some color.

They have taken a dusty metropolis with thousands of cranes hovering over construction sites and sought to create an idealized Beijing. Enormous murals in shades of blue and green, many showing off towering palm trees and blue skies, rise like Hollywood backdrops to hide the reality of the Chinese capital.

Beijing Olympics emblems are often used to hide unfinished construction projects. Some of the make-believe scenes are pastoral, showing a path wandering through a tangle of trees, or rolling green hills that suggest a quaint village lies just out of view. The murals typically hide a bare concrete wall, an ugly hole in the ground or a building site.

Feel like a game of golf? One mural guides the urban viewer down a lush, green fairway complete with sand bunkers.

Taiwan opposes Olympics name change

Some Taiwanese lawmakers have called for boycotting the Beijing Olympics unless a dispute over the island's name is resolved.

Several lawmakers of the ruling Nationalist Party say Thursday that China must not attempt to change the name under which the island will compete in next month's Olympics to suggest that Taiwan is part of China.

Chinese officials want to address the team as — "Zhongguo Taipei" — but Taiwan rejects it because "Zhongguo" means China.

Taiwan and China split amid civil war in 1949, but Beijing continues to claim the island and says it will attack if Taipei moves to break from the mainland.

Four years later, Memmel, Sacramone make Olympics

Now it's official: Chellsie Memmel, Alicia Sacramone and Samantha Peszek are going to the Beijing Olympics. And they're bringing Bridget Sloan with them.

Considered all but locks after strong showings at last month's nationals and Olympic trials, Memmel, Peszek and Sacramone looked even better Saturday night to earn spots on the U.S. women's gymnastics team. Sloan, the alternate on last year's world championship team, upgraded herself with an impressive performance at the two-day selection camp.

The four join Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukin, who secured spots with their 1-2 finish at trials, on the last U.S. team to be finalized.

Now it's on to Beijing, where the Americans will be favorites to add Olympic gold to the one they won at last year's world championships.

"We don't even want to be Olympians. We want to be Olympic champions," Peszek said, her nails painted gold.

Their biggest competition will come from the home team, China. World champs in 2006 and runners-up last year, the Chinese have made no secret that they desperately want to win gold at home. Romania, Russia and Australia also are expected to contend for a medal.

"I am very happy with this team. Very, very happy," national team coordinator Martha Karolyi said. "We know we'll have obstacles we have to pass, because it's hard to fight with the home team. We have to choose the toughest team, because we need the toughest girls because it will not be an easy job."

Jana Bieger, Ivana Hong and Corrie Lothrop were named alternates.

Earlier in the day, defending Olympic champion Paul Hamm showed he's recovered enough from his broken hand to compete in Beijing.

Memmel, the 2005 world champion whose comeback from a devastating shoulder injury has been the feel-good story of the summer, and Peszek finished third and fourth at nationals and trials. Sacramone has been the Americans' backbone the last four years, one of the best in the world on floor and vault. Had the full Olympic team been named after trials, national team coordinator Martha Karolyi said the three would have been on it.

But Karolyi likes to wait as long as possible to ensure she is taking the best and healthiest team to the Olympics, so 10 women trooped down to her ranch for one last competition, hoping to use Friday's all-around and Saturday's event finals to make a good impression.

"What I said at trials, that was the truth. They just needed to prove they are at the same level they were at," Karolyi said. "It's almost like we had one spot to fill."

If anyone questions Karolyi's reasoning, they only needed to look at Shayla Worley, who watched Saturday's competition from the bleachers, crutches at her side and a big black boot on her right leg.

"It hurts. My heart hurts worse," said Worley, who had a strong shot to make the team until she broke her right fibula during warm-ups for Friday's all-around competition. "It's still setting in. I'm still hoping I'll wake up and it's a dream or a nightmare. It's devastating.

"As long as USA wins, it's all good."

Indeed, as the competition wound down, it was like a Team USA lovefest. While Peszek, Sacramone, Johnson and Chelsea Davis got ready for the final event, the balance beam, the rest of the girls gathered on the sidelines to cheer them on.

After Peszek, the second-last competitor of the day, landed, Johnson greeted her with a big hug, and she was quickly joined by the rest of the girls. When Sacramone finished, Peszek grabbed her in such a fierce bearhug Sacramone almost fell off the podium.

"It feels good. It's a good feeling," Sacramone said, still smiling. "It definitely has not sunk in yet."

Even though Memmel, Peszek and Sacramone's places were considered secure, they still had to meet Karolyi's exacting standards.

Memmel had a little scare Friday, giving herself whiplash when she bounced out of bounds on floor. After skipping her next two events, she came back with one of the better balance beam routines of the day. But she saved her best for Saturday.

Uneven bars is a critical event for the Americans — the Chinese have two girls who can put up scores over 17 — and only Liukin does them better than Memmel. Showing off her trademark power, she appeared to be floating as she moved from bar to bar. When she flipped into a handstand on the high bar, she came to a dead stop, as still as a statue, her legs perfectly pointed.

Though she took a step on her dismount, she earned a 15.9 — a score topped only by Liukin in the two-day competition.

"This is definitely great," Memmel said, her eyes watery. "I don't know what to feel right now. The last four years have been a lot of work, but it's definitely worth it."

Sacramone started the competition on floor, one of her signature events. Her personality is about twice as big as she is, and every bit of it shows on the floor as she tumbles with attitude and does her dance moves with sass and spunk. She had a small stumble on her third tumbling pass, but it was a minor error and Sacramone was clearly pleased.

She got a hug from Peszek's coach, and traded fist bumps with Memmel's father and coach, Andy.

"It's just like a big sigh of relief," Sacramone said. "I'm just so happy."

Peszek isn't the most spectacular gymnast, but she's got something just as valuable: consistency. Whether on balance beam, uneven bars, floor exercise or vault, she does every routine with polish and confidence. When a wobble or bobble can be the difference between silver and gold, that's invaluable.

Sloan was perhaps the biggest surprise of the weekend. But she, too, was a model of consistency, and she has the beautiful lines and precision that international judges love.

After punching her ticket to Beijing, her decision earlier this year to skip driver's education in favor of more practice time seems like a good one.

"I would much rather have not driven and go to the Olympics," Sloan said.

Wambach breaks leg, will miss Olympics

U.S. soccer star Abby Wambach had surgery Thursday to repair a broken left leg that will keep her out of the Olympics.

The team's leading scorer had a titanium rod inserted in her lower left leg during a one-hour operation performed by Dr. Damion Valletta, an orthopedic surgeon for U.S. Soccer. She was resting comfortably and can begin full weight-bearing activities on the leg in five to six weeks.

"Everything went according to plan, there were no complications and small incisions were used to minimize the soft tissue irritability from the surgery," Valletta said. "We'll have her stay in the hospital until tomorrow, monitor the pain and control the swelling in her leg. We anticipate that she will be discharged tomorrow on crutches and will start being able to put a small amount of weight on the leg."

Wambach, 28, broke her tibia and fibula in the team's final tuneup Wednesday night against Brazil in San Diego, and is expected to be sidelined about 12 weeks. The Americans begin defense of the gold medal on Aug. 6 against Norway.

"I'm excited to watch them and cheer them on during this challenge they've been presented with," Wambach said after the game. "It's really going to take everyone coming together. I love them all so much, and appreciate so many people involved with this game and the team.

"I put my heart and soul into this game every day, but sometimes accidents happen. I've gotten so many calls already, and I just want to say how much I appreciate that."

Wambach collided with Brazilian defender Andreia Rosa in the first half of a scoreless game. Both players tumbled and Wambach immediately signaled to the sideline for help. Her leg was put in an inflatable brace and she was carted off the field.

"She's sustained a very significant injury to her bone," said Dr. Valletta. "It can sometimes take a year to return a professional player to her previous level of activity, but the expectation is that we will have an aggressive rehab program and progress her weight-bearing rapidly to minimize her time lost for competition."

On Thursday, forward Lauren Cheney replaced Wambach on the Olympic squad. The 20-year-old Cheney originally was as an alternate for the roster.

Cheney has been training with the U.S. team all year and has played in 10 games, starting three. She has three goals in 12 international matches.

"There are obviously tons of emotions going through me right now," Cheney said. "I have the deepest sorrow for Abby, but I am excited to be part of the 18 going to the Olympics.

"Abby is one of the players who took all of us young players under her wing. She has always been there to help us out and guide us. Abby is irreplaceable, but I'm ready for any role I am asked to fill, and I'll do anything I can to help the team win the gold medal. In China, we'll be playing for our country and ourselves, but also for Abby."

Wambach, one of the most experienced players on a young U.S. squad, has 13 goals and 10 assists this year. She is one goal shy of becoming the ninth female player and fifth American to reach 100 goals.

"My heart sank," forward Natasha Kai said, when seeing Wambach was hurt. "She's a big piece of a great team."

Pistorius fails to get Olympic time

Double-amputee sprinter Oscar Pistorius fell short of the 400-meter qualifying time for the Beijing Olympics despite running a personal best Wednesday.

The 21-year-old South African finished third in 46.25 seconds. That is 11 hundredths of a second faster than he ever ran before, but still outside the Olympic qualifying standard of 45.55.

It was the final chance for Pistorius to impress the South African selectors, but they can still choose to invite him on a six-man roster for the 1,600-meter relay.

The South African team for the Aug. 8-24 Beijing Games will be picked on Thursday or Friday.

Greer makes US track roster for Beijing Olympics

Javelin thrower Breaux Greer made the U.S. track and field team for the Beijing Olympics, joining Tyson Gay, Allyson Felix and Jeremy Wariner on the 126-member roster.

Greer, an eight-time national champion, didn't qualify at the recent Olympic trials, finishing 17th and failing to reach the final round.

But USA Track & Field decided to place him on the team announced Monday, citing a rule that allows for "the selection of an injured athlete who competed in the Olympic trials but did not final ... as long as another athlete is not displaced from the team."

Greer hurt his shoulder while winning a bronze medal at last year's world championships and hadn't thrown in competition until the Olympic trials.

Monday's roster includes 15 Olympic medalists and 31 outdoor world championships medalists.

The United States topped the track and field medal table at the 2004 Athens Olympics with a total of 25. That was the country's largest haul since taking home 30 medals from the track at the 1992 Barcelona Summer Games.

The U.S. also led the medal table at the 2007 world championships in Osaka, Japan, with 26.

"This Olympic team is one of our strongest ever, with more medal-winning experience in a wider range of events, from sprints to distances and field events, than we've had in many decades," USATF president Bill Roe said. "While it would take an incredible performance to match our medal counts of recent championships, we certainly feel that this team has what it takes to again top the medal tables."

Pistorius fails again to qualify for Olympics

Double-amputee sprinter Oscar Pistorius has missed out in another attempt to qualify for the Olympics.

The South African timed 46.62 seconds to finish seventh in the 400 meter B race at the Golden Gala meet Friday. He must run a 45.55 to qualify for the Olympics.

His personal best is 46.36.

Pistorius resumed training less than two months ago after a sports arbitration court ruled he was eligible to run in Beijing.

The court overturned a decision by the IAAF that Pistorius' carbon-fiber prosthetics gave him an unfair advantage and that he should be banned from the Olympics and other able-bodied races.

Torres won't swim 100 free at Beijing Olympics

Dara Torres has dropped the 100-meter freestyle from her Beijing Olympics schedule, choosing to make the 50 free her only individual event in her record fifth games.

The 41-year-old sprinter's decision was announced Monday by USA Swimming. Torres will be replaced in the 100 free by Lacey Nymeyer, who finished third at the trials.

Torres had expressed concern that competing in two individual events and possibly two relays during the eight-day competition would be too hard on her body. She won the 50 and 100 freestyles at the trials, and her last Olympic appearance was at the 2000 Sydney Games.

Federer, Ivanovic to play at Olympics

Roger Federer and 16 of the other top 20 men and Ana Ivanovic and 17 other top 20 women have entered the tennis tournament at next month's Beijing Olympics.

The International Tennis Federation used the ATP and WTA rankings as a guide to determine who gets the 56 direct spots in the men's and women's singles competitions. Six of the remaining eight spots in each tournament were given out by the ITF's Olympic Committee.

Each country, however, was limited to a maximum of six players in each tournament, with up to four competing in singles and up to two teams in doubles.

The Olympic tennis tournament runs Aug. 10-17.