A Chinese man stabbed the in-laws of the U.S. Olympic men’s volleyball coach, killing one and injuring the other while they visited a Beijing tourist site near the main venue where Olympic competition began Saturday, officials said.
The victims were Todd and Barbara Bachman, parents of former Olympian Elisabeth Bachman who is married to men’s volleyball coach Hugh McCutcheon. Bachman’s father was killed.
The assailant also stabbed and injured a Chinese tour guide with the Americans. He then committed suicide by throwing himself off a 130-foot-high balcony of the ancient landmark the Americans were visiting, the 13th century Drum Tower, the official Xinhua News Agency reported.
Xinhua identified the attacker as Tang Yongming, 47, from the eastern city of Hangzhou. It said Tang attacked the two Americans and their Chinese tour guide on the second level of the ancient tower, then leapt to his death immediately afterward.
Seibel said it was “too early to say” whether security would be stepped up for the U.S. team. But some athletes were already thinking about it.
Source: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/2008102388_olystabbing09.html
Video by: MSNBC/MSN.com
When beach volleyball joined the Olympics in 1996, critics complained it had been included simply to boost viewing figures with bronzed beach babes in bikinis.
‘I feel I’m empowered. I’m a sportswoman, I’m getting stronger all the time and this is my uniform,’ said US player Kerri Walsh, sweeping her hand across a black and white bikini. ‘I don’t feel exploited at all. Hopefully we’re just encouraging people to be fit and healthy. Our lifestyle is so wonderful,’ she added.
Women have the option of playing in a one-piece bathing suit but most opt not to because they are very uncomfortable when sand gets in.
Men must wear shorts at least 10cm above the knee and a tank top.
‘I don’t really care about the image. You just get out and play and feed off the support,’ said Brazil’s Renata Ribeiro.
