An Olympic challenge in Hong Kong

2008 is the year of the greatest athletes on four legs ever to be gathered in China at one time. That was no typo, I said 4 legs. Well to be more accurate some are on 2, but they have wings.

No I’m not talking about the Beijing Olympics, but the Hong Kong Olympets that are underway as we speak.

The Olympets was inspired by petshop manager Howard Cheung. It seems that Hong Kong, though overcrowded and short on space, is filled with pet lovers. And Cheung knows that pets need exercise as much as their owners. So the combination seems like an excellent fit.

Some 400 pets are involved in these first ever games. As can be seen in the video dogs appear to be the most common participant, though mice and parrots are not excluded.



The secret to getting the pets to be properly motivated?

"Of course for some of the events you have to use treats so they will try harder," he [Cheung] said. "The parrots do have a tendency to climb up the rope anyway, but a treat at the top helps."

And if you were wondering, yes the winners will get their own version of the gold medals. My money is on the Dachshund, he is fast.

Witold Woyda, Olympic champion dead at 68

The fencing world has taken a serious blow today as news is out about the death of Witold Woyda. Mr. Woyda was an Olympic champion competing in 4 Olympics and won a bronze, a silver, as well as 2 gold medals.

While that is a massive feat and worth of praise for any athlete, there is another important fact to consider. Mr. Woyda was only 5’7” and weighed 140 lbs at the time. His use of quickness, superb coordination and aggressive tactics allowed him to take on opponents with superior reach, which normally would provide them with an advantage.

Mr. Woyda’s accomplishments did not end with the 1972 Olympics (where he was a respectively old 33). He earned a law degree from the University of Warsaw, and did graduate work in NYU’s law school for international law. He then went on to become a civil court judge.

Mr. Woyda is survived by a wife, ex-wife, 2 daughters, a step-daughter, and 2 grand-children.

Mr. Woyda was only 68, and died of lung cancer.