Let’s get one thing out the way right now:  

China’s attempts to host these games in a manner bringing worldwide glory and praise to their honorable land has been disgraceful and downright laughable.  From the horrifying air quality to censorship, dissident roundups and the continuing plights in Tibert and Darfur under Chinese fists, not much has been done to improve the country’s image in the seven years leading up to the Games.  Seven years! They had seven years to identify and solve problems to present an image to the world, and only two weeks ago began trying to clean the air.

But this is not what the Games are about.  Yes, they have in the past been used as a political tool or worldwide stage for advocating radical change (see Smith, Tommie).  But a boycott of the Beijing Games is not and never was a good idea, because in the end, this is not about China.  It is about the thousands of athletes who have dedicated their lives to excelling in their field, many with little to no pay (see Azevedo, Tony) in hopes only to compete in these Olympic Games.  This is their chance, and their shot at glory should neither be taken nor diminished by the actions of the nation in which they are competing.  The Olympics are as pure (or as close to it) as we have today in professional sports, a beautiful, unifying symbol of the spirit of competition.  That is the story here for the next few weeks.

With that, I present to you the athletes competing in Beijing that represent Long Beach.  In one form or another, these men and women have left their mark on our International City and now prepare to make international noise on the grandest stage.  We will be providing you with daily updates on their performances and provide TV listings so you can be sure to catch them when possible.  Long Beach has a very rich Olympic tradition draped in Gold.

Here are the athletes that will continue the legacy.  Let us know if we’ve missed any!

Magdalena Lewy Boulet, Women’s Marathon (LBCC graduate)
Danielle Scott-Arruda, Indoor Women’s Volleyball (LBSU Grad)
Tayyiba Haneef-Park, Indoor Women’s Volleyball (LBSU Grad)
Misty May-Treanor, Beach Volleyball (LBSU Grad)
Lauren Wenger, Women’s Water Polo (Wilson High Grad)
Guy Baker (Head Coach), Women’s Water Polo (LBSU Grad)
Tony Azevedo, Men’s Water Polo (Wilson High & LBSU Grad)
Adam Wright, Men’s Water Polo (Wilson High Grad)
Matt Sagehorn, Men’s Water Polo (Wilson High Grad)
Chay Lapin, Men’s Water Polo (Wilson High Grad)
Ryan Bailey, Men’s Water Polo (Millikan High Grad)
Robert Lynn (Asst. Coach), Men’s Water Polo (Wilson High Grad)
Tom Hoff, Indoor Men’s Volleyball (LBSU Grad)
David Lee, Indoor Men’s Volleyball (LBSU Grad)
Scott Touzinsky, Indoor Men’s Volleyball (LBSU Grad)