The song keeps bouncing in my head. Maybe because it is so popular in clubs here (and probably everywhere else), or it has catchy beat, or the lyrics kinda feel right. Or because I could not sleep day and night. One way or the other - this is the song.
Saturday 12 September 2009
DeafLympics – Basketball
Another day of Olympics and finally basketball game! Spain vs. Russia, can you ask for anything better… Well, about that:)
The final score – 110:102 – is reeeeealllly high, as for 40 minute game. One of the players scored 43 points, another had double-double, 21 points and around 11 assists. So where are the reasons to complaint?
Well, first of all, it seems that the taller you are the less prone to deafness you are. No disrespect to anyone, but the players were not to tall, 195 top – there were no dunks, high blocks or monstrous fights under the basket.
There was not much finesse, creativity, spectacular dribbles/passes/steals/shots. Although there were some. Still…
I did enjoy it:) Besides, who would not like to watch the game when Iglesias is playing?:)
When I finally adjusted my expectations to the reality, the game was really fun to watch. So now – a little recap and some photos:)
1st quarter: Shoot for shoot, points for points. Very high percentage on both sides, and many, many 3pointers:) final score – draw around 25.
2nd quarter: pretty much the same thing, although they start to miss more shots. Some calls made by the referees met strong disagreement from the spectators. The half ends with one spectacular 3 pointer made by Spaniard 3 seconds before the end of it. But that was not the end! Gucev, Russian player, who in the whole game scored 43 points (sic!) hit it from the mid-court right with the siren!!! He got a standing ovation and everyone expected exciting second half :)
3rd quarter: to everyone’s surprise, Russian team gets the lead and keeps it up until the end of the quarter. At one point, they lead with 10 points. You can see anger and confusion among Spaniards. Gucev continues his show.
4th quarter: this are Iglesias’s 10 minutes. He does whatever he wants – dribbles between defenders, shoots 3pointers, makes baskets with fouls. Spain is constantly reducing Russian lead, finally top it, and go further on. The 8-point lead does not show how close the game was and how both teas had to struggle at times.
Some extra photos from the show:)
Taipei basketball frog:)
The final score – 110:102 – is reeeeealllly high, as for 40 minute game. One of the players scored 43 points, another had double-double, 21 points and around 11 assists. So where are the reasons to complaint?
There was not much finesse, creativity, spectacular dribbles/passes/steals/shots. Although there were some. Still…
I did enjoy it:) Besides, who would not like to watch the game when Iglesias is playing?:)
When I finally adjusted my expectations to the reality, the game was really fun to watch. So now – a little recap and some photos:)
1st quarter: Shoot for shoot, points for points. Very high percentage on both sides, and many, many 3pointers:) final score – draw around 25.
2nd quarter: pretty much the same thing, although they start to miss more shots. Some calls made by the referees met strong disagreement from the spectators. The half ends with one spectacular 3 pointer made by Spaniard 3 seconds before the end of it. But that was not the end! Gucev, Russian player, who in the whole game scored 43 points (sic!) hit it from the mid-court right with the siren!!! He got a standing ovation and everyone expected exciting second half :)
3rd quarter: to everyone’s surprise, Russian team gets the lead and keeps it up until the end of the quarter. At one point, they lead with 10 points. You can see anger and confusion among Spaniards. Gucev continues his show.
4th quarter: this are Iglesias’s 10 minutes. He does whatever he wants – dribbles between defenders, shoots 3pointers, makes baskets with fouls. Spain is constantly reducing Russian lead, finally top it, and go further on. The 8-point lead does not show how close the game was and how both teas had to struggle at times.
Gucev (13) and Iglesias (7)
Some extra photos from the show:)
(almost) final scoreboard
Winners
Friday 11 September 2009
Sleepless in Taipei...
Another sleepless night in this Asian city… I do not know what it is: it cannot be jet leg, cos’ if it was, I would get sleepy around 10 – 11 in the morning. Or maybe it is, as I really like to sleep during the day? But I always liked it, so this is not an explanation :P Anyway, I should have recovered from the jet leg after 10 days. This cannot be the parties, because we have not been to that many… If someone knows the explanation, just let me know:)
These are some photos I took from the roof just a few minutes ago, that is something like 5:02 :)
Nice. I Like:)
These are some photos I took from the roof just a few minutes ago, that is something like 5:02 :)
Nice. I Like:)
Wednesday 9 September 2009
The dorm - some photos
Freshly renewd (I believe), the dorm makes a great impression on a newcomer. But due to the fact that there are many of them next to each other, one may can feel like in the blocks. Still, the cool thing is that all students live next to each other, and can visit without any problems. Before parties and other gatherings are also not a problem:) Here are some photos of the dorm itself.
The dorm from the front... Quite a lot of rooms, don't you think?:)
So that you will get to the right one:)
View on the main plaza from the top of the building.
The sterylic corridors...
And elevators with annoying bells:P
My little messy room...
And wooden, but comfortable (I have 2 mattress, co it is ok now;) ) bed
And the most annoying thing - money eating machine... (you put the card in and, as long as there is money on it, you have electricity:) )
And some photos of the city - from the top of the building. First - before sunset...
I like this one:)
Taipei 101
And at night...
It does look preety amazing. I think I can have a crush on this city... :)
DeafLympics - taekwondo
Decided to go with some friends for taekwondo today.
Not the biggest gym, not the highest amount of spectators... And not the highest level either.
Some of the fights were pretty interesting, most of them - boring, only the last one, where Puerto Rican has won with Korean guy, kept us nervous till the very end. He had the crucial hit 2 seconds before the end of the time!
(Puerto Rican running with the flag after the victory)
And during this tournament I started thinking: should they really have their own Olympics? Are they really that disabled? Does being deaf really influence their results that much?
(Injureds Turk. He was limping for the whole match, lost, but managed to end it. Afterwords he received a standing ovation)
And I think that this question may be answered.
(Russian fighter was so good, that finished the match with a negative score:) )
I believe that in all sports, where sound has influence on performance or communication between players, such a division is justified. Sport teams, where teammates are shouting to each other (basketball, football, volleyball), are definitely more difficult for them. Maybe tennis, taekwondo, karate – where “sound” of the opponent has some meaning. But discus? Long jump? High jump? I may agree with running, as you are supposed to hear the shoot of the gun and start to it, but marathon? Does deafness influence balance, speed, coordination?
Anyway, tomorrow is Spain : Russia game in b-ball. Can’t wait!
Monday 7 September 2009
DeafLympics – Day 1
Yesterday, the DeafLympics started. Whether or not the deaf should have their own Olympics, if runners or athletes or soccer players are disabled in some way and sport is more difficult for them – is not a discussion here. It may become one later, when I get more philosophical and learn more about the subject, but for now let’s leave it alone:)
Anyway, DeafLympics 2009 just started:)
There was cool ceremony, with dancing, speeches and fireworks – the ones from Taipei 101 were really amazing! The speech by Taiwanese president was a bit provocative and you could see propaganda there, but on the other hand why should he not underline that Taipei is “a great city which just recently developed and is getting a well deserved place in the modern world”? It is, so he should say that.
Aaaaaanyway, I am getting a bit of the subject.
The Olympics are going to be here until 22nd, so I decided to go every day to some cool event.
Luckily, Poland was playing volleyball today with Turkey at the NTU’s gym, so together with two friends, Philippe and Stephan, we decided to check it out, so that we know if it is worth going. I should add that tickets to all events, except opening and closing ceremony, are free, so there is not much risk there:)
We came to the gym 40 minutes before the start of the game and what we saw was… disappointing. Fiji was playing against Iran, the skills they presented were not astonishing. A bit downhearted, we were waiting for the next game, while I got to know part of the Polish delegation!
Very friendly Polish representatives chatted with me for a while, somehow shocked, that there is a Pole in the gym. They gave me the flag, magazine, exchanged contacts and I got to cheer up Poland with two of our girls, who, hopefully, will bring some medals back to the country.
And so the game started.
The difference in skills and preparation were visible at the very first glimpse of an eye. They passed better, jumped higher and smashed harder.
Now a quick recap of the game:
Set 1: Polish lose to 16. After awful beginning, they got their heads backs in the game in the second part, but it was too late and not enough.
Set 2: Polish strike back. After easy win in first set, Turks loosen up and end loosing to 20 (or something around that;) )
Set 3: easy win for Poland. 25:18. Everyone is shocked. 2:1
Set 4: we have a matchball with 23:24. But it goes different way – 26:24 for Turkey. 2:2
Set 5: a lot of stress, beginning looks like high school volleyball, players are just trying to save the ball from touching the ground. Point for point. But Poland has more luck or stamina or psychological strength – call it as you wish. We won 15:13!
Well, I am not that a patriot and all, but it was cool to be shown every few minutes on the big screen by the cameraman.
Probably gonna go watch it again!
But now I am waiting for Spain: Russia game in basketball on the 9th. I hope it will be wicked!
And BTW – this is my Universities gym. Hopefully, I will play my basketball games there:D
Anyway, DeafLympics 2009 just started:)
There was cool ceremony, with dancing, speeches and fireworks – the ones from Taipei 101 were really amazing! The speech by Taiwanese president was a bit provocative and you could see propaganda there, but on the other hand why should he not underline that Taipei is “a great city which just recently developed and is getting a well deserved place in the modern world”? It is, so he should say that.
Aaaaaanyway, I am getting a bit of the subject.
The Olympics are going to be here until 22nd, so I decided to go every day to some cool event.
Luckily, Poland was playing volleyball today with Turkey at the NTU’s gym, so together with two friends, Philippe and Stephan, we decided to check it out, so that we know if it is worth going. I should add that tickets to all events, except opening and closing ceremony, are free, so there is not much risk there:)
We came to the gym 40 minutes before the start of the game and what we saw was… disappointing. Fiji was playing against Iran, the skills they presented were not astonishing. A bit downhearted, we were waiting for the next game, while I got to know part of the Polish delegation!
Very friendly Polish representatives chatted with me for a while, somehow shocked, that there is a Pole in the gym. They gave me the flag, magazine, exchanged contacts and I got to cheer up Poland with two of our girls, who, hopefully, will bring some medals back to the country.
And so the game started.
The difference in skills and preparation were visible at the very first glimpse of an eye. They passed better, jumped higher and smashed harder.
Now a quick recap of the game:
Set 1: Polish lose to 16. After awful beginning, they got their heads backs in the game in the second part, but it was too late and not enough.
Set 2: Polish strike back. After easy win in first set, Turks loosen up and end loosing to 20 (or something around that;) )
Set 3: easy win for Poland. 25:18. Everyone is shocked. 2:1
Set 4: we have a matchball with 23:24. But it goes different way – 26:24 for Turkey. 2:2
Set 5: a lot of stress, beginning looks like high school volleyball, players are just trying to save the ball from touching the ground. Point for point. But Poland has more luck or stamina or psychological strength – call it as you wish. We won 15:13!
Well, I am not that a patriot and all, but it was cool to be shown every few minutes on the big screen by the cameraman.
Probably gonna go watch it again!
But now I am waiting for Spain: Russia game in basketball on the 9th. I hope it will be wicked!
And BTW – this is my Universities gym. Hopefully, I will play my basketball games there:D
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