Beijing 2008: Were these the best Games ever?

View from the Bird’s Nest
The Reuters Olympic Blog

The Beijing Olympic Games closed on Sunday, as China passed on the flame to London.

Former IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch was in the habit of describing each Games as “the best ever”, with the notable exception of Atlanta in 1996.

His successor Jacques Rogge does not go in for such superlatives. He described Athens in 2004 as “unforgettable, dream Games” and on Sunday he pronounced the verdict on Beijing, saying they had provided “an exceptional Games”.

Perhaps that was a fitting phrase for an Olympics that began with an opening ceremony on an unparalleled scale and went on to provide highlights that will live on in the memory of all of us.

American swimmer Michael Phelps won eight gold medals, with a little help from his friends on the relay team, to break the record of seven at a single Games, achieved by Mark Spitz in 1972. Usain Bolt took the breath from all of us in the Bird’s Nest stadium when he won the 100 and 200 metres, breaking the world record in each.

Matthias Steiner broke our hearts by offering up his weightlifting gold to the wife he lost in a car crash, while Matt Emmons made us all gasp when for the second Olympics in succession he blew a certain gold medal with a ridiculous mistake on his final shot.

But were they the best Games ever? China provided us with a wonderful experience at and away from the venues and I will never forget the friendliness of the legions of volunteers, and the ordinary Chinese people too.

One thing that did get me after a while is that this was a Games that was taken extremely seriously, by everyone (apart from Usain Bolt).

Faster, Higher, Stronger goes the Olympic motto, and China seemed determined to host a Games with those goals in mind. They did it too, but I sometimes longed for an Eric the Eel in the pool, or even a cock-up in the organisation, just to prove that not even the Chinese are perfect when it comes to running a big event.

The short segment given to London 2012 during the closing ceremony promised a much more modest scale and perhaps a touch of irony and self-deprecation, what with the umbrellas and a double decker bus. I almost expected Austin Powers to come somersaulting out.

For now, though, let’s focus on China. The Games were brilliant, but were they the best ever? Please let us know in the comments.

PHOTO: Fireworks explode during the closing ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games at the National Stadium, August 24, 2008. REUTERS/Claro Cortes

Post a comment (15) | Share| Trackback Comments RSS15 comments so far
August 24th, 2008
3:27 pm GMT Great performances but not the best Games. Sydney or Barcelona beat these for sheer fun. Great to see the Brits win so many golds, though. Perhaps I’ll change my mind.

- Posted by jf

August 24th, 2008
3:49 pm GMT Bolt, Phelpsy, Yams - what more could you want?

- Posted by dave

August 24th, 2008
3:54 pm GMT Every game has it’s own performance, Beijing is outstanding in nearly every aspect,but it’s not necessary to compare it with other citis.

- Posted by Leon

August 24th, 2008
4:13 pm GMT Definitely by far the BEST game ever. I can’t believe Rogge would understate it like that. Unforgivable!

- Posted by Lucy

August 24th, 2008
4:14 pm GMT Not the “best ever”.

Watching two Chinese officials tear (one of the many) match balls from the arms of the winning American basketball coach was just one reason (I have footage!)

Athletes told to “leave laptops at home — internet access will be everywhere” and then forced to huddle around shared computers is another.

“Best ever” were the magic words that Rogge must have been under incredible pressure to utter. Kudos for not kowtowing that time — what a pity he (and the IOC) bent the knee about so many other broken BOCOG promises.

- Posted by Royster

August 24th, 2008
4:31 pm GMT No, these were the most expensive games ever, London 1908 was the best games ever. There were lots of comedy events like Deer Stalking (OK, not funny for the deer i know) fly fishing and croquet. Much more idiotic than synchronised diving, rhythmic gymnastics and riding a bicycle very slowly.

- Posted by Ian Thorpe

August 24th, 2008
4:41 pm GMT As it has gone with dream like performances,i think it the better one just in my opinion, one for an audience. And the best one or not,should be commented by the players and the ioc . However,i think it best.

- Posted by LK

August 24th, 2008
4:47 pm GMT Best ever!

- Posted by EA

August 24th, 2008
4:47 pm GMT Each game brings a different aspect. Each host country did their best for the world. The ‘best-ever’ game is not a necessary comparison. Beijing was exceptional, magical and those smiles from ordinary volunteers and the proud Chinese people will be the legend of this fantastic Olympic game. As a Chinese, I can’t be prouder of what was done. Bravo China!

- Posted by lei Qu

August 24th, 2008
4:50 pm GMT I did enjoyed it. Usain Bolt on the track, Michael Phelps winning eight gold medals in the Water Cube…those were among my favourite highlights.

‘but it’s not necessary to compare it with other citis.’
True.

- Posted by diana

August 24th, 2008
4:52 pm GMT this olympics games was definately dominated by usain bolt. he is easily most talked about athlete leaving the games. his performances is the greatest anyone have ever seen and likes that will not be repeated in a long time to come. it easy to say that bolt is the athlete of this generation and the greatest display of dominance in the history ot olympic games. he not only won three gold medals but all in blistering world record times in the same games never was it done before by great performers of the past such as jesse owens, carl lewis or even michael phelps.

- Posted by shane norton

August 24th, 2008
4:58 pm GMT greatest performances ever but dont now it was the greatest olympics ever.

- Posted by shane norton

August 24th, 2008
5:11 pm GMT these are truly the best games ever. China has done an amzing job, the facilities and the pereformances would take somthing extrodinary to beat.

- Posted by tracy

August 24th, 2008
5:22 pm GMT These were definitely exceptional games, no question. but the best ever title rightfully belongs to Sydney. Go you Aussies!

- Posted by Andy

August 24th, 2008
5:25 pm GMT Absolutely! Fantastic opening ceremony!Unprecedented athletes performance!Meticulous race schedule arrangement! Can U ask for more?
Though chinese goverment has its problem! But just only considering the games itself bu not the outer factors.

- Posted by Zh

2008 Beijing Olympics draw to a close

WELT online
24. August 2008, 13:15 Uhr
Criticism, Praise and Anticipation
2008 Beijing Olympics draw to a close
With the 2008 Summer Games winding up Sunday, International Olympic Commitee head Jacques Rogge gave Olympic host-city Beijing a glowing report while artfully stepping around issues of internet censorship and freedom of protest. Meanwhile Washington's top diplomat pressured for the release of U.S. protestors arrested last week and Boris Johnson expected a "fantabulous" games in 2012.
Foto: REUTERSRogge:"The IOC and the Olympic Games cannot force changes on sovereign nations or solve all the ills of the world. But we can, and we do, contribute to positive change through sport."
"We had a splendid village, we had state-of-the art venues, we have an impeccable operation and we had great performances... It is clear that China has put the bar very high." Said Rogge, congratulating himself and the IOC for its choice in a news conference held Sunday. Rogge had many an occasion to defend the IOC's decision for Beijing over the months leading up to the opening ceremony, often protesting that the games could give the rest of the world a look inside the homeland of one fifth of the world's people. He didn't miss the opportunity this time, saying; "The world has learned about China, and China has learned about the world, and I believe this is something that will have positive effects for the long term." Schlagworte
Olympics Jacques Rogge Beijing London China Freedom of Speech However Beijing's openess to the rest of the world has remained a point for criticism throughout the games. Access to many websites remained blocked in Beijing despite promises made by the IOC and Chinese Olympic officials regarding internet censorship, an issue that Rogge addressed without claiming responsibility. "We have always urged China to give the widest possible access to the Internet... We acknowledge that the situation has not been perfect, but we acknowledge at the same time that the situation was a major change compared to before the games....You should not forget one thing: it is not the IOC running the Internet, it is the Chinese government running the Internet." Weiterführende links
Phelps claims place among greatest Olympians ever Czech shooter wins Olympic's first gold medal
Olympics open with a bang amid worldwide protest
A viewers guide
US wins gold by a fingertip, keeps Phelps on track
Phelps wins 7th Olympic gold medal Bolt beats own world record to win Olympic 100
Swedish wrestler stripped of bronze medal Phelps wins his 8th gold medal
Despite the designation of three protest areas, not one of the over 70 petitions from various international groups was granted, leaving these areas empty for the duration of the games. Rogge said he found it "unusual" that none of the protest applications were approved. Illegal protests resulted in deportations and a number of demonstrators being held in Beijing during the final week under the law that a prisoner may be held by authorities for 14 days without charge. U.S. Ambassador Clark T. Randt Jr demanded an immediate release of U.S. citizens in a statement released Saturday. "We are disappointed that China has not used the occasion of the Olympics to demonstrate greater tolerance and openness,“ wrote the ambassador. London mayor Boris Johnson, in Beijing to receive the Olympic flag during the closing ceremony, was enthusiastic about his city hosting what he described to Independent on Sunday as a more "intimate" games in 2012. Keen not to mispend tax-payers money, officials in London are looking at using already existing venues in the city but Johnshon insisted that the event will nonetheless be "fantabulous". The closing ceremony will feature an eight minute slot from London with performances by Leona Lewis, David Beckham and Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page and is set to start at 2pm CEST (1pm UTC).

Phelps wins historic eighth gold

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Video - Phelps wins record eighth gold

Michael Phelps won his eighth Olympic gold medal of the Beijing Games to beat Mark Spitz's 1972 record of seven, with victory in the 4x100m medley.

The 23-year-old teamed up with Aaron Peirsol, Brendan Hansen and Jason Lezak to claim the historic gold for the United States in a world record time.

They held off Australia and Japan to win in three minutes 29.34 seconds.

Britain finished in sixth, but the race was all about record-breaking Phelps' place in history.

Phelps, who swam 17 times over nine days and set world records in seven finals, had already won the 400m medley, 200m freestyle, 200m butterfly, 4x100m free relay, 4x200m free relay, 200m medley and the 100m butterfly.


With so many people saying it couldn't be done, all it takes is an imagination
Michael Phelps

Victory in the 4x100m relay rounded off a remarkable Olympics the 6ft 4in swimmer, who has dominated the action in the Water Cube.
However, his final triumph was far from straightforward.

Phelps dived into the water for the third leg butterfly with his team in third position but he powered them into the lead.

Australian Eamon Sullivan tried to chase the Americans down but Lezak held on to clinch Phelps' record win.

It also took Phelps' Olympic medal haul to 14 golds, and 16 overall.

Phelps admitted to being overwhelmed after achieving his feat, and was quick to pay tribute to his team-mates.


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Video - Phelps pleased with final finish "I don't even know what to feel right now," Phelps said.

"There are so many emotions going through my head and so much excitement. I kind of just want to see my mom.

"Without the help of my team-mates this isn't possible.

"I was able to be a part of three relays and we were able to put up a solid team effort and we came together as one unit.

"For the three Olympics I've been a part of, this is by far the closest men's team that we've ever had.

"I didn't know everybody coming into this Olympics, but I feel going out I know every single person very well. The team that we had is the difference.


OLYMPICS 2008 BLOG

BBC Sport’s Matt Slater

"Nothing is impossible.
"With so many people saying it couldn't be done, all it takes is an imagination, and that's something I learned and something that helped me.

"It's been nothing but an upwards roller-coaster and it's been nothing but fun."

His team-mate Peirsol added: "It's a beautiful thing, I am so proud to be a part of this relay team.

"It wasn't like we were doing this for Michael, but it's an honour to be part of it. It would have been something if we hadn't done it."

Australian swimmer Grant Hackett said: "Michael Phelps - you can't put it in words what he has done here, his level of achievement is phenomenal and I don't think it will ever be seen again."

BEIJING BEAT: Phelps Phenomenon Goes Global

BEIJING BEAT: Michael Phelps transcends Olympics to become household name around the globe
By STEPHEN WILSON
The Associated Press
BEIJING



Quick quiz: What has 13 letters and means global phenomenon?

Easy.

Answer: Michael Phelps.

The Beijing Olympics have belonged to one man, a 23-year-old American swimmer from Baltimore who has become a household name from the Philippines to Peru and Cairo to Caracas.

With his sensational gold medal and world record haul so far, Phelps has transcended Olympic sports and exploded onto the planet's consciousness as a once-in-a-lifetime supernova.

"He doesn't swim — he flies," said the sports daily Ole in Argentina.

With his victory Friday in the 200-meter individual medley, Phelps picked up his sixth gold medal and sixth world record of the games. With two races left, he is on course to break Mark Spitz's record of seven golds at a single Summer Olympics.

His current count of 12 career golds — he also won six in Athens four years ago — has already made Phelps the athlete with the most gold medals in Olympic history.

International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge calls him simply "the icon of the games."

Phelps' feats have drawn banner headlines across the world, including in regions and countries where swimming normally gets scant attention, with newspapers and commentators tripping over each other for superlatives and nicknames:

"The barracuda from Baltimore," said Chile's largest newspaper, El Mercurio.

"The New Olympic Legend," blared Egypt's El Badeel.

"The American dolphin," wrote Spain's El Pais.

"The God of Olympia," intoned France's Nouvel Nouvel Observateur.

"The water man from another planet," hailed Denmark's Berligske Tidende

"At a time when world records seemed to have hit the ceiling of what's physically possible to wrestle out of the human organism, Phelps has been the man who managed to push the limits with his magnificent performance," the Danish paper said.

With the Chinese team running away with so many golds, the Phelps phenomenon has hardly been the center of attention in the host country, though it has not gone unnoticed. Friday's newspapers' headlines were all about another swimmer, Liu Zige, who won the 200-meter butterfly, giving China its first swimming gold of the games.

Chinese media have dubbed Phelps' the "flying fish" or the "American superfish." One editorial cartoon showed Phelps as a shark overtaking a torpedo. China's most popular sports newspaper, the Titan Weekly — which is running daily editions during the games — made Phelps one of its two front-page stories Thursday. It ran a large photo of a joyous Phelps under the headline "His Majesty Phelps."

The world has shown a special fascination with Phelps' diet, which counts an amazing 12,000 calories a day — six times what a normal adult male eats. For example, his breakfast includes three fried-egg sandwiches, an omelet, a bowl of grits, three slices of French toast, three chocolate chip pancakes and two cups of coffee.

"Any average adult human being needs some 2,500 daily calories to live a life without excesses," Argentina's Ole said. "Of course when you're in the presence of a monster like Michael Phelps, those parameters can go to hell."

French media have focused on their own swimmer, Alain Bernard, who has one gold and one silver, but has given Phelps his due, too.

The sports daily L'Equipe devoted an entire page to Phelps under the headline "Alone in the Pantheon." Le Parisien newspaper said, "There aren't enough superlatives" to describe Phelps.

The Times of London devoted three full pages to Phelps, including a sketch in the style of Leonardo Da Vinci's famous Vitruvian Man to highlight his physical attributes.

The British Broadcasting Corp. remained focused largely on its own country's rare successes and China's domination of the medal table, and some papers questioned whether Phelps was truly the "greatest Olympian" or just the greatest swimmer.

"The all-time No. 1 Olympian or just one of many such belt-holders?" Daily Mail columnist Paul Hayward wrote.

"The latter, is my conclusion, because numbers of golds won is only one criterion by which to weigh Olympic greatness — not least because of the sheer number of scarcely distinguishable events open to swimmers — though Phelps will move another giant step towards the all-time title on Sunday if he puts Spitz in the shade."

British bookmakers, meanwhile, are already listing Phelps as 5-6 (odds-on) to win five or more gold medals at the next Olympics in London in 2012.

"We couldn't care less whether he's the greatest Olympian ever," Ladbrokes spokesman David Williams said. "The truth is he's costing us a fortune and punters (bettors) just love him. If Phelps comes to London in 2012 there's a strong chance he could clean up again. Frankly, we're already dreading it."

Nowhere is swimming bigger than in Australia, and Phelps has eclipsed the country's own Ian Thorpe, the "Thorpedo" who won five Olympic gold medals, 11 world titles and set 13 world records before retiring in 2006.

The Australian, a national broadsheet, described Phelps in a front-page headline Thursday as "the champion who swims in his own galaxy."

"If Michael Phelps were a country he would be sitting fourth on the Games medal tally," the paper said.

A regional newspaper, The Newcastle Herald, lauded Phelps in an editorial.

"Every Olympiad produces its own titans: athletes whose performances galvanize the world's attention and whose names become synonymous in Olympic history with the cities and years of their triumphs," it said. "In that sense, Beijing 2008 will always belong to Michael Phelps."

A tongue-in-cheek letter in The Age may have best summed up the world's amazement with the Phelps juggernaut.

"Is it true," wrote reader Pat Lester, "that Michael Phelps can take a three-minute shower in 2 1/2 minutes?"

(This version CORRECTS that Phelps won six gold medals in Athens.) )


Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Copyright © 2008 ABC News Internet Ventures

Crocker stands in way of Phelps making history

By PAUL NEWBERRY, AP National Writer
2 hours, 0 minutes ago

Poor Ian Crocker.

He desperately craves an Olympic gold medal of his own, about the only thing missing from his swimming career. This might be his last chance to get it, too. He turns 26 in a couple of weeks, and who knows if he’ll still be in the pool four years from now.

All he has to do is beat Michael Phelps—and become the villain of the Beijing Games.

Crocker, a soft-spoken native of Maine who loves strumming his guitar, writing thoughtful blogs and cruising around in vintage cars, appears to be the last major hurdle to Phelps’ bid to surpass Mark Spitz with eight gold medals.

They’ll face each other Saturday morning in the final of the 100-meter butterfly, Phelps’ last individual event of the Olympics and Crocker’s only one.

What must be going through this guy’s mind? He’s not about to apologize for wanting to win the first individual gold medal of his career. Then again, he surely knows that a whole world is cheering on Phelps, eager to see him do something no Olympian has done before.

“You can start by not worrying about what everybody else thinks,” Crocker said. “Nobody knows what I’ve really gone through in the last eight years and what has gotten me to this point, besides myself and a few people that I know well. So it’s my own personal deal at this point.”


Crocker is certainly a formidable foe, holding the world record in the 100 fly for more than three years. But Phelps won their most important showdown at the 2004 Athens Olympics. He also came out on top at last year’s world championships and last month’s U.S. Olympic trials.

After waiting around all week to race at the Water Cube, Crocker inexplicably wore a jammer—a suit that runs from the waist to just above the knees—and came shockingly close to getting bounced in the preliminaries.

Switching back to his regular legsuit for Friday’s semifinals, Crocker was much faster. He tied for the third-best time, trailing the top qualifier, Serbia’s Milorad Cavic, and Phelps.

Crocker returned in the evening to swim the butterfly leg in the prelims of the 400 medley relay, which could be the crowning race of Phelps’ monumental achievement.

“I feel like I’m at a swim meet now,” Crocker said. “I get sharper and sharper with each race I do, a little bit more confident about exactly what I’m doing at certain points in the race, how to build the race properly.”

Everyone on the U.S. team played it safe, no doubt remembering what happened to Crocker at last year’s worlds. Phelps had already won seven events and was resting up to swim in the final of the medley relay. He never got the chance— Crocker jumped in too quick on an exchange and the U.S. team was disqualified in the prelims.

“I don’t think we were going to leave China if anyone got us DQed,” quipped Matt Grevers, who swam the backstroke leg. “It’s such a historic event on the line with this relay. This relay might be what it all comes down to for the eight golds. You don’t want to be the one who screws that up.”

The blunder was certainly on Crocker’s mind when he climbed on the block to swim the butterfly leg.

“That’s kind of hard to forget,” he said. “After this week, with all Phelps has done, you don’t want to be the guy standing in the way of that.”

But that’s exactly what Crocker will be in the 100 fly.

The guy standing between Phelps and destiny.

The potential bad guy.


BEIJING - AUGUST 11: (L-R) Ma…

Getty Images - Aug 11, 1:25 am EDT
“People point at me, but Cavic is looking real good and a lot of other guys are looking really good,” Crocker said, trying to deflect as much attention as possible. “It’s going to be a tight race all across the board.”

Phelps agreed. He hopes to get off to a better start so he doesn’t have too much ground to make up on the return lap. If he’s close, it’s over—no one is a better closer.

“For me to be a player in that race, I have to be closer at the 50,” he said. “If I’m not, then it will be tough. I was over a body length behind at the 50 in the prelims and came up a bit short, so I have to be there.”

Friday was another big day for the Americans at the pool. In addition to Phelps, Ryan Lochte won his first individual gold medal by beating teammate Aaron Peirsol with a world record in the 200 backstroke, while Rebecca Soni claimed a record of her own to beat Australia’s Leisel Jones in the 200 breaststroke. Also, 41-year-old Dara Torres advanced to the semifinals of the 50 freestyle—her only individual event in Beijing.

With two days of swimming left, the powerful U.S. team has piled up 25 medals, including 10 golds. The Americans are on course to eclipse the 12 golds and 28 medals they won in Athens four years ago and possibly challenge their 14-gold, 33-medal haul at the 2000 Sydney Games.


BEIJING - AUGUST 11: Jason Lez…

Getty Images - Aug 11, 1:27 am EDT
Of course, it helps to have a swimmer like Phelps, virtually a country unto himself.

“I never thought I would see this type of swimming in my life,” Grevers said. “This is absolutely going to be something for the ages. A hundred years from now, people will probably remember this Olympics and what Team USA did, and especially what Michael did.”

Phelps has become a household name around the world, touted in headlines as everything from the “Barracuda from Baltimore” to the “God of Olympia.” Even in China, where the home team’s success is getting most of the attention, the official news agency dubbed Phelps the “American superfish.”

For those who believe Phelps might be using more illicit methods to produce these times, he shot down any speculation about doping.

“Anybody can say whatever they want, but I know I’m clean,” said Phelps, who took part in a special U.S. anti-doping program that subjected him to additional, more sophisticated testing. “People can question it all they want, but the facts are the facts. I have the results to prove it.”

On Friday, he won No. 6 with another world record—the sixth one of those, as well—in the 200 individual medley. He returned a half-hour later for the butterfly semifinals, so rushed after the medal ceremony that he had to stuff the latest gold in the pocket of his warmup jacket.

“There wasn’t much time,” Phelps said, “but I think there’s going to be a lot of time for me to rest over the next 18 hours or so, and I’ll be able to be ready.”

The 23-year-old hung on the lane rope in a familiar pose after winning the 200 IM, but showed little emotion other than raising his left arm when his time of 1 minute, 54.23 seconds flashed on the board—more than two seconds ahead of the next guy.

“The next two races are pretty important,” said Phelps, who erased his own mark of 1:54.80 at last month’s U.S. trials. “I have to conserve as much physical and emotional energy as I can.”

He’s already the winningest athlete in Olympic history with 12 golds—he also won two bronze medals in Athens—but his sights are on eight in Beijing.

Spitz won seven golds at the 1972 Munich Games. Phelps has two more events to remove any doubt he’s the greatest Olympian ever.

Lochte tried to pull off a daunting double, going against Phelps just 29 minutes after winning the 200 backstroke. He couldn’t keep up, though he did hold on for bronze. Laszlo Cseh of Hungary picked up his third silver of the games—all of them trailing Phelps.

“It’s not a shame,” Cseh said, “to be beaten by a better one.”

When the official times were posted, Phelps extended his right hand to Lochte in the next lane. The friends shook hands and patted each other on the head. Later, they yukked it up on the medal stand before Phelps hustled off to grab his racing gear.

“I switched from my dress sweats to my parka, shoes, threw my cap and goggles on and then they pushed us on out. No time,” he said.

History can’t wait.

Batman's Worse Review Yet

Tuesday August 5 1:15 PM ET

Remember the name Rory Gibson, for he may well be the only person who can lay claim to having fallen asleep from boredom while watching The Dark Knight.

By FilmStew Staff, FilmStew.com

Among the journalistic duties performed by Rory Gibson of Australia's Courier-Mail newspaper is that of beer columnist for insert magazine The Good Life. His bio for the newspaper suggests that he "spends an inordinate amount of time researching the subject [of beer]," and certainly fans of The Dark Knight are going to assume he had a pint – or three – too many before taking in the box office busting Batman movie.

'It is way too long, way too boring and has a plot so convoluted it could only have been written by a dyslexic 12-year-old dosed up on Ritalin,' he writes on Monday, August 4th, revealing that he actually fell asleep at one point in the movie theater. 'When I woke up about half an hour later I honestly thought I had slept right through the movie and into the next screening session, because the story hadn't progressed.'

'The Joker was still blowing things up, and no one was doing anything concrete about it,' he continues. 'By my reckoning there were at least a dozen opportunities to put a bullet through his [the Joker's] brain and put us all out of our misery, but no, the film's director wanted us to suffer for almost three hours.'

Given the fact that the late Heath Ledger was born in Australia, it would seem almost a given that he would be afforded in this case automatic posthumous praise Down Under. But at press time, very surprisingly, nine of the 29 readers who had commented on the Gibson piece basically agreed with the writer's view of The Dark Knight, while a number of those taking him to task articulated the thought that he was deliberately being a contrarian just to attract attention.

'Sure, Heath Ledger makes a good Joker, but by keeping him on the screen for so long he ruined his good work,' Gibson concludes. 'Trust me, life is too short to waste time with this appalling movie.'

Airport alone

-- family forgets four-year-old at Israel airport
AFP - Sunday, August 3 05:04 pmJERUSALEM (AFP) - A four-year-old girl was left behind at Israel's Ben Gurion international airport on Sunday as her mother, father and four siblings rushed to catch a flight to Paris, police said.

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"I saw a little girl in tears. She was looking for her parents," a policewoman told reporters.

"Luckily she was able to give me her name. I grabbed her and ran to the gates but it was too late," the plane had just taken off, she said.

According to police, the girl's parents only realised she was missing when the pilot of the plane informed them just as the aircraft was taking off.

"It is usual that travellers in a rush forget their luggage but not a child. This never happens," a police official said.

The incident was a stark reminder of the US box office hit "Home Alone" in which a little boy was accidentally left alone as his family rushed to the airport and flew to Paris for a Christmas holiday.

But unlike the movie, there was a happy ending for the little girl who was able to join her parents. She was flown to Paris on the next flight out accompanied by a flight attendant.

The forgetful parents will be interrogated by the authorities upon their return home and risk being indicted for negligence, police said.