Spectators offered free entry for Gymnastics in Shanghai
Entry will be free to the gymnastics World Cup in Shanghai this weekend in a drive to boost spectator interest before the 2008 Games. 'I think this will be a kind of test competition for the Beijing Olympics,' Adrian Stoica, the International Federation of Gymnastics president, said. Olympic champion Teng Haibing is one of 58 gymnasts and 10 Chinese competitors taking part in the event. 'I wouldn't like to say how many golds China can win this year, but hopefully a few. I'd love to get one of them,' said Teng. Russia will field 13 gymnasts, including the exciting 15-year-old Kristina Pravdina.
Con man jailed for 12 years after duping dozens of farmers
Con man Liu Lutang duped dozens of farmers out of two million yuan to grow trees he said would be used at the Beijing Games, the Beijing News said. He was jailed for 12 years after conning more than 50 farmers into contracts to buy saplings of a maple tree for 20 yuan each. He promised to buy them back at a higher price after six months. 'He told the farmers they would be used in the Olympics,' the newspaper reported.
