Master Wong recently participated at the Beijing Olympics as the US Team Coach for the ‘Wushu Tournament Beijing 2008’ which  is a special event authorized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) held in conjunction with the 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad.  This event, held from August 21st to the 24th, was sponsored by the 123 member-nation International Wushu Federation (IWUF), and organized by Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2008 Olympics BOCOG.  Taolu and SanShou athletes had been training for years with their individual coaches and trainers and since qualifying in the 2007 Beijing event, now got to return to Beijing, stay in the Olympic Village and compete at the Olympic Venue not far from the famed Birds Nest Stadium.  A closing highlight was when Master Wong and the participating teams were invited to attend the closing ceremony, which was spectacular and forever memorable.

 

Brasil’s Tat Wong Kung Fu Academy Black Belt, Ariana Ortega participated at the 2008 Beijing Olympic representing Team Brasil in SanShou and Sifu Enrique Ortega, Chief Instructor of the Tat Wong Kung Fu Academy in Campinas, Brasil was elected to be the Official Brasil Team Coach.  Tat Wong Kung Fu Academy was the only school that had participants from two countries and it was especially wonderful for both Master Wong and Sifu Ortega to each coach when they’ve worked so closely together in training SanShou athletes over the years.

 

“It was a great honor to participate in this event and a thrill to be part of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.  The amount of positive energy and spirit of competition that filled the Olympic village gives great testament to those of us who strive to achieve athletic heights through competition.  The reason we as teachers and coaches work so hard to get our students to realize that it’s the journey and your personal best that count, not necessarily whether you win the Gold, is exemplified in the Olympic Village.  Most Olympic athletes strive for Gold – this is the motivation and inspiration, but the constant driving force for those that make it to the big competitions and especially the Olympics, is the love of your sport and the burning desire to improve yourself for your own development and for your team.  Some athletes had Gold, Silver or Bronze medals to celebrate, others had improved rankings to cherish, and others had the ‘agony of defeat’ to deal with and learn from, but for all it was a lifetime experience for each athlete and every participant.  There were very few ‘bad sports’ like the wrestling case and more consistently great attitudes and just a general feeling of great fortune to be there.

 

USA Today Newspaper and On-line News interviewed Wang Xiaolin, head of the International Wushu Federation in China and Master Tat-Mau Wong and the members of the US Team.  The article in the USA Today (weekend edition August 22,23,24th) is linked here below:   

 

Article Highlights Mr. Wang Xiaolin, President of the IWUF in China, who proudly describes Kung Fu (Called Wushu in China) which is one China’s most popular sports and health activities. 

"This is a great day," said Wang Xiaolin, president of the Chinese Wushu Association and head of the International Wushu Federation, who has led the push for Olympic recognition.