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Story Archives of 'Olympics'Joanne Dow Prepares for Olympic DebutBy Avishay Artsy on Wednesday, August 20, 2008.Among the athletes competing in the Beijing Olympics is a native of Manchester. At 44, Joanne Dow is the oldest member of the U.S. Olympic track and field team. New Hampshire Public Radio’s Avishay Artsy reached her by phone at their training center in the coastal city of Dalian, where she’s preparing for her Olympic debut. listen:
  The Perilous Politics of the Beijing OlympicsBy Laura Knoy on Friday, August 8, 2008.The road to the Beijing Olympics has been unusually bumpy, with protests over Tibetan independence, human rights and China's relationship with Sudan. These negative reactions have led to feelings of anger and humiliation from both the Chinese government and the people, who say others have interfered in China's affairs for too long. We’ll look at the complicated international politics behind the 2008 Games. Guests
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High-Tech Olympic GearBy Virginia Prescott on Thursday, July 10, 2008.My most lucid Summer Olympic memory is from 1976, when Romainian gymnast Nadia Comaneci captivated the world with her grace, never-before-seen athleticism and her early teenaged timidity. All the kids in the neighborhood became aspiring gymnasts. My father built us a low-to-the ground balance beam he modeled from a magazine, and we turned our barn into a gym. There was a waiting line for the rest of the summer.
Writer Mathew Honan previews some of this new-fangled equipment in WIRED Magazine, and joins Word of Mouth with his take on space-age soccer balls, running shoes, and swimsuits. listen:
The Londonderry High School Band and Color Guard Are Off to ChinaBy Mark Bevis on Tuesday, June 17, 2008.At about 2:30 this afternoon the first of three busses full of Londonderry students is scheduled to leave the high school. Destination: Beijing. The Londonderry High School Band and Color Guard have been invited to play during a Pre-Olympic event called the Beijing Cultural Youth Festival. Pollyann Winslow is the mother of one of those students and an organizer. She tells NHPR's Mark Bevis that 253 students plus dozens of chaperones and parents will be on those busses headed for the adventure of a lifetime. listen: No audio currently available. Order on CD (pdf).
The People's WeatherBy Virginia Prescott on Monday, April 7, 2008.The opening date of the Summer Olympics in Beijing is drawing closer.
The games will be held during the summer's wet season, and Chinese officials are so concerned about rain interrupting the games, they've devised a plan to manipulate the city's weather. New York Observer writer Tom Scocca lives in Beijing, and wrote an article called "The People's Weather" in the April issue of Plenty Magazine. He spoke with Word of Mouth host Virginia Prescott about China's efforts to keep the Olympic Games from getting rained out. Read Tom Scocca's article "The People's Weather" in Plenty Magazine (Photo by Addictive Picasso) listen:
Beijing's Building BoomBy Virginia Prescott on Thursday, April 3, 2008.Chinese officials stepped up security when the Olympic torch stopped in Beijing this week on its trek around the globe. Government organizers of the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics are taking no chances of repeating protests that robbed the spotlight at the flame-lighting ceremony in Athens last week. Clashes between Tibetan demonstators and Chinese police in Llhasa have drawn the world's notice, and put China's human rights record back on the front page. Getting less attention is the rapid transformation of Beijing as officials prepare to host the Olympic games.
Our guest, Philip Nobel, wrote for Metropolis Magazine about his five-day visit to Beijing last fall and the changes he observed. Read Philip Nobel's article "Delirious Beijing" in Metropolis Magazine See photos of Beijing's new architectural wonders (Photo by Ken McCown) listen:
Athletes Then and NowBy Shay Zeller on Wednesday, February 22, 2006.Tonight on the Front Porch, we'll talk about the ancient Greek games and the men who played them. They share some similarities to today's biggest stars, but there are definitely some differences, too. (For example, many of today's athletes actually wear clothes). Our guest is Matthew Gonzales, associate professor in the Classics department at Saint Anselm College. We'll also talk to Taylor Chase. The 19-year old Sled Hockey player from the University of New Hampshire is heading to Torino, Italy, to play in the Winter Paralympics. listen:
Let The Games BeginBy Laura Knoy on Thursday, February 9, 2006.On the eve of the Opening Ceremonies of the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy, we'll look at the Olympic experience from the Athlete's Village to rinks, slopes and tracks that will set the stage for 16 days of sub-freezing competition. We'll also talk about the big events, the shining stars and the athletes from NH who will be going for the gold. Laura's guests are John Morton, commentator for Vermont Public Radio and author of Medal of Honor: An Insider Unveils the Agony and Ecstasy of the Olympic Dream. John has participated in seven Olympic games as an athlete, coach, biathlon Team leader and Chief of Course for biathlon events for the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake. We'll also be joined by Vin Sylvia, Deputy Managing Editor of Sports for the Union Leader and New Hampshire Sunday News. listen:
National Arm Wrestling Champ is from New HampshireBy Lisa Peakes on Monday, June 27, 2005.Valerie Beach is the National Arm Wrestling Champion. She talks about her training and her dreams of bringing home a medal for the United States in the Olympics. She also wrestles her grandmother - and lets her win. listen:
The Miracle On Ice- 25 Years LaterBy Laura Knoy on Tuesday, February 22, 2005.Twenty-five years ago today, during the height of the cold war, one of the greatest upsets in sports history unfolded, when a fledgling U.S. hockey team defeated the formidable Soviet powerhouse in the 1980 Olympics. Its been called one of the greatest sports events of the 20th century but for an America faced with a new President, a hostage crisis and major economic woes it meant so much more. Laura's guest is Wayne Coffee, Award winning sportswriter for the New York Daily News and author of "The Boys of Winter: The Untold Story of a Coach, a Dream, and the 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team". listen:
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When the Olympics kick off in Beijing this August, spectators around the world will be inspired to become hurdlers, equestrians, high jumpers, and soccer stars. But times were simpler in 1976. Now young fans will watch their heroes perform with high-tech gear that may make my childhood make-believe arena even more quaint. 
The city has put in new subway lines, and taken on trophy architectural projects and an urban renewal campaign that has transformed much of the old city. 