· August, 2012

Stories about Sport from August, 2012

Zambian National Football Team Coach Granted Permanent Residence

Zambia has had many expatriate national football team coaches, but Frenchman Herve Renard, who led the team in scooping the Africa Cup of Nations in 2012, enjoys special affection. In recognition of his success, the government has accorded him permanent residence but the decision has assumed political overtones.

30 August 2012

Russia: Taxi Drivers Versus Dagestanis in Ryazan

RuNet Echo

A possible fight between Russians and Dagestani migrants perhaps led to dozens, possibly hundreds, of taxi drivers organizing a pogrom-like attack. Events like this raise questions about Russia's capacity to effectively cope with its multiculturalism, especially now, when the situation on the ground in the North Caucasus is so troubling.

23 August 2012

The South Caucasus at the 2012 Olympics

This post is part of our special coverage of the London 2012 Olympics.   The three South Caucasus countries have been participating  independently in the Olympics since 1996, and they each...

18 August 2012

Thailand: Olympic Boxing Defeat Disappoints Fans

Thailand won two silvers and a bronze in the recently concluded London Olympic Games but the controversial defeat of a Thai boxer disappointed many fans who believe that the gold medal should be given to Thailand

17 August 2012

Russia: Ugly Side of Olympic Nationalism

RuNet Echo

"As a pureblooded Russian, and Russian patriot, it is distasteful to look at this disgrace. It’s better to have no medals, than to have Champions like this, ones who hardly speak Russian .." - Gold medal wins by Russian ethnic minorities anger some Russian nationalists.

15 August 2012

Central Asia's Mixed Success at London Olympics

The 2012 Summer Olympics offered mixed successes for Central Asian states. While the Games proved nothing short of triumph for team Kazakhstan, the success of athletes from Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan was more moderate. And for Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan, the Olympics were largely a disappointment.

14 August 2012

Afghanistan: When Bronze Means More than Gold

"In a year filled with suicide bombings, school poisonings and kidnappings, the bronze for Afghanistan was more than gold." The country celebrates its one and only Olympic winner - Bronze medalist and Taekwondo fighter Rohullah Nikpai.

13 August 2012

Nicaragua: A Blogger's Olympic Dream

Mildred Largaespada from the blog 1001 trópicos [es] shares her “Olympic dream.” In 1984, Mildred was part of Nicaragua's National Junior Basketball Team and participated in the Central American Games...

13 August 2012