From the IAAF SECTION VII - RACE WALKING EVENTS
RULE 230: Race Walking
Definition of Race Walking
1. Race Walking is a progression of steps so taken that the walker makes contact with the ground, so that no visible (to the human eye) loss of contact occurs. The advancing leg shall be straightened (i.e. not bent at the knee) from the moment of first contact with the ground until the vertical upright position.

Um, interesting photo...

Enough with the superlatives, what's the ratio of women's to men's bathrooms? What foods do the concession stands sell? Do they have shuttles from the parking lot to the stadium doors? How about benches? Trash cans? Drinking fountains? Shade trees? Coat checks? Are directional signs clear and plentiful? How will the stadium handle rain as far as drainage and such? Etc, etc. 软件 vs 硬件.

The stadium was the only one of the current monstrosities being inflicted upon Beijing by foreign architects that had any chance of being inspirational. However, when they started to fill in the top parts of it, it started to look more like chain link, than bird's nest. When they write the book on 20th century architecture, the final chapter will belong to Beijing. Street life killing, non-sustainable, culturally invalid, space junk.

i second Micah's request for coverage of concession-stand food. (though didn't Micah himself run a food blog circa 2003-04?)

way back in '99, i was exiled to Kunming for a "foreign expert" retreat and paraded through the grounds of the World Horticultural Expo Park. the park grounds featured a number of "international" concession stands hawking, ostensibly, foods from around the world.

interestingly enough, the stands were all staffed by Chinese (that's reasonable) serving stir- and deep-fried versions (i.e. Sinicized) of international dishes, with the sole and notable exception of the Sri Lankan stand, which was staffed by Sri Lankans serving stuff-that-i-ordered-but-have-since-forgotten.

i have few illusions, however, about the type of fare likely to be on offer at Beijing's olympic venues.

the likely options are:

(a) domesticated international fare; AND/OR

(b) "China regional specialties food court" cuisine.

but i'm hoping that the Sri Lankan team makes a return visit and that their food is worth remembering this time 'round :-)

Very interesting. I visited a World Horticultural Expo in Shenyang a few years back, and virtually all the pavilions there were staffed by foreigners. But that was short-term, I believe, and the pavilions apparently traveled to various places around the world doing similar things, so it's only natural that they wouldn't use local hires.

b: my take on the likely options is food provided by sponsors, ie coke and popcorn. I wonder what it would take to get some Dodger dogs and garlic fries served up...

(food blog was on Xanga, now blocked)

The first thing I noticed about the photo, as technically explained by David was both feet of the front "runner" (double pun intended)were off the ground at the same time. I had to look twice as I had thought the race was a walking race. If that lady across the finish line first, she should have been disqualified from winning or any metal.

Pete-- to be sure, this is a photograph, and the rules according to David's post specify that no visible (to the human eye) loss of contact occurs. It's possible that this loss of contact was too brief to be seen--we'd have to know the camera's EXIF settings to be sure. But perhaps lead would be the appropriate metal to award her?