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Daredevil sport of ski jumping a traditional highlight of Games

Ski jumping is one of the pillars of the Winter Olympics, having been part of the Games since the first edition in 1924. Watching athletes seemingly defy gravity as they glide through the air at the National Ski Jumping Center in Zhangjiakou promises to be a truly thrilling experience.

There will be five ski jumping events at Beijing 2022, including a mixed team event which is making its Olympic debut.

The ski jumping mixed team event made its international level debut at the World Cup in November 2012. Since 2013, mixed team events have also been held at the Nordic World Championships. It features four athletes – two women and two men – competing on the normal hill in a contest that is sure to be a highlight of the Winter Olympics schedule.

With technological advances in suits and skis, the fearless athletes approach speeds of about 100 kilometers per hour before launching themselves off a jump. Ski jumpers lean forward in flight, nearly parallel to their skis to form a V shape, to maximize aerodynamics. They earn points for distance as well as style, which is scrutinized by five judges.

“Ski jumping is a sport that’s about what you have done for me lately and it’s all about who can get hot at the Olympics,” said NBC analyst Johnny Spillane, a three-time Nordic combined Olympian. “It’s not uncommon to have a surprise winner.”

The men’s competition comprises the normal hill individual, large hill individual and men’s team events, with the women’s competition consisting solely of the normal hill.

The men’s competition is expected to be hotly contested between Ryoyu Kobayashi of Japan and Karl Geiger of Germany, who was also in brilliant form at the world championships this season.

Geiger replaced Kobayashi as the world’s top-ranked ski jumper after winning on home soil on Jan 23. Unfortunately, Geiger’s teammate, Olympic ski jumping champions Andreas Wellinger could not come to Beijing due to a knee injury and recently tested positive for COVID-19. Wellinger is the gold medalist from Sochi 2014 in the team competition and individually on the normal hill at Pyeongchang 2018.

Meanwhile, four-time Olympic champion Simon Ammann, 40, will compete in his seventh Winter Games. Ammann is the only jumper to have won a golden double of both individual titles – normal hill and large hill – at two Olympics, in 2002 and 2010. The “Flying Harry Potter”, who ranks 38th in the World Cup standings, may once again surprise all in Beijing.

Austria’s Marita Kramer in action during the Ski Jumping World Cup 2022 in Willingen, Germany, on Jan 29. REUTERS

On the women’s side, Austria’s Marita Kramer has been dominant on the World Cup circuit this season, winning events in November and December.

Sara Takanashi of Japan holds the all-time record for the most individual World Cup wins – male or female – with 61. She will be hoping to improve upon the bronze medal she won at Pyeongchang 2018.

“Kramer is the strongest jumper and when she’s on, she’s tough to beat,” Spillane said. “Takanashi is the winningest ski jumper of all time – among men or women – but she doesn’t have a gold medal from the Olympics yet.”

The fifth and final gold medal in ski jumping will be awarded on Feb 14 in the team event. Norway, Germany and Austria have won the last three Olympic team events. The trio will likely populate the podium again in Beijing, although Slovenia has a chance to upset the traditional powerhouses.

Source: China Daily 

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China’s Shandong province donates 10 civil vehicles to Maldives

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The eastern Chinese province of Shandong has donated 10 civil vehicles to the Maldives.

The donation was handed over by Chinese Ambassador Wang Lixin to the Maldives’ Local Government Minister Adam Shareef Umar on Thursday evening.

Wang wrote on X that she is very pleased to handover the donation.

“I believe those vehicles will help a lot in collecting waste and other public works in different cities, and make Maldives a more beautiful place,” she said.

Meanwhile, Adam Shareef expressed profound gratitude for the generous donation.

“This meaningful gesture symbolizes the supportive friendship between our two nations,” he wrote on X.

Source(s): sun.mv

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Government aims to expand Aasandha service to UAE and Thailand this year

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President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu says his administration aims to expand the services of the public health insurance scheme – Aasandha – to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Thailand within this year.

In an interview to Public Service Media (PSM) which aired on Thursday night, President Muizzu said that administrative arrangements to expand the services to the two countries are going ahead at a fast pace.

“We therefore have high expectations it can begin this year,” he said.

He did not provide any details.

In a press briefing on January 13, following a state visit to China, President Muizzu said his administration plans to expand Aasandha services to countries that offer better quality medical care services, including the UAE and Thailand.

“In the future, Aasandha will not be restricted to medical facilities in specific countries in a specific region, but will be expanded to countries that offer better services such as UAE and Thailand,” he said, while speaking to reporters from the Velana International Airport.

He also announced plans to provide Aasandha coverage for accommodation as well.

Aasandha services are currently available overseas in select medical facilities in neighboring Sri Lanka and India.

The decision to expand Aasandha comes amid concern over the growing burden on the state budget for the provision of the service. The cost of Aasandha has been growing yearly. On Wednesday, Social and Family Development Minister Dr. Aishath Shiham said the expenditure on Aasandha had increased by 60 percent over the last five years.

She said the administration is studying different models in an effort to switch to one that minimizes wastage.

MVR 1.9 billion is allocation in this year’s budget for Aasandha services.

Source(s): sun.mv

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Chinese aid facilitates laboratory equipment for 17 islands

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China has formalized an agreement with the Maldives to procure laboratory equipment for 17 islands in the country.

The formal agreement was signed by the Ambassador of China to the Maldives Wang Lixin and Minister of Health Dr. Abdulla Khaleel.

The Ministry of Health has confirmed that laboratory equipment will be provided to 17 islands as per the letter of exchange. Additionally, plans are underway to extend this initiative to 72 different islands within the current presidential term.

The Ministry emphasized that the allocation of laboratory equipment will address the challenges faced by residents in islands without laboratory services. It is expected to enhance healthcare services offered by health centers and facilitate easier access to medical treatments.

The government has been actively working to strengthen the health sector, ensuring the provision of high-quality medical services for all citizens.

Source(s): PsmNews

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