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Updates on Olympic Athletes Battling it Out; Looking at Sports no Longer in the Olympics; Saudi Women Can't Compete in Olympics, Play at Home; More Russia/Georgia Conflict Details

Aired August 10, 2008 - 17:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Georgia is pleading, again, for ceasefire and being rebuffed by the Russians.
More from the Georgian capital and CNN's Fred Pleitgen.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Georgia says it has fully withdrawn its combat forces from Tskhinvali, the capital of the breakaway province of Southern Ossetia. Now, the move comes after Georgian forces say they witnessed a massive influx of Russian soldiers, tanks, and artillery into the region that resulted in massive fighting in Tskhinvali.

The Georgian forces are telling us that they say they were under a barrage of fire and they say that Tskhinvali is, quote, "destroyed" and that's what prompted them to move out of the city.

Now, the move, also, the Georgian government tells us, is one to show goodwill towards the Russian government. They say they are sending a message to the Russian government via the United States that they are serious about a ceasefire agreement. Nevertheless, both sides are not saying that this conflict is deescalating. They are, in fact, saying this conflict is still very, very dangerous.

Georgia still accuses Russia of blocking all of its Black Sea ports, not allowing humanitarian goods into the region. The Russians, of course, counter that claim saying they are trying to stop armed shipments from getting into the area.

Meanwhile, in Georgia, another conflict looms that in the other breakaway province, that of Abkhazia. Now, there, the breakaway government has mobilized its troops in accordance with the Russian troops that are in the area, and the Georgians say that they believe that those troops are getting ready to attack its forces.

Fred Pleitgen, CNN, Tbilisi, Georgia.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Well, joining us now by phone from South Hampton, New York, the veteran diplomat, Richard Holbrooke. He was ambassador to the U.N. during the Clinton administration.

All right. Thanks for being with us. You know, this current situation -- now we're talking armed shipment struggles, humanitarian aid. Why in the world with this little tiny place of Georgia be taking on the big place of Russia?

RICHARD HOLBROOKE, FMR. U.S. AMBASSADOR TO U.N. (via telephone): Georgia's is not taking on Georgia. Russia has had a longstanding policy of trying to overthrow this government and seize these two enclaves -- South of Ossetia and Abkhazia. Vladimir Putin hates the president of Georgia, Mikhail Saakashvili. And they've been having a war of roads but Russians just kept going and going in provoking. And they used a pretext to start a major war throughout the whole country. And I would note they did it on the opening night of the Olympics, with the expectation that this would distract most of the world.

WHITFIELD: And what's interesting here is, when you mention the Olympics, Vladimir Putin, the prime minister of Russia, was in attendance there at the opening ceremony, as was President Bush. Yet, this is a very prickly situation, isn't it, for the U.S. to get involved, especially beyond the fact that Georgia and the U.S. have great relations but the U.S. needs Russia in a big way, especially when you talk about places like Iran?

HOLBROOKE: Yes, Fredricka, you'd put it exactly correctly. But, you know, of course, no one wants a return to the Cold War. But the Russians have invaded another country. It's not just South Ossetia. They've destroyed almost every airfield in the country. They mobilized the Black Sea fleet.

I was frankly distressed to see our president with -- embracing President Putin at the Olympic Games. Then President Bush and Mrs. Bush, while they applauded the American team, Putin sitting next to him, his arms folded, no reaction.

And, finally, the fact they did not have a serious substantive talk there, nor is there any evidence that over the last year, when this crisis was building and predictable, that -- I wrote about it at the time. There was no...

WHITFIELD: And you feel pretty confident about that that -- you feel pretty confident that they did not have a substantive conversation while sitting next to each other while this was bubbling up?

HOLBROOKE: No. There's no hint today (ph). The White House is putting out they had a conversation about it but they're putting out no details for a very good reason. There was no substantive conversation on this issue that anyone knows about and Putin left directly for the military bases on the Georgian border.

But this is a culmination of the year to neglect by the administration, subordination of the Georgia issue. And as you just said, President Saakashvili is American-educated, the most democratic leader in the former Soviet space except for the Baltics and very pro pro-western.

WHITFIELD: And very media savvy.

HOLBROOKE: And if the Russians succeed in doing this, Fredricka, then it will have a chilling effect on democracy throughout the whole former Soviet space. It's a tragedy of historic proportions.

WHITFIELD: And you see the makings of a regional conflict as a result of all of this?

HOLBROOKE: Reasonable what?

WHITFIELD: A regional conflict. That is likely to grow.

HOLBROOKE: No.

WHITFIELD: Ukraine is also saying it is siding with Georgia here. So, certainly, there's some real lines of demarcation being made.

HOLBROOKE: Yes, there certainly, this is certainly a major crisis and a historic watershed in Russia's post-Cold War relations with the west. But I do not see it spreading to other countries.

However, the next target for undermining democracy for Putin is clearly Ukraine. And that's why the Ukrainians are so agitated but I don't see it spreading towards in Ukraine. That's a different matter. Georgia has 5 million people. Ukraine has 50 million. The relationships are different.

WHITFIELD: Former U.S. ambassador to the U.N., Richard Holbrooke, thank so much for your time. Appreciate it.

HOLBROOKE: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: Onto Toronto, Canada now. A neighborhood of 12,000 is remaining empty after a series of explosions there and a massive fire at a propane company. People living within a mile radius were evacuated overnight and witnesses say their houses, well, they seemed to be shaking just like there were an earthquake taking place. Others report seeing a massive fireball. Firefighters spent most of the day battling those blazes.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, CTV)

DIV. CMDR. BOB O'HALLARN, TORONTO FIRE DEPT.: There were reports of more than one explosion. And I know when I was on the street on Murray, I did see shrapnel, large, fairly heavy pieces of metal that looked to me like they were from tanker's parts. So I don't know how many have exploded but there are definitely tankers there that have parts blown out of them that some of the people on scene have reported.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: And late today, police confirmed that one firefighter was taken to the hospital without vital signs.

Security has been tightened even further after fresh violence in western China. Police say attackers targeted a shopping center, hotel and government building with homemade bombs. A security guard was killed and at least seven suspects died in clashes with police. The region is home to Muslim separatists who have vowed to disrupt the Olympics. A similar attack last week killed 16 police officers.

President Bush is bringing up the sensitive issue of human rights during a meeting today with Chinese President Hu Jintao. President Bush is telling Mr. Hu that human rights will remain a priority for the U.S.

Earlier, President Bush attended church in Beijing. And as he left the service, he said no nation has reason to fear the influence of religious faith.

President Bush is also thanking Chinese leaders for their prompt response to yesterday's stabbing attack on two American tourists there. Todd Bachman died from his wounds. His wife Barbara is in critical condition after surgery. Well, they are the parents of former Olympian Elizabeth Bachman and the in-laws of the U.S. men's indoor volleyball coach.

The suspect, well, he jumped to his death after the attack at Beijing's famous Drum Tower. The site remains closed today.

And in this country, another bad bus crash today. This one is taking place in Mississippi.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: And at least four people are dead following a deadly bus rollover this morning near Tunica, Mississippi. That's a gambling hot spot just south of Memphis, Tennessee. State police say 43 people were on board the bus which was en route from an area casino to the airport. Police say there are multiple injuries.

And Maryland transportation officials hope to reopen the eastbound span of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge some time this evening after this, a three-vehicle accident early this morning took place killing one person. Two other people were hurt. The driver of the tractor- trailer that you saw in the water died when the rig plunged off the bridge and into the water.

Investigators still don't know what caused the accident. Traffic is backed up there for miles. The bridge connects much of the eastern shore between Northern Virginia and Maryland.

New developments to report in a deadly drag race earlier this year in Maryland. You may recall how eight people were killed when a car plowed into a crowd of onlookers. Well, this week, two suspects were indicted as the survivors try to put the tragedy behind them.

Here now is CNN's Kate Bolduan.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Joe Lofty and his son Joseph were here in Accokeek, Maryland in February when an illegal street race took a deadly turn.

JOE LOFTY, FATHER OF INJURED SPECTATOR: It was like popcorn popping in a popcorn machine and in a microwave. And when I turn and I seen people just getting barreled down like bowling balls and people just falling on the ground, I didn't understand it.

BOLDUAN: Eight people died. Just two weeks ago, Prince George's County indicted these two men, Tavon Taylor and Darren Bullock, in connection with the horrific crash.

LOFTY: What would I do differently? I would not have showed up. I wouldn't have came.

BOLDUAN: Thirteen-year-old Joseph is still haunted by the painful memories as he continues his physical recovery. He was struck by an airborne body. He broke his leg, shoulder and suffered head trauma.

LOFTY: I have been a street racer since 1980. This is the worst accident, incident I've ever seen in my life. And I'm here to tell everybody, stop the street racing.

BOLDUAN: There is a safer, legal option out there for amateur drag racers -- like the Maryland International Speedway. Organizers say it offers the same thrills, the same rush without endangering the drivers or the spectators.

ROYCE MILLER, PRES., MARYLAND INTL. SPEEDWAY: We have guard walls, concrete walls that separate the cars from our spectators. We have ambulance on site with emergency medical technicians here on the track. So, there's a lot of difference between going down the racetrack and going down the highway.

BOLDUAN: A very different road and a lesson both Joe and Joseph Lofty say they unfortunately learned too late.

(on camera): The two men charged in connection with the Maryland street racing accident are each indicted on eight counts of vehicular manslaughter. Taylor's attorney told us his client is not guilty. We've been unable to reach Bullock's lawyer, but outside the bond hearing, he told the "Washington Post" the same.

Kate Bolduan, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: And when terrorism turns a child's life upside down. How do they heal? Seven years after 9/11, a new camp hopes to do that.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: South Africa's president is trying to broker a deal to end Zimbabwe's deadly political standoff. President Mbeki held separate talks in Harare with Zimbabwe's president, Robert Mugabe, and the main opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai. The goal is to bring the two sides into a coalition government. Disputed elections in June were marred by widespread violence and bloodshed.

A bitter impeachment battle is looming in Pakistan. A spokesman for Pervez Musharraf said today the president would not step down. Top officials of Pakistan's ruling coalition meet today to prepare a list of impeachment charges against Musharraf. Pakistan's lower house of parliament is set to convene tomorrow, in anticipation of the impeachment proceedings.

Well, children touched by terrorism. How do they deal with the grief, the anger, the senselessness of it all? A summer camp in Pennsylvania is trying to help. Here now is CNN's Mary Snow.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This exercise may appear to have nothing to do with battling terrorism, but for these kids, it's a step toward building trust.

They are the children of 9/11, the bombings in Madrid and in London, and victims of terrorism in Israel. Each had a family member killed or seriously wounded. For the first time, they've been brought together in a camp called "Project Common Bond."

They share the mundane...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We all like swimming.

SNOW: And there's a reason they've traveled to Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I guess that needs to get out to the woods. Everyone lost someone.

SNOW: Martin Hart was 17 when his father was killed in the London bombings three years ago. He left the subway that was attacked only to be blown up by a suicide bomber on a bus.

MARTIN HART, CAMPER, PROJECT COMMON BOND: If it's a normal situation. It's hard but you know terrorism just tears a family apart, but you just got to stay strong.

SNOW: Staying strong means addressing their anger. Carolyn Iskyan's father was killed in the World Trade Center.

CAROLYNN ISKYAN, CAMPER, PROJECT COMMON BOND: Where do you get off by just deciding one day to drive a plane into a building and killing all of these people and it was like yes, I was angered at them, I was angry at my dad for going to work, I was angry at people for not stopping it.

SNOW (on camera): What do you do with it?

ISKYAN: I talk about it.

SNOW (voice-over): It's a bond Evyatar Alush didn't expect to find in the United States, a terror shot his parents inside a toy store in Israel, killing his father and injuring his mother who escaped with his little brother.

EVYATAR ALUSH, CAMPER, PROJECT COMMON BOND: (INAUDIBLE) was really young, like the age of six when our father died. I thought that terrorism is only in Israel.

SNOW: Well, at times, they are just kids.

The camp also aims to create a generation of leaders dedicated to fighting terrorism. George Tarr's father was killed by rebels in Liberia's longest running civil war.

GEORGE TARR, CAMPER, PROJECT COMMON BOND: We have to understand them as well in order to, like, bring peace into our life and into their life as well.

SNOW: The project was run by Tuesday's Children, an organization for 9/11 families. It joined forces with similar groups, like one in Israel run by Jacob Cinci (ph).

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We need to look at the terrorists and say you didn't win. We're together now and we're going to take to you a better place.

SNOW: Mary Snow, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: And now, tributes are pouring in this weekend as friends and fans remember Bernie Mac. The actor/comedian died yesterday from complications of pneumonia.

Our Don Lemon looks at Mac's rags to riches career.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BERNIE MAC, COMEDIAN: People are (ph) type of (BLEEP) you know.

DON LEMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Bernie Mac had a dirty mouth, but, boy, was he funny.

MAC: I just want to have fun.

LEMON: Funny enough to make him a superstar and a box office hit.

Good friend and fellow comedian Steve Harvey was in town attending a parade when Mac died at a Chicago hospital not far away.

STEVE HARVEY, COMEDIAN: I mean, it really, really knocks you down a bit, you know, but, you know, my heart really goes out to his wife of over 25 years, his kids, you know? Bernie was a great family guy man, great family guy. A great father, you know? My heart goes out to those people.

LEMON: His wife Rhonda tells me they were high school sweethearts and married a few years later. "His sense of humor charmed me," she says. "We did not have a thing. He told me, 'Girl, you'd better get on board this train because I'm going to be rich one day.' I said, 'OK.'"

(on camera): Before Hollywood came calling, there was the South Side of Chicago where Bernie Mac honed his comedic skills in comedy clubs like this one, right in his own neighborhood.

(voice-over): It was a true rags to riches story. His wife tells me Mac not only worked the local comedy chic land (ph) circuit as he called it, but to make ends meet, he'd do stand-up on subway trains and would take odd jobs anywhere he could.

In 1990, his big break, Mac won the Miller Lite comedy classic, a $3,000 prize. "As a family, we jumped for joy when he won," his wife says. "We put most of it in the bank and we had a small party." Mac hit the road hard as opening act, then a feature performer. The movie roles came. So did a hit TV show.

Mac came down with pneumonia brought on by a disease he was diagnosed with in 1984, sarcoidosis.

Dee Dee Davis played Mac's daughter on the show.

DEE DEE DAVIS, BERNIE MAC'S CO-STAR: I remember like we had to do scenes without him because he was sick. I didn't know what he was sick with, but I guess it came back and it got worse.

LEMON (on camera): Was this towards the end of the show or?

DAVIS: This was towards like the end.

LEMON (voice-over): He recovered. And the disease went into remission until this summer when he developed pneumonia again. His wife says he went to the hospital three weeks ago on Thursday. He had trouble breathing. He had a fever. His back was hurting.

Doctors induced him into a coma. They expected him to recover. But on Friday, close to midnight, he opened his eyes and Rhonda said, "I know you're tired, but don't leave me." He shrugged his shoulders, closed his eyes and his blood pressure dropped very low. He went into cardiac arrest.

They revived him once for about an hour. They tried reviving him again, and then, she said, "He was gone."

Don Lemon, CNN, Chicago.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Bernie Mac's friends and cast mates were shocked by his sudden passing. From "Ocean's" co-star George Clooney saying, quote, "The world just got a little less funny. He will be dearly missed."

And, comedian Chris Rock says he appreciated Mac's friendship ever more than his humor, saying, quote, "Bernie was one of the greatest friends a person could have. Losing him is like losing 12 people because he absolutely filled up any room he was in. I'm going to miss the Mac Man."

Comedian Bernie Mac was 50 years old. He is survived by his wife, daughter, and grandchild.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Russia flexing its military might against an American ally today as Georgia insists it's doing all the right things to restore calm in two separatist pro-Moscow regions. Georgian leaders have called a ceasefire and say they have withdrawn troops from a key city but the Russia says the Georgia military is just regrouping.

Despite a growing international outcry, Russia has mounted more air strikes on some Georgian cities. The Russians, meantime, are now also claiming they sunk a Georgian warship. The United Nations reports that 20,000 people have already fled the fighting.

CNN's Julian Manyon had a very close call in the midst of the fighting. He filed this report from just outside of the disputed province of South Ossetia.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JULIAN MANYON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Russian troops are mopping up in the town that was at the center of the battle. This is Tskhinvali, capital of South Ossetia, seized by the Georgians and now seized back by the Russians. These pictures from Russian television show that both sides have paid a price.

Tossing an abandoned Georgian army truck, we tried to drive through Tskhinvali. The road was deserted. Georgian forces have pulled out but the Russians are there.

Suddenly we were shot at. Kalashnikov fire whistled passed the car. A driver got us out.

(on camera): That's the hole left by one of the bullets that was fired at us just a half mile down the road behind me. It happened as we were trying to approach Tskhinvali and it's likely that the people who fired at us were Russian soldiers because the Georgian army has now pulled back to where I'm standing, right to the border. And, in fact, some Georgian soldiers are trying to retrieve one of their own shot down (ph) vehicles just behind me over there.

(voice-over): Moments later, Russian heavy guns were firing at Georgian positions inside Georgia. The Russian army now clearly has the upper hand. And we found soldiers from their permanent peacekeeping force which stayed here throughout the fighting, relaxing in the sun. "The situation's fine," one of them told me.

Just a little way north, the Russian army is pouring fresh reinforcements into South Ossetia. This morning, the commander of their operation was wounded by Georgian shell fire, but the Russians seem determined to take complete control of South Ossetia and pile the pressure on Georgia.

We saw the last Georgian soldiers inside Ossetia packing out. Georgian army has pulled well back from the border. The Georgian government insists that this is not a defeat, but many on both sides will take a different view.

Julian Manyon, CNN, on the border with South Ossetia.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Onto presidential politics now. With the Democratic rival getting some "R and R" in Hawaii, John McCain should have the spotlight all to himself over the next few days. And the Republican candidate plans a full week of campaigning. He begins Monday with a swing through Pennsylvania, a state both candidates are fighting hard to win.

This weekend, Senator McCain kept up the pressure on Barack Obama, telling a veterans' convention his opponent isn't ready to be commander-in-chief and that Obama's opposition to Iraq troop surge proves it.

Barack Obama's plans for the week, hitting the beach and playing a little golf. He and his family are visiting relatives and relaxing in Hawaii where he grew up.

And while the candidate recharges, the Obama campaign and Democratic Party announced the headline speakers for this month's convention. Michelle Obama will speak Monday night, followed by Hillary Clinton on Tuesday night. And the vice presidential nominee is to be revealed, perhaps, on Wednesday.

Check out our political ticker for all of the latest campaign news. Log on to cnnpolitics.com, your source for all things political.

Let's check in with Jacqui Jeras who have all thing weather wise.

Hey, Jacqui. What's going on?

JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: I want to R and R in Hawaii.

WHITFIELD: Me too. Gosh.

JERAS: Doesn't it look beautiful?

WHITFIELD: It's always gorgeous. I don't think they have a bad weather day. Not often.

JERAS: Although they get those afternoon thunderstorms. You've got to watch out for them.

WHITFIELD: But they last a few minutes compared to the thunderstorms the rest of us are used to.

JERAS: (WEATHER REPORT)

WHITFIELD: Good warning. We appreciate it.

JERAS: Sure.

WHITFIELD: Thanks a lot, Jacqui.

Pretty gray day at the Olympics in Beijing, speaking of weather. But the cooler temperatures that came with the wet weather, they seem to be a pretty welcome relief and they are not even putting out that flame, of course. Mercury soared into the mid-90s on Friday and Saturday. But today it only hit 79. Meteorologists say the rain will clear the pollution from the skies over Beijing.

At the Olympic venues, a lot of action as athletes battle it out for the medal that matters most, pure gold. Who's beating who anyway?

CNN's Larry Smith has the highlights, starting with the U.S. basketball team.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LARRY SMITH, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Four years ago in Athens, Team USA came away with a disappointing bronze medal in basketball. Not what the Americans wanted with a team full of NBA players. Their philosophy changed and now they are a team once again. That is, if you look at game one as any indication here in Beijing. The Americans knocked off China 101-70, using a team effort to do so. Dwyane Wade never missed a shot as he scored 19 points. Lebron James added 18 for the Americans. Yao Ming had 13 for China in the losing efforts.

Maybe politics should take the lead of the athletes, at least in this case. On Sunday a Georgian and a Russian each had a gun in their hand but not pointed at each other. They were competing in the women's 10- meter air pistol competition. Russia's Natalia Patarina (ph) took silver and Nino Sachlagogza (ph) took bronze. Despite the conflict back home, the two embraced on the medal stand. Gual Winjin (ph) won the event, China's fourth gold of the game. China has six golds and eight total medals in these games. Georgia and Russia, by the way, will face off Wednesday in beach volleyball.

Let's go to the pool. Michael Phelps has one gold in hand with more to come. He shattered his own world record at the 400-meter individual medley. There's no rest for the 23-year-old American and his quest for eight gold medals as he's back in the pool Monday morning, Beijing time, in the semifinals of the 200-meter freestyle and in the men's four by 100-meter relay.

While Catamina Thanu (ph) was a central figure in the biggest scandal of the 2004 games in Athens, and because of that the IOC has barred the Greek sprinter from these Olympics. Thanu (ph) and fellow Greek sprinter Costus Contedus (ph) missed a drug test on the eve of the Athens games, creating a whirlwind of speculation that ended with their withdrawal from the games. Now Thanu (ph) is saying that she possibly could decide to appeal this decision.

Larry Smith, CNN, Beijing.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Let's talk about America's Olympic swimmers. Pretty impressive. Get a standing ovation from the president and first lady, Laura Bush, there. They watched Michael Phelps capture gold in the 400-meter individual medley. Phelps also beat his own world record in that event. Teammate Ryan Lotky, he grabbed bronze. After the race, lovely moments here. The president telling Phelps it was a thrill to watch him swim. And Phelps said, "You know what, its impressive meeting you. So here, here's my jacket." He gives him his swimming jacket and a close-up of the medal. That he didn't give away but it was a cute moment.

Tug of war and polo, two games with just about nothing in common except they both used to be Olympic sports, believe it or not. And the list doesn't end there.

Our Josh Levs went digging, trying to figure out all of the Olympic trivia, particularly all of the sports that are no longer Olympic sports.

JOSH LEVS, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT: So cool. Right, they are gone from the list, no more. Can you believe they had tug of war in the Olympics? That would be so cool.

WHITFIELD: I remember doing tug of war in elementary school. It was the activity we all loved to do.

LEVS: It's fun because if you lose, you end up in a big pile of mud, which is kind of cool. I have some video, some fun videos.

(CROSSTALK)

LEVS: Just take a look at the fun videos.

WHITFIELD: OK.

LEVS: This is it. Once upon a time, people got to do this for the Olympics.

WHITFIELD: This is from gladiator movie...

LEVS: This is not from the Olympics. This is just fun video of people playing.

WHITFIELD: Something fun.

LEVS: Just so you all can enjoy it. Let's go to the graphic we have of sports no longer in the Olympics. That's one of the big ones. It's been a century. There's been no tug of war since 1920. They got rid of it. Back 1904, the U.S. won in tug of war. Go U.S. 1904 team in tug of war.

Golf, once upon, you can do it through 1904 also. They had rugby on there also the beginning of last century. Polo, which they had since '36, and they got rid of that.

WHITFIELD: Water polo they still have but we are talking horses with the sticks.

LEVS: Yeah. The Olympic said it was the oldest mounted team sport. Not that there are many mounted team sports any way.

WHITFIELD: Only one I know of.

LEVS: Yes, the only one I know of too. But I found some crazy ones too that are more in the band of tug of war, thanks to A.P. Let's look at the next list. You guys are going to enjoy this one. I had no idea. They have a thing called dueling pistol back in 1896 where you were shooting at manikins. So it wasn't exactly dueling

WHITFIELD: That's not good P.C. nowadays for sure.

LEVS: And the next one is less P.C. They did a live pigeon shooting.

WHITFIELD: Really not P.C. for sure.

LEVS: Go to the next screen because I don't want to burn anybody's eyes. Obviously, it doesn't happen anymore. And two more fun ones after this. Do we have the next one? I'll tell you what it is. Club swinging.

WHITFIELD: What is that?

LEVS: Let me read this to you. This is from the Associated Press. Basically, it featured competitors swirling clubs around their bodies in various and people watched, wondering if one would get ducked in the head.

WHITFIELD: Sort of a different version of rhythmic gymnastics maybe.

LEVS: They should make the losers play the club swing. Yes, and solo synchronized swimming. They tried it solo. This was in '84.

WHITFIELD: So you're in synchronized with what?

LEVS: So this is the normal thing about swimming. But imagine if it was one person and solo synchronized swimming. Mind and body all in one rhythm? I don't know.

WHITFIELD: Solo synchronized swimming.

LEVS: To music? I mean that's the theory there.

WHITFIELD: There you go. That works.

LEVS: It was fun.

WHITFIELD: Synchronized swimming is very beautiful.

LEVS: Once you learn to appreciate it. Weren't there early movies from the '30s, Esther Williams?

WHITFIELD: Yeah. Esther Williams. It takes tremendous athleticism. People laugh at it thinking oh, it's kind of girly. You know people were thinking it. You know you were.

LEVS: There are some people.

WHITFIELD: But it is very athletic. Have you to be a great swimmer. LEVS: I do understand that impact there.

WHITFIELD: And you have to be a gymnast in the water. Extraordinary. I like it.

LEVS: Speaking of extraordinary athleticism, you -- I'm so excited for this and I have nothing to do with it. It's all her. You're going out to the Olympics with someone very special.

WHITFIELD: I'm going to the Olympics with my dad. He's an Olympian of '48 and '52, track and field gold medalist, silver, bronze. You name it.

Anyway, what makes this particular game so significant for him and the other '48ers, because there are only a handful able to make the trip, what's significant is this is 60 years -- his 60-year anniversary of their first medal win. So to kind of go full circle like this, to go to these historic games in Beijing, is extraordinary. I'm so excited to accompany my dad to be a part of it.

LEVS: The story is incredible and fascinating. If you look at American history of what your father represented and people of all races cheering for this team, obviously, before the civil rights era, it's incredible.

WHITFIELD: And talk about adversity, this really is an incredible fraternity of men and women, these athletes who endured so much, particularly the American athletes, who endured so much, whether it was the depression, discrimination, segregation, Jim Crow laws. And then, being drafted into war.

LEVS: And to represent a nation that had no way of winning for them.

WHITFIELD: Been in war, Korean War, survived war and still stayed on track for their Olympics hopes and team. And not only that, not just become an Olympian, become a medalist. A lot of these individuals will be there in Beijing. I get a chance to see them. I'm getting to the fly on the wall, too, to see my dad with a lot of his fellow Olympians. I can't wait.

LEVS: And you will be telling us some stories from Beijing. You're going to be talking to us.

WHITFIELD: We will try to tell as many nice stories as we can.

LEVS: Incredible stuff. So another reason to stay tuned for CNN. Yet another reason. This will be awesome.

WHITFIELD: Yes, there are a lot of stories that will be told throughout the Beijing games. Check into our website, cnn.com. We also teamed up with "Sports Illustrated" or what's called "The Fan Zone." You can get a lot of the results and compelling stories and all of that from cnn.com/fanzone.

LEVS: With the game there, you can find out if you were in the Olympics, what kind of competitor you are. WHITFIELD: What would you be?

LEVS: Your sport and how well you would do.

WHITFIELD: That is so neat. All participatory, all about getting you involved.

Josh, thank you very much.

LEVS: Thanks.

WHITFIELD: I had a lot of fun with those unusual sports, too, now obsolete ones.

Here, talking about dreams and hopes, women in Saudi Arabia who say we want in the game.

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WHITFIELD: All right. I say it's time for a little "Chat Room." Jacqui Jeras joining me here.

A little green day. We got the memo out; decided we were wearing these colors. Just kidding. We have a lot of stuff to talk about. We love talking about our man, Brett Favre. Get his name right.

JERAS: It's not Sunday if we're not talking about it.

WHITFIELD: But he's legit.

JERAS: On his way to New York. He got traded Thursday officially. Big welcome from Mayor Bloomberg.

WHITFIELD: Are you kind of sad? I know you're a big Green Bay fan? You are a cheese head, as you said.

JERAS: Born a cheese head. I just worry he will not stay and go out golden the way he could have. I would like to have seen him go out of here.

WHITFIELD: He said he's in it because his heart is still there. And his heart will be with the Jets, like it was with Green Bay.

JERAS: Let's hope so. He sat on the bench and actually watched the game on Thursday. The Jets play the Washington Redskins on Saturday. So we will have to see if he will be able to play.

WHITFIELD: Oh, I have to...

JERAS: No official word yet.

(CROSSTALK)

JERAS: I know. That's all right with me.

WHITFIELD: He had a standing ovation when he got to the stadium. Folks are really excited in New York.

JERAS: As they should be.

WHITFIELD: Lots of standing ovations, of course, when it pertains to the Olympic Games. Everybody has Olympics fever.

JERAS: Yeah.

WHITFIELD: Did you stay up really late last night watching?

JERAS: Not as late as you.

WHITFIELD: I did. That's why my voice sounds like this.

JERAS: I saw Michael Phelps but not Dara Torres. So tell me about her.

WHITFIELD: I had to watch her. She is extraordinary, a 41-year-old here defying all of the odds. She said she's out, in part, because she loves the sport but she wants to prove a point, too, that you're not done once you hit 40. 41, mother of a 2-year-old. She was in a relay last night. A silver medal but it's her split time that was so extraordinary. Fastest split time of any athlete in the water, of anyone.

JERAS: Incredible.

WHITFIELD: A lot of folks are looking forward to their 50-meter.

JERAS: She's so inspirational. A lot of people are getting excited about here. And she's also agreed to the extensive drug testing and future testing because she wants to prove, yes, I did this on my own. I'm 41, I'm clean. I'm not taking any drugs. This is me.

WHITFIELD: Michael Phelps volunteered for extensive testing. I want to let everybody know I'm clean, I'm good. And we will all be watching as he possibly pursues eight medals. He won gold last night.

JERAS: He's swimming again tonight. We will see what happens.

What's your favorite sport?

WHITFIELD: Ooh, well, track and field is my favorite.

JERAS: Because of your dad. I didn't know that about you.

WHITFIELD: Oh, well it's not really about me. It's about my dad.

JERAS: Right.

WHITFIELD: Yes, he's an Olympian. We talked about that earlier. We will be going to the games. And we're going to be taking in a lot of the track and field and semis and the finals, which why we are doing the last week of the Olympic games at track and field. If I can snatch some tickets at the last minute, you know, for swimming or any diving events as they kind of will be near the end as we get there, I will be taking in those, too. I love the water sports.

JERAS: So you like the semi diving.

H1: Yes, I love the water sports.

JERAS: It's all about gymnastics for me. Shawn Johnson. She's my girl. She's from Iowa, West Des Moines. She dealt with the flooding. Her gym was flooded out.

WHITFIELD: Get out.

JERAS: She had to move where she was doing her practices to Iowa State University. She still qualified for the Olympics. I'm really excited. I'm really looking forward to seeing her.

WHITFIELD: Gymnastic is amazing. Last night, I don't know if you caught any of the men's gymnastics.

JERAS: I did a little bit.

WHITFIELD: Watching some of the Chinese, the Americans.

JERAS: Amazing. I could believe, especially on the high bar, some of the release moves they were doing.

WHITFIELD: Courageous.

JERAS: I remember Mitch Gaylord. I'm sort of dating myself.

WHITFIELD: We all remember him.

JERAS: But remember him in the '80s. He was the big, hot thing. He did his release move called the Gaylord. That was the hardest thing. When I was watching last night, I could not believe the skill level and how advanced they have become with some of the release moves. Doing double twists and still catching the bar.

WHITFIELD: It's incredible. I love it.

I think everyone loves the Olympic Games. So inspiring whether the kind of courage and obviously perseverance, dedication it takes to get to that point, how can you not be inspired?

JERAS: I know my 7-year-old is running around "USA!" She's so excited. "Can we put the Olympics on?"

WHITFIELD: My 3-year-old was like "are we watching the Olympics?" You know? Cool! All right, we'll be watching this all together. The world will be watching for at least another week. And we'll all be sounding like me because we're staying up too late trying to take everything in.

JERAS: And cheering. This is so great.

WHITFIELD: Thanks, Jacqui. Thanks for being in the "Chat Room."

This is a real bummer for everybody, and for us, if this happens to us on the way to Beijing, your flight being canceled. No problem?

Melissa Long explains in "On the Go" how perhaps your major flight delay can be restored.

(ON THE GO)

WHITFIELD: These young women right here are not in the Olympics yet, no yet, but they want to be. They got game, too. You're watching CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: A little more Olympics talk at the opening ceremonies in Beijing.

Women were noticeably absent from Saudi Arabia's Olympic team. Saudi women are not allowed to compete in international completion. Back in Saudi Arabia, the hoop dreams of a women's basketball team does still live.

CNN's Wilf Demmick reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WILF DEMMICK, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Four days a week in the port city of Jeddah, practice begins like this, in a country where women cannot even play sports in public, where finding a place to workout is tough, as it is getting here. Women are even banned from driving.

But there is one place where they can do what they love.

Lena Almayena is the captain

LENA ALMAYENA, SAUDI WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM: In the images we see in the media, and western media specifically, is a head-to-toe women covered with no identity. I'm really glad that we have the chance to come out and speak in public on TV about the fact that there is another segment of society that's different, that is just basically normal.

DEMMICK: The players all pitch in to rent this court, hidden from public view, a chance to play without politics.

It all started when Almayena returned from college in the U.S. She met her husband there, where they played pickup ball together. but back in Saudi, she was bluffed. She got some women together, a coach and called her team Jeddah united.

She gets calls every day from women, wanting t join, but here, it's almost impossible to find more courts where women can play.

Saudi Arabia is one the few countries that does not allow women to compete in international sporting events. And girls are even banned from sports in the kingdom's public pool. (on camera): As if these women didn't have enough obstacles. He can't find a proper place to play here in Saudi Arabia. It's summertime here, terribly hot and they're forced to practice outdoors.

(voice-over): Temperatures often hit 40-degree Celsius, more than 100 Fahrenheit. Right now they are limited to playing women's team that excludes Saudi private schools. Seven women, who count their team as having many victories far beyond the court.

Wilf Demmick, CNN, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: All right, how can you not be inspired by that?

Thanks for being with us the last couple hours in the NEWSROOM. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. I'll see you back here next weekend.

Rick Sanchez is up next with more of the day's headlines. There he is, thumbs up, ready to go.

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