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Connect the World
A Recap Of Olympic Action; Interview with Misty May-Treanor, Kerri Walsh Jennings; Gu Kailai Trial Fiercely Guarded
Aired August 09, 2012 - 16:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BECKY ANDERSON: There's no doubt about it. Linford, we're just taking a look at the times here. Seasonal best for all of them.
LINFORD CHRISTIE, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Definitely. 19.32, 19.44, and the young Jamaican Warren Weir, youngest of the lot, 19.84. GB, what a time to do your PB.
ANDERSON: We're going to talk to a man called Tommy Smith later on tonight. There's an interview that I did before the Olympics started. He's a man who raised his fist in 1968. It's called the black salute. He told me that he thought Usain Bolt could do this in under 19. Was he just being silly?
CHRISTIE: I don't think anything is silly anymore. If it has the word Bolt in it, it's not silly. They say lightning don't strike twice, two, three...
ANDERSON: Well, can he do this three times? Could he go back to back in Rio in 2016? He's a youngster still.
CHRISTIE: Definitely, he's about 25. So, yes. There's no reason why not. You know, I won the Olympics when I was 32, being the oldest man. And he will be well under that. So I don't see no reason why not.
ANDERSON: How big a night is this in athletics?
CHRISTIE: Every night is big in athletics. There's no such thing as a small night. We're sitting here, we can hear the roar of the crowd every time someone steps on that track. This is the real Olympics. This is where the Olympics starts. And this is where it's going to finish in that arena behind us.
ANDERSON: You had a guest on earlier on this week with (inaudible) and I called Kriss Akabusi who said in the old days it was Jurassic Park. He said this is the Olympic Park. It's been quite a phenomenal event, hasn't it?
CHRISTIE: Definitely. I'm glad I'm on the old days of Akabusi. He's a dinosaur.
ANDERSON: Let's just remind you what we have seen tonight. He's done it. Usain Bolt has become the first man in history to win both the 100 and 200 meter Olympic sprints twice. Just moments ago the Jamaican star successfully defended the 200 meter Olympic title he won in Beijing four years ago, of course, in a time of 19.32. This is what he said he needed to do before he felt that he would be that living legend.
Let's get back Atika who is celebrating in style this evening.
ATIKA SCHUBERT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right. Celebrating with a lot of fans. I've got a whole bunch of Jamaica fans here. What do you guys think. How did he do?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Smashed it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Amazing. Absolutely amazing. 1, 2, 3 for Jamaica. Jamaica independence.
SCHUBERT: Do you think you could have a repeat of what he did in Beijing, sweep three medals?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think so. Definitely. Why not. He's the fastest on paper.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No question. Silly question. Why even ask? Why even ask it?
SCHUBERT: Excellent.
You're half Jamaican, right?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I am, yeah, yeah, yeah.
SCHUBERT: So what do you think. What does this mean to you?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think it's amazing for Jamaica, pride for the whole entire nation. I think Jamaica independence is an amazing time for him to like win it, get a 1, 2, 3. 1, 2, 3 amazing. Never been done before. So, yeah, incredible.
SCHUBERT: Fantastic.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (inaudible) Jamaica (inaudible)
SCHUBERT: I have one request for you guys. Can you show me your Bolt arms? Come on, I want the whole, like.
(LAUGHTER)
SCHUBERT: Well done, guys. Thank you very much. A whole bunch of Usain Bolt fans here as you can see tonight. I think there will be a lot of celebrating, Becky.
(LAUGHTER)
ANDERSON: Who knew Jamaica was such a multicultural country, hey Linford?
CHRISTIE: As are many, one. That's our motto, (inaudible) one.
ANDERSON: Give us that Bolt, go on. Give us that lightning bolt.
(LAUGHTER)
CHRISTIE: We used to do the (inaudible), you know.
ANDERSON: All right, it's been an historic night for Usain Bolt. It has also been an historic day. Day 13 at the London games. You've also seen the crowning of the first female Olympic boxing champion. The women's event made its debut here over the past few days. That first gold medal awarded a little earlier today quite fittingly to a Brit, fly weigh boxer Nicola Adams. She won the final fight against three-time world champion gold medal favorite Ren Cancan of China.
We're also making history, Katie Taylor of Ireland who won gold in the light weight boxing final. It's also Ireland's first gold medal of the games. So you could just imagine how thrilled fans were back home.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
AISLING NI CHOISDEALBHA, TV3 IRELAND REPORTER: It's been here in Bray, Katie Taylor's hometown and thousands and thousands of people have turned out here in the sports field to watch Katie win gold for Ireland, our first gold of London 2012 and our first female gold in the boxing in the Olympic history.
Katie really is a national hero here in Ireland and especially in Bray. And she really -- the fight went down to the last minute. It was touch and go for the first three rounds. And when her arm was raised at the end of the fourth round, the crowds here went wild.
The party here in Bray is in full swing. It looks like the celebrations will continue well into the night as they will there I'm sure in London for tens of thousands of Irish fans have also traveled to cheer on Katie today.
She's due home back here in Ireland maybe next Monday or Tuesday. And preparations for her homecoming will definitely be taking place over the next couple of hours. When Katie arrives home, she'll receive a massive welcome home. She really is the national sporting hero of this London 2012 Olympics.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: It was Mandela once who said sport has the power to change the world. And on a day like today when you've had an historic event like women's boxing for the first time as a regular event. It was an exhibition event way back when 100 or 100 years or so ago, but way back when. But to get these results that we've had today in fly weight and light weight and in middle weight boxing for Team GB, Linford, for the U.S. and indeed for Ireland. What a result for Ireland.
CHRISTIE: I think it's great. Christie is Irish, also, I've got to tell you that. I'm British, I'm Irish, I'm Jamaican...
ANDERSON: You're from everywhere they win a gold medal.
(LAUGHTER)
CHRISTIE: I'm claiming a bit of that Irish medal.
ANDERSON: It's the first time, of course, that women have boxed as I said as a regular event here. It's the last event that the Olympics have decided that women can compete alongside men in. How do you feel about that? You know, as an athlete.
CHRISTIE: I think, you know, women should be able to compete in everything. There should be nothing where -- you know sport for all. And that's the motto, sport for all. So women should be able to do everything the men do at every event they want to do, they should do. And I think it's great. And it's now, you know, they're on equal path. And I think they should also be paid the same.
ANDERSON: Yeah, well, absolutely, absolutely. We've seen that at Wimbledon perhaps you'll see that going forward in athletics as well, although most of our athletes I'm pretty sure aren't paid. There are some countries that actually pay their athletes for gold medals. Are you aware of that?
CHRISTIE: I was never aware of that, but what happened is normally you're sponsors. When you sign a shoe contract and the shoe company will give you a bonus for Olympic gold, silver, whatever. I'm not aware that countries are paying. We should. I think it's right now. I think it's right.
ANDERSON: You might put your spikes back on if you know it was going to get 180 grand for a gold.
CHRSITIE: You know it's hard work. And people only see the finishing product, they don't see the tears and you know the sweat that athletes are putting behind the scenes. So, yeah, I mean, I think they deserve to be paid.
ANDERSON: Still to come here on this special edition of Connect the World live from the Olympic Park here in London. British cycling star Victoria Pendleton is putting the breaks on. We're going to hear from her a little later in the show.
And Max joining me throughout the hour for the other big stories of the day. Time to turn it over to him at this point.
MAX FOSTER, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORREPSONDENT: Thank you very much, Becky.
Coming up, China's hotly anticipated murder trial begins and ends in the same day. But it is more to this case than meets the eye.
And...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORREPSONDENT: The biggest danger is snipers that are on buildings this direction firing like this that we've had to sort of make a very roundabout route into this area.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FOSTER: How Ben Wedeman dodged fire to bring you the inside story from Aleppo. All that and much more when Connect the World continues.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
FOSTER: You're watching CNN. This is Connect the World with me, Max Foster. Welcome back to you.
The courtroom was packed as Gu Kailai, wife of disgraced politician to Bo Xilai faced charges of intentional homicide over the death of British businessman of Neil Haywood. Gu and a family aid are accused of poisoning Haywood at a hotel last November. His death was initially blamed on an alcohol overdose. And his body was cremated without an autopsy. CNN's Steven Jiang is in the Chinese city of Hefei where the hearing took place.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
STEVEN JIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The most anticipated trial in China in recent memory ended quickly with a rather anti-climatic court statement. Defendants Gu Kailai and Zhang Xiaojun, he says, had raised no objection over the facts and charges prosecutors had brought against them for the crime of murder.
The trial put disgraced Communist Party leader Bo Xilai's wife and her household aid lasted less than eight hours. Judges are now deciding their fate. They are charged with murder, accused of poisoning British businessman Neil Haywood. A verdict, the court says, will be announced at a later date.
WENRAN JIANG, CHINA ANALYST: Nobody believes it's totally independent judicially and just merit of the case itself. It has to be managed by the senior -- the most senior level leadership at every step.
JIAN: Before the trial, Gu and Zhang had not been seen publicly since their arrest in April. And they've been unreachable for comment. During the trial, security was tight around the courthouse in the normally low key city of Hefei as convoys of black cars drove in, some dramatic moments outside.
Bo's admirers, undeterred by the large police presence, or the rain, showing up to voice their unwavering support for the couple who until the scandal broke was at the pinnacle of China's political system.
"This case has been decided even before the trial," he says. "State media has all said the evidence is irrefutable, then why bother having this trial?"
The display of solidarity didn't sit well with the authorities. Dozens of uniformed and plain clothes policemen quickly dragged this man away as he kicked and screamed. Other Bo supporters later suffered the same fate. International media was kept at bay, though more than 140 observers were allowed, including two British diplomats.
A court official says Gu's government appointed lawyers asked for leniency on the grounds of her diminished capacity while committing the crime, but he also made a point of stressing her current well-being.
"During the trial," he says, "Gu Kailai was physically healthy and emotionally stable."
Now the waiting resumes for reporters and the country captivated by the case.
The authorities have been keeping quiet about when they'll announce a verdict. A few expect the result to be surprising. In a country where the conviction rate is almost 100 percent it's all but certain that Gu Kailai will be found guilty of murder. Although a family friend has told us her life will be spare.
Steven Jiang, CNN, Hefei, China.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FOSTER: Well, joining me now from Washington is Cheng Li. He's a senior fellow at the John L. Thornton China center, the Brookings institution. And thank you very much for joining us.
There is speculation this trial may have more to do with back room political negotiations rather than actual evidence. Would you agree with that?
CHENG LI, BROOKINGS INSTITUTION: Well, to a certain degree that the fact that the trial only lasts for one day, and also Gu Kailai (inaudible), that sounds like they already reached a certain kind of a deal. But at the same time I think this deal, even this deal will be very subtle where not will be clear, because the real person that the people should pay attention is her husband Bo Xilai, a heavyweight politician, because he's -- the charge against him is still not clear. And probably in the next few days, or couple weeks, the party will announce the charge against Bo Xilai, then probably will start a legal process.
Until then, we will not know what kind of arrangement or whether there's a deal.
But even in this deal, still that the public reaction will be very, very strong. So I think the communist party is facing a serious dilemma to handle this case. This is -- we only see the beginning of that case not the entire process, because the major issues, particularly Bo Xilai, their punishment, verdict for him is still not yet known.
FOSTER: A court official said outside the court the facts of the crime are clear. They're backed by ample evidence, but one big problem undermining their case is the fact that the body was cremated without an autopsy. And without that, you can't have sure evidence, can you?
LI: Well, because there's so many people witness there. And even, you know, waiting a few months after Haywood's death the order of waiters, waitress in the hotel, service people were transferred. Certainly there's some cover-up. I think the evidence is probably quite solid that Gu Kailai and Zhang Xiaojun, their family aid, did that.
But the -- what's the person behind that, that question is by no means answered.
FOSTER: It's interesting hearing in that report that the conviction rates in Chinese courts are nearly 100 percent. I mean, in a way that sort of undermines the system as well, doesn't it?
LI: Oh, that's true. Certainly China's legal system is still -- it's very weak. But the fact that they can have such an open, semi-trial itself is progress. And also before the trial there's also some speculation in China they believe that Zhang Xiaojun, the family aid -- servant, will be on the death penalty, but Gu Kailai will be much lesser.
But the announcement made today clearly shows that she was a principle offender, the -- the family aid was not the main figure. So that actually is another I think is important story. And certainly that party leadership do not want to make that case that (inaudible) lives are more important than ordinary people. So in that regard I welcome that development.
FOSTER: If it's true to say that the government is somehow involved in court outcomes, is there a solution here for the court and the government to put off too much public reaction, but still to go through with some sort of trial that there -- or to conclusion that they may be aiming at?
LI: well, certainly, the Chinese leadership wanted to aim that. They certainly want to make that case as a legally sound as possible, but the reality is people all focus on the politics and without that incident Wang Lijun went to the consulate, the U.S. consulate in Changdu, people will never know. So the real challenge is about the legitimacy of the Chinese Communist Party. How can that kind of things power abuse by heavyweight politician like Bo Xilai and his wife could have happened, how to prevent that, how to really make China's legal process real and this independent judicial system.
This is the beginning. And I hope that the case itself will contribute to that process.
FOSTER: OK. Cheng Li in Washington. Thank you very much indeed for joining us. We'll be following the progress of the trial to its end, of course.
Now plenty more still to come on Connect the World, but Becky is at the Olympic Park and it's Jamaica night.
ANDERSON: Yes, she is. And it is Jamaica night, because we have seen history in the making tonight. The first sprinter ever to do the back to back 100 and 200 meter Olympic golds. Usain Bolt will be crowned a hero and a living legend when he receives his gold medal later here at the Olympic Park.
We're going to take a very short break now, but when we come back they never lost a match in their Olympic careers. I meet America's golden girls of beach volleyball, that up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: well, that is the Olympic Park here in London, just changed its colors. It's been Yellow and Green for some time recognizing the success of the three Jamaican athletes who came first, second, and third in the 200 meters earlier on.
You're watching Connect the World live from London. I'm Becky Anderson,.
Well, coming up the last event in the men's decathlon tonight, the 1500 meters will be taking place soon. We'll know if it Ashton Eaton have made good his quest for gold. And there's gold medal action. There's gold medal action in the beach volleyball, too, between Brazil and Germany. They're looking pretty evenly matched in that first set.
And staying with the beach volleyball, last night American's Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings won their third Olympic gold in a row. The pair have been unstoppable. They've never lost a match at the Olympics. And last night was no exception as they beat fellow Americans Jennifer Kessy and April Ross.
And following in the footsteps of Michael Phelps, they got their very own Visa advert that played out immediately after their win. It's some fast editing.
Well, earlier I met the super duo and asked them how it felt to win a third consecutive Olympic gold medal. This is what they said.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MISTY MAY-TREANOR, BEACH VOLLEYBALL GOLD MEDALIST: This one was sweet, you know, and I think it's because our journey that we've had throughout the year and the past couple of years made this one so much more special.
ANDERSON: At Horse Guards Parade between 10 downing street and Buckingham Palace.
MAY-TREANOR: Madness.
ANDERSON: With a right royal audience last night as well. Prince Harry, did you hear him?
MAY-TREANOR: No. I think he left before our match.
ANDERSON: Oh, no.
KERRI WALSH JENNINGS, BEACH VOLLEYBALL GOLD MEDALIST: Beckham was there. So, you know...
ANDERSON: There you go.
JENNINGS: He's royal isn't he? He's a lord, I think.
ANDERSON: One of the reporters from the states this morning has described this as one part coronation, one part celebration, and one part warm good-bye of course, because it is Misty your last hurrah as it were. Any regrets?
MAY-TREANOR: No, not at all. And, you know, I'm ready, you know. And I'm going to be in Kerri's life forever. And I'll always be there. So I'm not leaving. I'm not going too far away, I'm just stepping out of the scene.
JENNINGS: She's hanging up her bikini, which is really sad.
ANDERSON: Kerri does it ever bother you that as many people probably come to see you play as they do to enjoy the sport of volleyball, and you know what I mean by that?
JENNINGS: Yeah, no. You know, that's kind of a fact of our lives. And I always say I don't care what gets the people to the venue, they're staying there because of the competition and how beautiful our sport is. And if they enjoy the bikinis and the board shorts, you know, I can't blame them. I enjoy it the same.
But in no way is it disrespectful, like Misty said, we try to project a really healthy, you know, fit lifestyle. And I want the world to embrace that. And if that gets some people off their couches and into the venue, that's fantastic.
ANDERSON: What's been your favorite Olympic moment?
JENNINGS: Standing on top of the podium, holding this woman's hand and just feeling it all.
MAY-TREANOR: I have two. Opening ceremonies, walking behind your country's flag and hearing the roar of the crowd to get you just pumped up for the game. But Kerri hit it on the head, standing, listening to your national anthem and holding one another at the very top.
JENNINGS: Yeah, that's how we wanted it to end.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: And that is the end of an era. And just to update you, in the men's volleyball, beach volleyball, the Germans have just taken the first set against the Brazilians. So a big night here.
That was another gold, of course, for Team USA. There's been all kinds of drama today. Let's take a look at how the medal table is looking. And Linford and I can just have a very quick chat before we move on to our picks earlier on in the event and see how we are shaping up.
We have China ahead there with 37 gold, United States 36, Great Britain look at that 24, Russia, South Korea and then Germany. And I guess that will be another gold for Germany tonight if they can win that men's volleyball. I can tell you that within a few minutes USA could add two more in women's football and the decathlon. The hosts Great Britain 24 golds you can see there.
The women's football, let me tell you, and this is a great revenge match up against the Japanese tonight. And leading 2-1 as we speak.
And you just heard the updated volleyball result there as well. The Germans up against the Brazilians.
Well, just over an hour ago, Kenya's David Rudisha broke the world record in the men's 800 meter final. He was tipped for greatness by Linford last week.
We chose our pick of the athletes, the ones to watch. Let's have a look at how our predictions have gone, then, shall we?
Yours, Linford, were?
CHRISTIE: (inaudible). One out of three ain't bad.
ANDERSON: Right. I was going to say. I wanted him to read them out himself, because he's only got one out of three so far.
Mine were. Roll those drums. Jessica Ennis, who I believe got a gold, Yohan Blake who I believe got a silver this evening, not bad, and Sanya Richards-Ross who has a gold medal winner as well. How are we stacking up?
CHRISTIE: 2-1 to you.
ANDERSON: All right.
Let's have a look at the medal table, then, because Linford actually, Linford actually doing slightly better. I don't know what I was thinking when I chose my medal table this time last week.
Linfords, China, USA, Britain.
CHRISTIE: I'll let you read it.
ANDERSON: He's just sitting there with a huge smile on his face. And what was I thinking: China, USA, Jamaica. I mean, obviously they're in an absolute hold when it comes to the athletics, but the events ahead of the athletics were never going to be Jamaica's ones. So Becky Anderson, her medal madness is -- was aptly named, because it was rubbish. Yours, though, doing well.
All right. We've still got three or four days to go.
CHRISTIE: I think I'm the only one that actually believed that Britain is going to finish third.
ANDERSON: I think actually I've got to give you your due there. I think you're exactly right. You're absolutely right in that. We didn't get anything else right, though.
If that wasn't enough excitement for you, there was also drama today around another iconic figure of the London games. Double amputee Oscar Pistorius, this is a great story, the South African man they call the blade runner was already to take the baton in the 4x400 meter relay heat. It never happened, though, due to a collision in the second leg. It looked as if South Africa, who are world champions in the event, would miss their shot at Olympic gold. But the team appealed and will now line up for the final on Friday in the ninth lane, an extra lane for South Africa tonight. The Kenyan team found to be at fault and disqualified.
We are going to take a very short break here on this special edition of connect the world. When we come back, up next British cycling champion Victoria Pendleton, stay tuned to find out about that.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: A very warm welcome to our viewers across Europe and around the world. I'm Becky Anderson with a special edition of CONNECT THE WORLD from the Olympic Park.
FOSTER: I'm Max Foster at CNN London. A round-up, now, of the top stories we're following for you this hour.
In China, a murder trial involving one of the most -- one of the most sensational political scandals in recent member has adjourned. Gu Kailai, the wife of a former high-flying politician and a family aide are accused of poisoning British businessman Neil Hayward over a business dispute.
She raised no objections to the murder charge. A verdict will be announced at a later date. Four top policemen have been charged with covering up Hayward's murder and will face trial on Friday.
Syrian opposition groups say regime forces killed at least 92 people around the country just today. This video posted online purports to show clashes between the Syrian government and rebels, who've been battling for control of Aleppo.
But the government says it ousted rebels from the city's Salaheddine neighborhood, but opposition fighters say they've pulled back for tactical reasons and are preparing for a counterattack.
Egyptian troops and tanks are on the move in the Sinai, continuing an effort to crack down on militants. They're responding to continuing militant violence in the region, starting with a weekend attack that killed 16 Egyptian soldiers, which an Egyptian general alleges was probably carried out by a Palestinian offshoot of Hamas. Egypt is using heavy construction equipment to seal off smuggling tunnels running between Gaza and the Sinai.
Now, on Wednesday on CONNECT THE WORLD, we brought you the inside story of fighting in Aleppo. Now, we want to show you what our Ben Wedeman and his crew went through to bring you that report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(MEN SPEAKING IN ARABIC)
(FOOTSTEPS RUNNING)
(GUNFIRE)
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: We've made it into Salaheddine, we drove from a government-controlled area, but made it around the checkpoint. Now, we're inside. There are very few people actually here. There are some civilians walking around, but the biggest danger is snipers that are on buildings this direction --
(GUNSHOT)
WEDEMAN: -- firing like this. So, we've had to sort of make a very roundabout route into this area.
(MAN SINGING IN ARABIC)
(BOMBS EXPLODING)
(VEHICLE ENGINE)
WEDEMAN: Now, we're out of Aleppo. We're heading northwest, here, in the direction of a town called al-Bared (ph). It's been a rather -- interesting ride. Apparently the outpost of the FSA from which we took this truck got hit by a MiG shortly after we left. We're told no serious injuries, but anyway, it's good to be out of Aleppo. Maybe we'll be going back soon.
KAREEM KHADDER, CNN PRODUCER: It's good to be out of Aleppo. Unfortunately, we're leaving kind people behind us. They took care of us, and we wish them all the best.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FOSTER: We will, of course, keep bringing you those reports. Plenty more still to come on CONNECT THE WORLD. Becky's at the Olympic Park.
ANDERSON: Right. And there's some news just coming in, I'm just watching the -- we've just been watching the final moments of the women's football final, and let me tell you, spoiler alert for those of you who don't want to know the results.
The USA beating Japan in the women's final at Wembley, 2-1. A gold to the US of A, which puts them neck-and-neck, so far as medals are concerned. We're going to do a bit of that and some other stuff when we come back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: The Olympic Park and the audience are now beginning to make their home way -- their way home after what has been the most fantastic evening at the Olympic Stadium. Usain Bolt winning the gold in the 200 meters, making history in that back-to-back 100 and 200 meters, which has been fantastic to see. The Jamaicans coming one -- first, second, and third in the 200 meter race.
The top three finishes at the 200 meter race in 1968 also made history, and not because of what they did on the track. Let me remind you.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANNOUNCER, 1968 GAMES (voice-over): This is the hottest 200 meter field ever assembled at the Olympic Games.
(STARTING GUN)
ANNOUNCER: Peter Normal did get a good start, I thought. Smith is doing well. Look at Carlos going in the center of the field, and Questad is --
ANDERSON (voice-over): All three medallists in the Mexico City Olympic final had crossed the line in record time. But it's what Americans Tommie Smith and John Carlos, together with the Australian Peter Norman did next that made history.
JOHN CARLOS, 1968 200 METER BRONZE MEDAL WINNER: We didn't stand there with disrespect. We stood there to say, hey, man, I'm America, I'm your son. And I'm wounded. I'm not wounded for me, because I'm one of your heroes, I'm in the Olympics. But I'm wounded for the race, and I'm not talking about the 200 meters, I'm talking about the human race.
ANDERSON: Their silent protest against discrimination in the United States, known as the Black Power Salute. While Peter Norman didn't raise his fist, he wore a badge from the Olympic Project for Human Rights. But that was enough.
As shown in the documentary "Salute," directed by his nephew, the Australian silver medallist shared in the vilification for what was seen as an act that had sullied the Games.
PETER NORMAN, 1968 200 METER SILVER MEDALIST: It was probably something of a -- of a political statement, if you like, and for me to make in those days.
ANDERSON (on camera): Take me back, Tommie. What role did Peter Norman play in the protest.
TOMMIE SMITH, 1968 200 METER GOLD MEDALIST: Peter wore a button symbolizing his belief in human rights. That's where his trouble came. Not the raised fist.
ANDERSON: He was vilified --
SMITH: He was.
ANDERSON: -- for that.
SMITH: Becky, and I don't think it's been very fair. Him being on the victory stand to accept his silver medal. And because he was there with two black athletes who had another message, he was -- went back to his country and vilified.
But then, I had to think about the history of his country, dealing with blacks period, and he was on the victory stand with two blacks wearing the same button that they had, so that -- that's where the situation blew up in all of our faces.
CHRISTOPHER KIRBY, NARRATOR, "SALUTE": For Tommie Smith and John Carlos --
ANDERSON (voice-over): Smith and Carlos were banned from the Olympics for life, and despite qualifying for the Munich Games in 1972, Norman was not selected on the Australian team. In some circles, the champion sprinter was shunned up until his death in 2006.
ANDERSON (on camera): You flew to Australia in 2006 to be a pallbearer at his funeral. Was that important to you?
SMITH: It was very important to me to -- to say a last farewell to an old friend who believed in what we believed in, which helped the entire community, it made the entire world a human rights issue.
ANDERSON: You also suffered repercussions for your actions.
SMITH: Yes, I do believe I did. I don't exactly know what they were, but anytime you -- your life is threatened or you can't find a job and people look at you and say, "You're a snake from the bottom of the ocean," there's a reason for that, and the reason for that was my belief in what I did, and where I did it, and how I did it.
You know, Becky, if it's done now, people would look at it and laugh and give you a medal and put you up there with the pop stars. Back then, I was a very -- I was a pop star on the other end.
ANDERSON: So, what would you say to any athlete who were considering taking a political stand today in 2012 at the Olympics?
SMITH: Well, I -- a very simple message. That you reap what you sow. Be in a position to sacrifice. Be in a position to understand exactly what you are doing. Tell the athletes, you go to the Olympic Games, you get first, second, and third. Whatever you do after that is on you, don't look at me and say, "Tommie Smith did it, I'm going to do it."
ANDERSON: What happened to the glove, out of interest?
SMITH: I don't know what happened to it. I just remember the last time I had it, it was in my -- 1965 yellow Nova with my son in the back. He was a little kid, six months old, and that's the last time I saw it. And I sold the car. So whoever bought that car, the glove was probably in it, but that was 40 years ago, so --
ANDERSON: Oh, if anybody's watching out there, you may be holding onto something --
(LAUGHTER)
SMITH: I'll buy it back.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Tommie Smith, speaking to me just a couple of weeks ago.
I want to talk about what part politics and sport should play in the Olympics in particular with Linford. Before we do, Linford, some breaking news tonight.
Ashton Eaton has just won the Decathlon for the United States of America in the stadium behind me, which puts the United States on 38 golds and China on 37. For the first time in these Olympic Games, the US out front. And that in and of itself is quite a result, isn't it? Then you get to third, of course, where we've got 24, which is also a good result. But remarkable stuff.
LINFORD CHRISTIE, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: It shows it's not how fast you start, it's how fast you finish.
ANDERSON: There you go.
(LAUGHTER)
ANDERSON: It's not how fast you start, it's how fast you finish. What part do you think that politics should play in sport?
CHRISTIE: Politics shouldn't play a part in sport because it should be totally separate. But it won't. It will never be. It's a huge platform for whoever's got political ambition or whatever to come out there, if you got a message, come out there and say it.
What I think is really sad is the fact that Peter Norman, what he did, and Tommie Smith and for all what they did, I think they were kind of forgiven, and I think that's -- the Aussies now should forgive Peter Norman and let him rest and move on.
ANDERSON: Yes. Well said. All right, we're going to take a very short break. Thanks, Linford.
You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD here on CNN. When we come back, she is a poster girl for London 2012, and after winning gold and silver in her home nation, has Vicky Pendleton really had enough? The answer to that question up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: It is a beautiful night in London, and the crowds now making their way home from the Olympic stadium, where they have been watching some of the most exciting action in the London 2012 Games.
British athletes continue to put the "great" into Great Britain with more medals today. Team GB's Nicola Adams made history by becoming the first woman to win Olympic boxing gold. She defeated China's Ren Cancan in the flyweight final.
It was double medal success over in the individual dressage at Greenwich Park. Charlotte Dujardin and horse Valegro galloped to gold with a flawless routine that sent the 20,000-strong crowd to its feet. And it was bronze for teammate Laura Bechtolsheimer after a fierce performance set to music from "The Lion King."
And Team GB has been experiencing extraordinary success in the bike saddle, too. One of 2012's much-hyped athletes is gold and silver medal winner Victoria Pendleton, who is retiring after these Games. My colleague, Amanda Davies, asked her how it feels to have finished.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
VICTORIA PENDLETON, GOLD AND SILVER MEDALIST, TRACK CYCLING: It was just an absolute relief. I will never have to go through that ever again. Because going into a home Olympics as the Olympic champion, the reigning Olympic champion and being named as one of the kind of poster girls of the Games, people were very -- much more aware of me as an athlete, and my profile because I was marked as one of the potential gold medalists.
So, it was difficult. It was really difficult to sort of handle the pressure at times and the expectation. So, I wouldn't do it ever again. Ever again.
AMANDA DAVIES, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Can you say you've enjoyed it?
PENDLETON: At times, yes, I've enjoyed it. On the whole, it's been - - it's been very tough. It's been -- but then again, all the best things in life come through hard work and sacrifice. Easy wins and whatever rewards don't mean much.
It's the ones that take the hard work and the effort and the tolerance and the sacrifice and the commitment, all the tough things, they're the ones that you really remember and that really count.
DAVIES: We've certainly enjoyed it. But is there -- how much of a hint of sadness is there that you couldn't end with that gold?
PENDLETON: Of course I'm -- I think -- of course I'm sad that I couldn't take away two gold medals, but retrospectively standing here, I'm thinking, I won a gold and a silver medal at the Olympic Games. I'm really pleased with that. It's history already. Just move on and enjoy it, really
DAVIES: So, move on to what? What's next?
PENDLETON: Who knows? I'm going to take some time out just to work out what. Because obviously I've spent my whole life turning left at speed. I think I need time just to try lots of different things and find out what -- what I enjoy, what I might be good at. I don't really know.
So, I'm just going to use the contacts that I've made through my success in cycling and just do work experience to start with, and then just see where it goes.
DAVIES: What are you most concerned about?
PENDLETON: I think my only concern is not being able to find something that I can be equally as successful at. Obviously, you can't win Olympic gold medals for every aspect of life, but I just want to be good at something. I just want to be really good at something, that's all I want.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: That's all any of us want, I guess. There's no doubt the roaring of home crowds have bolstered Team GB to many a gold medal during these Games, but just how far can home advantage take the host nation? Well, as Matthew Chance found out, there are plenty more reasons why these Games are being dubbed Britain's golden moment.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's Britain's best Olympic performance for more than a century. Fans have been celebrating medal after medal at these London Games. Few dreamed Team GB could do so well.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When we were at the rowing the other day, the guy was pretty much dead, and then he looked at the crowd, and then he ended up with bronze, so that was amazing, yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There was a lot of negativity going into this now in the UK, obviously, what with the wave of recession, but that's just been phenomenal. Really, it's brought everybody together.
CHANCE: And success has fueled enthusiastic home support, pushing on athletes like Pete Reed, who won one of Britain's Olympic gold medals in rowing.
PETER REED, TEAM GB ROWER: Winning in London, doing it in front of a home crowd was extraordinary. And I -- I always thought it could be big, but I didn't imagine it would be this big. We were lifted right from the beginning, before the regatta, and we proved to be indomitable for the whole thing.
CHANCE (on camera): It is, of course, the home advantage, the crowd support, the national pride, that's partly credited with making these 2012 Games so successful for the British team. The British prime minister has called it Britain's golden moment. They're giving the entire nation a confidence boost. It's certainly occasion for British fans to be proud.
CHANCE (voice-over): Not since the 1908 Olympics, when Britain won 56 gold medals, has the country done so well. For the Sydney Games in 2000, Team GB took home 11 golds. Four years later in Athens, it won just 9. Beijing 2008 saw a big improvement with 19 British golds. But already in London 2012, the Brits have beaten that, and there are still days left in the competition.
Sports analysts say investment in facilities in recent years and targeting specific sports in which to excel has given Team GB its competitive edge.
ALAN NEVILL, SPORTS SCIENTIST: Funding is certainly one of the major reasons for Great Britain's success, but also they've inherited a legacy from holding events prior to the Olympics. We held the Commonwealth Games in 2002, which had a dramatic effect on events like cycling, where we had a wonderful velodrome in Manchester.
CHANCE: And the legacy of these Olympics may be felt for years to come. London's Games could inspire a generation of British athletes aiming for gold.
Matthew Chance, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Linford, you just missed out qualifying for the 1948 Games, so --
CHRISTIE: Yes, you made it, but I didn't.
(LAUGHTER)
ANDERSON: No, you never competed in the Olympics in front of a home crowd, of course. You're a gold medal winner in 1992 in Barcelona. But there's no doubting the momentum that this crowd has provided for these British athletes.
CHRISTIE: Absolutely not. There's no doubt about it. But again I will say, the British are the best supporters. And when I was there in Barcelona, it wasn't in front of a home crowd, but I think half the stadium was full of Brits. So, I still felt the lift. Maybe not in the same level as the guys here, but it was still -- they were very supportive there.
ANDERSON: You're part of the training team for many of these track and field athletes here. Were they aware of what to expect? It can be a double-edged sword to a certain extent, can't it? Because this also puts a lot of pressure on these home athletes.
CHRISTIE: Well, definitely, but England expects, and it's something that we all grow up knowing that England expects every man to do his duty. But we had team meetings while we were away in Portugal. We took the athletes away, first of all, to get away from all the pressure, and we explained to them what they were to expect.
But not on this level. We never in our wildest dream expected anything on the level it is at the moment.
ANDERSON: It's remarkable, isn't it? Listen, viewers, we've been asking you what kind of sports you would like to see included or, indeed, taken out of the Olympics going forward. Now, the favorite sport to be added was cricket, followed by chess, apparently, and squash.
And here's what we got for sports to be taken out. Tshepo Mogale says "Water polo must go." Keira Rodriguez tweets, "BMX and trampoline should be dropped like a bad habit." Thank you for that. And Suha says shooting should go. She says, "All kinds of shooting give the wrong message."
Linford, anything you think you want to see dropped?
CHRISTIE: I think dressage should be dropped, and I think any sport where access to it is not readily available for everyone, then it should be taken out.
ANDERSON: Right.
CHRISTIE: A lot of team sports, also. And it's -- it doesn't mean the same to be an Olympic champion. Tennis will never be the -- it doesn't mean -- and even football doesn't mean the same. So, I think those sport where Olympics are not your pinnacle should be dropped.
ANDERSON: What would you like to see in?
CHRISTIE: Well, I think we should bring in some lesser sports who are not getting the kind of accolade and the publicity that they do deserve, excluding darts, of course.
(LAUGHTER)
ANDERSON: Excluding darts! Well, that would be another gold for us, I don't think anybody else plays darts today.
CHRISTIE: We'll drink a lot of pints of beer in the process leading up to it.
ANDERSON: We want to know what you think viewers, whether you're here in London or watching from overseas, what games do you think should be included in the Olympics and which should go? Tweet me @BeckyCNN. Make sure to use the hash tag #cnnolympics, @BeckyCNN for all you Twitter users. And for all of the latest Olympic action, do use cnn.com/olympics.
So far, we've largely focused on bringing the triumph of the Games, but there have been moments that haven't, well quite frankly, gone to plan. There is just one word for tonight's Parting Shots, and that is "ouch."
It was all arms and legs and wheels in the quarter finals of the men's BMX cycle racing earlier today. A pileup taking out the Dutch, German, and Canadian riders.
Well, this was far from ideal for the Cuban pole vaulter Lazaro Borges. His pole snapped mid-flight. Fortunately, he landed on the mat, not on the track or, indeed, on the broken pole.
Hats off to the German weightlifter Matthias Steiner who walked this off. The defending Olympic champion dropped 196 kilogram barbell on his neck. He did manage to walk offstage, but was taken to hospital for x- rays.
And New Zealand field hockey player Katie Glynn didn't escape her semifinal match against the Netherlands unscathed. She copped a nasty blow to the head with a hockey stick, and if that didn't hurt enough, the Dutch won that game in a penalty shootout.
I'm Becky Anderson, that was Linford Christie, and this has been CONNECT THE WORLD live from the Olympic Stadium. Thank you for watching. Max Foster will be back with the world news headlines after this short break. Stay with us.
END
