Zaman International School Newspaper Issue 24

Volume 2 Issue 24

INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL NEWSPAPER

“You’re going to reach the top with us.”

15 April 2005

HISTORY AND CELEBRATION OF KHMER NEW YEAR W

hen seeing or hearing the word `Khmer' such as ` K h m e r N e w Ye a r ' , K h m e r Community, or Khmer Temple, many people are not familiar with the word `Khmer', and they ask what "Khmer" is?

We would like to take this opportunity to provide a brief explanation about the word "Khmer". In practice, the two words, Khmer and Cambodian, can be used to replace e a c h o t h e r. F o r e x a m p l e, K h m e r N e w Ye a r o r Cambodian New Year, Khmer People or Cambodian People except `Khmer Rouge'.

Ka m p u c h e a i s a countr y of Khmer p e o p l e . K a m p uchea can be called [Khmer country]. The

French call Kampuchea "Le Cambodge" and call the Khmer male "Le Cambodgien", the Khmer female as La Cambodgienne. A bit different from French, English usage

"MohaSangkran," which is the ancient horoscope. In fact, K h m e r N e w Ye a r o r i g i n a l l y began on the first day of the first month in lunar calendar, which can be in November or the

ZAMAN NEWSPAPER

names Kampuchea "Cambodia" and the Khmer people "Cambodian." However, the full definition of what is Khmer and what is Cambodian remains a large topic for Khmer or Cambodian intellectuals to d i s c u s s, s o w e l e a v e t h i s discussion alone.

Now, we would like to provide a brief description about Khmer or C a m b o d i a n N e w Ye a r f o r people to get to know Khmer Culture better. In Cambodia, Khmer New Year is the greatest traditional festival, and also it is the greatest national holiday because it is three days of festival and sometimes can be four days. Khmer New Year begins on April 13th or can be on April 14th, depending on the

beginning of December. In the Angkor Era, the 13th Century, the Khmer King, either Suriyavaraman II or Jayavaraman VII, was the one who changed the New Year to the fifth month of the lunar calendar, in April by the solar c a l e n d a r. 9 5 % o f K h m e r population are farmers, and the period from November through March is the busiest season for Khmer farmers to reap or harvest the crops from the rice fields.

Khmer people can find free time in April because there is no rain, and it is ver y hot, so Khmer farmers have the time to take vacation after they have worked ver y hard to gather the rice crops from their rice fields to get their income. Therefore, April is

Zaman, Publisher Grace L. Karaca, Editor-in Chief Zulfi Erken, Editor at Large

Prepared by 10- E Zaman International School Newspaper dedicated to educating students and training journalists.

Published 2 times a month in Zaman International School.

Copyright 2003 by the Zaman International School.

All rights reserved.

No part of this periodical may be reproduced in print or electronically without the consent of The Zaman International School.

the right time for Khmer in Cambodia to celebrate New Year. The Khmer New Year festival originated from Bramhmanism, a part of Hinduism, which was a religion that Khmer believed in before Buddhism.

Later on Buddhism b e c a m e a s s o c iated with the festival and then took all the important roles in the festivity.

Usually, Khmer New Year is celebrated for three days: The first day of New Year is called as M o h a S a n g k r a n, and it can be described simply as the inauguration of the New Angels who come to take care the world for a oneyear period. People need to decorate the house and also prepare fruits and drinks for the New Year inauguration and to welcome the New Angels at every single home.

Elderly people like to meditate or pray the Dharma at that time because they believe that any angel who comes to their houses at that time will stay with them and take care of their f a m i l y f o r t h e w h o l e y e a r.

Actually, in the morning at the first day of New Year, most Khmer people prepare food to offer the monks at Khmer temple to get blessed. It is a great time for boys and girls to play traditional games together at the temple or any field or playground in their village because it is only at the New Year time that boys and girls are allowed to play or to get together. Also it is a wonderful

15 April 2005

ZAMAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL NEWSPAPER

2

GENERAL time for single people to search for the special partner to get married in the future. In the past 30 years, "Dating" did not exist in Cambodia.

The second day of New Year is c a l l e d a s Wa n a b o t, w h i c h means day of offering gifts to the parents, grandparents and elders. Usually, Khmer People like

Buddha statues, the monks, elders, parents, grand parents to apologize for any mistake we have done to them and to gratify them. Every one must have a wonderful time during this ceremony because it is a great opportunity for every one, young and old, man and woman to have much fun by

to share gifts or presents to employees and also donate money or clothes to poor people. In the evening, people go to temple to build a mountain of sand and ask the monks to give them a blessing of happiness and peace.

The third day is called as day of "Leung Sakk;" that means the year starts to be counted up from this day, for example the year of 2000 begins to be 2001, the year of 2543 BC becomes 2544 BC...etc. Traditionally, in the morning, we used to go to the temple to perform the ceremony of the mountain of sand to get blessed. In the evening, to complete the New Year festival, our Khmer people need to per form the last ceremony, called as "Pithi Srang Preah", which means giving a special bath or a special shower to

spreading out water to each other.

Khmer New Year is not just the great traditional festival for Cambodian, and it can make Cambodian to build up many unforgettable souvenirs.

Our school also celebrated Khmer New Year by arranging a party at school. Khmer traditional songs, English and Turkish songs and Khmer traditional dances were performed. It was great to know we have our own comedians and the hostesses had done a great job during celebration.

Celebration took around three hours. Despite the heat, it was a wonderful party and everybody enjoyed the celebration and the free refreshments from school administration.

It is an event worth repeating.

Editorial

THE WAY TO SIT, GREET, STAND, WALK

C

ommunication is ver y important in human society. Countries sometimes use similar ways to communicate; however, sometimes they are very different. Activities are considered good or bad depending on the local culture.

Almost all cultures train the children to become good members of society in order to insure harmony, peace, and stability. However, Cambodian parents teach their next generations how to sit, greet stand, and walk. The details of well-mannered Cambodian culture are elaborated as follows.

How to Sit When eating, a man can sit in the lotus position, but if eating with a person who is older or higher status or with his parents he can't do that. Cambodian people always sit with their legs straight down and this rule is much stricter for ladies, when sitting on the floor, they must position their legs to the side.

How to Greet W h e n g r e e t i n g s o m e o n e, Cambodians put their hands in front of their face. There are four positions for putting the hands in front of the face during their greeting. Firstly, by putting the hand over the head - used with the Buddha and king. Secondly, by putting the hands at the nose position - with parents, grand parents and older persons.

Thirdly, by putting hands at the mouth position - with a person who is higher position and the last by putting the hands at the chest position - with a person who is an equal age or younger.

I n h a l f C a m b o d i a -We s t e r n cultures, a man can shake hands with a man, but is not allowed to shake hands with

l a d i e s, u n l e s s t h e y a g r e e.

Cambodian women are very strict with their customs and traditions, so avoid touching, hugging or kissing when greeting them, if not she will lose respect and feel embarrassed How to Stand While standing, arms should be positioned gently by crossing them at the waist. If your arms are at your side, it means that you are strong. If your arms are behind your back, or on your hips, everybody will consider you a rich man, powerful or disrespectful of other people.

How to Walk When you go out for any reason, we say you are “going for a walk�. It is important to inform someone in the family of the destination, so that if anyone tries to make contact, the family will be able to say where you are; other wise, the family will be e m b a r r a s s e d. I f y o u p a s s someone of higher status, older, or a monk, the body must be bent lower than the other p e r s o n. La d i e s m u s t a v o i d making noise with skirts and shoes while walking, if not they will not be considered a good woman to marry or to have any communication with. When entering a temple (Buddha Pagoda) don't wear a hat and don't wear shoes when stepping up in a temple. Ladies must avoid wearing sexy dresses when they go to a pagoda.

Ratha Bo

15 April 2005

ZAMAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL NEWSPAPER

3

HEALTH

THE EFFECTS OF TEENAGE DRUG ABUSE When teenagers use drugs, the negative effects can be seen in family relationships, academic per formance, and even criminal behavior. This includes the lack communication in family, awful behavior at school and crimes.

Apparently, Drug use often leads to a breakdown in family relationships. Teenagers on drugs often stop communicating with parents. They will start avoiding being near their parents so that they will not know what they have been doing recently.

Furthermore, they will soon start telling lies and acting strangely at home to protect their drug use; otherwise, their parents will certainly blame them.

Equally important, teens will not only have problems with their families, but also at school. Of course, we do not really know what they might do when they first use drugs. They might begin doing something that seems stupid or crazy. For instance, they might start bothering other kids at school by fighting or threatening them. After that, they will stop caring about schoolwork and

Bird Flu

T

here are at least 15 different types of avian influenza that routinely infect birds around the world. The current outbreak is caused by a strain known as H5N1, which is highly contagious among birds and rapidly fatal.

Unlike many other strains of avian influenza, it can be transmitted to humans, causing severe illness and death.

Influenza vir uses are highly unstable and have the ability to mutate rapidly, potentially jumping from one animal species to another. Scientists fear the bird flu vir us could evolve into a form that is easily s p r e a d b e t w e e n p e o p l e, resulting in an extremely contagious and lethal disease.

This could happen if someone already infected with the human flu virus catches the bird flu. The two viruses could recombine i n s i d e t h e v i c t i m ' s b o d y, producing a hybrid that could readily spread from person to person.

The resulting virus likely would be something humans have never been exposed to before. With no immune defenses, the infection could cause devastating illness, such as occurred in the 1918-19 Spanish flu pandemic, which killed an estimated 40 million to 50 million worldwide.

Bird Flu Symptoms Bird flu can cause a range of symptoms in humans. Some patients report fever, cough, sore throat and muscle aches.

Others suffer from eye infections, pneumonia, acute respiratory distress and other severe and life-threatening complications. not get involved with drugs; Bird Flu Transmission otherwise, problems will soon be s e e n i n n e g a t i v e a s p e c t s.

U n d o u b t e d l y, w h e n t e e n s become drug abusers, there are negative consequences not only for the teens themselves but also for their families, friends, and social groups. In the short term, these effects are destructive enough, but they also have long-term effects. Because we look to the young to shape the future of society, we must insure that this future is in good hands. If it is not, societal problems can only get worse. start skipping class instead to be with their friends who do drugs.

Finally, if teenagers become addicted to drugs, they will do almost anything, sometimes even commit crimes, to get drugs. Actually, drugs are not as cheap as some people think.

T h e y a r e v e r y e x p e n s i v e.

Teenagers will therefore run out of money to buy them. So what will they do to get drugs? They might begin stealing from their parents, friends, and other people. This could include all kinds of crime.

For all these r e a s o n s , teenagers should

Somavattey Mono

In rural areas, the H5N1 virus is easily spread from farm to farm among domestic poultr y through the feces of wild birds.

The virus can survive for up to four days at 71 F (22 C) and more than 30 days at 32 F (0 C).

If frozen, it can survive indefinitely.

So far in this outbreak, human cases have been blamed on direct contact with infected chickens and their droppings.

People who catch the virus from birds can pass it on to other humans, although the disease is generally milder in those who caught it from an infected person rather than from birds.

If the virus mutates and combines with a human influenza virus, it could be spread through person-to-person transmission in the same way the ordinar y human flu virus is spread.

Bird Flu Treatment Flu drugs exist that may be used both to prevent people from catching bird flu and to treat those who have it. The virus appears to be resistant to two older generic flu dr ugs, amantadine and rimantadine.

However, the newer flu drugs Ta m i f l u a n d Re l e n z a a r e expected to work though supplies could run out quickly if an outbreak occurs.

Currently there is no vaccine, although scientists are working to develop one. It probably will take several months to complete and may not be ready in time to stop a widespread human outbreak, if one occurs.

Bird Flu Prevention Rapid elimination of the H5N1 virus among infected birds and other animals is essential to preventing a major outbreak. The World Health O r g a n i z a t i o n r e c o mmends that infected or exposed flocks of chickens and other birds be killed in order to help prevent further spread of the virus and reduce opportunities for human infection.

H o w e v e r, t h e a g e n c y warns that safety measures must be taken to prevent exposure to the virus among workers involved in

Grace L. Karaca

15 April 2005

ZAMAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL NEWSPAPER

4

SCIENCE

The History of the Telephone

I

n the 1870s, two inventors Elisha Gray and Alexander Graham Bell both independently designed devices that could transmit speech electrically (the telephone). Both men rushed their respective designs to the patent office within hours o f e a c h o t h e r, A l e x a n d e r Graham Bell patented his telephone first. Elisha Gray and Alexander Graham Bell entered into a famous legal battle over the invention of the telephone, which Bell won.

The telegraph and telephone are both wire-based electrical systems, and Alexander Graham Bell's success with the telephone came as a direct result of his attempts to improve the telegraph.

When Bell began experimenting w i t h e l e c t r i c a l s i g n a l s, t h e telegraph had been an established means of communication for some 30 years.

Although a highly successful system, the telegraph, with its dot-and-dash Morse code, was basically limited to receiving and sending one message at a time. Bell's extensive knowledge of the nature of sound and his understanding of music enabled him to conjecture the possibility of transmitting multiple messages over the same wire at the same time. Although the idea of a multiple telegraph had been in existence for some time, Bell offered his own musical or harmonic approach as a possible practical solution. His "harmonic telegraph" was based on the principle that several notes could be sent simultaneously along the same wire if the notes or signals differed in pitch.

By October 1874, Bell's research had progressed to the extent that he could inform his future father-in-law, Boston attorney Gardiner Greene Hubbard, about the possibility of a multiple telegraph. Hubbard, who resented the absolute control then exerted by the Western Union Telegraph Company, instantly saw the potential for breaking such a monopoly and gave Bell the financial backing

he needed. Bell proceeded with his work on the multiple telegraph, but he did not tell Hubbard that he and Thomas Watson, a young electrician whose services he had enlisted, were also exploring an idea that had occurred to him that summer - that of developing a device that would transmit speech electrically.

Model of Alexander Graham Bell's Telephone This model of Bell's first telephone (right) is a duplicate of the instrument through which speech sounds were first transmitted electrically (1875).

While Alexander Graham Bell and Thomas Watson worked on the harmonic telegraph at the insistent urging of Hubbard and other backers, Bell nonetheless met in March 1875 with Joseph Henry, the respected director of the Smithsonian Institution, who

listened to Bell's ideas for a telephone and offered encouraging words. Spurred on by Henry's positive opinion, Bell and Watson continued their work. By June 1875 the goal of creating a device that would transmit speech electrically was about to be realized. They had proven that different tones would vary the strength of an electric current in a wire. To achieve success they therefore needed only to build a working transmitter with a membrane capable of varying electronic currents and a receiver that would reproduce these variations in audible frequencies.

On June 2, 1875, Alexander Graham Bell while experimenting with his technique called "harmonic telegraph" discovered he could hear sound over a wire. The sound was that of a twanging clock spring.

Bell's greatest success was achieved on March 10, 1876, marked not only the birth of the telephone but the death of the multiple telegraph as well. The communications potential contained in his demonstration of being able to "talk with electricity" far outweighed anything that simply increasing the capability of a dot-and-dash system could imply.

Alexander Graham Bell's notebook entr y of 10 March 1876 describes his successful experiment with the telephone.

Speaking through the instrument t o h i s a s s i s t a n t, T h o m a s A. Watson, in the next room, Bell utters these famous first words, "Mr. Watson -- come here -- I want to see you."

Born on March 3, 1847, in Edinburgh, Scotland, Alexander Graham Bell was the son and grandson of authorities in elocution and the correction of speech. Educated to pursue a career in the same specialty, his knowledge of the nature of sound led him not only to teach the deaf, but also to invent the telephone.

Bell's unceasing scientific curiosity led to invention of the photophone, to significant commercial improvements in Thomas Edison's phonograph, and to development of his own flying machine just six years after the Wright Brothers launched their plane at Kitty Hawk. As President James Garfield lay dying of an assassin's bullet in 1881, Bell hurriedly invented a metal detector in an unsuccessful attempt to locate the fatal slug.

Alexander Graham Bell Biography In 1876, at the age of 29, Alexander Graham Bell invented his telephone. Bell might easily have been content with the success of his invention. His many laborator y notebooks demonstrate, however, that he was driven by a genuine and rare intellectual curiosity that kept him regularly searching, striving, and wanting always to learn and to create.

Dana Sopheak Phea

15 April 2005

ZAMAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL NEWSPAPER

5

GENERAL

SIHANOUKVILLE Sihanoukville in Cambodia (Kompong Som), it is above all some very clean white sandy beaches, the cr ystal clear ocean and palm trees, at 4 h o u r s o f P h n o m Pe n h t h e capital. A stopping place in this seaside resort before or after the discover y of the Kingdom of Cambodia.

Shaded beaches were e q u i p p e d f o r t h e r e s t, t h e relaxation and the idleness. The beaches of Sihanoukville enter slowly in the ocean with transpar-

ent blue waters, not polluted by garbage or other waste.

Deckchairs and parasols (not paying), many shelters in straw and small restaurants which serve some fresh fish, complete these beaches little known by the big tourism and only o c c u p i e d t h e w e e ke n d b y inhabitants of Phnom Penh.

Many hotels of quite categories will supply you a quality residence. Sihanoukville, an ideal place for the relaxation and the swimming without danger.

Amara Mao

Khmer Script Evolved Only the people who live to tell it can report the true story of a countr y's past. But with the passage of time, oral histories fade into legend, leaving behind more questions than written accounts.

Cambodia's rich historical culture speaks volumes. Khmer Script development is one among the interesting stories that Leisure wants to tell readers how its character and features is changed from one period to another.

century BC Type 2: Veal Kan Teng writing rock script, end of the 6th or early 7th century BC Type 3: Ang Chomney Kor writing rock script, 667 BC Type 4: Inn Kor Sey writing rock script, 970 BC Type 5: Preash Keo writing rock script, 1002 BC Type 6: Nor Korr writing rock script, 1066 BC Type 7: Banteay Chmar writing rock script, early 12th or 13th century BC

Our Khmer forebears recorded information for future generations on animal skins using fried chalk. These documents could not withstand the hunger of starving insects like termites, however, so historians had to seek new methods to record their findings. Rock and stone proved to be an effective replacement for the chalk, and the results have been everlasting.

According to documents recorded in rock, it can be surmised that Khmer script has evolved ten times and is characterized by the following features, names and years: Type 1: Han Chey writing rock s c r i p t, a p p r o x i m a t e l y 6 t h

Type 8: Angkor Watt writing rock script, 13th century BC. Type 9: Angkor script, 1702 BC While rocks may appear to be primitive, outdated tools, it is these blunt objects that have shed the most light on Cambodia's past. These writing tools provided past generations with immediate instructions on how to survive and will offer future generations a perspective on what and who made their country what it is today. Without the rock script, Cambodia's culture, traditions and literature could easily have morphed into myth. Now, the writing of history depends on commitment of future generations to report the truth.

15 April 2005

ZAMAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL NEWSPAPER

6

ENTERTAINMENT

ODD SIGNS Sign in a London department GRAVEYARD TO DO THEIR BEST TO store: KEEP THEM IN ORDER BARGAIN BASEMENT UPSTAIRS Notice in a dry cleaner's window: In an office: ANYONE LEAVING THEIR WOULD THE PERSON WHO TOOK GARMENTS HERE FOR MORE THE STEP LADDER YESTERDAY THAN 30 DAYS WILL BE DISPOSED P L E A S E B R I N G I T B A C K O R OF. FURTHER STEPS WILL BE TAKEN Sign on motor way garage: In an office: PLEASE DO NOT SMOKE NEAR AFTER TEA BREAK STAFF SHOULD OUR PETROL PUMPS. YOUR LIFE EMPTY THE TEAPOT AND STAND MAY NOT BE WORTH MUCH, BUT UPSIDE DOWN ON THE DRAINING OUR PETROL IS BOARD Notice in health food shop Sign outside a new town hall Window: which was to be opened by the CLOSED DUE TO ILLNESS Prince of Wales: THE TOWN HALL IS CLOSED UNTIL Spotted in a safari park: O P E N I N G. I T W I L L R E M A I N ELEPHANTS PLEASE STAY IN YOUR CLOSED AFTER BEING OPENED. CAR OPEN TOMORROW. Seen during a conference: Outside a photographer's studio: F O R A N Y O N E W H O H A S OUT TO LUNCH: IF NOT BACK CHILDREN AND DOESN'T KNOW IT:

BY FIVE, OUT FOR DINNER THERE IS A DAY CARE ON THE FIRST FLOOR ALSO Seen at the side of a Sussex road: SLOW CATTLE CROSSING. NO OVERTAKING FOR THE NEXT 100 YRS. Sign warning of quicksand: Q U I C K S A N D. A N Y P E R S O N PA SSING THIS POINT WILL BE DROWNED.

BY ORDER OF THE DISTRICT COUNCIL.

Message on a leaflet: I F Y O U C A N N OT R E A D, T H I S LEAFLET WILL TELL YOU HOW TO GET LESSONS Sign on a repair shop door: W E C A N R E PA I R A N Y T H I N G. (PLEASE KNOCK HARD ON THE DOOR - THE BELL DOESN'T WORK)

Sign at Norfolk farm gate: BEWARE! I SHOOT EVERY TENTH TRESPASSER AND THE NINTH ONE Notice sent to residents of a HAS JUST LEFT Wiltshire parish: DUE TO INCREASING PROBLEMS Spotted in a toilet in a London WITH LETTER LOUTS AND VANDALS office block: WE MUST A SK ANYONE WITH TOILET OUT OF ORDER. PLEASE R E L A T I V E S B U R I E D I N T H E USE FLOOR

THİNGS YOU WOULD NEVER KNOW İF İT WEREN'T FOR TV! 1. All grocery shopping bags contain at least one stick of French bread.

2. It's easy for anyone to land a p l a n e, p r o v i d i n g t h e r e i s someone in the control tower to talk you down.

3. The ventilation system of any building is a per fect hiding place and leads to any location in the building, including the safe. No one will ever think of looking for you in there.

4. Should you wish to pass yourself off as a German officer, it will not be necessary to speak the language.

English with a German accent will do, provided you are blonde.

5. The Eiffel Tower can be seen from any window of any building in Paris.

6. People never finish their drinks.

7. A man will show no pain while taking the most ferocious beating but will wince when a woman tries to clean his wounds afterwards.

8. The chief of police is always wrong.

9. When paying for a taxi, just grab a note from your pocket and hand it over. It will always be the exact fare.

10. Any American movie will contain a car chase, unless it was made by Walt Disney. Cars and trucks that crash will always burst into flames after they have come to a standstill and the hero is running away from it at 5 to 10 meters distance.

11. Unimportant bad guys are killed instantaneously with one bullet or punch. Important bad guys nearly kill the

hero savagely before they are killed.

12. A single match will be sufficient to light up a room the size of a football stadium.

13. If a killer is lurking in your house, it's easy to find him. Just relax and run a bath - even if it's the middle of the afternoon.

14. Medieval peasants had perfect teeth, were well-fed, wore clean clothes and makeup.

15. Even when driving down a completely straight road, it is necessary to turn the steering wheel vigorously from left to right ever y few moments.

16. One man shooting at 20 men has a better chance of killing them all than 20 men firing at one.

17. Creepy music coming from a graveyard should always be closely investigated.

18. Most people keep a scrapbook of newspaper clippings - especially if any of their family or friends has died in a strange boating accident.

19. During a ver y emotional confrontation, instead of facing the person you are speaking to, one stands behind them and talk to their back.

20. When you turn out the light to go to bed, everything in your room will still be clearly visible, just slightly bluish.

21. Dogs always know who's bad and will naturally bark at them.

22. Action heroes never eat and drink when chased for weeks, do not go to the toilet or need more than 5 minutes of sleep per day.

23. Action heroes never face charges for manslaughter or c r i m i n a l d a m a g e, d e s p i t e laying entire cities to waste.

2 4 . Yo u c a n a l w a y s f i n d a chainsaw whenever you're likely to need one.

25. A detective can only solve a case once he has been suspended from duty and continues the case in his own time.

26. If you decide to start dancing in the street, everyone you bump into will know all the steps.

15 April 2005

ZAMAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL NEWSPAPER

7

ENTERTAINMENT

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

ACROSS 1 Usually made from uncooked vegetables, seasoned with oil, vinegar etc. this accompanies a meal.

3 Brown and crispy, with a dab of butter and jam, an essential part of a breakfast.

6 Remember the story of the fox who couldn't get what he wanted? He said the ………..must be sour!

9 If you eat much more than

you need to, you are being a ………..

11 A hardy cereal usually used as animal fodder. Rhymes with goats.

14This is found in saline/sea water.

15A kind of drink.

DOWN 1 This sweatener may be made from cane or beet.

2 The packet of bread.

4 When you are running

temperature you iften lose your give you an upset stomach. ……..

13 The Italians eat a lot of 5 A refreshing drink made from this. the leaves of a shrub.

7Chicks hatch out of these.

8A fast growing fungus, which looks like an umbrella.

10Usually made from flour, long thin stripes used in Chinese and East Asian food.

12 One of these a day keeps the doctor away, too many

15 April 2005

ZAMAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL NEWSPAPER

8

SPORT

A Brief History of Badminton

B

adminton probably originated in India as a grownup's version of a very old children's game known in England as battledore and shuttlecock, the battledore being a paddle and the shuttlecock a small feathered cork, now usually balled a "bird."

Played for centuries by children in India, Siam, and Japan, this was a cooperative game in which the players worked together to keep the "bird" in the air for as long as possible.

A net was added and the game had become a competitive sport called "poona" by the 1860s, when British Army officers were playing it in India. Some of them brought equipment back to England and introduced the new sport there during the early 1870s.

It was played at a lawn party held by Duke of Beaufort at his country place, Badminton, in 1873, and it became known as "the Badminton game" among various guests who introduced it to other friends.

T h e B a t h B a d m i n t o n C l u b, organized in 1877, developed the first written rules, which have remained essentially the same.

In 1893, the Badminton Association of England was founded as the first national governing body and the first AllEngland championship was held in 1899.

The Badminton Club of New York was organized in 1878, but it was primarily a social club. The Badminton Health Club of Boston, founded in 1908, devoted more time to the sport and grew to more than 300 members by 1925. But badminton didn't become genuinely popular in the U. S. until the 1930s.

In 1935, the American Badminton Association (ABA) was founded and it conducted the first national championship tournament on April 1, 1937.

The International Badminton Federation, founded in 1934, planned to hold the first world team championship tournament in 1939, but it was canceled because of World War

II and didn't take place until 1949.

Badminton was staged as a demonstration sport at the 1972 Olympics and it was added to

the Olympic program in 1992 with singles and doubles competition for men and women. The mixed doubles event was added in 1996.

Badminton also became a PanAmerican Games sport in 1995.

The ABA was renamed the U. S. Badminton Association in 1978. In 1989, the organization became a fullfledged member of t h e U. S. O l y m p i c C o m m i t t e e. I t h a s about 2,700 members, but more than 1 million Americans play b a d m i n t o n recreationally at least 2 5 t i m e s a y e a r, according to a recent study.

American players were among the world's best until the

late 1960s. Perhaps the greatest of all was Judy Devlin Hashman, a native of Manitoba. She won more than 50 major championships from 1954 through 1967, including 12 U. S. national titles and 10 All-England championships.

In recent years the best players have come from Indonesia, China, Malaysia, Korea, and from the Scandinavian countries, especially Denmark and Finland. However, with help from USOC funding, the USBA has launched a major development program aimed at producing an Olympic medalist by 2004.

Badminton became a professional sport in the 1980s, when the IBF established the World Grand Prix Circuit. The U. S. Open, which offers $200,000 in prize money, is the highest paying tournament on the tour. The Grand Prix Finals tournament has a total purse of $350,000.

Court and Equipment * Court size for singles - 44 feet long x 17 feet wide * Court size for doubles - 44 feet long x 20 feet wide * Net height - 5 feet * Shuttlecocks - Also known as birdies or birds. One type has feathers with a cork base, and the other is plastic with a rubber base. * Rackets - Made of lightweight material like wood, plastic or metal.

Object of the game The object of the game is to hit the shuttlecock back and forth over a net without permitting it to hit the floor in bounds on your side of the net.

Grace L. Karaca