Bronze Medal for Venezuela.. Thanks Dalia!

The taekwondist Dalia Contreras won the Bronze Medal in Women −49 kg. Dalia is 24 years old and she's from Cabudare, Lara State. Dalia's medal is Venezuela's first medal in the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and the number 11 medal in Venezuela's participation history in the Olympic Games. Venezuela has got 1 gold medal, 2 silver medals and 8 bronze medals.

She said " I always dreamt of going to the Olympic games, I always told my mom that I wanted to go to the games... winning a medal was another goal but I made it..."

Venezuela first competed in London 1948, with The cyclist Julio Cesar Leon, our only participant and has sent athletes to compete in every Summer Olympic Games since then. Venezuela has also participated in the Winter Olympic Games since 1998.

In Helsinki 1959, there were 37 Venezuelan athlete participating that year. Two women Úrsula Selle y Gerda Müller, were also there. The athlete Arnoldo Devonish (June 15, 1932 – January 1, 1997) won the first bronze medal in Men's triple jump. Devonish was from Zulia State. In his jump, he registered 15,15 meters.

In Rome 1960, Enrico Forcela also won bronze medal in Men's 50 meter rifle prone.

In Mexico 1968, the boxer Francisco "Morochito" Rodríguez from Cumana, won a gold medal in Men's light flyweight. he competed against the Korean Young Ju Lee.

Eight years later in Montreal 1976, Pedro Gamarro won a silver medal in Men's welterweight.

Next, in Moscow 1980 another boxer, Bernardo Piñango got another silver medal in Men's bantamweight (categoria gallo).

In Los Angeles 1984, Venezuela got three bronze medals, two in boxing by Marcelino Bolivar (Men's light flyweight) and Omar Catarí (Men's featherweight). That year our Rafael Vidal got the Men's 200 meter butterfly bronze medal, too.

In Barcelona 92, Arlindo Goveia got Gold medal in Tae Kwon Do, but unfortunately that discipline wasn't a valid discipline in the Olympic games at that time.

Twenty years later in Athens 2004, Israel Rubio (Men's featherweighty) and Adriana Carmona in taekwondo (Women's heavyweight) got two Bronze medals more for Venezuela.

Finally, this year in Beijing 2008 our Dalia Contreras won the Bronze Medal.

We are very happy and proud of Dalia and we want to congratulate and thank her for the happiness that her dreams of computing in an Olympic game have given the Venezuelan people.

Now after reading about our athletes and their performance at the different Olympic Games. What do you think? Is it easy to get a medal? What do you know about our athletes? Do you you have a favorite one? What about the sports? What's your favorite?

Source: Wikipedia
Posters: Olympic Games

A beautiful song....about us... people from Zulia!

This is a beautiful song with lots of photos about our State! Hope you enjoy it as much as I do.. This video was posted by Eduardo Morales. He's a member of Quinto Criollo, our most representative musical group in our region.



Quinto Criollo is a local musical group whose members have dedicated 34 years of their lives to make our people happy and proud of their culture and heritage. This musical group was born on May 21 1971. Amada Campbell, Eduardo Morales, Francisco Arrieta and Lisbella González started their presentations at universities and schools.

In 1973,Hernán Gamboa, a cuatro player from Serenata Guayanesa, invited them to create their own music. In 1976, they recorded their first album (listen to it here), produced by maestro Hugo Blanco composer of "Moliendo Cafe", its cover was designed by Francisco “Paco” Hung, one of the most important painters of our coutry. That year they were on National television. They were invited to participate in the Venezuela Siempre Venezuela show in Venezolana de Television.

In 1978, they recorded Canción del Barco Velero dedicated to the children and in 1979, Navidad Criolla with the maestro Simón Díaz.

In 1981, different reasons made them decided to stop recording or going on tours. For twelve years they remained silent but in 1993, decided to come back. Rafael Soto and Nectario Sánchez, joined the group substituting Iván Burgos and Francisco Arrieta. That year, they won the Premio Nacional de la Canción Popular.

In 1999 they recorded "Como el río" with two new members Mildred González y Edilio Lugo

In 1996, on their 25th aniversary, Quinto Criollo was named Patrimonio Cultural de Maracaibo, and received the orden “Ciudad de Maracaibo”.

In 2001, On their 30th Aniversary, they celebrated with a concert where Serenata Guayanesa, Gualberto Ibarreto, Cecilia Todd, Huáscar Barradas and Ricardo Cepeda accompanied them.

They have been singing to us for 37 years now. Congratulations to Amada Campbell, Mildred González, Rafael Soto, Eduardo Morales and Nectario Sánchez. We are very proud of you because your life's work has been dedicated to represent us all over the world and the time.

We are specially proud at URBE because one of its founding members, Amada Campbell is one of our EFL professors and dear friend. Also, Eduardo Morales' son.... Eduardo Morales Jr., an engineer and EFL teacher, was part of our Staff at the URBE's ESL Language Center.

Source: El cuatro Venezolano, sabor gaitero, salvavinilo

Feedback for our May- July 2008 class!

Well, we just finished another trimester... It went really fast but we achieved a lot:

1. We got a bunch of new friends at the International Collaboration Ning Social Network.
2. We got a Facebook Group
3. We had lots of fun... Soon, I will be posting all we did... lots of pictures, videos and excellent work.

Now... the feedback... This is the link to our survey...

Click Here to take survey

Please, take the survey and keep in touch...

I will see you next trimester...

A movie Quiz... Mamma Mia!!!