ROME — Exhibits from the two great empires, the Eagle and the Dragon, comprise more than 400 works on Roman and Chinese empires, spanning second century BC to fourth century AD, on display now in Rome at Palazzo Venezia. It marks Year of Chinese Culture in Italy

For the first time, an exhibition that compares the two seminal empires in world history: the Roman Empire and the Chinese Qin and Han dynasties from the second century BC to the second century AD.

The exhibition is a collaboration between Italy’s Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities and China’s State Administration for Cultural Heritage. It has already been seen in Beijing, Luoyang and Milan.

Kicking off at Beijing in July 2009 at its World Art Museum, the more than 300 works of art will be on display from both cultures aim to draw parallels between the cultures and mechanisms of both empires, while also highlighting their differences. Terracotta warriors, sarcophagi from Mawangdui and Han frescoes will stand alongside Roman funerary altars, mosaics and marble statues. The extraordinary ceramic statues showing the costumes, fashion and military arts of ancient China, will be compared to gladiatorial weapons, mythological figures and other archaeological artifacts that attest to the social habits of ancient Romans.

Five Americans were detained in Beijing on August 19th, after displaying an LED banner with the words “Free Tibet” spelled out in both English and Chinese.

Amy Johnson, Sam Corbin, Liza Smith, Jacob Blumenfeld, and Lauren Valle were detained near midnight. Their whereabouts are currently unknown.

Personally, I’d say this has been one of the most entertaining and historical (in terms of world records set) Olympics in recent history. But the context in which it is being held is highly irregular, that a country with such a terrible history of human rights violations was awarded the games over nations like Canada and France.

When a country with China’s history earns the honour of hosting the most important and spectacular sporting event in the world, they should expect protest and public displays of displeasure.

Prior to the games, expecting some trouble, the Chinese government made impromptu protests illegal, requiring all potential protesters to register beforehand.

China has received over 77 applications since the first of the month, having yet to approve one. Many journalists are applying to stage protests only to test the extent of the limitations on freedom of expression and assembly in China. So far the answer has been pretty obvious.

Some beg to differ though. CBC reporter Sook-Yin Lee put freedom in China to the test, sipping canned beer in front of a guard in Tiananmen square. She earned no reaction from him.

I don’t think it really proves anything, but I guess it makes sense that in a country where internet freedom is a national threat, guards ignore the smaller things; like public drinking.

I really do love the show that’s being put on, these Olympic Games have been wonderfully entertaining and the stadiums are truly one of a kind. The only thing ruining the ambiance of the event, is the audience’s knowledge that as soon as these games are over, China’s political reputation will again make negative headlines.

Sad isn’t it?

Hugh Bachman, coach of the U.S. men’s Olympic volleyball team and his wife, Elisabeth Bachman McCutcheon, a former Olympic athlete, spoke out in an open letter about the death of Elisabeth’s father and injuries of her mother who were attacked Saturday at a tourist attraction in Beijing.

The attack killed Todd Bachman and critically injured his wife Barbara, both 62. Barbara was recently upgraded from critical to serious but stable at a Beijing hospital.

“We are extremely grateful for the outpouring of assistance and generosity that we have received and hope to convey our appreciation to everyone who has supported us and kept us in their thoughts and prayers,” the letter reads. It goes on to individually thank family, friends, Olympians, officials and President Bush for their support through the weekend.

“This letter cannot do justice in acknowledging the love and support we’ve felt,” they wrote. “We have been lifted up by the outpouring of support and love we’ve received from around the world.”

The 28 Bachman’s home and garden stores in Minnesota, of which Todd Bachman was chairman and CEO, are displaying posters and memorials for their fallen leader.

Barbara Bachman suffered multiple cuts and stab wounds in the attack the killed her husband, Todd Bachman, the U.S. Olympic Committee announced in a statement.

She underwent eight hours of surgery Saturday afternoon and evening and remains in critical but stable condition at a Beijing hospital where her family, including her son-in-law, U.S. men’s indoor volleyball coach Hugh McCutcheon, and daughter, former olympic athlete Elisabeth Bachman McCutcheon.

The Olympic Committee said McCutcheon would not coach the men’s volleyball team in their opening game again

Todd Bachman was chairman and CEO of Bachman’s, a home store that goes back over 100 years an four generations in the family.

At a press conference Saturday, Dale Bachman, president of the Minnesota company, explained the management structure — brothers and cousins who have lost one.

Video courtesy of The Boston Globe

The U.S. Olympic Committee identified the American killed Saturday in Beijing as Todd Bachman, 62, of Lakeville, Minn., who died after being attacked by an apparently deranged Chinese man who then took his own life.

Bachman was the father-in-law of men’s indoor volleyball head coach Hugh McCutcheon and father of McCutcheon’s wife, 2004 U.S. Olympic women’s indoor volleyball player Elisabeth Bachman McCutcheon, who was with with her father when the attack took place. His wife Barbara, also 62, was seriously injured in the attack and taken to a local hospital with life-treatening injuries.

Elisabeth Bachman McCutcheon was not injured.

“The United States Olympic Committee is saddened to confirm the death of Todd Bachman,” the committee said in a statement Saturday.

The family was touring Beijing’s Drum Tower in Beijing when they were attacked shortly after noon local time. The Chinese state news agency, Xinhua, identified the attacker as Tang Yongming, 47, from the eastern city of Hangzhou. Yongming killed himself by jumping off a second story balcony after the attack.

The Olympic Committee said that the Bachmans were not wearing apparel that identified them as relatives of members of the U.S. Delegation at the time of the attack.

Bachman is the chairman and CEO of Bachman’s Floral, Home and Garden, a popular store in Minnesota.

“It is impossible to describe the depth of our sadness and shock in this tragic hour,” said U.S. Olympic Committee Chairman Peter Ueberroth in the statement. “Our delegation comes to the Games as a family, and when one member of our family suffers a loss, we all grieve with them. Our thoughts, prayers and deepest condolences are with the Bachman and McCutcheon families.”

The US men’s volleyball team plays its first game at 10 p.m. today against Venezuela.