Palau

Palau

Palau , officially the Republic of Palau , is an island nation in the Pacific Ocean, east of the Philippines and south of Tokyo. In 1978, after three decades as being part of the United Nations trusteeship, Palau chose independence instead of becoming part of the Federated States of Micronesia, a...

competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics

2008 Summer Olympics

The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...

in Beijing

Beijing

Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...

, China. Palau's Olympic delegation was led by Frank Kyota, the President of the Palau National Olympic Committee, and consisted of five athletes, three team officials and four coaches. This was an increase from the nation's two previous appearances at the Summer Olympic Games; four athletes had been sent to both the Sydney

2000 Summer Olympics

The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...

 and Athens

2004 Summer Olympics

The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...

 Games. Palau's Olympic team was one of the 117 that won no medals at the Games.

Opening & Closing Ceremonies

Palau was the 119th national team to enter the Beijing National Stadium

Beijing National Stadium

Beijing National Stadium, also known officially as the National Stadium, or colloquially as the Bird's Nest , is a stadium in Beijing, China. The stadium was designed for use throughout the 2008 Summer Olympics and Paralympics.-History:...

 in the parade of nations during the Opening Ceremony

2008 Summer Olympics opening ceremony

The 2008 Summer Olympics opening ceremony was held at the Beijing National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest. It began at 8:00 pm China Standard Time on August 8, 2008, as 8 is considered to be a lucky number. The number 8 is associated with prosperity and confidence in Chinese culture...

. The country's flag bearer

2008 Summer Olympics national flag bearers

During the Parade of Nations portion of the 2008 Summer Olympics opening ceremony, athletes from each country participating in the Olympics paraded in the arena, preceded by their flag...

 was freestyle wrestler

Freestyle wrestling

Freestyle wrestling is a style of amateur wrestling that is practised throughout the world. Along with Greco-Roman, it is one of the two styles of wrestling contested in the Olympic games. It is, along with track and field, one of the oldest organized sports in history...

 Elgin Loren Elwais

Elgin Loren Elwais

Elgin Loren Elwais is a Palauan wrestler. Elwais participated in his first Olympic Games at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China...

, the first Palauan athlete to have qualified for a Games based on his own performances.

At the Closing Ceremony

2008 Summer Olympics closing ceremony

The 2008 Summer Olympics closing ceremony was held at the Beijing National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest. It was directed by Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yimou and began at 8:00 pm China Standard Time on August 24, 2008...

 athletes entered in a less formal style, led by the flag bearers of all the competing nations. The Palauan flag was carried by swimmer Amber Yobech.

Athletics (Track & Field)

Palau had two competitors in the sport of athletics, one in each of the men's and women's 100 m sprints. Jesse Tamangrow finished seventh out of eight competitors in a heat which included eventual bronze medallist Walter Dix

Walter Dix

Walter Dix is an American sprinter who specializes in the 100 meters and 200 meters. He is the fourth fastest 200 m runner ever with a best of 19.53 seconds, and has broken the 10-second barrier in the 100 m with a best of 9.88 seconds.Dix was a highly successful amateur...

. Despite setting a new personal best time of 11.38 seconds he did not advance to the quarterfinals of the competition. In the women's event Peoria Koshiba finished eighth out of nine athletes in the first heat and did not advance to the next round.

Athlete	Events	Heat		Quarterfinal		Semifinal		Final
		Result	Rank	Result	Rank	Result	Rank	Result	Rank
Jesse Tamangrow Jesse Tamangrow Jesse Tamangrow is a track and field sprint athlete who competes internationally for Palau.Tamangrow represented Palau at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. He competed at the 100 metres sprint and placed 7th in his heat without advancing to the second round. He ran the distance in a time of...	Men's 100 m Athletics at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Men's 100 metres The following new world and Olympic records were set during this competition.-Qualification:Each National Olympic Committee was able to enter up to three entrants providing they had met the A standard in the qualifying period...	11.38 (PB)	7	Did not advance
Peoria Koshiba Peoria Koshiba Peoria Koshiba is a track and field sprint athlete who competes internationally for Palau.Koshiba represented Palau at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. She competed at the 100 metres sprint and placed eighth in her heat without advancing to the second round. She ran the distance in a time of...	Women's 100 m Athletics at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Women's 100 metres -Results:All times shown are in seconds. The following abbreviations are used:* Q denotes qualification by place* q denotes qualification by time* PB denotes personal best* SB denotes season best* NR denotes national record...	13.18	8	Did not advance

Swimming

Amber Yobech, the youngest member of the team at age 17, was the sole Palauan representative in the swimming events. She finished 3rd in her heat and 71st out of the 92 competitors overall.

Athlete	Event	Heat		Semifinal		Final
		Time	Rank	Time	Rank	Time	Rank
Amber Sikosang Yobech	Women's 50 m freestyle	30.00	71	Did not advance

Qualifiers for the latter rounds of all swimming events at the Games were decided on a time only basis between competitors from all heats, therefore the rank shown is an overall position against every swimmer in the round.

Wrestling

Two wrestlers represented Palau in Beijing. Both athletes received byes

Bye (sports)

A bye, in sports and other competitive activities, most commonly refers to the practice of allowing a player or team to advance to the next round of a playoff tournament without playing...

 in the first round but were defeated in their respective round of 16 matches. Elgin Loren Elwais, the reigning Oceanic

Oceania

Oceania is a region centered on the islands of the tropical Pacific Ocean. Conceptions of what constitutes Oceania range from the coral atolls and volcanic islands of the South Pacific to the entire insular region between Asia and the Americas, including Australasia and the Malay Archipelago...

 champion, was beaten on points by three times world champion Hamid Soryan in the Greco-Roman 55 kg. After the bout he announced his hope of competing at the 2012 Olympics

2012 Summer Olympics

The 2012 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the "London 2012 Olympic Games", are scheduled to take place in London, England, United Kingdom from 27 July to 12 August 2012...

 in London

London

London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...

, saying, "It is my first Olympics and I am looking forward to my next because I'm young." The other wrestler Florian Skilang Temengil

Florian Skilang Temengil

Florian Skilang Temengil is a Palauan wrestler at Newman University in Wichita, Kansas. Skilang competed in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China in the freestyle wrestling. He lost his bout to Ottó Aubéli of Hungary 0-6, 1-7. However, he managed to score the first ever point to Palauan...

 was beaten by Hungarian Ottó Aubéli in the Freestyle 120 kg.

Athlete	Event	Qualification	1/8 Final	Quarterfinals	Semifinals	Repechage Round 1	Repechage Round 2	Final
		Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result
Florian Skilang Temengil Florian Skilang Temengil Florian Skilang Temengil is a Palauan wrestler at Newman University in Wichita, Kansas. Skilang competed in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China in the freestyle wrestling. He lost his bout to Ottó Aubéli of Hungary 0-6, 1-7. However, he managed to score the first ever point to Palauan...	Men's Freestyle −120 kg	Bye	L 0–6 1–7	Did not advance
Elgin Loren Elwais Elgin Loren Elwais Elgin Loren Elwais is a Palauan wrestler. Elwais participated in his first Olympic Games at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China...	Men's Greco-Roman −55 kg	Bye	L 0–8 0–6	Did not advance

Media coverage

The 2008 Summer Olympics marked the first time that Palauans were able to watch complete Olympic television coverage of all events in their own country. Palau's in-depth television coverage was due to a special agreement between TV New Zealand and the Palau National Communications Corporation.