Games lift spirits after slaying of American

BEIJING — The power of sports to lift spirits filled a gym Sunday night, as Chinese and U.S. fans cheered for different basketball teams but shared an evening of excitement and joy the day after a tragedy.

The father-in-law of the U.S. men's volleyball coach was stabbed to death at a popular tourist site Saturday, and the coach's mother-in-law was severely injured.

American visitors in the stands had heard about the killing but said they were not afraid to be in Beijing.

Chinese fans said they were saddened by the violent act, particularly with their city playing Olympic host to the world for the first time.

"The world is like a family, so these things make every people feel sad," said Jessie Li, 26, an Olympics volunteer from Beijing.

The Olympics mood has suffered because violence here and elsewhere in the world has set nations apart and marred what everyone hoped would be a peaceful time.

The International Olympic Committee said Georgian and Russian athletes would continue competing despite escalating hostilities between the two countries in the contested South Ossetia region.

Australia is advising its athletes to wear clothes that make them clearly identifiable as Australians as a security measure after the attack on the Americans. An Australian journalist asked Beijing authorities whether other athletes should wear something to identify themselves by their nation to be safer, implying that it's dangerous to be mistaken for an American.

"Of course not," said Wang Wei, Beijing Olympic Committee Secretary General. "This was an isolated criminal act. We have no reason to believe the action was targeted on any specific nation."

Police investigating the stabbing death said the suspect was distraught over family problems. Chinese authorities unsettled by the attack tightened security at tourist spots around the city.

Wang said there was no indication the assailant knew that his victims had any connection to the Games.

"Beijing is a safe city, but unfortunately we are not immune to violent acts," Wang told reporters.

Todd and Barbara Bachman, of Lakeville, Minn. — parents of 2004 volleyball Olympian Elisabeth Bachman and in-laws of U.S. men's volleyball coach Hugh McCutcheon — were attacked by a Chinese man while visiting the 13th-century Drum Tower at midday Saturday.

The assault came hours after the spectacular Olympics opening ceremony.

Todd Bachman died from knife wounds. Barbara Bachman was being treated at a Beijing hospital, where her condition was upgraded from critical to stable, a spokesman for the U.S. Olympic Committee said today. Their Chinese tour guide also was injured in the attack.

Shortly after the attack, the assailant, Tang Yongming, 47, leapt to his death from a balcony on the Drum Tower, five miles from the main Olympics site.

Police said Tang went through his second divorce in 2006 and grew increasingly despondent when his 21-year-old son started getting into trouble. The son was detained in May 2007 on suspicion of fraud, then received a suspended prison sentence in March for theft.

Despite the distractions, the Games go on. The men's volleyball team, playing without its coach, took a moment of silence before its match with Venezuela.

And at the basketball venue Sunday, the competition on the floor was heated between the Chinese team led by Yao Ming and a U.S. team full of NBA stars.

Fans waved flags, posed for pictures and shouted thunderously whenever the Chinese managed to get a play past the favored Americans, who prevailed.

In the audience were President Bush and Laura Bush, former President George H.W. Bush, Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen and actress Glenn Close, among others.

"I think the feeling here is very welcoming," Close said, adding that she was not worried about going around the city after the attack. The Chinese "are very excited and very proud. All the young volunteers ... it means a lot to them. The feeling in the whole stadium is fantastic."

Stephen and George Pond, two American college students, painted their faces red, white and blue, draped themselves in an American flag and cheered enthusiastically near a group of equally vocal Chinese fans.

"This is the best thing ever," said Stephen Pond, of Winston Salem, N.C. He turned around and high-fived a middle-aged man holding a large red Chinese flag behind him.

Jia Dongzhuo and Zhan Yi, a young Beijing couple, arrived at the game decked out in shirts that said "I (heart) China." Zhan had two red flags on her cheeks and two more protruding out from her hair. "It was brilliant," Jia said of the game. "I enjoyed it. It's our first time to see NBA stars. So exciting!"

He said the atmosphere between the two teams and their fans was competitive but very warm.

Jia said he had heard about the killing of an American visitor in Beijing but said he didn't understand what happened or why.

"I just think it's sad," he said. "Don't worry — it's very safe in Beijing."

Information from The Associated Press is included in this report. Kristi Heim: kheim@seattletimes.com