Changing China

Beijing podcast — day 10

I’m joined by Simon Evans, Julian Linden, Belinda Goldsmith and Ossian Shine for a short talk about the sport here in Beijing. Tune in to find out about china’s unluckiest man, the power of the yam and why Michael Phelps wouldn’t touch a dram.

A few technical gremlins delayed this but … better kate than trevor.

Wham, Bam, Thank You Yam!

Ever since Usain Bolt’s father Wellesley told Reuters that the “Trelawny Yam” was behind his son’s world-record breaking gold medal win in the men’s 100 metres, the Olympics has gone into a feeding frenzy over yam.

Rarely has a root vegetable enjoyed as much global interest as the previously humble Yam. So, to satisfy our readers’ craving and hunger, here are Several Things You Didn’t Know About Yam (we couldn’t think of 10).

1. Yams vary in size but some can grow to as long as 2.28 metres which is even longer than Usain Bolt himself (I think).

2. There are believed to be over 150 varieties of Yam. The most popular Jamaican variety is Yellow Yam. However Yam Laranas is not a variety of the vegetable. He is in fact a Filipino film director.

3. Every April, the Trelawny Parish, where Usain Bolt was born and raised, celebrates their root vegetable with the Trelawny Yam Festival which attracts up to 10,000 visitors.

4. “Cogito ergo spud” is Latin for “I think, therefore I Yam”

5. ‘Bat Yam’ is not a Caribbean cartoon Superhero but is a city located on Israel’s Mediterranean coast.