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Olympics 2008

Beijing school grooms girls to award Olympic medals

For 16-year-old Li Miaomiao, sore feet from wearing high heels for hours at a time and an achy jaw from constant smiling are worth the chance of hanging a medal around an athlete's neck come the Beijing Olympics.

Food safety an Olympic challenge for Beijing Games

Reuters

Pampered pigs or processed pork? Farm-fresh or greenhouse grown? With China's food supplies under scrutiny following a series of health and safety scares, Chinese officials are taking no chances for the Olympic Games this August.

Amputee barred from Beijing Games

South African double amputee Oscar Pistorius, who runs with carbon fibre blades attached to his legs, will not be allowed to compete at this year's Beijing Olympics.

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Fans to face fines, jail over fake Olympic goods

Reuters

A crackdown on fans returning from the Beijing Olympics with unofficial merchandise or counterfeit goods will be launched ahead of this year's Games.

Phelps starts foundation with Olympic bonus

Michael Phelps will use the US$1 million (NZ$1.46 million) bonus he earned for winning eight Olympic gold medals in Beijing to start a foundation, the American swimmer has said.

Oprah throws party for US Olympic medalists

Talk show host Oprah Winfrey threw a rousing welcome home party for more than 150 US Olympic medal winners early today (NZ time) that was a salute to the athletes and a pep rally for efforts to bring the 2016 summer games to America.

Bolt faces showdown with Powell and Gay

World record holder Usain Bolt, Asafa Powell and Tyson Gay spearhead one of the strongest 100-metre lineups assembled at a Golden League meeting when they clash in Brussels on Friday night (NZ time).

Powell equals second fastest 100m ever

Former world record holder Asafa Powell has equaled the second fastest time ever over 100 metres after clocking 9.72 seconds at the Lausanne grand prix.

Hurdler out to prove win was no fluke

Olympic 100 metres hurdles champion Dawn Harper is eager to prove her Beijing victory was no fluke.

Bolt inspires Powell to target 9.59 seconds

Usain Bolt's startling 9.69-second run at the Olympics has inspired Jamaican compatriot and former world record holder Asafa Powell to target 9.59 for the 100 metres.

Coventry gets US$100,000 from Mugabe

Reuters

Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe on Saturday handed the country's only Olympic medallist in Beijing a $100,000 cash reward for her performance at the games.

Ukrainian heptathlete Blonska given life ban

Reuters

Ukrainian heptathlete Lyudmila Blonska was given a lifetime ban after testing positive for an anabolic steroid at the Olympics.

Phelps tastes the high life back in America

Reuters

Record-setting swimmer Michael Phelps has satisfied some of his hunger for Americana since returning to the United States from his Olympic triumphs in China but has one special rendezvous he is looking forward to.

Beijing gloss fades after going through the wringer

The Beijing Olympic Games will go down in history as the Games Made In China. Beautiful to look at but put it through a couple of washes and the shiny, glossy facade is stripped away.

Bolt could have run 9.52 in Olympics - coach

Triple Olympic gold medallist and world record holder Usain Bolt could have run the 100 metres in 9.52 seconds if he had not slowed to celebrate, his coach said today (NZ time).

Kiwi medallist looks to London Olympics

Age is destined to weary the crack Great Britain team pursuit squad but it will only make New Zealand's stronger, says bronze medallist Marc Ryan.

China wants more gold medals

Reuters

Not content with topping the Olympic gold medal count on home turf, China has demanded its athletes win more medals in events like athletics and swimming at future Games.

Under-fire swimmers avoid media spotlight

Three Olympic swimmers suspended from the New Zealand team for a prank played on a drunk team-mate could not be found as the rest of the team arrived back in Auckland today.

NZ team 'overwhelmed' by welcome home (+pics, video)

Around a thousand people have given a joyous welcome home to New Zealand's Olympic team at Auckland International Airport.

Spain's basketball coach quits silver medallists

Spain coach Aito Garcia Reneses has stepped down from his post after leading the world champions to silver at the Beijing Olympics last weekend, the Spanish Basketball Federation said on Tuesday.

Sth Africans question funding after Beijing flop

South African Olympic chief Moss Mashishi has said his country's single medal at the Beijing Olympics had put the issue of funding firmly in the spotlight.

Olympics pranksters to front up

Expelled Olympians Dean Kent, Corney Swanepoel and Cameron Gibson will front their swimming bosses in Auckland this week after a post-competition prank went wrong.

Extra bronze for Kiwi cyclist

The International Olympic Committee has struck an extra bronze medal for Kiwi cyclist Wes Gough to recognise his contribution to the pursuit team's success in China.

Olympic Games a ratings bonanza for TVNZ

Nine out of 10 Kiwis tuned in to watch the Olympics at some stage during its 16 days, with Super Saturday - the best day in New Zealand Games history - leading a ratings bonanza for TVNZ.

Hawke's Bay to give golden twins a grand welcome

Hawke's Bay is set to welcome home its gold medal winning residents Georgina and Caroline Evers-Swindell with open arms, a red carpet and a permanent marker to their Olympic achievement.

What next for Olympic venues?

The following are key facts on how some of the 16 new venues that Beijing built for the Olympics are planned to be used after the Games.

British winners turn thoughts of glory to 2012

Britain's Olympic team chief Simon Clegg paraded his Beijing medal winners on Tuesday and promised "one hell of a show" when London hosts the Games in 2012.

NZ Olympic swimmers in hot water

Olympic swimmers Dean Kent, Corney Swanepoel and Cameron Gibson were expelled from the New Zealand Olympic team following an unsavoury incident which embarrassed a teammate.

Cantab games medallists to be honoured

Celebrations are being planned to welcome home Canterbury's successful Olympians.

Clark says NZ got Olympic value for money

Prime Minister Helen Clark says New Zealand got fantastic value for the money it put into its Olympics team and a bigger commitment was likely for the next Games.

Rowers to receive heroes' welcome

New Zealand's Olympic rowing squad will receive a heroes' welcome when they return to Cambridge.

Why Phelps was the star of the Games

A list of reasons why swimming's "Superfish" Michael Phelps was the star of the Beijing Games.

Wada boss defends Bolt

World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) director general David Howman says the Americans seemingly building a doping case against Usain Bolt should look at themselves first.

Proud China brings curtain down on epic Games

Exit the People's Liberation Army; enter David Beckham. London signalled its intention to host a cool Olympics by dispatching its biggest celebrity to Beijing yesterday.

Closing ceremony highlights

$10m per medal - but 'worth it'

They are being heralded as our most successful Olympics in two decades - but success comes with a gold-plated price tag.

China - Orwell's dream come true

The Beijing Olympics can be encapsulated by the stories of four people: Michael Phelps, Usain Bolt, Wu Dianyuan and Wang Xiuying.

Reviewing the Kiwis

It didn't come any better than one exhilarating day in Beijing for New Zealand's team at the Olympics. Two golds, a silver and two bronze medals made it, for 24 glorious hours at least, a time when the Kiwi ticker beat furiously at these Games.

Chch biker eyes London 2012

If the grin on the grubby face of Christchurch mountainbiker Rosara Joseph was any indication of her enjoyment levels for the sport then expect to see more from her in London in four years.

US sinks Spain for men's basketball gold

Of the 36 golds the USA have won at these Games, this was one they really wanted.

NZ rowing boss set to cross Tasman

Andrew Matheson is set to leave his high performance manager role with Rowing New Zealand (RNZ) to take up the equivalent position in Australia.

Twins carry NZ flag at closing ceremony

New Zealand double gold medallists Caroline and Georgine Evers-Swindell disconcerted organisers somewhat as they prepared to carry the flag into the Bird's Nest stadium for last night's spectacular Olympics closing ceremony.

Kiwi coaches US to men's volleyball gold

Hugh McCutcheon's jubilant coaching staff mobbed him as he raised his right fist and gazed up at the heavens.

Questions whether flag cost Drysdale gold

Did Mahe Drysdale's role as New Zealand team flagbearer cost him a gold medal, and the team's best Olympic haul in 24 years?

Taekwondo competitor attacks Olympic ref

Reuters

Cuba's Angel Valodia Matos has been banned for life from taekwondo for kicking a referee and a Chinese favorite was knocked out in a controversial ruling as the final bouts of the Olympic tournament descended into chaos.

A Games of sickness and suffering for some

NZPA

Mahe Drysdale dry retched, then fainted. Barbara Kendall coughed and spluttered. And Moss Burmester, well, it involved porcelain and a lot of Purex.

Beijing poses questions for NZ hockey

NZPA

After taking plenty of stick at the Olympic Games, New Zealand hockey face a reassessment of how they prepare international sides, and the quality of their domestic competition.

Judging NZ's Games performance

Debating the performance of the New Zealand Olympic team is like negotiating the streets of Beijing.

Investigation into Chinese gymnast's age continues

The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) is extending its investigation into allegations of age falsification that have been made against members of the Chinese female gymnastics team, warning that it may take more time to resolve.

Bekele stars on last night of athletics

Kenenisa Bekele. Call him the emperor, call him the King. Maybe just call him magnificent.

Ferg junior plans for two more Olympics

Steven Ferguson is committed to one day matching the achievements of his famous father Ian, even if means going to six Olympic Games.

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Olympics 2008

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