Miffed with Indian sports minister Vijay Goel&#39;s entourage, Rio Olympic organisers have threatened to cancel his accreditation if unaccredited people accompanying him do not end their &quot;aggressive and rude&quot; behaviour. 
 
&quot;We have had multiple reports of your Minister for Sports trying to enter accredited areas at venues with unaccredited individuals. When the staff try to explain that this is not allowed, they report that the people with the Minister have become aggressive and rude and sometimes push past our staff,&quot; Sarah Peterson, who is Continental Manager for Rio 2016 Organising Committee, said in a letter to Indian Chef-de-Mission Rakesh Gupta. 
 
Goel is in Rio to cheer for the Indian contingent besides monitoring their requirements at the Games Village. 
 
&quot;As you can understand, this type of behaviour is not acceptable. Despite previous warnings, it would seem that even today the same incident occurred at the Rio Olympic Arena (Gymnastics venue) and Carioca Arena 3,&quot; she added. 
 
Peterson said the Minister&#39;s accreditation could be cancelled because of this. 
 
&quot;Should our protocol team be made aware of further examples of this type of behaviour, the accreditation of your Minister for Sports will be cancelled and his privileges at the Olympic Games withdrawn. We trust you will pass on this message urgently,&quot; she said. 
 
(PTI)

Rio Olympic organisers are miffed with Goel's entourage and their 'aggressive and rude' behaviour

Miffed with Indian sports minister Vijay Goel's entourage, Rio Olympic organisers have threatened to cancel his accreditation if unaccredited people accompanying him do not end their "aggressive and rude" behaviour. "We have had multiple reports of your Minister for Sports trying to enter accredited areas at venues with unaccredited individuals. When the staff try to explain that this is not allowed, they report that the people with the Minister have become aggressive and rude and sometimes push past our staff," Sarah Peterson, who is Continental Manager for Rio 2016 Organising Committee, said in a letter to Indian Chef-de-Mission Rakesh Gupta. Goel is in Rio to cheer for the Indian contingent besides monitoring their requirements at the Games Village. "As you can understand, this type of behaviour is not acceptable. Despite previous warnings, it would seem that even today the same incident occurred at the Rio Olympic Arena (Gymnastics venue) and Carioca Arena 3," she added. Peterson said the Minister's accreditation could be cancelled because of this. "Should our protocol team be made aware of further examples of this type of behaviour, the accreditation of your Minister for Sports will be cancelled and his privileges at the Olympic Games withdrawn. We trust you will pass on this message urgently," she said. (PTI)

Rio OC threatens to cancel Indian sports minister's accreditation

Britain set a track cycling world record in the women&#39;s team pursuit on Thursday shortly after the men had clocked an Olympic best in team sprint qualifying. 
 
The quartet of Katie Archibald, Laura Trott, Elinor Barker and Joanna Rowsell-Shand, completed 4,000 metres of the velodrome in four minutes 13.260 seconds to lead qualifying. 
 
It surpassed the mark of Australia (4:13.683) set at last year&#39;s world championships. 
 
The US team led by Sarah Hammer, and boasting a unique bike with the chain on the left-hand side, were second fastest, having threatened to go even quicker. 
 
The world champions set 4:14.286. 
 
Women&#39;s team pursuit medals will be decided on Saturday. 
 
(Reuters)

The quartet completed 4,000 metres of the velodrome in four minutes 13.260 seconds to lead qualifying

Britain set a track cycling world record in the women's team pursuit on Thursday shortly after the men had clocked an Olympic best in team sprint qualifying. The quartet of Katie Archibald, Laura Trott, Elinor Barker and Joanna Rowsell-Shand, completed 4,000 metres of the velodrome in four minutes 13.260 seconds to lead qualifying. It surpassed the mark of Australia (4:13.683) set at last year's world championships. The US team led by Sarah Hammer, and boasting a unique bike with the chain on the left-hand side, were second fastest, having threatened to go even quicker. The world champions set 4:14.286. Women's team pursuit medals will be decided on Saturday. (Reuters)

Rio Olympics: Britain set track cycling world record in women's team pursuit

Michael Phelps seized another slice of Olympic history on Thursday with a dominant victory in the 200-metre individual medley at the Rio Games, his fourth straight in the event. 
 
Phelps became the third Olympian to win the same individual event at four straight Games, joining discus thrower Al Oerter and Carl Lewis in the long jump in achieving the feat. 
 
Lurking in second until the end of the breaststroke third leg, he surged home on the closing freestyle lap to win in 1 minute and 54.66 seconds. 
 
That was almost two seconds in front of silver medallist Kosuke Hagino of Japan, the 400-metre individual medley champion who powered from fifth at the final wall to touch in 1:56.61. 
 
China&#39;s Wang Shun was third in 1:57.05. 
 
Phelps&#39; old foe Ryan Lochte led at the halfway point, but the world record-holder in the event couldn&#39;t hang on and finished fifth. 
 
Brazilian contender Thiago Pereira, buoyed by an ecstatic crowd, led after the opening butterfly lap and was equal second at the halfway point, but faded to finish seventh. 
 
Phelps claimed his 22nd Olympic gold medal and his fourth at the Rio Olympics. 
 
The most decorated Olympian of all time was back in the pool later on Thursday in the 100-metre butterfly semi-finals. 
 
(AFP)

This is Phelps' fourth gold in the ongoing Rio Olympics

Michael Phelps seized another slice of Olympic history on Thursday with a dominant victory in the 200-metre individual medley at the Rio Games, his fourth straight in the event. Phelps became the third Olympian to win the same individual event at four straight Games, joining discus thrower Al Oerter and Carl Lewis in the long jump in achieving the feat. Lurking in second until the end of the breaststroke third leg, he surged home on the closing freestyle lap to win in 1 minute and 54.66 seconds. That was almost two seconds in front of silver medallist Kosuke Hagino of Japan, the 400-metre individual medley champion who powered from fifth at the final wall to touch in 1:56.61. China's Wang Shun was third in 1:57.05. Phelps' old foe Ryan Lochte led at the halfway point, but the world record-holder in the event couldn't hang on and finished fifth. Brazilian contender Thiago Pereira, buoyed by an ecstatic crowd, led after the opening butterfly lap and was equal second at the halfway point, but faded to finish seventh. Phelps claimed his 22nd Olympic gold medal and his fourth at the Rio Olympics. The most decorated Olympian of all time was back in the pool later on Thursday in the 100-metre butterfly semi-finals. (AFP)

Rio Olympics 2016: Phelps wins 200m individual medley for 22nd gold

As Simone Biles stood locked in a tight embrace with her team mate Aly Raisman, waiting for her final score to come up on the big screen, the concerned look in her eyes suggested she had no idea who would be crowned Olympic all around champion.&nbsp; 
 
The American, however, was the only one still in the dark in the brightly lit Rio Olympic Arena on Thursday as the hollering cheers and standing ovation that greeted her final tumbling pass on the floor exercise confirmed what everyone knew long before the judges` verdict came up, Biles was the new champion. 
 
When a stupendous score of 15.933 confirmed she had beaten Raisman by 2.100 points with a total of 62.198, the coronation that had been in the planning stages ever since she won the first of a record three successive world titles in 2013 could finally take place. 
 
Then the woman who had remained stoic throughout the previous two hours as she showcased her jaw-dropping skills across four apparatus, finally let her guard down and burst into tears. 
 
As the realisation hit home that she finally owned the biggest individual prize in the sport, the crowd saluted a gymnast who had just become the first woman in 20 years to win the Olympic all-around title as the reigning world champion. 
 
&quot;Every emotion hit me at once so I was just kind of a train wreck,&quot; Biles said after scooping a second gold in Rio following her success in the team final on Tuesday. 
 
&quot;Everything was going through my head but mainly it was like I had finally done it and when that hits you, you can`t really stop the emotions.&quot;&nbsp; 
 
For Raisman, claiming silver with a total of 60.098 meant redemption after she suffered a gut-wrenching disappointment to miss out on the bronze four years ago to Russia`s Aliya Mustafina on the tiebreak rule.&nbsp; 
 
This time, the American was all smiles as she stood one step higher than Mustafina on the podium.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;After the tiebreak of 2012 it was very heartbreaking&nbsp;and now coming back and finally having that redemption after four years of working so hard and five times of trying in the all around final at world championships and the Olympics, it`s really special to finally be on the podium,&quot; she said. 
 
Free spirit 
But she was under no illusion which medal she had been aiming for. 
 
&quot;No one goes in thinking they can beat Simone. People don`t go in thinking they can beat Usain Bolt either. It`s kind of the same thing.&quot; 
As far as Biles was concerned, she is incomparable. 
 
&quot;I`m not the next Usain Bolt or Michael Phelps, I`m the first Simone Biles.&quot;&nbsp; 
 
Many reigning world champions before Biles have tried to conquer the Olympics, only to crumble under the weight of expectation -- thus becoming victims of what in gymnastics circles is known as the &quot;curse of the world champion&quot;. 
 
But rather than being crushed by the hype, Biles is such a free spirit that she simply soared higher and higher on Thursday with a dazzling floor performance that will live long in the memory of those lucky enough to be in the Rio Olympic Arena. 
 
Biles earned 15.866 on the vault, 14.966 on the asymmetric bars and 15.433 on the balance beam. 
 
On the floor, her explosive tumbling passes, which included her trademark soaring double layout with half twist at the end, had the Brazilian crowd on their feet as her sassy moves were choreographed to hip-swinging Samba beats. 
 
Biles` triumph made her the fourth successive American to win the title, ollowing the successes of Carly Patterson, Nastia Liukin and Gabby Douglas, which is the longest winning streak by a country in the Olympic discipline. 
 
Biles and Raisman completed a one-two finish for the second time for the U.S. after Nastia Liukin and Shawn Johnson won gold and silver respectively in 2008. 
 
It was also the first time since 1992 that both the men`s and women`s all around champions were members of the gold medal team at the same Olympics.&nbsp; 
 
(Reuters)

?Becomes the first woman in 20 years to win the Olympic all-around title as the reigning world champion

As Simone Biles stood locked in a tight embrace with her team mate Aly Raisman, waiting for her final score to come up on the big screen, the concerned look in her eyes suggested she had no idea who would be crowned Olympic all around champion. The American, however, was the only one still in the dark in the brightly lit Rio Olympic Arena on Thursday as the hollering cheers and standing ovation that greeted her final tumbling pass on the floor exercise confirmed what everyone knew long before the judges` verdict came up, Biles was the new champion. When a stupendous score of 15.933 confirmed she had beaten Raisman by 2.100 points with a total of 62.198, the coronation that had been in the planning stages ever since she won the first of a record three successive world titles in 2013 could finally take place. Then the woman who had remained stoic throughout the previous two hours as she showcased her jaw-dropping skills across four apparatus, finally let her guard down and burst into tears. As the realisation hit home that she finally owned the biggest individual prize in the sport, the crowd saluted a gymnast who had just become the first woman in 20 years to win the Olympic all-around title as the reigning world champion. "Every emotion hit me at once so I was just kind of a train wreck," Biles said after scooping a second gold in Rio following her success in the team final on Tuesday. "Everything was going through my head but mainly it was like I had finally done it and when that hits you, you can`t really stop the emotions." For Raisman, claiming silver with a total of 60.098 meant redemption after she suffered a gut-wrenching disappointment to miss out on the bronze four years ago to Russia`s Aliya Mustafina on the tiebreak rule. This time, the American was all smiles as she stood one step higher than Mustafina on the podium. "After the tiebreak of 2012 it was very heartbreaking and now coming back and finally having that redemption after four years of working so hard and five times of trying in the all around final at world championships and the Olympics, it`s really special to finally be on the podium," she said. Free spirit But she was under no illusion which medal she had been aiming for. "No one goes in thinking they can beat Simone. People don`t go in thinking they can beat Usain Bolt either. It`s kind of the same thing." As far as Biles was concerned, she is incomparable. "I`m not the next Usain Bolt or Michael Phelps, I`m the first Simone Biles." Many reigning world champions before Biles have tried to conquer the Olympics, only to crumble under the weight of expectation -- thus becoming victims of what in gymnastics circles is known as the "curse of the world champion". But rather than being crushed by the hype, Biles is such a free spirit that she simply soared higher and higher on Thursday with a dazzling floor performance that will live long in the memory of those lucky enough to be in the Rio Olympic Arena. Biles earned 15.866 on the vault, 14.966 on the asymmetric bars and 15.433 on the balance beam. On the floor, her explosive tumbling passes, which included her trademark soaring double layout with half twist at the end, had the Brazilian crowd on their feet as her sassy moves were choreographed to hip-swinging Samba beats. Biles` triumph made her the fourth successive American to win the title, ollowing the successes of Carly Patterson, Nastia Liukin and Gabby Douglas, which is the longest winning streak by a country in the Olympic discipline. Biles and Raisman completed a one-two finish for the second time for the U.S. after Nastia Liukin and Shawn Johnson won gold and silver respectively in 2008. It was also the first time since 1992 that both the men`s and women`s all around champions were members of the gold medal team at the same Olympics. (Reuters)

Rio Olympics 2016: Simone Biles wins women's gymnastics

Triple jumper James Connolly won the United States&#39; first gold medal at the 1896 Summer Games and it is expected that on Sunday or Monday a still unknown American will claim a milestone 1,000th gold to bookend 120 years of Olympic domination.

To underscore the United States&#39; status as the Olympics undisputed superpower, at the current rate of winning medals (going back to 2000) it will take almost a century and 21 more Summer Games for the next nation to reach the 1,000 gold plateau, with China finally hitting the mark in 2100.

The 1,000 medals would also represent almost one-quarter of the total gold awarded at the Summer Olympics with no other country even reaching half that number.

The US&nbsp;arrived in Rio sitting on 977 gold and, according to Olympstats.com, the former Soviet Union with 473 ranks second with Germany a distant third with 288.

&quot;I was at the Casa Italia event the other night and they were approaching their 200th gold medal, I think they have one more to go, so it just goes to show the scale of accomplishment our athletes have achieved over the many years,&quot; said United States Olympic Committee chairman Larry Probst.

With the US&nbsp;medal machine already humming, piling up gold in the swimming pool and gymnastics, the milestone could go to one of the Rio Games biggest names like Michael Phelps or Simone Biles or it could belong to an unknown competing in men&#39;s Greco-Roman wrestling or sailing.

It would seem likely the historic moment will come in the pool or athletics stadium with those two sports accounting for more than half the US&nbsp;gold production.

Phelps, the most decorated Olympian ever, has made the biggest individual contribution, chipping in with 22 golds and counting.

The Unied States&#39; Olympic domination has not been all-encompassing.

No American has ever stood atop the podium in field hockey, triathlon, badminton, handball, table tennis and modern pentathlon as well as polo and lacrosse, which are no longer on the Olympic programme. 
 
The United States has hosted four Summer Games in St&nbsp;Louis (1904), Los Angeles (1932, 1984) and Atlanta (1996).

The first Games of the Modern Olympics produced the fewest golds (11) while the Soviet-boycotted 1984 Los Angeles Olympics generated the most (83).

&quot;I think what it means is we have just a great sporting culture and a really amazing system of sport in our country,&quot; said Alan Ashley, the USOC chief of sport performance. &quot;It is very exciting to think of it in those terms and to realise that we are on the doorstep of that amazing achievement.&quot; 
 
(Reuters)

&nbsp;

The 1,000 medal would represent almost one-quarter of the total gold awarded at the Summer Olympics

Triple jumper James Connolly won the United States' first gold medal at the 1896 Summer Games and it is expected that on Sunday or Monday a still unknown American will claim a milestone 1,000th gold to bookend 120 years of Olympic domination. To underscore the United States' status as the Olympics undisputed superpower, at the current rate of winning medals (going back to 2000) it will take almost a century and 21 more Summer Games for the next nation to reach the 1,000 gold plateau, with China finally hitting the mark in 2100. The 1,000 medals would also represent almost one-quarter of the total gold awarded at the Summer Olympics with no other country even reaching half that number. The US arrived in Rio sitting on 977 gold and, according to Olympstats.com, the former Soviet Union with 473 ranks second with Germany a distant third with 288. "I was at the Casa Italia event the other night and they were approaching their 200th gold medal, I think they have one more to go, so it just goes to show the scale of accomplishment our athletes have achieved over the many years," said United States Olympic Committee chairman Larry Probst. With the US medal machine already humming, piling up gold in the swimming pool and gymnastics, the milestone could go to one of the Rio Games biggest names like Michael Phelps or Simone Biles or it could belong to an unknown competing in men's Greco-Roman wrestling or sailing. It would seem likely the historic moment will come in the pool or athletics stadium with those two sports accounting for more than half the US gold production. Phelps, the most decorated Olympian ever, has made the biggest individual contribution, chipping in with 22 golds and counting. The Unied States' Olympic domination has not been all-encompassing. No American has ever stood atop the podium in field hockey, triathlon, badminton, handball, table tennis and modern pentathlon as well as polo and lacrosse, which are no longer on the Olympic programme. The United States has hosted four Summer Games in St Louis (1904), Los Angeles (1932, 1984) and Atlanta (1996). The first Games of the Modern Olympics produced the fewest golds (11) while the Soviet-boycotted 1984 Los Angeles Olympics generated the most (83). "I think what it means is we have just a great sporting culture and a really amazing system of sport in our country," said Alan Ashley, the USOC chief of sport performance. "It is very exciting to think of it in those terms and to realise that we are on the doorstep of that amazing achievement." (Reuters)

US closing in on milestone 1000th gold medal

The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) president Sebastian Coe announced a shake up of the organisation on Wednesday aimed at ensuring there can be no repeat of the corruption scandals that have dogged athletics&rsquo; governing body during his first, tumultuous, year in office. 
 
The most eye catching of the &ldquo;governance reforms&rdquo; is a commitment for the all-powerful council to be split equally between men and women. 
 
Currently, there are six women on a 27-member council but the target is to make it 13 of 26 by 2023. Two athletes will also be drafted onto the council. 
 
The other key change is the separation of anti-doping and ethics issues from the main business of running athletics &ndash; a development that became necessary after the exposure of the corrupt activities of Coe&#39;s predecessor Lamine Diack and his son, who was employed by the IAAF as a marketing consultant. 
 
The proposals have still to be rubber-stamped by the sport&rsquo;s congress but that looks a forgone conclusion as they continue to fully support the reforms Coe has put in place in his first year in office. 
 
&quot;It&#39;s a year that&rsquo;s had its challenges but I&rsquo;m very proud of the determination the organisation has shown to embrace change,&rdquo; he said in an interview at the IAAF&#39;s hotel near Ipanema Beach 
 
&quot;It&rsquo;s a landmark day today and I think our sport is stronger and more resilient for the things we&rsquo;ve done.&rdquo; 
 
The IAAF&rsquo;s most noteworthy action under Coe&rsquo;s watch was the banning of Russia after revelations of state-sponsored doping, and he was in no mood to apologise on Thursday. 
 
Asked at a news conference by a Russian journalist whether he thought it was fair that twice-banned American sprinter Justin Gatlin will race in Rio while Russia&rsquo;s double Olympic pole vault champion Yelena Isinbayeva will not, Coe said: &ldquo;Russia has let down its athletes. 
 
&ldquo;This was a cataclysmic failure to oversee and protect those athletes. We want them reinstated but we do have to make sure that when the time is right we have a level playing field.&rdquo; 
 
Coe, who won his two 1,500 metres golds in the boycotted Games of 1980 and 1984, said that the absence of Russia would not forever cloud Rio. 
 
&ldquo;The world moves on,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve had boycotts before but that&rsquo;s not what you think of when you think of 1976 - you think of Alberto Juantorena. 
 
&ldquo;When you remember 1980 it&rsquo;s Miruts Yifter and Daley Thompson. The iconic moments of the Olympics tend to come from athletics.&rdquo; 
 
&#39;Fan at heart&#39; 
 
Coe said he was really looking forward to the track and field programme in Rio, which kicks off on Friday. 
 
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m hugely excited &ndash; I&rsquo;m a fan still at heart,&rdquo; he said. &quot;There is some amazing talent on show that would have graced any era. 
 
&quot;Usain Bolt is extraordinary of course and what&#39;s great is that he really comes alive in a championship. 
 
&quot;Valerie Adams is also going for a triple (in the shot put) and what she has done for athletics and beyond athletics in Oceania is incredible. 
 
&quot;We have David Rudisha, Dafne Schippers, Mo Farah and some great head to heads - Kirani James against Wayde van Niekerk in the 400, it doesn&#39;t get any better than that.&quot; 
 
Coe said that in his discussions with athletes over the last week there was a real focus on the event and almost no talk about Russia`s ban or doping. 
 
In the wider world, however, that cloud remains hovering above the sport, something that Coe said he recognised and understood. 
 
&quot;I genuinely hope that the people watching our sport are watching with hope, excitement and belief,&quot; he said. 
 
&quot;The last year has sorely tested all of us and all of our fans out there and our responsibility is to shape the future. 
 
&quot;So I genuinely hope that they feel they are watching our competitors doing it cleanly, and the vast majority are.&quot; 
 
Exactly how many will be watching live in the stadium with its striking blue track - an Olympic first - remains to be seen. 
 
Crowds in almost all the venues have been sparse and there is no chance of the Olympic Stadium matching the sold out signs that London hung on its doors every day - for the Paralympics too. 
 
&quot;Sales have been good but tickets are still on sale,&quot; Coe said, noting that the scheduling of some finals for after 10 p.m. local time had not helped. 
 
&quot;We are not confident we are going to have full houses.&quot; 
 
(Reuters) 
&nbsp;

Council to be split equally between men and women. There will be a separation of ethics issues from the main business of running athletics

The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) president Sebastian Coe announced a shake up of the organisation on Wednesday aimed at ensuring there can be no repeat of the corruption scandals that have dogged athletics’ governing body during his first, tumultuous, year in office. The most eye catching of the “governance reforms” is a commitment for the all-powerful council to be split equally between men and women. Currently, there are six women on a 27-member council but the target is to make it 13 of 26 by 2023. Two athletes will also be drafted onto the council. The other key change is the separation of anti-doping and ethics issues from the main business of running athletics – a development that became necessary after the exposure of the corrupt activities of Coe's predecessor Lamine Diack and his son, who was employed by the IAAF as a marketing consultant. The proposals have still to be rubber-stamped by the sport’s congress but that looks a forgone conclusion as they continue to fully support the reforms Coe has put in place in his first year in office. "It's a year that’s had its challenges but I’m very proud of the determination the organisation has shown to embrace change,” he said in an interview at the IAAF's hotel near Ipanema Beach "It’s a landmark day today and I think our sport is stronger and more resilient for the things we’ve done.” The IAAF’s most noteworthy action under Coe’s watch was the banning of Russia after revelations of state-sponsored doping, and he was in no mood to apologise on Thursday. Asked at a news conference by a Russian journalist whether he thought it was fair that twice-banned American sprinter Justin Gatlin will race in Rio while Russia’s double Olympic pole vault champion Yelena Isinbayeva will not, Coe said: “Russia has let down its athletes. “This was a cataclysmic failure to oversee and protect those athletes. We want them reinstated but we do have to make sure that when the time is right we have a level playing field.” Coe, who won his two 1,500 metres golds in the boycotted Games of 1980 and 1984, said that the absence of Russia would not forever cloud Rio. “The world moves on,” he said. “We’ve had boycotts before but that’s not what you think of when you think of 1976 - you think of Alberto Juantorena. “When you remember 1980 it’s Miruts Yifter and Daley Thompson. The iconic moments of the Olympics tend to come from athletics.” 'Fan at heart' Coe said he was really looking forward to the track and field programme in Rio, which kicks off on Friday. “I’m hugely excited – I’m a fan still at heart,” he said. "There is some amazing talent on show that would have graced any era. "Usain Bolt is extraordinary of course and what's great is that he really comes alive in a championship. "Valerie Adams is also going for a triple (in the shot put) and what she has done for athletics and beyond athletics in Oceania is incredible. "We have David Rudisha, Dafne Schippers, Mo Farah and some great head to heads - Kirani James against Wayde van Niekerk in the 400, it doesn't get any better than that." Coe said that in his discussions with athletes over the last week there was a real focus on the event and almost no talk about Russia`s ban or doping. In the wider world, however, that cloud remains hovering above the sport, something that Coe said he recognised and understood. "I genuinely hope that the people watching our sport are watching with hope, excitement and belief," he said. "The last year has sorely tested all of us and all of our fans out there and our responsibility is to shape the future. "So I genuinely hope that they feel they are watching our competitors doing it cleanly, and the vast majority are." Exactly how many will be watching live in the stadium with its striking blue track - an Olympic first - remains to be seen. Crowds in almost all the venues have been sparse and there is no chance of the Olympic Stadium matching the sold out signs that London hung on its doors every day - for the Paralympics too. "Sales have been good but tickets are still on sale," Coe said, noting that the scheduling of some finals for after 10 p.m. local time had not helped. "We are not confident we are going to have full houses." (Reuters)

IAAF president Coe lauds 'landmark changes'

Former Commonwealth Games gold-medallist Manoj Kumar (64kg) stunned ex-Olympic bronze-medallist Evaldas Petrauskas in a fiercely-contested opening bout to enter the pre-quarterfinals of the Rio Games. 
 
Manoj prevailed 2-1 in the hard-fought battle in which he had to hold his ground against the intense aggression displayed by Lithuanian Petrauskas in all three rounds. 
 
A former Asian bronze medallist, Manoj will next be up against fifth seed Uzbek Fazliddin Gaibnazarov in the pre-quarters scheduled on Sunday. 
 
Evenly-matched on pace and agility, the two boxers were quite distinct in their attacking approach. 
 
While Petrauskas, the London Olympics bronze winner in lightweight 60kg division, aggressively tried to engage the Indian from close range, Manoj preferred to back-peddle and hit from a distance. 
 
At the end of the opening three minutes, it was Manoj&#39;s tactics that found favour with the judges, who awarded the first round to the former Commonwealth Games gold-medallist on a split decision. 
 
In the second round too, Petrauskas was the more aggressive of the two but Manoj managed to stave off the challenge by sticking to his strategy of keeping a distance and hitting occasional uppercuts to the Lithuanian&#39;s body. 
 
None of the boxers were willing to make any change to their strategy in the final three minutes as well although the desperate attacks launched by Petrauskas did unnerve Manoj to an extent. 
 
The pumped up effort secured Petrauskas the final round but it was not enough to turn the bout in his favour as Manoj was adjudged the winner. 
 
Manoj joined 7th seed Vikas Krishan (75kg) as the second Indian in the pre-quarters. Tomorrow, Shiva Thapa will open his campaign in the bantamweight (56kg) category.&nbsp; 
 
(PTI)

Manoj will next be up against fifth seed Uzbek Fazliddin Gaibnazarov in the pre-quarters scheduled on Sunday

Former Commonwealth Games gold-medallist Manoj Kumar (64kg) stunned ex-Olympic bronze-medallist Evaldas Petrauskas in a fiercely-contested opening bout to enter the pre-quarterfinals of the Rio Games. Manoj prevailed 2-1 in the hard-fought battle in which he had to hold his ground against the intense aggression displayed by Lithuanian Petrauskas in all three rounds. A former Asian bronze medallist, Manoj will next be up against fifth seed Uzbek Fazliddin Gaibnazarov in the pre-quarters scheduled on Sunday. Evenly-matched on pace and agility, the two boxers were quite distinct in their attacking approach. While Petrauskas, the London Olympics bronze winner in lightweight 60kg division, aggressively tried to engage the Indian from close range, Manoj preferred to back-peddle and hit from a distance. At the end of the opening three minutes, it was Manoj's tactics that found favour with the judges, who awarded the first round to the former Commonwealth Games gold-medallist on a split decision. In the second round too, Petrauskas was the more aggressive of the two but Manoj managed to stave off the challenge by sticking to his strategy of keeping a distance and hitting occasional uppercuts to the Lithuanian's body. None of the boxers were willing to make any change to their strategy in the final three minutes as well although the desperate attacks launched by Petrauskas did unnerve Manoj to an extent. The pumped up effort secured Petrauskas the final round but it was not enough to turn the bout in his favour as Manoj was adjudged the winner. Manoj joined 7th seed Vikas Krishan (75kg) as the second Indian in the pre-quarters. Tomorrow, Shiva Thapa will open his campaign in the bantamweight (56kg) category. (PTI)

India's Manoj Kumar stuns bronze medallist to enter pre-quarters

Doping tensions in Olympic swimming erupted after American Lilly King beat tainted Russian rival Yulia Efimova and US superstar Michael Phelps demanded life bans for swimmers with a drug record. 
 
Booing broke out in the swimming arena on Monday as Efimova -- twice convicted of doping but securing an Olympic place on a last-ditch appeal -- lined up to challenge the women&#39;s 100m breaststroke final. 
 
King narrowly beat her then, stoking the controversy over revelations of Russian stated-sponsored doping. 
 
&quot;I think it just proved that you can compete clean and still come out on top,&quot; King said of her win. She had also criticised Efimova before the race. 
 
Russia springs to defence&nbsp; 
 
Clearly devastated, Efimova burst into tears after the race. 
 
Russia sprang to her defense, with Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko describing her as a &quot;good girl&quot;, according Moscow&#39;s R-Sport news agency. The attacks were described as a &quot;terrible ordeal.&quot; 
 
The red-faced International Olympic Committee (IOC) sought to calm the choppy waters, saying the Games were about &quot;respecting the right of others to compete.&quot; 
 
But King was joined in the war of words by US legend Phelps and Frenchman Camille Lacourt among others who lashed out at a Chinese winner. 
 
Phelps, who will attempt the astonishing feat of winning his 20th Olympic gold medal later Tuesday, launched a broadside at drug abusers and encouraged others to speak out. 
 
Phelps said those punished for doping should face permanent exile from the sport. 
 
&quot;I think you&#39;re going to see a lot of people speaking up more,&quot; the all-time highest Olympic medal winner said. 
 
China&#39;s Sun Yang, who won the 200m freestyle on Monday, came under fierce attack from a furious Lacourt. 
 
&quot;Sun Yang, he pisses purple,&quot; an enraged Lacourt who came fifth in the 100m backstroke told French radio. &quot;When I see the 200m podium I want to be sick.&quot; 
 
Sun has already been at the center of a verbal battle with Australia&#39;s Mack Horton who beat Sun in the 400m race. 
 
The Sun-Horton dispute has turned into a social media war. China&#39;s state-controlled Global Times newspaper called Australia a former British &quot;offshore prison&quot; because of Horton&#39;s &quot;drug cheat&quot; remarks about Sun. 
 
&#39;I once made a mistake&#39;&nbsp; 
 
Efimova sought to defend her doping record. 
 
&quot;I once made a mistake and served my ban,&quot; she said, referring to a 16-month suspension incurred after testing positive for a banned steroid in 2014. 
 
She was given a provisional ban this year after testing positive for meldonium but that was overturned in May by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). 
 
Following the Richard McLaren report for the World Anti-Doping Agency, Efimova was suspended again. The report implicated the Russian government in doping. 
 
But another appeal to the CAS last week let Efimova and six other Russian swimmers into Rio. 
 
The United States and other western countries had wanted a complete ban on Russian athletes. 
 
The row largely overshadowed a day that saw a first gold medal for the Brazilian hosts. It was won by judoka Rafaela Silva, who grew up in Rio&#39;s notorious City of God slum. 
 
Silva upset world No. 1 Sumiya Dorjsuren in the 57kg final for a hugely welcome win for Brazil after apathy and protests in the run-up to South America&#39;s first Olympics. 
 
China got more medals in diving, where Chen Aisen and Lin Yue won the men&#39;s 10m platform. China finished the day with five gold medals in total. 
 
Japan&#39;s &#39;King Kohei&#39; Uchimura led Japan to victory in the men&#39;s team gymnastics, completing his collection of major titles in the sport. 
 
Russia took gold and silver in the women&#39;s sabre fencing as Yana Egorian beat Sofiya Velikaya, who again suffered heartbreak after also losing the 2012 Olympic final. 
 
Thailand enjoyed a one-two in the women&#39;s 58kg weightlifting as Sukanya Srisurat beat Pimsiri Sirikaew by 8kg. 
 
And in rugby, Australia&#39;s women beat New Zealand to become the Olympics&#39; first rugby sevens champions. 
 
(AFP)&nbsp; 
 
 
&nbsp;

Lily King narrowly beat her rival, Yulia Efimova, stoking the controversy over revelations of Russian state-sponsored doping

Doping tensions in Olympic swimming erupted after American Lilly King beat tainted Russian rival Yulia Efimova and US superstar Michael Phelps demanded life bans for swimmers with a drug record. Booing broke out in the swimming arena on Monday as Efimova -- twice convicted of doping but securing an Olympic place on a last-ditch appeal -- lined up to challenge the women's 100m breaststroke final. King narrowly beat her then, stoking the controversy over revelations of Russian stated-sponsored doping. "I think it just proved that you can compete clean and still come out on top," King said of her win. She had also criticised Efimova before the race. Russia springs to defence Clearly devastated, Efimova burst into tears after the race. Russia sprang to her defense, with Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko describing her as a "good girl", according Moscow's R-Sport news agency. The attacks were described as a "terrible ordeal." The red-faced International Olympic Committee (IOC) sought to calm the choppy waters, saying the Games were about "respecting the right of others to compete." But King was joined in the war of words by US legend Phelps and Frenchman Camille Lacourt among others who lashed out at a Chinese winner. Phelps, who will attempt the astonishing feat of winning his 20th Olympic gold medal later Tuesday, launched a broadside at drug abusers and encouraged others to speak out. Phelps said those punished for doping should face permanent exile from the sport. "I think you're going to see a lot of people speaking up more," the all-time highest Olympic medal winner said. China's Sun Yang, who won the 200m freestyle on Monday, came under fierce attack from a furious Lacourt. "Sun Yang, he pisses purple," an enraged Lacourt who came fifth in the 100m backstroke told French radio. "When I see the 200m podium I want to be sick." Sun has already been at the center of a verbal battle with Australia's Mack Horton who beat Sun in the 400m race. The Sun-Horton dispute has turned into a social media war. China's state-controlled Global Times newspaper called Australia a former British "offshore prison" because of Horton's "drug cheat" remarks about Sun. 'I once made a mistake' Efimova sought to defend her doping record. "I once made a mistake and served my ban," she said, referring to a 16-month suspension incurred after testing positive for a banned steroid in 2014. She was given a provisional ban this year after testing positive for meldonium but that was overturned in May by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Following the Richard McLaren report for the World Anti-Doping Agency, Efimova was suspended again. The report implicated the Russian government in doping. But another appeal to the CAS last week let Efimova and six other Russian swimmers into Rio. The United States and other western countries had wanted a complete ban on Russian athletes. The row largely overshadowed a day that saw a first gold medal for the Brazilian hosts. It was won by judoka Rafaela Silva, who grew up in Rio's notorious City of God slum. Silva upset world No. 1 Sumiya Dorjsuren in the 57kg final for a hugely welcome win for Brazil after apathy and protests in the run-up to South America's first Olympics. China got more medals in diving, where Chen Aisen and Lin Yue won the men's 10m platform. China finished the day with five gold medals in total. Japan's 'King Kohei' Uchimura led Japan to victory in the men's team gymnastics, completing his collection of major titles in the sport. Russia took gold and silver in the women's sabre fencing as Yana Egorian beat Sofiya Velikaya, who again suffered heartbreak after also losing the 2012 Olympic final. Thailand enjoyed a one-two in the women's 58kg weightlifting as Sukanya Srisurat beat Pimsiri Sirikaew by 8kg. And in rugby, Australia's women beat New Zealand to become the Olympics' first rugby sevens champions. (AFP)

Doping war erupts as American King beats tainted Russian swimmer to gold in Rio

Most of the five stars on the Chinese flags being used at medal ceremonies at the Rio Olympics are misaligned, officials said, prompting a diplomatic protest and online fury. 
 
Chinese internet users were quick to detect a &quot;plot&quot; against the world&#39;s most populous country, which came second in the medals table at London 2012, and branded the Brazilian organisers the &quot;worst ever&quot;. 
 
The Chinese flag features one large star -- representing the Communist Party -- half surrounded by four smaller stars tilted to point toward the centre of the bigger one. 
 
But the small stars on the Rio flags, including the one lifted by Chinese fencer Lei Sheng at the opening ceremony Friday, all point upwards. 
 
(AFP)

Chinese internet users were quick to detect a 'plot' and branded the Brazilian oragnisers the 'worst ever'

Most of the five stars on the Chinese flags being used at medal ceremonies at the Rio Olympics are misaligned, officials said, prompting a diplomatic protest and online fury. Chinese internet users were quick to detect a "plot" against the world's most populous country, which came second in the medals table at London 2012, and branded the Brazilian organisers the "worst ever". The Chinese flag features one large star -- representing the Communist Party -- half surrounded by four smaller stars tilted to point toward the centre of the bigger one. But the small stars on the Rio flags, including the one lifted by Chinese fencer Lei Sheng at the opening ceremony Friday, all point upwards. (AFP)

China: Our stars are misaligned on Rio flags

World number one Novak Djokovic was dumped out of the Olympics in the first round Sunday, losing for the second successive Games to Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina. 
 
Four years ago in London, the giant Del Potro had defeated the Serb in the bronze medal match and he repeated the shock Sunday in a stunning 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/2) victory. 
 
The 27-year-old Del Potro, whose ranking has slumped to 145 after a succession of wrist operations pushed him to the brink of retirement, started the day by getting stuck in an elevator for 40 minutes at the athletes village. 
 
But that inconvenience did not shake the 2009 US Open champion out of his big-hitting stride as he shocked the top seed to set up a second-round clash with Portugal&#39;s Joao Sousa. 
 
(AFP) 
&nbsp;

The match was a repeat of the London Olympics one in which Del Potro defeated the Serb to win the bronze medal

World number one Novak Djokovic was dumped out of the Olympics in the first round Sunday, losing for the second successive Games to Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina. Four years ago in London, the giant Del Potro had defeated the Serb in the bronze medal match and he repeated the shock Sunday in a stunning 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/2) victory. The 27-year-old Del Potro, whose ranking has slumped to 145 after a succession of wrist operations pushed him to the brink of retirement, started the day by getting stuck in an elevator for 40 minutes at the athletes village. But that inconvenience did not shake the 2009 US Open champion out of his big-hitting stride as he shocked the top seed to set up a second-round clash with Portugal's Joao Sousa. (AFP)

Tennis World No 1 Novak Djokovic suffers shock defeat, eliminated in first round

It was a hair-raising day for Louis Smith at the Rio Olympics on Saturday. 
 
But rather than his fluid movements over the pommel horse providing the excitement during men&#39;s qualifying, it was the hair tied up on top of his head. 
 
&quot;People are calling it a man bun. I don&#39;t call it anything, I just tie it up,&quot; grinned the British showman whose toned back is covered with tattoos of two angels and a message for his late grandmother. 
 
&quot;I was growing it and I hadn&#39;t put any hair spray in it for training so it was flopping around everywhere. I went to one of the girls in training and asked for a hairband and I just tied it up. 
 
&quot;I caught myself in a mirror and thought, &#39;It looks all right,&#39; so I&#39;ve just been doing this every day as it&#39;s so convenient.&quot; 
 
The man who waltzed to victory in Britain&#39;s version of &#39;Dancing with the Stars&#39; after claiming a silver medal at the 2012 London Games on his signature apparatus was happy with his new look as it saves time with his daily beauty regime. 
 
&quot;You get out of the shower, tie it up and it&#39;s done. Before I had to condition it, had to straighten it, had to hair spray it back,&quot; he added. 
 
&quot;I haven&#39;t seen anybody else with this hairstyle before and it&#39;s nice to be different.&quot; 
 
For the record, he was heading for another pommel horse showdown with world champion Max Whitlock after the British duo topped the provisional standings in the apparatus. 
 
(Reuters)&nbsp;

'People are calling it a man bun. I don't call it anything, I just tie it up,' grinned the British showman

It was a hair-raising day for Louis Smith at the Rio Olympics on Saturday. But rather than his fluid movements over the pommel horse providing the excitement during men's qualifying, it was the hair tied up on top of his head. "People are calling it a man bun. I don't call it anything, I just tie it up," grinned the British showman whose toned back is covered with tattoos of two angels and a message for his late grandmother. "I was growing it and I hadn't put any hair spray in it for training so it was flopping around everywhere. I went to one of the girls in training and asked for a hairband and I just tied it up. "I caught myself in a mirror and thought, 'It looks all right,' so I've just been doing this every day as it's so convenient." The man who waltzed to victory in Britain's version of 'Dancing with the Stars' after claiming a silver medal at the 2012 London Games on his signature apparatus was happy with his new look as it saves time with his daily beauty regime. "You get out of the shower, tie it up and it's done. Before I had to condition it, had to straighten it, had to hair spray it back," he added. "I haven't seen anybody else with this hairstyle before and it's nice to be different." For the record, he was heading for another pommel horse showdown with world champion Max Whitlock after the British duo topped the provisional standings in the apparatus. (Reuters)

Smith's 'man bun' grabs attention on pommel horse at Rio 2016

Professionals posted mixed results on Saturday, the first day that non-amateur boxers have been allowed to compete at the Olympics. 
 
Cameroon&#39;s Hassan N&#39;Dam N&#39;jikam, a former World Boxing Organization (WBO) interim middleweight champion who is now fighting as a light heavyweight, lost to Brazilian amateur Michel Borges in a unanimous decision that delighted a raucous home crowd. 
 
Tommasone makes history&nbsp; 
 
Earlier on Saturday, Italy&#39;s Carmine Tommasone made boxing history when he became the first fully professional fighter to compete, winning his opening bout against a Mexican amateur. 
 
The two professionals and a Thai fighter who has yet to make his Olympic debut are competing after AIBA, the sport&#39;s governing body, made a constitutional change in June that ended 112 years of amateur exclusivity at the Games. 
 
For 32-year-old N&#39;jikam, the change to Olympic rules meant a struggle to adapt. Compared with professional boxing, which can feature 10 rounds or more, Olympic bouts are compressed to only three. 
 
As a professional, &quot;I take time in the first round to know what he&#39;s going to do,&quot; he said, admitting that the cautious approach led to his losing crucial early momentum. 
 
Still, he does not regret competing. 
 
&quot;I am not happy but I (had) fun,&quot; he said. 
 
Tommasone, meanwhile, reveled in reaching the games and winning his first fight. 
 
&quot;The Olympics is the top dream of any athlete,&quot; he said, his face still red from a gritty bout in which he struggled to penetrate the guard of a taller opponent, Lindolfo Delgado. 
 
In another shift, this Olympics marks the first time since 1980 that fighters are competing without headgear. 
 
Enthusiastic fans cheer bouts&nbsp; 
 
The boxing began in mid-morning on the first full day of competition at the Games after a colourful opening ceremony at Rio&#39;s Maracana stadium the previous night. 
 
The 9000-seat boxing venue, during morning and afternoon fighting, began with few spectators, but was approaching a full house by the time light heavyweights entered the ring at the end of each session. 
 
Enthusiastic fans, especially yellow-clad Brazilians who made the arena shake as they stomped on metal stands, cheered the bouts featuring fighters from countries including Britain, Spain, China, Uzbekistan and Poland. 
 
The winners of the opening bouts will move forward into the round of 16. 
 
(Reuters)&nbsp;

Enthusiastic fans, especially yellow-clad Brazilians, made the arena shake as they stomped on metal stands

Professionals posted mixed results on Saturday, the first day that non-amateur boxers have been allowed to compete at the Olympics. Cameroon's Hassan N'Dam N'jikam, a former World Boxing Organization (WBO) interim middleweight champion who is now fighting as a light heavyweight, lost to Brazilian amateur Michel Borges in a unanimous decision that delighted a raucous home crowd. Tommasone makes history Earlier on Saturday, Italy's Carmine Tommasone made boxing history when he became the first fully professional fighter to compete, winning his opening bout against a Mexican amateur. The two professionals and a Thai fighter who has yet to make his Olympic debut are competing after AIBA, the sport's governing body, made a constitutional change in June that ended 112 years of amateur exclusivity at the Games. For 32-year-old N'jikam, the change to Olympic rules meant a struggle to adapt. Compared with professional boxing, which can feature 10 rounds or more, Olympic bouts are compressed to only three. As a professional, "I take time in the first round to know what he's going to do," he said, admitting that the cautious approach led to his losing crucial early momentum. Still, he does not regret competing. "I am not happy but I (had) fun," he said. Tommasone, meanwhile, reveled in reaching the games and winning his first fight. "The Olympics is the top dream of any athlete," he said, his face still red from a gritty bout in which he struggled to penetrate the guard of a taller opponent, Lindolfo Delgado. In another shift, this Olympics marks the first time since 1980 that fighters are competing without headgear. Enthusiastic fans cheer bouts The boxing began in mid-morning on the first full day of competition at the Games after a colourful opening ceremony at Rio's Maracana stadium the previous night. The 9000-seat boxing venue, during morning and afternoon fighting, began with few spectators, but was approaching a full house by the time light heavyweights entered the ring at the end of each session. Enthusiastic fans, especially yellow-clad Brazilians who made the arena shake as they stomped on metal stands, cheered the bouts featuring fighters from countries including Britain, Spain, China, Uzbekistan and Poland. The winners of the opening bouts will move forward into the round of 16. (Reuters)

Rio 2016 Olympic boxing: Pro-fighters win and lose bouts against amateurs

Hoang Xuan Vinh won Vietnam&#39;s first Olympic gold medal with his last shot to deny Rio Games hosts Brazil an opening day title on Saturday. 
 
Vinh, 41, fell into the arms of his coaches after his near-perfect final shot in the men&#39;s 10m air pistol. 
 
He duelled with Sao Paulo-born Felipe Almeida Wu who had taken the lead after the penultimate shot. 
 
The Vietnamese military man claimed the title with a total points haul of 202.5. Crowd favourite Wu, almost 20 years his junior, took silver only .3 adrift. 
 
Bronze went to Pang Wei while South Korean defending champion Jin Jongoh trailed in fifth. 
 
Jin had his head in his hands walking off after failing to replicate his heroics at London 2012. 
 
He also won 50m pistol gold four years ago and will be hoping to turn around his form when he defends that title later in the competition. 
 
The first of the eight finalists to be knocked out was the Nepalese-born Indian Jitu Rai. 
 
Russia&#39;s representative Vladimir Gontcharov was next for the chop, followed by Italy&#39;s Giuseppe Giordano, Jin, and Juray Tuzinsky. 
 
That left the stage clear for the three-cornered climax. Pang&#39;s exit setting up a tense face off between the two military men. 
 
Wu had his partisan fans leaping out of their seats when he hit the front, but Vinh fired his 20th and final shot true and straight to nail it in the style of a worthy successor to Jin. 
 
(AFP)

Crowd favourite & Sao Paulo-born Felipe Almeida Wu came in second. South Korean defending champ Jin Jongoh trailed in at fifth

Hoang Xuan Vinh won Vietnam's first Olympic gold medal with his last shot to deny Rio Games hosts Brazil an opening day title on Saturday. Vinh, 41, fell into the arms of his coaches after his near-perfect final shot in the men's 10m air pistol. He duelled with Sao Paulo-born Felipe Almeida Wu who had taken the lead after the penultimate shot. The Vietnamese military man claimed the title with a total points haul of 202.5. Crowd favourite Wu, almost 20 years his junior, took silver only .3 adrift. Bronze went to Pang Wei while South Korean defending champion Jin Jongoh trailed in fifth. Jin had his head in his hands walking off after failing to replicate his heroics at London 2012. He also won 50m pistol gold four years ago and will be hoping to turn around his form when he defends that title later in the competition. The first of the eight finalists to be knocked out was the Nepalese-born Indian Jitu Rai. Russia's representative Vladimir Gontcharov was next for the chop, followed by Italy's Giuseppe Giordano, Jin, and Juray Tuzinsky. That left the stage clear for the three-cornered climax. Pang's exit setting up a tense face off between the two military men. Wu had his partisan fans leaping out of their seats when he hit the front, but Vinh fired his 20th and final shot true and straight to nail it in the style of a worthy successor to Jin. (AFP)

Vinh wins Vietnam's first-ever gold medal with his last shot

Yusra Mardini, the teenager who braved a Mediterranean crossing in a leaky dinghy fleeing war-torn Syria, won her 100m butterfly heat in Rio on Saturday to launch an &quot;amazing&quot; Olympic experience. 
 
&quot;Everything was amazing. It was the only thing I ever wanted was to compete in the Olympics,&quot; said the 18-year-old, who is representing the first ever Olympic refugee team. 
 
&quot;I had a good feeling in the water so I&#39;m happy for that.&quot; 
 
She attended Friday&#39;s Opening Ceremony, but didn&#39;t stay for the end because she wanted to be ready for her race. 
Mardini touched in 1min 09.21sec, just off her entry time of 1:08.51. 
 
&quot;I&#39;ve only been back swimming for two years so we&#39;re only now getting back to my levels of before. But I&#39;m pleased,&quot; added Mardini, who has settled in Germany with her family. 
 
Less than a year ago Mardini found herself swimming for her life when the crowded dinghy headed for the Greek island of Lesbos suffered engine failure. 
 
She and her sister jumped into the water and used a rope to tow the boat to safety. 
 
Although she was 41st-fastest in an event led by world record-holder Sarah Sjostrom&#39;s 56.26sec meaning she didn&#39;t qualify for the semi-finals, Mardini said it was a thrill to line up against the world&#39;s best. 
 
&quot;It&#39;s an incredible feeling and I&#39;m happy to see all the great swimmers here,&quot; she said. &quot;Competing with all these great champions is exciting.&quot; 
 
In March, International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach announced he would choose five to ten refugee athletes to compete at the Games. 
 
One other swimmer, Rami Anis, is also originally from Syria and will compete in the men&#39;s 100m butterfly. Mardini is also entered in the 100m freestyle. 
 
Each Refugee athlete is being hosted by a National Olympic Committee. Mardini is being hosted by Germany, while Anis is being hosted by Belgium. 
 
Six refugee athletes are competing in athletics and two in Judo. 
 
(AFP)

Yusra Mardini,18, less than a year ago found herself swimming for her life when the crowded dinghy headed for Lesbos suffered engine failure

Yusra Mardini, the teenager who braved a Mediterranean crossing in a leaky dinghy fleeing war-torn Syria, won her 100m butterfly heat in Rio on Saturday to launch an "amazing" Olympic experience. "Everything was amazing. It was the only thing I ever wanted was to compete in the Olympics," said the 18-year-old, who is representing the first ever Olympic refugee team. "I had a good feeling in the water so I'm happy for that." She attended Friday's Opening Ceremony, but didn't stay for the end because she wanted to be ready for her race. Mardini touched in 1min 09.21sec, just off her entry time of 1:08.51. "I've only been back swimming for two years so we're only now getting back to my levels of before. But I'm pleased," added Mardini, who has settled in Germany with her family. Less than a year ago Mardini found herself swimming for her life when the crowded dinghy headed for the Greek island of Lesbos suffered engine failure. She and her sister jumped into the water and used a rope to tow the boat to safety. Although she was 41st-fastest in an event led by world record-holder Sarah Sjostrom's 56.26sec meaning she didn't qualify for the semi-finals, Mardini said it was a thrill to line up against the world's best. "It's an incredible feeling and I'm happy to see all the great swimmers here," she said. "Competing with all these great champions is exciting." In March, International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach announced he would choose five to ten refugee athletes to compete at the Games. One other swimmer, Rami Anis, is also originally from Syria and will compete in the men's 100m butterfly. Mardini is also entered in the 100m freestyle. Each Refugee athlete is being hosted by a National Olympic Committee. Mardini is being hosted by Germany, while Anis is being hosted by Belgium. Six refugee athletes are competing in athletics and two in Judo. (AFP)

Syrian refugee Mardini wins 100m butterfly heat in Rio

Brazil unfurled a vast canvas celebrating its rainforest and the creative energy of its wildly diverse population to the tune of samba, bossa nova and funk in welcoming the world on Friday to the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

In a country of great economic inequality, the opening ceremony celebrated the culture of the favelas, the slums that hang vertiginously above the renowned beaches of Rio, and ring the site of Friday&#39;s spectacle, the famed Maracana stadium.

There was no glossing over history either: from the arrival of the Portuguese and their conquest of the indigenous populations to the use of African slave labour for 400 years. The clash of cultures, as the ceremony showed, is what makes Brazil the complex mosaic that it is.

Home to the Amazon, the world&#39;s largest forest, Brazil used the ceremony to call on the three&nbsp;billion people watching the opening of the world&#39;s premiere sporting event to take care of the planet, plant seeds and reconquer the verdant land that Europeans found here five centuries ago.

Unlike the opening ceremonies in Beijing in 2008 and London 2012, a financially constrained Brazil had little choice but to put on a more &quot;analogue&quot; show, with minimal high-tech and a heavy dependence on the vast talent of Brazil and its Carnival party traditions.

While the Rio 2016 organising committee has not said how much the ceremony cost, it is believed to be about half of the $42 million spent by London in 2012.

The show drew homegrown stars, like supermodel Gisele Bundchen, who walked across the stadium to the sound of bossa nova hit &quot;Girl from Ipanema&quot; and Paulinho da Viola, a samba songwriter who sang the national anthem with a string orchestra. Everyone performed for free.

Loud cheers erupted when Brazil&#39;s beloved pioneer of aviation Alberto Santos-Dumont was depicted taking off from the stadium and flying over modern-day Rio.

The joyful opening of South America&#39;s first Games contrasted with months of turmoil and chaos, not only in the organisation of the Olympics but across Brazil as it endures its worst economic recession in decades and a deep political crisis.

Interim President Michel Temer presided over the opening of the Games inside Maracana with dozens of heads of state. He took over from suspended President Dilma Rousseff, who is facing an impeachment trial and tweeted that she was &quot;sad to not be at the party&quot;.

The $12 billion price tag to organise the Games has aggrieved many in the nation of 200 million and in Rio, where few can see the benefits of the spectacle or even afford to attend the Games.

Police used stun grenades against a few hundred anti-Olympic protesters near the stadium, armoured tanks lined the streets, and the 50,000 attendees faced two-hour-long lines as Brazil staged its most intense security operation ever. 
&nbsp;

People on the periphery

The creative minds behind the opening ceremony were determined to put on a show that would not offend a country in dire economic straits but would showcase the famously upbeat nature of Brazilians.

It started with the beginning of life itself in Brazil, and the population that formed in the vast forests and built their communal huts, the ocas.

The Portuguese bobbed to shore in boats, the African slaves rolled in on wheels and together they ploughed through the forests and planted the seeds of modern Brazil.

The mega-cities of Brazil formed in a dizzying video display as acrobats jumped from roof to roof of emerging buildings and then on to the steep favela that served as the front stage for the ceremony.&nbsp;From the favela came Brazilian funk, a contemporary mash-up of 20th century rhythms, sung by stars Karol Conka and MC Soffia.

&quot;This is a conquest. The people on the periphery are having an influence, it&#39;s a recognition of their art,&quot; said Eduardo Alves, director of social watchdog Observatorio de Favelas.

Before the entry of hundreds of the 11,000 athletes that will be competing in the Games, the playful rhythms of the ceremony gave way to a sober message about climate change and rampant deforestation of the Amazon. Actresses Judi Dench and Fernanda Montenegro lent their voices for a classic poem about hope for the future.

Each athlete will be asked to plant seeds that will eventually grow into trees and be planted in the Athletes Forest in Rio in a few years.&nbsp;Still to come, Brazilians waited to see who had been selected to light the Olympic cauldron after football great Pele declined to take part because of health problems. 
 
(Reuters)

In the $20 million show Brazil didn't gloss over history, and called on the three billion people watching the opening to celebrate favelas

Brazil unfurled a vast canvas celebrating its rainforest and the creative energy of its wildly diverse population to the tune of samba, bossa nova and funk in welcoming the world on Friday to the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. In a country of great economic inequality, the opening ceremony celebrated the culture of the favelas, the slums that hang vertiginously above the renowned beaches of Rio, and ring the site of Friday's spectacle, the famed Maracana stadium. There was no glossing over history either: from the arrival of the Portuguese and their conquest of the indigenous populations to the use of African slave labour for 400 years. The clash of cultures, as the ceremony showed, is what makes Brazil the complex mosaic that it is. Home to the Amazon, the world's largest forest, Brazil used the ceremony to call on the three billion people watching the opening of the world's premiere sporting event to take care of the planet, plant seeds and reconquer the verdant land that Europeans found here five centuries ago. Unlike the opening ceremonies in Beijing in 2008 and London 2012, a financially constrained Brazil had little choice but to put on a more "analogue" show, with minimal high-tech and a heavy dependence on the vast talent of Brazil and its Carnival party traditions. While the Rio 2016 organising committee has not said how much the ceremony cost, it is believed to be about half of the $42 million spent by London in 2012. The show drew homegrown stars, like supermodel Gisele Bundchen, who walked across the stadium to the sound of bossa nova hit "Girl from Ipanema" and Paulinho da Viola, a samba songwriter who sang the national anthem with a string orchestra. Everyone performed for free. Loud cheers erupted when Brazil's beloved pioneer of aviation Alberto Santos-Dumont was depicted taking off from the stadium and flying over modern-day Rio. The joyful opening of South America's first Games contrasted with months of turmoil and chaos, not only in the organisation of the Olympics but across Brazil as it endures its worst economic recession in decades and a deep political crisis. Interim President Michel Temer presided over the opening of the Games inside Maracana with dozens of heads of state. He took over from suspended President Dilma Rousseff, who is facing an impeachment trial and tweeted that she was "sad to not be at the party". The $12 billion price tag to organise the Games has aggrieved many in the nation of 200 million and in Rio, where few can see the benefits of the spectacle or even afford to attend the Games. Police used stun grenades against a few hundred anti-Olympic protesters near the stadium, armoured tanks lined the streets, and the 50,000 attendees faced two-hour-long lines as Brazil staged its most intense security operation ever. People on the periphery The creative minds behind the opening ceremony were determined to put on a show that would not offend a country in dire economic straits but would showcase the famously upbeat nature of Brazilians. It started with the beginning of life itself in Brazil, and the population that formed in the vast forests and built their communal huts, the ocas. The Portuguese bobbed to shore in boats, the African slaves rolled in on wheels and together they ploughed through the forests and planted the seeds of modern Brazil. The mega-cities of Brazil formed in a dizzying video display as acrobats jumped from roof to roof of emerging buildings and then on to the steep favela that served as the front stage for the ceremony. From the favela came Brazilian funk, a contemporary mash-up of 20th century rhythms, sung by stars Karol Conka and MC Soffia. "This is a conquest. The people on the periphery are having an influence, it's a recognition of their art," said Eduardo Alves, director of social watchdog Observatorio de Favelas. Before the entry of hundreds of the 11,000 athletes that will be competing in the Games, the playful rhythms of the ceremony gave way to a sober message about climate change and rampant deforestation of the Amazon. Actresses Judi Dench and Fernanda Montenegro lent their voices for a classic poem about hope for the future. Each athlete will be asked to plant seeds that will eventually grow into trees and be planted in the Athletes Forest in Rio in a few years. Still to come, Brazilians waited to see who had been selected to light the Olympic cauldron after football great Pele declined to take part because of health problems. (Reuters)

Rio 2016 opening ceremony kicks off Games with ode to forests, favelas and funk

Kenya on Thursday was removed from the the World Anti-Doping Agency&#39;s (WADA) list of nations deemed &#39;non-compliant&#39; in their efforts to tackle doping after the Kenyan parliament introduced new legislation to punish drug cheats. 
 
Kenya&#39;s reputation has been tarnished by more than 40 doping cases in the last four years and at one point the East African nation&#39;s participation at the Rio Olympics, which start on Friday, was deemed to be in jeopardy. 
 
WADA in May put Kenya on its non-compliant list as an anti-doping law passed by the Kenyan parliament was not in line with WADA&#39;s own code. The government later amended the bill. 
 
&quot;Kenya has drafted and adopted anti-doping legislation now deemed to be in line with the Code,&quot; WADA said in a statement. 
 
It added that it had &quot;removed the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) from the list of signatories previously deemed non-compliant&quot;. 
 
Among the Kenyan athletes who failed drug tests are former Boston City Marathon and Chicago Marathon champion, Rita Jeptoo, and twice world cross-country champion Emily Chebet. 
 
(Reuters)

Kenya's reputation has been tarnished by more than 40 doping cases in last four years. It's Rio Olympics participation was also in jeopardy

Kenya on Thursday was removed from the the World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) list of nations deemed 'non-compliant' in their efforts to tackle doping after the Kenyan parliament introduced new legislation to punish drug cheats. Kenya's reputation has been tarnished by more than 40 doping cases in the last four years and at one point the East African nation's participation at the Rio Olympics, which start on Friday, was deemed to be in jeopardy. WADA in May put Kenya on its non-compliant list as an anti-doping law passed by the Kenyan parliament was not in line with WADA's own code. The government later amended the bill. "Kenya has drafted and adopted anti-doping legislation now deemed to be in line with the Code," WADA said in a statement. It added that it had "removed the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) from the list of signatories previously deemed non-compliant". Among the Kenyan athletes who failed drug tests are former Boston City Marathon and Chicago Marathon champion, Rita Jeptoo, and twice world cross-country champion Emily Chebet. (Reuters)

Rio 2016: WADA removes Kenya from list of 'non-compliant' nations

A Moroccan Olympic boxer was arrested today on allegations he sexually assaulted two Brazilian housekeepers in the Olympic Village. 
 
Police said the possible attacks by Hassan Saada happened on Wednesday. The women filed a report this week, saying the 22-year-old boxer asked them to go to his room, then restrained and fondled them, chief investigator Carolina Salomao said. 
 
&quot;They were cleaning the room right across his, and he assaulted them. He groped the breast of one of them and touched the other woman&#39;s thigh. They were able to get out,&quot; Salomao said. 
 
The detective said Saada shared the room with two other athletes, but was alone at the time of the alleged assault. Saada will be jailed for 15 days while they investigate. Under Brazilian law, suspects can be held for a long period while a case is examined. 
 
Police originally said in a statement the man had raped the housekeepers, but the investigator said it was a sexual assault. It&#39;s not clear what charges he is facing. 
 
Saada, a light heavyweight boxer, was scheduled to fight in the preliminary rounds on Saturday against Mehmet Nadir of Turkey. Saada was not predicted to be a medal contender. 
 
The International Boxing Association, which runs the Olympic boxing tournament, said it has &quot;taken note of the serious allegations.&quot; 
 
&quot;We understand that the situation is being dealt with by the local Brazilian authorities and have complete confidence that they will handle the matter appropriately,&quot; federation spokesman Nicolas Jomard said in a statement. 
 
Olympic organisers said they are aware of the case and investigation. Calls and email messages left with the Moroccan Embassy in Rio de Janeiro were not immediately returned. 
 
(AP)

Police originally said in a statement the man had raped the housekeepers, but the investigator said it was a sexual assault

A Moroccan Olympic boxer was arrested today on allegations he sexually assaulted two Brazilian housekeepers in the Olympic Village. Police said the possible attacks by Hassan Saada happened on Wednesday. The women filed a report this week, saying the 22-year-old boxer asked them to go to his room, then restrained and fondled them, chief investigator Carolina Salomao said. "They were cleaning the room right across his, and he assaulted them. He groped the breast of one of them and touched the other woman's thigh. They were able to get out," Salomao said. The detective said Saada shared the room with two other athletes, but was alone at the time of the alleged assault. Saada will be jailed for 15 days while they investigate. Under Brazilian law, suspects can be held for a long period while a case is examined. Police originally said in a statement the man had raped the housekeepers, but the investigator said it was a sexual assault. It's not clear what charges he is facing. Saada, a light heavyweight boxer, was scheduled to fight in the preliminary rounds on Saturday against Mehmet Nadir of Turkey. Saada was not predicted to be a medal contender. The International Boxing Association, which runs the Olympic boxing tournament, said it has "taken note of the serious allegations." "We understand that the situation is being dealt with by the local Brazilian authorities and have complete confidence that they will handle the matter appropriately," federation spokesman Nicolas Jomard said in a statement. Olympic organisers said they are aware of the case and investigation. Calls and email messages left with the Moroccan Embassy in Rio de Janeiro were not immediately returned. (AP)

Rio police arrest Moroccan boxer on sexual assault allegation

Brazilian riot police used tear gas and stun grenades to disperse a small protest near the Maracana stadium that will host Friday&#39;s opening ceremony for the Olympic Games, television images showed.

The protest, which grouped a few hundred people, was against corruption and overspending on the Olympic Games, which are taking place during Brazil&#39;s worst economic downturn in decades. 
 
(Reuters)

The protest was against corruption and overspending on the Olympic Games which are taking place during Brazil's worst economic downturn

Brazilian riot police used tear gas and stun grenades to disperse a small protest near the Maracana stadium that will host Friday's opening ceremony for the Olympic Games, television images showed. The protest, which grouped a few hundred people, was against corruption and overspending on the Olympic Games, which are taking place during Brazil's worst economic downturn in decades. (Reuters)

Brazil police use tear gas, stun grenades at Rio protest

Brazilian soccer legend&nbsp;Pele&nbsp;will not light the Olympic cauldron at Friday&#39;s opening ceremony of the 2016 Olympics due to poor health, a spokesman for the three-time World Cup winner said.

Pele, who in 1999 was elected by the International Olympic Committee as the Athlete of the Century and whose full name is Edson Arantes do Nascimento, is considered by many as the greatest soccer player of all time.

Pele, 75, underwent hip surgery at the end of last year and his rehabilitation has been difficult.

Pepito Fornos, a&nbsp;Pele&nbsp;spokesman, confirmed&nbsp;that&nbsp;Pele&nbsp;would not light the cauldron, saying that &quot;the muscles in his leg that is being rehabilitated are not sufficiently strong enough&quot;.

&quot;He is walking with a cane. The problem is that if he sits in a chair you need a winch to get him out of it,&quot; Fornos said. &quot;His doctor thought it best that he continues physiotherapy, that he rests and we hope that he will be able to appear at the (Olympic) closing.&quot;

Pele&nbsp;said earlier this week that he had been asked to light the cauldron, but also said he needed to consult some commercial sponsors on whether he contractually would be able to do that.

Organisers have kept light-tipped about the details of the ceremony and had not confirmed whether&nbsp;Pele&nbsp;would take part, repeatedly refusing to comment on who might light the cauldron - the symbol of the Games that remains lit until the closing ceremony.

Despite being named Athlete of the Century,&nbsp;Pele&nbsp;never actually competed in an Olympics.

Pele&nbsp;has often joked that Brazil has never won an Olympic gold medal in soccer because he never played for the team. 
 
(Reuters)

Pele had undergone hip surgery at the end of last year. His rehabilitation has been difficult since then

Brazilian soccer legend Pele will not light the Olympic cauldron at Friday's opening ceremony of the 2016 Olympics due to poor health, a spokesman for the three-time World Cup winner said. Pele, who in 1999 was elected by the International Olympic Committee as the Athlete of the Century and whose full name is Edson Arantes do Nascimento, is considered by many as the greatest soccer player of all time. Pele, 75, underwent hip surgery at the end of last year and his rehabilitation has been difficult. Pepito Fornos, a Pele spokesman, confirmed that Pele would not light the cauldron, saying that "the muscles in his leg that is being rehabilitated are not sufficiently strong enough". "He is walking with a cane. The problem is that if he sits in a chair you need a winch to get him out of it," Fornos said. "His doctor thought it best that he continues physiotherapy, that he rests and we hope that he will be able to appear at the (Olympic) closing." Pele said earlier this week that he had been asked to light the cauldron, but also said he needed to consult some commercial sponsors on whether he contractually would be able to do that. Organisers have kept light-tipped about the details of the ceremony and had not confirmed whether Pele would take part, repeatedly refusing to comment on who might light the cauldron - the symbol of the Games that remains lit until the closing ceremony. Despite being named Athlete of the Century, Pele never actually competed in an Olympics. Pele has often joked that Brazil has never won an Olympic gold medal in soccer because he never played for the team. (Reuters)

Soccer legend Pele will not light Olympic cauldron due to muscle pain

A top Russian official said Thursday that at least 271 athletes would compete in the Rio Olympics after clearing a doping probe which has slashed their team to its smallest size in more than a century. 
 
Russian Olympic Committee president Alexander Zhukov said some other cases remained unresolved after investigations prompted by the discovery of a state-orchestrated plot to dupe drugs testers. 
 
&quot;As of now 271 athletes have been admitted,&quot; Zhukov told a press conference in Rio, saying two track cyclists and freestyle wrestler Viktor Lebidev were among the athletes still in limbo. 
 
But he took a swipe at the total ban on Russia&#39;s track and field team, which has robbed athletes like pole vault world record-holder Yelena Isinbayeva and 110m hurdles world champion Sergey Shubenkov of the chance to compete. 
 
Zhukov said it was &quot;unfair&quot; that athletes from other countries who have previously served drugs bans, such as American sprinter Justin Gatlin, will compete in Rio. 
 
&quot;We think it&#39;s unfair that some Russian athletes like Yelena Isinbayeva and Shubenkov, who have never been accused of doping, are not allowed to compete this time,&quot; Zhukov said. 
 
&quot;However, in contrast, some other athletes, like the American runner Gatlin, have been admitted to the Games.&quot; 
 
Russia, who finished fourth on the London 2012 Olympic medals table and have topped the table seven times, will have their smallest team since 1912 at the Rio Games, which open on Friday.Russia entered 387 names for the Olympics but competitors implicated in last month`s bombshell World Anti-Doping Agency report have been eliminated by sports federations. 
 
A three-member International Olympic Committee panel which reviewed the list submitted by the federations was due to announce its final figure for the Russian squad later on Thursday. 
 
Among 31 swimmers accepted are Vladimir Morozov and Nikita Lobintsev, who were initially banned. Fellow swimmer Yulia Efimova&#39;s case is still being examined by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. 
 
While all Russian weightlifters have been banned, all of the country`s boxers have been allowed to compete.&nbsp; 
 
World Sailing has also let a competitor initially banned back into the contest. 
 
Russia&#39;s track and field team was suspended in separate action by the sport&#39;s governing body, the IAAF, following similar revelations of state-backed doping last year. 
 
&quot;The Russian team may have experienced the toughest checks of the Olympics, because they had to go through multiple tests and checked,&quot; Zhukov said. 
 
&quot;On top of all that, Russian athletes are going through additional testing which is taking place at the Olympic village.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;So as of now, the Russian team is probably the cleanest in Rio.&quot; 
 
Russian swimming great Alexander Popov also hit out at the track and field ban with a personal attack on Britain&#39;s Sebastian Coe, president of the IAAF. 
 
&quot;I hope that he will not regret his decision about Russian athletes because as you can say, what goes around comes around,&quot; Popov said of Coe earlier. 
 
&quot;I hope that he will sleep well at night,&quot; he added, in comments to reporters after an International Olympic Committee (IOC) session. 
 
(AFP)

The three-member International Olympic Committee panel will announce its final figure for the Russian squad later on Thursday

A top Russian official said Thursday that at least 271 athletes would compete in the Rio Olympics after clearing a doping probe which has slashed their team to its smallest size in more than a century. Russian Olympic Committee president Alexander Zhukov said some other cases remained unresolved after investigations prompted by the discovery of a state-orchestrated plot to dupe drugs testers. "As of now 271 athletes have been admitted," Zhukov told a press conference in Rio, saying two track cyclists and freestyle wrestler Viktor Lebidev were among the athletes still in limbo. But he took a swipe at the total ban on Russia's track and field team, which has robbed athletes like pole vault world record-holder Yelena Isinbayeva and 110m hurdles world champion Sergey Shubenkov of the chance to compete. Zhukov said it was "unfair" that athletes from other countries who have previously served drugs bans, such as American sprinter Justin Gatlin, will compete in Rio. "We think it's unfair that some Russian athletes like Yelena Isinbayeva and Shubenkov, who have never been accused of doping, are not allowed to compete this time," Zhukov said. "However, in contrast, some other athletes, like the American runner Gatlin, have been admitted to the Games." Russia, who finished fourth on the London 2012 Olympic medals table and have topped the table seven times, will have their smallest team since 1912 at the Rio Games, which open on Friday.Russia entered 387 names for the Olympics but competitors implicated in last month`s bombshell World Anti-Doping Agency report have been eliminated by sports federations. A three-member International Olympic Committee panel which reviewed the list submitted by the federations was due to announce its final figure for the Russian squad later on Thursday. Among 31 swimmers accepted are Vladimir Morozov and Nikita Lobintsev, who were initially banned. Fellow swimmer Yulia Efimova's case is still being examined by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. While all Russian weightlifters have been banned, all of the country`s boxers have been allowed to compete. World Sailing has also let a competitor initially banned back into the contest. Russia's track and field team was suspended in separate action by the sport's governing body, the IAAF, following similar revelations of state-backed doping last year. "The Russian team may have experienced the toughest checks of the Olympics, because they had to go through multiple tests and checked," Zhukov said. "On top of all that, Russian athletes are going through additional testing which is taking place at the Olympic village. "So as of now, the Russian team is probably the cleanest in Rio." Russian swimming great Alexander Popov also hit out at the track and field ban with a personal attack on Britain's Sebastian Coe, president of the IAAF. "I hope that he will not regret his decision about Russian athletes because as you can say, what goes around comes around," Popov said of Coe earlier. "I hope that he will sleep well at night," he added, in comments to reporters after an International Olympic Committee (IOC) session. (AFP)

271 cleared for Rio after drugs probe, says Russia

Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time with 18 gold medals among his career haul of 22, will carry the US flag in Friday&#39;s opening ceremony of the Rio Olympics. 
 
The US Olympic Committee said today that Phelps, who will be the first American male swimmer to compete at five Games, had been chosen in a vote of fellow team members to lead the delegation into the Maracana stadium. 
 
Phelps, who won eight of his golds in Beijing in 2008, is set to add to his haul in Rio with three individual events as well as relays. 
 
&quot;I&#39;m honoured to be chosen, proud to represent the US, and humbled by the significance of carrying the flag and all it stands for,&quot; said Phelps. 
 
&quot;For Sydney (in 2000), I just wanted to make the team. For Athens, I wanted to win gold for my country. For Beijing, I wanted to do something nobody else had done. In London, I wanted to make history. 
 
&quot;And now, I want to walk in the Opening Ceremony, take it all in, represent America in the best possible way and make my family proud. This time around, it&#39;s about so much more than medals.&quot; 
 
Taking part in the opening ceremony will mean a late night for Phelps on Friday, with the stadium at least an hour away from the Athletes Village in Barra, and plenty of standing around as well. 
 
The 31-year-old will not be in action on the opening Saturday, however, with his first event likely to be the men&#39;s 4x100 freestyle relay on Sunday. 
 
The US team have not announced their lineup for that event and Phelps is unlikely to take part in the afternoon heats, meaning he will make his competitive entry in the pool late in the evening if selected. 
 
(Reuters)

Phelps, who won eight of his golds in Beijing in 2008, is set to add to his haul in Rio with three individual events as well as relays

Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time with 18 gold medals among his career haul of 22, will carry the US flag in Friday's opening ceremony of the Rio Olympics. The US Olympic Committee said today that Phelps, who will be the first American male swimmer to compete at five Games, had been chosen in a vote of fellow team members to lead the delegation into the Maracana stadium. Phelps, who won eight of his golds in Beijing in 2008, is set to add to his haul in Rio with three individual events as well as relays. "I'm honoured to be chosen, proud to represent the US, and humbled by the significance of carrying the flag and all it stands for," said Phelps. "For Sydney (in 2000), I just wanted to make the team. For Athens, I wanted to win gold for my country. For Beijing, I wanted to do something nobody else had done. In London, I wanted to make history. "And now, I want to walk in the Opening Ceremony, take it all in, represent America in the best possible way and make my family proud. This time around, it's about so much more than medals." Taking part in the opening ceremony will mean a late night for Phelps on Friday, with the stadium at least an hour away from the Athletes Village in Barra, and plenty of standing around as well. The 31-year-old will not be in action on the opening Saturday, however, with his first event likely to be the men's 4x100 freestyle relay on Sunday. The US team have not announced their lineup for that event and Phelps is unlikely to take part in the afternoon heats, meaning he will make his competitive entry in the pool late in the evening if selected. (Reuters)

Rio 2016: Michael Phelps chosen as US team flag bearer

World number four Stan Wawrinka withdrew from the Olympics with a back injury on Tuesday, dealing another blow to the tennis tournament which has been hit by high-profile pull-outs. 
 
The 31-year-old is the third Swiss player to withdraw after Roger Federer and Belinda Bencic who also scratched from the competition through injury. 
 
&quot;I am very sad,&quot; said Wawrinka, the former French and Australian Open champion. &quot;Going to Rio was close to my heart. After Beijing (2008) and London (2012), I wanted to live these Games in Brazil. &quot;Sadly, it&#39;s not possible. I wish good luck to all the Swiss athletes who will go to Rio and I will support them from distance.&quot; 
 
Wawrinka aggravated his back injury in Toronto last week where he reached the semi-finals. He won the Olympic doubles gold medal with Federer at the 2008 Games but lost in the first round of the singles in London to eventual champion Andy Murray. 
 
Nadal decision&nbsp; 
 
World number three Federer opted out of the Games last week and shut down his 2016 season to rest a knee injury. One day later, teenager Bencic, the world number 19, withdrew with a wrist injury. The tennis, which starts on Saturday, has been hit by a number of pull-outs over injury, fears of the Zika virus or scheduling complaints. Milos Raonic, Tomas Berdych, Dominic Thiem, Richard Gasquet, John Isner, Feliciano Lopez and Nick Kyrgios are not playing. 
 
The women&#39;s singles are stripped of Simona Halep, Victoria Azarenka, who is pregnant, Bencic and Karolina Pliskova. Maria Sharapova, silver medallist behind Serena Williams in 2012, is serving a two-year doping ban. The men&#39;s doubles was also tainted when defending champions Bob and Mike Bryan opted out, insisting &quot;our family&#39;s health is now our top priority&quot;. 
 
Later Tuesday, Rafael Nadal will decide what events he will play in Rio as he makes a return from a wrist injury which has kept him off tour for two months. The 14-time Grand Slam title winner, who practiced for the first time on Monday, is scheduled to play singles, as well as doubles with Marc Lopez and mixed with French Open champion Garbine Muguruza. But his uncle and coach Toni said his nephew may have to rethink his schedule -- even possibly sitting out the singles. 
 
&quot;I don&#39;t know because that depends on who would be better for the team,&quot; Toni Nadal said when asked if his nephew will prioritise the singles. &quot;We are waiting until tomorrow (Tuesday) to take a decision to play all the things or not -- singles, doubles and mixed doubles.&quot; 
 
Nadal was Olympic champion in 2008 but missed the London Games with a knee injury. The 30-year-old is set to carry the Spanish flag at Friday&#39;s opening ceremony. 
 
Meanwhile, a spokesman for the International Tennis Federation (ITF) said that they would wait for official confirmation of Wawrinka&#39;s withdrawal from the Swiss tennis federation before a replacement is named. 
 
Tuesday is the final day when a replacement can be drafted in from outside of the Rio Olympic site. Swiss tennis medal hopes now may rest with the women&#39;s doubles where 35-year-old Martina Hingis will partner Timea Bacsinszky. 
 
(AFP)

The world number four, who withdrew due to back injury, is the third Swiss player to do so after Roger Federer and Belinda Bencic

World number four Stan Wawrinka withdrew from the Olympics with a back injury on Tuesday, dealing another blow to the tennis tournament which has been hit by high-profile pull-outs. The 31-year-old is the third Swiss player to withdraw after Roger Federer and Belinda Bencic who also scratched from the competition through injury. "I am very sad," said Wawrinka, the former French and Australian Open champion. "Going to Rio was close to my heart. After Beijing (2008) and London (2012), I wanted to live these Games in Brazil. "Sadly, it's not possible. I wish good luck to all the Swiss athletes who will go to Rio and I will support them from distance." Wawrinka aggravated his back injury in Toronto last week where he reached the semi-finals. He won the Olympic doubles gold medal with Federer at the 2008 Games but lost in the first round of the singles in London to eventual champion Andy Murray. Nadal decision World number three Federer opted out of the Games last week and shut down his 2016 season to rest a knee injury. One day later, teenager Bencic, the world number 19, withdrew with a wrist injury. The tennis, which starts on Saturday, has been hit by a number of pull-outs over injury, fears of the Zika virus or scheduling complaints. Milos Raonic, Tomas Berdych, Dominic Thiem, Richard Gasquet, John Isner, Feliciano Lopez and Nick Kyrgios are not playing. The women's singles are stripped of Simona Halep, Victoria Azarenka, who is pregnant, Bencic and Karolina Pliskova. Maria Sharapova, silver medallist behind Serena Williams in 2012, is serving a two-year doping ban. The men's doubles was also tainted when defending champions Bob and Mike Bryan opted out, insisting "our family's health is now our top priority". Later Tuesday, Rafael Nadal will decide what events he will play in Rio as he makes a return from a wrist injury which has kept him off tour for two months. The 14-time Grand Slam title winner, who practiced for the first time on Monday, is scheduled to play singles, as well as doubles with Marc Lopez and mixed with French Open champion Garbine Muguruza. But his uncle and coach Toni said his nephew may have to rethink his schedule -- even possibly sitting out the singles. "I don't know because that depends on who would be better for the team," Toni Nadal said when asked if his nephew will prioritise the singles. "We are waiting until tomorrow (Tuesday) to take a decision to play all the things or not -- singles, doubles and mixed doubles." Nadal was Olympic champion in 2008 but missed the London Games with a knee injury. The 30-year-old is set to carry the Spanish flag at Friday's opening ceremony. Meanwhile, a spokesman for the International Tennis Federation (ITF) said that they would wait for official confirmation of Wawrinka's withdrawal from the Swiss tennis federation before a replacement is named. Tuesday is the final day when a replacement can be drafted in from outside of the Rio Olympic site. Swiss tennis medal hopes now may rest with the women's doubles where 35-year-old Martina Hingis will partner Timea Bacsinszky. (AFP)

Tennis suffers fresh blow as Switzerland's Wawrinka pulls out of Rio

Rafael Nadal committed himself to playing singles, doubles and mixed doubles at the Olympics despite serious concerns over whether or not his left wrist injury will survive the gruelling challenge. 
 
&quot;I have decided I will play everything that I can,&quot; said the 30-year-old Spaniard. 
 
Nadal hasn&#39;t played since he was forced to quit the French Open before the third round after damaging tendons in his left wrist, missing Wimbledon in the process. 
 
The 14-time Grand Slam title winner was the gold medallist at the 2008 Beijing Olympics but missed the 2012 London Games because of a knee injury. 
 
(AFP)

The Spaniard committed himself to playing despite serious concerns over his left wrist injury

Rafael Nadal committed himself to playing singles, doubles and mixed doubles at the Olympics despite serious concerns over whether or not his left wrist injury will survive the gruelling challenge. "I have decided I will play everything that I can," said the 30-year-old Spaniard. Nadal hasn't played since he was forced to quit the French Open before the third round after damaging tendons in his left wrist, missing Wimbledon in the process. The 14-time Grand Slam title winner was the gold medallist at the 2008 Beijing Olympics but missed the 2012 London Games because of a knee injury. (AFP)

Nadal to play singles, doubles and mixed in Rio

Want an Olympic license plate, or a hand-embroidered Olympic handkerchief? 
 
How about Olympic cocaine? 
 
These and other products are among those being seized by Brazilian police in a crackdown on less-than-approved use of the five rings, mascots and other Olympic symbols ahead of the Games, which start in Rio de Janeiro on Friday. 
 
In a country where pirate versions of just about any product are as common as tropical fruit, Olympic organisers are battling a tide of bootleg goods sold and produced by those seeking to profit from the hype around the first-ever Games held in South America. 
 
&quot;These are opportunists,&quot; says Valeria Arag?o, a police inspector in charge of a 20-member counterfeit squad that in recent weeks has conducted raids across the city, confiscating all manner of ersatz Olympic goods.&nbsp;During one recent sting, she caught an elderly merchant, who had just embroidered &quot;Olympics 2016&quot; on a series of handkerchiefs, hanging one in her shop window. 
 
Narcotics police, meanwhile, in recent busts have even seized bricks of pressed marijuana and packets of cocaine that traffickers adorned with the Olympic rings. 
 
&quot;There are all sorts of people out there trading on something that has little to do with the spirit of sport or Olympic values,&quot; says Sylmara Multini, the director of licensing and retail for Rio 2016, as the organising committee is known. 
 
Money and sports 
 
The Olympics, of course, are as much about money as they are about sports. 
 
Officially, those who are supposed to get in on the action are sponsors and local partners that at present include major multinationals like Coca-Cola Co, McDonald&#39;s Corp and Banco Bradesco SA, a big Brazilian bank. 
 
Then there are licensees, who manufacture and sell the roughly 5,000 official trinkets, garments and souvenirs hawked by Rio 2016.&nbsp;Combined, revenues from those sources for Rio 2016 are expected to total almost $1 billion. 
 
But in Brazil, the black market is big business. Sales of pirate and counterfeit goods each year exceed well over $30 billion, according to estimates by various industries. 
 
It is not the first time Olympic authorities have wrestled with the problem. Officials in China, home to many black-market manufacturers, also fought counterfeiters before the 2008 Games in Beijing. 
 
Over the past week, the squad led by Arag?o raided souvenir stands at well-known tourist markets in the popular beachfront neighbourhoods of Copacabana and Ipanema. They seized over 2,300 items, ranging from pens and key chains to T-shirts and beach towels. 
 
&quot;People want to take advantage of an event like this, whether they know it&#39;s illegal or not,&quot; Arag?o says.&nbsp;Some of those caught in the dragnet are left scratching their heads. 
 
&quot;Rio 2016? How is that protected? It&#39;s just a word and a year,&quot; says Washington Valderrama, a vendor of souvenir license plates in Copacabana, who lost about $600 in revenue when the cops took 75 of them during a sting last week. 
 
&#39;Come back later&#39; 
 
A law passed in May of this year, complementing existing copyright legislation, specifically spells out protection for terms, in any language, including &quot;Rio 2016,&quot; &quot;Olympic Games,&quot; &quot;Rio Olympiad,&quot; and &quot;any other abbreviation or variation that could be created&quot;. 
 
In a giant white tent on the sands of Copacabana beach, the main drag for Rio tourism, Rio 2016 recently set up what they are calling a &quot;megastore&quot;. 
 
There, they peddle official merchandise including Olympic bikinis ($85), miniature metal replicas of the official torch ($170) and polyester ties peppered with green and yellow Olympic golf logos ($66). 
 
&quot;It&#39;s kind of pricey,&quot; says Cristian Krummenauer, a 38-year old visitor, eyeing a $40 red wine with an Olympic sailing logo bottled by a vintner near his hometown in southern Brazil. &quot;It&#39;s cheaper where I live, but it wouldn&#39;t have this nice label.&quot; 
 
A two minute walk up the shoreline, past a phony Spiderman posing for pictures and an Olympic-themed castle crafted by one of Copacabana&#39;s well-known sand sculptors, a street vendor touts garments folded across a large blanket. 
 
He offers one, a white polyester T-shirt emblazoned with Olympic rings, for about $9; one-third of the price of the official cotton version sold back at the &quot;megastore&quot;. 
 
As he launched into a pitch offering two for just $15, another peddler runs over and points: municipal guards, well-known to them as part of the crackdown, are headed their way. 
 
&quot;I gotta go,&quot; the vendor yelled, grabbing his blanket by the corners, snatching it into a bundle, and running off into the crowded beachfront. &quot;But come back later.&quot; 
 
(Reuters)

Olympic organisers battle a tide of bootleg goods sold and produced by those seeking to profit from the first-ever Games in South America

Want an Olympic license plate, or a hand-embroidered Olympic handkerchief? How about Olympic cocaine? These and other products are among those being seized by Brazilian police in a crackdown on less-than-approved use of the five rings, mascots and other Olympic symbols ahead of the Games, which start in Rio de Janeiro on Friday. In a country where pirate versions of just about any product are as common as tropical fruit, Olympic organisers are battling a tide of bootleg goods sold and produced by those seeking to profit from the hype around the first-ever Games held in South America. "These are opportunists," says Valeria Arag?o, a police inspector in charge of a 20-member counterfeit squad that in recent weeks has conducted raids across the city, confiscating all manner of ersatz Olympic goods. During one recent sting, she caught an elderly merchant, who had just embroidered "Olympics 2016" on a series of handkerchiefs, hanging one in her shop window. Narcotics police, meanwhile, in recent busts have even seized bricks of pressed marijuana and packets of cocaine that traffickers adorned with the Olympic rings. "There are all sorts of people out there trading on something that has little to do with the spirit of sport or Olympic values," says Sylmara Multini, the director of licensing and retail for Rio 2016, as the organising committee is known. Money and sports The Olympics, of course, are as much about money as they are about sports. Officially, those who are supposed to get in on the action are sponsors and local partners that at present include major multinationals like Coca-Cola Co, McDonald's Corp and Banco Bradesco SA, a big Brazilian bank. Then there are licensees, who manufacture and sell the roughly 5,000 official trinkets, garments and souvenirs hawked by Rio 2016. Combined, revenues from those sources for Rio 2016 are expected to total almost $1 billion. But in Brazil, the black market is big business. Sales of pirate and counterfeit goods each year exceed well over $30 billion, according to estimates by various industries. It is not the first time Olympic authorities have wrestled with the problem. Officials in China, home to many black-market manufacturers, also fought counterfeiters before the 2008 Games in Beijing. Over the past week, the squad led by Arag?o raided souvenir stands at well-known tourist markets in the popular beachfront neighbourhoods of Copacabana and Ipanema. They seized over 2,300 items, ranging from pens and key chains to T-shirts and beach towels. "People want to take advantage of an event like this, whether they know it's illegal or not," Arag?o says. Some of those caught in the dragnet are left scratching their heads. "Rio 2016? How is that protected? It's just a word and a year," says Washington Valderrama, a vendor of souvenir license plates in Copacabana, who lost about $600 in revenue when the cops took 75 of them during a sting last week. 'Come back later' A law passed in May of this year, complementing existing copyright legislation, specifically spells out protection for terms, in any language, including "Rio 2016," "Olympic Games," "Rio Olympiad," and "any other abbreviation or variation that could be created". In a giant white tent on the sands of Copacabana beach, the main drag for Rio tourism, Rio 2016 recently set up what they are calling a "megastore". There, they peddle official merchandise including Olympic bikinis ($85), miniature metal replicas of the official torch ($170) and polyester ties peppered with green and yellow Olympic golf logos ($66). "It's kind of pricey," says Cristian Krummenauer, a 38-year old visitor, eyeing a $40 red wine with an Olympic sailing logo bottled by a vintner near his hometown in southern Brazil. "It's cheaper where I live, but it wouldn't have this nice label." A two minute walk up the shoreline, past a phony Spiderman posing for pictures and an Olympic-themed castle crafted by one of Copacabana's well-known sand sculptors, a street vendor touts garments folded across a large blanket. He offers one, a white polyester T-shirt emblazoned with Olympic rings, for about $9; one-third of the price of the official cotton version sold back at the "megastore". As he launched into a pitch offering two for just $15, another peddler runs over and points: municipal guards, well-known to them as part of the crackdown, are headed their way. "I gotta go," the vendor yelled, grabbing his blanket by the corners, snatching it into a bundle, and running off into the crowded beachfront. "But come back later." (Reuters)

Brazil police crackdown on unlicensed Rio merchandise

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