Mornin'. This time next week the Games will have started. Not surprisingly then, there's quite a lot of news to tell. Shall we begin? Yes, let's.
USA TURN OUT TO BE GOOD AT BASKETBALL AFTER ALL
They bounced back from the Italy defeat (see below) by beating Germany 80-77 and then thrashing Serbia and Montenegro 78-60. They must be very pleased. Tim Duncan, scored 16 points against S&M (hmm, unfortunate initials). Well done him.
HURDLER WHO BOYCOTTED HITLER GAMES, DIES
Milton Green, a former world-record hurdler, has died aged 92 in America. He boycotted the 1936 Berlin Games after speaking to his rabbi, a decision he says he never regretted.
US OLYMPICS VIEWERS HAVING A BIT OF A NIGHTMARE
As well as not being able to watch the Games live on TV - NBC will largely be showing events as-live but with a delay - US folk will be prevented from seeing coverage sooner on the internet. The BBC's site, for example, won't be allowed to show highlights to users in the USA. Instead, NBC will show highlights online once they've broadcast their TV shows. But users will have to register their identity with a Visa card (that being the official card of the game). There will be no charge, but users without a Visa card will be unable to use the online service. ALl seems very silly to me.
MORE CRAZY SPONSORSHOP SILLINESS
If Paula Radcliffe - the British marathon world record holder - wins the Olympic marathon in her Nike trainers, she'll have to swap to Adidas for the podium, because they're the official podium wear sponsor of the British team. How silly? Very silly.
BELARUS SPORTS MINISTER BANNED FROM GAMES
With the EU's blessing, Greece have banned the Belarus sports minister, Yuri Sivakov from the Games. Sivakov has, apparently, been implicated in the disappearance of prominent members of the opposition party in the country. He inists he's going to go to Athens anyway.
HALF THE TICKETS STILL HAVEN'T SOLD
But, in fairness, most of those are for early prelim rounds, so once things really get going most stadiums should be busy. But if you're thinking of going - then go! There are hotels available (they're said to be slashing prices) and tickets for events are very reasonably priced. To my mind, the reason so many haven't sold is because everyone was so down on the Games up until a few weeks ago.
IF YOU'RE A PILOT, MAKE SURE YOU DON'T TAKE A WRONG TURN AND HEAD OVER ATHENS BY MISTAKE
Three Patriot anti-aircraft missile sites have been set up around the capital on orders to shoot down any plane that strays into Athenian airspace.
MERLENE OTTEY SET FOR SEVENTH GAMES
On Tuesday, Merlene Ottey - who's now a Slovenian citizen - won a 100m race in 11.09 seconds. She's 44 yeard old! In the women's 100m at the Golden League event in Zurich last night, Frenchwoman Christine Arron won in a time of 11.06. Could Merlene still be within a shout of her first Olympic gold?
NOBODY'S ENTERED MY COMPETITION (BELOW)
Don't think I haven't noticed. :(
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