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Kevin Rudd reveals Bush-Putin argument at Opening Ceremony

PRIME Minister Kevin Rudd witnessed a heated discussion between US President George W. Bush and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, over Russia's invasion of a tiny neighbouring country as athletes paraded before them in the Opening Ceremony on Friday night.

Amanda Beard Nude Olympic Anti-Fur Protest Shutdown

Olympic swimming gold medalist Amanda Beard had to launch her naked, anti-fur campaign poster outside the Athletes' Village on Wednesday after Chinese authorities canceled a planned unveiling, citing safety concerns.

Two Women Sentenced to ‘Re-education’ in China

These Olympics are an ongoing human rights embarrassment: Two elderly Chinese women have been sentenced to a year of "re-education through labor" after they repeatedly sought a permit to demonstrate in one of the official Olympic protest areas, according to family members and human rights advocates.

Rights groups bemoan lack of Beijing protests

The Beijing Olympics have left the world's human rights groups frustrated and angry - convinced that China has been let off the hook for serious abuses, and adamant that future hosts like Russia must be held to a higher standard. Cheek, co-founder of a group of athletes known as Team Darfur, had his visa revoked by Chinese authorities hours before he was to embark for Beijing. Team Darfur athletes who are in Beijing have acceded to International Olympic Committee curbs on political comment, resulting in what Cheek called "massive suppression of any voice that the government doesn't want heard."

Part of Olympic display altered in broadcast

While the dramatic fireworks display actually happened as portrayed on television, members of the Beijing Olympic Committee said it was necessary to replace live video with computer-generated imagery because the city's hazy, smoggy skies made it too difficult to see, according to The Beijing Times, which first reported the story.

Pelosi Calls on President Bush to Secure Entry of Joey Cheek to Beijing Olympic Games

The Chinese government's decision to bar Olympic gold medalist Joey Cheek from attending the Olympics because of his advocacy for Darfur is reprehensible. This action by Beijing's leaders is part of an orchestrated campaign to deny entry to individuals because of their political views, beliefs, writings, association, religion, and ethnicity.

IOC admits Internet censorship deal with China

Some International Olympic Committee officials cut a deal to let China block sensitive Web sites despite promises of unrestricted access, a senior IOC official admitted on Wednesday. Persistent pollution fears and China's concerns about security in Tibet also remained problems for organizers nine days before the Games begin.

Iraq banned from Beijing Summer Olympics

IOC says Iraq will not compete at Beijing Olympics because of government interference. Iraq has been banned because of a government decision to disband the country's National Olympic Committee, a senior official of the committee said on Thursday.

Hong Kong bans Tibetan flags at Olympic event

Tibetan flags will be banned from all Olympic equestrian events in Hong Kong under rules aimed at heading off political propaganda and protests inside competition venues, organizers said Friday. The crackdown guidelines apply to flags representing countries and regions without athletes in the events.

Equine virus 'won't affect Olympic Games'

Olympic officials insist that Hong Kong remains a suitable venue for the 2008 equestrian events despite the area's worst ever outbreak of equine herpes.

Phelps Wins Record 7th Gold at Worlds

The 21-year-old American joined countryman Spitz as the only swimmers to win seven golds at a major international meet. Of course, Spitz' achievement came on the sport's grandest stage _ the Olympics. Phelps will have to wait until next year. He hopes to equal or go one better at next year's Beijing Games, where he doesn't seem the least bit concerned about the switch to morning finals.