Sunday was the 100th anniversary of the birth of Deng Xiaoping. Comrade Deng was "a great proletarian revolutionary [and] statesman," President Hu Jintao told revellers at the Great Hall of the People, "a long-tested Communist fighter, the chief architect of China's socialist reform, opening-up and modernization drive".
The Dutch baseball team scored two runs against Australia on Saturday. Unfortunately for them, the Australians scored 22. This is a new Olympic high. At the middle of the first, Australia was leading 9-0. You know you want to read the play-by-play so here it is.
Paul Hamm won the USA's first ever gold medal in men's individual gymnastics. One problem, however. He shouldn't have been declared the winner.
South Korea's Yang Tae-Young was denied one-tenth of a point on his parallel bar routine due to a judging error. Yang took bronze behind Hamm and compatriot Kim Dae-Eun when 0.049 points separated all three. If Yang's score had been calculated correctly, he would have beaten Hamm by 0.051.
Great Britain's biggest ever single day of Olympic competition. Five golds, three silvers and two bronzes on Saturday: the men's coxless fours, the Finn class sailing, the men's individual pursuit, and (thanks to a successful appeal) the three-day event all came up winners... and lets not forget, of course, the ynglers. Shirley Robertson, Sarah Webb and Sarah Ayton did their country proud with a fine week of yngling, even if they sat out the final race.
Anna Kournikova isn't part of the Russian Olympic tennis team. Nor is Maria Sharapova. Daniela Hantuchova played tennis for Slovakia but only reached the second round. Jennie Finch plays softball for Team USA.
Canada lost their unbeaten status in the Olympic Honkbal tournament when competition resumed on Friday after the rest day Thursday. The Australians made heavy weather of their game against Greece, while Italy knocked off Taiwan. The following is the ONS wrap of the day's action:
Men : Day 5: Japan, Cuba, Canada on top of standings 20 Aug. 2004
Day Seven was, according to the ATHOC media chief Serafim Kotrosos, "Super Friday". Twenty-six sports in twenty-nine venues. "And we are ready," said Kotrosos to the great surprise and astonishment of everyone. But where are the spectators?
The entertainment world has been abuzz with excitement since it was revealed that the Australian and Italian women's water polo teams will be the star attraction in next Sunday night's closing ceremony.
The Chaser, that superb Sydney-based newspaper of record, is hosting an Ancient Olympian Online Tipping Competition. As well, apparently, as inventing democracy, souvlaki, and fluffy dice, The Chaser tells us that the Ancient Greeks were famous for their online tipping comps. I commend this competition to you.
Olympic-related items on The Chaser website this week:
The Dream Team almost cacked it again. The Australian Boomers led the end of each of the first three quarters before the Americans realised "Oh hello, the game has started has it?" and scored 24 points to 12 in the final term. USA 89, Australia 79, the DT's now 2 -1. Read the USA Basketball report on the game.