Olyroos Are Bracing To Face Messi

OLYROOS coach Graham Arnold yesterday said the tug of war over Argentine star Lionel Messi's involvement at the Beijing Games would have been an unwelcome distraction for the Olympic champions, particularly as Australia's own overseas-based players were already locked in.

No Judging Result By The Past

AUSTRALIAN hope Gerard O'Mahony believes there will be one thing that will mark next month's Olympic Games in Beijing as very different to those of the past. It will, according to O'Mahony, be fair.

Sloppy, Forgettable Grab-bag Of Games

SPORTS ISLAND Platform Wii Publisher Hudson Price $69.95 Rating G VERDICT 1/5

Smith Out For Season As North Talks Up Form

NORTH Melbourne will probably have to win five or six of its remaining games to reach the finals for the second consecutive year, according to coach Dean Laidley.

After 249 Games, Geyer Still Puts Team First

IT IS an insight into Matt Geyer's personality and why he is so respected at the Melbourne Storm that he yesterday would not let his captain Cameron Smith get away with praising him without at least a bit of difficulty.

Dragons Confident Demoted Dell Has Bright Nrl Future

MARK Gasnier has seen enough in Wendell Sailor's first two games back in the NRL to suggest he'll be a force again in the competition.

Organisers Have All Bases Covered: Gosper

KEVAN Gosper admits he is nervous about the Beijing Olympics, but insists that these are the nerves of an athlete before an event rather than anything to do with the most political Games since Moscow's in 1980.

Gosper Nervous But Confident

KEVAN Gosper admits he is nervous about the Beijing Olympics, but insists that these are the nerves of an athlete before an event rather than anything to do with the most political Games since Moscow's in 1980.

A Golden Era Continues

John Coomber talks to Australia's official Olympic historian Harry Gordon about his lifelong love affair with the Games.

Aussies' Golden Ambitions

NEWCASTLE-born centre Suzy Batkovic will head to the Beijing Olympic Games with nothing but gold on her mind.

Beijing Preened To Impress, Nearly In Time For Games

ALL 37 Olympic venues have been declared fully functioning, including 12 brand new venues such as the National "bird's nest" Stadium and the "Water Cube" aquatic centre.

Departing Sherriff Long-shot For Games

THE Commonwealth Games dream of Halekulani ace Aron Sherriff could be over before it started.