Sports News: General

China proved an acquisitive first-time Olympic host, topping the gold-medal chart with one of the most dominating and diverse performances ever.

A record 4.4 billion people, about two-thirds of the world's population, watched the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games from Aug 8 to 17, making the current edition of the quadrennial sporting extravaganza the most watched in history, a top market research firm said.

Beijing, Aug 24 (Xinhua) The Beijing Olympic Games were 'truly exceptional Games,' said International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge at the Games' closing ceremony staged in the National Stadium in northern Beijing Sunday night.

New Haven (Connecticut), Aug 24 (IANS) An error-prone Mahesh Bhupathi and his Bahamas partner Mark Knowles went down in straight sets to Brazilian Marcelo Melo and Andre Sa in the doubles final of $708,000 Pilot Pen Tennis tournament here.

Amlan Chakraborty Beijing, Aug 24 (PTI) Beijing tonight shimmered with all its splendour to drop curtains on a magnificent Olympic Games, raising the bar to a dizzy height that might prove

Beijing, Aug 24 (Xinhua) The closing ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games began in the National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest, in northern Beijing at 8 p.m. Sunday.

Beijing, Aug 24 (Xinhua) Chinese President Hu Jintao Sunday held a banquet in Beijing to welcome foreign leaders and international dignitaries who would attend the Olympic Games closing ceremony in the evening.

Milan, Aug 24 (DPA) AC Milan said they are awaiting the return of their former striker Andriy Shevchenko from Chelsea after closing a controversial deal.

Beijing, Aug 24 (DPA) Cuban boxers failed to win a gold medal at an Olympics for the first time in 20 years Sunday, when Carlos Banteaux Suarez lost 18-9 in his welterweight final bout against Kazakhstan's Bakhyt Sarsekbayev.

Beijing, Aug 24 (DPA) The US basketball team beat Spain 118-107 to take gold in Beijing Games here Sunday.

Beijing, Aug 24 (PTI) Samuel Wansiru became the first Kenyan to win an Olympic marathon gold medal with a record timing as the world's biggest sporting extravanganza came to end today with hosts

Bandar Seri Begawan (Brunei), Aug 24 (IANS) It was a disappointing finish for the Indian trio led by seasoned golfer Gaurav Ghei on the last day of the $300,000 Brunei Open here Sunday.

Beijing, Aug 24 (PTI) Chinese President Hu Jintao today said that the Beijing Olympic Games have achieved the goal of promoting the spirit of solidarity, friendship and peace.

London, Aug 24 (IANS) Giving themselves a much-needed break from economic gloom and political doom, Britons are celebrating their greatest Olympics in a century - and with perfect timing ahead of the London 2012 Games.

Colombo, Aug 24 (IANS) Sri Lanka's captain Mahela Jayawardene lost his fifth successive toss in the series and was forced to field at the R. Premadasa Stadium here. Indian skipper M.S. Dhoni had no hesitation in batting first after winning the toss in good batting conditions in the first of the three day-night games.

Beijing, Aug 24 (DPA) Badar-Uugan Enkhbat of Mongolia outclassed his Cuban opponent to take gold in the men's bantamweight (54kg) boxing final Sunday while China's Zou Shiming claimed victory in the light flyweight (48kg) division after Serdamba Purevdorj retired injured.

London, Aug 24 (ANI): The Queen has sent a message of congratulations to the British competitors for their success at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

Beijing, Aug 24 (IANS) Shy, unassuming and almost self-effacing and yet very confident, is how one can describe wrestler Sushil Kumar, who till 15 minutes before he won the bronze medal was not on the minds of the Indian media.

Beijing, Aug 24 (Xinhua) The Beijing Games saw the rise of the new generation Chinese athletes as more than half of the gold medals won by the country were bagged by first-time Olympians, a Chinese sports official said here Sunday.

Beijing, Aug 24 (DPA) Some countries competing in the Beijing Olympics have worked years to get here and for them, while no medals are in the picture, just being here makes them proud.