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/ 21 December 2007

Stofile: ‘Balance is needed’

Sport and Recreation Minister Makhenkesi Stofile spoke to Lucky Sindane about the new Sports Amendment Act, which allows government to intervene in all sporting matters. He said that once the playing grounds have been levelled, our children will start from the same starter blocks with an equal preparation and opportunity to win.

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/ 19 December 2007

China eyes Olympic glory through haze

The hardest part is yet to come for Beijing Olympic organisers, heading into 2008 with all plans in place but potential pitfalls aplenty in the run-up to the event in August. Traffic congestion, closely linked to air quality, food security, media freedom and human rights as well as boycott calls are issues likely to flare up again over the coming months.

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/ 2 November 2007

China takes tough line on Olympics protests

China warned on Thursday that unauthorised protests will not be tolerated during the Olympics next year, raising the prospect of detentions for civil rights campaigners and religious activists during the two-week event. The warning came as the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Olympic truce resolution for the 2008 Beijing Games.

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/ 31 October 2007

Beijing apologises for Olympics ticket fiasco

Beijing Olympics organisers apologised on Wednesday after suspending ticket sales following a booking system meltdown, their first major blunder in preparations for next year’s Games. About 1,8-million event tickets were supposed to go on sale on Tuesday on a first-come-first-served basis for people living in China.

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/ 12 October 2007

Canoeing dreams in Soweto

It’s almost sunset at Soweto’s Orlando Power Park Dam and the wind is blowing gently. Three boys, aged 13, emerge from a clump of trees in the park carrying two canoes on their heads. Yanga Mphalala, Sifiso Cebekhulu and Siseko Ntondini are members of the Soweto Canoe and Recreation Club, based at the dam.

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/ 6 October 2007

US track star Jones admits to steroid use

Reversing years of denials, United States track superstar Marion Jones pleaded guilty on Friday to lying to federal investigators and admitted using steroids, which could cost her the five medals she won in the 2000 Olympics. In a sober court hearing and a tear-filled appearance before reporters, Jones (31) admitted using performance-enhancing drugs.

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/ 4 September 2007

Media, IRB at odds ahead of World Cup

Days before the opening match of the Rugby World Cup, a global coalition representing news agencies and newspapers is still at odds with the International Rugby Board (IRB) concerning coverage of the event. Despite progress on several fronts over the last two weeks, two points of contention concerning photographs remain.