On Olympic opening night the glossy, polished streets of
Beijing are swarming with proud residents, pushy
photographers, and a million officials who do not quite know
what to do with themselves.
New Zealand captain Lizzy Igasan and midfielder Kayla
Sharland have come through torrid back-to-back workouts to
confirm their fitness for the Olympic Games hockey opener
against Japan on Sunday.
With only two days off the bike since his best Tour de France
ever, top New Zealand road cyclist Julian Dean is brimful of
confidence going into Saturday's Olympic men's road race.
The Otago Daily Times continues its countdown to the
world's greatest sports event. Today, Alistair McMurran talks
to Dr Dave Gerrard, who will be in Beijing as a member of the
Medical Commission.
Suddenly nothing looks guaranteed for New Zealand's Olympic
rowers. Three of the five crews on the Shunyi course today
qualified for Saturday's finals but the air of authority that
has followed them all week was absent in semifinal action
today.
