2008

28

Dec

A record year we will never see again

IT’s a strange world in which Michael Phelps can win a record eight Olympic gold medals and still be challenged for pre-eminence in the year of the Beijing Games.
But a bolt from the blue Caribbean, in the shape of Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt, managed to drag the spotlight from the Water Cube to the [...]

Filed under: Michael Johnson• Michael Phelps• bolt from the blue• chicken nuggets• committee president• doping scandals• fastest man• first olympics• foremost exponents• information• international olympic committee• junior competitor• olympic committee president jacques rogge• olympic gold medals• star quality• strange world• thrall• triumphant march• xxix olympiad• yin and yang• youthful exuberance Posted by RSS

2008

27

Dec

Olympics cap a golden year

Relish the memories – 2008 was a special year for sport, and the outlook for the next few does not appear half so rosy.
Next year is thin in terms of big international events. The World Athletics Championships take place in Berlin, and it is left to rugby union – a minority sport globally – [...]

Filed under: Beijing Olympics• Michael Phelps• Usain Bolt• collective gasp• doors to the world• european football championships• fortitude• global economic crisis• gold medals• information• irish lions• lions tour• massive amounts• minority sport• opening ceremony• podiums• stellar events• tour south africa• world athletics championships• world champions• yin and yang Posted by RSS