Summer Games Done Quick raised an impressive $1,776,510 for Doctors Without Borders over a seven-day period at the Minneapolis Marriott City Center.

For all the hand-wringing within golf surrounding the absenteeism from the Olympics of the highest ranked players in the men’s game, there are plenty of grateful replacements delighted to fly the flag for their sport and embrace the spirit of the Games in Rio this week.

When Michael Phelps arrived in Rio as a 31-year-old swimmer who retired once and endured plenty of turmoil away from the pool, everyone wondered just how many gold medals was a realistic goal.

You’ve gotta love June: it’s always been a month to savour for those sports fiends among us equally blessed and cursed with a varied palate.

Imagine Rory McIlroy and Stephanie Meadow teeing it up together for Ireland at the 2016 Olympics in Rio?

Rory McIlroy will tee off at today’s Irish Open relieved he has finally taken the plunge and declared allegiance to Ireland ahead of the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil.

Rory McIlroy has put an end to years of speculation regarding who he will represent at the 2016 Olympics by declaring his allegiance to Ireland.

Ah, Rio.

The stories that emerged from the European Senior Games in Poland this last week would put those of us camped on the couch of an evening to shame

IT was history in the making — an historic day for boxing and for the whole Olympic movement as the first three gold medals in women’s boxing were decided. And a dream realised for Ireland’s Katie Taylor, the driving force to have the discipline added to the Olympic programme.

China has resumed blocking access to the internet sites of some foreign media, including the BBC, human rights groups said today.

Our population figures are almost identical, our climates are similar, as is our love of sport. So why is New Zealand — and not Ireland — punching above its weight at the Olympic Games?

ONCE-RECLUSIVE China commandeered the world stage yesterday, celebrating its first-time role as Olympic host with a stunning display of pageantry and pyrotechnics to open a Summer Games unrivalled for its mix of problems and promise.

CHINA said yesterday that it had uncovered a plot by members of a Muslim minority group to sabotage the Beijing Summer Olympics with suicide bombings and kidnappings of foreign visitors.

China pledged strict security measures to ensure its segment of the Beijing Olympics torch relay will not be marred by protests similar to the one at today’s lighting ceremony in Greece.

The president of the International Olympic Committee today poured cold water on calls for a boycott of the Summer Games in Beijing over China’s crackdown in Tibet, saying it would only harm athletes.

Katie Fry, Singapore

The man arrested in the deadly 1996 bombing at the Atlanta Olympics and three other blasts has agreed to plead guilty, according to reports today.

ALL-IRELAND winning captain Jimmy Deenihan has called for the creation of an Irish Institute of Sport based on the world renowned Australian model.

THE Olympic Games returned to their spiritual home yesterday in a breathtaking opening ceremony that brought the myths of Ancient Greece to life through the magic of 21st century technology.

THE Special Olympics flame left Ireland in a final blaze of glory last night as a spectacular closing ceremony in Croke Park marked the end of two frenetic weeks of sport, fun and festivities.