CHINA plans to auction off 20 million items related to the Beijing Olympics, including the bed that basketball star Yao Ming slept in while taking part in the Games.

WE GOT our full measure of Olympic moments in the Beijing Games, topped by Michael Phelps’s eight gold medals and Usain Bolt’s lightning sprints.

USAIN Bolt’s father believes the humble yam is responsible for his son’s world record breaking 100m run on Saturday night.

THE United States beat China 101-70 in one of the most eagerly awaited events of the Olympic Games last night.

USA 101 China 70

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.

The Olympic flame approached the final destination of its long and sometimes contentious global tour today, greeted by rapturous crowds in the Chinese capital two days before it officially launches the games.

For a man who boasts a billion followers, Ding Junhui is at pains to play down his fame as prepares for the biggest snooker match of his life.

Two weeks ago China basketball star Yao Ming broke his left foot while playing for the Houston Rockets of the NBA, provoking hysteria among Chinese fans fearful the 7’ 6” centre will miss September’s World Championships. Michael Moynihan found out Yao was bred to carry the hopes of the nation from communism through to the free market.

PATRICK DEUEL presses his chest with his fingertips, smiles mischievously and makes an announcement worthy of a banner headline: he can feel his ribs.

Pity poor Puerto Rico, who could find themselves on the end of a United States backlash in the men’s basketball.

Janet Jackson's Super Bowl breast flash in February has now prompted hit cartoon The Simpsons to weigh in on America's broadcast decency debate.

American cyclist Lance Armstrong has won this year's Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award in Monte Carlo.

Ronaldo claimed that he never gave up hope of regaining full fitness after winning of the Laureus World Comeback of the Year award as well as collecting the World Team of the Year trophy on behalf of Brazil in Monte Carlo.

THE SARS crisis surged in Taiwan with eight new fatalities and a record jump in infections yesterday, as the World Health Organisation visited a poor and medically backward Chinese province that could be fertile ground for a future epidemic.

A popular advertisement for Visa credit cards featuring Martin Sheen has been pulled from American TV – reportedly because of the vocal actor’s outspoken anti-war stance.