Prior to Sydney 2000, the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) introduced a new specialist role: the libero. This player wears a different coloured uniform from the rest of the team and can be substituted in backcourt for any player on the team. The libero cannot serve, spike the ball over the net or rotate into the front-line positions, but plays a vital role for the team in serve reception and back court defence. There must be at least one point played between a libero substituting off for a player and going back on the court for another player - hence he/she cannot be on the court for the whole game. The libero added an extra dimension to backcourt defence during the Sydney 2000 Games, improving the reception of teams, lengthening the rallies and giving a vital role to shorter players.
The Games will take place August 8-24, 2008, in Beijing. The Games will play host to the 28 summer sports currently on the Olympic program. Approximately 10,500 athletes are expected to participate in the Games, with around 20,000 accredited media bringing the Games to the world.
Athletics Australia says its Olympians will not march in the opening ceremony at Beijing because of concern for athletes’ health and welfare.
New Zealand tennis number one Marina Erakovic played her way into the Olympic team for Beijing, the New Zealand Olympic Committee announced on Monday. New Zealand will send its youngest-ever Top 100 tennis player to Beijing 2008 af …
BEIJING (XFN-ASIA) - China’s industrial value-added output in the first five months rose 16.3 pct from a year earlier, unchanged from the first four months, the National Bureau of Statistics said.
BEIJING (XFN-ASIA) - China will ease price controls on oil and gas products “at an appropriate time,” the central government’s economic planning agency said.
Fans at the Olympic wrestling trials gave a standing ovation Saturday after 37-year-old competitor Marcel Cooper of the U.S. Army left his shoes on the mat as a symbol of retirement. In the media seating, another 37-year-old with special appreciation for that moment stood and applauded, too.
Test runs on the Beijing-Tianjin express railway ended Saturday, with the line scheduled to be in use by Aug. 1 ahead of the 2008 Olympic Games, CCTV reported on Sunday. Trains ran at a maximum of 380 km per hour on Saturday, the fa …
Rising tennis star Marina Erakovic was today rewarded for an outstanding six months with selection for the Beijing Olympic Games in August.
After weeks of speculation New Zealand tennis player Marina Erakovic has been named to compete at the Beijing Olympics. It follows a tremendous 2008 for the 20 year-old who’s moved from 160 in the world rankings to 64 in just months.