Inside The Games http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92643496&ft=1&f=92643496 Competition at the Olympic Games is fierce. Top athletes, some who have spent their lives training for these days, battle it out on the courts, in the ring, on the track and in the pool. Over two weeks, medals pile up in well-known sports like basketball to less popular games like handball. en Copyright 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Sun, 24 Aug 2008 16:00:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif Inside The Games http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92643496&ft=1&f=92643496 U.S. Men Reclaim Basketball Gold The last big medal event at the Beijing Olympics — the men's basketball final — was a thriller for the ages. The American "Redeem Team" got redemption by beating Spain, 118-107. Sun, 24 Aug 2008 16:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93928576&ft=1&f=92643496 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93928576&ft=1&f=92643496 The last big medal event at the Beijing Olympics — the men's basketball final — was a thriller for the ages. The American "Redeem Team" got redemption by beating Spain, 118-107.

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]]> U.S. Wins Basketball Gold As Olympics Wind Down On the final day of the Beijing Olympics, the U.S. men's basketball team won the gold medal in an exciting victory over Spain. Sun, 24 Aug 2008 08:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93922097&ft=1&f=92643496 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93922097&ft=1&f=92643496 On the final day of the Beijing Olympics, the U.S. men's basketball team won the gold medal in an exciting victory over Spain.

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]]> What Went Wrong For The U.S. Track Team Botched relay handoffs, blown leads and injuries have combined to keep the gold medal count way below expectations for the U.S. track team at the Beijing Olympics. Americans usually dominate the sprints, but Jamaica grabbed the baton and ran with it. Sat, 23 Aug 2008 16:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93914945&ft=1&f=92643496 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93914945&ft=1&f=92643496 Botched relay handoffs, blown leads and injuries have combined to keep the gold medal count way below expectations for the U.S. track team at the Beijing Olympics. Americans usually dominate the sprints, but Jamaica grabbed the baton and ran with it.

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]]> A Moment Of Loss For Women's Water Polo Team What happens when gold turns to silver for the U.S. women's water polo team? Sat, 23 Aug 2008 08:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93906392&ft=1&f=92643496 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93906392&ft=1&f=92643496 What happens when gold turns to silver for the U.S. women's water polo team?

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]]> Imagining The 2012 London Games London will host the 2012 Olympic Games, but organizers acknowledge they have big shoes to fill after Beijing. British comedian Matt Kirshen, a finalist on the 2007 season of NBC's <em>Last Comic Standing</em>, says it's going to be impossible to top the ability of a totalitarian regime. Fri, 22 Aug 2008 16:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93890833&ft=1&f=92643496 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93890833&ft=1&f=92643496 London will host the 2012 Olympic Games, but organizers acknowledge they have big shoes to fill after Beijing. British comedian Matt Kirshen, a finalist on the 2007 season of NBC's Last Comic Standing, says it's going to be impossible to top the ability of a totalitarian regime.

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]]> Reviewing The Beijing Olympics The Summer Olympics wrap up in Beijing this weekend. Initial media coverage of pollution and human rights abuses were eclipsed by the sporting events. The games showcased the rising talent of Usain Bolt, but also saw the age of Chinese women gymnasts questioned. Fri, 22 Aug 2008 16:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93890830&ft=1&f=92643496 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93890830&ft=1&f=92643496 The Summer Olympics wrap up in Beijing this weekend. Initial media coverage of pollution and human rights abuses were eclipsed by the sporting events. The games showcased the rising talent of Usain Bolt, but also saw the age of Chinese women gymnasts questioned.

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]]> American Bryan Clay Wins The Decathlon For the first time in 12 years, the United States has won Olympic gold in the decathlon, the 10-event classic of track-and-field athleticism. The U.S. men's beach volleyball team defended the honor of their gender by winning gold to match the American women, but the U.S. baseball team was trounced by Cuba in the semifinal. Fri, 22 Aug 2008 08:13:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93868023&ft=1&f=92643496 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93868023&ft=1&f=92643496 For the first time in 12 years, the United States has won Olympic gold in the decathlon, the 10-event classic of track-and-field athleticism. The U.S. men's beach volleyball team defended the honor of their gender by winning gold to match the American women, but the U.S. baseball team was trounced by Cuba in the semifinal.

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]]> Pingpong: A Chinese Obsession When Americans play pingpong, it just isn't that big a deal. In China, however, table tennis is a national craze — and fans treat top players like rock stars. Fri, 22 Aug 2008 06:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93866221&ft=1&f=92643496 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93866221&ft=1&f=92643496 When Americans play pingpong, it just isn't that big a deal. In China, however, table tennis is a national craze — and fans treat top players like rock stars.

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]]> Anchor-Leg Strength May Be Hurting Relay Handoffs The U.S. men's and women's 400-meter relay teams failed to qualify for the Olympic finals because of dropped batons. Terry Long, who coached medal-winning runner Walter Dix, says most Olympic-level athletes who run the relay don't have experience running anything but the anchor leg. Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93844913&ft=1&f=92643496 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93844913&ft=1&f=92643496 The U.S. men's and women's 400-meter relay teams failed to qualify for the Olympic finals because of dropped batons. Terry Long, who coached medal-winning runner Walter Dix, says most Olympic-level athletes who run the relay don't have experience running anything but the anchor leg.

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]]> U.S. Softball Team Fouls Out In Gold Medal Match The U.S. women's softball team lost 3-1 to Japan in the gold medal match, which they were widely favored to win. The U.S. women's soccer team won 1-0 against rival Brazil. Thu, 21 Aug 2008 14:08:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93839010&ft=1&f=92643496 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93839010&ft=1&f=92643496 The U.S. women's softball team lost 3-1 to Japan in the gold medal match, which they were widely favored to win. The U.S. women's soccer team won 1-0 against rival Brazil.

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]]> U.S. Softball Streak Ends, Beach Volleyball Continues The U.S. softball team was denied a fourth straight Olympic gold medal, losing 3-1 to Japan. The upset came on the same day that beach volleyball phenoms Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor outspiked a Chinese team for a second consecutive Olympic championship. Thu, 21 Aug 2008 08:49:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93824847&ft=1&f=92643496 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93824847&ft=1&f=92643496 The U.S. softball team was denied a fourth straight Olympic gold medal, losing 3-1 to Japan. The upset came on the same day that beach volleyball phenoms Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor outspiked a Chinese team for a second consecutive Olympic championship.

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]]> Banner Day For U.S. Women's Teams In Beijing Day 13 brings the U.S. softball team's gold-medal game and important contests for American women in soccer, volleyball and water polo. But it isn't all good news: The softball team, aiming for its fourth straight Olympic gold medal, had to settle for silver after an upset loss to Japan. Thu, 21 Aug 2008 06:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93823540&ft=1&f=92643496 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93823540&ft=1&f=92643496 Day 13 brings the U.S. softball team's gold-medal game and important contests for American women in soccer, volleyball and water polo. But it isn't all good news: The softball team, aiming for its fourth straight Olympic gold medal, had to settle for silver after an upset loss to Japan.

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]]> Portable Grass An Olympic Feat In Beijing After the equipment from the opening ceremonies in Beijing was moved out of the Bird's Nest stadium, officials trucked in a portable grass field and put together the 6,000 grass segments for Olympic soccer and track and field competition. Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:01:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93799946&ft=1&f=92643496 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93799946&ft=1&f=92643496 After the equipment from the opening ceremonies in Beijing was moved out of the Bird's Nest stadium, officials trucked in a portable grass field and put together the 6,000 grass segments for Olympic soccer and track and field competition.

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]]> Afghanistan Wins First Olympic Medal Afghanistan won its first Olympic medal ever today. Rohullah Nikpai won a bronze in the men's under 58-kilogram tae kwon do event in Beijing. Afghan President Hamid Karzai called Nikpai to congratulate him, a presidential spokesman said. Wed, 20 Aug 2008 16:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93807871&ft=1&f=92643496 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93807871&ft=1&f=92643496 Afghanistan won its first Olympic medal ever today. Rohullah Nikpai won a bronze in the men's under 58-kilogram tae kwon do event in Beijing. Afghan President Hamid Karzai called Nikpai to congratulate him, a presidential spokesman said.

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]]> Jamaica's Bolt Breaks 200M Record Jamaica's Usain Bolt broke the world record by winning the 200 meters in 19.30 seconds. He is the first man since Carl Lewis in 1984 to win both the 100- and 200-meter events at an Olympics. He is also the first man to break the world marks in both events. Wed, 20 Aug 2008 16:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93807888&ft=1&f=92643496 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93807888&ft=1&f=92643496 Jamaica's Usain Bolt broke the world record by winning the 200 meters in 19.30 seconds. He is the first man since Carl Lewis in 1984 to win both the 100- and 200-meter events at an Olympics. He is also the first man to break the world marks in both events.

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