The epicenter of US speedskating is … Florida?

By PAUL NEWBERRY AP Sports Columnist BEIJING (AP) — When one looks down the roster of the U.S. speedskating team at the Beijing Olympics, three names immediately jump out. Brittany Bowe. Erin Jackson. Joey Mantia. All three are among the world's best skaters and leading medal ...

Czechs beat China 3-1, win Olympic debut in women’s hockey

By JOHN WAWROW AP Hockey Writer BEIJING (AP) — Michaela Pejzlova scored on a breakaway with 13:33 left in the third period, and the Czech Republic capped its women's hockey Olympic debut with a 3-1 win over host China at the Beijing Games on Thursday. Tereza Radova became her nation's ...

GLIMPSES: Shortened Olympic torch relay passes by Great Wall

By SARAH DiLORENZO Associated Press BEIJING (AP) — Even a shortened Olympic torch relay had time for a stop at the Great Wall of China. Wu Jingyu, who won gold for China in taekwondo at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, carried the flame to the iconic landmark on the second day of its ...

Overcoming it all: Humphries, in US colors, reaches Olympics

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Sports Writer BEIJING (AP) — Here's a list of some things that Kaillie Humphries overcame this season: Being ineligible for the Beijing Olympics because she didn't have a U.S. passport, testing positive for COVID-19 and a relatively serious hamstring injury. And ...

150,000 fans to be invited to events at Beijing Olympics

BEIJING (AP) — About 150,000 spectators are expected to be invited to attend events at the Beijing Olympics in two of the three clusters of venues, organizers said Thursday. Plans to sell tickets to international visitors were scrapped last year because of the coronavirus pandemic and ...

Another Beijing Olympics with human rights still major issue

By STEPHEN WADE AP Sports Writer BEIJING (AP) — Beijing was awarded the 2008 Summer Olympics, largely under the assumption that the Games would improve civil liberties in the country. There is no such talk now. The 2022 Winter Olympics open Friday under heavy security and warnings ...