In Brief: Rio Olympics hold 'garage sale'

Rio Olympics hold 'garage sale'

You will not be able to claim that it is the chair by the pool on which Michael Phelps sat, or the bed that Britain's Nicola Adams collapsed on to after boxing her way to a gold medal, but it might be.

Tens of thousands of items from Rio's Olympic venues - from furniture, portable massage beds, electrical items, rubbish bins to umbrellas - are up for auction.

The only catch is that bidders have to buy in bulk - a 40-foot container load.

THE TIMES, LONDON


Ryan receives Fiji's top honour

Englishman Ben Ryan was awarded Fiji's highest honour for coaching the South Pacific nation's rugby sevens side to a historic gold.

Tens of thousands of Fijians cheered and many wept openly as they braved heavy rain to attend a victory ceremony in the capital Suva yesterday.

Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama had declared a public holiday and free buses were provided to take people to the national stadium where Ryan and the players were feted as heroes.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE


Skelton a big star after winning gold

Showjumper Nick Skelton's autobiography Only Falls And Horses has sold out at bookseller Abebooks after his triumph in Rio on Friday.

The 58-year-old became Britain's oldest Olympic medallist since 1908, winning the individual showjumping gold on his horse, Big Star.

The rider had been forced to retire after breaking his neck in 2000, but returned to the sport two years later. In 2011, he had a hip replacement.

THE GUARDIAN


Indian officials under fire for Rio flop

As Olympic underachievers India head home from Rio having failed to win a gold medal, its gatecrashing, selfie-taking officials have been accused of failing to help its athletes taste success.

A string of below-par performances saw India win just two medals at the Games, fewer than the six clinched in London four years earlier.

"Officials do not have the welfare of the athletes on their mind. All they are bothered about is having a good time," Aslam Sher Khan, India's former hockey Olympian, said.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on August 23, 2016, with the headline In Brief: Rio Olympics hold 'garage sale'. Subscribe