Best Sport

Olympics 2008 closing ceremony Beijing 2008

2008-08-26T00:45:00.000-07:00

Summer Olympics Beijing 2008 closing ceremony at the main arena Bird's Nest Stadium.

Reuters, AFP, Getty Images.

Judges of European Football Championship 2008

2008-04-17T23:51:00.000-07:00

Switzerland | Judges of European Football Championship 2008
- (left to right): Konrad Plautz, Frank de Bleeckere, Howard Webb, Manuel Enrique Mejuto Gonzalez, Herbert Fandel, Kyros Vassaras, faces (from left to right): Tom Henning Ovrebo, Pieter Vink, Roberto Rosetti, Lubos Michel, Peter Froejdfeldt, Massimo Busacca.

Funny sports photos

2008-01-14T17:31:00.000-08:00

Sport joyful pastime. See photos, and you will understand.

Models replace ball boys at Madrid Masters

2007-10-19T15:01:00.000-07:00

A Hugo Boss model picks up balls during the Madrid's Masters Tennis tournament. Models replaced traditional ball boys in the biggest surprise Monday at the Madrid Masters, where expected winners included Albert Costa, Alex Corretja and Luis Horna.

Photo: EFE, EPA

Photo: Reuters

IAAF World Athletics Championships in Japan

2007-09-02T05:12:00.000-07:00

The picture shows a Chinese athlete Xie Limei at the Sports jump.

Photo : Gabriel Bouys / AFP

You can see more pictures from IAAF World Athletics Championships, which is currently in the Japanese city of Osaka.

Photo : David Guttenfelder / AP; Michael Dalder / Reuters; Thomas Kienzle / AP; Adrian Dennis / AFP; Kimimasa Mayama / DPA;
David J. Phillip / AP; Srdjan Suki / EPA David J. Phillip / AP; Srdjan Suki / EPA

Grand Prix In Turkey

2007-08-30T08:43:00.000-07:00

It has been 12 th stage (GP Turkey) World Cup on Automobile class "Formula-1". Repeating last year's success, Brazilian Felipe Massa won the race in Istanbul and Kimi Raikkonen has Double teams Ferrari, finishirovav second. As a result, "Ferrari" cut back on "McLaren" to 11 points.

Third place in the Grand If Turkey inherit Fernando Alonso on McLaren. " Lewis Hamilton continues to lead personal credit, but finished only fifth. Next is the thirteenth stage of the championship, "Formula 1" will be held on September 9 in Italy.

Photo: Bertrand Guay/AFP; Oliver Weiken/DPA; Daniel Maurer/AP; Murad Sezer/AP

Childrens Sports Schools in China

2007-08-30T08:06:00.000-07:00

The German magazine Stern published a series of photographs of children in sports schools in China to train them to become future champions. Parents give them to these schools at the age of 4-5 years.

Photo: Sean Yong/Reuters, Nir Elias/Reuters, China Photos/
/Getty Images, Guang Niu/Getty Images

The 2008 Olympics in Beijing remained year

2007-08-09T01:35:00.000-07:00

In central Beijing Tiananmen Square yesterday was colourful show, which celebrated the entry of China in the past the year. Celebrations also took place in many other cities and provinces of China.
Thousands of Beijing residents gathered at the square where exactly at 8:00 pm, eight minutes and eight seconds on the clock local time on the electronic scoreboard, due to the entrance to the National Museum of China, told that before long the opening of the 2008 Olympics remain exactly a year .
Start time celebration is not a coincidence. Number eight, according to traditional Chinese numeral, symbolizing luck and prosperity. That is why the opening ceremony of the Games will be held at 8 pm on August 8, 2008 at the main Olympic stadium Beijing "Avian nest."

Photo: Kyodo News/AP; China Daily/Reuters; Feng Li/Getty Images; Jason Lee/Reuters; Frederic J. Brown/AFP; Teh Eng Koon/AFP; Guang Niu/Getty Images

Funny Basketball

2007-08-03T14:24:00.000-07:00

Tour de France 2007

2007-07-20T16:17:00.000-07:00

The 94th Tour de France cycling race between Montpellier and Castres.

Photos of Weightlifting

2007-07-18T05:21:00.000-07:00

Claret Bellorin

Jackie Berube

Maria Sharapova vs Ai Sugiyama

2007-07-02T08:19:00.000-07:00

Maria Sharapova just wanted it to end.
Raindrops were falling, her opponent was complaining, and Sharapova suddenly encountered some trouble as she tried to close out her third-round match at Wimbledon.
Showers wiped out most action at the All England Club on Saturday, and it was drizzling when 2004 champion Sharapova finally finished her 6-3, 6-3 victory despite the No. 26-seeded Ai Sugiyama's animated protests it was too slick to play.
"I was starting to get agitated. I saw the rain in the middle of the second set, and I knew, if it keeps going, obviously the grass is going to get wet," Sharapova said. "I didn't want it to be too dangerous to play out there. But it worked out well in the end."
Well, for her, anyway.
There was, not surprisingly, a different take on things from Sugiyama, whose best showing in 15 Wimbledon appearances ended with a loss to Sharapova in the quarter-finals three years ago.
"It was very wet at the end," Sugiyama said. "Last two games were really slippery."
In the only other singles match completed, defending champion Amelie Mauresmo beat No. 28 Mara Santangelo of Italy 6-1, 6-2 in 57 minutes to reach the fourth round.
Toronto's Daniel Nestor had his second-round doubles match with partner Mark Knowles suspended. They were leading 7-6 (2), 2-2 when play was called.
Seven men's and women's singles matches were suspended in progress, and seven men's matches were postponed entirely until Monday - when the forecast calls for more precipitation. The two-week tournament traditionally takes the middle Sunday off, and while rain-created backlogs in the past forced organizers to schedule matches on that day - most recently in 2004 - the referee's office announced Saturday that wouldn't be necessary this year, even though five of six days so far have been interrupted.
So three-time champion Venus Williams could have not one but two sleepless nights pondering her second-set struggles against 71st-ranked Akiko Morigami of Japan. Williams won the first set 6-2 but was trailing 1-4 in the next when play was halted. The winner meets Sharapova for a quarter-final berth.
In other matches carried over to Monday, French Open runner-up Ana Ivanovic, No. 5 Svetlana Kuznetsova, No. 11 Nadia Petrova, No. 12 Elena Dementieva and No. 14 Nicole Vaidisova each was up a set.
No. 7 Tomas Berdych took the first set of the only men's match that got under way. Among those who didn't play a point in their third-round matches Saturday: three-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal and 2002 Wimbledon winner Lleyton Hewitt.
"These kind of days, you don't (want) to burn too much energy, because you could (be) ready to play at 1 (p.m.), but go on the court at 7 at night," Mauresmo said. "If you spend the whole day stressed out, thinking, 'I'm going to go in five minutes,' this could be a very long day and you could be exhausted in the end."
While the starts of her match and Sharapova's were delayed about two hours, and action on smaller courts was pushed back twice as long, rain sent umbrella-toting spectators scurrying to souvenir shops. With no competition, a family of five ducks - a mother and her ducklings - hung out at Court 5 until an animal care organization was summoned to move them to a sanctuary south of London.
Fans were kept abreast of the meteorological outlook by announcements over loudspeakers around the grounds. After one update, the disembodied voice intoned: "We appreciate your patience on this frustrating day." When play was called off for the day at 6:55 p.m., the voice closed by noting: "Once again, we share your frustration with the British weather."
Sugiyama was rather disappointed by the way things wrapped up against Sharapova on Court 1.
With Sharapova serving at 5-3, 40-love, she wasted her first match point by double-faulting. Still one point from victory, the reigning U.S. Open champion ended an 11-stroke exchange by hitting a backhand that a line judge called long. Chair umpire Lynn Welch overruled - and a replay showed the ball was clearly in.
"It's the third call that the guy, you know, got wrong," Sharapova said. "You look at him, and he's wearing sunglasses. He loses all credibility at that point."
Before they replayed the point, Sugiyama complained to Welch that the match should be suspended. Welch climbed down to check the turf, then ordered that they continue.
Eager to finish, Sharapova blew another chance by putting a forehand into the net, but converted her third match point with a forehand that gave her a 30-8 edge in winners. As the tarp was pulled over the court, Sharapova hopped out of harm's way, and Sugiyama resumed her discussion with Welch.
"It's her decision," Sugiyama said later. "I couldn't really refuse to play."
Asked to consider what it might have been like to be in Sugiyama's shoes in that situation, Sharapova replied, "I try not to step in anyone's shoes, because I'm usually not their size."
The six-foot-two Russian served as well as she has all tournament, reaching 114 miles per hour and winning 34 of 47 points on her serve. It was a strong sign of improvement in her troublesome right shoulder, which needs about 2½ hours of treatment each day, including acupuncture, massage and ice.
"You name it, I do it," Sharapova said.
Mauresmo's serve was right on target, too: She hit 11 aces. Playing serve-and-volley tennis more than half the time, she won the point on 10 of 11 trips to the net in the first set.
"For me," Mauresmo's opponent Santangelo said, "she and (No. 1 Justine) Henin are the ones who can aim for the title."

Photo: Toby Melville / Reuters

2007 Grand Sumo Tournament

2007-06-14T19:17:00.000-07:00

Hundreds of enthusiastic fans from Japan attended the exhibition single-elimination tournament, which was the first sanctioned grand event in the U.S. since Las Vegas two years ago.
The last sumo tournament to be held in Hawaii was 1993.

hoto: Gabriel Bouys / AFP; Ronen Zilberman / AP

Photos from 2007 Roland Garros

2007-06-11T17:16:00.000-07:00

Patty Schnyder

Rafael Nadal

Rafael Nadal

Roger Federer

Vladimir Ignatich

Justin Enin-Ardenn wins French Open on the third time

Maria Sharapova

Nicole Vaydisova

..and her shaddow

Novak Djokovich

Ameli Moresmo

Anna Ivanovic

Guillermo Canas

Jelena Jankovic

Jelena Jankovic

Beckham back for England

2007-06-11T12:15:00.000-07:00

England 1-1 Brazil

England: Robinson, Carragher, King, Terry (Brown 72), Shorey, Beckham (Jenas 77), Gerrard, Lampard (Carrick 88), Cole (Downing 62), Smith (Dyer 62), Owen (Crouch 83).
Subs Not Used: Carson, Bridge, Neville, Bentley, Green, Defoe.

Goals: Terry 68.

Brazil: Helton, Daniel (Maicon 65), Naldo, Juan, Gilberto, Ronaldinho, Mineiro (Edmilson 63), Gilberto Silva, Kaka (Alves 71), Robinho (Diego 74), Vagner Love.
Subs Not Used: Doni, Alex Silva, Alex, Marcelo, Josue, Elano, Jo.

Goals: Diego 90.

Photo: Action Sport

Manchester United v West Ham United

2007-05-18T19:14:00.000-07:00

The Manchester United squad celebrates winning the Barclays Premiership after the Barclays Premiership match between Manchester United and West Ham at Old Trafford on May 13 2007 in Manchester, England.

Manchester United v West Ham United

Man Utd: Van der Sar, O'Shea, Brown, Heinze, Evra (Giggs 57), Solskjaer, Carrick (Scholes 58), Fletcher, Richardson, Smith (Ronaldo 58), Rooney.
Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Vidic.

West Ham: Green, Neill, Collins, Ferdinand, McCartney (Spector 28), Benayoun, Reo-Coker, Noble, Boa Morte, Zamora (Harewood 63), Tevez (Mullins 82).
Subs Not Used: Walker, Davenport.

Photos from 133rd Kentucky Derby

2007-05-07T14:11:00.000-07:00

Andy Lyons / Getty Images

Street Sense, ridden by Calvin Borel, won the Kentucky Derby. "I can't believe it. I can't believe it. This is the toughest race in the world to win," trainer Carl Nafzger said.

Best Sport Photos

2007-03-31T02:59:00.000-07:00

© Icon Sport
Ronaldo and Zinedin Zidane. Zidane was back on the field to take part in the charity match against the United Nations line, Marseilles.

© Richard C. LewisLewis
Serena Williams vs Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic in the third round of WTA tournament in Miami. Serena won the match 6-3, 6-4.

© Viktor Drachev/AFP/Getty Images
Kiril Shimko and Pavel Soroka pull more than 250000 kg, Ukraine.

© Osports
Spanish team Free Routine Combination on World Championships in Melbourne.

© Ken Levine
Tara Dakides. Third Annual Roxy Chicken Jam, Slopestyle Super Finals at Park City Mountain Resort, Utah.

© Icon Sport
Marco Melandri (Honda). MOTO GP Series Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez de la Frontera circuit.

© Cynthia Lum
Maria Sharapova celebrates victory over Venus Williams at the tournament, Sony Ericsson Open in Miami.

© Kevin C. CoxCox
NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Food City 500

© Kyung-Hoon Kim / Reuters
French pair (Nathalie Pechalat and Fabian Bourzat) at the World Figure Skating in Tokyo.

© Eric S. SwistSwist
Rockets vs Bucks game

© Barbara Walton / Reuters
German Andreas Wels in the World Cup water sports in Melbourne

© Kevin C. CoxCox
Carl Edwards celebrates his victory in the race NASCAR Busch Series Sharpie MINI 300, which was held in Bristol, Tennessee.

© Oliver Maire / Reuters
Estanislao Vasiuk performs dangerous tricks on free ride contest on Xtreme Verbier in Switzerland

© Action Images
American Jean Brennan is preparing to jump on the competition Women's 1m Springboard at the World Championships in Melbourne.

© David Gray/Reuters
Cullen Jones dives in to race in the men's 50m Freestyle heat at the World Swimming Championships in Melbourne

© Action Images
Another pic from the Water Sports World Championships in Melbourne.

Photos of the Sport's World

2007-03-20T06:13:00.000-07:00

Sports Photos of the Week

2007-03-16T07:00:00.000-07:00

© Julian Finney / Getty Images
Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong (Malaysia) - Men's Doubles Final during the Yonex All England Open Badminton Championship

© Max Rossi / Reuters
Roman Hofer (Austria), Enak Gavaggio (France) - Freestyle World Championship in Madonna Di Campiglio, Italy

Photos: Rhythmic gymnastics

2007-02-21T11:22:00.000-08:00

Rhythmic gymnastics is a sport in which single competitors or pairs, trios or even more manipulate one or two apparatuses: Ball, Clubs, Hoop, Ribbon, and Rope. It combines elements of ballet, gymnastics, theatrical dance, and apparatus manipulation. The victor is the participant who earns the most points, as awarded by a panel of judges, for leaps, balances, pivots, flexibility, apparatus handling, and artistic effect.
The sport's governing body, the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique (FIG), changed the Code of Points in 2001, 2003 and 2005 to emphasize technical elements and reduce the subjectivity of judging. Before 2001, judging was on a scale of 10 like that of Artistic Gymnastics. It was changed to a 30-point scale in 2003 and in 2005 was changed to 20. There are three values adding up to be the final points—technical, artistic and execution.
International competitions are split between Juniors, under sixteen by their year of birth ; and Seniors, for girls 16 and over again by their year of birth. Gymnasts typically start training at a very young age and those at their peak are typically in their late teens or early twenties. The largest events in the sport are the Olympic Games, World Championships, and Grand-Prix Tournaments.
Rhythmic gymnastics is largely a sport for women and girls, but a growing number of men participate in a few countries. The Japanese's version of men's rhythmic gymnastics includes tumbling and is performed on a spring floor. Points are awarded based a 10-point scale that measures the level of difficulty of the tumbling and apparatus handling. Individuals compete in four types of apparatus: rope, stick, double rings, and clubs. Groups do not use any apparatus. Japan hosted the first men's world championships in 2003, drawing teams from Canada, Korea, Malaysia, and the United States.