Beijing Olympic Games diary: Green for go on algae front

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Wang Haitao, vice-director of the publicity department of Qingdao Municipal Communist Party Committee, said: 'In the competition area, the algae are completely gone.'

Mucking in: volunteers clear algae from the Olympic sailing area at Qingdao last month

Large swathes of offshore water became clogged by the green algae in June, disrupting sailors' training and prompting an intensive clean-up operation involving 1,400 boats and 10,000 troops.

The IAAF have ratified the world 100m record of 9.72sec set by Usain Bolt in New York on May 31. Bolt's time, when he beat reigning world champion Tyson Gay, was 0.02sec faster than Asafa Powell's time in Rieti last September. He will clash with Powell and Gay in Beijing - 100m heats are on August 15.

Iraqis arrive

The Iraqi Olympic team arrived on Monday, less than a week after the country's ban was reversed. The IOC suspended Iraq in May over alleged government interference in the country's national committee.

The decision was reversed last Tuesday, clearing the four-strong team -two rowers and two athletes. The only woman among the four is sprinter Dana Hussein.

Fans have been swindled by an internet scam offering thousands of bogus tickets for the Games. The IOC said it was taking action to shut down the fraudsters, but one of the six websites accused of fraud - www.beijingticketing.com - was still offering seat tickets on Monday for over $2,150.

2020 cricket?

Adam Gilchrist believes Twenty20 is key to cricket finally reclaiming a place in the Olympic Games - possibly by 2020.

Cricket was granted 'recognition status' by the IOC last year and the former Australia wicketkeeper said: 'With Twenty20 here to stay, now is the time for the 10 full-member nations of the ICC to plan for the development of the sport over the next 100 years.'

Italian fencer Andrea Baldini, who failed a dope test last month, had a banned diuretic in his B-sample, the Italian fencing federation (FIS) confirmed on Monday. Baldini has asked for a DNA test to be carried out on the samples in order to clear his name, the FIS said.