“When an athlete wears them, the clothes truly come alive.”

NEW YORK — The U.S. Olympic Team’s new uniforms will be designed to mark them not only as American athletes in Beijing this summer, but also as diplomats of sorts. via Daily Record

GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala : Shawn Estrada of Los Angeles became the ninth American to qualify for the Beijing Olympics when he beat a Brazilian middleweight in the Americas Qualifier on Tuesday. via International Herald Tribune

“We are deeply troubled by China’s support for the genocidal government of Sudan; its mistreatment of the people of Tibet; its denial of basic rights to its own citizens; and its provision of missiles to Iran and Syria, and friendship for Hamas”

A wide-ranging group of U.S. Jewish leaders plans to release a statement Wednesday urging Jews worldwide to boycott the Summer Olympics in Beijing, citing China’s troubling record on human rights and Tibet. via Haaretz Daily News

His manager says the sprinter will be able to run at the Beijing Olympics in August. via SF Gate

Australia will be without two stars at the Beijing Olympics, with Sam Mackinnon and Jason Smith ruled out because of illness and injury. via NEWS.com.au

“I haven’t really thought about the 100th cap”

Matildas midfielder Heather Garriock is set to become the youngest Australian soccer player, man or woman, to reach 100 caps in Monday’s friendly with all-powerful USA. via The Age

“Michael told me it could be broken at any meet, any time this season, as long as you work hard for it. So it could be in Oslo, it could be at the Olympics or it could be at the Grand Prix final past the Olympics. Or it could be in three years”

- Any thoughts of a showdown between Tyson Gay and Asafa Powell at the Penn Relays in a sort of Beijing Olympics preview were scuttled when the Jamaican withdrew.

Any thoughts of Gay anchoring the United States to a 9-0 record in “USA vs. the World” 4×100-metre men’s relay went by the wayside Saturday when a teammate was poked in the eye, of all things.

Gay’s squad - the same quartet that won the 2007 world championship - wound up only fourth in a race won by Jamaica.

“By the time I got the stick,” said Gay, world champion at 100 and 200 metres, “it seemed like Jamaica had already crossed the finish line.” Read more

“To get the two world records shows our guys are happy to swim morning finals”

Superstars Libby Trickett and Leisel Jones stepped up their Olympic preparations by breaking shortcourse world records in the morning finals format to be used in Beijing. via Wimmera Mail Times

Miao Lijie scored 26 points and host China upset the United States 84-81 in Saturday’s championship game of a pre-Olympic women’s basketball test tournament.

Katie Smith led the Americans _ the defending Olympic champions _ with 16 points, while Sylvia Fowles added 14 and Swin Cash had 13. Chen Nan added 15 for China.

The U.S. defeated China 86-61 in a group game on Thursday, but struggled from the start in the final.

China led 27-17 after the first quarter, and 47-39 at halftime as the Americans failed to find their rhythm on offense. The U.S. rallied in the third quarter to take a 63-61 lead going into the fourth, but China’s strong 3-point shooting sealed the game. Read more

Morgan Hamm’s petition to the U.S. gymnastics championships was approved Friday, keeping alive his quest to make a third Olympic squad. via The Plain Dealer

High diving sensation Tom Daley will be just 14 when he represents the UK at the Beijing Olympics this summer. via Reuters

“I am confident that the Beijing Olympics torch relay will be a success”

On Japanese soil …. Beijing Olympic Committee vice-president Li Bingha carries the flame after its arrival in Tokyo. via The Sydney Morning Herald

“Companies [who do not act] will get physical protests; they will get letters; we will ask people to turn off their adverts”

The Guardian The linked rings on every Chinese Coke bottle and the leaping athletes on each McDonald’s paper bag testify to the power the world’s biggest corporations believe this summer’s Olympics wields. via John Dvorak

“I’m already qualified. I need to get healthy, get ready.”

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. : Morgan Hamm dropped out of a key gymnastics meet Wednesday night after an allergic reaction that restricted his breathing, meaning he’ll have to file paperwork to stay on the path … via International Herald Tribune

“However, the cost of fighting the IOC with all of its resources and paying for legal proceedings before the court in Switzerland is more than our combined resources”

Marion Jones’ relay partners are raising money to pay legal fees in the fight to retain the 2000 Olympic medals they’ve been ordered to return. via Seattle Post-Intelligencer

“He’s tired and he’s drained - there’s a lot of relief there - but he’s almost overwhelmed”

CENTRAL Coast Mariners goalkeeper Danny Vukovic will be eligible to play at the Olympics after an independent appeals committee reduced his sentence for striking referee Mark Shield in the A-League grand final. via NEWS.com.au

World-record holder Laure Manaudou will miss out on the 200 meters freestyle at the Beijing Olympics after pulling out of the event at the French national trials on Tuesday. via CNN

Sally Robbins… not selected for Beijing. Map: Sydney 2000 Sally Robbins has predictably missed out on a spot in Australia’s rowing squad for the Beijing Olympics. via Australian Broadcasting Corporation

“I have recently come back from training and I’m not fit enough for the Olympics”

Former marathon world record-holder Paul Tergat has decided not to compete at this year’s Beijing Olympics due to his concerns over a lack of fitness. via CNN

Sprinter Mark Lewis-Francis will miss this year’s Olympic Games after picking up an Achilles injury during warm weather training in Cyprus. via Eurosport