Michael Phelps was unconcerned about posting only the second fastest time in morning heats for the 200-meter freestyle at the world championships on Monday.

After a year of embarrassing protests leading up to the Beijing Games, Olympic leaders called on Thursday for an end to international torch relays starting 2010 in Vancouver.

Praise poured in for Australian swimming great Grant Hackett on Tuesday after the athlete known as "Captain Fantastic" announced his retirement from the pool.

China on Friday announced it had extended rules introduced for the Olympics allowing foreign reporters greater freedoms, but there was no easing of restrictions for domestic press.

Gymnastics officials on Wednesday cleared Chinese gymnasts of underage claims for the Beijing Olympics, but said there were doubts regarding those who competed in the 2000 Sydney Olympics.