Off track ...

TV show for Phelps

Record-breaking US Olympian Michael Phelps is teaming up with Tiger Woods' old coach Hank Haney for a golf reality show, the swimmer said on Saturday.

Phelps, who has retired as the most decorated Olympian of all time after winning a record 22 medals including 18 golds, will be the subject of the Golf Channel's Haney Project, which will start filming next month.

"As I enter this next chapter of my life, I think I will be able to shift my competitiveness to anything I put my mind to and golf is one of the things I want to focus on," Phelps, 27, said in a statement.

"If I have a goal of dropping a certain amount of shots, or working on my short game or putting, those things are going to keep me motivated and fire me up and keep me excited.

"I want to play all the world's great golf courses, but I'd like to play them well.

"I'm excited about this project with Golf Channel and I'm looking forward to working with Hank and to see what we can do together on the golf course," said Phelps, who won four golds and two silver medals in the London Games.

Shot put bungle

The New Zealand government has summonsed red-faced New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) officials over the blunder that almost cost defending women's shot put champion Valerie Adams an Olympic start.

Adams, also the reigning world champion, was rocked by the error that saw her omitted from the original start list but eventually claimed the silver medal behind arch rival Nadezhda Ostapchuk of Belarus.

NZOC officials successfully appealed to have Adams accepted as a late entry but the bungle still caused complications when she arrived at the stadium on competition day, New Zealand media reported Sunday.

She was unable get into parts of the stadium and the message she was allowed to start had not filtered down to officials who let competitors into the arena, requiring further urgent calls, and there was a hold up providing her name bib.

Games, then marriage

The London Olympics haven't only been about fierce rivalries but also have featured several romantic marriage proposals.

China's +80kg taekwondo bronze medalist Liu Xiaobo proposed to his girlfriend right off the mat, while still wearing his medal.

"For better or for worse, for rich or for poor, in sickness or in health - will you marry me, Zhang Tong?" he said.

Liu's girlfriend Zhang is a Beijing club soccer player.

Liu isn't the only one declaring love in front of raucous spectators.

Italian volleyball spiker Antonella del Core said yes to her boyfriend after Italy's win over Japan 3-1 on July 30.

And 21-year-old British pole vaulter Holly Bleasdale shared the romantic moment on Twitter after she accepted her boyfriend's proposal.

French basketball player Isabelle Yacoubou shed emotional tears when she saw her boyfriend holding a sign that read: "Isa Yacoubou, will u marry me?"

She said yes.

China Daily - AFP - Reuters

(China Daily 08/13/2012 page11)