Olympics: Partying Too Hard – Roumanian Weightlifters – Knives Out For Jenny – Paula Yates Dies – Travis Burns Sentenced – Climber Falls –Queenstown
OLYMPICS: NZ
Olympic hopes gleam a little brighter tonight. Sarah Ulmer
rides tonight. NZ’s riders all rode faultless cross-country
rides today. Other Olympic News:
- PARTYING TOO HARD:
Nightly dance parties in Sydney Streets are being closed
down. In Martin Place people are watching the Olympics in a
city square. At night Martin Place has become a drunken
melee. Martin Place has been partying hard till 2am. In
circular quay 20,000 gathered at night to watch a big TV.
Transport trouble has not eventuated. Trains are running
well. Road transport is more of a mess. Ban on dancing and
drinking in Martin Place will remain till people no longer
feel intimidated.
- ROUMANIAN WEIGHTLIFTERS:
Weightlifters have been allowed back in to the competition
after paying a $100,000 fine. So far at least 30 athletes
and coaches have pulled out of been pushed out. The games
may be becoming a turning point in world sport. US
anti-doping official hopes the drug agency will be made
independent from the IOC.
KNIVES OUT FOR JENNY: Claims from Richard Prebble that Jenny Shipley is about to be rolled are being denied by the party. Prebble is citing Bill English as a likely replacement. From the PM down the response to the claims are that Prebble himself is in trouble – both in the polls – and on is leadership. Murray McCully – accused of being the numbers man – says he is not. Changing leaders at this stage would be bad politics so it seems unlikely.
PAULA YATES DIES: An autopsy is being carried out to find the cause of the death of Paula Yates – the former partner of Michael Hutchence and Bob Geldof – she was found dead in her bed by her four year old daughter Tigerlilly. There is no sign of violence and reports say that Yates died of an alcohol/drug cocktail. Michael Hutchence’s father says he is in no hurry to get custody of
TRAVIS BURNS SENTENCED: Travis Burns mother defends her son following the sentencing of Burns for the murder of Joanne McCarthy. Burns has been sentenced to a minimum of 15 years jail. The longer sentence was justified under home invasion laws and because the murder was brutal and took place in the company of McCarthy’s two children. After the murder McCarthy’s body was put in the bath. Burns will be back in court next week on charges of escaping.
CLIMBER FALLS: A Gisborne climber has died falling off the north face of the Eiger. The death was recorded on camera but TV3 did not show the footage.
QUEENSTOWN SLIP: Queenstown bound motorists have to avoid a slip and drive via Wanaka or Gore. Amcam footage shows the slip. The cleanup has not been able to begin yet.