Latest from Olympics

Olympics: Gay slur puts champion's Games role in doubt
The International Olympic Committee will consider dropping Russian pole vault star Yelena Isinbayeva as an Olympic ambassador after her comments about gay people, says president Jacques Rogge.

Athletics: Corlett and Adams have individually done enough for equal ranking
The argument over New Zealand's best woman athlete got another solid airing this week in the wake of the mighty Adams' fourth world shot put title, to sit alongside two Olympic gold medals.

Bond stuntman dies in action
The stuntman who amazed the world when he parachuted into the London 2012 Olympics opening ceremony dressed as James Bond has died while wing-diving in Switzerland, police and media reports say.

Russian MP delivers anti-gay rant after broadcaster calls for Olympic boycott
One of the architects of Russia's anti-gay laws has launched an attack on homosexuality and accused broadcaster Stephen Fry of being "sick" because of his attempt to commit suicide.

Gay 'propaganda' at Olympics risks arrest
Gay competitors in next year's Winter Olympics risk arrest by Russian police if they engage in "propaganda" for their homosexuality, Russia's Sports Minister has confirmed.

Barrie Gordon: Funding elite sports needs more debate
Angry protests in Brazil have a sobering message about public spending on elite sporting success and grandiose sporting events - and one that New Zealand should heed.

North Korea: Northern exposure
Skiing destinations tend to be in well-heeled areas - from Queenstown to the Austrian Alps and Whistler. Naturally, North Korea wants to take its place alongside the well-groomed resorts.

Olympics: New Zealand golden girls
NZ's elite Olympic athletes are embarking on a new campaign. For most, it is the beginning of a 3.5-year slog which will culminate in an air ticket to Rio de Janeiro.

Halberg Awards preview: Olympians eye haul
Olympians will dominate the Halberg Awards in Auckland tonight.

A year of defining events
Three weeks before the ceremony and the [Olympic Stadium] was packed with thousands of people all doing things impressively.

Editorial: Another year of sporting excellence to savour
After the lord mayor's show, it is said, comes the dust-cart. On that basis, New Zealanders approached this sporting year with some trepidation.

Most popular news in 2012
Kim Dotcom and a spate of natural disasters have been among the most popular topics with New Zealand Herald readers this year.