TABLE TENNIS: Remember the thing about the badminton draw being a highly anticipated televised event in the Far East? Hardcore table tennis fans were looking forward to the random lots drawn for the first-ever team elimination tournament. The world's best Chinese paddlers look pretty safe for the first couple rounds, but Japan and South Korea look like their medal dreams might be over before they begin.

BASKETBALL: Hoopsters are popular choices for flagbearers in Beijing. In addition to Germany's Dirk Nowitski, here are a few other tall guys who will be outfitted with standard holsters tomorrow: Yao Ming (CHN), Manu Ginobili (ARG), Sarunas Jasikevicius (LTU) and Andrey Kirilenko (RUS).

ATHLETICS: The United States has made a bold statement with its flagbearer choice. Former Sudanese refugee Lopez Lomong, a 1500m competitor, will carry the Stars and Bars into the stadium. The war in Sudan is a touchy subject with the Chinese government, since the country receives major oil imports for the area. This week, China revoked the visa to gold medalist Joey Cheek -- he's the leader of Team Darfur, an organization that regularly speaks out about that country's involvement in the Sudan.

GYMNASTICS: The second Hamm twin has removed himself from the United States men's team -- Morgan will join 2004 all-around champion Paul on the inactive list after sustaining an ankle injury. Paul suffered a hand injury in May and was not able to make it back in time for Beijing. Morgan will be replaced by Alexander Artemev, leaving no members of the 2004 silver medal-winning team on the 2008 squad.

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The BBC's message to Beijing: More Fun Please!

Everyone is very friendly, but there is something missing and it's obvious what that is - it's fun! And here is one of the many fears of foreigners in Beijing. While acknowledging that out of all the previous editions, the 2008 Games will almost undoubtedly be the most visually impressive and the most beautiful to the billions watching on TV, but for those of us here personally in Beijing to partake in this historic event, the games of the 29th Olympiad may turn out to be the ones with the least fun to be had.

And, perhaps, Less Smog Please as well. Thursday broke as a decidedly grey sky day.

The Beeb's James Reynolds, on a torch relay event recap distributed by BOCOG before the described events took place.

"After the torch-bearer get to the top of the fourth watchtower in the north side and waved the torch at the crowd, 2008 pigeons flew up into the sky, and 2008 balloons were released [...] All the colour-bearers and volunteers were waving their flags and cheering for the completion of the torch relay."

It was slightly curious to read about all of this in the past tense when it hadn't even taken place. But, of course, the events unfolded in the exact order foretold in the press release - no interruptions, no disruptions at all. When you're entirely confident about your plans, you can write about the future as if it's already happened.

On Wednesday, the separatist Turkistan Islamic Party from western China, which has already threatened the security of the Olympics, released a video. Burning Olympic rings gets the point across.

Happier fire will take place on 08/08/08 when the Opening Ceremony takes place. Meet Zhang Yimou, the director who will oversee its production. Not too long ago, his films were banned by he Chinese government.

And though the Olympics often bring disagreeing parties together under the banner of sport, the two Koreas will not march together for the first time since 1996.

While the two Koreas may not be fully invested in the Olympic spirit, this beluga whale in Japan sure is. It's making Olympic rings.

Photo © Icon SMI; h/t Japan Probe