Sport

The IOC says it is satisfied with explanations given by Netherlands regarding the participation of a convicted rapist in the Paris Games.

Analysis - It was clear by the 150m mark that the punishing pace of the race was taking its toll on the 20-year-old Dunedin swimmer, Dana Johannsen writes.

France claimed their first Olympic Games sevens rugby gold medal with a 28-7 win over Fiji at the Stade de France this morning.

According to reports in Samoan media, he died on Friday while at the Olympic Village.

Our athletes kicked off the Olympics in style, with many cruising to the top of the leaderboards. Here are the highights.

New Zealand will rue some basic errors in possession that might have cost them the chance to snatch points from the higher-ranked side.

Dunedin swimmer Erika Fairweather is "a little bit gutted" after narrowly missing out on winning New Zealand's first medal at the Paris Olympics.

The Dunedin athlete says she'll "give it my best go" in what's considered the greatest women's swimming showdown of all time.

The defending champion Mystics have beaten the Tactix 68-64 in Christchurch to book a place in the ANZ Premiership final against the Pulse next weekend.

A full line-up of NZ athletes will be taking their marks. Here are our top contenders.

John Herdman - who also used to coach NZ's Football Ferns - says he is "highly confident" that such practices did not occur under his watch.

Swapping a stadium for a waterway for the first time to open the 'greatest show on earth', the near four-hour spectacle sprawed across streets and rooftops.

Scott Barrett has sustained a finger injury, unclear how long he will be side-lined.

Celine Dion made her comeback from the Eiffel Tower to cap off a high-energy, rain-soaked opening ceremony in Paris that's included can-cans, Lady Gaga, heavy metal and a spectacular light show.

New Zealand athletes haven't let a Paris downpour or security fears detract from their enjoyment of a unique Olympics opening ceremony.

Tom Mackintosh won gold as part of the men's eight in Tokyo. Could he surge onto the podium again as a single sculler at Paris?

Lando Norris was fastest in practice at the Belgian Grand Prix, ahead of his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri, with Formula One championship leader Max Verstappen in third.

The defending champion Mystics are preparing for a backlash from a wounded Tactix in netball's ANZ Premiership elimination final.

After a wobbly start, Chanel Harris-Tavita was back in form with the boot.