US seeks basketball redemption as Beijing Games close

0 Comments | AFP, August, 2008

BEIJING (AFP) — The Beijing Games come to a close Sunday, with six boxing gold medals among the 12 on offer and a team of US millionaire superstars vying to regain lost glory in men's basketball before the Olympic flame is extinguished in China.

According to tradition, athletics competition will close with the men's marathon, in which three-time London Marathon winner Martin Lel will lead Kenya's bid to add a first marathon title to their legendary Olympic history.

Boxing, bedeviled by complaints about the judging, was the most heavily represented sport on the final day of the Games.

But Gold was also on offer in rhythmic gymnastics and men's handball, volleyball and waterpolo.

But it was USA basketball's quest for redemption that promised one of the...