Inside the Rings: Thorpe copies

Police are investigating a security breach at the Sydney Olympics involving illicit copies of Ian Thorpe's identity pass.

Several copies of the Australian swimming sensation's security pass had been run off, probably for souvenir purposes, a source on the Games organising committee said.

Security staff scanning Thorpe's pass on Sunday found the electronic barcode had been invalidated - a sure sign under the Sydney Games security system that copies had been printed.

"I presume he flashed his gold medals. It's pretty easy to recognise the real Ian Thorpe," a Socog spokesman said.

Banner issue

It's a political statement.

A house beside the railway lines leading into Sydney from the Olympic sites is adorned with a two-storey banner featuring the famous photo of the Black Power salute by the men's 200m medallists Tommie Smith (gold) and John Carlos (bronze) at Mexico City in 1968.

Given the proximity of the banner to Redfern - where many of Sydney's depressed urban Aborigines live - it was likely intended to remind Australia that one cauldron-lighting ceremony does not constitute reconciliation.

Being seen

Clive James, in town and writing for a Sydney paper, spent quite a few column centimetres talking up the (admittedly excellent) Rossini's at Circular Quay which serves pastries to die for and serious coffee.

"My favourite snackeria on earth," he called it and did no further damage to its reputation by saying that he had to queue for a table.

The truth is tamer than this fiction, though; a New Zealand Herald writer who was enjoying an espresso when Mr James arrived remembers clearly that the place was only half full and the bald and chubby one settled into a table out front, facing the passing foot traffic.

Mower thrower

Australian hammer throw record-holder Stuart Rendell once threw a lawn mower 15.71m in an ACT novelty event.

"The handles can be a bit flimsy under pressure: a few bits fly off," Rendell said.

"They tend not to work after that."

The previous year, it was a brick-throwing event at the throwers' day.

"After the Olympics I've got the tuna-throwing championships at Port Augusta," he said.

Athletes for hire

Are there any lengths to which some countries won't go in a bid to buy success?

Oil-rich Qatar, high on funds but low on talent, has shelled out $US1 million ($2.41 million) to the Bulgarian Weightlifting Federation for eight second-string lifters, who have not only received passports but new Arabic names.

- PETER CALDER and AGENCIES