KEY POINTS:
19.42:As we wrap up today's updates blog a small piece of good news for New Zealand-born American volleyball coach Hugh McCutcheon, whose side has rallied to beat Venezuela three sets to two in their opening match. We wish him and his family all the best. A few tennis results to hand with wins for Davydenko and Tomas Berdych in the mens. Marina Erakovic has had her match delayed by rain and may not take the court until after midnight NZT. And watch out for our soccer side taking on Brazil at 9pm tonight. Thanks for tuning into today's updates, we'll do it all again tomorrow from 2pm.
18.54: Finn class sailor Dan Slater has finished 18th in race three of the Olympic yachting regatta in Qingdao, after finishes of 21st and 19th on day one. Elsewhere Jo Kiesanowski is up and running in the women's 126km road race.
18.17: Many people say sports and politics don't mix, but when you're sharing a victory podium with the 'enemy' at the Olympics, it's hard to seperate the two things. Nino Salukvadze won Georgia's first medal in the women's 10-metre air pistol today. Russia's Natalia Paderina took the silver, and after the medal ceremony, Salukvadze put her arm around Paderina and the two posed together for photographs. Paderina then gave Salukvadze a kiss on the cheek. "This medal is good for Georgia, especially during times like this," Salukvadze said. "I am very nervous today. It's very difficult for my people."
The Georgian government has decided to keep its 35-member team at the Olympics, although the competitors have been understandably distracted by recent events. Now that's what the Olympics should be about.
17.12: We have a NZ result to hand - shooter Graeme Ede has finished 20th in the men's trap in Beijing. And China's Guo Wenjun has claimed the host nation's third gold in the women's 10m Air Pistol.
16.16: A quick update of Kiwis in action this afternoon. Cyclist Jo Kiesanowski is in the road race from 6pm, plus Erakovic in the tennis - although her 9pm start has been delayed by rain - and NZ v Brazil in the soccer also from 9pm. Meantime Dave Currie, NZ's chef de mission says our athletes are safe from attack at the Games: "All the advice we've had is that it was a one-off random incident. There's been no raising of expectations or concerns around our activity around the city." Fingers crossed he's right.
16.08: The Australian Olympic Committee is urging its athletes and supporters to wear team uniforms outside the Olympic village after an American, Todd Bachman, was killed in downtown Beijing yesterday.
His wife Barbara Bachman was also seriously injured.
15.33: Phelps' medal ceremony has turned into a shambles, when the speaker system playing the US anthem broke halfway through. I wonder what George Bush thought of the race? He was there cheering Phelps on poolside. This is what the super fish had to say after the race: "I'm pretty happy. That was a pretty emotional race. I knew it was going to be a tough race all the way through." Oh yeah ... but you still won by miles and broke the world record. Call him modest.
15.24: Aussie swimmer Stephanie Rice has proven her split with sprinter Eamon Sullivan just before the Games hasn't hurt her form. She's set a world record in the women's 400-metre individual medley final. Sullivan's the world record in the 50 metres freestyle. Celebrity agents reckon the pair can earn an extra $500k a year if they both win gold - and then get back together. The good money says that they will.
14.43: The NZ equestrian team is lying sixth after the dressage, which is supposedly their weakest discipline, so reasonably good start for them. I'm not sure what the weather is like in Hong Kong, but in Beijing it is raining today - hopes are high it'll help clear the smog. Still 35C though.
14.32: WOW, it's all happening in the pool. Park Taehwan has just picked up Korea's first gold medal EVER, in the men's 400m freestyle.
14.28: Looking down today's schedule, the most interest for Kiwi fans might be our soccer clash with Brazil at 9pm. Marina Erakovic is also set to go around 9pm, taking on Japan's Ayumi Morita who is ranked 147 in the world but has won both the pair's previous clashes. By the way, that world record time of Phelps - 4 minutes, 3.84 seconds in the IM. He crushed that record by over a second. Laszlo Cseh of Hungary was the runner-up.
14.13: Yup, all the talk and he delivers, the first in his quest for eight golds. Meanwhile bad news from the hockey turf, the Black Sticks have fallen 2-1 to Japan.
14.08: HE'S DONE IT - WORLD RECORD!
14.04: Already plenty of news today including the tragic murder of Todd Bachman in Beijing overnight. More on that later. Right now all eyes are on Michael Phelps who has just taken off in the 400m individual Medley final. Which give you the result shortly. The New Zealand women's hockey team also in action as we speak. More shortly.
14.00: Welcome to our day two Olympics blog, where we'll endeavour to bring you all the latest news from on and off the fields of competition from now until 8pm. Here is the schedule of kiwis in action today.
