Television Ratings Continue to Soar for NBC

NBC’s coverage of the Atlanta Olympics on Sunday night attracted the largest viewing audience of the games so far.

NBC estimates that 103 million people saw all or part of the telecast, marking the second time NBC has gone over the 100 million mark in the games.

Its rating of 23.4 with a 43 share was up 29% over the same Sunday night four years ago in Barcelona, and it was the highest Sunday night rating of a Summer Games since the closing night of the ’84 L.A. Games did a 28.9 and 53 on ABC.

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The Russian Olympic committee appealed the disqualification of two of its medalists, swimmer Andrei Korneyev and Greco-Roman wrestler Zafar Gulyov, for doping offenses.

In an appeal submitted to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, the Russians maintained the drug that the athletes used, bromantan, is not on the list of banned substances.

The CAS appointed a three-person arbitration panel to hear both cases. CAS secretary general Jean-Philipe Rochat said the panel met for 90 minutes before adjourning until today.

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The pain starts with a constant headache, shoots down into Heidi Lehrer’s neck and shoulder, and streaks through her right leg.

The kayaker’s problems began Wednesday when the bus she was taking to the Olympic Village from the rowing-canoe-kayak venue at Lake Lanier hit a concrete barrier, blowing a tire.

Lehrer immediately felt the pain and was taken to a hospital. But no injuries could be found.

Her pain worsened that night, and another doctor diagnosed nerve damage.

The driver was not charged.

Lehrer said no one from the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games has contacted her.

“I’ve had my entire Olympics ruined, and I haven’t heard from one person,” she said. “How would they even know what happened? They never talked to us.”

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Atlanta Olympics’ officials have broken their promise to sever ties with a Savannah, Ga., yacht club that has a history of racial discrimination.

The Savannah Yacht Club is operating as a fueling station for numerous boats shuttling spectators, media and supplies the few miles between the Olympic Village and the Olympic yachting course.

ACOG yachting manager John McIntosh said he decided to use the Savannah Yacht Club for fueling because “we had an excess need.”