Beijing plans to keep out rain
The weathermen in Beijing are going ahead with plans to fire rockets to disperse rain clouds, an experiment aimed at guaranteeing sunshine at next year’s Olympics.

Zheng Guoguang, head of China’s Meteorological Administration, said practice drills were ready to begin, the state-run China Daily newspaper reported.

Zheng said the drills will simulate what will be done when the Games open on August 8, 2008. He said this summer was the last chance for meteorologists to practice under similar weather conditions. Chinese officials have said historical records show there’s a 50 percent chance of rain for the opening ceremony — and the same probability of rain during the closing ceremony.

China has tinkered with artificial rainmaking for decades, though the technology has been questioned.

Italy wary of javelin threat
Italian officials has said that javelin throwing would be kept away from the track during the Masters athletics world championships in September, which will include competitors up to 90 years old.

French long jumper Salim Sdiri was speared by a flying javelin during the Golden League meeting in Rome last Friday after Finnish thrower Tero Pitkamaki slipped at the end of his run-up.  Sdiri's injuries are not life-threatening and doctors do not believe he needs surgery but authorities in Riccione on Italy's east coast are taking no chances with the September 4-15 meeting which is for athletes over 35, including several senior citizens.

"The fields for throwing events are outside of the tracks," Daniele Imola, president of the organising committee and Riccione mayor, said. Cesare Beccalli, president of World Masters Athletics, added: "There are even people of 85 or 90 competing here.”