FC Barcelona releases Messi for Beijing 2008

Spanish football club FC Barcelona has agreed to release Argentine footballer Lionel Messi for Beijing 2008

Brazil captain desires Olympic glory

After winning two silver medals at Athens 2004 and the 2007 World Cup, Marta, the captain of the Brazilian women’s football team, hopes to claim an Olympic gold at Beijing 2008.

Marta said winning an Olympic medal would be “the most important prize”, and she would even give up her multitude of individual titles for this particular glory.