Beijing Olympics 2008: Sports ministers spark fresh Ashes conflict

An Ashes conflict has broken out on the eve of the Beijing Olympics, with the British and Australian sports ministers engaged in a spat over which country will collect the most medals in China. British ministers, led by culture secretary Andy Burnham, have been talking up Team GB's medal prospects in the run-up to the games and suggested that the squad could overhaul traditional sporting rivals Australia. Australia finished fourth in the Athens medal table, six places ahead of the British team. UK Sport, which has invested £235m of lottery and public funds in the team, has set a target of 35 medals in Beijing, a performance that would elevate them to eighth in Beijing. Should the team meet the stretch target of 41 medals, they could overhaul Australia. On arriving in Beijing this morning, however, the Australian sports... [read full story]