IOC calls for bigger crowds

After the first few days of the Beijing Games, some cracks have appeared in China’s perfect party – empty seats at the venues, disappointing crowds at the Olympic grounds, ticket scalping, a lack of buzz around the city and even official acknowledgment of trickery during the opening ceremony.

International Olympic Committee officials urged Beijing organizers Tuesday to let more people into the Olympic Green – the centerpiece zone of the games where most of the main venues are located – and find ways to fill up the arenas.

“We’ve been saying, ‘You’re missing a great opportunity to get more of your people in here to celebrate your games,’ ” said Kevan Gosper, vice chairman of the IOC’s coordination commission for Beijing. “I would want to stress how important it is for the host city that the venues are seen to be full and everybody has the opportunity to enjoy the festivities.”

Wang Wei, spokesman for the Beijing organizing committee, acknowledged there were not enough people in the green and organizers were encouraging more to come.

Boise group aids cyclist

A Boise company that usually makes industrial knives to slice up Idaho potatoes into millions of McDonald’s french fries added an unusual custom touch to the racing bicycle that Team USA’s Kristin Armstrong will ride in today’s Olympic time trial in Beijing.

Armstrong, who lives in Boise, asked AceCo Precision Manufacturing to use a $250,000 computerized mill to make a so-called “third eye” for her front derailleur, to keep the former world champion from throwing her chain during the nearly 15-mile individual race against the clock along China’s Great Wall.

Powell’s talk falls flat

Asafa Powell is one of about 10 track and field athletes participating in a previously unreported voluntary anti-doping program – which is why the former 100 meters world record-holder’s complaints about too many drug tests surprised the sport’s world governing body.

The Associated Press learned about the pilot project, in which athletes agree to undergo unlimited testing by the International Association of Athletics Federations, after Powell said he felt targeted since arriving in China on Aug. 1.