STEVE McMORRAN
Washington Spirit forward Ashley Hatch, left, heads the ball in front of OL Reign midfielder Quinn in the second half in the semifinals of the NWSL soccer playoffs Sunday, Nov. 14, 2021, in Tacoma, Wash. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
IOC transgender guidelines hailed but questions remain

By Steve Mcmorran Nov. 19, 2021 12:32 AM EST
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New International Olympic Committee guidelines

Fiji players huddle up on the pitch after winning their men's rugby sevens gold medal match against New Zealand at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 28, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)
COVID-hit Fiji celebrates Olympic rugby sevens gold

By Steve Mcmorran Jul. 28, 2021 06:48 PM EDT
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Emerging gingerly from their homes in a nation

FILE - In this Aug. 11, 2016, file photo, Fiji rugby players show off their gold medal after defeating Britain in the gold medal mens rugby sevens match against Britain at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It was rugby in fast forward and it generated millions of new fans across the world. Rugby sevens made its Olympic debut in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 bringing all the usual hard-hitting tackles, collisions and swerving runs but leaving out the slow-mo elements of the traditional 15-a-side game. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty, File)
Olympic travel a big challenge for some Pacific Island teams

By Steve Mcmorran Jul. 07, 2021 03:01 AM EDT
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Famous athletes in sports like tennis and golf

A guard, lower right, walks around a park being prepared for the Olympics and Paralympics Games in Tokyo on Thursday, July 1, 2021. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)
3 Samoan weightlifters to miss Olympics over virus concerns

By Steve Mcmorran Jul. 01, 2021 08:19 PM EDT
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The Samoan government says three home-based

FILE - In this April 9, 2018 file photo, New Zealand's Laurel Hubbard lifts in the snatch of the women's +90kg weightlifting final at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, Australia. Hubbard will be the first transgender athlete to compete at the Olympics. Hubbard is among five athletes confirmed on New Zealand's weightlifting team for the Tokyo Games. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein,File)
Expert: Transgender Olympic athlete could polarize opinion

By Steve Mcmorran Jun. 24, 2021 01:37 AM EDT
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — A U.S. expert on transgender rights and politics

FILE - In this April 9, 2018 file photo, New Zealand's Laurel Hubbard lifts in the snatch of the women's +90kg weightlifting final at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, Australia. Hubbard will be the first transgender athlete to compete at the Olympics. Hubbard is among five athletes confirmed on New Zealand's weightlifting team for the Tokyo Games. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein,File)
Transgender weightlifter Hubbard selected for Tokyo Olympics

By Steve Mcmorran Jun. 20, 2021 07:52 PM EDT
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Laurel Hubbard hefted 628 pounds (285 kilograms)