Olympic Spirit

Summer may have started a while back, but July is when things really pick up in Ocean City. Accordingly, the town has a ton of free programs in July. Here is a calendar, so you know what there is to do for free in O.C. each day of the week: Family Fun Olympics: Everyone will be in the Olympic spirit once the games start at the end of July. So, join in the fun with free competitive events for families. Events to include tug of war, relays, castles contests and other friendly competitions.

For 15 white-water slalom canoe-kayak competitors, the journey to the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain, will begin in Western Maryland.Garrett County's Savage River was designated yesterday as the site of the U.S. white-water team trials, to be held May 16-17.More than 100 paddlers are expected to compete for the 15 Olympic slots in men's singles and doubles canoe, and men's and women's singles kayak."We think it's the best river in the country for having these white-water races," said Bill Endicott, U.S. Canoe and Kayak Team head coach.

Television is still suffering an Olympic hangover, as well as a stunning lack of new material. Why don't you read a book?"Rosie O'Donnell" (10 a.m.-11 a.m.) -- It's a good day to check out the new darling of daytime talk shows when Rosie quizzes Kurt Russell, who's back in action in "Escape From L.A.," and horror novelist Anne Rice."Mad About You" (8 p.m.-8: 30 p.m., WBAL, Channel 11) -- The cute-couple comedy that had such relationship angst last season settles into its new time slot with a repeat in which Paul (Paul Reiser)

ATLANTA -- They came to Atlanta, 42,000 strong, not in search of Olympic glory but to lend a hand as volunteers.Yesterday, just hours after a pipe bomb ripped through a country's spirit, those volunteers were back to work -- checking bags, taking tickets, giving directions."

Of the legions of untalented singers who try out for American Idol every year, William Hung was quite possibly the absolute worst. Which, of course, has made him famous -- leading to TV exposure, a recording contract (his new CD, Inspiration, is just out) and a fan club. Hung, though, is far from the first to rise to fame through awfulness or embarrassment. Many mediocre types have garnered a share of the limelight thanks to their abysmal lack of talent or lack of shame. Here are some of the best of the worst: * Tiny Tim: He rose to fame in the 1960s performing his signature song, "Tip-Toe Through the Tulips," in a grating falsetto to the high-pitched twang of a ukulele.

Organizers working to bring the 2012 Summer Olympic Games to the Washington-Baltimore area have launched a series of public service announcements starring local athletes, designed to boost grass-roots support for the bid. The television and radio commercials, featuring Cal Ripken Jr., Redskins cornerback Darrell Green, Olympic gold medalist Dominique Dawes, Paralympian Beth Scott and tennis personality Pam Shriver, will appear on Comcast local cable networks,...

BEIJING -- By the time the Atlanta Olympics end Sunday, China probably will have achieved its goal of winning 15 gold medals. But many people here strongly believe the country's athletes would have won many more if the world had not plotted against them.China's gripes go beyond the lack of Chinese food in the Olympic Village and Atlanta's well-documented organizational mishaps: According to official reports and many ordinary people, a worldwide conspiracy is afoot to deny China gold medals.

Michael Phelps' run for eight gold medals may have ended prematurely, but his role as company pitchman is expected to have staying power. He won't get the $1 million bonus Speedo International Ltd. promised if he beat Mark Spitz's 1972 record for winning seven gold medals in a single Olympics. Some people think the front of a Wheaties box might be slightly farther from his reach, too. But marketing executives largely agree that the bet many advertisers made on the Towson swimmer before the 28th Summer Olympiad in Athens, Greece, was a very sound one. After all, he's still raking in medals - he won two golds yesterday to run his total to three golds and two bronzes.

The time seems appropriate to haul out the time-honored query: What if they held a such-and-such and nobody came?The object in this case is a potential Olympic Games taking place in Beijing come the year 2000. And if indeed no one did show up, the questions that follow are:Would it serve as the greatest embarrassment since the proliferation of the nuclear arms race, or wouldn't we all be the better for it?The city in China and Sydney, Australia, are said to be the leading candidates among the half-dozen cities vying for the "honor" to be bestowed later this year.