Hundreds of Russians gathered for the first day of the annual ''Pig Olympics." The crowd cheered a field of 12 piglets who competed in three events: pig-racing, pig-ball and pig-swimming.

Organizers of the event and the vice-president of the Sport-Pig Federation, which claims around 100 members, Alexei Sharshkov, said the Pig Olympics were organized to deliver a different kind of entertainment to people.

The Chinese capital is beginning an campaign to stop Beijing's "most serious bad habit;" spitting.

In an effort to brighten its image before the 2008 Summer Olympics, officials aren't kidding about fining people for spitting.

KFC is offering consumers an unusual way of getting a free chicken sandwich. All they need to do is record a television commercial, play it back and crack a hidden message.

The aim is two-fold: interested viewers will have to watch the ad. And, according to chief marketing officer Scott Bergren, it creates a little fun on the screen. The ads are airing during NBC's coverage of the Winter Olympics and programs on the major television networks.

A South Korean man is claiming to be the biological father of American skiier Toby Dawson.

Dawson won the bronze medal in men's freestyle skiing moguls at the Turin Games on Wednesday, reports Reuters.

A Jamaican sled-dog racer who has never seen snow is ready to take part in Europe's biggest huskry racing event. The 42-year-old and his four-dog team will compete against 220 other teams and more than 1,000 dogs this weekend. He eventually hopes to compete in the world championships and the Winter Olympics in 2010.

Devon Anderson and his four-dog team, dubbed "welfare dogs," will compete against 220 other teams and more than 1,000 dogs beginning Saturday at Aviemore, Scotland. His efforts are reminiscent of the success of the Jamaican bobsled team, which took part in the 1988 Games in Calgary and provided the inspiration for the 1993 film "Cool Runnings."