Games spirit helps out African nation

In a display of the Olympic spirit, two benefactors stepped forward on Thursday to help the Olympic team from the tiny east African nation of Djibouti which had cash stolen from a fundraiser this week.

Djibouti team attache Ali Wais told Reuters that about A$3,000 (US$1,710) was stolen during an Olympic fundraising evening held by Afican communities on Saturday.

But in a gesture of largesse, a stockbroking firm and a charity offered to replace the missing cash which would pay the accommodation for the athletes' families.

The Sydney office of Melbourne-based broker D&D Tolhurst and the Wesley Mission offered to help out the beleaguered team.

"We've decided to have a whip-round the office," a trader at D&D Tolhurst told Reuters, adding he expected to raise about A$1,500.

Djibouti, with a population of 500,000, is fielding one of the smallest Olympics teams. It has four track and field competitors, and one each in sailing and judo.