■ Curling
Six teams end in tie at top
Norway lost to Switzerland 8-6 in the final round of matches Thursday to fall into a six-way tie for first place at the curling world championship in Victoria, British Columbia. Norway, Scotland, Germany, the US, Canada and Finland all finished 8-3 in round-robin play at the 12-team tournament. Scotland and Germany will advance to the four-team playoffs as the top two seeds because of tiebreaking procedures. Norway will face the US today, and Canada will take on Finland -- with the winners also advancing.
■ Soccer
Fans build virtual stadium
Austrian soccer fans frustrated by snags in building a stadium for the 2008 European Championship have opted to build a virtual one of their own -- on the Internet. Software design company Datenkraft drew a virtual stadium and posted it on the Web (www.rettetdieem.at) after the proposed venue in Klagenfurt became bogged down in disputes over contract-bidding irregularities and government funding. Fans are invited to pick seats and pledge to purchase tickets -- all in support of having some of the Euro 2008 matches remain in Austria.
■ Asian Games
Vietnam enters bid to host
Vietnam's Olympic Committee said Friday it has entered a bid to host the 2014 Asian Games. The committee sent a letter to the Kuwait-based Olympic Council of Asia expressing its interests in organizing the region's biggest sporting event, said Nguyen Hong Minh, vice president of Vietnam's Olympic Committee. The OCA said in a statement earlier this week that India, Jordan and North Korea had also filed letters of intent by the March 31 deadline to bid for the quadrennial event.
■ Soccer
Meeting addresses racism
A two-day international conference on the fight against racism at soccer stadiums was to open in Bratislava, Slovakia capital Friday. Some 100 participants from 38 groups from around Europe which fight against racism in soccer were to participate in the conference organized by People Against Racism, a civic group. Guests at the conference were to include UEFA spokesman William Gaillard and EU Education Commissioner Jan Figel, organizers said. Slovakia, which is hosting the conference, has had its troubles with soccer-related racism in the past. In 2003, Slovakia was ordered to play a home game in an empty stadium because of racist chanting and crowd trouble during a 2004 European Championships qualifier against England. UEFA also fined the Slovak Football Federation. British officials said taunts aimed at black England players Emile Heskey and Ashley Cole were the worst they had heard at a soccer game. Baton-wielding Slovak police fought with thousands of English fans at the stadium. The English Football Association was also ordered to pay a fine because of bad fan behavior.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely