■ Asian Games
Koreas to field unified team
The two Koreas have agreed in principle to field a unified team at next year's Asian Games. The agreement came during a meeting between the heads of the North and South Olympic organizations in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou, the South's Korean Olympic Committee said in a statement yesterday. Further details will be hammered out at working-level talks in the near future. North and South Korea also tentatively agreed to form a unified Korean soccer team to compete in friendly matches against Brazil next spring in Pyongyang and Seoul.
■ Rugby
Blue Bulls player killed
South African police opened a culpable homicide docket on Wednesday following the death of popular Blue Bulls center Ettienne Botha, who was killed in a car accident in the early hours of the morning, a spokesman said. Botha, 26, was killed when his car crashed and overturned on a highway outside his home city Pretoria, police spokesman Lucas Sithole said. "The investigation is still at an early stage but I can confirm that a case of culpable homicide has been opened," Sithole told the SAPA news agency. Meanwhile condolences have been pouring in for Botha, who had 30 Super 12 and 84 provincial caps (44 for the Blue Bulls) and who had scored a total of 390 points in the two competitions. "Ettienne was an outstanding young talent and a very popular young man. He was well liked by friends and opponents alike," SA Rugby chief executive Johan Prinsloo said.
■ Golf
Garcia fined for kicking
World number six Sergio Garcia has been fined by the European Tour following an incident at last week's European Masters at Crans-sur-Sierre in Switzerland. The 25-year-old Spaniard, who went on to win the title by a shot, was punished after being reported for kicking an advertising board after he three-putted the 17th during the third round. Although the level of the fine was not disclosed by the European Tour on Wednesday, it is believed to be in the region of US$9,000. It is the second large fine Garcia has received for bad behavior since he turned professional in 1999. He was also penalized after he kicked a buggy and berated a tour official at the 2001 Greg Norman Holden International in Australia. It is Garcia's third misdemeanor on tour. At the 1999 World Match Play Championship at Wentworth, he was reprimanded for throwing a shoe and hitting a tournament official in a fit of pique after he slipped on the tee.
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