■ Soccer
Barcelona aids AIDS victims
The Barcelona soccer club and the UN children's agency, UNICEF, announced a deal on Thursday in which the team will donate US$1.9 million a year over the next five years to help poor children with AIDS in developing countries. The first installment of the club's money will pay for AIDS programs in Swaziland, a tiny, impoverished country in southern Africa where some 40 percent of adults are infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. The money will fund efforts to prevent mother-to-child transmission and infection among adolescents and to support and care for children orphaned by the disease. As part of the deal, the Spanish and European champion's scarlet and blue jersey will have UNICEF's logo on its front, the first time in the club's 107-year history it has allowed such an arrangement.
■ Boxing
Holyfield eyes fifth title
Evander Holyfield, the first four-time world heavyweight champion, wants to become the first to win five. The 43-year-old Holyfield continues the long comeback road against Fres Oquendo of Puerto Rico on Nov. 10 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. "I am asked all the time why I still fight," Holyfield said on Thursday at a Manhattan press conference. "My answer is always the same. I want to reach my goal. And that goal is to become a world champion one more time."
■ Athletics
IAAF expresses concern
World athletics governing body International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) yesterday expressed concern over reports of doping at a Chinese sports school, reportedly involving students as young as 15. "Clearly the IAAF is concerned any time there is a report of doping or doping methods being used in our sport," said Chris Butler, communications manager for the IAAF. Authorities making a snap inspection last month discovered 448 doses of illegal performance enhancing drugs at the Anshan Athletics School in Liaoning Province.
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