■ SOCCER
Villa rejects bid for Barry
Aston Villa rejected a “renewed offer” from Liverpool for Gareth Barry on Wednesday night after disciplining its captain for giving an unauthorized interview to a British newspaper in which he said he wanted to join the Premier League rival. Barry told Sunday’s News of the World that he wanted to leave Villa, where he has played for 10 years, and join Liverpool so he can get Champions League experience. He also criticized manager Martin O’Neill for appearing as an on-screen commentator for the BBC during last month’s European Championship, saying that O’Neill should have been spending his time trying to persuade him to stay. Several British papers reported on Wednesday that Liverpool had offered an initial bid of £15 million (US$29.9 million), with a further £2 million to follow. “The club have received a renewed offer from Liverpool for the player but that still falls well short of Aston Villa’s evaluation, and has subsequently been rejected,” Villa said on Wednesday night.
■ CRICKET
Kirsten warned over site
India’s cricket board has told coach Gary Kirsten not to comment on the team on his personal Web site. “Kirsten cannot write post-match comments or columns as per our policy,” Ratnakar Shetty, the board’s chief administrator officer, said yesterday, adding that only the team captains were allowed to write newspaper or Web site columns. On the site, garykirsten.com, the South African, who took over in March, said there was a need to introduce a rotation policy, adding that one-day captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni was in need of rest.
■RUGBY
Rent-a-quote’ Krige rebuked
Former Springbok captain Corne Krige was publicly rebuked by current skipper John Smit yesterday for questioning the credentials of stand-in All Blacks skipper Rodney So’oialo. Smit labeled Krige a “rent-a-quote” for voicing surprise that So’oialo, the All Blacks regular backrower, should be captain and openside flanker in place of the injured Richie McCaw for tomorrow’s opening Tri-Nations Test. “As far as McCaw goes, he’s a massive loss from both a playing and leadership perspective. I’m not sure So’oialo commands the same respect,” Krige told the South African rugby Web site keo.co.za. “I thought it was just nothing talk when they were touting So’oialo as a possible openside. His best position is clearly No. 8 and I don’t think his strength is playing toward the ball.” But So’oialo, the All Blacks regular backrower in recent seasons, found a ready ally in Smit who was quick to rubbish Krige, a loose forward and his predecessor as the Springboks captain until retiring in 2004. “I can’t see how much Corne has had to do with Rodney or the experience he’s had of playing against him,” Smit said. “We seem to have a company in South Africa called rent-a-quote and Corne’s at the top of the list at the moment.”
■TENNIS
Mauresmo to skip Olympics
Amelie Mauresmo, who won the women’s singles silver medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics, yesterday announced her withdrawal from the French team for the Beijing Olympics. The former Wimbledon and Australian Open champion was selected only in the doubles as her world ranking has slumped this year due to loss of form and injuries. “Having not been selected in the singles and with a view to maintaining my fitness in the face of a punishing schedule, I have decided not to take part in the Olympic Games and instead focus on the US Open,” Mauresmo said.
■ BASKETBALL
Yao to raffle off China trip
NBA center Yao Ming is raffling a trip to the Beijing Olympics to raise money for his personal foundation, which he launched to help victims of the May 12 earthquake in China. Tickets for the raffle are US$2 and can be purchased via credit card at www.netraffle.org. The winner, to be announced on July 21, will receive round-trip airfare from a US city to Beijing, a seven-day stay at a hotel in Beijing from Aug. 7-14, two tickets to the China-USA basketball game at the Olympics, a US$1,500 cash stipend, a guided tour of the Great Wall of China, two Houston Rockets jerseys autographed by Yao, two tickets to a Rockets game and a chance to meet Yao after a Rockets game.
■OLYMPICS
Stadium construction halted
Construction work on part of the foundations of the London 2012 Olympic stadium has been temporarily halted after asbestos was found on the site. Work on one section was stopped as a precautionary measure to protect workers from exposure to the material, which can cause tumors and other serious illnesses, the Olympic Delivery Authority said on Wednesday. Illness from inhaling asbestos only usually occurs from repeated exposure over a period of time. Activity on the rest of the Olympic site is continuing as normal. “The health and safety of the work force is our No. 1 priority,” said Lawrence Waterman, the ODA’s head of health and safety. “We are working with the relevant authorities and expect work to restart progressively as protective measures are put in place over the next few days.” The stoppage shouldn’t cause too many delays, since construction on the Olympic Stadium site started three months earlier than planned in May.
■SOCCER
FIFA looks for neutral venue
FIFA in Zurich, Switzerland, is searching for a neutral venue to stage two World Cup qualifiers between warring neighbors Sudan and Chad. World soccer’s governing body has told the two countries to play their African Group 10 games in the same city on Sept. 6 and 10. “The city where the matches will be held will be communicated at a later date,” FIFA said in a statement on Wednesday. The World Cup organizing committee suspended a May 31 game scheduled to be played in Omdurman, near Sudan’s capital Khartoum, after diplomatic relations were broken off between the countries. Their border runs along the troubled Sudanese region of Darfur. The matches are also intended to count toward qualifying for the 2010 African Cup of Nations being staged in Angola.
■FORMULA ONE
Singapore prepares for event
Singapore’s preparations for Formula One’s first night grand prix are on track with three months to go, the city-state’s officials said yesterday as organizers released more tickets. Race promoter Singapore GP said it will be releasing tickets for an additional 1,600 grandstand seats on Friday to meet strong demand for the Sept. 28 race. The additional tickets bring the race’s total daily capacity to 100,600 people, the promoter said. “We are pleased to say that we are on schedule in all areas of race preparation,” Lim Neo Chian, chief executive of the Singapore Tourism Board, told reporters during a briefing. Lim said that all road surfacing and resurfacing works have been completed for the 5km street circuit that winds along streets lined with high-rise buildings and newly restored, British colonial-era mansions.
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