■NEW ZEALAND
Smoke halts training
New Zealand’s World Cup squad cut short their first training session in South Africa when smoke from a surrounding township made a full workout a threat to the players’ health on Monday. Impoverished households use wood fires and paraffin to keep warm and to cook and the smoke left a low white blanket wafting over Sinaba Stadium in Daveyton, a black settlement about 40km east of Johannesburg. The coaching and medical staff, and captain Ryan Nelsen, huddled on the pitch discussing conditions before deciding on a short stint under the smoke. “It’s probably not ideal but it’s out of our control. Some players will have to go back, though. There are a couple of players we won’t put into this,” coach Ricki Herbert told reporters on the field, referring to those with asthma and other medical concerns. “A light jog and a stretch ... it’ll be very short, not what we had planned,” he said. Herbert said the shorter session would not affect the team’s preparations. “Not at all, I don’t think it matters anything. Unless we get hammered in all three [group games] and then I’ll tell you it did,” he said.
■FANS
Horn poses hearing risk
Fans attending the World Cup risk permanent damage to their hearing from the vuvuzela horns which are the must-have accessory at the tournament, a study said on Monday. The din emitting from the tuneless plastic horns is louder than that from a drum or a chainsaw, according to the survey by hearing aid manufacturer Phonak. It said tests had shown the sound emitted by a vuvuzela was the equivalent to 127 decibels. The sound from a drum was put at 122 decibels while the sound from a referee’s whistle registered 121.8 decibels. “Extended exposure at just 85 decibels puts us at a risk of permanent noise-induced hearing loss,” Phonak said in a statement on the SAPA news agency. “When subjected to 100 decibels or more, hearing damage can occur in just 15 minutes.”
■MERCHANDISE
Spain fakes selling well
If China’s booming market for fake goods is any guide, Spain are on course to end their long World Cup drought next month. Counterfeit versions of the Spanish jersey — whose vibrant colors evoke the red and yellow of the Chinese communist flag — are the top-selling World Cup merchandise on auction sites such as Taobao.com. More than 100,000 jerseys of World Cup teams have been sold online, most of them fakes costing around 50 yuan (US$7.30) each, the China Daily said yesterday, citing online sales data. Pirated Spain kits lead the way with 17,430 sold, followed by the shirts of Germany, England, France, Argentina, Italy, Brazil, Portugal, the Netherlands and Japan, it said. An authentic Spain shirt from Adidas sporting a player’s name costs as much as 1,499 yuan — more than most Chinese earn in a month.
■BUSINESS
Cup could prove costly
The World Cup could cost British businesses a fortune in lost production as employees take time off and waste time nattering about the tournament, a managers’ body said yesterday. The Chartered Management Institute (CMI) said the competition could cost up to £1 billion (US$1.4 billion) in lost production in Britain. The CMI said more than half the 700 bosses they surveyed were “panicking”, fearing that “endless” conversations about soccer would divert employees’ attention from their job. They also were worried that workers would take unauthorized time off to watch matches on television.
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