SOCCER
‘Bandits’ undermine Euro
“Bandits and swindlers” are undermining Ukraine’s Euro 2012 preparations by pushing accommodation prices up to exorbitant levels, UEFA president Michel Platini said on Thursday. Hotels in Kiev, Donetsk, Kharkiv and Lviv, the four Ukrainian host cities, have hiked prices in some cases more than 10-fold. During a visit to Lviv, Platini said “bandits and swindlers who want to earn a lot of money” could keep fans away from Ukraine. “You cannot raise prices from 40 euros (US$52.50) to 100 euros to 500 euros from one day to the next. That is just not done,” he said. Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych this month ordered his government to investigate price hikes and ensure hotel rates are at an “economically reasonable” level during the championship. The cheapest Lviv hotel listed on UEFA’s championship Web site as available for the Germany-Portugal match on June 9 charges 195 euros per night.
Olympics
Wade does not want money
Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade says money is not his motivation for the London Games this summer. In a statement on Thursday, Wade said: “I do not want to be paid to go to the Olympics.” Wade was quoted on Wednesday as saying he thinks “guys should be compensated” for playing over the summer and noted the schedule demands of being an Olympian. He said he was responding to a question about Olympians being paid, and never said he needed to be paid to play. Wade later tweeted that pride for his country “motivates me more than any $$$ amount.”
TENNIS
French Open ups cash
The French Open will boast total prize money of 18.718 million euros (US$24.6 million) this year, an increase of 7 percent, with more cash targeted at early round losers. The second Grand Slam event of the season is boosting prize money for losers in the second qualifying round up to the fourth round main draw by between 10 and 20 percent, organizers said. This move comes after a series of complaints from the lower-ranked players who protested that early-round losers were being short-changed by the paymasters of the four Grand Slam tournaments.
SOCCER
Balotelli stays at City: agent
Mario Balotelli’s agent says his client won’t leave Manchester City in the offseason. The Italian forward has had a rocky season at the Premier League club, being sent off twice for a total of four red cards since his move from Inter in 2010 and creating numerous headlines off the field. Agent Mino Raiola said on Thursday in an interview with Sky Italia: “I am in Manchester, but not to talk about a transfer. City have no intention of letting Balotelli go.” Raiola added that the player would return to Italy “in a year or two ... but not now.”
SOCCER
Anelka helps out in Shanghai
French striker Nicolas Anelka will temporarily help fellow countryman Jean Tigana to coach Shanghai Shenhua after the big-spending Chinese Super League side sacked three assistant coaches following a poor start to the season. Former Chelsea striker Anelka became the most high-profile player in the Chinese league when he signed up with Shenhua in January. Despite the big-name signings, Shenhua are fifth in the table, having won two out of their five matches so far this term. “We have terminated the services of our three assistant coaches and now Anelka will take over as a temporary measure,” a spokesperson for the club said on Thursday.
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