SKATEBOARDING
Sky Brown chooses Britain
Ten-year-old sensation Sky Brown, who had been a medal hope for Japan at next year’s Tokyo Olympics, yesterday opted to qualify under the British flag. The YouTube star, born to a Japanese mother and a British father, said that Britain offered a more relaxed approach. “I chose to compete for Britain because they told me: ‘Have fun, there’s no pressure,’ and I feel like that’s the best way for me to skate my best,” Brown said. “We would have liked Sky to skate for Japan, but it’s her choice and we wish her luck,” Japan Roller Sports Federation skateboarding committee chairman Takehisa Miyazawa said. “Japan has good depth in women’s skateboarding,” he said, pointing to teenagers Sakura Yosozumi and Kisa Nakamura.
FORMULA ONE
Race director Whiting dies
Race director Charlie Whiting has died from a pulmonary embolism three days before the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. He was 66. Governing body FIA issued a statement saying Whiting died yesterday morning in Melbourne. Whiting began his career in 1977 working at the Hesketh team and later moved to Bernie Eccelstone’s Brabham team in the 1980s. He joined FIA in 1988 and became a race director in 1997. Whiting was active in making F1 safer and was widely acknowledged as a calming influence.
SOCCER
No vote on world league
FIFA has backed away from a vote on a planned “Worldwide Nations League” tournament after its task force reported that it was unable to find consensus on a format. The FIFA Council had been expected to decide in Miami this week whether to introduce the tournament, but the task force concluded that a vote should not take place. However, the council is to vote today on whether to hold a “pilot” edition of a 24-team Club World Cup in 2021. That plan is opposed by UEFA and Europe’s professional leagues, which do not want to start any new competitions until at least 2025. The council is also to discuss plans for expanding the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to 48 teams with possible additional hosts.
CANADA
Abuse unit established
Minister for Science and Sport Kirsty Duncan on Wednesday announced the formation of an investigative unit to combat harassment, abuse and discrimination in sport, among other measures. An investigation by Canadian Broadcasting Corp last month found widespread abuse across the amateur sport system, with at least 222 coaches having been convicted of sexual offenses in the past 20 years in cases involving more than 600 underage victims. Duncan introduced measures to protect athletes, including the threat to withhold funding, and announced a third-party investigative unit that would be available to national sport organizations. She also introduced a national toll-free help line staffed by professionals that would be available to victims and witnesses of abuse, discrimination or harassment. The investigative unit and help line were operational as of Tuesday, Duncan said. She has warned sports federations that to get funding from the government, they need to act swiftly on complaints while putting mechanisms in place to protect athletes or risk having that funding pulled.
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
Taiwan’s Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan on Saturday won the men’s doubles bronze medal at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China, after they were bested by the hosts in their semi-final. The Taiwanese shuttlers lost to China’s Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang, who advanced to yesterday’s final against Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzudin. The Chinese pair outplayed Lee and Yang in straight games. Although the Taiwanese got off to a slow start in the first game, they eventually tied it 14-14, before Liang and Wang went on to blow past them to win 21-17. In the second game, Lee and