Sun, Jun 10, 2007 page23

• Sports Briefs

  • AGENCIES
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  ■ OLYMPICS

  IOC considers skateboarding

  Skateboarding could make its Olympic debut at the 2012 London Games. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said on Friday it has held discussions with cycling's world governing body about introducing skateboarding as a discipline for the London program. Skateboarding events are part of the X Games, and the IOC is eager to modernize the Olympic program with sports and disciplines that appeal to youth. It has already added snowboarding to the Winter Games and BMX cycling for next year's Beijing Olympics. "The IOC wants to make the program relevant for young people," IOC spokeswoman Emmanuelle Moreau said.

  ■ TENNIS

  Molik's woes turn to joy

  Alicia Molik put her injury woes behind her when she partnered Mara Santangelo to capture her first grand slam doubles title in over two years at the French Open on Friday. The Australian-Italian duo overcame seventh seeds Katarina Srebotnik and Ai Sugiyama 7-6 6-4 to claim their first major trophy together. Molik put away a smash on match point and jumped into the arms of Santangelo as the 17th seeds bounced around court to celebrate their victory over their Slovenian and Japanese opponents. "You saw our joy out there on the courts. That's how much it means to both Mara and I," said Molik, who missed the first six months of last season with an inner ear infection. "It's obviously been a long journey for me, back from an injury and it's moments like these that you really pinch yourself and realize why you put in those long hours of practice, and why you work so hard and diligently. It's a great achievement for both of us."

  ■ MOTORCYCLING

  Three die at TT races

  A rider and two spectators died in the final event of the Isle of Man TT on Friday in a crash that cast a pall over the 100th anniversary celebrations of the sports oldest and deadliest road races. The official TT Web site named the rider as 34-year-old Briton Marc Ramsbotham, a married man and newcomer to the event. One spectator died at the scene of the accident, the 26th milestone on the mountain course, and another later in hospital. Two more were injured. The Norfolk rider was competing in the six-lap Senior TT (Tourist Trophy), a blue riband event watched by tens of thousands of visitors to the island as well as former champions including John Surtees and Giacomo Agostini.

  ■ SOCCER

  Players donate to charity

  England's players have agreed to donate their international wages to charity, according to a report in yesterday's Daily Mail. A new Team England Footballers' Charity has pledged a minimum of ?1 million (US$1.98 million) over the next four years to good causes, the newspaper said. "I am not going to say we are saving the world or that we should have haloes fitted but as a group the England players wanted to make a difference," David Beckham's manager Terry Byrne told the Mail. "Some people will look at this and say, `what's ?50,000 to someone who can earn that in a week?' But the players didn't have to do this, they chose to. They wanted to do some good." Brian Barwick, chief executive of the Football Association, backed the move by the players. "I am obviously very pleased the whole squad has taken this initiative," Barwick said. Among the charities set to benefit is the Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research, named after the late captain of the 1966 England World Cup-winning team.
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