OLYMPICS
CONI endorses Rome’s bid
Rome’s bid to host the 2024 Olympic Games was unanimously endorsed by the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) on Thursday in what bid president Luca di Montezemolo described as an important signal of support. CONI’s 64 members all voted to back the candidacy at a meeting held in Milan. Rome’s rivals to stage the games include Boston, Hamburg and Paris. “This was not only a formal step, but also an important signal of support from across the world of Italian sport for an event that is, at heart, a celebration of sport and its athletes,” Di Montezemolo said in a statement issued by the Rome bid. “It was very pleasing to receive the full backing and encouragement of the federation presidents at Coni today.” “The fact that this message of support was delivered in Milan is also of great significance, because the Rome Games will not simply be an Olympics of the Capital, but the Olympics of all Italy,” he added. “Venues will not be restricted to the city limits, but spread across the nation. We want these Games to be an opportunity for growth and investment for the whole country — a sporting festival that will represent a triumph of beauty, culture, technology and sustainability.” Former Ferrari president Di Montezemolo, who also led the organizing committee when Italy hosted the 1990 World Cup, was appointed in February to lead the bid.
RUGBY UNION
Muliaina formally charged
British police have charged former All Blacks rugby star Mils Muliaina with sexual assault over an incident that took place in Cardiff four months ago, it was reported yesterday. The 34-year-old fullback, who won 100 caps for the All Blacks over a nine-year period, was charged after being interviewed by South Wales Police on Wednesday, the New Zealand Herald reported. “Mils Muliaina has been charged with sexual assault on a female aged 16 or over. He is scheduled to appear at Cardiff Magistrates Court on the 7th August 2015,” a police statement cited by the newspaper said. Muliaina was arrested in early April after playing for Irish club Connacht in a loss to Gloucester, with television pictures showing police leading him from Kingsholm Stadium. He was bailed after agreeing to return to Wales on July 1 for further police interviews. The Herald reported that the alleged assault, on a 19-year-old Cardiff woman, occurred in the first week of March on the same night Muliaina was out with teammates in the Welsh capital.
CYCLING
Brazilian dies in crash
A Brazilian cyclist was killed and two other riders were critically injured in a crash on Thursday during an international bicycle race near Washington, police said. One cyclist blew out a tire and lost control, colliding with the other two riders at the annual World Police and Fire Games, which drew about 12,000 first responders and law enforcers to compete in sporting events in the Washington area, police said. Carlos Silva, 48, died from his injuries a few hours after the early-afternoon crash in Dumfries, Virginia, about 56km south of Washington, Prince William County police said. The other injured cyclists, identified only as two men aged 44 and 43, were hospitalized in critical condition. The 10-day event draws competitors from about 70 nations to compete in events that include hockey, tennis, wrestling, archery, shooting and swimming. “Our thoughts and prayers are with our injured competitors,” event officials wrote on Facebook.
College basketballer Kaitlyn Chen has become the first female player of Taiwanese descent to be drafted by a WNBA team, after the Golden State Valkyries selected her in the third and final round of the league’s draft on Monday. Chen, a point guard who played her first three seasons in college for Princeton University, transferred to the University of Connecticut (UConn) for her final season, which culminated in a national championship earlier this month. While at Princeton, Chen was named the Ivy League tournament’s most outstanding player three times from 2022 to last year. Prior to the draft, ESPN described Chen as
College basketballer Kaitlyn Chen (陳凱玲) has become the first player of Taiwanese descent to be drafted by a WNBA team, after being selected by the Golden State Valkyries in the third and final round of the league's draft yesterday. Chen, a point guard who played her first three seasons in college for Princeton University, transferred to the University of Connecticut (UConn) for her final season, which culminated in a national championship on April 6. While at Princeton, Chen was named the Ivy League tournament's most outstanding player three times from 2022 to last year. Prior to the draft, ESPN described Chen as a
Japan yesterday secured a second consecutive Billie Jean King Cup finals appearance with a 2-1 win over 2023 champions Canada, thanks to Ena Shibahara and Shuko Aoyama’s 6-3, 5-7, 6-2 win over Kayla Cross and Rebecca Marino in the qualifying doubles decider. Shibahara and Aoyama powered through the opening set 6-3, breaking twice for a quick 3-0 lead. Cross and Marino hit back in the second, edging it 7-5 to level the match, before the Japanese pair regained control in the third. Canada’s 18-year-old Victoria Mboko edged Shibahara 6-4, 6-7 (8/10), 7-5 in a marathon opening clash. Mboko fired eight aces to
DAY OF BLOWOUTS: Elsewhere, the Lakers clinched the third seed in the Western Conference with a 140-109 pounding of the under-strength Houston Rockets The Denver Nuggets on Friday improved their playoff position, with a triple double from Nikola Jokic helping them to a 117-109 win over the Memphis Grizzlies. The Serbian put up 26 points, 13 assists and 16 rebounds. The triple-double performance, his 34th this season, ensured that he will finish the regular season as just the third NBA player to average a triple double across an entire season. The win meant the Nuggets improved to 49-32 on the season and gave them a real chance of grabbing fourth place and home-court advantage in the playoffs. Aaron Gordon top scored with 33 points for Denver,
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