COMMONWEALTH GAMES
Victoria breaks with tradition
The Australian state of Victoria is to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games across four regional hubs in a break from the traditional single-city model, the government said yesterday. With no other countries outside Australia making a bid, Victoria was granted an exclusive negotiating period to secure the Games in February. “It’s a great honor to have Victoria chosen as the host venue for the 2026 Commonwealth Games — we can’t wait to welcome the world to all of our state,” Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews said. Victoria’s capital, Melbourne, is to stage the 2026 opening ceremony at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, but the sports are to be spread far and wide. Each of the regional hubs in Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo and Gippsland are to have their own athletes’ village. “It is different,” Andrews said. “I’m sure from [Commonwealth Games authorities’] point of view, it’s a bit riskier than just running it in the middle of a large city, but to do this and to do it well — and we will — there’s an opportunity here ... an opportunity like no other.”
SAILING
Tunisian Olympian dies
Tunisian sailor Eya Guezguez, who competed in the Tokyo Olympics last year, has died at the age of 17 after her boat capsized while training at sea with her twin sister Sarra, who survived the accident, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said on Monday. The IOC said that the pair’s vessel capsized on Sunday in strong winds while they were training with the Tunisian national team. It did not specify where the accident occurred. Guezguez competed along with her twin in Tokyo in the 49er FX event. In a statement, IOC President Thomas Bach called Guezguez “an inspiring talent and role model for her athletes’ generation.” he said that her participation in Tokyo “will continue to motivate girls everywhere.”
SOCCER
UEFA punishes Atletico fans
Atletico Madrid have been ordered to close part of their stadium and display a huge anti-racism sign at their UEFA Champions League return match with Manchester City today, UEFA announced on Monday. European soccer chiefs said that Atletico Madrid fans had shown “discriminatory behavior” during the first leg of their quarter-final at Manchester City. Spanish sports daily Marca ran a video last week of Atletico fans making a Nazi salute during the game. UEFA has told Atletico that they must close a section of at least 5,000 seats and place a “#NoToRacism” banner in the gap.
BASEBALL
Cubs’ Thompson suspended
Chicago Cubs reliever Keegan Thompson was on Monday suspended for three games for hitting Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Andrew McCutchen with a pitch. Cubs manager David Ross was suspended for one game by the MLB. Thompson and Ross were also fined an undisclosed amount. Ross is to serve his suspension when the team play the Pittsburgh Pirates today. If Thompson has not appealed the punishment, he should also begin his suspension with the series opener against the Pirates. Thompson hit McCutchen in the eighth inning of Chicago’s 9-0 win at Wrigley Field on Saturday. Thompson, who was ejected for the first time in his career, said the pitch got away from him.
BOUNCE BACK: Curry scored 46 points in the Warriors’ victory over the Spurs, after ‘everybody stepped up’ following Tuesday’s blowout loss to Oklahoma City Nikola Jokic scoring 50 or more points had never been enough for the Denver Nuggets to win — until now. Jokic on Wednesday night tied the highest-scoring performance in the NBA this season with 55 points, as the Nuggets beat the Los Angeles Clippers 130-116 for their sixth straight victory. The Nuggets were 0-4 in his previous 50-point outbursts. “It’s a good feeling,” the three-time NBA Most Valuable Player said. He equaled Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who had 55 in a double-overtime game at the Indiana Pacers on Oct. 23. Jokic has been on a roll during Denver’s winning streak. He is the
TIGHT GAME: The Detroit Pistons, the NBA’s second-best team, barely outlasted the Washington Wizards, who fell to an NBA-worst 1-10 with their ninth consecutive loss Cade Cunningham’s triple double, Daniss Jenkins’ three-pointer at the buzzer and Javonte Green’s overtime dunk lifted Detroit past Washington 137-135 on Monday, stretching the Pistons’ win streak to seven games. In an unexpected thriller, the NBA’s second-best team barely outlasted a Wizards club that fell to an NBA-worst 1-10 with their ninth consecutive loss. “We knew how big this game was for us,” Jenkins said. “We wasn’t going to let nothing stop us from getting this W.” Cunningham made 14-of-45 shots and 16-of-18 free throws for a career-high 46 points, and added 12 rebounds, 11 assists, five steals and two
The tri-nation Twenty20 international series featuring hosts Pakistan, as well as Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe, is to be played entirely in Rawalpindi from Tuesday next week, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said yesterday, after this week’s suicide bombing in the capital, Islamabad. The change came after at least eight Sri Lankan players asked to leave over security fears following Tuesday’s bombing that killed 12 people and wounded 27. Their country’s cricket board issued a stern directive to the team to stay put or face consequences. Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) said the decision to stay was taken after “close consultations” with hosts Pakistan who
Italian champions SSC Napoli on Sunday came unstuck at Bologna, losing 2-0 to cede the Italian Serie A summit to Inter, who downed SS Lazio by the same scoreline. AS Roma, who beat Udinese 2-0 earlier, briefly held the summit, only for Inter to dislodge them on goal difference. With the game just three minutes old, Lautaro Martinez put Inter in control with Ange-Yoan Bonny doubling the lead on the hour with a shot from close range. Goals in the capital either side of the break by Lorenzo Pellegrini and Zeki Celik sent Gian Piero Gasperini’s Roma temporarily to the
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