Disappointed yet defiant, Doha looks ahead
(Thu, 24 May 2012 07:02:23 +0100)
(Reuters) - Doha struck a defiant and optimistic pose following the news the city had not made the cut for the final three candidates bidding to host the 2020 Olympic Games. The Qatari capital, along with Azerbaijan's Baku, was not shortlisted by the International Olympic Committee, leaving Istanbul, Madrid and Tokyo in a three-horse race. But while disappointed, the Qataris said it was a matter of "when, not if" Doha would stage the Games, and that the city would look forward to the 2024 race. ...

Japan at full strength for 2014 qualifiers
(Thu, 24 May 2012 06:36:57 +0100)
TOKYO (Reuters) - Shinji Kagawa and Keisuke Honda were named among a full-strength Japan squad by coach Alberto Zaccheroni on Thursday for the final round of Asian 2014 World Cup qualifiers.

Otago union to settle debts, face 'brighter future'
(Thu, 24 May 2012 05:59:50 +0100)
(Reuters) - The cash-strapped Otago Rugby Union (ORFU) will come to a settlement with all of its creditors by the end of the month and can look forward to a "brighter future", the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) said on Thursday. The ORFU faced liquidation in March because they could not service NZ$2.35 million ($1.76 million) of debt, pay players' wages and administrative staff or their bills. Smaller creditors will receive everything they are owed, while bigger companies will get NZ$5,000 and half of what they are owed above that. ...

Tokyo 2020 bid symbol of recovery - PM
(Thu, 24 May 2012 05:55:57 +0100)
TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda said on Thursday that staging the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo would symbolise the country's recovery from last year's deadly tsunami after the city made the International Olympic Committee (IOC) short-list. The race to host the 2020 Games was whittled down to Tokyo, Madrid and Istanbul after Doha and the Azerbaijan capital Baku were dropped by the IOC in Quebec City on Wednesday. The IOC will choose the 2020 host city in Buenos Aires in September 2013. "It is a true honour for Tokyo to be accepted," said Noda. ...

Formula One chairman to be rewarded with equity stake
(Wed, 23 May 2012 22:41:15 +0100)
LONDON (Reuters) - Austrian Peter Brabeck, set to become non-executive chairman of the Formula One motor racing business as it prepares for flotation, will be rewarded with an equity stake potentially worth tens of millions of dollars, a source close to the deal said on Wednesday.

Kenya launches probe after doping allegations report
(Wed, 23 May 2012 19:43:54 +0100)
NAIROBI (Reuters) - Athletics Kenya (AK) has defended the country's athletes against doping allegations made by German national broadcaster ARD and said on Wednesday it would investigate the claims. Last weekend's "Sportschau" programme, under the headline 'Kenyan runners under doping suspicion', claimed widespread abuse of banned substances by some of Kenya's elite runners. Kenya's athletics chiefs said AK would ask the police and immigration department to look into the accusations. ...

Uniqlo signs Djokovic as looks to expand abroad
(Wed, 23 May 2012 18:59:10 +0100)
PARIS (Reuters) - Fast Retailing's Uniqlo has signed tennis star Novak Djokovic to a five-year contract in an attempt to increase its brand appeal among European and U.S.-based shoppers as the company looks to expand outside its home market of Japan. The deal, for an undisclosed sum, will require the top-ranked Serb to wear Uniqlo clothing both on the court and off. He will also be involved in the creation and design of the clothing, he said at a news conference in Paris on Wednesday, dressed in tennis whites with fine red piping. ...

McIlroy plans to prove he is best in the world
(Wed, 23 May 2012 18:41:34 +0100)
VIRGINIA WATER, England (Reuters) - Rory McIlroy has adored Wentworth since he was a youth and wants to prolong his love affair with the course and prove he is the best player in the world by landing his maiden PGA Championship win on Sunday. "I have some great memories of this place," the world number one from Northern Ireland told reporters on the eve of the European Tour's flagship event. "I used to come here every year to watch the World Match Play when it was played here. ...

Tycoons take diamond battle to London court
(Wed, 23 May 2012 18:34:22 +0100)
LONDON (Reuters) - Businessman Arkady Gaydamak has begun a court bid to reclaim millions in unpaid commissions and dividends from "king of diamonds" Lev Leviev, in a battle over Angolan assets that could lay bare the workings of the country's often opaque gem trade. The tussle, which has drawn in Russian rabbis and one of Angola's top military officials, is the latest in a spate of high-profile disputes brought to London by billionaires from Russia and the former Soviet Republics. These include the $6.5 billion (4. ...

London Welsh denied promotion to English Premiership
(Wed, 23 May 2012 18:28:51 +0100)
LONDON (Reuters) - London Welsh, one of the biggest clubs in English rugby in the 1960s and 70s, will not be promoted to the Premiership because their nominated stadium does not meet Rugby Football Union (RFU)standards. London Welsh currently play at the ramshackle Old Deer Park in Richmond that has only one small stand and is barely good enough for championship rugby. In order to try and comply with RFU regulations they made an agreement with Oxford United to play their home fixtures at the fourth tier soccer club's Kassam Stadium if promoted to the Premiership. ...

NYPD chief gives thumbs up to Games security
(Wed, 23 May 2012 17:38:11 +0100)
LONDON (Reuters) - New York's police chief said on Wednesday he was impressed with security planning for this summer's London Olympics, rejecting suggestions that U.S. officials were concerned about arrangements for the games which start next month. Commissioner Raymond Kelly said London's police and security planning was far more comprehensive and organised than had been the case for the Atlanta games in 1996 in which he was personally involved in a federal government role. ...

Betfair joins gaming companies settling with Spain
(Wed, 23 May 2012 16:12:10 +0100)
LONDON (Reuters) - Cash-strapped Spain has raised around 60 million euros ($77 million) in back taxes from gaming companies this week after Britain's Betfair said it had settled with the authorities for a sum of under 10 million euros. Gaming companies are scrambling to pay off their liabilities in time to qualify for online licences the Spanish authorities are due to award on June 1. Betfair said it expected to be awarded a licence covering its sportsbook next month and some casino products and plans to apply for a poker licence shortly afterwards. ...

Heskey released by Aston Villa
(Wed, 23 May 2012 11:34:02 +0100)
LONDON (Reuters) - Former England striker Emile Heskey has been released by Aston Villa, bringing to an end his three-and-a-half-year stay at the club. The 34-year-old, who managed just one goal in 29 appearances for the Midlands club this season, joined Villa from Wigan Athletic in 2009 after spells at Liverpool and Birmingham City. Defender Carlos Cuellar and reserve goalkeeper Brad Guzan have also been released as Villa begin the task of re-modelling a squad that narrowly avoided relegation from the Premier League this season. ...

Racing Club players threatened by gun-toting fans
(Wed, 23 May 2012 08:42:40 +0100)
BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - Armed Racing Club fans stopped a player in the street and threatened to shoot him in the legs if their team failed to win their next game, a team mate who witnessed the incident said.

India to host New Zealand, England this year
(Wed, 23 May 2012 08:15:30 +0100)
MUMBAI (Reuters) - India, traditionally poor tourists, will have an opportunity to improve their test rankings when they host New Zealand and current top-ranked test team England either side of the Twenty20 World Cup in September.

Ramadan sets Muslim athletes extra test at London Games
(Tue, 22 May 2012 19:12:37 +0100)
LONDON (Reuters)- When Malaysian cyclist Azizulhasni Awang opted to postpone his Ramadan fast until after the London Games, the decision was all about going for Olympic gold. Anything that might jeopardise the chance of a medal for the 24-year-old at his second Olympics had to be dealt with sensibly, he says. And going without food and drink between sunrise and sunset every day for four weeks is just too risky. ...

Bulgarian sprinter Eftimova banned for two years
(Tue, 22 May 2012 18:53:28 +0100)
SOFIA (Reuters) - Bulgarian sprinter Inna Eftimova, who was preparing for the London Olympics, has been banned for two years for doping, the Bulgarian athletics federation said on Tuesday. Eftimova, who will turn 24 next month, had tested positive for the human growth hormone somatropin at the world championships in South Korea last year, they said. "We kept the information confidential for a while but now we can officially announce her case," federation president Dobri Karamarinov told reporters. ...

Britain draw Argentina in men's hockey opener
(Tue, 22 May 2012 18:39:34 +0100)
LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's men's hockey team will play their opening match of the London Olympics against Argentina, one of whose players caused a controversy this month with a video filmed in the disputed Falkland islands. Games organisers announced the hockey competition schedule on Tuesday with men's champions Germany starting their tournament with a match against Belgium. In the women's competition, Australia will play regional rivals New Zealand in the opening match while champions Netherlands face their neighbours Belgium. ...

Formula One owner cuts stake in $1.6 bln deal
(Tue, 22 May 2012 17:26:57 +0100)
SINGAPORE/LONDON (Reuters) - Three investment groups have bought a 21 percent stake in Formula One from private equity firm CVC Capital for $1.6 billion ahead of the motor racing company's planned flotation in Singapore.

BlackRock, investors buy $1.6 billion stake in F1 - sources
(Tue, 22 May 2012 17:24:40 +0100)
SINGAPORE/HONG KONG (Reuters) - Private equity firm CVC Capital has sold a $1.6 billion stake in Formula One to three investors including BlackRock ahead of the motor racing company's planned $3 billion initial public offering in Singapore, sources said on Tuesday.

CVC confirms $1.6 billion Formula One deal
(Tue, 22 May 2012 17:24:40 +0100)
LONDON (Reuters) - Private equity firm CVC Capital Partners confirmed on Tuesday that investors Waddell & Reed, Norges Bank and BlackRock had paid $1.6 billion in cash for a 21 percent stake in the Formula One motor racing business. "We look forward to working with our new partners over the coming years," said Donald Mackenzie, a managing partner at CVC, calling the investment great news for Formula 1. CVC, which had owned 63.4 percent of the business, said it would continue to be Formula 1's largest and controlling shareholder. ...