38
filipino globe
palakasan
May 2008
Sichuan quake tragedy
tempers relay fervor
The Beijing Olympic torch relay
concluded its journey in Nanchang
OlYMPICUPDATE
the capital of Central China’s
countdown continues
Jiangxi province on Friday.
The launching ceremony
began with one minute of silence
to mourn the victims in the
earthquake in Sichuan.
Performances and ceremonies
were simplified and downscaled.
The relay kicked off at 8:10am
on Bayi Square, with Peng Bo, suit,’’ Larry Hilton, an attorney for
men’s three-meter springboard gold TYR, said.
medalist in Athens Olympic Games “The lawsuit is about TYR
as the first torchbearer. wanting athletes not having to make
Along the route, charity boxes were their decision about what suit to
set up to raise money for the victims. wear at the pool through what we
Jiangxi has so far collected more believe is the unfair dissemination
than 80 million yuan in the three legs of information by the national
including Ruijin, Jinggangshan and governing body of the sport.
Nanchang. * * *
After Nanchang, the Olympic torch Double world sprint champion Tyson
will continue its relay in Wenzhou in Gay is already feeling the pressure
Zhejiang province. of expectation in his build-up to
* * * Beijing.
The pre-Olympics saga of the record- Although the softly spoken
Oscar Pistorius can be picked for the South African relay squad to the Beijing Games without qualifying.
breaking LZR Racer swimsuit has American ruled the roost at last
taken a new twist, with manufacturer year’s world championships by
TYR Sport suing the suit’s maker winning the 100m-200m double,
Speedo in the United States. he is wary of entering uncharted
It alleges Speedo conspired with territory in Beijing.
Double amputee gets
the US swimming federation to “I am real nervous about this year,”
stifle competition and lure top Gay, 25, said in the build-up to this
American athletes away from other weekend’s Adidas Track Classic
firms. The lawsuit filed in US in which Australia will have seven
federal court challenges Speedo’s competitors. I have never been to
financial relationship with the sport’s the Olympics before so I don’t really
nod for Olympic try
American governing body and the know what to expect.
head coach of the US team, Mark “People tell me: ‘Hey, in the
Schubert. world champs, you can look to the
South African wins landmark appeal to compete with able-bodied athletes
TYR claims Warnaco Swimwear, right of you and see some empty
the parent company of Speedo, has stands, look to the left and see a
violated American antitrust laws by few empty stands’. But when the
his carbon fiber blades gave him a
conspiring with USA Swimming Olympics come, I was told in the
mechanical advantage.
and Schubert to promote the benefits morning rounds you are going to see
D
ouble-amputee sprinter Oscar
Pistorius won his appeal on
Friday and can compete for a A two-day hearing was held before
of wearing the LZR suit at the thousands of people in the stands
place in the Beijing Olympics. a panel of three arbitrators at CAS
Olympics in Beijing. and in the evening rounds, you are
The Court of Arbitration for Sport headquarters last month.
“This is not about Speedo going to see stands completely full.”
ruled that the 21-year-old South “The IAAF Council’s decision of
technology. Speedo makes a great he said.
African is eligible to race against 14 January 2008 is revoked with
able-bodied athletes, overturning immediate effect and the athlete is
a ban imposed by the International eligible to compete in IAAF events,”
Association of Athletics Federations. CAS said Friday.
CAS said the unanimous ruling The IAAF said it accepted the
goes into effect immediately. binding decision. “Oscar will be
“As you can imagine I have been welcomed wherever he competes
struggling to hide my smile for the this summer,” IAAF president
last half an hour,” Pistorius told Lamine Diack said in a statement.
reporters in Milan, Italy. “I can “He is an inspirational man and
definitely say the truth has come out. we look forward to admiring his
We have the opportunity once again achievements in the future.”
to chase my dream of participating Pistorius holds the 400 meter
in an Olympics, if not in 2008 then
in 2012.”
e haW ve the
Paralympic world record of 46.56
seconds, but that time is outside
Pistorius must still reach a
opportunity once
the Olympic qualifying standard of
qualifying time to run in the 45.55. His training has also been
individual 400 meters at the August again to chase disrupted by the appeal process.
8-24 Beijing Games. However, he
can be picked for the South African
my dream of
Even if Pistorius fails to get the
qualifying time, South African
relay squad without qualifying.
participating in
selectors could add the University
Pistorius appealed to CAS, world of Pretoria student to the Olympic
sport’s highest tribunal, to overturn
an Olympics
1,600-meter relay squad. Pistorius
a Jan. 14 ruling by the IAAF which would not require a qualifying time
Speedo is accused of conspiring with the US Swimming Association to stifle
banned him from competing against
OSCAR PISTORIUS
and could be taken to Beijing as an
competition. The lawsuit also challenges its financial dealings.
able-bodied runners. The IAAF said
Double-amputee athlete
alternate.
Barkley blames self as he owns up to US$400,000 Las Vegas gambling debt
Charles Barkley (right) has Barkley was responding to complaint filed “To date, and despite repeated that the debt stemmed from a wager
acknowledged he owes a comments by Clark County District last week in a demands, Barkley has refused on the 2008 Super Bowl. He did not
US$400,000 gambling debt to a Las Attorney David Roger, who said Nevada state court to repay the US$400,000,” the explain why Wynn alleged the loans
Vegas Strip casino and promised prosecutors would file a criminal and first reported complaint said. were made in October. “I’ve been
to repay it after a prosecutor said complaint if he did not pay the debt by the Las Vegas In a radio interview with sports gambling 20 years. I’ve never had
the retired NBA star faced criminal cited by the Wynn Las Vegas resort. Sun that Barkley station WJOX in Birmingham, this happen before,” he said.
charges. “He’ll have an opportunity like failed to repay Alabama, Barkley repeatedly Barkley, now a basketball analyst
“My mistake,” Barkley said in an anybody else to make restitution to four US$100,000 casino markers, blamed himself for letting the debt for Turner Network Television,
interview. “I’m not broke, and I’m the hotel,” Roger said. or loans, received last October 18 lapse. He told radio interviewers denied any personal financial
going to take care of it.” The casino alleged in a civil and 19. and a reporter at a golf tournament problems.
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