WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2014 SPORTS IOC to respect Scotland vote; athletes protected

BERLIN: The International Olympic they would vote “No” to independence had Committee promised Scottish athletes’ inter- dropped to 39 percent, down from 45 percent ests would be “safeguarded” ahead of the a month ago. 2016 Rio Olympics should Scotland vote in “Yes” support was slightly behind at 38 per- favor of independence on Sept 18. If Scotland cent but had gained ground from 32 percent a votes to break away from the United month ago. More than four million Scots and Kingdom, Scottish athletes who competed for residents of Scotland are eligible to vote in Britain at the 2012 summer Olympics in next week’s referendum. Tennis player Andy London would not be eligible to do so with Murray, cyclist Chris Hoy and rower Katherine that country in Rio. Grainger were among the Scots who won “We respect democratic decisions. We gold medals for Britain in 2012. always do. But you can see from previous The IOC has options for athletes, whose decisions we have been taking in similar cases nation’s status as independent is not yet offi- that we are always safeguarding the interests cially ratified with athletes in the past compet- of the athletes,” IOC President Thomas Bach ing in the Games under the Olympic flag. said. In order for Scottish athletes to compete Athletes from the former Yugoslav Republic of under an independent flag in Brazil in less Macedonia for example competed at the 1992 than two years time, should they vote in favor Barcelona Games under the Olympic flag with of independence, they would need a national their national Olympic Committee not yet in Olympic committee (NOC). For that to happen place. East Timor athletes did the same in and for the NOC to be recognized by the IOC it 2000 with their country in transition to inde- would first require a United Nations recogni- pendence, as did a South Sudanese athlete at tion of the independent nation of Scotland. the 2012 Games. Indian athletes also marched The rival campaigns in Scotland’s fight over in the opening ceremony of the 2014 Sochi independence are running neck-and-neck Winter Games under the Olympic flag with nine days before the referendum, with a surge their country at the time banned from the in support for those who wish to break away Olympics over problems with an election from the UK. The number of people saying process. — Reuters Furious Australia

slam ‘deliberate MADRID: Argentina’s forward Luis Scola (left) vies with Brazil’s forward Marcus Vieira (center) and Brazil’s centre Tiago Splitter during the 2014 FIBA World basketball championships round of 16 match Brazil vs Argentina at the Palacio de los Deportes in Madrid on September 7, 2014. — AFP

defeat’ allegations BASKETBALL SYDNEY: Basketball Australia have reacted court behavior displayed by Australia in furiously to allegations their team deliber- that game generated huge disappoint- ately lost a game at the World Cup last ment by basketball fans and experts,” FIBA week, saying they were “downright wrong” said in a statement. “It is widely suspected Can anyone slow and an insult to the country’s sporting cul- that Australia lost the game in order to ture. Basketball’s world governing body avoid having to face reigning world cham- FIBA opened disciplinary proceedings pions USA until the semi-finals.” against Australia on Monday over suspi- Basketball Australia said they were cions they had lost a game against Angola cooperating with the FIBA probe and had down US, Spain? in order to delay an encounter with power- put forward a ‘strong and detailed’ case house the United States. explaining why they had rested some play- “Basketball Australia categorically rejects ers because of injury and restricted the MADRID: From the start of the 2014 FIBA points per game. Goran Dragic is a much bigger coming from Group A in Granada. Serbia will be any suggestion that the Australian Boomers game time of others because of fatigue. Basketball World Cup, the United States and Spain piece of the puzzle for Slovenia with 16.5 points a underdogs against Brazil, having lost to them in were a party to contriving the result of the “That decision was supported by clear and have been on a collision course from two differ- game and combines with his brother Zoran group play. But Serbia were also underdogs 2014 FIBA World Cup game between definitive medical advice,” the statement ent sides of the bracket. Slovenia get their chance Dragic and Domen Lorbek for a pretty lethal trio against Greece and they blew out the previously- Australia and Angola,” read a statement added. “The health and wellbeing of our to derail the American express in the quarter- on the perimeter. undefeated Greeks. The Serbs know they can released yesterday. “The Australian Boomers players is paramount. The World Cup finals while extra motivated France face off again The first quarter-final in Barcelona has knock off Brazil as they turned a 16-point halftime went into the game against Angola to win - group stage schedule of five games in six with Spain. The United States have been beating Lithuania taking on Turkey. Lithuania have lost deficit into a seven-point lead in the fourth quar- plain and simple. “Claims to the contrary are days is, put simply, gruelling. “It takes a sig- opponents by 31.5 points and no one has chal- just once in the competition despite losing their ter before losing 81-73. widely speculative, insulting to the nificant toll on athletes - and is precisely lenged them closer than 20 points. Still, US coach point guard Mantas Kalnietis just days before the Still, Serbia coach Sasha Djordjevic was full of Australian sporting culture and to our play- the reason why FIBA allows a roster of 12 Mike Krzyzewski warned against overconfidence World Cup started. With Kalnietis in Spain looking praise of Brazil, who’s only loss thus far was ing group who gave their very best active players.” as his team plays against Slovenia - a side the on, Toronto Raptors center Jonas Valanciunas has against Spain. “They have incredible experience, throughout this tournament. The Boomers were eliminated in a 65- Americans beat in a warm-up just before the been the man for the Lithuanians, leading the are an incredible team, maybe the best Brazilian 64 defeat by Turkey in the first knockout World Cup. team in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots. team ever,” said Djordjevic. The final quarter will They’re downright wrong round on Sunday and Basketball Australia “You have to forget the friendly, because they Turkey meanwhile never give up and have shown be France v Spain, who won the group stage Few crimes are perceived as being said they were looking forward to the FIBA were holding their guys back. They were going to the ability to win games late with big shots - see game 88-64. France on Monday were named as more heinous in Australian sport than giv- investigation being concluded as quickly get started right there in pool play, and Goran Cenk Aykol’s three-pointer late against Finland to hosts of the EuroBasket 2015 and the team will be ing less than 100 percent at all times, or as possible. “Let us be extremely clear on (Dragic) was held down in minutes in that game,” force overtime and Emir Preldzic’s long ball with that much more excited. Les Bleus also knocked ‘tanking’ as it is known in local vernacular. this point: we, as Australians, always com- Krzyzewski said. “So, they’ve gotten better, and five seconds to play in their Round of 16 victory off Spain in the semi-finals of EuroBasket 2013. Tennis player Bernard Tomic’s relationship pete the right way,” the statement ended. he has become even more of a factor as the over Australia. While the Barcelona quarter-finals Spain have been dominant so far, especially Pau with his country was severely, and perhaps “The Australian Boomers are renowned for leader of the team. But for us, too, we’ve gotten will be playing on Tuesday, the Madrid quarter- and Marc Gasol, who are combining for 31.8 permanently, damaged two years ago after their tenacity, competitiveness and hunger better since then.” Five Americans average in dou- finals - Serbia v. Brazil and Spain v France - take points per game. The semi-finals are tomorrow he was accused of giving up during a to win. Basketball Australia supports a ble figures, led by big man Anthony Davis at 13.8 play on Wednesday in Madrid, with all four teams and Friday. — AFP match against Andy Roddick at the US clean game, playing to win, and above all, Open. At the World Cup in Spain last integrity in the sport. “As a world leader in Thursday, the Boomers were beaten 91-83 integrity education, we welcome FIBA’s by Angola in the group stage, the result scrutiny - and we look forward to a resolu- British GT title showdown awaits ensuring Australia finished third instead of tion which closes the book on these funda- second in their preliminary pool. “The on- mentally inaccurate allegations.” — Reuters Al Harthy at the Donington Park

KUWAIT: Ahmad Al Harthy is busy making final preparations ahead of this coming weekend’s final round of the Avon Tyres British GT Championship at Donington Park Grand Prix Circuit where the Oman Racing Team driver, along with regular partner Michael Caine, has a chance of winning the 2014 title. The task await- ing the race winning duo at the famous East Midlands track is by no means an easy or straightforward one, with a big points gap to bridge in round 10, but whatever the outcome on Sunday, 14th September, it’s been a sensa- tional season for the Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3 duo. Only the No 4 Oman Racing Team pairing can prevent Ecurie Ecosse driver Marco Attard from claiming the coveted title but with the BMW Z4 pilot taking a 28.5 point lead into the champi- onship finale, overhauling the Scotsman won’t be easy with a maximum of 37.5 points available for the win. Ahmad and Caine have to win the Donington race, with Attard and his team-mate Alexander Sims finishing no higher than sev- that really would be a dream outcome, but if we in the team garage will be electric. enth. Should that precise result occur, the Oman can end the season in the top three it’ll be a “We know Donington will be tough, but we Racing Team duo would claim the British GT great achievement.” can’t wait”, added Oman Air, Oman Ministry of crown on count-back by virtue of three wins to Engineered by British squad Motorbase Tourism, Oman Ministry of Sports Affairs, the two of Attard and Sims. Performance, the Oman Racing Team car Nawras, National Bank of Oman and Al Hashar “It’s going to be a huge weekend at nonetheless runs under an Omani license for the Group/Aston Martin Oman-supported Ahmad, Donington, we know the chances of winning the first time this year - something which carries an “The whole season comes down to this two- championship are slim but to just be challengers immense amount of pride for Muscat 33-year- hour race. Hopefully we can have strong prepa- going into the final round is a great feeling and old Ahmad. While heading into the Donington ration, qualify well and then be there at the end - shows what an incredible job everyone at the weekend third in the driver standings, the Oman it’s going to be exciting!”Following two free Oman Racing Team has done this year”, said Racing Team as a whole - including the second practice sessions on Saturday, 13th September, Ahmad. “We’ve had a fantastic season in British Aston Martin of Rory Butcher and Jeff Smith - qualifying for round 10 of the British GT season LAS PALMAS: Angola’s forward Eduardo Mingas (left) vies with Australia’s forward GT, it’s our first year with the Aston Martin and actually leads the Team Championship by 12 will begin at 15.50 (UK time). On Sunday, 14th Cameron Bairstow during the 2014 FIBA World basketball championships group D the car has been incredible from the word go. points. With two chances of securing champi- September, the big two-hour race will get match Australia VS Angola at the Gran Canaria Arena in Gran Canaria. — AFP We’d obviously love to win the championship, onship silverware this weekend, the atmosphere underway at 12.55 (UK time). Rio de Janeiro races for 2016 Olympics

BERLIN: Rio de Janeiro’s 2016 Olympic preparations are was immediately thrown into the deep end, trying to the successful organization of the soccer World Cup. So which will host the 2020 Games, is expected to be the in full swing with organizers having rediscovered their speed up preparations for the first summer Games there are many positive indicators,” Bach said. “I am sure first Games to benefit from these changes with the like- dynamism after years of delays and the soccer World under his watch. that now the IOC coordination commission which will ly re-introduction of baseball and softball, hugely popu- Cup boosting their confidence, IOC President Thomas Rio organizers and government officials had until go there soon will note further progress. The facilities in lar sports in Japan, in their program. Bach said yesterday. Branded as the ‘worst preparations recently been criticized for failing to coordinate work Deodoro are getting off the ground and the Olympic “What we could see in the last executive board meet- ever by’ International Olympic Committee Vice and responsibility efficiently, leading to years of delays village is making great progress.” ing (in July) there was good support for the ideas President John Coates in April, work for the Rio Games in almost every major project for the Games, including In his whirlwind one year in charge which has seen brought forward by the working groups and the was now much more coordinated, said Bach, adding his the Deodoro park which will host several sports. The him travel for much of the time, Bach has also launched Olympic summit,” said Bach. colleague has since revised his statements. June/July soccer World Cup, which many feared could what he calls Agenda 2020, an effort to overhaul the “I hope that there will be taken some measures with “Rio has made great progress in the last couple of be faced with transportation, infrastructure and security Olympics, including the bidding system and making the regard to bidding procedure, that we may get more months,” Bach told Reuters in an interview a day before issues due partly to similar delays in construction and Games more flexible in their structure and program. flexibility of the composition of the Olympic program,” his one-year anniversary since taking over the IOC top organization as the Olympics, was a successful event Among the changes he hopes will be adopted in an IOC he said. job. “You have seen the mayor and governor taking with no major problems and was hailed as one of the session in Monaco in December is making it easier to “I also hope very much the idea of the Olympic TV more responsibility and showing great dynamism and best ever World Cup. include and exclude sports from the Games to make channel will be approved,” he said of his plans to set up working closely with the organizing committee.” Bach, a them more attractive to spectators, broadcasters and the channel that would promote Olympic sports in the German lawyer and former Olympic champion fencer, Confidence boost sponsors. Currently a sport needs to be voted in seven years between the Games and help connect with took over from Jacques Rogge on Sept 10, 2013 and “The Brazilians are having greater confidence after years before making its Olympic appearance. Tokyo, younger people. — Reuters