TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2015 SPORTS Russia’s ‘sports capital’ has Olympic ambitions KAZAN: The city calling itself “Russia’s just thought it would be cool to say that sports capital” isn’t Moscow, St. Petersburg we’ve played soccer on the field that the or even last year’s Winter Olympic host 2018 World Cup is going to be on,” U.S. star Sochi. Instead it’s Kazan, a provincial city Missy Franklin said Tuesday. with global ambitions. At the World Cup, Kazan will be the only The venue for US swim phenom Katie traditionally Muslim city among the 11 Ledecky’s record-breaking exploits at this hosting games. It is a place that wears its month’s world championships, Kazan religion lightly, with bars common and wants to use the event as a springboard to Islamic clothing rare. The main mosque was bring the Summer Olympics to Russia for only finished in 2005, reaffirming regional the first time since Moscow hosted the identity after decades of Soviet homoge- games in 1980. nization. In this traditionally Muslim city, where Kazan’s breakthrough moment as a minarets and onion domes both rise over sports city came in 2013, when it hosted the city’s kremlin, several Olympic-standard the University Games, near-Olympic in the venues have already been built. number of events and athletes but with “To host the Olympic Games, the city much less global attention. Many of those and all the city infrastructure are ready at facilities would form the basis for a future the very highest level” and only “insignifi- Kazan Olympic bid. The window to apply cant changes” would be needed, regional for the 2024 Olympics closes next month, sports minister Vladimir Leonov told The and time is running out for Kazan to Associated Press in e-mailed comments as declare interest. he visited next year’s Olympic host Brazil “The door is closing and the Russian on Saturday. Olympic Committee, as far as I know, has Kazan’s hosting of the world aquatics no intention to put in a bid for the 2024 championships has been big and brash, summer games,” said Popov. “I don’t think installing an Olympic-size pool in a soccer Kazan will bid for ‘24 but maybe for the stadium packed with cheering spectators future, ‘28.” One challenge for a Kazan and staging 25-meter high diving against Olympics would be financial. So far, much the backdrop of the kremlin. of the money for its sports ambitions has “Most of the swimmers in their careers, come from the Russian taxpayer, but now they have no opportunity to experience the Russian government is cutting spend- such a reception and such support from ing. Another would be local enthusiasm. MOSCOW: Germany’s Robert Harting poses with the German flag after winning the gold medal in the men’s discus final competition at the the stands,” said Russian former Olympic While stands have been mostly full for the World Athletics Championships in the Luzhniki stadium in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2013.—AP champion swimmer Alexander Popov, now swimming championships, other events a member of the International Olympic have been poorly attended. Soccer club Committee, the body which chooses Rubin Kazan’s average attendance last sea- Olympic hosts. “Even being just a part of son for Russian Premier League games was German athletes criticize the spectators still feels fantastic.” less than one-third the capacity of its All this comes at a time when the 45,000-seat stadium. Russian economy is struggling under pres- “One of the areas of professional sport sure from international sanctions and the that we need to develop is work to attract IAAF in video message depressed oil price. Next up for Kazan is fans to sports events. And we’re doing that World Cup soccer in 2018, when the city’s work,” Leonov said. venue will be the 45,000-seat Kazan Arena, He says local authorities will now con- FRANKFURT: A group of athletes led by federation said in a statement. “Therefore we thrower Kathrin Klaas, while 800-meter runner which held two swimming pools for the sider an Olympic bid, and the head of the Olympic discus champion Robert Harting has would love to welcome Robert Harting, whose Robin Schembera adds: “I want to run against world championships. Behind the scenes in Russian Olympic Committee has also released a video message saying track and field’s no-nonsense anti-doping stance we greatly clean athletes, not monsters.” the practice areas, some of the swimmers expressed interest. After the swim champi- world governing body had “betrayed” them by admire, to come and talk to us so we can address Harting concludes with the message, “You were already getting into the spirit. onships, Kazan’s claim to be Russia’s sports not doing enough to fight doping. “Dear IAAF, his concerns,” the IAAF added. betrayed my beliefs.” The athletes say they “We were playing soccer earlier. I was capital, Leonov added, “is now justified 100 we cannot trust you anymore,” Harting said in The Harting video comes after reports by demand “honesty, integrity, transparency.” They with one of the Canadian coaches and we percent.” —AP the English-language video posted on YouTube. German broadcaster ARD and The Sunday Times hold up signs with (hashtag) hitIAAF. “We have to act now.” newspaper in Britain that blood doping was The doping reports were published ahead of Harting, a three-time world champion who rampant in the sport, citing leaked test results this month’s world championships in Beijing, won Olympic gold in London in 2012, has been a from an IAAF database. The IAAF has strongly which the IAAF said is “causing stress and confu- vocal critic of the International Association of rejected suggestions that it had failed to follow sion” for athletes. Athletics Federations. He declined to be consid- up on the suspicious tests and that it wasn’t The World Anti-Doping Agency is investigat- ered for the IAAF’s “Athlete of the Year” award in doing enough to uncover doping. ing the claims made by ARD, and the IAAF said it 2014 because he did not want to appear along- The media reports examined the results of is “comfortable that an independent, impartial side candidates who have served doping bans, 12,000 blood tests involving 5,000 athletes from assessment of the data and the follow-up action including U.S. sprinter Justin Gatlin. 2001 to 2012, and concluded that 800 were sus- by the IAAF will now be made by the competent The IAAF responded by inviting Harting to its picious. The reports said that 146 medals - authority.” The IAAF hit back at two scientists offices or one of the competitions to see person- including 55 golds - in disciplines ranging from whose findings led to allegations this week of ally the federation’s fight against doping and the 800 meters to the marathon at the Olympics widespread doping in the sport, saying Saturday what it is doing in “rooting out the cheats and and world championships were won by athletes that their assertions are “seriously incorrect.” protecting the credibility of competition.” who have recorded suspicious tests. In a scathing statement, the IAAF said the “The IAAF very much appreciates and “You damage our sport,” US shot putter Eric two Australian anti-doping scientists, Michael admires the passion, commitment and strength Werskey says in the video. Harting’s girlfriend, Ashenden and Robin Parisotto, were wrong of opinion of all clean athletes and their feeling discus thrower Julia Fischer, holds up a hand- to claim that the governing body didn’t act of intense frustration following the recent written message saying: “You broke my child- on suspicious blood profiles and “had no unfounded media accusations concerning the hood dreams.” knowledge whatsoever of the actions taken IAAF’s anti-doping program,” the Monaco-based “You put money over athletes,” says hammer by the IAAF.”—AP Logano wins at Watkins Glen WATKINS GLEN: Joey Logano kept his foot on Gordon had brake problems and finished 41st to Truex’s chances disappeared when he suf- the gas pedal a little bit longer than usual after take another big hit in points. fered a flat left front tire and was forced to pit taking the checkered flag at Watkins Glen The race turned on strategy. Martin Truex Jr., with 22 laps left around the 2.45-mile natural International, a huge cloud of smoke wafting who started second, pitted after a red flag just terrain course. He finished 25th. toward victory lane. past the midpoint of the race as the top drivers Busch had to pit from the lead with just over KAZAN: In this Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2015 file photo, Ginger Huber of the United States This time he had more than enough left in stayed out. Harvick, who pitted two laps before 30 laps left and dropped deep in the field. He competes during the women’s 20 meter high dive final at the Swimming World the tank of his No. 22 Ford. “It makes up a lot for Truex, then gained the lead on a restart on Lap then steadily mounted an aggressive charge Championships in Kazan. —AP last week,” Logano said Sunday after notching 61, passing Kenseth and pulling out to a lead of back and got past Harvick for second after the his first Sprint Cup victory on a road course and over a half-second with Truex third. final turn. second of the season. He also won the season- Harvick’s crew told him he was two laps short “I ran hard that whole run,” said Busch, who opening Daytona 500.