WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2013 SPORTS IOC inspectors see ‘progress,’ but timeline tight

RIO DE JANEIRO: IOC inspectors have tions about the possibility of protests at English as a second language, sought to must all go in the streets and demon- policing measures, which were criticized seen “strong, solid progress” but think the games. clarify his colleague. “I’m not saying we strate every day.” as heavy-handed during the organizers need a sharper focus in the Protests took place almost every day at are in favor of demonstrations, but we are Felli said the IOC had “experts” from Confederations Cup. Police routinely used countdown to the 2016 Rio de Janeiro the recent Confederations Cup — a in a democracy where people want to Australia and Britain working with tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse Olympics. warm-up for next year’s football World demonstrate. ... But we are not saying you Brazilian authorities on crowd-control and crowds, including crowds outside the The IOC coordination commission, Cup in Brazil. Demonstrators took to the tournament final between Spain and headed by former Olympic hurdles cham- streets with complaints about spending Brazil at Rio’s Maracana stadium. pion Nawal El Moutawakel, finished a billions on mega-events such as the “Probably the fact they are not so used two-day inspection visit on Monday and Olympics and World Cup in a country with to (crowd control) because there were not seemed to take a stronger tone than on poor public services and large economic so many protests before in Brazil,” Felli its previous four visits. inequality. said. El Moutawakel said she was confident Brazil is spending about $13.3 billion Felli said some sports federations and the games would provide a lasting legacy, of largely public money on the World Cup. national Olympics committees were con- but warned about delays in starting con- Olympic organizers are expected to cerned that late of venues would struction on one of the four main venue announce their budgets in a few months, jeopardize test events. areas — the Deodoro area in a run-down but public spending could be similar to And he also acknowledged that selling part of northern Rio de Janeiro. that of the World Cup — or higher. local sponsorships for the games has “A lot of work has been done, but a “We are for peaceful demonstrations, slowed and threatens to leave a shortfall large amount still remains across the but we’d like also to protect our athletes,” of as much as $700 million in the local entire project and some timelines remain El Moutawakel said. “We’d like to make operating budget, which will have to be very, very tight,” she said. “Rio must there- sure that the Olympic games are run in made up by the government. fore continue to focus on its priorities peaceful way. ... But we also don’t want to He said this was fallout from a slowing such as meeting the matrix of responsibil- have the Olympic Games used as scape- economy with the government withdraw- ity and delivering the venues and associ- goats. The games are a peaceful event. ing generous support and private ated infrastructure.” The games are for the athletes to gather investors being more cautious. “Now they El Moutawakel and Gilbert Felli, IOC together and compete in friendship.” BRAZIL: Gilbert Felli, IOC Executive Director for the Olympic Games, speaks have difficulties,” he said. “Probably it’s executive director, responded to ques- Felli, who like El Moutawakel speaks during a press conference in Rio de Janeiro. — AP this new economy.”—AP bowlers rip open Pakistan

HARARE: Zimbabwe’s unheralded attack plunged Pakistan into deep trouble on the first day of the first Test at the Sports Club yesterday. Pakistan were floundering at 182 for eight before tailenders and Junaid Khan added an aggressive 67 for the ninth to enable the tourists to finish the day on 249 for nine. Opening bowlers and , who went into the match with only five Test caps between them, started the Pakistan slide with some disciplined bowl- ing at the start of the day. They were well backed up by off-spinner and medium-pacer Shingi Masakadza. But Chatara and Panyangara were guilty of some loose bowling with the second new ball as Ajmal (49 ) and Junaid (17) gave the Pakistan innings some respectability. Junaid was out to the fifth ball of the final over of the day when he flashed at Panyangara and was caught behind. Azhar Ali, who made a patient 78 off 185 balls, and Misbah-ul-Haq (53) were the only Pakistan top-order batsmen to shine. They put on 93 for the fourth wicket. , standing in for regu- lar captain , was justified in his decision to send Pakistan in as the tourists lost their first three for 27 runs inside the first hour, with both Chatara and Panyangara HARARE: Pakistan batsman Saeed Ajmal (right) plays a shot during the opening day of the first Test Marc Gasol taking advantage of early life in the pitch. match between Pakistan and hosts Zimbabwe. —AFP Chatara struck first when Mohammad Spain seeks third straight Hafeez was caught at second slip off a ball second and final Test in Bulawayo. career in England and ’s which lifted sharply. Panyangara followed up Zimbabwe fielded an inexperienced bowl- unavailability because of the pay issue. European basketball title with the wickets of Khurram Manzoor, who ing line-up, following the retirement of Kyle Batsman Sean Williams also withdraw because went back on his stumps and was leg before Jarvis in order to pursue a county of the pay dispute. — AFP LJUBLJANA: Spain is favored to win a third against Serbia, another unknown entity wicket to a ball which cut back, and Younis straight European basketball championship coming in with a young team featuring Khan, who was bowled when he played for- despite losing plenty in size by the absence NBA first-round pick Nemanja Nedovic. SCOREBOARD of Pau Gasol and Serge Ibaka and the Lithuania will also run into Macedonia ward tentatively and the ball trickled back shooting of Juan Carlos Navarro when the again in a group that is a Balkan-Baltic onto his stumps. 24-team tournament starts today. showdown. Other teams are Bosnia- Utseya dismissed Misbah and Asad Shafiq HARARE, Harare Province: Close of play scores on the first day of the first Test between Zimbabwe Spain will rely on Marc Gasol and Ricky Herzegovina, Latvia and Montenegro, in quick succession during the afternoon, with and Pakistan at the yesterday. both batsmen falling to ambitious shots, and Rubio to become the first winner of three which is without Nikola Pekovic but with Pakistan, first innings (Akmal), 7-173 (Rehman), 8-182 (Azhar), 9-249 straight European titles since Yugoslavia in the NBA center Nikola Vucevic. Shingi Masakadza was rewarded for some accurate bowling when he took two wickets Khurram Manzoor lbw b Panyangara 11 (Junaid) 1977. Their campaign begins against Spain heads Group C, while Group D Mohammad Hafeez c Sibanda b Chatara 5 Bowling: Chatara 22-6-64-2, Panyangara 19.5-2- after tea, including that of Azhar, who was Croatia in Celje. features Greece, a balanced team playing Azhar Ali c Sibanda b S. Masakadza 78 71-3, S. Masakadza 22-8-40-2, Chigumbura 2-0- Two years ago in Lithuania, the Gasol stifling defense. Vassilis Spanoulis led drawn into a drive and caught at first slip. Younis Khan b Panyangara 3 15-0, Utseya 23-1-55-2, H. Masakadza 1-0-1-0 brothers were a huge presence under the Olympiakos to two consecutive Euroleague Taylor withdrew on the morning of the Misbah-ul-Haq c Sibanda b Utseya 53 (1w) basket, while Navarro added 27 points in titles and hopes to deliver a medal for match after his wife gave birth to the couple’s Asad Shafiq c Mawoyo b Utseya 4 To bat: Rahat Ali the 98-85 victory over France in the final. Greece for the first time since the bronze in first child. Pakistan-born Adnan Akmal b Chatara 18 Zimbabwe: Hamilton Masakadza (capt), Vusi France is back with Tony Parker, but is miss- 2009. replaced him, earning his first Test cap. Abdur Rehman lbw b S. Masakadza 7 Sibanda, Tina Mawoyo, Sikandar ing some of its own big men, including The tournament also serves as qualify- The withdrawal of Taylor, Zimbabwe’s lead- Saeed Ajmal not out 49 Raza, , , Joakim Noah. ing for next year’s World Cup in Spain. The ing batsmen, was the latest setback for the Junaid Khan c Mutumbami b Panyangara 17 (wkt), Prosper The tournament features 24 teams for top six teams, aside from Spain, will qualify. host nation following a pay dispute which Extras (lb3, w1) 4 Utseya, Shingi Masakadza, Tinashe Panyangara, the first time, split into four groups in four Spain is already qualified as host. threatened to prevent the match from taking Total (9 wkts, 89.5 overs) 249 Tendai Chatara Slovenian cities - Ljubljana, Jesenice, Koper NBA center Marc Gasol and playmaker place. The players only agreed on Monday to Fall of wickets: 1-13 (Hafeez), 2-21 (Manzoor), 3- Match situation: Pakistan are 249 for nine in the and Celje. The final two rounds are in the Rubio are Spain’s standouts but the defend- play following a commitment by their board to 27 (Younis), 4-120 (Misbah), 5-132 (Shafiq), 6-157 first innings. capital of Ljubljana. ing champion also has newcomers and a pay outstanding salaries before next week’s In Group A in Ljubljana, France opens its new coach in Juan Orenga. campaign today against Germany, which is Most experts see France as Spain’s without Dirk Nowitzki and has brought in a biggest challenger again. But with Noah, young, untested side. Kevin Seraphin and Ronny Turiaf deciding Tougher doping sanctions, Group B in Jesenice features Lithuania, to sit out, France has lost some NBA mus- with its two NBA big men, Jonas cle. Coach Vincent Collet still has NBA Valanciunas and Donatas Motiejunas. swingman Nicolas Batum and former NBA Lithuania is rebuilding after being upset by forward Mickael Gelabale. Indian exile on IOC agenda Macedonia in the quarterfinals at home Parker led the San Antonio Spurs to the two years ago. The Lithuanians will get to NBA finals and the guard is as keen as ever know where they stand when they open to finally lift the European title.— AP BUENOS AIRES: Wider-ranging sanctions for ence or for whom they are responsible,” the Commonwealth Games in 2010, was elected doping and India’s eight-month Olympic exile recommendation reads. The proposals also say secretary-general of the Indian Olympic will be high on the agenda when the that “Sporting Entities should put in place Association (IOA). The IOC wanted the IOA to Buckingham Palace to International Olympic Committee (IOC) meets mechanisms, such as educational programs, so amend its constitution so that officials facing in Buenos Aires this week to decide the venue as to allow that members of an Athlete’s criminal or corruption proceedings in court stage first football match for the 2020 Games and a new president. entourage are aware of and understand the would be kept out of the IOA election process. Calls for more stringent punishments for rules applicable to them.” The stand-off looks set to continue for the LONDON: Buckingham Palace, the London the 40-acre garden. doping have grown over the years, as doctors Nine possible punishments are put forward, IOA, however, as on August 25 it rejected the residence of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II, will William will host the event and also pres- or coaches of athletes who have failed tests including a reprimand and fine, but also IOC’s demand. The IOA’s general body decided stage its first football match in October as ent medals to 150 volunteers in recognition of have simply moved on to another potential “Permanent exclusion from the event/Sporting to bar only those who had been convicted and part of the Football Association’s 150th their commitment to grassroots football. “In star, leaving athletes to face the rap alone. Entities (club, National Federation, sport, not just charged. anniversary celebrations, the FA announced our 150th year, it is hugely important for the yesterday. The match was arranged with the FA to honor the efforts of the many thousands Pole vault legend Sergey Bubka, head of the International Federation)” and the removal of “We have accepted all the amendments help of Prince William, the Queen’s grandson of volunteers who week in, week out, help to Entourage Commission set up by IOC president an agent’s licence. proposed by the IOC, except the charge sheet and second in line to the throne, in his role as provide the opportunity for millions more Jacques Rogge to look into the issue, has now Bubka, one of six men vying to succeed clause,” senior sports official S. Reghunathan, president of the FA. people to enjoy football at grassroots level,” put together its recommendations, a copy of Rogge who is retiring after 12 years as IOC who chaired the meeting, told reporters. But rather than featuring a host of Premier William said in an FA statement issued yester- which AFP has obtained. The commission’s rec- president, said in Moscow at the World “We have modified that clause so that only League stars, the October 7 fixture will see day. “Inviting 150 of these volunteers to ommendations lay out 13 instances where a Athletics Championships in August how those persons who have been convicted by a two of England’s oldest amateur clubs com- Buckingham Palace provides a fitting way for member of an athlete’s entourage can be held important he considered bringing the court for a jail term of two or more years will pete in the gardens of Buckingham Palace, the FA to pay tribute and give thanks.” accountable. one of London’s most famous landmarks. Civil FA chairman Greg Dyke added: “These vol- entourage to account. not be able to contest elections. “If the jail term Service FC, the sole surviving football club unteers are the heartbeat of football. Without They range from doping violations to “They can be anyone from a coach to a doc- is for less than two years, the case will be from the 11 teams who founded the FA at a them, the game simply wouldn’t function at a match-fixing and also propose protecting an tor to a member of the family and they must referred to the IOA’s ethics commission.” meeting at London’s Freemasons’ Tavern in grassroots level and it is only right that the FA athlete from “any form of harassment or abuse not only be held accountable as they are the The amendment was in keeping with Indian 1863, will play west London rivals Polytechnic honours their tireless and selfless work. (physical, professional, sexual, mental)”. influence around the athlete but also educated law, which says that those facing charges are FC, formed in 1875, in a Southern Amateur “We are delighted that, in his role as presi- Any member of an athlete’s entourage will in what is right and what is wrong,” said the 49- allowed to contest parliamentary elections League fixture in the Palace grounds. dent of the FA, HRH (His Royal Highness) The potentially face punishment if their athlete is year-old Ukrainian. since they are innocent until proven guilty, The Queen gave her permission for the Duke of Cambridge (William) has given his found to have broken the rules, even if they India has been out in the cold since last Reghunathan said. The diluted version means match and Tony Stones, the groundsman at support to this initiative-even going as far as Wembley, the England national side’s head- arranging for the first-ever game of football to were not aware he or she was doing so. December when the IOC’s executive board sus- influential sports officials such as Bhanot and quarters in north London, will work with the be played at Buckingham Palace in honor of “Members of an Athlete’s entourage may pended the South Asian giant after Lalit Suresh Kalmadi, who is also on trial for corrup- royal household gardeners to create a pitch in our grassroots heroes.” — AFP also be sanctioned for the acts and/or omis- Bhanot, who is facing corruption charges tion linked to the 2010 Commonwealth Games, sions of persons over whom they have influ- linked to the scandal-hit New Delhi can stand for IOA elections. — AFP