Thursday 28th July, 2011 13 UK athletes warned: Beware British reporters LONDON (AP) — Training for the page stories that “will not be in the ath- writer does not care if he/she treads on been warned to be careful with their team’s performance director. “If they 2012 Olympics extends beyond gyms and lete’s interest.” any toes to find a lead. The news tweeting. break the rules, they will come in for dis- running tracks for British athletes. “These writers have no allegiance to reporter’s aim is to find a front page Sports, including hockey, will have ciplinary action.” Coaching is being provided on how to your sport and are sent to an event such story.” people assigned to watch what their ath- The International Olympic Committee deal with scoop-hungry British journal- as the Olympic Games to get a story,” And the media training handout even letes are posting on social networking bans athletes or coaches from “comment ists. says the BOA’s “Athletes’ Guide to cautions: “If you’re not willing to give sites. Criticising officials is on the on the activities of other participants or General news reporters, the British Dealing with the Media.” your views then someone may make up banned list as well as obscene language. accredited persons.” Olympic Association is warning athletes, “These stories by their very nature are your views for you.” “They know the parameters,” said IOC President Jacques Rogge urges will only be at the games to find front- usually linked to a scandal and the Meanwhile, some British athletes have David Faulkner, the British hockey athletes: “Think first, tweet later.”

Court asks Kaneria to get Tour champion Evans considers transcript of inquiry ISLAMABAD (AP) — A court has asked Pakistan legspinner Danish Kaneria to seek a transcript of the Olympic campaign Essex police inquiry that cleared him of criminal charges last year. SYDNEY (AP) — Tour de France Kaneria’s lawyer Farogh Naseem champion Cadel Evans says he’d love to told The Associated Press on Tuesday compete at the 2012 Olympics, but only if that the Sindh High Court also asked the course is tough enough. Kaneria to take guidance from a Evans became the first Australian — British lawyer in getting the transcript, and only third non-European — to win the and to submit it to the Pakistan Cricket Tour when he finished in Paris on Sunday. Board’s integrity committee. His schedule is being overhauled to Kaneria filed a petition at the SHC accommodate extra commitments now but for being ignored by the PCB for he hasn’t ruled out racing at the Olympics, national team selection for the last despite the London Games starting only eight months. days after the 2012 Tour de France. Essex police cleared Kaneria of Evans said if the road and time trial criminal charges in Sept. 2010 over alle- courses suit his strengths, he’ll be hoping gations that he was involved in spot-fix- to compete in London. ing during a county match against “I don’t know if the course is going to Durham in 2009. be suitable,” Evans told the Australian The court has set Aug. 18 as the next Associated Press in a telephone interview date of hearing. from Switzerland on Wednesday. “But if I can be the man for the job to represent the country, of course I would love to ride. “If it’s a course more suitable to some- one else, then it should be for someone Serena else.” Evans said the timing of the Olympics Williams wins was no problem. “The timing falls well for us as Tour riders — there’s also an interesting world at Stanford championships course in 2012 and a few STANFORD, California (AP) — other things,” he said. Serena Williams beat Australia’s “We have to prioritise and choose our Anastasia Rodionova 6-0, 6-0 Tuesday goals, but Tour de France 2012 is going to in the first round of the Bank of the come around really quickly.” West Classic. The 34-year-old Evans is already a Williams, troubled by a right foot three-time Olympian, having competed in injury the past year, played on mountain bike events at Atlanta in 1996 American soil for the first time since and Sydney in 2000 before switching to Tour de France winner Cadel Evans of Australia, wearing the overall leader’s yellow jersey, cycles down the Champs Elysees dur- reaching the semifinal of the 2009 road. He contested both the road time trail ing the victory parade after winning the Tour de France cycling race in Paris, France, Sunday July 24, 2011. U.S. Open. It’s her third event since and road race at the 2008 Olympics in (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani) winning at Wimbledon last year. Beijing, the same year he finished second ning a treble of major road cycling events Evans, whose next ride will be later this “I haven’t had time to stop and think Williams, ranked 169th, moved in the Tour de France. by winning an Olympic gold to go with his week either in the Netherlands or about being tired,” he said. “But it’s a slow smoothly on the court against the Australia’s cycling fraternity has 2011 Tour de France and 2009 road world Belgium in a criterium, said he’s barely realisation that I’ve won the Tour de overmatched, 105th-ranked already started talking about Evans win- championship titles. had time to reflect since Sunday. France in 2011.” Rodionova, who has lost five straight. In other first-round matches, Russian Maria Kirilenko beat sixth- seeded Julia Goerges of Germany 6- 2, 6-3; seventh-seeded Ana Ivanovic of Spain tops FIFA Serbia, playing her first match with a new coach and fitness trainer, was rankings, Clarke targets Irish Open win knocked off by Japan’s Ayumi KILLARNEY, Ireland (AP) — After wave, Clarke is aiming to become only ner Jose Maria Olazabal. Morita, 6-3, 7-5; Slovakia’s Daniela establishing Ireland as the current focal the third player to hold both British and The favorite this week at Killarney Hantuchova beat newcomer Rina up to No. 5 point of world golf, newly crowned Irish Open titles, after Nick Faldo of Golf and Fishing Club is McIlroy who, Fujiwara of Japan, 6-0, 6-2; British Open winner Darren Clarke, England and Harrington, who is also alongside Clarke, was on Wednesday Germany’s Sabine Lisicki defeated ZURICH (AP) — World and U.S. Open champion Rory McIlroy and competing this week. made an honorary life member of the Romania’s Simona Halep, 6-1, 6-2; European champion Spain stayed on top two other local major winners will “It would be a hell of an achievement European Tour for their achievements qualifier Marina Erakovic of New of the latest FIFA rankings on descend on Killarney for the rejuvenat- — a dream come true — to have The in this year’s majors. Zealand beat Sweden’s Sofia Wednesday, and Copa America winner ed Irish Open. Open and Irish Open trophies on display Despite his success this season, Arvidsson, 6-2, 6-1; and Poland’s Uruguay rose to its highest place in fifth Clarke’s three-shot victory at Royal St back home,” Clarke told the European McIlroy said it would still be special to Urszula Radwanska topped Ukraine’s Olga Savchuk 6-2, 6-4 in a spot. George’s sealed Northern Ireland’s third tour website. win the Irish Open. major in 13 months after Graeme “I’ve been close on a number of occa- “To win your national Open is a huge matchup of qualifiers. The latest monthly standings will be The 25th-ranked Kirilenko, who used to help decide seedings in McDowell and McIlroy’s triumphs in sions and never quite got the job done — goal of anyone’s. You want to win your successive U.S. Opens. That followed a bit like The Open you could say.” national Open and it would be a huge reached the quarterfinal of this Saturday’s World Cup qualifying draw. event last year, snapped a 13-match Spain, the Netherlands and Germany three wins in grand-slam events The 42-year-old Clarke’s maiden achievement.” McIlroy said. between 2007-08 for Padraig Harrington appearance on the European Tour came After this week’s event, McIlroy will losing streak against the top 20 with lead the way, with rising one of Ireland. at the Irish Open, as an amateur in 1990. return to his preferred climate and con- her victory. She’ll play Williams place to fourth despite only reaching the With Irish golf riding the crest of a He finished 50th, 18 shots behind win- ditions in America, to compete in the next. Copa America quarterfinals. WGC Bridgestone Invitational followed “She’s coming back and she’s win- Sixth-place England and No. 8 Italy by the PGA Championship. ning again,” Kirilenko said of both fall two places but are assured of With the two Northern Irishmen Williams. “I need to be focused every top seeding in their qualifying groups. leading the challengers, along with the minute.” Kirilenko is a five-time WTA Tour Portugal (No. 7), Croatia (No. 9), presence of McDowell and Harrington, organizers are expecting record crowds singles champion and is looking for Norway (No. 12) and Greece (No. 13) her first title since 2008. complete the list of top nine European of around 100,000 for the tournament, which starts on Thursday. Goerges, ranked 20th, won her countries set for top seedings. first Premier WTA singles title at France will be in a pool of second- Despite the anticipation, the event has overcome several obstacles in order Stuttgart earlier this year. seeded teams, which also includes 2018 to go ahead. World Cup host Russia and fast-improv- The official sponsors pulled out in ing Montenegro. favour of backing the Irish football In the world rankings, team, meaning the prize fund was stays at No. 10 after it was eliminated in reduced by 50 percent. Before the suc- the quarterfinals as the Copa America cesses of McIlroy and Clarke, ticket host. sales were slow, not helped by the diffi- rises 16 spots to No. 11, and culties facing the Irish economy. beaten finalist climbed six to Aside from the pre-tournament No. 26. favorites, Irish hopes will be on former Copa America semifinalists Peru (ris- Ryder Cup vice-captain Paul McGinley ing 24 places to No. 25) and and 2009 champion Shane Lowry. Lowry overcame Robert Rock of (up 29 to No. 40th) made the biggest England in a playoff for the victory as moves in the top 100. an amateur. Mexico won the CONCACAF Gold Another Englishman, Ross Fisher, Cup last month, but fell 11 places to No. will be looking to his defend title, hav- 20 after poor Copa America results with ing won the tournament last year by two a young team of backup players. shots from Harrington. Gold Cup runner-up the United States “Last year, it was just a great week,” dropped six to No. 30. Fisher said. Ivory Coast leads the African nations Northern Ireland’s Darren Clarke kisses the Claret Jug trophy in front of the He was helped on his way to victory at No. 14, and Asian Cup champion by a second-round course record 10- world’s media as he celebrates winning the British Open Golf Championship at under-par 61. Japan heads its continent at No. 16. Royal St George’s golf course Sandwich, England, Sunday, July 17, 2011. ( (AP) Iraq athletes demand Bahrain release held player BAGHDAD (AP) — Dozens of ath- supporters say he did not participate in ernment to intervene to ensure his ministry said it was trying to obtain letes rallied in Baghdad on Wednesday, protests against the Bahraini govern- immediate release. the release of the young player from demanding the release of a 16-year-old ment. His father, Abdulameer Naji, accused Bahrain’s custody. Iraqi football player detained in Bahrain “We demand the release of Naji, the Iraqi government for doing little to Hundreds of opposition supporters, earlier this year when the country was whose arrest was unjustifiable,” Aboud help. protesters and at least 150 athletes Serena Williams, of the United swept by anti-government protests. said. “He is being kept in prison because “The whole family has been living and sports officials have been States, waves to the audience after Hussein Aboud, a coach in Baghdad’s Bahraini authorities want to show that in constant ordeal for the past four detained since Bahrain imposed mar- her win over Anastasia Rodionova, al-Hadoud club, says the arrest of the protests are a foreign conspiracy.” months,” the father said. “My son did tial law in March to quell dissent. of Australia, during the Bank of the