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 delivery 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 Zimbabwe bowlers rip open Pakistan batting HARARE: Zimbabwe’s unheralded bowling attack plunged Pakistan into deep trouble on the first day of the first Test at the Harare Sports Club yesterday. Pakistan were floundering at 182 for eight before tailenders Saeed Ajmal and Junaid Khan added an aggressive 67 for the ninth wicket to enable the tourists to finish the day on 249 for nine. Opening bowlers Tendai Chatara and Tinashe Panyangara, 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 Prosper Utseya and medium-pacer Shingi Masakadza. But Chatara and Panyangara were guilty of some loose bowling with the second new ball as Ajmal (49 not out) 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 captain Misbah-ul-Haq (53) were the only Pakistan top-order batsmen to shine. They put on 93 for the fourth wicket. Hamilton Masakadza, standing in for regu- lar captain Brendan Taylor, was justified in his decision to send Pakistan in as the tourists lost their first three wickets 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 Graeme Cremer’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 cricket 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 Harare Sports Club 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 Sikandar Raza 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, Malcolm Waller, Elton Chigumbura, 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 Richmond Mutumbami (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.