World GP goes to Italy over SARS
World GP goes to Italy over SARS
BERLIN: The International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) announced Friday that their premier annual competition for women, the lucrative US$1 million World Grand Prix, will be staged entirely in Italy and not some of the traditional Asian host countries because of the SARS epidemic.
The first phase of the competition from July 18 to Aug. 10 had been due to be staged in China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines with the final phase taking place in Italy.
FIVB President Ruben Acosta appealed to the Asian countries to take the decision in the spirit it was intended.
"Given our great respect for our traditional hosts, this was a difficult decision," said Acosta.--AFP
;AFP; ANPAs..r.. Putbriefs-Soccer-Beckham Beckham out for eight weeks JP/11/Brief
Beckham out for eight weeks
LONDON: England skipper David Beckham will be in plaster for up to eight weeks following confirmation Friday that he fractured the scaphoid on his right hand during England's 2-1 friendly win over South Africa.
Beckham suffered the injury after landing awkwardly under a first-half challenge from Thabang Molefe in Durban on Thursday night.
Although he played on the 28-year-old midfielder was clearly in pain and was eventually rushed to hospital after being substituted five minutes into the second half. --AFP
;REUTERS; ANPAs..r.. Putbriefs-Motor-Renault Renault to announce 2004 engine JP/11/Brief
Renault to announce 2004 engine strategy next week
LONDON: Renault will announce their engine strategy for 2004 next week, the Formula One team said in a statement on Friday.
They said that team principal Flavio Briatore would reveal details on Tuesday before the Monaco Grand Prix.
Formula One's regulations are due to change next year when engines will have to last an entire race weekend and manufacturers must make affordable engines available to all teams.
Renault has already said that engine expert Jean-Jacques His, expected to join another manufacturer in a different capacity, will be leaving at the end of the month. --Reuters
;REUTERS; ANPAs..r.. Putbriefs-Golf-Sorenstam Wentworth full of praise for Sorenstam JP/11/Brief
Wentworth full of praise for Annika
VIRGINIA WATER, England: Europe's male professionals were full of praise on Friday for Annika Sorenstam's battling 71 in the opening round of the Colonial, none more so than British Open Champion Ernie Els.
"She played awesome," said the South African, who is bidding to take the Volvo PGA Championship title this week at Wentworth, his British base.
"She hit 85 percent of the greens. That's better than any man. We don't hit 85 percent of greens.
"I saw her opening tee-shot (on television) and she absolutely killed it. I'm going to be watching again tonight." --Reuters