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;
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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;
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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;
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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