Olympics
Madrid, Spain, makes strong bid for 2020 Olympics
LAUSANNE, Switzerland – A day after Madrid wowed the IOC with its presentation, Spain’s prime minister said concerns over his country’s economy “don’t exist anymore.” Mariano Rajoy also plans to be in Argentina in September for the vote on the host city for the 2020 Olympics.
Rajoy met with IOC President Jacques Rogge on Thursday to show his government’s support for the Madrid bid, which picked up vital momentum a day earlier with its campaign pitch to the IOC general assembly.
Once viewed as a long shot because of Spain’s severe economic crisis, Madrid is considered firmly in contention heading into the Sept. 7 vote. Madrid is bidding for a third consecutive time.
IOC presidential candidates make their pitches
LAUSANNE, Switzerland – The six IOC presidential candidates have made their cases to the electorate, trying to win over Olympic voters in their bid for the most powerful job in international sports.
The six contenders each made 15-minute presentations Thursday to members of the International Olympic Committee. The election to choose Jacques Rogge’s successor is in just more than two months.
The presentations were made behind closed doors, and no questions were allowed.
When it was over, the most emotional candidate was Richard Carrion of Puerto Rico, who choked up and said “I spoke from my heart.”
Also speaking were IOC Vice Presidents Thomas Bach of Germany and Ng Ser Miang of Singapore, executive board members Sergei Bubka of Ukraine and C.K. Wu of Taiwan, and former board member Denis Oswald of Switzerland.
Soccer
Brazil 9th in FIFA rankings; Spain remains No. 1
ZURICH – Brazil surged to ninth in the FIFA rankings after winning the Confederations Cup, while the United States climbed six places to No. 22.
The U.S. had a perfect record of four wins in June, including three World Cup qualifiers and a 4-3 exhibition victory against Germany.
World Cup and European champion Spain remained No. 1 despite losing Sunday’s final.
Germany followed Spain. Colombia advanced four places to No. 3, its highest position. Argentina, which drew 0-0 with Colombia in a World Cup qualifier, was No. 4 and the Netherlands No. 5.
FIFA is busy punishing the corrupt in its ranks
ZURICH – FIFA suspended Cameroon after the re-election last month of its soccer federation president, who was arrested for alleged financial crimes in his business career.
The suspension could prevent Cameroon from playing a key World Cup qualifier Sept. 6 against Libya. It also could affect the club team Coton Sports when it resumes its African Champions League season July 20.
ZURICH – Iraq was declared off-limits again for international exhibition soccer games amid a wave of deadly bombings.
Soccer’s governing body said it wrote to the Iraqi Football Association and confirmed “the suspension to authorize international friendly matches in the Iraqi territory.”
On Tuesday, the latest wave of attacks killed at least 49 people, mostly involving car bombs.
ROME – The second-tier Italian soccer team Bari will be penalized one point next season for match-fixing.
The Serie B club also will pay a $32,000 fine under the deal made with the Italian Football Federation’s disciplinary committee Thursday for fixing two matches – Bari-Treviso in May 2008 and Salernitana-Bari in May 2009. Several former Bari players also reached plea bargains.
ZURICH – FIFA penalized Togo for fielding an ineligible player in a World Cup qualifier, a decision which severely damages Libya’s hopes of reaching the tournament in Brazil.
FIFA said it overturned Togo’s 2-0 home win against Cameroon on June 9 and awarded the visitors a 3-0 default victory.
Associated Press
