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Posts Tagged ‘Sport’
Betting on sport: The agony of influence
September 23rd, 2010 |
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Paying players more would keep gamblers and match-fixers at bay
THE lengthening shadow cast by illegal betting syndicates over international sport has one curious exception: America. That is surprising, given that Americans are ardent betters on sport and, as with soccer and cricket, sportsmen there are often youths from lowly backgrounds.
In 2009 punters bet almost $2.6 billion on sports in Nevada’s casinos (apart from a handful of sport-related lotteries, it is the only state in which such wagers are legal). Such legal betting is only a small fraction of the total. As with cricket and soccer, not all bets are strictly on games’ outcomes: “exotic” wagers (variously known as prop, side or spot bets) on passages of play or specific occurrences are widely placed. …
Sport minister meets with Croatian president
September 11th, 2010 |
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Serbian Minister of Youth and Sport Snežana Samardžić-Marković met on Friday with Croatian President Ivo Josipović. According to the statement issued by the Croatian president’s press office, the two officials discussed the prevention of hooliganism at sport events.
Susan Sarandon turns table tennis entrepreneur
July 22nd, 2010 |
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Actress Susan Sarandon has opened up her business venture into the world of table tennis. Sarandon, 63, helped launch Spin, a bar devoted to the sport of ping-pong, in New York, and the chain is now expanding throughout America and into Dubai. She revealed that she enjoys playing the sport and finds it a great [...]
Corruption in sport: Pot (kettle) black
May 6th, 2010 |
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A scandal in snooker points to wider worries about match-fixing
WISE punters bet on simple outcomes of big matches. That is the lesson of the latest corruption scandal to hit international sport. On May 2nd the News of the World, a British Sunday tabloid, published an account of a sting operation in which John Higgins, the world’s top-ranked snooker player, and his agent Patrick Mooney, appeared to agree to accept bribes in return for losing specific frames in future contests. Mr Mooney has resigned from snooker’s governing body. It has suspended Mr Higgins, who denies wrongdoing and has vowed to clear his name.
Corruption in sport, like betting on it, dates back to ancient Greece. But technology and globalisation make it easier for the two to combine. Wealthy punters can place big bets on events involving ill-paid sportsmen in faraway places. Gangsters then find rich pickings in nobbling the participants. In November the European football authority, UEFA, launched a big inquiry involving 200 matches and teams from 11 countries. In February it banned a Bosnian referee for life and suspended two other officials. …
10 Incredibly Sexy “Sports†That Should Be in the Olympics
April 12th, 2010 |
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Sometimes the games are worth watching (figure skating), while others are not (curling). What we want to see though, are some sexy sports that are often ignored (as some say they should be). Here are 10 incredibly sexy “sports” that should be in the Olympics.


Rahul Bose’d love to make a film on rugby
April 5th, 2010 |
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Actor Rahul Bose, who is a former member of India’s international rugby team, wants to bring the sport to the silver screen.
“I would love to make a film on rugby someday but the script will not be entirely on the sport. There will be something over and above the sport as well,” said the 42-year-old [...]
India promises safe sport events
February 18th, 2010 |
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India vowed yesterday to “protect every player” in upcoming major sports events in the country after a weekend bombing and alleged new threats raised fresh concerns over security. “We will provide full protection to every player, every coach, every official who participates in the forthcoming
Anatomy and sport: Athlete’s foot
November 12th, 2009 |
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Sprinters are different from other people
IS ATHLETIC prowess attained or innate? Those who have suffered the tongue-lashing of a tyrannical games master at school might be forgiven for doubting the idea that anyone and everyone is capable of great sporting achievement, if only they would put enough effort into it. Practice may make perfect, but not all are built in ways that make it worth bothering in the first place.
The latest evidence of this truth has been gathered by Sabrina Lee of Simon Fraser University in Vancouver and Stephen Piazza at Pennsylvania State University. They have looked at the anatomy of sprinters and found that their feet are built differently from those of couch potatoes. …
HP TouchSmart Laptops, Desktops Sport Windows 7, Touch Screens
October 13th, 2009 |
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Hewlett-Packard is getting more touchy by the day about how it wants computer users to interact with its new machines. Thanks to hot-selling devices like the iPhone, iTouch and others, people are getting more accustomed to using touch technology in both home and business environments. So HP has responded: The giant hardware and software manufacturer on Oct. 13 introduced its 2010 lineup of touch-screen laptop and desktop computers that run Windows 7. Several of them will become available Oct. 22, the same day the consumer version of Microsoft’s latest OS version is launched.
The new devices include some cool mostly home-oriented applications such as Pandora (customized Web radio), Hulu (on-demand television), Netflix, Webcam software and the HP Music Store.
Following is a slideshow highlighting the most interesting new products in the 2010 HP Touch lineup. Enjoy!
(All Photos by Chris Preimesberger)
– …
Ponting plays down crowd antics
August 6th, 2009 |
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Fourth Ashes Test, Headingley: England v Australia
Dates: Friday, 7 August – Tuesday, 11 August Start time: 1100 BST
Coverage: Live Test Match Special commentary (from 1025 BST on day one, 1045 BST on remaining days) on BBC Radio 4 LW, 5 Live sports extra, the Red Button and BBC Sport website. Live text commentary on BBC Sport website and mobile phones. Also live on Sky Sports.
Australia captain Ricky Ponting insists he has no problem with the booing he has faced in the Ashes series to date.
Ponting was targeted by sections of the Edgbaston crowd during the third Test and officials have asked for fans to respect the Australians at Headingley.
Heightened security will be in place for Friday’s fourth Test in a bid to reduce anti-social behaviour.
"It’s no bigger a deal in this series than others I’ve played. It’s part and parcel of what we do," said Ponting.
"It happens everywhere around the world. I’ve actually really enjoyed the spectator participation in this series.
"The Barmy Army are the best group of supporters in any sport around the world. They come to the cricket to enjoy themselves.
TOM FORDYCE BLOG"If Ricky Ponting is worried…he’s doing a pretty good job of disguising it"
"Sometimes it’s small minorities that make days a little disappointing for others and I think that’s what it has been right throughout the series so far.
"But these complaints haven’t come from the Australian players. The administrators at some of the venues have been disappointed with how some of the crowd have reacted."
England fans were heavily criticised for their conduct during the rain-affected third Ashes Test at Edgbaston, which ended in a draw on Monday, preserving England’s 1-0 series lead.
Much of the criticism was levelled at fans who heckled Ponting as he walked out to bat, something that has also occurred at other grounds.
And Ponting confirmed that he was involved in a heated exchange with a fan after being dismissed last Sunday.
"There were some words exchanged," said the 34-year-old. "As it turned out he (the fan) was later thrown out of the ground.
"It’s probably a security thing more than anything else. Where we had to walk on and off the pitch there were a lot of spectators too close to us. It was an area exactly where a steward should have been."
Drunken fans have caused problems at Headingley in the past and organisers want to reduce the number of incidents.
"I don’t think it’s malicious… In a way it’s probably a sign of respect for him"
England captain Andrew Strauss
When England played South Africa last year, 81 people were ejected from the 18,000-capacity ground in three days, prompting Yorkshire County Cricket Club to take action.
They have increased the number of stewards by 20% and more than 300 are now set to be deployed when the Test begins on Friday.
Beer stalls are set to open at 1045 BST and shut for an hour in the afternoon, with organisers maintaining the discretion to extend this closure period.
There will be an alcohol-free, family stand, a number of specially assigned "spotters" at beer stalls around the ground to identify drunken spectators and prevent them purchasing further alcohol, and free water will be readily available at stalls.
Yorkshire will also enforce a ban on musical instruments, meaning Barmy Army trumpet player Bill Cooper will not be permitted to play, while England and Wales Cricket Board chairman Giles Clarke has written a message in the official programme asking fans to respect the Australians, and especially Ponting.
"It’s about fans enjoying themselves but respecting others and the game of cricket," a Yorkshire spokesman told BBC Sport.
"We’ve worked hard with police and advisory groups to see what we’re faced with and cut down on crowd problems.
"We’ve received criticism in the past so you look at what you’ve done and cut your cloth accordingly."
The Barmy Army, England’s notoriously vocal supporters’ group, has insisted its members were not behind the jeering of Ponting.
"We weren’t responsible for the booing," said Katy Cooke, general manager of the group. "From what I can gather it was pretty tongue-in-cheek.
"He’s one of the best, if not the best, batsmen in the world and if we can get under his skin and stop him concentrating 100% on his batting, then we’re doing a service to the England team."
England captain Andrew Strauss admitted he had some sympathy for his opposite number, who appears to have assumed the ‘pantomime villain’ role during the series.
"I do empathise with him a little bit," Strauss said. "Booing him in those circumstances is probably a little over the mark, but our supporters are generally fantastic.
"There’s a little bit of light-hearted ribbing there, and that is the way it should be. It’s certainly what we will get in Australia when we go there.
"I don’t think it’s malicious. It’s the way it’s construed more than anything. In a way it’s probably a sign of respect for him.
"You just don’t want to see things develop and get worse and worse to the extent there is genuine abuse there of opposition players.
"No-one wants to see that – but some light-hearted ribbing is obviously both entertaining and quite helpful."
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
The History of Mixed Martial Arts(MMA)
August 4th, 2009 |
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Mixed Martial Arts is a unique fighting sports which brings togather all forms of combat like kickboxing,Brazilian ju-jitsu, judo and karate. pamkration is a fighting sports in the ancient greek period . in ancient time warrors were worship their god and faught on the stage. sometime they were faught without weapons. Ultimate Fighting Championship(UFC) is [...]
F1 gets perfect nitrous boost
July 31st, 2009 |
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Michael Schumacher’s surprise return to Formula One may not have come at a better time for the sport. The most successful driver in F1 history said on Thursday he’ll come out of retirement and plans to stand in for the injured Felipe Massa for the Scuderia Ferrari team, with which he won five of
Dem Senators Take On Palin, Offer Bill To Ban Aerial Wolf Hunting
July 29th, 2009 |
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As she gave up her governorship on Sunday, Alaska Republican Sarah Palin took a dig at her “Hollywood” detractors for pushing their anti-gun sentiments on the “non-elites.”
“You’re gonna see anti-hunting, anti-Second Amendment circuses from H…
Grand exit
July 29th, 2009 |
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Analysis
By Theo Leggett
Business reporter, BBC World Service
BMW has confirmed that this will be its last season in Formula 1.
The team, which had been tipped to fight for the world championship, has been struggling to make an impact on the track this year.
But that’s only part of the story.
Like Honda, which pulled out of Formula 1 before the season had even started, the German carmaker has seen its sales and profits tumble as a result of the global economic downturn.
In such a difficult environment, they are struggling to justify spending hundreds of millions of dollars a year on motor sport.
"Before the end of the year we will see at least one other car manufacturer leave F1"
F1 analyst Christian Sylt of Formula Money
BMW’s departure leaves four car manufacturers still competing in F1: Ferrari, Mercedes Benz, Toyota and Renault.
Ferrari is unlikely to leave the sport, because its image as a manufacturer of supercars is intimately tied to its racing heritage.
But there is widespread speculation that at least one of the other major brands could follow BMW out of the door.
"BMW definitely won’t be the last", says F1 analyst Christian Sylt of Formula Money.
"Before the end of the year we will see at least one other car manufacturer leave F1."
According to motor sport’s governing body, the FIA, such an exodus was inevitable.
"It has been clear for some time that motor sport cannot ignore the world economic crisis," it said in a statement released after BMW’s announcement.
"Car manufacturers cannot be expected to continue to pour large sums of money into Formula 1 when their survival depends on redundancies, plant closures and the support of the taxpayer."
Race against time
So will BMW’s departure cause any lasting damage to Formula 1
The answer is, not necessarily.
Three new teams are due to join the series next year. Assuming they can raise enough sponsorship to guarantee their entries, there should still be plenty of cars on the starting grid.
But in the current climate raising the money is likely to prove difficult.
In addition, the new teams face a race against time if they are to be on the grid next year.
If the new entries fail to materialise, and more teams leave, a crisis could yet develop.
Some experts believe that the departure of major names such as Honda and BMW undermines F1′s claim to be the pinnacle of world motor sport.
It’s an argument that points towards the real problem facing Formula 1.
Spending rows
A key part of the sport’s attraction is its brash, free-spending image.
It oozes high-rent glamour, and promotes itself as a hub of white-hot technology.
That image comes at a cost. In recent years, top teams have been spending more than $400m (£244m) a season.
Yet as the departures of BMW and Honda have illustrated all too clearly, that kind of outlay can no longer be taken for granted.
For much of the past year, the main stakeholders in Formula 1 have been embroiled in a bitter dispute over how to cut costs, without emasculating the sport.
The FIA, led by its forceful president Max Mosely, wanted to put the brakes on spending by forcing teams to cut their budgets to just $60 million a year, as well as restricting technical development.
But this was vehemently opposed by most of the teams, who believed such a move would destroy the essence of Formula 1.
‘Nuclear’ threat
The teams’ ire was also directed at the Formula 1 Group, the network of companies run by Bernie Ecclestone, which control the commercial side of F1.
The group earns close to a billion dollars a year from trackside advertising, television rights and race fees.
But only half of the money goes back into F1, as payments to the teams.
The rest is absorbed by the F1 Group and its ultimate owner, the private equity group CVC Capital partners.
At a time when sponsors were hard to find, the teams argued, they should be given a bigger slice of the cake.
The dispute came to a head at the British Grand Prix in June, when eight teams threatened to walk out of F1 and set up their own rival championship.
That plan, widely seen as a "nuclear option" now looks highly unlikely to be carried out.
Under intense pressure from Bernie Ecclestone and the F1 Group as well as the team owners, the FIA backed down.
Uncertain future
The teams no longer face a compulsory budget cap. Instead they have agreed to work together, establishing ways to cut costs dramatically over the next two years.
The dispute with the F1 Group also appears to have simmered down.
It now looks as though the current commercial arrangements will stay in place until 2012.
These plans are to be formally set out in a new governing document for the sport, known as the Concorde Agreement – which the FIA says will be signed in the coming days.
But while the agreement offers F1 some welcome stability after a period of turmoil, it does nothing to remedy the harsh economic environment.
And as BMW’s departure illustrates all too graphically, the sport’s future remains far from certain. </p
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Phelps coach wades into suit row
July 28th, 2009 |
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Fina World Championships
Date: 17 July-2 August (swimming from 26 July) Venue: Rome
Coverage:Live/highlights on BBC Two, Red Button and BBC Sport website
Michael Phelps’s coach says swimming’s biggest star should not compete again until the sport’s governing body bans the use of controversial new suits.
Phelps lost his first major race since 2005 to Paul Biedermann, who wore a suit Fina will make illegal in 2010.
So far 11 world records have fallen at the World Championships to swimmers in contentious 100% polyurethane outfits.
Bob Bowman said he would tell eight-time Olympic champion Phelps "not to swim until the rules are implemented".
Phelps, whose dominance in the pool at the Beijing Oympics sparked an upsurge of interest in the sport, still wears a Speedo LZR suit, which is 50% polyurethane and has been superseded by a new generation of hi-tech bodysuits.
The 24-year-old American was beaten in the 200m freestyle final in the World Championships in Rome on Tuesday by Germany’s Biedermann, who was wearing an all-polyurethane suit and took Phelps’s world record in the process.
Fina have agreed to ban the performance-enhancing suits next year but this ruling may not come into effect until April or May and Bowman feels this is not soon enough.
"I’m done with this. It has to be implemented immediately. The sport is in shambles right now and they better do something or they’re going to lose their guy who fills these seats," he said.
RECORDS IN ROME- Day One (six records):
M 400m free Paul Biedermann (Arena X-Glide)
W 200m IM Ariana Kukors (Jaked 01)
W 4x100m free (2) Netherlands AND Britta Steffen broke 100m free on her leg (Adidas Hydrofoil)
W 100m butterfly Sarah Sjostrom (Arena X-Glide)
W 400m free Federica Pellegrini (Jaked 01) - Day Two (five records):
W 100m butterfly Sarah Sjostrom (Arena X-Glide)
W 200m IM Ariana Kukors (Jaked 01)
W 100m breaststroke Rebecca Soni (Arena X-Glide)
W 100m backstroke Anastasia Zueva (Arena X-Glide)
M 100m breaststroke Brenton Rickard (Jaked 01) - Day Three (four records):
W 100m backstroke Gemma Spofforth (Speedo LZR)
W 200m Freestyle Federica Pellegrini (Jaked 01)
M 50m breaststroke Cameron Van Der Burgh (Arena X-Glide)
M 200m freestyle Paul Biedermann (Arena X-Glide)
"We’ve lost all the history of the sport. Does a 10-year-old boy in Baltimore want to break Paul Biedermann’s record Is that going to make him join swimming
"It took Michael from 2003 to 2008 to go from 1:46 to 1:42.9 and this guy’s done it in 11 months. That’s an amazing training program. I would love to know how that works."
Biedermann clocked one minute 42.00 seconds, which beat Phelps’ world mark of 1:42.96 from the Beijing Olympics.
On Monday, Biedermann also broke the men’s 400m freestyle record, which was held for seven years by Australian Ian Thorpe.
The German has improved on his personal best by almost seven-and-a-half seconds since he started using the suit.
Phelps praised Biedermann’s achievement, but looked forward to a time when the banning of 100% polyurethane suits returns swimming to an even contest.
"Paul is a very strong swimmer and has had an excellent year," said Phelps. "I have not been beaten by the swimsuit but by a great athlete.
"However, a solution needs to be found to the issue of swimsuits as this is not swimming any more.
"Technology has to go forward but I am looking forward to the time when we can go back to pure swimming.
"I will start working as soon as I can and I am confident that I will be in my best shape for the next major competitions, particularly for London [2012 Olympics]."
On Tuesday, a Fina committee upheld last week’s decision by the wider organisation to restrict males to suits that go from the waist to the top of the knees, while female suits cannot go past the shoulders or beyond the knees, from next year.
"What Fina’s top officials have done to the sport, what they have allowed to happen, is an absolute disgrace"
Grant Hackett
In addition, Fina also announced that suit materials will be restricted to "textiles", a definition which will be determined by a scientific committee, and that there will be specific standards for buoyancy, thickness and permeability.
The complete rules will be given to swimsuit companies by 30 September.
"The rules will be applied in 2010. That can be April or May. It depends on the time manufacturers need to pass from polyurethane to textiles," said Fina executive director Cornel Marculescu.
The controversy began at the start of 2008 when swimmers began to wear the part-polyurethane Speedo LZR suits.
At the Beijing Olympics 23 of the 25 world records set were by swimmers wearing the new attire and by the end of the year 108 new world marks had been set by those wearing the suit.
Since swimmers began to wear the 100% polyurethane suits – the Jaked 01, Arena X-Glide and Adidas Hydrofoil to name but a few – 42 world records have fallen up to and including the third day of the World Championships.
"I would be perfectly happy if we adjust all the records starting with the LZR. If we took them all out and went back to 2007," said Bowman.
606: DEBATEWhat is your view on the swimsuit debate
"Even those in Beijing. We can have them in a separate list. These were done in polyurethane suits and then these are done in textile suits. Then we can start over in January and make the sport about swimming."
Three-time Olympic champion Grant Hackett has branded Fina an "absolute disgrace" for allowing the polyurethane suits at the World Championships.
The Australian’s 800m and 1500m freestyle marks are the only pre-bodysuit records still standing.
"New leadership is needed to look after the sport. I’m furious at Fina," said the Australian, who retired in 2008.
Speaking about Biedermann’s new mark in the 400m freestyle, Hackett told The Australian Newspaper: "I hate saying this because I sound like a bad sport, but that world record would not have gone without that suit.
"What Fina’s top officials have done to the sport, what they have allowed to happen, is an absolute disgrace."</p
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Games tsar will ensure 2012 legacy
July 26th, 2009 |
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The government is to counter criticism that it is failing to deliver on the promises that helped win the 2012 Olympic Games for London by appointing a “sports legacy tsar”, to get more people participating in sport and help attract private sector investment.
Ministers are looking for a high-profile figure who could be a former Olympic athlete or an influential name who has experience of running a sporting body.
With the Olympic flame due to be lit in the new stadium in Stratford, east London, three years from tomorrow, there is increasing optimism that organisers will deliver the games on time and within the £9.3bn budget, despite the impact of the recession. But opposition MPs and senior sports figures have told the Guardian that there remain serious questions over the legacy of the 2012 Games. In particular, there are concerns over promises to use the Olympics to increase sporting activity and fight obesity.
Critics claim that “four years have been wasted” in devising a strategy to deliver on the promise of getting 1 million people taking part in more sport by 2012 and a broader pledge to get 1 million more participating in physical activity, including walking and gardening.
Organisations including the British Olympic Association and the CCPR (Central Council of Physical Recreation), which represents hundreds of governing bodies, have voiced concerns that plans to use the Olympics to make a “once in a lifetime” change in the population’s sporting habits are yet to have any impact at grassroots level. The shadow sports minister, Hugh Robertson, said: “The lack of a proper strategy for delivering our participation promises is the single biggest problem with the Olympics.”
The Liberal Democrat Olympic spokesman, Tom Brake, said “alarm bells must be ringing in government”, which “may have bitten off more than it can chew”. The CCPR chair, Brigid Simmonds, added: “We have been saying for some time that the Olympics will have a long sunrise and a very short sunset. If we don’t get it right, this huge opportunity will be lost. With three years to go, let’s grasp it and let’s get on with it.” In response, it is understood that the sports minister, Gerry Sutcliffe, who remains confident that the targets can be achieved, plans to convene a new team led by a “legacy tsar” to co-ordinate sport participation.
The government believes that it has put all the necessary building blocks in place, including getting the various agencies working harmoniously and doubling sports funding in the three years since 2005, but acknowledges that a more co-ordinated national approach is required.
“Some regions are getting on and doing it and others are sitting back and waiting for something to happen,” Sutcliffe said. “It’s got to be about inspiration as well. The athletes need to be out in their communities inspiring people.”
It will also co-ordinate a drive to get private backers involved in the legacy push. Adidas will announce that it is rolling out its “sportszone” concept around the country following a trial in London, and there are hopes that other Olympic sponsors will want to get involved with legacy projects. Figures released last week by Sport England, the body charged with delivering the 1 million participation increase and investing £480m of lottery and public funds in grassroots sport between 2009 and 2013, revealed that progress appeared to have stalled.
Quarterly figures showed that of 31 sports measured according to how many people played them at least once a week, only table tennis recorded an increase. Nine – including swimming, football, gymnastics and rowing – showed a decline and the rest showed no change.
In order to achieve its target, Sport England must boost the 6.8 million people playing sport for 30 minutes at least three times a week by 1 million. The other 1 million, to be delivered through other government agencies including the National Health Service, must be doing some form of physical activity for 30 minutes at least three times a week. Sport England argues that the quarterly survey is merely a guide and that the next annual survey, due in December, will give a clearer idea of progress under a plan launched earlier this year to invest the bulk of its lottery and public funds directly through sport governing bodies.
It was partly the bold legacy promises made by London Organising Committee chairman, Seb Coe, that the Olympics would transform the East End of London, inspire a generation of young people through sport and deliver health benefits for the entire nation that helped convince International Olympic Committee members to vote for the city in 2005.
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Live – Hungary Grand Prix
July 26th, 2009 |
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LIVE TEXT COMMENTARY (all times BST)
606: DEBATEYour thoughts on the action
To get involved text us on 81111 with FORMULA 1 before your message. (Not all contributions can be used; UK mobiles only; network rates apply)
By Caroline Cheese
BBC Sport’s Sarah Holt at the Hungaroring: "Ferrari will not be replacing Felipe Massa in today’s race. The sport’s rules say a team can change a driver "any time before the start of qualifying" and that "additional changes for reasons of force majeure will be considered separately". Although Massa’s crash was certainly caused by a "greater force", the team haven’t considered running nominated reserve driver Marc Gene, most likely out of respect for Massa. Gene and fellow Italian Luca Badoer are Ferrari’s reserve drivers while seven-time Michael Schumacher is also on the books in an advisory role. And just so you know, any team can use up to four drivers in one season."1159: Bit of a serious start to the day eh I make no apologies for that, but we are going to try to turn our attention to today’s race – although we’ll of course bring you any news about Massa as soon as we hear it. The Brazilian would have been 10th on the grid, but in his absence, Sebastien Buemi and all the drivers behind him will move up a place.1152: Another interesting line from Brundle’s column: "I don’t like to use the term ‘freak accident’ because there’s an inevitability about periodic fatal incidents in motor racing and in life." That seems to the the thrust of many of your texts so far. Hard to see how the sport can be made safer. There has been talk of providing more protection around the cockpit, but asDavid Coulthard says in his BBC Sport column,the open cockpit "is the essence of single-seater racing".1144: Massa’s accident came only six days after 18-year-old Henry Surtees was killed when he was struck by a loose wheel during an F2 race. Martin Brundle was at that race and was standing next to Henry’s father and motor racing legend John Surtees when the accident happened. "Henry’s accident seems so unfair," writes Brundlein an eloquent and heart-wrenching column for the Sunday Times, which I recommend everyone reads."John Surtees survived the sport’s most perilous times. Yet his son is taken in an era where motor racing is infinitely safer and in a category in which it’s difficult to conceive how the cars could be made much safer."
From Pete in Stoke, via text on 81111: "I think I speak on behalf of all F1 fans when I send my best wishes to Felipe and to wish him a speedy recovery."Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali speaking on Sunday morning: "The condition of Felipe is stable, there were no complications during the night. Now we are waiting to do another CT scan – after that we will have more information, and this is what we can say at the moment. We are thanking all the medical staff here (at the AEK military hospital) for the operation, they are working very well."1137: Just in case you haven’t heard the latest, Massa’s condition is being described as "stable". He has been sedated since having surgery yesterday and will be woken today before having another brain scan. The FIAwill conduct an investigation into the incident.1130: Hello. Nineteen drivers are preparing for race 10 of the 2009 season this morning. The 20th is recovering in hospitalfollowing emergency surgery as a result of a skull fracture.Get well soon, Felipe Massa. Very soon
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Gay ‘Olympics’ kick off in Copenhagen
Celebration of gay sport and culture with a focus on human rights in homophobic countries begins this weekend
There will be triathlon and handball – but also bridge and line dancing. Copenhagen is preparing for thousands of gay people from dozens of nations to descend this weekend for the Outgames, a nine-day sporting and cultural olympics for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.
When the 5,500 participants are introduced on a catwalk in Copenhagen’s central square today, it will kickstart nine days of sport, arts and political debates with almost 100 nations represented in more than 30 events, traditional and improvised.
But the event is about much more than podium places. The Outgames has launched itself under the banner of sport, culture and human rights. Participants from a host of cities, including Tel Aviv and Mexico City, will take over public spaces throughout Copenhagen to showcase artists and performers.
At the centre of the political programme is a human rights conference, where speakers include the British basketball player and sports commentator John Amaechi, the first NBA player to have come out.
On the fringe of the games, the people of Copenhagen have been encouraged to embrace the event and play an active role. At the main library you can “take out a gay” for a half-hour chat after you’ve scanned his or her barcode, while many of the participants are staying in private homes throughout the city.
The director of the Outgames, Uffe Elbæk, hopes the Copenhagen event will attract people from countries where gay people still face imprisonment and the organisers have funded the journey to Copenhagen for 250 participants from Asia, Latin America and Africa.
“The world is coming to Copenhagen, and we have worked towards our goal of ensuring that participants from places such as Africa, Asia and not least the Middle East have the opportunity to come to Copenhagen for the Outgames,” he said.
Elbæk sees the games as not just a celebration for the LGBT community, but a global event, highlighting that gay people are still criminalised in a third of the countries represented.
“We want to make this top priority and put the focus on human rights,” he said.