Lin unhappy with Rio badminton venue
RIO DE JANEIRO • Chinese badminton superstar Lin Dan, who is competing in the Brazil Grand Prix, expressed his surprise at the state and size of the Riocentro, the competition venue for next year's Olympic Games.
Located at a pavilion of an exhibition centre near the Olympic Park, the temporary stands now seat about 500.
World Badminton Federation general secretary Thomas Lund said that the venue's capacity will be increased to accommodate 7,000 in time for the Aug 5-21 Games.
XINHUA
HK regrets Fifa probe into booing of anthem
HONG KONG • The Hong Kong Football Association yesterday expressed its "disappointment" that Fifa is investigating the booing of the Chinese national anthem during last week's World Cup qualifier against China.
The sold-out game at the 6,000-seat Mong Kok Stadium, which ended goal-less, saw jeering from local supporters while some held signs with "boo" written on them.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Scott knows Spieth is key rival in Aussie Open
SYDNEY • Former world No. 1 golfer Adam Scott is aiming to end his 18-month winless drought at this week's Australian Open.
Ranked 12th in the world, he identified top-ranked American Jordan Spieth as his main threat at the A$1.25 million (S$1.27 million) tournament held at the Australian Golf Club.
REUTERS
Fury ready to pummel 'old man' Klitschko
BERLIN • Undefeated British boxer Tyson Fury has vowed to "expose" undisputed champion Wladimir Klitschko in Saturday's world heavyweight title bout and labelled the Ukrainian an "old man".
Klitschko, 39, will defend his IBF, WBA and IBO titles against 27-year-old Fury in Duesseldorf's Esprit Arena.
This is the second time the fight has been scheduled to take place after the original date in October was cancelled due to Klitschko's calf injury.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Brazil to waive visa rules for Olympics
SAO PAULO • Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has agreed to suspend visa requirements for foreigners during the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil's official gazette reported on Wednesday, despite heightened security fears after the Paris attacks.
The move is to encourage tourism and help revive Brazil's sluggish economy, which is expected to stay in recession for a second year.
Foreigners who arrive between June and Sept 18 will be able to stay for up to 90 days without a visa, according to a law already passed by Congress.
REUTERS
Sunwolves to name coach shortly
SYDNEY • Japan's Super Rugby team Sunwolves, which will be co-based in Singapore, will definitely compete next season and should appoint a coach in the next couple of weeks, tournament organiser Sanzar's newly-appointed chief executive Andy Marinos said yesterday.
The Sunwolves are one of three new clubs to join the expanded 18-team league for next season, along with an as-yet-unnamed Argentinian side and South Africa's Kings.
They will open against South Africa's Lions in Tokyo on Feb 27 before making their Singapore debut on March 12 against South Africa's Cheetahs.
REUTERS
