SPORTS DIGEST: RUGBY:Fast food chain McDonalds and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) are close to agreeing a new, eight-year sponsorship contract and the deal could be sealed this month, the IOC's marketing chief said yesterday.
McDonald’s, whose contract runs out after this year’s London Olympics, and IOC officials will meet in Austria during the Innsbruck Youth Olympics starting on Friday to finalise details. “The situation is positive and I don’t see any obstacle. We are very close,” IOC marketing commission chairman Gerhard Heiberg said. Heiberg said the new, four-Games deal would include the 2020 summer Olympics, which have yet to be awarded to a host, as well as the 2014 winter Games in Sochi, the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics and the 2018 Pyeongchang winter Olympics.
McDonald’s is one of 11 top sponsors who contribute an estimated $100m (€78m) each for every two-Games package of one winter and one summer Games though the IOC does not release details on individual deals. The company has been an official sponsor since 1976.
Rossi looking for new Ducati deal
MOTOR SPORT:Italy's seven-time MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi is contemplating retiring after the 2014 season. Before he quits, the 32-year-old is keen to bring success to his Ducati team and wants to extend his contract before it expires at the end of 2012. Rossi, who won his last title in 2009, said: "I want a new two-year contract with Ducati, maybe the last, and then I'll think about how to enjoy myself. I want to win something here, make Ducati grow and then stop."
Limerick’s Galvin back training
GAELIC GAMES:Limerick midfielder John Galvin is making a quicker than expected recovery from a cruciate knee ligament injury and now could feature in the latter stages of the National Football League.
Galvin ruptured his cruciate ligament during a friendly match against Down last May and according to Limerick manager Maurice Horan, Galvin is already back on the training pitch.
“John is back training with us, but he is still taking it easy,” Horan said. “His rehab is going very well, but it is still in the early stages. There are a lot of stages to go through in the recovery from this injury, but we are very happy with his progress.”
Kvitova eyes Wozniacki’s top spot
TENNIS:The Czech Republics world number two Petra Kvitova will overtake Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki if she wins the final of the Sydney International on Friday night but the script very nearly went out the window yesterday.
Wozniacki trailed 4-0 in the final set against Slovakias world number 18 Dominika Cibulkova before peeling off six straight games to record a determined if unconvincing 7-5 2-6 6-4 victory.
“I hate losing,” Wozniacki said bluntly afterwards. “That’s what I put it down to. I just hate to lose. I always do everything I can to win a game. I want to stand in the end as the winner having won the last point.” Wozniacki snuck into a quarter-final against Agnieszka Radwanska.
Kvitova, an asthma sufferer, appeared fatigued and breathless in the stifling conditions but held on for a 7-5 3-6 6-4 win against Romania’s world number 66 Alexandra Dulgheru.
Toulon’s Boudjellal refuses to apologise over comments
RUGBY:Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal will face a disciplinary committee after refusing to apologise following a complaint that his side were the victims of "refereeing sodomy" in a French Top 14 game last weekend.
“I will withdraw my comments the day the referees will apologise,” Boudjellal told the French sports daily LEquipe.
The case has been referred to the French leagues disciplinary committee. A colourful character in French rugby, Boudjellal hit out at the match officials after Toulon lost 25-19 to Clermont on Sunday.
A video aired by local newspaper Var Matin’s website (www.varmatin.fr) showed him saying: “I experienced my first refereeing sodomy against Clermont in 2009 (in a top 14 semi-final game). I’ve just experienced my second tonight. We will be able to see the footage, not on Youtube but on Youporn.”
Pakistan’s Amir may play again
CRICKET:Teenage Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir, serving six-months in jail for spot-fixing elements of a Test match, could still have a future in international cricket, Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Zaka Ashraf said.
Amir (19) was detained for six months in a young offenders’ institution after he admitted bowling two intentional no-balls in the Lord’s Test against England in August 2010.
Amir, along with team-mates Mohammad Asif and Salman Butt, was banned for a minimum of five years by the International Cricket Council in February last year.
“Whenever he is cleared by the International Cricket Council and serves his punishment, we think he needs intense counselling and then the selectors can decide about him,” Ashraf said yesterday.
“As far as his playing again is concerned that is for the selectors to decide because there is no doubt about his immense talent and he is still very young.” Amir has taken 51 wickets in 14 Tests.
