Athletics: Double European gold medallist Sonia O'Sullivan yesterday insisted victory in today's Compaq five-mile road race at Balmoral Castle is far more important than setting world records.
O'Sullivan was not being too cynical after hearing that the world record of 24 minutes 27 seconds she set for the distance in October in Loughrea had been rejected for ratification after it was discovered the course was downhill.
Her appearance today will attract another 10,000-plus crowd eager to see a classic confrontation against three main rivals - and all Kenyans - Tegla Loroupe, Joyce Chepchumba and Sally Barsosio.
Showing extraordinary stamina, Loroupe and Chepchumba, first and third in Sunday's Flora London Marathon, are taking to the roads again after punishing performances around the capital's streets. O'Sullivan knows a rock solid victory is essential to bolster her own confidence. "I've been training well since the cross country and I think I've been going in the right direction. I've knuckled down to a much tougher schedule. I suppose tomorrow is like going back to school. I've done all of the studying. Now I'll take the test and see where I'm going. But I do feel good," she said.
Olympic Games: Athenians woke up yesterday to newspaper headlines telling them the Greek capital may miss out hosting the 2004 Olympics.
The fears were sparked by Thursday's blistering attack by International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Juan Antonio Samaranch over the lack of preparation.
Samaranch, who is scheduled to visit Athens on May 13th, warned that if Greece did not take proper measures by the end of the year, the Games would be in "danger".
While Greek media relayed the bad news from the IOC, Greek government officials were confident that the Games would be organised without any problems.
"The organisation of the Olympics is a major priority for our government," said government spokesman Dimitris Reppas, adding that the government has overcome any problems faced so far and denied that there had been bureaucratic troubles.
Earlier this week, president of the Athens 2004 Olympics organising committee Panayiotis Thomopoulos briefed new Culture Minister Theodoros Pangalos and Sports Undersecretary George Floridis about the preparations for the Games. After the meeting all three expressed satisfaction at the progress made so far.
Netball: Australia's world champion netball players have refused to follow the national women soccer team's lead and pose nude for a calendar.
Australian captain Kathryn Harby said yesterday some players had been under pressure to take their clothes off when they went to the studio. "We don't aim to be models posing naked in a calendar," Harby said.
Prime Publishing director Ettore Flacco denied the players had been put under pressure to pose nude.
Cycling: Former Tour de France winner Marco Pantani has been sent for trial on doping charges even though Italy's Olympic Committee cleared him of the accusations.
The investigating judge in the case in the northern Italian town of Forli had ruled there was sufficient evidence to take the case to court, Italian newspapers reported yesterday.
The decision came as a surprise because public prosecutors had recommended the case be shelved and the Italian Olympic Committee decided to drop it last April. The official charge against Pantani is "sporting fraud" and the investigation dates from his disqualification from last year's Giro d'Italia after failing a blood test. He insists he never used performance-enhancing drugs.
Gaelic Games: The return of Michael Donnellan to the Galway panel has presented manager John O'Mahony with a timely boost as the county enters the more specific phase of training ahead of the upcoming football championship, writes Ian O'Riordan. Donnellan had his first training session with the panel on Thursday evening and the 22-year-old forward is expected to slot back into his pivotal role in the Galway attack. His influence in helping Galway to win the All-Ireland title two years ago earned him an All Star and Footballer of the Year award.
But there were doubts about his future with the county after he spent the last few months playing soccer with Galway United. That experience certainly won't have reduced his fitness levels and there is every reason to believe he can reproduce his form of two years ago.
Galway open their championship campaign against New York on June 10th and, if they win there, will go on to meet Mayo or Sligo.
