My Sports News Digest

LONDON/BERLIN March 8 – Banks have gone bust and countries teetered on the brink of default since Beijing hosted the Olympics in 2008, but the Games have defied the downturn, growing ever richer on the back of record sponsorship and TV income. Broadcast revenue for this summer’s London Games and the Winter Olympics in Vancouver in 2010 will total $ 3.9 billion — up 50 percent on the previous four-year period. On top of that, the 11 international companies who sponsor the Olympics have paid nearly $ 1 billion for the chance to market their products on the back of [...]

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Three competing tweets have been nominated, and your vote will decide the winner. Check out the nominated tweets and vote for your favorite in the poll here: Bernard Lagat’s daughter finds humor in Turkey “My daughter finds it funny that I’m in a place called ‘Turkey’. She said “Daddy, are you a turkey”… then a giggle! So cute.” -Bernard Lagat Dara Torres imparts an important piece of wisdom “Middle age advice…never purchase a magnifying mirror!! Yikes!!!” -Dara Torres Garrett Weber-Gale commits a social/food faux pas “Accidentally just ate a roasted garlic clove before going to meet some people. Oops.” -Garrett [...]

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March 8 – The Olympics in London this year will cost more than 11 billion pounds ($ 17.5 billion) to set up and stage, the majority of it coming from public funds when the government is cutting spending hard in other areas. How does the funding of the Games work? BUILDING AND PROTECTING THE VENUES The British government has earmarked 9.3 billion pounds ($ 14.61 billion) in public funds to transform a rundown part of east London into the Olympic Park and to provide the security to ensure the Games can be held safely. The government says it still has [...]

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OROSZLANY, Hungary – Images of Janos Baranyai dislocating his elbow at the 2008 Olympics have been viewed more than 15 million times on YouTube. The Hungarian weightlifter, however, has only seen it twice. Janos Baranyai, of Hungary, grimaces on the platform after dislocating his right elbow while attempting to lift 148 kilograms in the snatch of the Group B of the men’s 77 kg of the weightlifting competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympics. Baranyai’s right elbow popped out of its socket as he was attempting to snatch 148 kilograms (326.3 pounds) in the men’s 77-kilogram division at the Beijing Olympics, [...]

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NEW YORK – The U.S. Olympic Committee will turn Times Square in New York into a mini Olympic village on April 18 to celebrate the start of the 100-day countdown to the London Olympics. Dozens of Olympic athletes will sign autographs and give demonstrations in beach volleyball, gymnastics, track and other sports. The USOC announced the program Monday. The federation views this as a prime opportunity to raise money for American athletes, along with giving sponsors a visible platform to link with the U.S. Olympic team. 2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, [...]

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TOKYO – Japanese equestrian rider Hiroshi Hoketsu has qualified for a spot at the London Olympics at the age of 70. Hoketsu, who will turn 71 on March 28, qualified by winning an international dressage meet in France on Thursday. Japanese equestrian officials are expected to announce in the next few weeks whether he will actually compete in London. Hoketsu, who is based in Germany and competed in the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo, become Japan’s oldest Olympian when he took part in the 2008 Beijing Olympics at the age of 67. The oldest Olympian was Swedish shooter Oscar Swahn, who [...]

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DELRAY BEACH, Fla. – Bob Bryan recently became a father, twin brother Mike is engaged, and the pair are almost old enough for the senior tour. Tennis does have a clock, and the sport’s most successful doubles team concedes time is running short to win an Olympic gold medal. After winning the bronze medal at the Beijing Olympics, Bob and Mike Bryan are looking for gold this year in London. Bryan-Bryan are ranked No. 1 and plan to compete in the games for a third time this year in London. They were shut out in Athens, then took the bronze [...]

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Three competing tweets have been nominated, and your vote will decide the winner. Check out the nominated tweets and vote for your favorite in the poll here: Angela Ruggiero discovers her connection to Linsanity“Just realized Lin and I both wore the #4 jersey at Harvard… #linsanity” -Angela Ruggiero Cullen Jones celebrates 7th birthday on Feb. 29 “I’m 7 !!!!!” -Cullen Jones Jason Richardson suddenly feels quite ancient “Turning a few pages of my book before bed with my glasses on has me feeling pension/social security old” -Jason Richardson Votes will be counted through Monday, with the victorious tweet announced on [...]

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