Belgian theater drops Oly logo case
BRUSSElS: A theater in Belgium has dropped a plagiarism legal case over the design of a logo for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The International Olympic Committee said in a statement on Tuesday that the Theatre de liege “has decided to waive the pending procedure.” But the Belgian graphic artist who designed the emblem for the theater is vowing to fight on. The first Tokyo logo came under scrutiny because of its similarity to the theater’s emblem. The Japanese emblem’s designer, Kenjiro Sano, stood by his work but it was eventually withdrawn. Belgian designer Olivier Debie told The Associated Press on Tuesday: “I am continuing.” He added “there is a lot of pressure from the IOC” to drop his case.
Khanna to contest for ITF president’s post
New Delhi: All India Tennis Association (AITA) president Anil Khanna will be contesting for the post of new president of the International Tennis Federation at its Annual General Meeting in Santiago, Chile on September 25. Also the president of Asian Tennis Federation (ATF), Khanna will be up against USA’s David Haggerty, Juan Margets lobato of Spain and Rene Stammbach of Switzerland for the top post in ITF. The AGM will be hosted by the Chilean Tennis Federation from September 23 to 25 with over 280 delegates, partners and staff from National Associations, Regional Associations, Foundation Members and Recognised Organisations, according to an ITF statement. The new president will have a four-year term from 2015 to 2019, and will replace the outgoing Francesco Ricci Bitti, who has decided to step down after 16 years in office.
Pistorius case to be heard on Nov. 3
CAPE TOWN: Oscar Pistorius’ case will be heard by South Africa’s Supreme Court of Appeal on November 3, when prosecutors will again press for a murder conviction against the double-amputee athlete. The Supreme Court announced the date on Tuesday. The court said the appeal by prosecutors against Pistorius’ acquittal for murder for killing girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp will be heard by a panel of five judges. Pistorius was found guilty of a lesser charge of manslaughter for shooting Steenkamp through a toilet door in his home in 2013. Prosecutors say Judge Thokozile Masipa made errors at Pistorius’ murder trial last year and want the Supreme Court to re-examine her verdict. The Supreme Court could overrule Masipa and find the Olympian guilty of murder, order a new trial, or decide Masipa was correct.
ATP expects Murray at World Tour Finals
lONDON: The Association of Tennis Professionals says it expects Andy Murray to compete in the World Tour Finals in london in November, after Murray indicated he may miss the event to prepare for Britain’s Davis Cup final against Belgium. ATP president Chris Kermode says the World Tour Finals “is a mandatory event” and that “our expectations are that, if fully fit, Andy would compete in this year’s tournament.” Murray told BBC radio that if Belgium hosts the encounter on clay, the World Tour Finals “would obviously be a question mark” because “it would mean only playing for two days on the clay before the Davis Cup final starts.” The World Tour Finals is scheduled to run from Nov. 15-22. The Davis Cup final, Britain’s first for 37 years, is Nov. 27-29.
‘Boys shaping up well for U-17 WC’
Kolkata: Indian football icon Bhaichung Bhutia was all praise for the national U-16 side who impressed in the qualifying round in Iran. “They showed a lot of promise and very hard working. It’s extremely satisfying that the boys qualified on their own and credit should be given to them,” Bhutia said. India thrashed Bahrain 5-0 and lebanon 6-0 in the qualifiers to finish second in Group E. India gets an automatic qualification in 2016 AFC U-16 Championships as hosts but would have otherwise booked a berth on merit as one of the second best placed teams from across the 11 groups.