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Fans Want Nowitzki To Carry Flag

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 31, 2008

FRANKFURT, Germany - Fans of Dirk Nowitzki have mounted an Internet campaign they hope will lead to his selection as Germany's flag bearer at the Beijing Olympics.

Germany's basketball team, led by the 30-year-old Nowitzki, qualified for the Games 10 days ago. That makes him eligible to be flag bearer. Signatures reached 3,800 on a Web site Wednesday.

"That would be super," the Dallas Mavericks star said Wednesday. "I would be honored."

Nowitzki will be aided in the middle by Los Angeles Clippers center Chris Kaman, whose grandparents are German.

Germany is in Group B with the United States, China, Angola, Greece and Spain.

"We have to beat China and Angola if we want to reach the quarterfinals," Nowitzki said.

IOC Allows Iraqi Rowers To Go To Beijing

LAUSANNE, Switzerland - Two Iraqi rowers will be allowed to take part in the Beijing Olympics, the International Rowing Federation said Wednesday.

"We called the IOC and asked if we could have the rowers back and the answer just came through," the federation's executive director Matt Smith said. "We're very happy."

The two rowers, Haidar Nozad and Hamzah Hussein Jebur, were allowed back in the men's double sculls because their places had not been given to competitors from other countries, Smith said. "No one is kicked out," he said.

The readmission was possible because North Korea declined to take up the slots after it was offered to them last week, IOC spokeswoman Giselle Davies said.

The International Olympic Committee readmitted Iraq to the Olympics on Tuesday, six days after the deadline to enter athletes for rowing, judo, archery and weightlifting had passed.

IOC officials had said then that Iraq would only be able to send two track and field athletes to Beijing due to a later deadline.

Officials at the international judo, archery and weightlifting federations say Iraqi athletes will not be able to compete in those sports as the places they lost last week have been given to other countries.

Barcelona Must Release Messi

ZURICH, Switzerland - FIFA ruled Wednesday that professional clubs must release players age 23 or younger for the Beijing Olympics, clearing the way for Lionel Messi to play for Argentina despite opposition from FC Barcelona.

Slim Aloulou, a Tunisian judge on FIFA's player status committee, said the release was "mandatory for all clubs."

"Taking part in the Olympic Games is a unique opportunity for all athletes of any sporting discipline," FIFA said in a statement. "It would not be justifiable to prevent any player younger than 23 from participating in such an event if his representative team had qualified."

Barcelona said in a statement it would appeal the decision.

Friedek Loses Appeal To Compete At Olympics

Former world triple jump champion Charles Friedek won't be competing at the Beijing Olympics after losing a court appeal Wednesday.

A German court upheld the national Olympic committee's decision that Friedek, who won the gold medal at the 1999 world championships, didn't fulfill the required qualifications to be nominated.

The 36-year-old argued he qualified by leaping 55 feet, 91/4 inches and didn't need to jump that distance twice as required. His case also stated that he has jumped that distance twice - although both occurred at the same meet June 25 in Wesel.

Friedek won the indoor world title in 1999 and 2000 and was runner-up in 1998.

U.S., Ivory Coast Draw 0-0 In Olympic Warm-Up

HONG KONG - The U.S. men's soccer team was held to a 0-0 draw by Ivory Coast on Wednesday at a four-nation tournament ahead of the Beijing Olympics.

The Ivory Coast dominated the first half, with Kafoumba Coulibaly sending two late shots on goal that were saved by U.S. goalkeeper Brad Guzan.

The Americans briefly took control in the second half before their opponents carved out later chances. Sekou Cisse's shot from near the edge of the area produced another save by Guzan.

"When we have our first two games, we can work on some things - not only defensively, but also offensively," said U.S. coach Peter Nowak, who is blending Europe-based players and MLS players.

The United States will play Cameroon on Saturday, while Ivory Coast plays the Netherlands. The Dutch beat Cameroon 2-0 on Wednesday.

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