Roland Garros set for new stadium works

PARIS - The French Tennis Federation were given the green light to continue work on a new stadium adjoining Roland Garros by the country’s highest administrative jurisdiction. The Conseil d’Etat overturned a March ruling by an administrative court judge that blocked development of a new 5,000-seat stadium in the Serres d’Auteuil due to protests over the impact the work might have on the botanical garden’s historic greenhouses which date back to the 19th century. The historic Roland Garros site is the smallest of the four Grand Slams and when it rains, it becomes terribly congested with thousands of fans jostling for the few areas of cover. But the planned Euro350m expansion of the grounds set in the leafy and plush western district of Paris was opposed by several local associations.–AFP

 

 

 

Evans anguish after opponent Towell dies

LONDON - Welsh boxer Dale Evans admits he feels responsible for Mike Towell’s shocking death following their welterweight bout. Towell died in hospital on Friday after being stretchered from the ring in Glasgow the previous day. The 25-year-old Scot had been beaten by Evans in the fifth round of a British welterweight title eliminator St Andrew’s Sporting Club event in Glasgow. He was taken to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, diagnosed with severe bleeding and swelling to his brain, and died 12 hours after being taken off life support. “I feel like I am responsible. I can’t stop thinking about Mike and his poor family. All my thoughts are with them,” Evans said. “It has been awful. All I can think of is his two-year-old kid and his girlfriend and family who won’t have him around anymore.–AFP

 

 

 

Paris safe for 2024 Olympics: French chief

PARIS - French president Francois Hollande said Sunday that Paris, a target of devastating terrorism, would guarantee the security of athletes if it hosted the 2024 Olympics. “We can guarantee the security of the athletes, it is our major priority and a prior condition we must offer to athletes from all over the world,” said Hollande in a speech at a reception for visiting International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach. “I don’t know what the world will look like in 2024, but it will be just as dangerous. And no country can think it will be protected, immune,” said Hollande. He said that France, which hosted the Euro 2016 football tournament without major security incident, had been forced by events to make preparations that no other country would match.–AFP

 

 

 

Swansea axe Guidolin, hire Bradley

LONDON - Swansea hired former United States coach Bob Bradley as their new manager on Monday after the struggling Premier League club sacked Francesco Guidolin on his birthday. The team’s 2-1 defeat against Liverpool, left Swansea just above the relegation zone with only one win from their seven league matches this season. “We can confirm the club has parted company with Francesco Guidolin, who will be replaced by Bob Bradley,” Swansea official Tweeted. Guidolin saved Swansea from relegation after joining the south Wales club in January and was given a two-year contract at the end of last season. But an American consortium led by Stephen Kaplan and Jason Levien inherited Guidolin when they took over in July and reports began to emerge that his job could be in danger as soon as Swansea began to struggle.–AFP

 

 

 

New SBP DG vows to promote sports

LAHORE - Director General Sports Punjab Zulfiqar Ahmed Ghuman Monday vowed that he would go every length for the promotion and uplift of sports and take revolutionary step for its betterment. He said the players would be given proper respect and dignity so that the youth could follow them. He made a promise to bring the youth playing streets to the playgrounds. “Steps should be taken to divert the attention of one-wheeling youth on bikes towards sports,” he said and added the best possible sports facilities would be provided to the youth so that they could give proper time training for big events. Being a sportsman himself, as he had played hockey in his student life, he promised to uplift sports and urged the media to play a positive role in the promotion of sports.–Staff Reporter