Olympics - UK border guards vote to strike, no date set yet
The union representing immigration staff at British airports says its members have voted to go on strike in a dispute over pay and job losses. The vote by the Public and Commercial Services Union raises the prospect of a possible walkout during the Olympics, although no strike date has been set. Union leaders meet today to decide their next move, which could include a walkout at border control posts at ports and airports, or a ban on overtime. The union is fighting government plans for budget cuts and pay freezes. The British government is keen to avoid any disruption as visitors descend for the July 27-August 12 games. Heathrow Airport has been beset for months by long lines at passport control that the union blames on government spending cuts.
Olympics - Athletes village cafe closed as water runs dry
Parts of the athletes village at the London Olympics are without water after delays installing pipes. The cafe in the village's shopping area was closed for several hours yesterday and other "grab and go" cafes were also affected. With the cafe doors closed unexpectedly, staff told athletes and guests trying to gain access that there were "water restrictions." Organizers told The Associated Press that a "couple of water pipes and connections" were slightly late being installed and are still being checked before being operational. Organizers expect the issue to be resolved by today. There were no indications that athletes' apartments were affected.
Olympics - Estonian tennis player Kanepi to miss Olympics
Estonian tennis star Kaia Kanepi has pulled out of the Olympics because she has not recovered from a heel injury. Kanepi says she is "very sad" about the withdrawal from the London Games since, "I don't know whether I ever get another chance to attend the Olympics." The 27-year-old player posted the comments on her website yesterday. Kanepi is ranked No. 16 on WTA Singles Ranking. She reached quarterfinals at the French Open in May but was forced to miss Wimbledon due to a heel injury. Kanepi is one of Estonia's best tennis players ever. She has competed at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and at the Athens Games four years before. She won her first WTA tour title in Palermo, Italy in 2010.
Boxing - Boxer Maccarinelli banned 6 months for stimulant
Welsh boxer Enzo Maccarinelli has been banned for six months by UK Anti-Doping for testing positive for a stimulant after winning the British cruiserweight title in March.
Maccarinelli was banned from April 19 to October 18, UK Anti-Doping said in a statement yesterday. He tested positive for methylhexaneamine, a specified stimulant often found in nutritional supplements, on March 23, when he beat Shane McPhilbin in Wolverhampton by unanimous decision for the British title. Maccarinelli (35-5) was the WBO cruiserweight champ from 2006-08.
Football - Mangia hired as new coach of Italy under-21s
Devis Mangia has been hired as Italy's under-21 coach, replacing Ciro Ferrara. Mangia described the job yesterday as "one of the most prestigious in Italian football" and says "it is a sign of great esteem and responsibility, I'm really happy." Mangia has vowed to follow the model of Italy's senior team coach Cesare Prandelli, who guided the Azzurri to the European Championship final last month.
The 38-year-old Mangia was last in charge of Palermo. He took over the club at the end of August last year, initially on a temporary basis, but a string of impressive results saw him sign a permanent deal on November 4. However, he was sacked just over a month later. Ferrara left to take over Sampdoria this month.
Football - Genoa players questioned over angry fans
Genoa players are being questioned in the investigation into a group of angry fans bursting into the changing room in January.
Yesterday, magistrate Biagio Mazzeo and three policemen arrived in Bormio, where Genoa is holding its preseason training camp.
Last January around 40 fans burst into the changing room at Genoa's training center. Dario Dainelli was punched while Cristobal Jorquera was threatened. The fans were angered by Genoa's poor run of results.
Football - Moenchengladbach sign Dutch forward De Jong
Borussia Moenchengladbach has signed the Netherlands forward Luuk de Jong from FC Twente on a five-year contract. Moenchengladbach finished fourth in the Bundesliga last season. It already has strengthened its squad over the summer by buying Spain defender Alvaro Dominguez from Atletico Madrid and Switzerland midfielder Granit Xhaka from Basel. Financial terms of the deal announced yesterday were not disclosed. The 21-year-old De Jong scored 39 goals in 75 league games over the past two seasons for Twente. He has one goal in seven games for the Netherlands. De Jong was included in the Dutch squad for the European Championships last month. He didn't play in the team's disastrous campaign, which ended with a first-round exit.
Golf - Robert Karlsson withdraws from Open
Robert Karlsson of Sweden has withdrawn from the British Open because of an injury. That puts the field at 156 players, so he was not replaced. The Open essentially was overbooked this year because more players were exempt than officials anticipated. An additional tee time was created to account for the additional player, and the championship was to start today with a pair of twosomes. Because of Karlsson withdrawing, Richard Finch will join Barry Lane and James Driscoll in the opening group, while Garth Mulroy will move down and take Karlsson's spot early Thursday afternoon and play with Branden Grace and Mark Wilson.