Bay Ledger News Zonebill@blnz.comtag:www.blnz.com,2009:topics/olympic_gamestag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/21/Crisis_should_affect_Madrid_2020_a18c

The head of the International Olympic Committee's Evaluation Commission Craig Reedie said he is happy with the guarantees given by the Madrid 2020 bid team that the Spanish economy could support hosting the Olympics.

2013-03-21T17:54:28ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/21/Italian_athletics_great_Mennea_dies_bc47

Italian athletics great Pietro Mennea, the gold medal winner in the 200m at the 1980 Moscow Olympics who held the world record in the event for 17 years, has died.

2013-03-21T11:23:46ZAFP Global Editionby Justin DAVIStag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/21/Italian_athletics_great_Mennea_has_f21d

Italian athletics great Pietro Mennea, the gold medal winner in the 200m at the 1980 Moscow Olympics, has died, according to ANSA news agency.

2013-03-21T10:21:02ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/21/Eurotunnel_triples_profits_after_Olympic_72fa

Eurotunnel said Thursday it tripled profits in 2012 on a boost in passenger numbers from the London Olympics and the Queen's Jubilee celebrations.

2013-03-21T09:50:34ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/21/Wrestlers_grapple_with_2020_lockout_d770

While his sweat-drenched charges lock limbs in the open-air ring, kitted out in nothing more than a loin cloth, Raj Singh shudders as he contemplates how their Olympic dream could be shattered.

2013-03-21T07:38:16ZAFP Global Editionby Kuldip Laltag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/21/Legend_Gregan_expects_Olympics_sevens_82ac

Wallabies legend George Gregan has tipped an unlikely rugby nation, possibly China, to cause an upset at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro when the sevens format debuts at the Games.

2013-03-21T07:12:53ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/20/Madrid_team_expecting_lead_report_be81

The president of Madrid's bid to host the 2020 Olympics, Alejandro Blanco said Wednesday he expects the Spanish capital will receive the highest technical score when the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Evaluation Commission publish their reports all three candidate cities.

2013-03-20T18:26:06ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/20/Henin_gives_birth_little_fairy_4810

Former women's world tennis number one Justine Henin gave birth to a baby girl called Lalie on Wednesday, she announced on her social network pages.

2013-03-20T16:33:18ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/20/Australia_swim_head_coach_after_d452

Australian swimming officials said Wednesday that head coach Leigh Nugent will resign after a dismal London Olympic campaign marred by ill-discipline, drug use and drunkenness.

2013-03-20T08:59:40ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/20/Australian_swim_coach_after_Olympic_c221

Australian swimming says head coach Leigh Nugent will resign after a dismal London Olympic campaign marred by ill-discipline, drug use and drunkenness.

2013-03-20T04:24:47ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/19/Australian_swim_coach_after_Olympic_c221

Australian swimming said head coach Leigh Nugent will resign after a dismal London Olympic campaign marred by ill-discipline, drug use and drunkenness.

2013-03-20T03:05:53ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/19/Plant_takes_charge_Speedskating_8654

Mike Plant, a 1980 US Olympic speedskater and executive for Major League Baseball's Atlanta Braves, was named as interim president of US Speedskating on Tuesday by its board of directors.

2013-03-19T19:25:19ZAFP American EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/19/Potro_commits_Queens_6726

Indian Wells finalist Juan Martin del Potro has become the latest leading player to announce he will take part in the traditional Wimbledon grasscourt warm-up event at London's Queen's Club in June.

2013-03-19T17:42:32ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/19/Madrid_Games_worth_billions_Spain_15a8

Hosting the 2020 Olympic Games in Madrid would provide a 3.87-billion euro ($5.0-billion) boost to the Spanish economy and generate 83,000 full-time jobs, Madrid bid organisers said Tuesday.

2013-03-19T17:09:45ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/19/Djokovic_Serena_lead_injury-hit_Miami_da00

World number ones Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams head the fields at the Miami Masters hardcourt event that begins on Tuesday, although several big names will be missing.

2013-03-19T07:30:23ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/18/Djokovic_Serena_lead_injury-hit_Miami_da00

World number ones Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams head the fields at the Miami Masters hardcourt event that begins on Tuesday, although several big names will be missing.

2013-03-19T02:29:31ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/18/Danish_Olympic_medalist_Soerensen_admits_3d6b

Rolf Soerensen, one of Denmark's most successful professional cyclists, admitted Monday to using blood-boosting EPO and cortisone in the 1990s, ending more than a year of denials.

2013-03-18T22:28:16ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/18/Madrid_mayor_hails_first_visit_c841

Madrid mayor Ana Botella hailed the first day of the International Olympic Committee's Evaluation Commission's four-day inspection of the city's candidacy for the 2020 Olympic Games a success.

2013-03-18T19:42:15ZAFP Global Editionby Kieran Canningtag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/18/Spain_tells_Madrid_ready_2020_4bc4

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy on Monday opened the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) evaluation team's visit to Madrid by claiming the city deserves the right to host the 2020 Olympic Games.

2013-03-18T14:14:18ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/18/Chinese_golf_prodigy_dreams_legendary_7b2e

China's 14-year-old prodigy Guan Tianlang has set his sights sky-high by aiming to become the first player to claim golf's legendary 'grand slam': winning all four majors in the same year.

2013-03-18T10:48:44ZAFP Global Editionby Peter Hutchison