Sports

SAO PAULO — The last time Brazil played a major football tournament at home, Neymar was stretchered off the field and then missed an embarrassing loss against Germany in the 2014 World Cup semifinals.

Two years later, the Barcelona star looks to rebound from that disappointment at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Although the Olympic football tournament doesn’t have the same importance of a World Cup, the Rio Games have a special meaning for the Brazilian striker. Neymar will be one of the games’ biggest stars and will carry the responsibility of leading the five-time world champions to their first football gold medal.

“It’s a unique opportunity,” he said. “Not only for me, but for everyone on the team. We know how important this medal is.”

All eyes will be on the 24-year-old striker, who opted to play in the Olympics instead of the Copa America earlier this year. Brazil was eliminated in the group stage of that tournament, a result that prompted the firing of coach Dunga.

Because it’s not an official FIFA tournament, teams are not required to release players for the Olympic tournament, but Neymar and the Brazilian football confederation negotiated with Barcelona so he could play in Rio.

“I know that this gold medal has eluded Brazil so far, and we will do everything to try to win it,” Neymar told Brazilian television recently. “It’s rare that a country like Brazil, considered the land of football, still hasn’t won this gold.”

It will be the second time Neymar will play for Brazil at the Olympics. He led the team that lost the 2012 final to Mexico in London, where the Brazilians were the heavy favourites. Brazil was runner-up twice before, in 1984 and 1988. It also won the bronze in 1996 and 2008, the last time with a squad that featured Ronaldinho and future stars like Marcelo and Thiago Silva.

“Neymar is special, one of the best players in the world,” said Rogerio Micale, who replaced Dunga as coach of the Olympic team. “Any team can benefit from a player like him. He will mean a lot to us. I think that he will be able to lead the youngsters in the squad.”

Neymar will be one of the three over-23 players each nation is allowed to add to its roster. The other two are 38-year-old Palmeiras goalkeeper Fernando Prass and 28-year-old Beijing Guoan midfielder Renato Augusto, who have far less international experience than Neymar.

No other player will attract as much attention — from fans, media and opposing teams — as Neymar.

“I’m honoured to be in this team, because I know how difficult it is to win an Olympic medal in any sport,” he said. “With football it’s even more difficult because if you are not the champion, people see it differently.”

Neymar is facing extra pressure after Dunga was fired for the second time from the national team. Without the experienced coach by his side, Neymar will carry the fate of the team, and the striker can become a national hero if he wins the gold, or join a long list of stars — Romario, Rivaldo, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, among others — who have failed in the pursuit of the gold.

“I never run away from the responsibility. I’m used to it,” Neymar said. “We have another great opportunity to win an Olympic medal, and hopefully this time it will be the gold.”

Neymar also had a prominent role at the World Cup in Brazil two years ago, when he played up to expectations until breaking a bone in his back in the quarter-finals against Colombia and missing the rest of the tournament. Brazil eventually was eliminated after an embarrassing 7-1 loss to Germany in the semifinals.

“I don’t compare tournaments. I just like winning every tournament that I play,” Neymar said. “All of them are important for me. Each has its own history, its own characteristic, but they are all important.”

Brazil had a favourable draw and will face South Africa, Iraq and Denmark in Group A, making its debut August 4 against South Africa in Brasilia. In the quarter-finals, the hosts could face Colombia or Nigeria, two youth powerhouses.

The final will be played August 20 at Maracana Stadium in Rio.

AMMAN — With the Rio Olympic Games less than three weeks away, Jordan on Monday celebrated Olympic Day by bringing the sporting family together and promoting the values of sport among the Kingdom’s young, according to a statement from the Jordan Olympic Committee (JOC).

Under the patronage of its president, HRH Prince Feisal, the JOC organised a day of activity in Al Hussein Youth City using its children’s ambassador “Nash” as the star of the show. Hundreds of people took part in a symbolic walk before crowds gathered at the Sports Palace to participate in a variety of fun activity promoting the values of sport.

“The JOC is the leading sports organisation in Jordan so it is important for us to bring the Kingdom’s sporting family together to celebrate this annual day along with National Olympic Committees across the world,” Lana Al Jaghbeer, the secretary general of JOC, was quoted in the statement as saying.

“The Olympic Day activity is centred around the three basic elements of Move, Learn and Discover and we have used Nash to communicate this message to the youngsters here today.” JOC partners backaldrin, Royal Health Awareness Society and Smoke Free Jordan supported the day alongside special guests, The Children’s Museum.

Activities were also organised by Jordan’s national sports federations as well as the JOC Knowledge, Training and Education Department.

AMMAN — Al Hussein Rumman Hill Climb with the participation of 22 drivers, kicks off on Friday with Khatcheek Shadian defending the title he earned last year against some of the best drivers in the Kingdom.

Shadian clocked 1m52s in his Cosworth F3 but failed to break the 2007 record of Lebanon’s Roger Feghali.

In 2007, Feghali, in a Mitsubishi Motortune Proto, clocked 1m48.76s to break the 2005 record to Jordan’s Ameer Najjar’s (1m49.71s).

Last year, Fadi Bikawi (1m54:38s) came second in his Mitsubishi Evo HS400, followed by Ahmed Daoud (1m56:81s) in his Mitsubishi Evo 7.

Jordan Motorsport CEO Othman Naseef told The Jordan Times that drivers will cover a three-kilometre challenging track.

“The Hill Climb course is exactly three kilometres in length and three metres in width with an average rise of 8.5 per cent. There are a total of 27 bends and corners including four hairpin bends. The course is situated two kilometres north of Rumman,” he said.

“We expect a very exciting event and that is why we encourage fans of this sport to attend and enjoy,” he added.

“We have an impressive list of drivers who have the right experience to take the title and at the same time we have new names in addition to one female driver,” he pointed out.

Joining Shadian are Ahmed Daoud, Saher Fatafteh, Ihab Shurafa, Wael Mustafa, Atef Awad, in addition to Lina Hadidi and others.

The event consists of three rounds with the last for the top 10 timings.

Meanwhile, safety issues are the main focus of the organising committee.

“We have finalised all issues regarding safety for both drivers and fans. This is our main concern and we really hope that everyone will have the best time watching the event on big screens provided for the audience,” a committee member said. 

CHENNAI — Argentina will fight for major honours despite Lionel Messi retiring from international football after the disappointment of last month’s Copa America final shootout loss to Chile, the country’s former forward Hernan Crespo has said.

The 29-year-old Messi, a five times World Player of the Year, is Argentina’s top scorer with 55 goals and although he has played in three Copa America finals in 2007, 2015 and 2016, plus the 2014 World Cup final, Argentina have lost them all.

Despite media reports suggesting the Barcelona forward is reconsidering his decision, Crespo, 41, said the focus should now be on ensuring Argentina remain a force and take the next step to end the country’s 23-year wait for a major trophy.

“The Argentina national team is very competitive. If you watch the last three tournaments — two Copa America finals and one World Cup final — you are competitive, you arrive in the final of great events,” he told reporters on Saturday.

“I hope to see our national team win but I don’t want to say that Messi was at fault, it’s not good. Messi played very well. He is the top scorer of the national team. He is the best player in the world. It’s unlucky.

“But it’s not about Messi. It’s about the last 23 years the national team never won [a major trophy]. Yes, they won the Olympic Games [in 2004 and 2008] but, at the same time, we have lost a lot of finals. However, we are still competitive.

“This is just the way. I think maybe next time we will win.”

With European clubs poaching players from South America at a relatively young age, Crespo, who played for clubs across the continent, including Chelsea and AC Milan, urged aspiring youngsters to stay level-headed when they are in the spotlight.

“The world is changing now... Now it’s worse because in six months when you start, somebody [tries to] buy you, and in Argentina you need this kind of money to maintain [hold onto] that level of player,” added Argentina’s third-highest goalscorer, who plays in India’s Premier Futsal league.

“Maybe they are not mature enough to come to Europe but you never know which is the right way. You need to fill your passion. You need to follow that. It’s not about sacrifice, your passion is enough to play football. I changed not only the country but the continent when I was 21.”

BARCELONA, Spain — Barcelona has drawn widespread criticism for its campaign to support Lionel Messi after a court found the Argentine forward and his father guilty of tax fraud.

Barcelona launched its social media campaign following last week’s court verdict that found Messi and his father guilty of defrauding the Spanish state of 4.1 million euros ($4.6 million). Neither man is expected to go to jail despite being sentenced to 21 months in prison because courts in Spain often suspend sentences under two years for first-time offenders.

The slogan “We Are All Leo Messi” is a play on the public awareness campaign by Spain’s tax authorities “We Are All The Tax Office”. That is meant to encourage people to pay their due in a country still struggling to recover from an economic recession that has left unemployment at more than 20 per cent.

“The campaign invites all of Barcelona’s fans to show the best player in the world their unconditional support,” Barcelona said. “We want to transmit to Leo that he isn’t alone.”

The club also posted a video of several dozen of its employees gathered together with hands raised in a show of support for Messi.

Widely panned in Spanish newspapers and online, Barcelona’s campaign has earned a rebuke from Spain’s government.

“I am not Leo Messi. I haven’t committed a fiscal crime,” acting Justice Minister Rafael Catala said on Thursday.

The president of Spain’s Higher Sports Council, the country’s leading sports authority, has also blasted the league champions for their rally call.

“If the campaign intends to make a complaint of some type against the judicial ruling, then it is completely incorrect,” the council president, Miguel Cardenal, said. “We have to respect and honour the [court’s] decision. You can’t have campaigns of this type in order to disagree with a court ruling.”

A worker’s union that represents Spanish tax inspectors has asked Barcelona to end the campaign, calling it “irresponsible”.

“The best thing for the club and the player would have been to accept the ruling and move on,” said Carlos Cruzado, the president of the union Gestha. “But this campaign is destroying the educational work that must be carried out to make citizens conscientious [of their fiscal responsibilities.]”

Messi and his father deny any wrongdoing and have said they will appeal the verdict to a higher court in Madrid.

While his club has launched its campaign to back him, photos of Messi spending his vacation on a yacht have appeared this week in Spanish newspapers. Those photos of Messi soaking up the sun in a bathing suit have spawned several jokes on social media about how he must be “suffering”.

The spokesman for Barcelona’s board of directors, Josep Vives, has defended both Messi and the club’s campaign.

“In similar cases, we haven’t seen attacks like those Leo Messi is receiving,” Vives said. “It’s obvious that we can’t tolerate this derision of our player.

“We have found ourselves in a controversy because it appears that FC Barcelona is defending tax fraud. What we are defending is a person that is being treated unjustly.”

Besides his club, the Spanish league’s president has also said he believes Messi is innocent.

“I hope that the supreme court revokes the ruling because Messi is not a delinquent and shouldn’t be found guilty,” the league president, Javier Tebas, said. “I have interpreted the campaign as meaning that Messi shouldn’t worry, and so he knows that his club is with him.”

Messi is not the only player to have gotten into trouble over taxes.

Also this year, Barcelona midfielder Javier Mascherno was handed a suspended one-year sentence for tax fraud; teammate Adriano is being investigated for allegedly not paying all he owes; and former Real Madrid player Xabi Alonso has been accused of tax fraud. Alonso and Adriano deny any wrongdoing.

In June, Barcelona paid a fine of 5.5 million euros ($6.21 million) to settle a case brought against the club by Spain’s tax authorities regarding the signing of Brazil striker Neymar. In that agreement, the club acknowledged it had made “an error in the fiscal planning of the player’s transfer”.

LAS VEGAS — The NBA’s first Chinese owner said Wednesday that he hopes to use his ties in China to help the Minnesota Timberwolves become a global brand along the lines of the Los Angeles Lakers or New York Knicks.

“Since I’ve been a fan of the NBA for so long, I wondered if I could be part of the sport so that I can establish connections between the NBA and the Chinese market, to do my contribution for the development of both,” Lizhang Jiang said through an interpreter. “I not only know the Chinese market, but also know very well about the international sports market.”

“I am confident I can transfer my experience and resources in those aspects into the basketball business to help the Timberwolves grow both in the Chinese market and global market.”

Jiang, who attended Minnesota’s summer league play-off game Wednesday against the San Antonio Spurs, bought a 5 per cent stake in the Timberwolves and is also part owner of the WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx, whose star Maya Moore plays for the Shanxi Flame in China during the winter.

Timberwolves majority owner Glen Taylor also sold 9.5 per cent of his team to Manhattan real estate mogul Meyer Orbach, chairman of the Orbach Group in New York City.

Orbach said his immediate involvement will be with the renovation of Target Centre. Given his background in construction and real estate, he said he will consult during the two-year process, giving input on the construction while assisting with design and layout.

“I’m just going to learn from Glen and everyone over at the organisation and see where I can add value and jump in,” Orbach said.

Taylor said he is excited about Orbach’s enthusiasm, while he is confident Jiang’s influence will enhance the team’s image in China, and broaden scouting opportunities for Chinese players while expanding the team’s fan base. He believes that could translate into sponsorship and advertising dollars for an organisation that now has several of the most talented and recognisable young players in the league.

With Karl Anthony-Towns, Andrew Wiggins, Zach LaVine and Kris Dunn as the new faces of the organisation, and Tom Thibodeau in place as head coach, Taylor said the possibility of a title is becoming more of a reality.

Taylor also said he wouldn’t be surprised if other teams find partnerships from China.

“I think it will encourage them. I think there’s more and more business being done between the United States and Chinese companies, so there’s always the possibility of sponsors who want to sell here in the United States,” Taylor said. “I think we’ve got to open a bunch of doors. And I think maybe by my bringing in a partner this will open a number of other doors.”

Jiang, who said he became a fan of the NBA during Michael Jordan’s glory years, also recently purchased 98 per cent of Granada CF, a Spanish football team.

Jiang said he hasn’t thought about becoming a majority owner of an NBA team. He is focused on helping build the Timberwolves.

“My job is to transfer my expertise and experience in sports business into helping the team gain greater development,” Jiang said. “That is the only important thing for me. You can only talk about more when you’ve done a great job on what you’re focusing on now. The rest will come along naturally.”

Jiang sat courtside Wednesday with Taylor, plus LaVine and teammates Gorgui Dieng and Nemanja Bjelica. He said he’ll make plenty of time to visit Minnesota so he can watch his newest investment in person during the regular season.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said the league was “thrilled” to get a Chinese owner aboard.

“Mr. Jiang’s business acumen, knowledge of the global sports landscape and strong personal relationships will be tremendous assets to the Timberwolves and Lynx, and he will be an important part of our ongoing efforts to grow the game in China,” Silver said.

Long-serving defender John Terry will remain Chelsea's captain in the coming season, new manager Antonio Conte said on Thursday at his first news conference since joining the Premier League club.

Terry, 35, signed a new one-year contract at Stamford Bridge in May to end speculation that he was going to leave the London club after more than 700 appearances. He remains a firm favourite with the club's fans.

"John Terry is captain of this team. He is a great player with a great personality and charisma. He knows the club. We take all decisions together with the club and I am very happy John signed," Conte said.

Conte, who guided Juventus to three successive Serie A titles from 2012 to 2014 before becoming the Italian national team coach, has replaced interim manager Guus Hiddink.

Known for his motivational powers and fiery touchline presence, the Italian said the team would need to emulate his work ethic to get back to winning ways after missing out on qualification for European football.

"Every manager has his own idea of football and I want to transfer my ideas to the players. I have great passion for football, for my team and my work," he added.

"It's important to have players who are ready to fight, play good football and transfer our passion and emotion to the fans. I am a worker. I suffer during the game. I want my players and the fans to see this."

Chelsea, the 2014-15 Premier League champions, finished only 10th in the table last season and parted company with manager Jose Mourinho midway through the campaign.

"Last season was a bad season," Conte said. "We must fight for the title, we belong in the Champions League and we must stay there."

"This league is very difficult. There are six or seven teams that can win the title. This situation excites me."

Conte is the fifth Italian to manage Chelsea, following in the footsteps of Gianluca Vialli, Claudio Ranieri, Carlo Ancelotti and Roberto Di Matteo.
He begins his tenure in England with a London derby at home to West Ham United on
August 15.

LAS VEGAS — Manny Pacquiao isn’t ready to give up his night job just yet.

Pacquiao, who said before his last fight in April that he would retire, now plans to return to the ring in November against an opponent who has yet to be selected.

Promoter Bob Arum said Tuesday that Pacquiao got permission to take a break from his new duties as a senator in the Philippines to take another fight. It will be held November 5, likely in Las Vegas.

“He likes to fight and he likes the attention,” Arum said of Pacquiao’s return.

Pacquiao looked impressive in his last fight in April, returning from a lay-off to knock down Timothy Bradley on his way to a unanimous decision. After the fight he wavered on his previous plans to retire.

“If you ask me to come back I don’t know,” Pacquiao said. “I may be enjoying retired life. I’m not there yet so I just don’t know.”

Pacquiao, who was formerly a congressman in his native country, was elected to the senate in May and there were fears that increased duties would prevent him from fighting again.

But Arum said the head of the senate told Pacquiao he was free to fight after the country’s budget is settled on October 15.

“He would train in the Philippines and leave on the 16th to come to the US, train for two weeks and then come to Vegas,” Arum said. “The only issue is getting an arena for the fight.”

Arum said he is talking with MGM Resorts about an arena to host the fight. He had reserved the Mandalay Bay arena for October 15, but Pacquaio can’t leave his senate duties that early.

The fight also could be at the UNLV campus arena, he said, though UNLV would have to move a scheduled basketball exhibition from the date.

There were reports that Pacquiao might fight Adrien Broner, but Arum said he wanted the same money as Pacquiao, which was a non-starter. Another possible opponent would be Jesse Vargas, who fights for Top Rank, and holds a piece of the welterweight title.

Pacquiao was off for nearly a year after losing in May 2015 to Floyd Mayweather Jr., healing from a shoulder injury. But he seemed reinvigorated after beating Bradley in April in a performance that got good reviews from most, including trainer Freddie Roach.

“When I see Manny Pacquiao like that, this is the best Manny Pacquiao,” Roach said after the fight. “He hasn’t missed a beat. I would like to see him fight again.”

EUGENE, Oregon — Consider this a second chance for Tyson Gay. Maybe his last one, too.

The 33-year-old sprinter was handed a spot on the US Olympic track team as a relay runner Monday, more than two years after his doping positive cost the Americans their silver medal from the 2012 Games.

Gay dominated the sprints for a time before Usain Bolt burst onto the scene in 2008. The American is still ranked second all-time behind Bolt with a time of 9.69 seconds in the 100.

But the last several years have been a struggle, filled with injuries and setbacks — none bigger than a positive doping test in 2013 that cost him one year out of the sport and forced the relay team to surrender its medal.

Gay finished fifth in the 100 and sixth in the 200 at the recently completed Olympic trials, but coaches stuck to the order of finish for the 100 metres, taking Gay and sixth-place finisher Christian Coleman, along with Mike Rodgers, whose spot was locked in thanks to his fourth-place finish.

In Gay, the US gets a two-time Olympian and 2007 world champion at both 100 and 200 metres — choosing him over high-schoolers Noah Lyles and Michael Norman, who finished 4-5 in the 200 at trials.

Asked before the trials what it would mean to make the team, Gay said: “A hell of a lot. I’m considered the old one of the bunch now. It definitely means a lot to me to still keep up with these young guys here, use some of my veteran skills to my advantage.”

Also added for relays on the 127-person team, which includes 84 first-time Olympians, were Arman Hall, Tony McQuay and Kyle Clemons (men’s 4x400), Ariana Washington (women’s 4x100) and Francena McCorory and Courtney Okolo (women’s 4x400).

Like a fine wine

At 41, Bernard Lagat is still going strong — making his fifth Olympic team. The ageless 5,000-metre runner showed just about everyone that age is merely a number. “I don’t believe I’m old,” Lagat said. “If you believe you’re old — I’m going to run like an old man.”

Just a kid

For a few days, 18-year-old high jumper Vashti Cunningham was set to be the youngest to compete for the US Olympic track team in four decades. That lasted until 16-year-old Sydney McLaughlin came along and made the team in the 400-metre hurdles and took that distinction. To think, she had a little case of stage fright to begin the trials. It hardly showed as she set the world junior record to finish third and earn her place in Rio. “This has to be the icing on the cake,” the prep star from New Jersey said. “I made it here and I’m just so thankful.”

Feel-good story ends well

800-metre runner Boris Berian made the team despite an uphill climb — working at McDonald’s after dropping out of college to earn extra money to train and recently winning a lawsuit over Nike over what gear he could wear that nearly kept him off the starting line.

Feel-good story ends not as well

110-metre hurdler and defending Olympic champion Aries Merritt finished fourth — missing the team by one spot less than a year after returning from a kidney transplant. He had a positive outlook, though. “For me to be where I am is a miracle,” said Merritt, who operated at 10 per cent kidney function when he captured a bronze medal at the 2015 world championships last summer.

Double dip

Why stop at one event when you can double? There are plenty of athletes doubling up in Rio, including Galen Rupp (marathon, 10,000 metres), LaShawn Merritt (200, 400), Tianna Bartoletta (100, long jump), Tori Bowie (100, 200) and Justin Gatlin (100, 200). But Molly Huddle, who qualified for the 5,000 and 10,000 metres, was entered only in the 10K. And Allyson Felix, who had designs on a 200-400 double, didn’t make the 200 line-up.