Rome nixes bid for 2020 Games
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Rome dropped its bid for the 2020 Olympics after Premier Mario Monti said the Italian government would not provide financial backing for an estimated $12.5 billion project at a time of economic crisis.
Rome's exit leaves five cities in the 2020 race: Madrid; Tokyo; Istanbul; Doha, Qatar; and Baku, Azerbaijan. The IOC will select the host city in 2013.
Volleyball spiked video replay for the London Olympics. The International Volleyball Federation said the technology, similar to the systems used by the NFL and rugby, could not be implemented in time for the July 27-Aug. 12 games.
Tiger Woods is returning to the Honda Classic for the first time since he was an amateur. Woods announced on his website that he would play in the World Golf Championships-Match Play Championship Feb. 22-26 in Arizona, the Honda Classic March 1-4 and the Cadillac Championship at Doral the following week.
The Washington Mystics of the WNBA acquired center Ashley Robinson from the Seattle Storm in a trade for first-round draft pick Victoria Dunlap.
Seeded players Sabine Lisicki and Daniela Hantuchova lost in the opening round of the Qatar Open in Doha after holding one-set leads. Angelique Kerber overcame a stomach bug to defeat the ninth-seeded Lisicki, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1, in an all-German match, and Simona Halep of Romania downed the 15th-seeded Hantuchova of Slovakia, 3-6, 6-2, 7-6 (4), after 2 hours, 32 minutes.
• Sisters Venus and Serena Williams will return to the reigning champion Washington Kastles, while John McEnroe and Martina Hingis are staying with the New York Sportimes after the World TeamTennis marquee draft. The WTT Pro League full draft is March 13, and the season runs July 9-29.
Goaltender Hope Solo found a way to keep busy as the U.S. women's team waits for its chance at Olympic gold in London. The Seattle Sounders announced it signed Solo and forward Sydney Leroux for the 2012 W-League season.
A 3-week-old baby with two very accomplished parents needs a name. Stonestreet Farms in Lexington, Ky., said on its website it wants the public to submit possible names by Sunday for the bay colt born Jan. 22. The colt's mother is 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra and his father is two-time Horse of the Year Curlin.
Pitt-Johnstown coach Pat Pecora earned his 500th career victory with a 39-3 win at Shippensburg.
First Published February 15, 2012 12:00 am
