Sport

Pound quits Toronto bid

OLYMPICS: Dick Pound, the Canadian vice-president of the International Olympic Committee, has resigned as chairman of Toronto…

Sat Mar 13 1999 - 00:00

OLYMPICS: Dick Pound, the Canadian vice-president of the International Olympic Committee, has resigned as chairman of Toronto's bid to host the 2008 Games.

Pound, who heads the Olympic committee which has been probing Salt Lake City's controversial bid to host the 2002 Winter Games, stepped down from the post in December but his decision only came to light in yesterday's Canadian press.

The Toronto bid is already in trouble, with organisers admitting they have raised just two million Canadian dollars (£850,000 Stg) of the estimated $9 million required. Meanwhile, IOC investigators will recommend severe censure but not expulsion for members Kim Un-yong of South Korea and Phil Coles of Australia for their involvement in the Salt Lake scandal. Nine IOC members have already resigned or been ousted.

Seiuli Paul Wallwork of Samoa will be recommended for expulsion by the six-man investigating panel. Wallwork said he will quit his post anyway in order to clear his name.

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CYCLING: France's Jacky Durand, riding for the Lotto team, led from early in the race during yesterday's sixth stage of the Paris-Nice race to Sisteron.

Dutch rider Michael Boogerd of the Rabobank team retained the leader's white jersey on the 211 k.m. longest stage of the race. The race finishes tomorrow.

Durand and Laurent Lefevre broke away 37 k.m. into the race and they built up a lead of 14 minutes 25 seconds over the hazardous terrain between Romans and Sisteron. At 12 k.m. from the finish Durand took the lead and held onto it.

TENNIS: Gustavo Kuerten halted Richard Krajicek's matchwinning streak at seven, ousting the eighth seed in straight sets to reach the semi-finals of the Champions Cup at Indian Wells in California.

The unseeded Brazilian beat Krajicek 6-4, 6-4, ending the streak of seven victories that included the Dutch player's run to the title in London last month.

NETBALL: Ulster teams made a clean sweep in yesterday's All-Ireland netball finals at Omagh Leisure Centre. There was double success for Lismore Comprehensive, Craigavon, who won the minor and senior titles.

Minor: Lismore, Craigavon 22, Mt Anville, Dublin 12; Junior: St MacNissi's, Garron Tower 22, St Michael's, Finglas 16; Intermediate: St Brigid's, Omagh 54, St Anne's, Milltown 8; Senior: Lismore 38, Mt Anville 23.

Snooker: Ken Doherty lost 5-4 to Alan McManus in the China International in Shanghai.