Today's other stories in brief

French ban athletes' badge

FRENCH ATHLETES have been told not to wear a badge reading "For a better world" at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Games in August, the French Olympic Committee (CNOSF) said yesterday.

The badge, bearing the Olympic rings, was worn by French athletes during the incident-ridden French leg of the torch relay in Paris on April 7th.

CNOSF president Henri Serandour said that badge should not be worn during the Games.

Serandour added, however, that discussions should continue to try to agree on a common badge shared by athletes from around the world.

"My position is that we cannot use a badge done by French athletes," Serandour told a news conference.

"We have to continue our approach, not with that badge, but with an international badge."

Double Olympic judo champion David Douillet, the joint president of the CNOSF athletes' commission, said he would continue to negotiate with the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

"Our approach makes sense only if all athletes agree to wear it (the badge)," he said.

French Sports Minister Bernard Laporte said earlier: "I feel it's regrettable that they cannot wear that badge."

Rankin in line to make his County Championship bow

IRELAND OPENING bowler Boyd Rankin is in line to make his County Championship debut for Warwickshire after being named in their 12-man panel for today's opening clash against Worcestershire at Edgbaston, reports Emmet Riordan.

The 6ft 8in Derry native has impressed in the build-up to the new season after his move from Derbyshire, with former South African star Allan Donald having remodelled his bowling action in an effort to avoid injury.

Another of Ireland's World Cup heroes, Niall O'Brien, will start behind the stumps for Northamptonshire in their game against Essex at Chelmsford. O'Brien good form has seen off the challenge of Riki Wessels.

Meanwhile, Eoin Morgan has been left out of the Middlesex squad for their opener against Leicestershire at Grace Road. Former Ireland star Ed Joyce is included in the 13-man squad along with fellow England batsmen Andrew Strauss and Owais Shah.

England's Andrew Flintoff plays his first game of the season for Lancashire as he continues his comeback from ankle surgery. And he has plenty of opportunity to prove his form ahead of the first Test against New Zealand, which begins in less than a month.

Special conference on TV rights

THE CONTROVERSIAL question of the future of television sports rights will be discussed in detail in Galway tomorrow at a special conference attended by delegates from Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall and Brittany.

"Whose sports rights are they anyway?" is the theme of the sports discussion which forms part of the 29th Celtic Media Festival taking place in the city over the next three days.

The speakers will include Glen Killane, group head of sport, RTÉ; Jim Preacher, manager of contracts, BBC, Scotland; Ben Nicholas, senior vice-president of IMG Media; and Peter Quinn, chairman of TG4 and a former president of the GAA.

"This session will look at recent and likely future trends in broadcast sports rights with contributions from panellists who operate at the heart of the business," said a spokesperson for the organisers.

Sampras to play in London

PETE SAMPRAS will be back in action in London this winter after announcing yesterday he is to play in the BlackRock Masters tournament at the Royal Albert Hall. The seven-time Wimbledon champion has not been back to England since his last appearance at the All England Club in 2002.

Sampras has recently played a series of exhibition matches with current world number one, Roger Federer, winning the third contest. His performances led some to suggest the 36-year-old could return to the ATP Tour but instead he has opted to join a field of former top players at the Albert Hall in December.