Reuters Sports News Summary

08/05/2016 19:52

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.

Cycling: American BMX racer bounces back from broken hand

BMX cyclists might have the fastest first two seconds of any event in the Olympic Games - coming out of a gate on an eight-meter high wall and going from zero to 56 km per hour in just two beats. For American racer and two-time Olympian Connor Fields, those two seconds account for 75 percent of his training and often determine if he can win the race which usually lasts less than 40 seconds.

Man United's Mourinho hints at Pogba arrival next week

Jose Mourinho has dropped a heavy hint that Paul Pogba's protracted transfer from Juventus to Manchester United is close to completion. Speaking ahead of Sunday's Community Shield with Leicester City, Manchester United's manager confirmed he expected one more player to arrive at Old Trafford before Aug. 14.

Messi tops Bauza's agenda as Argentina coach is formally unveiled

New Argentina coach Edgardo Bauza believes a softy, softly approach is the way to try to bring talisman Lionel Messi back into the national team. Bauza, officially unveiled as Gerardo Martino's successor at Argentine FA headquarters on Friday, said he would seek to speak with retired captain Messi in Barcelona next week.

Party time in Rio after rollercoaster run-up to the Games

With a little bit of chaos and a last-minute sprint on preparations, Rio de Janeiro was ready on Friday to revel in a moment seven years in the making: the opening of the Olympic Games. At an evening ceremony in the famed Maracana soccer stadium, Brazil will declare open the 31st Summer Olympic Games and the first ever in South America. They will run until Aug. 21.

Kerry confident Rio Olympics will be 'safe, sound, secure'

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Friday he is confident the Olympics Games will be "safe, sound, secure" and said the United States and Brazil are working together to ensure they are. Kerry, meeting with Brazilian Foreign Minister José Serra in Rio before the opening of the Games later on Friday, told reporters he was sure Brazil will deliver "not just a great venue but a great Olympics."

Basketball: U.S. 'B Team' kills opponents with kindness

If living up to the adage, "if you can't say something nice about someone, don't say anything at all," was an Olympic event the United States men's basketball team would be standing atop the Rio Games podium on Thursday. Plenty of platitudes and praise were being handed out but no medals: those will be awarded on the final day of the Rio Olympics on Aug. 21 when U.S. players are expected, as they have at 14-of-17 Summer Games, to bring home the gold.

Yankees Teixeira to retire at end of season

New York Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira is retiring at the end the season, he said on Friday. Teixeira, a power-hitting switch hitter and outstanding fielder who has been plagued by injuries in recent seasons, is completing an eight-year contract with the Yankees in his 14th season after coming up with the Texas Rangers.

U.S. officials face tough questions over gymnastics abuse report

The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) on Friday defended USA Gymnastics against criticism it turned a blind eye to sexual abuse and said it had no plans to conduct an investigation itself. In their opening news briefing of the Games, the USOC leadership faced questions about a report in the Indianapolis Star on Thursday that said top USA Gymnastics officials failed to alert authorities to allegations of sexual abuse by coaches.

Russian Stepanova will not appeal over Rio ban

Russian whistleblower Yulia Stepanova will not appeal against her ban from the Rio Olympics, saying on Friday she was "hugely sad and heartbroken" that the IOC had not supported her and used its discretion to allow her to run as an independent athlete. Stepanova, who helped expose state-backed doping in Russian sport and has fled the country, had been ruled out when the International Olympic Committee (IOC) banned from Rio any Russian who had served a doping suspension. She served a two-year ban for blood passport abnormalities in 2013.

'Relieved' Efimova says she's cleared for Rio

Russian breaststroker Yulia Efimova said on Friday she would take part in the Rio Olympics, a day after winning an appeal against a doping ban, but there was no immediate confirmation from swimming's governing body FINA. Efimova posted a picture of herself on Instagram, looking surprised and tearful, with the caption: "I'm going to the Olympics. I couldn't be more proud and relieved."

08/05/2016 19:52