Tennis: Irish-born Peter Clarke is the one to watch as he attempts to claim the Irish Open Indoor tennis championship, sponsored by Pamela Scott, at Riverview starting on Monday.
Although born in Stillorgan, Co Dublin, 22-year-old Clarke has never played in an Irish event. It is very much a case of reputation preceding arrival from his base in Sydney.
His family emigrated to Australia when Clarke was seven-years-old. Since then he has moved through the Australian tennis system with a World ranking of 360, despite injury militating against his progress earlier this year.
Now, the young Irishman's aim is twofold: to win his native title and impress the Davis Cup selectors, especially Ireland boss Peter Wright who would welcome any opportunity, at this stage, to buttress international stock, following the rudely awakening experience in the recent European Nations Cup in Istanbul.
Clarke could be the man suitably equipped to boost the international team. He seems the likely lad to break the monopoly of Scott Barron and Owen Casey in this event in recent years.
While the two better known Irishmen are just about clinging onto the ATP rankings ladder, Barron, because of an injury-plagued career, and Casey due to premature retirement from circuit play abroad, Clarke is on the rise.
Heavy serving Dubliner Sean Cooper, seeded four, is likely to provide Clarke with his first serious test. Clarke, by all accounts, can confidently fit the bill as top seed with Barron and Casey at two and three looking certain to meet earlier than their final clash of last year, which proved quite a classic.
The unnavailability of Yvonne Doyle, the holder, and Karen Nugent puts something of a damper on the women's event. Doyle moves to Auckland next week in an attempt to improve on her current WTA 258 ranking. Lesley O'Halloran is seeded to challenge Gina Niland in the final but Elsa O'Riain cannot be ruled out of contention.
Swimming: Three leading members of the former East German Swimming Federation each received 12-month suspended prison sentences at a Tribunal in Berlin yesterday after being found guilty of doping minors.
Egon Muller, former secretary general of the East German Swimming Federation, Wolfgang Richter, head coach, and leading women's coach Jurgen Tanneberger were prosecuted for attempted bodily injury and were also ordered to pay $2,560 in damages to a public organisation.
The three, who were accused of administering anabolic steroids to some 70 junior swimmers for 10 East German clubs, pleaded guilty to the charges brought against them.
Stadium Development: The British government said yesterday it was scrapping plans to redevelop Wembley stadium to host athletics and would focus instead on upgrading the ground for soccer and rugby league.
The decision should boost Britain's chances of hosting the 2006 soccer World Cup, supporters of England's bid said.
"This is excellent news for the World Cup bid. The magical appeal of Wembley gives us an enormous advantage over our rivals," the World Cup 2006 Campaign said.
Culture Minister Chris Smith said proposals to redesign the twin-towered stadium as a base for British bids to host both a soccer World Cup and Olympic Games in the next century had failed to meet the needs of athletics.
Smith, however, expressed support for plans to convert Twickenham, the home of English rugby union, to host athletics events and support British hopes of hosting the world athletics championships in 2005 and the 2012 Olympic Games.
"The government remains committed to supporting a viable UK Olympic bid," Smith said.
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