Sports Digest

A round-up of today's other stories in brief

NBC Universal secure four Olympic Games for €3bn

OLYMPIC GAMES: NBC Universal edged out rivals FOX and ESPN to win the US broadcasting rights for four Olympic Games from 2014 until 2020 for €3 billion, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said yesterday.

“It was very strategically important to have a long relationship and have four more Games but not just two. It was a big part of our strategy,” said Brian Roberts, chairman and CEO of Comcast.

NBC Universal, who are controlled by Comcast, and have broadcast every summer Olympics since 1988 and every winter edition since 2002, also have the rights until the 2012 summer Games in London.

They acquired the rights for all platforms, including TV, mobile and broadband.

“The numbers did enter into it but I will tell you we were blown away by the presentation, the passion that this (NBC) team has for the Games. It was very impressive,” the IOC’s chief negotiator Richard Carrion said.

Garcia earns his place at US Open

GOLF: Sergio Garcia survived a seven-man play-off to earn a place in next week's US Open. The 31-year-old Spaniard, who has not missed a major since 1999, had to qualify after recently falling out of the world's top 50. He had rounds of 68 and 67 at Tunica National in Memphis and then gained one of the four remaining spots.

Swede Fredrik Jacobson also made it through with a stroke to spare, while England’s former Walker Cup player Matt Richardson claimed one of four places on offer in an 83-strong field at Summit, New Jersey.

Richardson had back-to-back 69s to finish in second place, a stroke behind American Geoffrey Sisk.

Garcia has still to earn an exemption for next month’s British Open at Sandwich, however, and pulled out of the qualifier two weeks ago with an infected fingernail.

Vijay Singh is in danger of missing his first major in 17 years after failing to turn up for a qualifying event for next week’s US Open at Congressional.

Mosley can't see Bahrain happening

FORMULA ONE: The fate of the Bahrain Grand Prix looked uncertain last night after Formula One teams opposed a controversial decision to reschedule the postponed race and commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone suggested a fresh vote.

Max Mosley, former head of the governing International Automobile Federation (FIA) also weighed in by saying the calendar could not be changed without the written agreement of all the teams and hopes of holding the grand prix this year looked doomed.

“Until the written agreement of the teams is forthcoming, you can’t actually change the date. It can’t be done,” Mosley, an expert on the sport’s statutes, said.

“Better that we move Bahrain to the end of the season and, if things are safe and well, then that is fine, we can go. If they are not, then we don’t go and there are no problems.” “I don’t think there is the slightest chance the (Bahrain) grand prix will actually happen.”

Better day for Irish at Weymouth

SAILING:After a poor start to the Sail for Gold regatta at Weymouth, the 2012 Olympic venue, Ireland's sailors returned close to form yesterday as conditions became breezier, reports David Branigan.

Peter O’Leary and David Burrows are in 10th overall in the Star keelboat, while their rivals for the Irish selection trials, Max Treacy and Anthony Shanks, had two results in the second half of the fleet. This event is the second and final test in the trials that Olympic veterans O’Leary and Burrows are leading.

Yesterday saw the surprise and welcome performance from 49er skiff sailors Ben Lynch and Ed Butler who scored a fourth and fifth place. The Carlow/Dun Laoghaire duo’s performance has reignited the trials in this discipline, while Ryan Seaton and Matt McGovern had a 10th and broke a trapeze wire forcing them to abandon the second race of the day.

Serena returns at Eastbourne

TENNIS: Serena Williams will return to action after nearly a year's absence at next week's Wimbledon warm-up event in Eastbourne, she said yesterday.

The 29-year-old American won the last of her 13 grand slam singles titles at Wimbledon last year before a freak foot injury and complications, including life-threatening blood clots, cast doubt over her career.

“I am so excited to be healthy enough to compete again,” she said in a statement.