‘Unreal and surreal’: Skiers slam Asian Winter Games host
October 6, 2022 GMTLeading World Cup skiers on Thursday questioned the decision to award a yet-to-be-built resort in Saudi Arabia the hosting rights of the 2029 Asian Winter Games, saying such a project could damage the sport's image.
Jokic’s NBA MVP a win for hoops-crazed nations outside US
May 11, 2022 GMTLONDON (AP) — Maybe it’s the ćevapi, or the souvlaki, or the mbanga soup.
Whatever it is, there’s no denying the tinge of international flavor when it comes to the NBA elite with Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic winning the league’s MVP award for a second straight season Wednesday.
Friday Sports in Brief
November 27, 2021 GMTMEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Paolo Banchero scored 21 points to lead No. 5 Duke over No. 1 Gonzaga 84-81 on Saturday night.
Duke (7-0) handed Gonzaga (6-1) its first loss since April’s national title game, when Baylor beat the Bulldogs.
Augmented reality project brings Olympics birthplace to life
November 10, 2021 GMTOLYMPIA, Greece (AP) — What would it be like to walk around the ancient religious sanctuary of Olympia when the Olympic Games were held?
An unusual partnership between Microsoft and Greece’s Ministry of Culture and Sport is offering visitors the answer, launching an immersive tour Wednesday at one of the world’s major archaeological sites.
Rights activists urge boycott of Beijing Winter Olympics
October 19, 2021 GMTATHENS, Greece (AP) — Human rights activists urged international governments, sponsors and athletes on Tuesday to boycott what they called China's “genocide games” as Greek officials handed over the Olympic flame to 2022 Beijing Winter Games organizers.
Weather, protest cloud Beijing flame-lighting rehearsal
October 17, 2021 GMTANCIENT OLYMPIA, Greece (AP) — A sunburst at the overcast birthplace of the ancient Olympic Games in Greece was too short-lived to light the backup flame for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at Sunday’s dress rehearsal.
Dusan Ivkovic, Serbian basketball coach, dies at 77
September 16, 2021 GMTBELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Dusan Ivkovic, a Serbian basketball coach who led Yugoslavia to the 1990 world title and won two EuroLeague titles with Greek club Olympiakos, has died. He was 77.
The Serbian basketball federation said Ivkovic died Thursday.
Mixed bag: Erratic Pandemic Olympics come to a nuanced end
August 8, 2021 GMTTOKYO (AP) — It began with a virus and a yearlong pause. It ended with a typhoon blowing through and, still, a virus.
Filipovic, Serbia top Greece 13-10 for men’s water polo gold
August 8, 2021 GMTTOKYO (AP) — Filip Filipovic and Serbia draped the country's flag over one of the goals at Tatsumi Water Polo Centre. Then they huddled in the water and yelled “Serbia!” in celebration.
They followed their winning formula all the way to the end — of an era.
Roundup of Olympic gold medals from Sunday, August 8
August 8, 2021 GMTTOKYO (AP) — A roundup of gold medals from Sunday, August 8, at the Tokyo Games:
Greece to face Serbia in men’s water polo final at Olympics
August 6, 2021 GMTTOKYO (AP) — Konstantinos Genidounias' joyous smile said it all.
Greece has won its first men’s water polo medal at the Olympics. The only question now is silver or gold.
Stylianos Agryropoulos Kanakakis scored four times, Emmanouil Zerdevas made seven saves and Greece beat Hungary 9-6 on Friday in the semifinals of the Tokyo Games.
Felix runs for history; Americans seek more basketball gold
August 5, 2021 GMTTOKYO (AP) — Set the alarm for Day 14 of the Tokyo Games and watch Allyson Felix attempt to win a 10th track and field Olympic medal over breakfast. Then stay up late to catch the U.S. men's basketball team play for the gold.
In Tokyo, social platforms help the Pandemic Olympics shine
August 5, 2021 GMTTOKYO (AP) — A condom fixed Jessica Fox's canoe, and skateboarder Jagger Eaton celebrated his bronze medal by broadcasting live on Instagram. Margielyn Didal “let” Tony Hawk take a picture with her to post on Facebook.
Filipovic, Serbia beat Italy 10-6 in water polo quarters
August 4, 2021 GMTTOKYO (AP) — Filip Filipovic pumped in a shot from the side, and then held his arm out and yelled. Dusan Mandic and Andrija Prlainovic each made a couple of big plays.
Romashina goes for record 6th gold in artistic swimming
August 3, 2021 GMTTOKYO (AP) — Russian Svetlana Romashina will go for her record sixth gold medal in artistic swimming Wednesday after leading the preliminaries of duet.
Romashina teamed with Svetlana Kolesnichenko to post the top scores in both free and technical routines.
Olympics Latest: Women’s semifinals set in beach volleyball
August 3, 2021 GMTTOKYO (AP) — The Latest on the Tokyo Olympics, which are taking place under heavy restrictions after a year’s delay because of the coronavirus pandemic:
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The women’s semifinals are set in beach volleyball after a pair of upsets.
Jade Carey’s long road to the Olympics ends with gold
August 2, 2021 GMTTOKYO (AP) — Jade Carey traveled the world for a spot in the Olympics. Germany. Qatar. Azerbaijan. Australia.
A lot of long flights. A little bit of jet lag. One unrelenting vision of what could be possible.
Spain, Greece win water polo groups at Tokyo Olympics
August 2, 2021 GMTTOKYO (AP) — Spain goalkeeper Unai Aguirre yelled and splashed toward his bench. He wagged his finger after a couple of saves.
Forget about all the hard-throwing field players in water polo at the Tokyo Olympics.
Bromell looks to replace Bolt atop Olympic 100-meter podium
July 31, 2021 GMTTOKYO (AP) — There will be a new fastest man of the Olympics crowned Sunday when the 100-meter dash is run without Usain Bolt in the finals for the first time since 2008.
The favorite to claim the gold is American sprinter Trayvon Bromell, a 26-year-old from St.
Canada, New Zealand win rowing golds; US leaves empty-handed
July 30, 2021 GMTTOKYO (AP) — An American reign is over, undone by Canada. New Zealand, meanwhile, showed off a big-time blend of speed and power on the final day of Olympic rowing that will be celebrated Down Under for a long time.
Italy wins rematch with US in men’s Olympic water polo
July 29, 2021 GMTTOKYO (AP) — Francesco Di Fulvio and Italy won the 2019 world championship in men's water polo, establishing themselves as gold medal contenders for the Olympics. Then the coronavirus pandemic arrived.
Greek TV commentator fired for remark about SKorean athlete
July 27, 2021 GMTATHENS, Greece (AP) — A sports commentator in Greece who made an on-air remark about a South Korean athlete at the Tokyo Olympics that the station called racist has been fired, the country's state-run broadcaster said Tuesday.
Hooper delivers for US while family follows along from afar
July 25, 2021 GMTTOKYO (AP) — In the end, it was a celebration for Johnny Hooper's family. Every one of them. His mother, Mimi, and father, Gary. His grandmother, Tomiko Nagatani, so achingly close to her only grandson for once, but kept away by a pandemic.
Grasping for air: Heat a major issue at Olympic tennis venue
July 24, 2021 GMTTOKYO (AP) — French Open finalist Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova grasped for an air tube during a medical timeout and grew frustrated at the lack of ice in a court-side container.
German player Mona Barthel struggled with 10 double-faults in a loss to Iga Swiatek as a blinding sun made it nearly impossible to see the ball once she tossed it.
Throwing strikes: Track athletes outline job in simple terms
July 24, 2021 GMTTOKYO (AP) — Imagine picking up the heaviest bowling ball on the rack and tossing it nearly the length of a basketball floor. That, world-record holder Ryan Crouser explains, is what it feels like with the shot put.
A list of Olympians to follow on social media
July 22, 2021 GMTTOKYO (AP) — With the Olympics starting Friday, athletes from around the world are in Tokyo, most of them restricted to training and their hotels because of virus protocols. Still, they are posting photos and videos of their travel and preparations for the Games.
Repeat? Spain reigned, US upset last time Japan hosted hoops
July 21, 2021 GMTWhen major international basketball last came to the Tokyo area, the U.S. sent LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony.
Tokyo’s new stadium: A masterpiece by Japan’s Kengo Kuma
December 15, 2019 GMTTOKYO (AP) — Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe spoke at Sunday's official completion of the new national stadium, the venue for the opening and closing ceremony of next year's Tokyo Olympics. It will also host track and field and some soccer.
Forget the flame: Boris is on fire during Games
July 31, 2012 GMTLONDON (AP) — It's hard to miss Boris Johnson at the Olympics.
London's over-the-top mayor is omnipresent, even for someone used to being the center of attention. On London's Underground network, his disembodied voice booms at commuters, urging them to "get ahead of the games" and change their travel plans.