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SPORTS Tuesday 6 February 2018
‘Grid kids’ replace

‘grid girls’ in Formula 1

PARIS (AP) — “Grid kids”
are replacing “grid girls” in
Formula One as the motor-
sport series makes changes
ahead of the new season.
F1 says youngsters from
motorsport clubs, who are
already competing in kart-
This is a Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2018 file photo of Spain’s Rafael ing, will stand alongside
Nadal hits a forehand return to Croatia’s Marin Cilic during drivers on the grid before
their quarterfinal at the Australian Open tennis championships
in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2018. races this season.
Associated Press The announcement Mon-
Nadal expects to be fit to day comes after the series
last week ended the long-
play in Acapulco this month standing practice of using
women on the grid, and
on the podium with the top In this Friday, July 14, 2017 file photo, FIA President Jean Todt
speaks during a news conference in the Brooklyn borough of
MADRID (AP) — Rafael He was in the fifth set three drivers, because it no New York New York.
Nadal says he is on track against Marin Cilic. longer fits in with Formula Associated Press
to returning to the ATP Nadal says he is undergo- One’s values and societal the opportunity to stand Media, which has been
Tour in Acapulco this ing intensive treatment to norms. alongside their heroes.” changing how the sport is
month.The top-ranked make sure he is fit to play The latest initiative is a joint Sean Bratches, F1’s man- run since taking over from
Nadal says on Monday in the Mexico tournament venture by the FIA — mo- aging director of com- former commercial rights
he is recovering well from which starts on Feb. 26. torsport’s governing body mercial operations, adds: holder Bernie Ecclestone in
the left leg muscle injury Nadal was in Madrid to — and F1’s owners. “What better way to inspire January 2017.
that forced him to retire inaugurate a sports medi- FIA President Jean Todt the next generation of For- The season starts on March
in the Australian Open cine clinic dedicated to says “Grid Kids” gives “fu- mula 1 heroes.” 25 at the Australian Grand
quarterfinals last month. tennis.q ture champions of our sport F1 is owned by Liberty Prix.q

Pro beach volleyball players

from around world form union

By JIMMY GOLEN watched sports at the Sum- the sport’s management
AP Sports Writer mer Games) shows that the over pay and playing rules.
Nearly 100 professional sport has huge potential to Walsh Jennings, the most
beach volleyball play- grow.” Among those sign- popular American in the
ers from around the world ing on to the IBVPA are sport, last year refused to
have formed a union they six of the eight Americans sign on with the AVP, the
hope will give them a who competed at the Rio U.S. domestic tour, saying
greater voice in how the Games, including bronze it was not doing enough
In this Thursday Dec. 14, 2017 file photo, four-time Tour
de France champion Chris Froome of Britain smiles while sport is run. medalists Kerri Walsh Jen- to grow the game. In May,
training in Palma de Mallorca, Balearic island of Mallorca, The International Beach nings and April Ross. Three- Meppelink Verge-Depre
Spain. Volleyball Players Associa- time Olympian Phil Dal- balked at changes to the
Associated Press tion roster includes many of hausser, who won gold in FIVB world tour structure
Froome to compete in Andalucia the sport’s top names, in- Beijing in 2008, is its honor- and schedule and called
upon their fellow competi-
cluding gold medalists from ary president.
despite doping investigation each of the last four Olym- Other officers include tors to act. “These changes
MANCHESTER, England he provided at the Span- pics. “The 2017 season did president Madelein Mep- were made without input
(AP) — Chris Froome will ish Vuelta in September not meet the expectations pelink, of the Netherlands, by the players, despite the
compete in the five-day showed a concentration of athletes and beach vol- and vice president Anouk impact to their livelihood,”
Ruta del Sol in Andalucia of the asthma drug salbu- leyball stakeholders, with Verge-Depre. Rio bronze the IBVPA said in its state-
this month despite being tamol at twice the permit- canceled tournaments, medalist Robert Meeuwsen ment. “Most professional
under investigation by ted level. If found guilty of a significant drop in prize of the Netherlands and sport organizations have
cycling’s world governing doping, the 32-year-old money and changes to the Brazilian Barbara Seixas, a effective players’ associa-
body for failing a doping British rider could lose his structure of tournaments,” silver medalist in Rio, also tions working to provide
test. Team Sky named the Vuelta title and be sus- the IBVPA said in an an- have spots on the board. the best possible environ-
Tour de France cham- pended for a long pe- nouncement scheduled to Since joining the Olympic ment for the athletes to
pion Monday in its lineup riod. Froome says “I un- be released on Tuesday, program in 1996, beach pursue their professions. ...
for the Feb. 14-18 race, derstand that this situa- a copy of which was ob- volleyball has emerged as The IBVPA will work to do
which he won in 2015. tion has created a lot of tained by The Associated one of the most popular the same.” Spokespeople
Froome has been or- uncertainty” and is “con- Press on Monday. sports at the games. But it from the International Vol-
dered to explain to the fident that we will be able “The success of beach has struggled to capitalize leyball Federation and the
International Cycling to get to the bottom of volleyball at the 2016 Rio on the attention the rest of AVP did not immediately
and 2012 London Olympic the time, with many of the respond to messages seek-
Union why a urine sample what has happened.”q
Games (one of the most- top players quarreling with ing comment.q