Defending champion Russia, last year’s runner up Canada, the U.S. and the Czech Republic are leading their groups after the first four days of the IIHF World Hockey Championships in Switzerland.
Russia has taken the early lead in Group B after a 5-0 victory over Germany on Friday and a 7-2 win over France on Saturday, accumulating six points. Host Switzerland is second (5), Germany third (1) and France fourth (0).
Canada leads Group C after a 6-1 victory over Belarus on Friday and a 9-0 win over Hungary on Sunday to earn six points. Slovakia (4) is second, Belarus (2) third and Hungary (0) fourth.
The U.S. is atop the standings in Group C with six points after a 4-2 victory over Latvia on Saturday and 6-1 win over Austria on Monday. Sweden (3) is second, while Latvia and Austria are still winless.
The Czech Republic is the leader in Group D with six points, defeating Denmark 5-0 on Saturday and Norway 5-2 on Monday. Finland (3) is second, while Denmark and Norway each have yet to win a game.
A total of 95,670 spectators have attended the first 14 games of the tournament at the 17,131-seat Post Finance Arena in Bern and the 9,000-seat Eishalle Schuefweg in Zurich. Host Switzerland has attracted the largest crowds so far, including 11,423 for its 3-2 victory over Germany on Sunday and 11,417 for its 1-0 win over France on Friday.
New World Record Reopens Swimsuit Controversy
Swimmer Fred Bousquet of France shattered the world record in the men’s 50-meter freestyle on Sunday, bringing up further questions about the effect of hi-tech swimsuits on the sport.
Bousquet became the first man to break 21 seconds with his time of 20.94 at the French championships in Montpellier, France while wearing a polyurethane Jaked suit.
Denis Auguin, the coach of new 100-meter freestyle world record-holder Alain Bernard, is concerned with the effects of the high-tech suits that he saw at the French championships in the past week.
“A lot of harm has already been done,” Auguin said. “What’s it all for? A swimmer you coach for 10 years, that gets up a six every day to swim, who swims (6,000 miles) a year, does five hours of weights a week. All that reduced to nothing by a suit? Marvelous.”
Bousquet’s new world-record time in the 50 freestyle breaks the record of 21.28 set by Eamon Sullivan.
Former Speed Skating Coach Sues
Former U.S. speedskating coach Bart Veldkamp is suing the federation after he said he was fired without reason.
Veldkamp, an Olympic speedskater for the Netherlands and Belgium during his competitive career, filed a lawsuit Wednesday stating that he did not quit his position and the organization did not intend on paying him his salary of $80,000 and a $50,000 premium to fulfill the rest of his three-year contract.
U.S. Speedskating named Olympic medalist Derek Parra to replace Veldkamp.
Goodman Leaving ABC
ABC news director Roger Goodman is leaving the network to focus on his production company, the network announced Monday. For more than 30 years, the network veteran worked on special projects including 10 Olympics, Super Bowl halftime shows, the Indianapolis 500 and the Kentucky Derby. He also directed several Academy Award and Emmy shows and several episodes of "20/20" and "Nightline."
"If someone told me 45 years ago that I would be given the opportunity to direct the Olympics, the Millennium and the Oscars, I wouldn't believe it were possible," Goodman said in a memo to ABC staff. "And yet here I am, all these years later, with those experiences and many more to be thankful for."
Goodman began his career with ABC in 1964 as a production assistantfor "Wide World of Sports" in New York City.
Briefs…
Sammy Wanjiru of Kenya, set a record time in the London marathon yesterday. Second place last year, he completed the 26-mile race in 2:05:10. Irina Mikitenko of Germany retains her title, completing the women's course with a time of 2:22:11.
…The Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games Organizing Committee has announced McCann Worldgroup as its official marketing communication services supplier. McCann will help develop the marketing campaign for the Youth Games.
…Olympic gold medalist Tor Arne Hetland has retired because of a knee injury and asthma. The Norwegian cross-country skier won gold at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics and silver at the 2006 Turin Olympics.
…Singapore 2010 is seeking bids for its program to develop Singapore 2010 buttons, collar pins, and transfer tattoos. More information is available at www.gebiz.gov.sg
…The Asian Youth Games in Singapore has named its lion mascot FRASIA, choosing the name from 1,470 entries from the public during a week-long competition. The name is a play on the phrase “Friends of Asia.” The Games will be held June 28-July 7.
…SPORTEL, an international sports market for television and new media, will hold its next spring meeting in Singapore in March, 2010. The meeting, to be called SPORTELAsia 2010, will be held March 8-10, 2010 at the Ritz-Carlton, Millenia hotel in Singapore.
Media Watch…
Former U.K. Home Secretary David Blunkett says London must build a better cybersecurity for the 2012 Olympics.
Written by Greg Oshust and Isia Reaves.
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