League Notes

The Champ Car World Series is “finalizing a move that would see the new China race, set for May, moved to October, which would clear the way for competitors to participate in the Indy 500” (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 3/2).

CHINA: In N.Y., Oakley Brooks reports Chinese athletes Gao Wei, Ding Long and Shen Yalei on Monday will participate in an NFL Europe tryout camp in Tampa. Two will be assigned to teams “as final preparation for a shot at suiting up” for an exhibition game between the Seahawks and Patriots on August 9. NFL execs insist that “using a Chinese kicker in the exhibition game in Beijing would not be a stunt.” The Patriots and Seahawks “have each agreed to suit up one player — not necessarily to use him” (N.Y. TIMES, 3/2).

WOMEN’S SOCCER: The CP’s Jim Morris reports Women’s Soccer Initiative Inc. (WSII), which is planning to relaunch a women’s pro soccer league, “wants to include some franchises in Canada” and has held talks with potential owners in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal. But soccer officials in those cities “seem cool to the idea.” Vancouver Whitecaps FC Dir of Soccer Operations Bob Lenarduzzi, who has spoken with WSII, said, “We’re not saying we’re not interested, we’re not saying we want to commit at this point either. We need to figure out where the dust settles over the course of the next year or two.” A Toronto FC spokesperson added the league “is not even on the radar at the moment” (CP, 3/2).