Japan's horse-riding Buddhist monk Kenki Sato will compete in the London Olympics even though he would "prefer enlightenment to a medal," according to the AFP. Shaven-headed Sato "starts each day with a morning prayer" and has trained since the age of 7 under his father. Sato is following his younger brother, Eiken, who also trained as a priest and rode at the Beijing Games; his sister Tae, 24, who is a five-time national showjumping champion; and his father Shodo, who runs a 460-year-old temple and adjacent horse-riding club and was a member of Japan's equestrian team before Japan boycotted the 1980 Games in Moscow (AFP, 7/10).
FREE-FOR-ALL: In Bangkok, Komsan Tortermvasana reported the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission said that Thailand's Olympics broadcast rights holder "insists all viewers will be able to watch" the London Games. NBTC's broadcasting committee Chair Natee Sukonrat said that Television Pool of Thailand revealed it will broadcast all copyrighted programs from London to all viewers regardless of their reception platforms (BANGKOK POST, 7/10).
FINALIZED: The groups and full schedule of the London 2012 Olympic Basketball Tournament have been finalized. Lithuania, Nigeria and Russia complete the line-up having secured qualification through the Olympic Qualifying Tournament, held in Caracas, Venezuela July 1-8. Group A consists of Argentina, France, Lithuania, Nigeria, Tunisia and the U.S., and in Group B is Australia, Brazil, China, Great Britain, Russia and Spain (FIBA).
GOLD PRICE: The DPA reported that the German Sport Support, which supports about 95% of the country's 391 Olympic athletes, will pay bonuses based on an athlete's performance at the 2012 London Olympic. Athletes will receive €15,000 ($19,000) for a gold medal, €10,000 ($12,500) for a silver medal and €7,500 ($9,000) for a bronze medal. Even an eighth place finish will bring in €1,500 ($1,800) (DPA, 7/10).
