Attendees of ASPIRE4SPORT, which will be held Nov. 12-15 in Doha, Qatar, will include: former Liverpool Manager GÉRARD HOULLIER, former Real Madrid Sports Dir PEDJA MIJATOVI and 2012 Olympics super heavyweight Gold Medalist ANTHONY JOSHUA. The guests will feature in daily "Star Chats" (GULF TIMES, 10/25). ... Poland PM DONALD TUSK on Wednesday "rejected the resignation" of Sports Minister JOANNA MUCHA, who quit amidst a row after the Polish football team's World Cup qualifier against England was washed out when a stadium room was left open. Tusk said, "I have not accepted her resignation." He said, however, that the ministry's operations "needed a shake-up and warned he could go back on his decision if reforms were not made by the end of the year" (AFP, 10/24). ... The WTA has revealed that world No.1 VICTORIA AZARENKA has been named the winner of the Diamond ACES Award for the '12 season. The award is presented to the player who best promotes the sport of women’s tennis (WTA). ... Two-time MotoGP world champion CASEY STONER has been honored with a "permanent slice of his beloved Phillip Island" race track. In recognition of Stoner's influence on the sport, the "high-speed turn three" will be known as Stoner Corner at the Victorian race track (THE AUSTRALIAN, 10/25).
FOOTBALL ODDITIES: Barcelona player LIONEL MESSI "has challenged football fans to come up with the design for his latest pair of boots." Messi is "rumoured to be launching his own brand of boots next year." He will "wear the custom-made pair in December but wants them to dazzle -- just like he does on the pitch" (London DAILY MAIL, 10/25). ... An Australian broadcaster has launched a live "Heskey Cam," so fans of A-League club Newcastle Jets striker EMILE HESKEY "can study his every move" during Friday's clash with the Melbourne Victory. Previously this season, his No. 9 shirt "sold out within minutes due to unprecedented demand," and his arrival sold the club 2,000 more season tickets. Now "Emile Heskey fever Down Under just got a little more bizarre" (London DAILY MAIL, 10/25). ... Reading player JASON ROBERTS has "again refused to wear a T-shirt" in support of anti-racism campaign group Kick It Out this weekend. However, he did give his "tentative support" to the Professional Footballers' Association's six-point plan designed to eradicate the problem within the game. Roberts said, "This is not an attack on Kick It Out. I am passionate about the PFA and Kick It Out, but they have to do better, we have to do better" (London INDEPENDENT, 10/25).
CYCLING MUTINY: Three-time Tour de France winner GREG LEMOND has called for the resignation of Int'l Cycling Union (UCI) President PAT MCQUAID. In an open letter published on his Facebook page, LeMond wrote, "I have never seen such an abuse of power in cycling's history -- resign Pat if you love cycling. Resign even if you hate the sport" (PA, 10/25). LE PARISIEN reported that LeMond also wrote, "I want to tell the world of cycling to please join me in telling Pat McQuaid to resign." He added that McQuaid and former UCI President HEIN VERBRUGGEN are "the corrupt part of our sport" (LE PARISIEN, 10/25).
