Three-time Tour de France champion GREG LEMOND is to run for president of the Int'l Cycling Union (UCI). Questioned at a Change Cycling Now's news conference in London, LeMond said: "I would love to be part of the process to help change cycling" (REUTERS, 12/3). In an interview, LeMond was asked if he was ready to run for the UCI presidency and said, "Yes I am ready. I was asked to and I said yes" (LE MONDE, 12/3). UCI President PAT MCQUAID has been "widely criticised for the UCI's handling of the Armstrong affair, its approach to anti-doping and for the way it approaches commercial matters" (London GUARDIAN, 12/3).
A CHANGE OF SCENE: Lotus F1 driver KIMI RÄIKKÖNEN will take part in a snowmobile race at Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria this weekend. Also participating in the race are Sauber F1 driver NICO HÜLKENBERG and German Touring Car (DTM) driver TIMO SCHEIDER (MOTORSPORT TOTAL, 12/2). ... FIFA President SEPP BLATTER took some time off preparations for the Confederations Cup draw to visit football great PELE, who is recovering from hip surgery in São Paulo. Blatter updated Pele on Brazil's preparations for the Confederations Cup and the 2014 World Cup (AP, 12/1). ... Dutch football legend JOHAN CRUYFF said that he is "unaware of his dismissal" from Mexican club Chivas Guadalajara, despite the club announcing his departure. Cruyff had served as an adviser since February and claimed when he was hired that he had a three-year contract. Cruyff told De Telegraaf, "I don't know anything. I just heard about it. I'm trying to figure out what's going on" (GOAL, 12/3). ... British Paralympian TANNI GREY-THOMPSON "will help steer the residential-led redevelopment of the Olympic Park in east London." London Mayor BORIS JOHNSON appointed "the 43-year-old former wheelchair racer to the London Legacy Development Corp. board" on Monday (ARCHITECTS JOURNAL, 12/3).
