Ukrainian world boxing champion and popular opposition leader VITALI KLITSCHKO announced on Thursday that "he would challenge" President VIKTOR YANUKOVYCH in elections due in March '15 (AFP, 10/24). ... Actors GERARD DEPARDIEU and TIM ROTH "are to star as football bosses" JULES RIMET and SEPP BLATTER in an Azerbaijani-short film about the history of FIFA. The "unusual" project's '14 release date "coincides with the 110th anniversary of FIFA and next year's World Cup in Brazil." Blatter, 77, said that Roth, best known for his portrayal of gangster Mr. Orange in "Reservoir Dogs," "was ideally suited to play him despite their 25-year age gap" (R-SPORT, 10/24). ... Legendary cricket commentator RICHIE BENAUD "is recovering in hospital after the car he was driving hit a brick wall in Sydney." The 83-year-old former Australia captain "sustained chest and shoulder injuries driving alone to his home in Coogee after playing golf" (BBC, 10/24). ... RYOZO KATO "performed his final duties as Nippon Professional Baseball commissioner on Thursday, when he presided over the annual amateur draft" (KYODO, 10/24). ... EPL Crystal Palace is expected to speak to former Stoke City Manager TONY PULIS about its vacant managerial position after Manager IAN HOLLOWAY stepped down Wednesday night, saying that "he had run out of energy to perform the job." Pulis, who left Stoke City at the end of last season, "is not a natural fit," but would make the team as compact and organized as they were under DOUGIE FREEDMAN, who left Palace to take charge of Bolton Wanderers a year ago Wednesday (LONDON TIMES, 10/24). ... Ford driver WILL DAVISON "will switch to Mercedes-Benz next year in a deal that is set to upset the order in V8 Supercars" (THE AGE, 10/25). ... Australian Rugby Union side Wallabies breakaway MICHAEL HOOPER "was awarded the John Eales Medal -- after just his second year of Test rugby -- at a ceremony in Sydney on Thursday." The 22-year-old capped "an extraordinary four seasons in which he has won every important award on offer, including Australia's Super Rugby player of the year and Rugby Championship strongest performer awards this year," Wallabies rookie of the year in '12 and U20s player of the year in '11 (THE AGE, 10/25).
