The first black woman to win an Olympic Gold Medal, ALICE COACHMAN DAVIS, "has died in the US at the age of 90." She "set a new Olympic record, winning gold in the high jump at the 1948 London Games."
She "died in hospital near her home in Albany, Georgia, on Monday, three months after suffering a stroke" (BBC, 7/15). ... Northern Irish golfer STEPHANIE MEADOW announced that Ireland "will be her country of choice, if selected," at the 2016 Rio Games. Former British Amateur champion Meadow said on Twitter, "I have decided to join RORY MCILROY in representing Ireland in the Olympics." Meadow has the same GB or Ireland option as McIlroy and GRAEME MCDOWELL (BELFAST TELEGRAPH, 7/14). ...Two-time Olympic and world champion MO FARAH "may not be fit enough to take part in the Commonwealth Games which begin in Glasgow later this month." Asked if he was going to be fit for the Games, he said, "I don't know. Hopefully I should be good. I have missed a bit of training, but we'll make a decision further down the line" (REUTERS, 7/14). ... ALAN HANSEN "has left the door open for a return to TV just days after leaving the BBC and Match of the Day." The former Scotland defender, who won eight league titles in 14 years at Liverpool, said that "he would be tempted to return to punditry to work on Champions League games featuring his former club" (London DAILY MAIL, 7/15). ... Australian cyclist SIMON GERRANS "has signed a new three-year deal with cycling team Orica-GreenEdge." Gerrans "has been with the Australian team since its inception in 2012 and will now remain with them until the end of 2017" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 7/16). ... South Korea on Tuesday named Korea Sailing Federation President PARK SOON-HO "as the head of its athletic delegation to this year's Asian Games at home."
Park "will lead the South Korean delegation" at the Asian Games to be held in Incheon from Sept. 19-Oct. 4 (YONHAP, 7/15).
NIGHT ON THE TOWN: South African sprinter OSCAR PISTORIUS' "attempt to resurrect his social life backfired spectacularly this weekend after the athlete got into a fight at a nightclub."
It was the first time the sprinter, who is accused of murdering his girlfriend, "had been seen relaxing out in public after four months of a trial that included 30 days in a mental hospital and non-stop, round-the-clock global media scrutiny." Pistorius "was in the VIP section of a swanky Johannesburg nightclub with a cousin when a fellow reveller confronted him on details of the murder case" (LONDON TIMES, 7/15).
ON THE COVER: Barcelona's LIONEL MESSI "has been anounced as the global cover star" for the latest edition of the FIFA video game series. EA Sports has also announced the game will be released in the U.K. on Sept. 26. EA Sports "will announce the regional cover stars for their various editions in coming weeks" (London INDEPENDENT, 7/15).
