F1 team Marussia driver JULES BIANCHI "suffered a severe head injury in a crash at the Japanese Grand Prix." The Frenchman "was rushed to hospital in an uconscious state after an accident that prematurely ended the Suzuka race." Bianchi "is undergoing surgery and will be moved to intensive care afterwards." The incident happened after Bianchi's car "crashed into a recovery vehicle that was on track" attending to Sauber driver ADRIAN SUTIL, who had crashed on the same corner (turn 7) on lap 42 (Sydney DAILY TELEGRAPH, 10/6). ... Thursday "will be the start of the open season for taking pot-shots at the England and Wales Cricket Board," when former England player KEVIN PIETERSEN "releases his autobiography." Pietersen "may not have scored many runs himself since falling out with the ECB," but that "will not stop him settling many scores on paper." Pietersen can be expected to have ANDY FLOWER and PAUL DOWNTON "on top of his hit-list." The bulk of Pietersen’s revelations however "are likely to centre on what happened in Australia last winter between the fourth Test in Melbourne and the fifth in Sydney" (London TELEGRAPH, 10/4). ... The art director of the the Opening Ceremony of the 2004 Athens Games, DIMITRIS PAPAIOANNOU, "will produce the opening ceremony of the European Games 2015 in Baku." Papaioannou is an "artist, choreographer, performer and visionary, who received the Golden Cross of the Order of Honor from the Greek President for his outstanding artistic achievement" at the Athens Games (RIA NOVOSTI, 10/3).
OFF THE LIST: German ROBERT HARTING, the world and Olympic discus champion, "has requested the IAAF remove him as a candidate for 2014 World Athlete of the Year in protest at the make-up of the shortlist, which contains two athletes found guilty of doping offences." Harting "issued a statement in which he said he 'cannot stand' to be on the same list as 'a former doping offender' and asked to be removed." Although "he does not identify the athlete by name," Harting is most likely referring to U.S. sprinter JUSTIN GATLIN, "who served a four-year drugs ban." LASHAWN MERRITT, "also on the list, has also previously been convicted of doping." The IAAF has "not yet officially responded to Harting’s request and his name still appears on the shortlist published on the organisation’s website" (LONDON TIMES, 10/4). IAAF 2014 World Athlete of the Year shortlist.
