IAAF World Championship Bronze Medal Hammer Thrower ALEXANDRA TAVERNIER and sprinter JIMMY VICAUT, who tied the European 100m record in July, “were elected the French athletes of the year” by about 7,000 voters on the French Athletics Federation (FFA) website (L’ÉQUIPE, 12/4). ... FFR President PIERRE CAMOU on Saturday announced that he will “try for a third term” as president of the federation in the ’16 elections. The 70-year-old said, “I have decided to run for the presidency. I will be the candidate who will oversee the modernization of the game.” Camou was originally elected in ’08, then again in ’12. Toulon Manager BERNARD LAPORTE will be Camou’s competition for the post (L’ÉQUIPE, 12/5). ... Bollywood Actor AMITABH BACHCHAN "became a co-owner" of Int'l Premier Tennis League team OUE Singapore Slammers. Bachchan will make a "courtside appearance" on Dec. 20 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on the final day of the season. He "will also be interacting with fans during the course of the day" (DECCAN HERALD, 12/3). ... Veteran Belgian table tennis player JEAN-MICHEL SAIVE announced his retirement "after a career spanning over three decades." The 46-year-old, world No. 1 for 16 months in '94-95, "has competed in seven Olympic Games" (AFP, 12/4). ... French Rugby int'l THIERRY DUSAUTOIR said that he "made his decision to quit international rugby after recent discussions with the new France coach, GUY NOVÈS." Dusautoir said, "We arrived at the same conclusions. If I had tried to continue, forcing to do, I would have shown more vanity than anything else. In fact, I believe that this is the wisest decision." Dusautoir "made his Test debut in 2006 and won 80 caps" (London GUARDIAN, 12/5). ... Major League Soccer has given its backing to DAVID BECKHAM's "proposed stadium site for his planned expansion team in Miami." Earlier this week, Beckham's team of investors acquired land in Miami's Overtown neighborhood "after more than a year searching for a viable home for the team." In order to go ahead with development, Beckham needed the approval of MLS and got that on Saturday "following a meeting of the league's Board of Governors on the eve of the MLS Cup Final" (PA, 12/6). ... Former Belgian cyclist ERIK DE VLAEMINCK died at age 70. The multiple-time world champion of cyclo-cross was "reported to have suffered from Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, however the cause of death has not been confirmed" (CYCLING NEWS, 12/4).
TOUR DE YORKSHIRE: BRADLEY WIGGINS will ride in the second edition of the Tour de Yorkshire "as he steps up his preparations for a fifth Olympic Games and a bid for another Gold Medal in Rio." The four-time Olympic champion, 2012 Tour de France winner and holder of the Hour record is "increasing preparations as part of Great Britain's team pursuit squad." Wiggins said, "Yes, we'll be there. Team Wiggins. It was a great race this year and we'll be back there next year" (PA, 12/3).
