More than 70% of the total tickets available for next month's Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro "have been sold." Rio 2016 Ticketing Dir Donovan Ferreti said that fans have spent R$960M ($290M) on 4.3 million tickets. The figure "is still some way short of the mark set at the London 2012 Games," when 86% of total tickets were sold (IANS, 7/10).
Nippon Professional Baseball's owners signed off on a policy of interrupting the '20 season "while the Tokyo Olympics are taking place." After the NPB Owners Meeting convened on Monday, Hanshin Tigers Owner Shinya Sakai said, "We will support the Olympics -- a national event -- in every way." The owners' stance "is seen as an incentive" for the IOC, which will vote in August on whether baseball and softball tournaments will be included in the Tokyo 2020 Games (KYODO, 7/11).
France, Serbia and Croatia "secured the last three berths in the men's basketball event at next month's Rio Olympics following the weekend's final qualifiers." France "booked its place by beating Canada 83-74 in the Philippines." Croatia "overcame Italy 84-78 in Turin and Serbia defeated Puerto Rico 108-77 in Belgrade" (XINHUA, 7/10).
The Badminton World Federation launched its Olympic website. There will be comprehensive editorial and pictorial coverage of badminton across all five categories, from the group stage right through to the medal matches.
In addition, the BWF Olympic website offers a flashback to badminton highlights in previous Summer Games (BWF).
