Usain Bolt will pocket up to A$1M ($770,000) to compete in Melbourne as part of Athletics Australia’s "new-look Nitro Summer series." The nine-time Olympic champion "will confirm his involvement in the series" on Friday. Athletics Australia has allocated the week of Feb. 4-11 for the new teams event with details of the format yet to be finalized (HERALD SUN, 11/3).
Hong Kong head football coach Kim Pan-gon has slammed organizers of the East Asian Championship for "ignoring players’ health and safety with tight scheduling of qualifying matches." The four-team second round of qualifying kicks off on Sunday in Hong Kong with the host facing Guam and North Korea taking on Taiwan. Only the winners will reach the finals next year "and each team will have to play three matches in seven days using a small squad of 20 players." Kim: "They are sitting in the office and never consider the players safety as it is very easy for the players to get injured under such a tight playing schedule" (SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST, 11/3).
Fans "will be allowed to cheer" during Thailand's Nov. 15 World Cup qualifier against Australia at Rajamangala National Stadium, after the government "eased strict mourning rules in place since the passing of King Bhumibol Adulyadej" (AFP, 11/2).
