China wants to use DAVID BECKHAM to help the country "kick on" in int'l football. The former ManU and Real Madrid player has reportedly "been recruited by the Chinese government to inspire the next generation of the country's footballers." Beckham is "said to be friends" with Chinese President XI JINPING (SPORT, 3/4). ... Motor racing fans around the world "are being urged to help a final push" toward setting up a museum in honor of Scottish Grand Prix driver JIM CLARK. Permission was granted for the museum three years ago and grants "have been promised but the trustees now need to raise" a final £300,000 ($368,910) in the next 50 days to get the project started. Clark won the Formula 1 championship in '63 and '65 and the Indianapolis 500 in '65 (LONDON TIMES, 3/3). ... Commonwealth Games Federation President LOUISE MARTINS traveled to South Africa "for crisis meetings as Durban faces the possibility of losing out on hosting the 2022 Commonwealth Games." A CGF spokesperson said, "The CGF President traveled to South Africa earlier this week for further high level meetings and we continue to make every effort to engage with the Durban 2022 delivery partners. A review team appointed by the CGF is in the final stages of evaluating ... whether Durban's proposals for hosting the Games are consistent with their original bid commitments. A recommendation will be referred to the CGF executive board, who meet March 11-12" (REUTERS, 3/4). ... The UFC is returning to Auckland on June 11 "for an event which could be headlined by Kiwis MARK HUNT or ROBERT WHITTAKER." It is "news which will delight the growing number of mixed martial arts fans" in that part of the world, and UFC organizers are "confident of another full house at Vector Arena following the successful 2014 event there" (NEW ZEALAND HERALD, 3/5). ... Japanese PM SHINZO ABE on Sunday "declined to disclose the results of his high-profile rounds of golf" with U.S. President DONALD TRUMP in Florida last month, joking they are a "national secret." Abe said, "Which side won is a national secret. Mr. Trump was indeed good. He is a wonderful player" (KYODO, 3/5).
