Mexican diver PAOLA ESPINOSA responded to a "controversial" message from one of her sponsors, Gatorade. The brand tweeted after the birth of Espinosa's daughter, "Paola, Congratulations for obtaining the greatest medal of all: being a mother." Fans took to social media to "call the message 'machista,' saying it ignored her accomplishments as an athlete." Espinosa responded on Twitter on Tuesday, saying, "Thanks, Gatorade, for always valuing me as an athlete, throughout my career and as a woman, and YES, my greatest medal is being a mother" (LA AFICIÓN, 8/1). ... A La Liga side Sevilla shareholder accused club President JOSÉ CASTRO of corruption. The Sevilla shareholder who filed the complaint, AGUSTÍN MARTÍNEZ BECERRA, is a lawyer (EFE, 8/2). ... Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) VP of Economic Affairs JUAN PADRÓN "left prison on Wednesday" after paying his €300,000 ($356,200) bail. RFEF President ÁNGEL MARÍA VILLAR left a Madrid jail on Tuesday after being granted bail (EFE, 8/2). ... Commentator and columnist NIALL QUINN is leaving Sky Sports. The former football player has been a regular feature of Sky Sports' commentary and punditry team for several years (Sky Sports). ... Serie A side AS Roma honored former player FRANCESCO TOTTI by "launching the striker's final shirt into space." The 40-year-old "spent his entire 24-year playing career with the Italian club before retiring in May." On Tuesday, a rocket carrying the shirt, from his final game against Genoa, "was successfully launched from French Guyana" (BBC, 8/2). ... MO FARAH’s "controversial" coach ALBERTO SALAZAR is "set to miss his star runner’s final championships in London." No accreditation has been issued to Salazar for the World Championships, which start at the London Stadium on Friday (LONDON TIMES, 8/2). ... Former South Korean football player PARK JI-SUNG "will be named an honorary ambassador" for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Games, the event's organizers said on Wednesday. Park's appointment ceremony will take place in Seoul on Friday. Park was "one of South Korea's most iconic football stars until his retirement" in '14 (YONHAP, 8/2).
NO QUEEN: She "stole the show by becoming a Bond Girl" for the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympics. But QUEEN ELIZABETH "turned down the chance to return to the London Stadium" for the IAAF World Championships. She "will not be interrupting her annual summer holiday in Balmoral to make an appearance at the opening ceremony" (London TELEGRAPH, 8/2).
