Spanish tennis player RAFAEL NADAL announced he would not be able to participate in the London Games because he is not "in condition to compete." Nadal was suppose to defend his gold medal from the Beijing Games. With the news, Spain is left without its flag bearer for the Opening Ceremony. Nadal said "it is one of the saddest moments of my career" (EL PAIS, 7/19). ... Wimbledon Champion SERENA WILLIAMS will miss playing in her "usual white outfit when she returns to SW19" for the Olympic Games. Williams: "It definetly will be weird playing in colours. Even when I'm playing on other grass courts I feel I should be playing in white. It's going to be a little bit of a sad moment for me" (TELEGRAPH, 7/19). ... Birmingham Council "erected a life-size wicker statue" of USAIN BOLT to welcome the world's fastest man to the city. But there is a little problem; the 6-foot figure points to the right, rather than the left (DAILY MAIL, 7/18). ... Arsenal is sending BACARY SAGNA, LUKAS PODOLSKI, PER MERTESACKER and TOMAS ROSICKY to Nigeria in a "marketing salvo," after cancelling a friendly match against the Super Eagles in Abuja, the country's capital city. The club said that it had cancelled the match because of "difficulties in planning the game" (MARKETINGMAGAZINE.co.uk, 7/19). ... Reigning Olympic Champion KIM YU-NA said that her main music for the All That Skate Summer 2012 ice show will be "El Tango de Roxanne." The show is scheduled from Aug. 24 to 26 at the Olympic Gymnastic Arena. STEPHEN KEARNEY's time as Parramatta coach is over. NSW State of Origin coach RICKY STUART "could replace Kearney as coach next year." The expectation is that recently appointed coaches CHRIS ANDERSON and BRAD ARTHUR "will take charge of the team in the short term" (SMH, 7/19). ... EPL's Tottenham defender LEDLEY KING announced his retirement "but will stay on at Spurs as club ambassador." King was limited in recent years by chronic knee issues (TELEGRAPH, 7/19). ... In the FINANCIAL TIMES, Natasha Stidder profiles Deloitte managing partner HEATHER HANCOOK. Deloitte has been working closely with the London 2012 team since the bidding process began. Hancook, having such a high-profile client has allowed the team to draw on every capability within the firm, rooting out esoteric skills, as well as mainstream abilities, and bringing them together. While most of the advisory work is now coming to a close, the job is not finished (FINANCIAL TIMES, 7/19).
