NBA Chinese-American JEREMY LIN, who is regarded as a "rising star" and the NBA's "new ambassador in China" post-YAO MING retirement, "has a busy summer on the Chinese mainland." Lin started his tour by visiting a primary school for children of migrant workers in a suburban district of Beijing. He then landed in Shanghai, joined the TV show "China's Got Talent" and signed with KFC China to become their basketball ambassador to "promote sports and health" (CHINA DAILY, 8/17). ...The Asian Football Confederation has extended the provisional suspension of its former President MOHAMED BIN HAMMAM by 20 days as investigations into allegations of financial wrongdoing continue. The Qatari had been suspended for 30 days, but AFC Disciplinary Committee Chair LIM KIA TONG put forth the extension on Wednesday, just one day before the ban was due to expire (AFC). ... ManU player RIO FERDINAND has been fined £45,000 ($71,000) by the English Football Association after being found guilt of "improper conduct over a Twitter comment" about Chelsea rival ASHLEY COLE. ... Veteran India batsman VVS LAXMAN "has called time" on his 16-year int'l career. The 37-year-old made the first of 134 Test outings in '96 and went on to become one of the most feared middle-order batsmen of his generation, compiling 17 centuries, 56 half-centuries and a total of 8,781 runs in the longest form of the game (PA, 8/18).
THE CONQUERING HERO: Around 20,000 fans turned out to welcome London Olympics Gold Medalist JESSICA ENNIS when she returned home to Sheffield, England Friday night. It was the "sort of reception normally reserved for royalty and pop stars" (LONDON TIMES, 8/18). ... Tour de France winner and Olympic time trial Gold Medalist BRADLEY WIGGINS “has confirmed that he will compete” in the Tour of Britain starting on Sept. 9 in Ipswich. The Tour of Britain “has long been viewed as a minor stage race” in comparison to the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and Tour of Spain. Wiggins will take part in the race to thank "all his fans for supporting him during his stellar year.” Wiggins said, “I’m doing the Tour of Britain now. It’ll be nice. I’ll try to stay fit between now and then so I don’t embarrass myself! It’ll be good” (London TELEGRAPH, 8/19). ... England’s ANDREW STRAUSS received a silver bat to “commemorate his 100th test” from the England and Wales Cricket Board CEO DAVID COLLIER and Chair GILES CLARKE before the third cricket test match against South Africa at Lord’s in London on Thursday (REUTERS, 8/16).
