F1 teams have been "warned against making 'dummy' pitstops after Mercedes' failed attempt to fool Williams" at the British Grand Prix. With Brazilian Felipe Massa leading for Williams, the world champions had "sent mechanics out into the pitlane as if in preparation for an early stop." The aim was to "hoodwink Williams into changing their strategy, by responding and bringing Massa in much earlier than scheduled, but that team saw the move for the ruse it really was and ignored it." An FIA official said, "Going into the pit lane like this, for no valid reason, is not allowed but the difficulty would be proving it was a clear breach" (REUTERS, 7/9). ... The Pan American Sports Organization (ODEPA) announced that surfing "would be part of the events" of the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru. The Int'l Surfing Association and the Pan American Surf Association "presented documents displaying the backing of 21 national Olympic committees so that the sport would be accepted" (ESTADÃO, 7/8). ... Currumbin will host one of the country's biggest gatherings of stand-up surfers and racers when the Australian SUP Titles are held from Oct. 11-15. Originally scheduled to be held in November, the event has been brought forward a month. Surfing Australia partner Toyota will again hold the naming rights to the event, which is expected to attract more than 250 of the country's top SUP exponents (ISA). ... The budget for the 2017 U17 football World Cup in India will be around $12M. Or, "in other words, the approximately three-week tournament scheduled in September-October will cost the equivalent of six editions" of the I-League, making it the "most expensive football event ever hosted by India." Of this, FIFA is "likely to provide" for around $5M-$6M. The All India Football Federation will "have to raise the rest" (HINDUSTAN TIMES, 7/9).
