IN BRIEF (Page 24)

Soccer

Inter signs Mancini

MILAN: AS Roma's Brazilian winger Mancini has become Inter Milan boss Jose Mourinho's first major signing, the two clubs said on Tuesday.

Roma, which finished second to Inter in Serie A last season, announced an initial agreement last week and the deal has now been finalized after the player returned to Italy from holiday.

The skillful and versatile Mancini has moved for 13 million euros ($20.7 million), Roma said in a statement. It added that a friendly between the teams for the season after next was part of the deal.

"I thank Roma for everything they have done for me, for how they have treated me and for the way in which they have behaved in the negotiations with Inter," Mancini told a news conference.

US skipper Reyna to retire

NEW YORK: Former United States captain Claudio Reyna is to announce his retirement after struggling with injuries in Major League Soccer this season.

The league's website (www.mlsnet.com) said Reyna had announced a press conference for 1800 GMT on Wednesday where he was "expected to announce his retirement".

The 34-year-old Reyna, who played in England and Germany, has started just six of the New York Red Bulls' games this season.

Reyna made 112 appearances for the US and played for Bayer Leverkusen and Wolfsburg in Germany, Glasgow Rangers in Scotland and Sunderland and Manchester City in England.

The attacking midfielder moved to the Red Bulls last season but he has not played since May 25 due to a back injury.

He played in the past four World Cups.

Athletics

Canada hurdler out of Games

OTTAWA: Canada's Perdita Felicien, the 2003 world champion in the 100m hurdles, said on Tuesday she would not compete at the Beijing Olympics because she had not recovered fully from a stress fracture in her left foot.

Felicien was one of the favorites to win gold at the 2004 Athens Olympics but crashed into the first hurdle in the final. She won silver medal in last year's World Championships.

"The risk isn't to my foot, it's more to avoid the risk to other parts of my body that aren't as conditioned as they normally are ... My focus is not Beijing, but it is beyond that," the Canadian Broadcasting Corp quoted her as telling a conference call.

The 27-year-old has not raced since suffering the fracture in February.

Decathlete Macey retires

LONDON: Dean Macey, Britain's best decathlete since Daley Thompson, retired on Tuesday after failing to qualify for the Beijing Olympics.

Macey ended agonizingly off the podium in fourth place at the last two Olympics where his gritty determination to overcome injuries won him many fans.

The 30-year-old former lifeguard is the Commonwealth Games champion and also managed silver and bronze medals at the 1999 and 2001 World Championships.

However, after not achieving the necessary Olympic standard at a weekend event when he was handicapped by a groin strain, he has decided to spare his body further punishment.

"This is the most difficult decision that I have ever had to make, but if I'm being honest I don't believe that I can stay healthy any more," Macey, who once needed surgery to rebuild his elbow, said in a statement released by his agent on Tuesday.

(China Daily 07/17/2008 page24)