Making a world-class center: Qingdao timeline

The following is a timeline of the preparation for the Olympic sailing races in Qingdao, Shandong province:

Spectators, sailors able to interact

QINGDAO: While building the venue to host the 2008 Olympics sailing competition, Qingdao created many firsts with innovative approaches that solved long-standing difficulties faced by the sport.

Ride on global tide to continue

QINGDAO: The government of Qingdao has signed an agreement with Clipper Ventures Plc from the United Kingdom to continue to be a stop on Clipper's around the world yacht races, two of which will call on the port city from 2009-2012.

Sports

Federer unsure over Olympics village

DUBAI: Roger Federer, who has always said that an Olympic gold medal is one of his biggest goals, has cast doubt on whether he will stay in the Olympic village in August.

Bryant's 52 points help Lakers edge Mavericks

NEW YORK: Kobe Bryant's late heroics lifted the Los Angeles Lakers to a 108-104 overtime victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday in the National Basketball Association.

Shanghai pitch unsafe for Beckham, coach says

SHANGHAI: English football star David Beckham is fit to play a full exhibition game in Shanghai, but authorities must first clean up a pitch in terrible condition, LA Galaxy's head coach said Monday.

'Big Easy' gets smile back on his face

PALM BEACH GARDENS: They call him "The Big Easy" but Ernie Els had been feeling far from laid back until Sunday's Honda Classic triumph put the smile back on his face.

IN BRIEF (Page 24)

Sports

Celtics overcome James' milestone

BOSTON: Cleveland star LeBron James defied injury to reach a National Basketball Association milestone on Wednesday, but he couldn't lift the Cavaliers over the Boston Celtics.

Scare for Henin against Srebotnik at Dubai Open

DUBAI: Justine Henin suffered an opening-match scare for the second successive year as she sought to maintain an unbeaten record by winning her fifth title in a row at the Dubai Open.