Digest

WINTER OLYMPICS

2022 village passes key equipment inspection

The athletes' village for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics has passed its fire-control inspection for the final certification of construction in Beijing's northwestern Yanqing district, local government sources said on Wednesday.

As one of Beijing 2022's three competition zones, Yanqing will host the Alpine skiing, bobsleigh, and luge competitions during the Winter Games.

Covering a total area of around 118,000 square meters, the village is located in the east of the Yanqing zone, and has been designed to resemble a traditional Beijing courtyard. Its residential area will provide 2,338 beds during the Winter Olympics, and 1,040 beds during the Winter Paralympics.

The acceptance team, led by the Yanqing District Housing and Construction Committee, carried out tests for the fire-extinguishing system and related equipment.

With the village passing the inspection, work in the core area of the Yanqing zone has also entered its final stage, according to Fan Gang, director of the Engineering Quality Supervision Station of the Yanqing District Housing and Construction Committee.

BASKETBALL

FIBA rules Ogwumike cannot play for Nigeria

Nneka Ogwumike and Elizabeth Williams have been notified by FIBA that their petitions to play for Nigeria in the upcoming Olympics were denied because they played for the United States for too long, according to two people familiar with the situation.

The sources spoke to The Associated Press on Wednesday night on condition of anonymity because no official announcement had been made. ESPN first reported the denials.

The Nigerian basketball federation has filed an appeal to FIBA, and both players are looking into taking the denials to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, the sources said.

WNBA stars Ogwumike and Williams had been given consent by USA Basketball to play for Nigeria. Usually players that compete for the US in major FIBA events after they turn 17 are not allowed to start playing for another country.

FIBA's regulations do allow the organization's secretary-general to authorize a player to compete for their country of origin if it will help grow basketball in the country.

Middleton magic helps Milwaukee tie series

Khris Middleton's big finish means the NBA Finals are just getting started.

Middleton scored 40 points, including 10 straight for the Milwaukee Bucks down the stretch to send them past the Phoenix Suns, 109-103 on Wednesday night to tie the series 2-2.

Middleton's hot hand and a big block from Giannis Antetokounmpo gave the Bucks their second straight victory of the series.

Antetokounmpo had 26 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists. His streak of 40-point games ended at two but the only number that matters for the Bucks is on the series scoreboard.

Devin Booker scored 42 points for the Suns, but his foul trouble cost them a chance to build a big lead in the second half. Chris Paul struggled through a 5-for-13 night, finishing with 10 points and five turnovers.

Game 5 is on Saturday night in Phoenix. "You can't just bank on the fact that you got home court," Paul said. "You got to go out there and play the game. You got to execute, so we'll do that."

Booker has 542 points, the most ever for a player in his first postseason. Rick Barry scored 521 in 1967.

SOCCER

Messi agrees to halve his Barcelona wages

Barcelona has reached a deal in principle with Lionel Messi for the Argentine veteran to remain with the Catalan club for another five years, but on half the wages, Spanish media reported on Wednesday.

Messi, who earlier this month finally landed a major international trophy with Argentina when it beat Brazil to win the Copa America," will sign a five-season contract with a release clause of 600 million euros ($709 million)," according to Catalan sports daily L'Esportiu.

"The player will reduce his wages by 50 percent. Now it just remains for the lawyers to look over the agreement and give it the OK. Once that happens his continuation will be official," said Madrid-based sports daily Marca, which confirmed L'Esportiu's initial story.

According to the latter, Messi, 34, will earn in the region of 20 million euros basic next season with the Catalan club, which he has led to 10 league crowns as well as four Champions League titles.

Last season was a comparative disappointment as the club could only land the Spanish Cup and exited in the last 16 of the Champions League.

Last summer, Messi sought to leave Barca as a free agent via a clause in his contract before agreeing to see out the final year as the club threatened to go to court.

Italy hero Donnarumma completes PSG switch

Italy's European Championship-winning goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma signed a five-year contract with Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday.

The 22-year-old Donnarumma starred at Euro 2020 and made decisive saves in the penalty shootout as Italy beat England in the final.

PSG said that Donnarumma has signed a deal until the end of June 2026.

"I feel ready to take on this new challenge and continue to grow here," Donnarumma said.

"With Paris, I want to win as much as possible and to bring joy to the supporters."

He was a free agent after leaving AC Milan, where he broke into the side as a 16-year-old and made 251 appearances.

Five years ago, Donnarumma became the youngest keeper to play for Italy at 17 years and 189 days when he featured against France.

Xinhua - Agencies