Digest

OLYMPICS

US star Felix joins IOC athletes' commission

Allyson Felix

American sprint great Allyson Felix and a refugee cyclist originally from Afghanistan joined the International Olympic Committee's athletes' commission on Thursday.

Felix is the most decorated female track-and-field athlete in Olympic history with seven gold medals and joins the commission after winning her 14th career world championship title.

Felix came out of retirement last week to run the prelims of the 4x400m relay. The American team went on to win the final Sunday at the world championships in Eugene, Oregon.

Also appointed was cyclist Masomah Ali Zada, who was born in Afghanistan and competed in the women's cycling time trial on the IOC's refugee Olympic team last year in Tokyo. Ali Zada is now studying in France and will be the first refugee athlete on the commission.

The other two new members are two-time Olympic triathlon champion Alistair Brownlee of Britain and Canadian athlete Oluseyi Smith, who has competed at both the Summer Olympics in track and the Winter Olympics in bobsled.

GOLF

LIV Golf announces 14 tournaments for 2023

The Saudi-funded LIV Golf series announced a 14-tournament schedule with $405 million in combined purses for next year.

The circuit will also stage a four-member team competition, and a promotion/relegation system for players through its series of Asian Tour events.

Greg Norman, the CEO and commissioner of LIV Golf, said Wednesday in a news release that the full schedule will be released later and will include stops across the world.

The rival league of the PGA and European tours plays its third event this week at Trump National Bedminster in New Jersey. The four additions to the 48-man roster of players are Henrik Stenson, Paul Casey, Charles Howell III and Jason Kokrak.

Along with the 48-man field, no-cut events worth $25 million in prize money, LIV Golf Investments has pumped $300 million into the Asian Tour for "International Series "events. While details on promotion and relegation were not announced, players could earn their way into the LIV Golf League through their performances in these Asian Tour events, while those who finish toward the bottom of LIV Golf events will be replaced.

SOCCER

Palace signs defender Richards from Bayern

Crystal Palace confirmed the signing of United States centerback Chris Richards from Bayern Munich on Wednesday.

The 22-year-old Richards signed a five-year contract with the south London club, which paid Bayern a fee reported to be about $15 million.

The Birmingham, Alabama, native joins a Palace team where Marc Guehi and Joachim Andersen are projected as starters in central defense, with James Tomkins also competing for playing time. Richards also is competing for a spot on the US World Cup roster.

"I'm really excited for it," Richards said of the move. "The kind of project I've seen (attracted me). It's a lot of young players but also young players who have a lot of fight. Palace is a club that seems like they're always fighting."

Richards arrived at Bayern from the academy of Major League Soccer's Dallas team four years ago. He made his Bundesliga debut in June 2020, played three league and three Champions League games that fall, then was loaned to Hoffenheim for the second half of the season and made 10 Bundesliga and two Europa League appearances.

Popp powers Germany into Euro 2022 final

Alexandra Popp

Alexandra Popp scored twice to power Germany to a 2-1 win over France on Wednesday and into the final of the European Championship against England.

With the game level at 1-1 and both teams missing chances to score, Germany captain Popp leaped above the French defense in the 76th minute to send a bouncing header into the French goal.

Popp scored the opening goal for Germany in the 40th but the lead lasted less than five minutes before France equalized. Popp has scored in all five of Germany's games so far－a new record－after missing the last two Euros in 2013 and 2017 because of injuries.

Germany plays host nation England in Sunday's final at Wembley Stadium. Popp and England's Beth Mead are the joint top scorers with six goals each.

"I can't find any words. We played a crazy game, we threw in everything we had," Popp told German broadcaster ZDF. "We're now in the final against England in front of 90,000 at Wembley. To be honest, there's nothing better."

TENNIS

50-year-old serves up some Davis Cup history

Domenico Vicini has become the oldest player to win a Davis Cup match. He turns 51 in September. Vicini and doubles partner Marco de Rossi of San Marino beat Martin Muedini and Mario Zili of Albania 6-3, 7-6 on Wednesday in Group IV play.

The match was Vicini's 99th overall in his 24th Davis Cup tournament.

The Davis Cup tweeted: "History man Vicini is just one appearance away from playing his 100th tie, a landmark no-one has ever reached!" He can hit that milestone Friday.

Three years ago, Vicini set a Davis Cup record as the oldest player to win a singles match. That was at age 47 years, 318 days.

Vicini made his Davis Cup debut with San Marino in 1993.

San Marino is one of the world's oldest republics and has a population of some 33,000. It is landlocked and bordered by Italy.

Agencies