Olympics Games 2024: the Colosseum in green, white and red as logo

A stylised Coliseum in green, white and red of the Italian flag: the Rome bid committee for the 2024 Olympics unveiled its logo Monday at an event bringing together champions of the past and present and budding athletes.

This logo was presented to the Palazzetto dello Sport, a room of the Italian capital where were notably held during the 1960 Olympic weightlifting trials and basketball.

"I have in mind the 1960 Games With Cassius Clay with Abebe Bikila, or Italians, Nino Benvenuti (gold medalist in boxing, ed) or Livio Berruti (Olympic champion in the 200, note) that are here today, "said Luca di Montezemolo, chairman of the bid committee.

"Many of you who are here today will still be there in 2024 to try to win medals," he added, addressing the students of sports schools in the city in the gallery.

Livio Berruti, Olympic champion in 1960, was also arrested these students. "I want to say something to young people who are here. All these years, I was proud to say" the 1960 Games, I was there. "Think about it," he launched them .

Giovanni Malago, president of the Italian Olympic Committee (Coni) has in turn insisted on the colours of the logo. "The Italian flag is there to show that it is not that the candidature of Rome but that of the whole of Italy, a country where 30 million people in sport and where 10 million are licensed," a-t- he said.

It also welcomed the announcement on Monday that Rome would organise in 2022 the Ryder Cup in golf. "It's impossible to imagine a more positive signal on the day we unveil the logo," said he said.

- 'Night and day' -

Montezemolo, former president of Ferrari, now head of Alitalia, also felt that now was "to give strong signals".

"First, that the city of Rome, which organised fabulous Games in 1960, wants to organise the best Games of the 2000s was all to do, culture, beauty, technology and a city that wants take this opportunity to put in full light the eyes of the world, "he said.

"And it is also a message to our opponents, we want the Games and we will work night and day for you," he began. Rome is competing with Paris, Budapest and Los Angeles to host the Olympics in 2024.

Hamburg waived late November after a referendum in which the people have said "no" to the application project. Such a move is not expected in Rome.

Questioned by AFP, Mr di Montezemolo also rejected the idea that the current difficulties of the city, mired in a corruption trial mixing politics and crime, called "Mafia capital" can be handicaps.

"That's the past. This means that we now have a clean city. It is a huge opportunity. One of the lessons of Rome-1960 was to look ahead and think in terms of the future of the city. Rome-1960 has left the city of important infrastructure, "he said.

The Rome 2024 project revolves around three poles: the Foro Italico, large sports center built in the 20s and completed for the 1960 Games which is installed including the Olympic Stadium; the area of ​​the Fiera di Roma, where an exhibition center located; and the neighbourhood of Tor Vergata, where the Olympic Village would be built.

No TV for athletes: Rio-2016, ready 80%, tightens its belt

No TV in the rooms of the athletes, VIP area reduced and fewer printouts: the Organizing Committee of Rio 2016 Olympic Games is not to exceed one cent on budget and is now tightening its belt in Brazil in full recession.

Thus, the rooms of the athletes will not have TVs and there will be only one position per apartment. The VIP area will be more modest than in other editions and paper savings will also be made with less printed material. It was even planned to remove the air conditioning in the Olympic Village, but before the chorus of protests, the idea was abandoned.

Brazil's economy entered recession in the second quarter, inflation reached 10% and unemployment is rising. This situation is different from the booming countries chosen in 2009 to host the first Olympics in South America.

"It will be the first Olympics that will have an intelligent management of costs, with a balanced budget. We will play games with the money we have (...) without leaving debts to the government or society," said AFP the communications director of the committee, Mario Andrada.

It emphasised that the cuts could be of the order of 5% -20%.

The Rio-2016 committee has 7.4 billion reais ($ 1.9 billion) to organize the Olympics and its purpose is not to draw on the fund of 780 million dollars from the federal government, which will be used to of other sectors such as security, transport infrastructure and energy.

Mr. Andrada assured however that "it will not save on the grounds of competitions, sports, ceremonies or the legacy of the Olympics" or anything related to athletes and fans.

"Rio 2016 is ready today to 80% in April and it will be ready 100% and 120% during the games. This will be a spectacular Olympiad," the official added.

MLB: the legendary Pete Rose remains banned for life

The president of the Major League Baseball (MLB) Rob Manfred refused to lift the lifetime ban imposed since 1989 the former player and coach Pete Rose for betting on MLB games.

"It is not clear to me that Mr. Rose took the measure of his infractions of the rules," said the "commissioner" of MLB.

"Mr. Rose did not present clear evidence to show that he has changed some aspects of his life and he recognized his mistakes," he added.

Pete Rose has said in September during an interview with the boss of MLB that he continued to bet on the matches and championships of horse racing.

This deprives the lifetime ban to enter the Hall of Fame, celebrating the best players in history.

Aged 74 years, Pete Rose has one of the best track in the history of MLB with 17 participations in the All Star Game and three titles at the World Series (1975, 1976, 1980) with Cincinnati and Philadelphia.

He holds the record for hits for a MLB player with 4256 "hits" in his career between 1963 and 1986.

Pete Rose then led the Cincinnati Reds until 1989 before being banned for life after admitting that he had bet on the results of MLB games during his player career and coaching.

Tennis: The schedule of tournaments ATP 2016 full

In 2015 there were Novak Djokovic and .... the rest of the ATP cricuit. Insolent domination from start to finish, he did not miss much in Serbian to win the Grand Slam and become, in passing, the first player in history to achieve the feat over a full season. Perhaps it will be for another time next season for here the complete schedule of the 2016 season ATP tennistournaments.

The tennis season seriously resume at the Australian Open from January 18

As usual, the festivities begin in southern lands, the Hopman Cup for the appetizer, but more seriously with the Australian Open from January 18, 2016, the first Grand Slam of the year. The next will be held in France, Roland Garros from May 23 London Branch, a month later on June 27th for Wimbledon. And finally New York August 29 for the last Grand Slam of the season until the Masters in London to conclude.

There is also the Olympic Games in 2016

The allocations listed in the table below are indicative only and are expected to be changed by the tournament organizers. This year 2016 will also be marked by the Rio Olympics players of Pro Circuit will compete under the colors of their respective countries. The 2016 Olympic tennis events will start from August 8.

Calendar of tennis tournaments of the ATP Tour 2016

Ligue 2: Nancy Dijon joins top

Nancy, logical winner facing Valenciennes (1-0) thanks to goals scored in the final minutes, did not miss the opportunity to join Dijon topped the Ligue 2 Monday in closing the 18th day.

The Lorraine wanted to join Dijon in mind, the goal is reached. Intractable home for two months, evidenced by the series of four wins in a row with three goals scored each time before the meeting, 

<br/><br/> had to settle this time the minimum score.

Largely dominating throughout the meeting, Lorraine have long struggled with the Yankees huddled in defense, and Damien Perquis in grace.

Pedretti discount on the box, Dale resumed with a powerful header but Perquis was on a high class reflex save (38). The first of a long series.

At the break, the locals as continued to monopolize the ball and try to unbalance the defense by multiplying combinations of game, like Puyo (52), but failed in the final gesture.

Even the indestructible Youssouf Hadji, only six meters after a new strike repelled by Perquis missed the inevitable (68), five minutes after entering the game. Before seeing its subtle header pass from a nothing next ( 75).

Unbeatable, Perquis rejected the latest attempt by Moroccan, author of a beautiful half volley (80).

But five minutes from the end, the Valenciennes keeper has finally tilted in an unstoppable shot from Dale, served recessed Muratori (85). The attacker could even afford a double but his shot crashed into the pole (90 + 2).

Results of the 18th day of Ligue 2 football:

Club World Cup Schedule: Barca is a third coronation record and fivefold

Like every European representative committed to the Global clubs, the FC Barcelona is the favorite of the edition 2015 will clinch his third crown, which would be a record, and so complete a securities increased fivefold in the year.

Of the eleven editions of this competition bringing together continental champions and that of Japan where it takes place, Barcelona and Corinthians have won two each. In the absence of the Brazilian club, Spaniards, sacred in 2009 and 2011 and appear stronger than ever at the instigation of their attacking trio MSN (Suarez Messi, Neymar), have the opportunity to come off charts.

Barca sign and a five-fold in 2015 after winning the Champions League, La Liga, the King's Cup  (Copa del Rey) and the European Supercup. Only the Spanish Supercup (reverse against Athletic Bilbao) fail him then to tie carton full of six on six possible titles in a calendar year, carried only by the 2009 Barça.

The Catalan club from competing in the semifinals to face Chinese Guangzhou Evergrande, led by renowned Brazilian Luiz Felipe Scolari and Robinho, the coach and striker.

With the European representative, the other usual finalist comes from South America (4 titles of 11). The Argentine club River Plate will play in the semifinals with the champion of Japan Sanfrecce Hiroshima.

This training DR Congo, driven by the French Patrice Carteron, hopes to repeat its 2010 feat, when she was the first African club champion, and the only one to date to reach the final (defeat against Inter Milan).

Program (in GMT hours):

Dam to the quarterfinals:

Thursday, December 10 (10:45) in Yokohama, Game 1: Sanfrecce Hiroshima (JPN) - Auckland City FC (NZL)

Quarterfinals:

Sunday, 13 December (0700) in Osaka, Game 2: Club America (MEX) - Guangzhou Evergrande FC (CHN) 1-2

Sunday, December 13 (10:30) in Osaka, Game 3: TP Mazembe (COD) - Sanfrecce Hiroshima (JPN) 0-3

Match for 5th place:

Wednesday, December 16 (7:30) in Osaka: Club America (MEX) - TP Mazembe (COD)

Semi-finals:

Wednesday, December 16 (10:30) in Osaka, Game 5: Sanfrecce Hiroshima (JPN) - River Plate (ARG)

Thursday, December 17 (10:30) in Yokohama, Game 6: FC Barcelona (ESP) - Guangzhou Evergrande FC (CHN)

Match for 3rd place:

Sunday, 20 December (0700) in Yokohama: Loser Game 5 - Loser Game 6

Final:

Sunday, December 20 (10:30) in Yokohama: Winner Game 5 - Game 6 winner (Barcelona - River Plate or ... ? :) )