IOC medical chief seeks to calm Zika fears
Seeking to calm fears over the Zika outbreak, the IOC medical director told The Associated Press that “everything that can be done is being done” to combat the virus in Brazil and provide safe conditions for athletes at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
Dr. Richard Budgett says the International Olympic Committee is “absolutely not complacent” about the mosquito-borne virus, which has been linked to birth defects.
He says “our priority is to protect the health of the athletes; we do take it very seriously.”
Budgett says the outbreak should be kept “in perspective,” noting that world health authorities have not called for a restriction on travel to Brazil.
He said there has been no consideration of postponing or canceling the Olympics, which are scheduled from Aug. 5-21.
Meanwhile, U.S. women’s national team goalkeeper Hope Solo asserted that if the Olympics were held today, she would not go out of concern about the Zika virus.
“All I can do is speak for myself. If the Olympics were today, I would not go,” she said Wednesday night. “Fortunately, the Olympics are six months away. So, I believe we have some time to get our doubts and questions answered.”
BIRD DOG FIELD TRIALS
Whippoorwill Justified, handled by Larry Huffman, had eight finds in Thursday afternoon’s brace 8 at the National Bird Dog Championship on Ames Plantation near Grand Junction, Tennessee. His first find came 13 seconds in and his last was at 3:04. Also in the afternoon brace, Cole Train, handled by Dr. Fred Corder, had two finds before the tracker was called for at 1:33. In the morning’s brace 7, Fireline, handled by Mark McLean, had no finds and was picked up at 1:25. Connor’s EZ Button, with handler Steve Hurdle, had a covey find and a back (birds not officially seen) before he was picked up at 1:43.
COLLEGES
Christian Brothers University senior men’s basketball forward Drew Hildreth (Bolton) and sophomore guard Jeff Larkin were chosen to the South Region Academic All-District Team announced Thursday by the College Sports Information Directors of America. ... For the 11th time this season, the University of Memphis rifle team is in the top 10 of the Collegiate Rifle Coaches Association poll. The Tigers are ranked No. 9 for the fourth consecutive week.
SOCCER
Memphis City FC, a new men’s soccer team that will begin play this summer, will be holding open tryouts Feb. 19 at 6 p.m. at the J.D. Sportsplex, 237 Woodland Lake Drive in Cordova. The cost to try out is $55 and players must be 16 or older. Registration is required and can be completed on the team’s website, memphiscityfc.com.
TENNIS
Former No. 1-ranked Rafael Nadal beat Juan Monaco 6-4, 6-4 on Thursday to reach the quarterfinals of the Argentina Open at Buenos Aires. Nadal next will face Paolo Lorenzi of Italy, who defeated Diego Schwartzman 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 to advance. ... At Rotterdam, Netherlands, eighth-seeded Viktor Troicki made the quarterfinals of the World Tennis Tournament by defeating Hyeon Chung of South Korea 7-6 (5), 6-2 on Thursday. Troicki will take on qualifier Nicolas Mahut for a place in the semifinals. ... Top-seeded Venus Williams overpowered Urszula Radwanska of Poland 6-4, 6-2 to advance to the Taiwan Open quarterfinals at Kaohsiung, Taiwan. ... Caroline Wozniacki was knocked out of the St. Petersburg (Russia) Ladies Trophy by Dominika Cibulkova 6-4, 7-5
BASEBALL
The Kansas City Royals and third baseman Mike Moustakas have agreed to a $14. 3 million, two-year contract. Coming off his first All-Star appearance, the 27-year-old hit .284 last year with 34 doubles, 22 homers and 82 RBIs for the World Series champion Royals.
OBITUARY
Lennie Pond, who raced for 17 years in NASCAR’s premier series, has died. He was 75. The J.T. Morriss & Son Funeral Home in Chester, Virginia, said Pond died Wednesday but did not give a cause of death. Pond ran 234 career races at the Cup level, and got his only victory in the 1978 Talladega 500.