IOC president Bach: Israel's Olympic status not in question
Israel faces no threat to its Olympic status ahead of the Paris Games despite the conflict in Gaza, IOC president Thomas Bach confirmed Wednesday.
Some of the scattered calls Israel has faced for sporting sanction since October have come from Russia, which is isolated in world sports because of its invasion of Ukraine.
Bach's frustration with Russian government and sports officials was clear in a one-hour online call with invited international media ahead of the Paris Olympics that open July 26.
Asked Wednesday about Israel teams and athletes not taking part in Paris, the International Olympic Committee president said: “No, there is no question about this.”
Women's basketball NO. 18 COLORADO STEAMROLLS OREGON IN PAC-12 OPENER >>
Frida Formann scored 17 points and 18thranked Colorado handed Oregon its worst loss of the season, 79-30 in the opening game of the Pac12 Tournament.
Quay Miller scored the first four points of the game and the Buffaloes had the last 13 points of the first quarter for a 26-7 lead.
Colorado (22-8), the fifth seed, plays fourth-seeded and 13th-ranked Oregon State in the quarterfinals on Thursday.
PUEYO, MARTINEZ DELIVER FOR ARIZONA WOMEN >> Helena Pueyo and Esmery Martinez each scored 14 points and seventh-seeded Arizona defeated No. 10 Washington 58-50 in the first round of the Pac-12 Tournament.
Pueyo also had five assists, five steals and four blocks for the Wildcats (17-14).
College basketball
BROWN II'S SEVEN 3-POINTERS LEAD NO. 22 UTAH STATE PAST SAN JOSE STATE 90-70 >> Darius Brown II scored 21 points on seven 3-pointers, Mason Falslev had 20 points and No. 22 Utah State beat San Jose State 90-70 on Wednesday night to clinch a share of the Mountain West Conference regular-season title.
Great Osobor added 16 points and eight rebounds, and Javon Jackson had 15 points. Brown's hot shooting fueled Utah State's 53% clip from the field and 59% mark from long distance. Brown made his first six 3-point attempts before missing his first shot seven minutes into the second half. Falslev was 8 of 11 from the field.
The Aggies (25-5, 13-4 Mountain West ) can claim their first outright regularseason conference title with a win against New Mexico on Saturday, which would continue an unexpected run under first-year coach Danny Sprinkle. Utah State made the NCAA Tournament last season, but was picked to finish ninth in the conference this year after returning zero points from last year's team. The Aggies also won a share of the regular-season title in 2019.
SAN DIEGO STATE'S DUTCHER SIGNS CONTRACT EXTENSION THROUGH 202728 SEASON >>
Brian Dutcher, who led San Diego State to the national championship game last season, has signed a contract extension that will keep him on the Aztecs' bench through the 2027-28 season.
Dutcher is in his seventh season as head coach, with a 173-55 record, and 25th season overall at SDSU. He was Steve Fisher's assistant for 18 seasons.
NBA
CELTICS AND NUGGETS TO PLAY IN ABU DHABI IN OCTOBER >>
The Boston Celtics and Denver Nuggets will play in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Oct. 4 and 6 in preseason games ahead of next season, the NBA announced.
The NBA said the two games will reach people in more than 200 countries and territories on television, digital media and social media. They are part of a multiyear collaboration between the NBA and Abu Dhabi's Department of Culture and Tourism.
NHL
RANGERS, PANTHERS, AVALANCHE AND OILERS MAKE PRE-DEADLINE DAY TRADES >>
Stanley Cup contenders aren't waiting until the NHL trade deadline day to shore up depth for what they hope is a long playoff run.
The league-leading Florida Panthers got deeper on the wing by acquiring Vladimir Tarasenko from Ottawa, Connor McDavid's Edmonton Oilers added a pair of centers in Adam Henrique and Sam Carrick from Anaheim, the New York Rangers traded with Seattle for a player they coveted in Alexander Wennberg and the Colorado Avalanche loaded up by getting defenseman Sean Walker from Philadelphia and center Casey Mittelstadt from Buffalo in separate deals.
Colorado traded a top-10 protected 2025 first-round pick and center Ryan Johansen to Philadelphia for Walker and a fifth-rounder in 2026 and got Mittelstadt in a one-for-one trade that sent defenseman Bowen Byram to the Sabres.
Soccer
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE >> Manchester City continued its pursuit of back-to-back Champions League titles by advancing to the quarterfinals of European club soccer's elite competition with a 3-1 win over Copenhagen. Goals from Manuel Akanji, Julian Alvarez and Erling Haaland at Etihad Stadium saw City complete a 6-2 aggregate win . ... Real Madrid drew 1-1 with Leipzig to advance to the quarterfinals for the fourth straight season on a day in which coach Carlo Ancelotti was accused of tax fraud by Spanish tax authorities. Madrid was outplayed during parts of the match at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium but advanced 2-1 on aggregate thanks to its 1-0 win in the first leg in Germany three weeks ago.
MLB
RED SOX PITCHER GIOLITO WILL GET SECOND OPINION ON AILING ELBOW >>
Boston Red Sox pitcher Lucas Giolito will be headed to Alabama for a second opinion on his ailing right elbow.
Manager Alex Cora told reporters on Wednesday that Giolito will head to Birmingham on Monday to talk with Dr. Jeffrey R. Dugas as they explore treatment options, including surgery.
Giolito signed a $38.5 million, two-year deal with the Red Sox this offseason. He made two starts in spring training, reporting discomfort in his elbow last Friday.
Golf
BRITISH OPEN WILL REDUCE ITS AGE LIMIT TO 55 FOR FUTURE CHAMPIONS >>
The British Open is reducing the age limit to 55 for winners of the claret jug this year and beyond, part of a few tweaks to its exemption categories.
Among the changes are to take the leading five players from the International Federation Ranking — the top players from the money lists of Japan, Asian, Australian and South African tours, plus the next-highest player in the world ranking from those tours.
Tennis
NADAL WITHDRAWS FROM INDIAN WELLS >>
Rafael Nadal pulled out of the BNP Paribas Open, a day before he was supposed to play his first official match in two months.
Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam champion, posted the news on social media, writing that he was announcing the withdrawal “with great sadness.”