Sports in brief

 Strategy for sports tourism

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC):

The Barbados government has announced that it is working with the Commonwealth Secretariat in crafting a strategy to assist the island in cashing in on the US$600 million sports tourism market.

Tourism Minister, Senator Irene Sandiford-Garner, made the announcement during the Pan American Sport Organisation's dinner celebrations at Hilton Barbados Sunday night.

She said sports tourism contributed 10 to 14 per cent of all travel and tourism receipts and, therefore, the effort would be undertaken in collaboration with the Barbados Tourism Authority and the Division of Sports.

PSG sign Cavani

PARIS (AP):

Paris Saint-Germain broke the transfer record in the French league yesterday by signing Uruguay striker Edinson Cavani to a five-year contract for a reported fee of €64 million (US$84 million).

The previous record belonged to Monaco, which recently paid Atletico Madrid an estimated €60 million (US$79 million) for Colombia striker Radamel Falcao.

Serena advances to second round

BASTAD, Sweden (AP):

Top-seeded Serena Williams advanced to the second round of the Swedish Open by beating Sesil Kratancheva of Kazakhstan 6-1, 6-2 yesterday.

Williams broke Karatancheva's serve five times, twice in the first set and three times in the second, to advance at the clay-court tournament on Sweden's west coast. She will next face Anna Tatishvili of Georgia, who beat 16-year-old Belinda Bencic of Switzerland 2-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Arthur sues Cricket Australia over dismissal

SYDNEY (AP):

Lawyers acting for sacked national coach Mickey Arthur confirmed yesterday that he has filed proceedings against Cricket Australia (CA), claiming he was racially discriminated against.

South Africa-born Arthur - Australia's first foreign head coach - was fired last month before the Ashes series after CA said he failed to turn around declining standards of discipline in the team.

Earlier yesterday, local media had reported that Arthur is seeking up to US$4 million in compensation or his job back from CA.

Woods says elbow's fine

GULLANE, Scotland (AP):

Tiger Woods said his ailing left elbow is "good to go" for the British Open and he insisted yesterday there's no loss of confidence despite the longest stretch of his career without a major title.

Woods held his regular session with the media ahead of the British Open at Muirfield, where he resumes his quest for a 15th major title.

"I feel very good about my game," Woods said. "I feel very, very good going into major championships. I've had a pretty good year this year so far - won four times. Even though I haven't won a major championship in five years, I've been there in a bunch of them where I've had chances. I just need to keep putting myself there and eventually I'll get some."

He strained his elbow at last month's US Open, playing in visible pain while struggling to a 32nd-place finish. He hasn't played since Merion, even skipping his own tournament to give the injury time to heal.

Rudisha out of Worlds

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP):

Olympic champion David Rudisha pulled out of the 800 metres at next month's World Championships with a knee injury yesterday, robbing the track meet of another star attraction after US sprinter Tyson Gay withdrew following a failed doping test.

"My knee problem is progressing well, but unfortunately not fast enough to enable me to recover in time," Rudisha said in a statement through Athletics Kenya.

Rudisha's coach Colm O'Connell earlier told The Associated Press that the world record holder had been sidelined from training for six weeks with the right knee problem and received treatment in Germany, but he wouldn't be ready to defend his title at the Worlds.

World Peace says he'll sign with Knicks

LAS VEGAS (AP):

Metta World Peace said Monday he'll be coming home to play for the New York Knicks, just days after the veteran forward was waived by the Los Angeles Lakers. The Knicks said a contract has not been signed the former NBA Defensive Player of the Year, but an agreement has been reached.

"The team is amazing, the players. I'm excited to play and hustle," World Peace said while attending the NBA summer league in Las Vegas.

World Peace, who grew up in New York City and attended university there, was waived Thursday by the Lakers, who used the amnesty clause to create salary cap space. The 6-foot-7 forward will still be paid the US$7.7 million that was owed to him by the Lakers.