Berlin Considers 2024; Blatter Speech Unlikely in Brazil

Berlin Weighing 2024 Bid

The mayor of Berlin says his city is considering a run at hosting the 2024 Summer Olympics.

"Berlin meets the requirements to host the Olympic Games," Berlin mayor Klaus Wowereit tells AFP. "All the sports facilities are already in place."

The bid would need the support of Germany’s top sports bodies as well as the local population.

Last year, the people of Munich voted down a referendum on a possible bid for the 2022 Winter Games.

Germany has hosted the Summer Games on prior occasions: Berlin in 1936 and Munich in 1972.

The 2024 Summer Games host will be named in 2017.

Speeches Unlikely at World Cup

After a less-than-favorable reception at last year’s Confederations Cup, FIFA president Sepp Blatter and Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff may not speak at this year’s World Cup.

Blatter and Rousseff spoke prior to the opening match between Brazil and Japan last year, but were greeted with a hearty chorus of boos.

UOL Sport spoke with FIFA spokesperson Delia Fischer, who said Blatter won’t speak due to a "change in format," though she said this is not 100% confirmed.

Though he did not address the possibility of speaking, Blatter told German news agency DPA that he believes "the situation has calmed."

"I do not know what can happen. I am not a prophet, but I’m convinced that the protests in Brazil will not have the same fervor that they had during the Confederations Cup."

Italian Fan Conduct Causing "Sadness and Embarrassment"

The president of the Italian Olympic Committee is appalled by racist behavior on the part of Italian fans.

Anti-Semitic chants by fans marred a football match at Juventus Stadium in Turin on Sunday, causing the widow of Juventus great Gaetano Scirea to withdraw her late husband’s name from the stand named for him in the stadium.

"It makes you reflect, to say the least," Italian Olympic Committee president Giovanni Malago told Gazzetta del Sud, "but above all, it causes sadness and embarrassment. We are slowly sliding to a situation that is out of control."

Juventus supporters also displayed banners at a match last month celebrating a 1949 air disaster in which 18 players for city rival Torino were killed.

Jamaican Football Manager Interested in Bolt

The manager of Jamaica’s national football team says he may call on his country’s most famous athlete.

Olympic gold medalist Usain Bolt has often expressed his love for football, even going so far as to say he wanted to play for Manchester United after his performance at London 2012.

However, those dreams are gaining credence in light of comments from Jamaican national football team manager Wilfried Schaefer in The Gleaner.

"I want him on the national team … Maybe after the [2016] Olympics in Brazil, I want to see him in our team."

This would place Bolt on the team as it attempts to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.

Written by Nick Devlin

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