International Capsules: Vancouver Winter Games torch relay is diverted

VICTORIA, British Columbia — Protesters forced the 2010 Vancouver Games torch relay to be diverted from its planned route Friday, hours after organizers kicked off what is supposed to be the longest domestic torch relay in Olympic history.

Several hundred protesters, angry that billions are being spent on the Olympics instead of housing and health care, blocked Victoria city streets for hours, preventing the torch from passing by Government House and forcing organizers to reroute.

Relay organizers attempted to drive the torchbearers around the demonstration. Instead, they were taken several miles away to Victoria’s waterfront.

Then, more than a half-dozen participants lined up side-by-side along the road, where they passed the flame from torch to torch without running their segments.

The run resumed with a short relay to the day’s final stop, the provincial legislature.

Relay organizers said in a statement the rerouting was implemented "to ensure the safety of all participants."

Earlier Friday, Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson carried the flame, burning in a miner’s lantern, out of the aircraft that arrived from Greece, where the flame was lit by the rays of the sun on the site of the ancient games.

Aboriginal native Canadians took the flame from Robertson and brought it across Victoria’s inner harbor in their traditional canoes. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell made short speeches.

"All of this country is set to bask in the Olympic glow as the flame visits communities from coast to coast to coast," Harper said. "The run we are kicking off today going to be the longest torch relay within a single country in Olympic history."

Triathlon gold medalist Simon Whitfield and speedskating champion Catriona Le May Doan joined to light the torch and kick off the relay that will cover nearly 28,000 miles.

Whitfield won gold at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and silver at the 2008 Beijing Games. Le May Doan is the only Canadian to successfully defend an individual Olympic title, having won gold at Nagano and Salt Lake City.

Over 106 days, the torch will stop in every Canadian province and territory leading to the lighting of the cauldron at BC Place. The games will be held from Feb. 12-28 in Vancouver and Whistler.

The torch relay will reach the most extreme corners of the country, to Alert in Canada’s arctic and L’Anse Aux Meadows, Newfoundland, on Canada’s Atlantic coast. It will pass through more than 1,000 communities and be carried by 12,000 torchbearers on a journey by plane, boat, bike, dogsled, skateboard and other modes of transportation.

Those that attended the rally observed a moment of silence for Jack Poole, who played a large role in bringing the Olympics to Vancouver. He died last week following a lengthy battle with pancreatic cancer.

About 400 protesters earlier greeted the flame’s arrival by staging what they called a "five-ring circus" with a "Zombie March" — complete with costumes, drums and trombones — to the provincial legislature, where a concert was planned by Vancouver Games organizers to celebrate the completion of the Olympic flame’s first day on Canadian soil.

At the start, there was no sign of a disturbance and police officers dressed in yellow vests walked within the throng.

Tamara Herman, an organizer with the group No2010 Victoria, said whatever opponents’ specific objections to the Games, it all comes down to money.

"The reasons that we oppose the Games are very multifaceted. We oppose them because we see homelessness is a bigger priority than a two-week parade, we see health services is a bigger priority," she told The Canadian Press. "Why have we decided to spend such an enormous amount of money on what is essentially a two-week party?"

Rogge says U.S. TV deal planned after Vancouver Games

LONDON — Encouraged by the improving economy in the United States, the International Olympic Committee plans to begin negotiations on U.S. broadcast rights for the 2014 and 2016 Games next year.

IOC president Jacques Rogge told The Associated Press on Friday that the bidding could begin soon after the Feb. 12-28 Winter Games in Vancouver.

"The economic climate seems to be reviving in the United States, so that’s a good omen," Rogge said in a telephone interview. "Definitely, I think rather shortly after Vancouver we will start discussing. We’re not going to negotiate during the Vancouver Games themselves. But I think second quarter, second half of next year, would definitely be possible."

The IOC earlier this year indefinitely postponed the U.S. rights negotiations due to the global economic downturn.

Richard Carrion, the IOC’s finance commission chairman and top negotiator on U.S. rights, said earlier this month that the American deal might not be done until 2012 if the economic picture didn’t improve.

"We don’t have to be over optimistic," Rogge said. "The crisis is not over. There are good signs, particularly in the United States, that the situation is changing. The States have got officially out of recession thanks to a very good growth in the third quarter, and that’s a very positive thing.

"There’s always going to be a direct link between the economic climate and the rights."

The American TV rights are the most lucrative single source of IOC marketing revenue. NBC paid $2.2 billion for rights to the Vancouver Games and 2012 London Olympics.

NBC, ABC-ESPN, Fox and possibly CBS-Time Warner are expected to bid for combined rights to the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, and the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

The value of rights is expected to be lower than it would have been had Chicago won its bid to host the 2016 Games. Chicago was eliminated in the first round of IOC voting in Copenhagen on Oct. 2, and the games were awarded to Rio and South America for the first time.

Rogge said he still expects the IOC to secure a good deal for Rio.

"I’m optimistic for that," he said. "It’s a very good time zone for the States. Time-zone wise there is absolutely no problem. I think Brazil will be an interesting prospect for the U.S. in general."

Rio will be one hour ahead of East Coast time in the U.S. during the games.

The IOC has already secured $692 million in European rights fees for 2014 and 2016. With deals still to come in Germany, Britain and France, the IOC hopes to surpass a total for Europe of $1.2 billion.

Rogge also spoke favorably of the 2012 preparations in London, which marks the 1,000-day countdown until the opening ceremony on Saturday.

"I must say I’m extremely happy by the progress of the works," he said. "They are respecting their master plan, all the schedules. They are working within budget and getting good revenue. I hear nothing alarming from the coordination commission."

The only pending issue Rogge cited was the need to finalize venues for badminton and rhythmic gymnastics. Both sports could be moved to Wembley Arena in north London instead of being held at a temporary facility in east London.

"This is on the way to be solved and I expect it to be solved at the next meeting" of the coordination commission on Nov. 25-26, he said.

"In terms of respecting the schedule, with a slight proviso for the two sports, London is on schedule and on deadline," Rogge said. "We have no worries in terms of construction, absolutely no worries in terms of operational capacities.

"We have a log book with all the different items we have to study. Almost everywhere it’s green. There are very few yellows or oranges and no reds."

-- Stephen Wilson

Italy plans swine flu vaccinations for Vancouver

ROME — The Italian Olympic Committee announced plans to vaccinate its athletes and officials against swine flu for the Vancouver Winter Games and Paralympics.

CONI president Giovanni Petrucci made the decision Friday after meeting with Italian deputy health minister Ferruccio Fazio.

"The urgent and absolute priority for CONI is the vaccination of the Italian delegation for Vancouver 2010," Petrucci told ANSA news agency.

Italy is expected to take 350 athletes, coaches and staff to the Vancouver Olympics and Paralympics. The games will run from Feb. 12-28.

Italy has reported at least six deaths related to swine flu over the past two months.

"Ours is a category that is at risk, but we don’t want to spread alarm where there isn’t any," Petrucci said. "The commission that was created between the minister and the president of the (CONI medical) council will monitor the situation and any possible alarm. We shall began with Olympians and then we shall see (for other sports)."

Meanwhile, some Italian teams have decided to vaccinate their players against swine flu after eight players from fourth-tier club Lucchese contracted the virus.

"At the moment, we are playing every three days between the championship and Champions League," Inter Milan doctor Franco Combi told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "You wonder what a pandemic in the squad could do to results."

AC Milan also plans to give its players the vaccine.

"We are concerned but not panicking and are waiting for the OK from the ministry (of health)," Milan doctor Professor Massimo Manara said. "The players have been fully informed and are in favor of the vaccine."

Fears of the virus being passed during matches were raised this week when authorities in England warned players to avoid spitting to lessen the risk.

"We are in favor of the vaccinations because athletes are among those most at risk," Juventus doctor Bartolomeo Goitre said.

Italy expects swine flu to peak between December and January, with 1.5 million to 3 million cases. A vaccination campaign beginning Nov. 15 will immunize up to 40 percent of Italy’s 60 million people.

London marks 1,000-day countdown with portraits

LONDON — London’s journey from successful bid city to host of the 2012 Olympics will be captured in 100 photographed portraits over the next three years.

The first six portraits were unveiled Friday in the capital’s National Portrait Gallery and will be exhibited alongside figures from throughout British history, from Shakespeare to The Beatles.

The portraits were introduced to mark Saturday’s 1,000-day countdown until the 2012 opening ceremony. London was awarded the games in 2005.

Sebastian Coe, the head of London’s organizing committee, said the project is a celebration of those around Britain who are striving to make the games a success.

"The portraits we are unveiling today showcase the stories of some of the people who have already played a key role in inspiring, delivering and benefiting from London 2012," the two-time Olympic gold medalist said.

Photographer Brian Griffin produced the first six portraits that featured Olympic gold medalists, committee organizers and planners, and young ambassadors for the games from areas of London that will be regenerated as part of the Olympic project.

Among those featured are former Olympic triple jump champion Jonathan Edwards, former heptathlon gold medalist Denise Lewis and British International Olympic Committee member Craig Reedie.

Each phase of the commissioned project will be displayed free to the public in the summers all the way up to and including 2012.

This weekend’s countdown will be marked by various activities across London. The BT tower in central London will be lit up by a fireworks display and a giant screen will flash the 1,000-day notice.

-- Keith Moore

Greek official acknowledges Halkia torch mistake

ATHENS, Greece — The Greek Olympic Committee has acknowledged that it was wrong to allow a hurdler serving a doping ban to take part in the Vancouver flame relay.

Olympic Torch Relay Commission president Spyros Zannias says Fani Halkia was included in the relay after a proposal by the Greek Olympic medallists’ association. Zannias said his commission "was wrong to accept the proposal," but offered no apology.

The International Olympic Committee has criticized the inclusion of Halkia, who was expelled from the 2008 Beijing Games after testing positive for steroid use. Halkia, who was banned for two years and faces a trial for steroid use, has denied knowingly taking drugs.

She is a board member of the medallists’ association.

Sailing

Cup challenger wins rudder issue in court

SAN DIEGO — America’s Cup challenger BMW Oracle Racing won another favorable judgment in a New York court in its long, bitter legal fight with defending champion Alinghi of Switzerland.

In a ruling on a technical matter, Justice Shirley Kornreich of the New York State Supreme Court said Friday that the rudder of BMW Oracle Racing’s 90-foot trimaran will be excluded when the boat’s load waterline is measured.

The Americans had said the Swiss stipulated that the boat be measured with its rudder attached, which would make it exceed its 90-foot waterline, opening it up for disqualification.

"We’re disappointed she reached that conclusion," said Barry Ostrager, a New York lawyer who represents Swiss yacht club Societe Nautique de Geneve. "We’re a little surprised she did."

Kornreich also set a hearing on Wednesday and ordered each of the feuding parties to provide one independent expert who has sat on an America’s Cup jury. Those experts will pick a third independent expert, who also has sat on an America’s Cup jury, and the three will testify on five questions the judge has on rules and the safety of holding the best-of-three series between the Americans and Swiss in Valencia, Spain, in February.

"We welcome this decision," BMW Oracle Racing skipper and CEO Russell Coutts said in a statement. "We also totally support the court’s initiative to resolve the remaining issues with input from experts who are previous America’s Cup jurors and able to bring their experience to bear on sailing and technical matters."

On Tuesday, Kornreich sided with BMW Oracle Racing when she ruled that Ras al-Khaimah, United Arab Emirates, wasn’t eligible to host the America’s Cup because the 19th-century Deed of Gift that governs the competition says racing can’t be held in the Northern Hemisphere between Nov. 1 and May 1.

The racing appears headed toward Valencia, unless the two sides can agree to a Southern Hemisphere port. Although Valencia is in the Northern Hemisphere, neither side objected earlier in the court fight to holding the best-of-three series in the Spanish port. Valencia hosted the 2007 America’s Cup.

Kornreich also wants the experts to answer questions about the use of moveable water ballast in the measurement of load-water line, whether racing and other rules can be changed after the Notice of Race is issued, when the International Jury is customarily appointed and whether the agreement between the International Sailing Federation and SNG provides for the jury to be independent and objective.

"These issues go right to the heart of what we have advocated all along: fair rules and fair play," said Coutts, a three-time America’s Cup winner. "This is a significant step toward getting the America’s Cup back on track."

Said Ostrager: "I’d say that the judge has identified five issues that she wants testimony on and I’m quite satisfied that the three experts will provide testimony that’s favorable to SNG on all five issues."

-- Bernie Wilson

Dutch court nixes teenager’s round-the-world sail

UTRECHT, Netherlands — A Dutch court ruled Friday that 14-year-old Laura Dekker was still too inexperienced to be allowed to set off on her quest to become the youngest person to sail solo around the world.

Judges at Utrecht District Court placed Laura under the guardianship of child protection authorities until next July to ensure that she cannot set off on her dream voyage. The ruling means Laura can continue living with her father but her parents must consult child protection authorities about all major decisions in her life.

Laura and her parents were not in court Friday, but family spokeswoman Mariska Woertman said the teenager was "disappointed that the court does not have faith in her to leave now."

However, Woertman said Laura was confident she can be ready to sail soon after next July and still set the record as the youngest sailor to circumnavigate the globe.

The Utrecht court first blocked her departure in August out of concern for her safety. The decision sparked a worldwide debate on how much authorities and parents should limit children’s freedom to undertake risky adventures.

Laura’s parents, both veteran sailors, are separated. Laura’s father supported the attempt but her mother said in a newspaper interview in September she thought Laura was too young.

Presiding judge M. Oostendorp said Laura’s mother has given her blessing "so long as she has assurances about the safety measures. At the moment, as far as she is concerned, they are insufficient."

Child protection authorities welcomed the decision.

Judges said they were confident that Laura was emotionally ready for the trip, but questioned the safety precautions and her ability to continue her schooling while at sea. They said, however, her sailing skills were not in question.

A psychological analysis submitted to the court said Laura’s planned trip would not impair her social or emotional development.

"The good news today is that we have established Laura is capable of making this voyage," said her lawyer, Peter de Lange.

Laura told the three-judge panel at a closed hearing Monday that she was equipping her 26-foot (8-meter) yacht Guppy with extra security and communications equipment and learning to use it.

"(The plans are still) too unclear, not concrete enough and too uncertain" to guarantee her safety, said Oostendorp.

Laura also told the court that she planned to wait at least until next May, after school ends, to embark on the voyage and will be guided by an experienced sailor in a separate boat. She also promised to take a sailor’s first-aid course and practice sleep management techniques.

De Lange criticized the judges for questioning Laura’s single-handed sailing experience — which is limited to trips on Dutch rivers, close to the coast and a single solo voyage to England and back.

"They say she has not got much experience of solo round-the-world sailing. That is a bit weak," he told reporters. "How do you get experience? By doing it."

In August, 17-year-old British sailor Mike Perham became the youngest person to sail solo around the world. Earlier this month, 16-year-old Australian Jessica Watson also set off on a single-handed, round-the-world trip.

De Lange said Laura can still break the record if she sets off next year.

"But the record is not her primary goal," he added. "Laura just wants to sail."

-- Mike Corder

Volleyball

USA Volleyball agrees to give beach players voice

HOLYOKE, Mass. — Olympic gold medalists Kerri Walsh and Todd Rogers showed up at the USA Volleyball board meeting to deliver their message in person: Beach players need more control over their sport, and they’ll get it with or without the board’s help.

The national governing body agreed on Friday, in an informal vote, to create a separate subcommittee run by and for beach people that would represent the discipline’s interests with athletes, potential sponsors and the international volleyball federation.

"We have no one standing behind us, and it takes away from us in a huge way," Walsh told the board, which was meeting in the birthplace of volleyball in conjunction with Friday night’s Hall of Fame induction ceremonies. "We flew across the country to fight for beach volleyball, and we’re not going to stop. It’s for the good of beach volleyball."

Beach players have long had grievances with USA Volleyball, culminating in a 2006 lawsuit from 50 players that gave them dedicated seats on the governing body’s board of directors. But complaints have persisted, ranging from the minor — uniform patches that fell off — to major issues such as control over the potentially lucrative Olympic qualification tournament for the 2012 Games.

According to their agent, Rogers and Walsh came to the meeting prepared to resign from USA Volleyball; three dozen other top players were prepared to support them in the symbolic move. A more drastic step — a lawsuit that would create a new national governing body for beach volleyball — was also avoided, for now.

"I was happy to see the board of USA Volleyball engage in a meaningful way in these issues," said Ryan Morgan, who represents Rogers, Walsh and fellow Beijing gold medalist Phil Dalhausser. "I would hope that we can arrive at a situation that works for the board, the players and the discipline of beach volleyball in general."

Morgan had led a movement that would have created a Beach Oversight Committee within the governing body that would not answer to USA Volleyball CEO Doug Beal on most matters. The board agreed to form a committee, but the details of its role — and how much authority its leader would have — were left to be negotiated.

"I think our beach department has done an exceptional job," Beal said. "If we can provide them with more resources, that would be great. If the committee can generate more resources, we all win."

Beal said the things that make beach different also make it more difficult to develop. The indoor national team has one coach, for example, but each beach pair might have its own.

"It’s just a different model," he said. "In some cases, they’re absolutely right: The support should be (similar to indoor). In other cases, it’s probably not appropriate. The beach athlete might need more support, or different support."

Rogers was adamant that reshuffling the chairs within USA Volleyball would not provide the beach players with the support they need.

"I feel like there has to be real structural change," Rogers told the board. "It’s all been very cosmetic, in my opinion. We want the overarching structure of things changed."

Beach players have a pro league, a television contract and sponsorship opportunities that the indoor players can only dream of, but they feel neglected by a governing body that grew up with the indoor game and hasn’t been able to capitalize on potential revenue streams.

The biggest concern is that USA Volleyball, which this year was given control over choosing the 2012 Olympic team, will hold a qualification tournament that would compete with the domestic AVP tour and siphon sponsorship money from it.

Walsh came up through the USA Volleyball junior program, won two NCAA championships at Stanford and competed indoors at the 2000 Olympics before winning gold medals with Misty May-Treanor in Athens and Beijing.

"I’ve seen so much good from USA Volleyball with regard to indoor, and nothing with regard to beach," she said, her voice beginning to crack. "I don’t want to get emotional, but I do because this is my career. Beach deserves to have a representative. We deserve a voice. We deserve to have people who are committed to beach working for us."

-- Jimmy Golen

Skiing

Canadian Cowboys have big goals in downhill

The Canadian Cowboys want to make an immediate impact at their home Olympics.

The men’s downhill is slated for 11:45 a.m. on Day 1 of the Vancouver games — Feb. 13 — and represents one of the host nation’s best chances for snapping an inglorious streak.

Canada has never won a gold medal at a home Olympics, failing at both the 1976 Summer Games in Montreal and the 1988 Winter Games in Calgary.

"There’s certainly going to be a lot of attention on that first day," Canada Alpine director Max Gartner said in a recent interview. "Who can be the first Canadian to win a gold medal? People are realizing there’s a bunch of guys that can do it. It’s going to be a high-profile event."

The Canadian men feature at least four potential medal contenders in downhill — John Kucera, Jan Hudec, Erik Guay and Manuel Osborne-Paradis — a group that calls itself the Canadian Cowboys.

Kucera won gold in downhill at last season’s world championships in Val d’Isere, France.

"It was cool to see that I could put together my best day on the most important day of the season," Kucera said. "That’s going to be great experience heading into the games."

Hudec claimed silver in downhill at the previous worlds in Are, Sweden, in 2007; Guay has seven World Cup podium finishes in the discipline; and Osborne-Paradis claimed the first World Cup victory of his career in the event at the end of last season in Kvitjfell, Norway.

Guay’s younger brother Stephan claimed bronze in downhill at the junior worlds three years ago, although he might not even get a chance to race the event in Whistler, with each country allowed only four starters.

"We’ve got big expectations. We’re supposed to win two medals, and we’re going to win two medals," Gartner said, referring to the targets set up by the big-budget Own the Podium initiative designed to improve Canada’s performance in every sport.

The Alpine squad has raised its own in-house target to three medals.

"We think we have some good chances, but a ski race is a ski race. And anything can happen," said the Austrian-born Gartner, who guided wife, Kerrin Lee-Gartner, to Olympic downhill gold in 1992.

Weeks of exclusive training time on the Whistler course over the past several years should help.

"There’s no question our downhill guys should know that course better than anyone else," added Gartner, who has hired two former U.S. Ski Team coaches to meet the squad’s goals.

Austrian-born Patrick Riml is in his second season as head coach of the women’s team after guiding American racer Lindsey Vonn to her first overall World Cup title, and speed specialist John McBride has been coaxed out of retirement to join the men’s staff.

McBride led the U.S. men’s speed team for years before becoming Bode Miller’s personal coach in 2007-08, guiding Miller to his second overall title.

The Canadians coaxed McBride out of retirement by offering him a deal that requires only in-season work.

"I’ve got a busy deal here at home living on a cattle ranch, so for me it works great," McBride said from Aspen, Colo. "To be able to come on and work for three months was pretty opportune for me, having three kids at home.

"I love coaching still. It’s a neat opportunity for me to still be a part of it and not have to dig through the trenches and go to every single summer camp and conditioning camp. We’re northerly and southerly neighbors, so if there was any other team I would for, it would be my neighbors right next door."

Although McBride wasn’t there, the downhillers trained with defending overall World Cup champion Aksel Lund Svindal of Norway in Portillo, Chile, over the summer.

"Svindal is obviously a good measuring stick. He was always among the fastest, but we were challenging him and won some runs in downhill — and GS too," Gartner said in Soelden, Austria, last weekend. "But you have to be careful with the Norwegians. We used to train with (Lasse) Kjus and (Kjetil Andre) Aamodt and sometimes you would beat them by a lot in training and all of a sudden they would turn the switch on for the race."

The women’s speed squad also has potential, with Emily Brydon and Britt Janyk having won on the World Cup circuit and Kelly Vanderbeek a three-time podium finisher.

Perhaps more importantly, the entire Canadian squad is healthy entering this season.

Hudec is ready to return from his sixth knee surgery and giant slalom specialist Francois Bourque came back in Soelden after crashing in the season-opener a year ago.

Jean-Philippe Roy led the Canadians in Soelden by placing ninth.

Six of the seven giant slaloms on this year’s World Cup circuit are scheduled before the Olympics.

"I’ll know then if I’ve had a good year or not," Roy said. "If I reach my goal on the World Cup, then I think the Olympics are going to be good."

The women’s GS squad still has some work to do, with none of the five starters qualifying for the second run in Soelden.

Marie-Michele Gagnon led the team by placing 33rd in the opening leg. Genevieve Simard raced despite the flu and was 47th.

"This is a day to forget," Gagnon said. "But this doesn’t mean we can’t have a great day some other day."

Still, it’s the speed disciplines that get Canadians most excited.

"It goes back to the Crazy Canuck era and the yellow downhill suit," Gartner said, recalling the exploits of Ken Read, Steve Podborksi, Dave Murray and Dave Irwin in the 1970s and 80s. "That’s where the real attraction comes in."

-- Andrew Dampf

WCup champ Svindal still dealing with bruised leg

OSLO — Defending overall World Cup champion Aksel Lund Svindal is still having problems with his bruised leg and may be forced to skip his next race.

Svindal was injured during training in Saas-Fee, Switzerland, earlier this month. He entered the opening race of the season in Soelden, Austria, last weekend but the pain forced him to ski off course in his second giant slalom run.

Svindal wrote on his blog late Thursday that he was staying in Oslo for a few days to have the leg checked and that he will "probably" be out for "a couple of weeks." That would make it tough for him to return in time for the next race on the World Cup calendar, a slalom in Levi, Finland, on Nov. 15.

Figure Skating

Chinese pair Shen, Zhao make victorious return

BEIJING — Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo looked as if they’d never been away.

China’s pre-eminent pair dominated in their first competition since retiring after winning the 2007 world title, finishing almost 10 points ahead of Ukraine’s Tatiana Volosozhar and Stanislav Morozov in the short program at the Cup of China on Friday.

Mirai Nagasu, the 2008 U.S. champion, leads the women’s competition while Japan’s Nobunari Oda is ahead of Sergei Voronov and world champion Evan Lysacek. Olympic silver medalists Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto lead the ice dance.

The Cup of China finishes Saturday.

Shen and Zhao dazzled the judges in front of a roaring crowd. They’ve lost none of their athleticism — their triple twist was huge, and they did nice side-by-side triple toe loop jumps — and their passion could be felt throughout the arena.

Despite their big lead, Zhao said there were still some defects in their performance. They had some unison issues, particularly on their side-by-side spin.

"We are satisfied with today’s performance and we felt the passion of the Chinese fans," he said. "But today is only the short program. I still feel that there are some areas of our performance that weren’t the best, so there is potential for improvement."

Russia’s Lubov Iliushechkina and Nodari Maisuradze are in third, less than half a point behind the Ukranians. World silver medalists Zhang Dan and Zhang Hao are in fourth.

Nagasu had a tough season last year, hampered by a 4-inch growth spurt, ankle injury and ordinary teenage angst. She was a disappointing fifth at the U.S. championships, but a coaching switch — she now works with Frank Carroll, who also coaches Lysacek — seems to have gotten her back on track.

She scored 62.60 points in a powerful performance to the waltz "Fragile Dreams" and music from "Pirates of the Caribbean" — one of her favorite movies. She opened with a nice triple lutz-double toe loop combination, and did a lovely spread eagle into an artfully executed double axel.

Her spins were quick and centered, and she gave a big smile when she finished.

"Coming out of a poor season, I’m so surprised to be here," Nagasu said. "It is a little bit overwhelming, and hopefully I will be going into the long program strong."

Kiira Korpi of Finland was second (61.20 points), followed by former European champion Carolina Kostner of Italy (61.12).

Oda had no letup after winning Trophee Eric Bompard two weeks ago, delivering a passionate performance to Franz Liszt’s "Totenanz."

"I am very satisfied from my performance tonight. I did make a few mistakes, so I believe that I can improve my short program," Oda said. "I didn’t think I was tired from France, but I was tired from tonight."

Oda, who finished with 83.85 points, credited his success to his change in attitude.

"Last season, I wanted to skate well, so I pushed myself and it didn’t work," Oda said. "This year, I tried to relax and believe in myself and coach and that’s how I got here."

Lysacek, unveiling a short program he got only about six weeks ago, is third with 80.80 points.

As expected, Belbin and Agosto have a solid lead in the ice dance competition. The world silver medalists edged Russia’s Jana Khokhlova and Sergei Novitski by almost two points in the compulsories, then extended their lead in the original dance.

Belbin and Agosto have 98.66 points, almost six ahead of the Russians. Italy’s Federica Faiella and Massimo Scali of Italy are in third.

The Cup of China is the third of six Grand Prix events. The top skaters in all four disciplines will qualify for the Grand Prix final.

-- Chi-Chi Zhang

Running

Samuelson uses running to spread green message

NEW YORK — Joan Benoit Samuelson loves to end a summer run with a dip in the ocean. No better way to stretch out her legs than a little breaststroke kick.

Once the weather turns colder at her Maine home, she won’t bother to drive to a health club to swim in an indoor pool. It reflects a message she wants to send on a broader scale: simplify lives, connect with nature.

The two-time Boston Marathon champion has become a vocal advocate on environmental and health issues. To the 52-year-old Samuelson, it fits in perfectly with her running life, which adds its latest chapter when she competes in the New York City Marathon on Sunday.

"I’ve logged close to 140,000 miles during my career, and I feel as though I’ve been a human barometer for climate change," she said Thursday. "And I can see the changes, whether it’s in the ambient air qualities, whether it’s in runoff, whether it’s in nitrification of ponds and streams. I see these changes, and they are changing.

"Anything I can do to bring attention to the fact that we all need to make changes in our daily lives, our professional lives, our corporate lives, our family lives to curb climate change is something I feel like I can talk about and be passionate about."

Samuelson is running in New York to celebrate the 25th anniversary of her gold medal in the first women’s Olympic marathon at the 1984 Los Angeles Games. She’ll be racing alongside the regular entrants, not the elite field, and plans to enjoy the ambiance in a way she never has at a previous marathon.

But she also made sure to add: "Suffice to say, I’ve never run over 3 hours, and I’ve never dropped out."

Other top runners Samuelson’s age have burnt out long ago. She’s still passionate about the sport and credits balance for that: balance between training and family, a balanced diet. Part of the balance in her life now is speaking out about issues dear to her.

"It’s not the races I’ve left behind that I’ve won or where I’ve set records," she said. "It’s my commitment to making this planet sustainable and as environmentally sound as it can possibly be for the next generations."

-- Rachel Cohen

Gymnastics

Brazilian gymnast tests positive for doping

RIO DE JANEIRO — Former world champion gymnast Daiane dos Santos tested positive for Furosemide during a non-competition doping control in July.

Santos’ club, Pinheiros, confirmed the International Gymnastics Federation notice on Friday. Furosemide, a weight-loss drug, can be used as a masking agent for other banned substances.

Sao Paulo-based Pinheiros said in a statement on its Web site that Santos took Furosemide from June through August this year to keep her weight down following knee surgeries.

She has been out of competition and in rehabilitation since the first operation in October 2008 and had another procedure in May.

Pinheiros also said Brazil’s gymnastics federation and the nation’s Olympic committee had been informed of Santos’ use of Furosemide while she was out of competition and had been asked to pass on the information to FIG.

The Brazil federation removed Santos from its Olympic squad in October 2008, which Pinheiros’ statement said excluded her from having to undergo drug testing.

After hours calls to FIG were not immediately returned to clarify if an athlete no longer competing or on a national squad was free from testing.

Santos won the floor routine at the 2003 worlds and 2006 World Cup Final.