COLORADO SPRINGSSYDNEY, AustraliaHONG KONG — Five- time Olympian Dara Torres, four-time Olympian Amanda Beard and Natalie Coughlin, who won five medals four years ago in Athens, were named captains of the U.S. Olympic women’s swimming team.
Three-time Olympians Erik Vendt and Jason Lezak, along with two-time Olympian Brendan Hansen, were named captains of the men’s team.
The Olympic swimming competition begins Aug. 9.
• Nike will allow its swimmers to wear Speedo’s LZR Racer instead of its own suit at the Beijing Olympics. Nike spokesman Dean Stoyer said the company felt it was fair to extend the offer it made in June allowing its swimmers to wear Speedo’s suit at the U.S. Olympic Trials.
Evans withdraws
Tour de France runner-up Cadel Evans withdrew from the Olympic Games road time trial because of a knee injury. Evans told reporters he will undergo treatment this week before deciding whether he will travel to Beijing to contest the road race. He will be replaced in the time trial by three-time world champion Michael Rogers.
U.S. plays to scoreless tie
The United States was held to a 0-0 draw by Ivory Coast at a four-nation tournament ahead of the Beijing Olympics.
Ivory Coast dominated the first half, with Kafoumba Coulibaly sending two late shots on goal that were saved by U.S. goalkeeper Brad Guzan. The Americans briefly took control in the second half before their opponents carved out later chances.
The United States will play Cameroon on Saturday, while Ivory Coast plays the Netherlands. The Dutch beat Cameroon 2-0.
• FIFA ruled professional clubs must release players age 23 or younger for the Beijing Olympics, clearing the way for Lionel Messi to play for Argentina despite opposition from FC Barcelona.
Footnotes.
Jamaican sprinter Julien Dunkley has been dropped from the country’s Olympic team, although officials declined to say whether he was the unidentified athlete who recently tested positive for a banned substance.
• Mate Parlov, an Olympic and world champion boxer from the former Yugoslavia, died of lung cancer Tuesday in Pula, Croatia. He was 59.
• Reporters Without Borders is encouraging journalists covering the Olympics to skirt censorship with tips on how to get around firewalls, lock computer files and find safe translators. China has backed away from a promise to lift all Internet blocks on foreign media.
• Iraqi rowers Haidar Nozad and Hamzah Hussein Jebur will be allowed to take part in the Beijing Olympics, the International Rowing Federation said.
