Sports

Brazilian striker Ronaldo said he has not given up hope of playing again despite a serious knee injury.

The 31-year-old ruptured a tendon while playing for AC Milan and will be out for at least nine months. "I haven't decided yet what I should do but I'm ready for anything," he said after undergoing surgery in Paris.

"I have the will to carry on playing, this is what my heart is telling me to do. But my body is giving me signs that it is tiring and needs rest."  Ronaldo, the three-times World Player of the Year, has suffered two serious knee injuries in the past and this latest setback led to fears that his playing career could be over.

Thousands of fans have greeted the South African rugby team as they arrived home after winning the Rugby World Cup in France on Saturday.

Springbok captain John Smit led his team out of Johannesburg airport holding aloft the Webb Ellis trophy. The Springboks lifted the coveted trophy after a 15-6 win over England. Their victory has been embraced as a symbol of unity and reconciliation in a country still trying to overcome racial tensions left by the apartheid era.

"We expected it to be pretty busy at the airport but this has gone far beyond anything we imagined," said Smit. "We're just happy that we have brought the trophy back where it belongs, with the people of South Africa."

China is gearing up its preparations with the 2008 Beijing Olympics exactly one year away on Wednesday.

The International Olympic Committee says the Chinese have laid "strong foundations" for the Games. And 63 official events are taking place across China to mark the beginning of the countdown to 8 August 2008. But human rights groups are using the milestone to highlight concerns over China's record on arms sales to Sudan, its record in Tibet and child labour.

Even before Beijing was awarded the Games on 13 July 2001, fears were expressed about the compatibility of China's human rights record and the spirit of the Olympic movement. Sudan and Tibet are two issues that have caused controversy, while last month a Chinese stationery firm accused of using child labour was stripped of its licence to produce official merchandise for the Games.

Air pollution is another major concern, with Beijing experimenting with measures such as ordering

By ROBERT WALDMAN

 
          People looking for something new to do this holiday weekend may want to experience one of Vancouver’s best kept secrets. Sports fans and those looking for excitement can experience the best horse racing in the Pacific Northwest at the PNE during B.C. Cup Day. Watch the best horses compete for a load of prizes at Hastings Park Racecourse. Best of all – seeing the action up close and personal is free with no admittance charge. Hundreds of members of the Iranian community enjoy this popular pastime which allows fans to test their skills at handicapping or just watching all the fun trackside. Located just across from the 2^nd Narrows Iron Memorial Bridge Hastings Park has long offered easy access for North Shore residents.

Germany striker Miroslav Klose has agreed to join Bayern Munich from Bundesliga rivals Werder Bremen, both clubs said Tuesday, putting to rest a long-running debate over the World Cup

Golden Boot winner's future.