Christian and secular human rights campaigners have joined forces to put pressure on the London-based Commonwealth Games Federation over Nigeria's bid for the 2014 games, citing its widely condemned mistreatment of gay people.

"It would not be right for the 2014 Commonwealth Games to be held in Nigeria, given the country's appalling human rights record, including its systematic persecution of lesbian and gay Nigerians," said Davis Mac-Iyalla, founder and leader of the gay Christian group, Changing Attitude Nigeria.

"Nigeria's homophobic oppression is a violation of the Commonwealth Games ethos of equality, humanity, peace, unity, cooperation and understanding. Unless Nigeria radically improves its human rights record, it should be ruled out of consideration as a host for the 2014 Games," added Mr Mac-Iyalla.

Gay activists in Nigeria are questioning whether Nigeria should be allowed to host the Commonwealth Games. A delegation led by Davis Mac-Iyalla, founder and leader of the Gay Christian group Changing Attitude Nigeria, an Anglican Church group which campaigns for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) human rights, presented the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) with an 11-page report setting out why it should reject's Abuja's 2014 Commonwealth Games bid.

Like Chicago before, Rio de Janeiro sites successful Gay Prides as proof it can manage the World Cup

ZURICH, Switzerland (AP): Brazil is not assured of hosting the 2014 World Cup even though it is the only bidder for the global soccer showcase, FIFA said Tuesday.

With little pomp and fanfare, Brazil's delegation showcased its plans in a 30-minute presentation before handing over a 900-page bid document to FIFA president Sepp Blatter. The delegation included Brazilian soccer federation president Ricardo Teixeira, former Brazil player Romario and author Paulo Coelho.

Soccer star David Beckham and British singer Robbie Williams is reportedly set to star in the hit show “Desperate Housewives” as a gay couple. The show’s creator, Marc Cherry, said he wanted to add a gay couple to the script to “spice things up.”

“David and Robbie are perfect to star as the new neighbors’ best friends; the gorgeous, eccentric couple flown over from Blighty (Britain),” Cherry said. “We haven’t had that kind of wow for the wives since Jesse Metcalf left and we want it to cause such a stir when they turn out to be together.”

Brazillian football will never be the same. The sexually liberal country can't seem to get enough of the outing of one of the country's best football players. Below are two very popular videos circulating on YouTube.

Based on these videos, there may be more than one gay footballer in the Brazilian  ranks :-)


Bicharlyson
This is the YouTube video that fueled the gay rumors surrounding the Brazilian footballer Richarlyson.




With all the hoopla over Richarlyson's outing it is easy to forget that this man is one of the greatest strikers playing today.

Why is football one of the last professional environments where you can't be out and proud?

by David James

If one in 10 people are gay, where are all the gay Premiership stars? It's a question that's often asked, but there are only whispers, dodgy rumours and malicious media gossip for answers.

Football, it seems, is one of the last professional environments where you can't be out and proud. In every other entertainment industry we have gay stars. Why should football be different? Are football fans really so incapable of watching a gay player without abusing him? The same bunch of fans who are routinely homophobic always sing along to the camp-as-you-like Scissors Sisters anthems played at grounds up and down the country or the Pet Shop Boys song 'Go West'?

In 1998 former New York Yankees baseball team's club house attendant Paul Priore brought a $50m lawsuit against the club and some the members stating that he had been sexually harassed and was fired for being a homosexual.

Priore lost his suit when the Yankees showed that he was actually fired for stealing from the locker room, but he is now planning on writing a tell-all book about his homophobic abuse, which allegedly includes a steam room scene between players Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada.

The São Paulo holding midfielder is prepared to be the target of jibes from rival players and supporters in the wake of a storm kicked up over the player’s sexual leanings.

With a lawsuit in the courts the situation has been made public – very public…

How The Jews ‘Invented’ Basketball

New documentary chronicles the Jewish involvement in the hoops game, and how it helped make them Americans.

by Chuck Bennett

In the first possession of the first-ever professional basketball game, the ball never seemed to touch the court.

It was Nov. 1, 1946, and the New York Knickerbockers were taking on the Toronto Huskies in the debut of the Basketball Association of America, the precursor to today’s NBA. Seconds into the game, Ossie Schectman, wearing the short shorts and canvas sneakers of the day, got possession of the ball and headed up court with teammates Stan Stutz, Ralph Kaplowitz, Jake Weber and Leo “Ace” Gottlieb —five Jews playing a version of the game that transformed basketball at the time, and that no longer exists.

In Brazil, some well-known players have posed nude in gay magazines, but none acknowledged being homosexual. Among them were World Cup veteran Vampeta, former Sao Paulo goalkeeper Roger and, most recently, Vitoria goalkeeper Rafael Cordova.


SAO PAULO, Brazil -- The director of a prominent soccer club insinuates on national television that a player on a rival team is gay. The player sues for slander and goes on TV to deny being homosexual. A judge causes an uproar by saying gays don't belong in Brazilian soccer.

With a narrative like a Latin American telenovela, a controversy over the questioned sexual orientation of Sao Paulo midfielder Richarlyson has shaken one of Brazil's most hallowed institutions -- soccer -- with insults, blanket accusations of homophobia and unsolicited defences for supposedly closeted gay teammates.

Officials say SUV collided in fiery crash with freight train in Houston

HOUSTON - Former Minnesota Timberwolves forward Eddie Griffin died last week when his sport utility vehicle collided with a freight train in a fiery crash, the Harris County medical examiner’s office said Tuesday.

Investigators used dental records to identify Griffin, 25, who began his tumultuous pro career with the Houston Rockets in 2001. He was waived by the Timberwolves in March.

“The cause of death and manner of death, which also includes toxicology results, is pending,” said Beverly Begay, chief investigator for the Harris County Medical Examiner’s office.

A day of training and consultation for volunteer liaison officers who will work with football clubs across England was held last week at The Valley, home of Charlton Athletic.

The new football season started earlier this month and for the first time homophobic abuse is against the rules in every Premier League and Football League club.

As part of the Football Association's commitment to tackling homophobic abuse at all levels of the game, the decision to amend the ground regulations was approved after consultation with the Premier League and Football League in the early part of last season.

by Byron Hurt

NEW JERSEY -- I can't sleep, so I am watching CNN's coverage of the Michael Vick case. I find myself going back and forth on this in a way that makes me feel very uncomfortable. On the one hand, as a former college quarterback who happens to be black, I identify with Vick, a black NFL quarterback with superior athletic skills.

On the other hand, I feel no sympathy for Vick when I hear new evidence that reveals the level of his involvement in dogfighting and the way he has reportedly killed dogs, execution style. On Monday, Vick will admit guilt to the charge of interstate commerce for the purpose of dogfighting, but not guilty of dogfighting or gambling on dogfighting. Whatever crime he has committed, I believe he should get what he deserves for being involved in something so detestable.

By Rupert Cornwell

One of the most spectacular falls from grace in the history of American sport was sealed yesterday as star quarterback Michael Vick formally pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy and involvement in dog-fighting, that could see him jailed for a year or more.

Appearing at a federal court in Richmond, the 27-year-old Vick filed a written plea in which he admitted killing between six and eight dogs at the Bad Newz Kennels he owned, and providing money for gambling on fights – though he denied personally placing bets, or taking any share of the winnings.

By: BOB BAUM

OSAKA, Japan (AP) - A scorching final 50 metres made Tyson Gay the world champion.

The 100-metre matchup Sunday night between the latest American sprint sensation and co-world record holder Asafa Powell was the most anticipated event of the world track and field championships. Gay made it a one-man show.

Under a full moon on another hot, sticky night at Nagai Stadium - with Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko looking on - Gay surged ahead of the Jamaican over the final 40 metres to win in 9.85 seconds. A "panicked" Powell couldn't even manage second place. He was third in 9.96, behind Derrick Atkins' 9.91.

By David Byrd

Two Africans and an American have captured gold medals on the first day of the World Athletics Championships in Osaka, Japan. As VOA's David Byrd reports, Luke Kibet of Kenya, Ethiopia's Tirunesh Dibaba and American Reese Hoffa were winners.

Kibet finished the 42.195-kilometer race in 2:15:59 seconds. The Kenyan is the first men's marathon world champion from his country in 20 years. Kibet said that his victory was driven by a promise he made before coming to Osaka.

"I'm happy, because it is a long time for Kenya to get a gold in marathon," he said. "But when I came from Kenya I told them 'we are going and I will try to get a gold in marathon.' But I am happy because I have won."

By ED ODEVEN

OSAKA — Mankind has always had a desire to soar to new heights. The U.S. astronauts' historic 1969 trip to the moon is the prime example.

In sports the best illustration is this: the victorious jumper, a person who sprints, twists his body, catapults himself backward over a horizontal bar and lands on his back. Think of it as reverse limbo contest — but multiply the difficulty factor by 10.

The high jump is one of the most visually exciting sports, watching at the arena or on television. And every sports photographer will tell you it's among their favorite events to capture images of.

Moreno, a former two-time world champion, registered 74.74 meters and walked away with the silver medal.

The Cuban athlete finished only two centimeters behind German Betty Heidler who won the event with 74.76.

The bronze medal was for Chinese Wenxiu Zhang with 74.39 meters.

The 27-year-old Cuban athlete won the world titles in 2001 in Edmonton and in 2003 in Paris. She also took the silver two years ago in
Helsinki.

This was Cuba's second medal in the world meeting after Yarelis Barrios won a bronze on Wednesday in the women's Discus Throw event.

Panama's Irving Saladino won men's long jump at the Osaka world athletics championships on Thursday.

He won the gold with 8.57 meters, followed by Andrew Howe from Italy, 8.47m, and Dwight Phillips from the United States, 8.30m.

Saladino, 24, set a new personal best with the jump, one centimeter farther than his previous.

By PATRICK SALOMON

BAHRAIN'S Youssef Saad Kamel led all qualifiers into the men's 800m semi-finals with the fastest time yesterday in the preliminary heats, while compatriot Rashid Ramzi also advanced to begin his second title-defence at the 11th World Athletics Championships in Osaka, Japan.

Kamel, running without his signature shades in the round's sixth and final heat, put on a dominant performance with his long and effortless strides to win his race in one minute 45.25 seconds.