BEIJING: Around 80 percent of the athletes in the United States team will take part in the opening ceremony for the Beijing Olympics, team chief Rick Adams said ahead of the ceremony on Friday.
“In terms of opening ceremony, it may even be a record, we have 80 percent of our athletes walking tonight,” he told a news conference.
A report in the Washington Post on Thursday said US-based human rights activists had been working with athletes from several western countries on a boycott of the ceremony.
Attendance at the Olympics opening ceremony is not compulsory for athletes, who often skip it for a variety of reasons.
Olympics-US team says 80 percent of athletes will be at Beijing opening ceremony
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Olympics-US team says 80 percent of athletes will be at Beijing opening ceremony
- Attendance at the Olympics opening ceremony is not compulsory for athletes
Dubai Basketball beat defending EuroLeague champions Fenerbahce for second time this season
- A 92-81 victory was Dubai’s 13th home win of the season across two leagues
DUBAI: Dubai Basketball produced another historic night at Coca-Cola Arena, defeating Turkish giants and reigning EuroLeague champions Fenerbahce 92-81 to secure their second victory over the title holders in their debut EuroLeague campaign.
Roared on by a sold-out crowd in Dubai, Jurica Golemac’s side brought their trademark home court control to a high-intensity contest and closed out a decisive result in EuroLeague Round 21. The victory halted Fenerbahce’s four-game winning streak and underlined Dubai Basketball’s growing presence in the league.
From the opening tip, the hosts imposed themselves at both ends of the floor, executing with purpose and closing out a statement win in front of their fans. Bosnian canter Kenan Kamenjas led the charge with a dominant double-double of 20 points and 15 rebounds while McKinley Wright topped the scoring charts with 22 points — both players making their mark for their debut season with the Dubai side.
Dubai Basketball Head Coach Jurica Golemac praised his players’ response and mentality following the final buzzer.
“Congratulations to the players,” he said. “We answered the challenge in the best possible way,” Golemac said. “After the last two games, we knew we had to show much more desire and energy, and that’s exactly what this group delivered.”
The atmosphere inside Coca-Cola Arena matched the magnitude of the occasion, and Golemac reserved special praise for Dubai’s very own saying: “Fenerbahce brought their fans, but I’m very proud of ours,” he said. “They competed in the stands the same way we competed on the court. Congratulations to them and to the players.”
This is Dubai’s 13th home win of the season across two leagues — cementing Coca-Cola Arena as one of the toughest home courts to compete in across two of the best European leagues. The city next welcomes Serbia’s Borac Mozzart for an ABA League Monday night match-up on Jan. 12.










