Sporting briefs

Euro 2012: Ukrainian authorities, fighting off criticism of their handling of preparations for the Euro 2012 soccer championship, said yesterday they had chosen a German firm to renovate Kiev's Olympic stadium, due to stage the final. Sports Minister Yuri Pavlenko announced the decision while opening the Ukrainian headquarters at the Beijing Olympics. Renovation of the 84,000-seat facility is to be done in three phases, with all construction work completed by 2010.

Hoeness: Bayern Munich manager Uli Hoeness blamed Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich for high gasoline prices, saying in an interview published yesterday: "We have to beat clubs like Chelsea on the pitch. That would make amends. "It annoys me when I go to fill up my car once a week," Hoeness told the sports website Spox, saying Chelsea owner Abramovich was taking money from his pocket to invest in footballers for the London club.

Mutu: Adrian Mutu, who almost joined Roma last month, has tried to placate Fiorentina fans after penning a new four-year contract with the Florence club. "I personally never said yes to Roma, perhaps my agent gave a different impression. I have always said I want to stay here for good," the Romania striker said.

Bosnia: The Bosnia players who boycotted the national team in protest at football association (NSBIH) policies have almost all agreed to play in a friendly against Bulgaria this month, coach Miroslav Blazevic said. The list of those returning to the squad include Emir Spahic of Lok. Moscow, Branimir Bajic of Koblenz, Elvir Rahimic of CSKA Moscow, Zvjezdan Misimovic of Wolfsburg, Mirko Hrgovic of Din. Zagreb and Sasa Papac of Rangers.

Croatia: Uncapped Zenit St Petersburg defender Ivica Krizanac has been called to Croatia's squad for a friendly against Slovenia later this month. The match in Maribor, to be played on August 20, is an important warm-up for Croatia, who have been drawn in Group Six for the 2010 World Cup qualifiers with England, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Andorra.

Parry dies: Steve Parry, Reuters Sports Editor for nearly two decades, died yesterday at the age of 64. Parry, who was Sports Editor from 1982 to 2000 and a member of the IOC press commission during that time, had suffered from a respiratory illness.

Friendlies: Athlone vs Sunderland 0-6; Palermo vs Larissa 1-0; Tachira vs Deportivo La Coruna 4-2.

No decision on Thanou: Greek sprinter Katerina Thanou's eligibility for the Beijing Games was still undecided yesterday after an IOC disciplinary review. The Sydney 100m silver medallist has been locked in a long-running dispute with the IOC over whether she can compete in Beijing because of a drugs scandal that also involved fellow Greek sprinter Costas Kenteris before the Athens Games in 2004. Thanou, who was subsequently banned until December 2006, qualified for Beijing but needed IOC approval to compete at the Games.

Equestrian: France's Jean Teulere pulled out of the Olympic Games three-day event because his 16-year-old horse sustained an injury, the French equestrian federation said yesterday. Teulere, the 2002 world champion, won the team gold medal at the Athens Olympics with his French-bred gelding. The three-day event starts tomorrow with the dressage.