FIFA gives away......

FIFA gives away tickets for Confederations Cup semi.

FIFA is giving away some free tickets for the Confederations Cup semifinal match between Spain and the United States.The governing body of world soccer said Tuesday there were about 6,000 tickets still on sale for Wednesday's match at the 38,000-seat Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein."There will be a certain number of tickets given on a complimentary basis," FIFA spokesman Nicolas Maingot said. "Again, it's a gesture from FIFA … for people to have a chance to enjoy this game."After sparse crowds in the opening few matches of the World Cup warmup event in South Africa, FIFA decided to distribute tickets to certain institutions such as schools and local authorities to hand out for free. FIFA, however, has not said how many tickets have been given out for any of the matches thus far.For the other semifinal match in Johannesburg between Brazil and South Africa, FIFA said there are 2,000 top-price tickets costing $120 US still available, but no free tickets have been given out for that match at Ellis Park.Tickets at this year's Confederations Cup range from $10 to as high as $200 for the final, which is well out of the reach of many poor people in South Africa, where unemployment is about 25 per cent.The average attendance through the 12 matches at this year's tournament is 34,783, according to FIFA. The best attended match so far was the Group B game between Egypt and Italy, which drew 52,150 to Ellis Park to watch the Egyptians upset the world champions 1-0.Security has also been an issue at this year's Confederations Cup, with both Brazil and Egypt reporting that some of their hotel rooms have been burgled. FIFA, however, reiterated that it believes local authorities will keep an estimated 450,000 visitors for next year's 32-team tournament safe."A lot of learning is coming from this particular tournament," Craig said.

Source; cbc.ca/sports

Tight security

Tight security but no fanfare for Pakistan winners.

Police whisked Pakistan's Twenty20 World Cup-winning team away from jubilant fans at Lahore airport on Tuesday citing security fears in a city recently targeted by Taliban militants.The squad were rushed from another terminal, bypassing hundreds of fans who wanted to greet the players with music and garlands."We changed the plan for the team because of security reasons and drove the team to the national cricket academy in a special bus," police official Umar Virk told reporters outside the airport.The Sri Lankan cricket team were attacked in Lahore in March, devastating Pakistan's already-tainted reputation as safe international cricket host.Eight people were killed and seven cricketers and their assistant coach injured in a gun and grenade attack blamed on a Taliban faction.Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by eight wickets in the final at Lord's on Sunday to clinch the World Twenty20 title -- their second major victory in the sport after winning the 50-over World Cup in Australia in 1992.All-rounders Shahid Afridi, Fawad Alam and Abdul Razzaq did not return as they had prior commitments in England, while captain Captain Younus Khan arrived in the southern port city Karachi to a rapturous reception without being whisked away."What more can you ask for? This was my first tournament for the senior team and we won. It is like dream come true for me."President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani have promised big reception for the team before they leave for a tour of Sri Lanka later this week.

Source:google.com

Insurance companies not honouring

Insurance companies not honouring new leaky condo warran.

Insurers say lack of maintenance by owners is source ofties: owners some problems.Some owners of recently built leaky condominiums say B.C.'s new Home Warranty Insurance program isn't working and that companies are unfairly rejecting their damage claims.Dave Ricketts, a principal with RDH Building Engineering in Vancouver, said the owners of some of the leaky condo projects built since 2000 that he's involved with are contemplating going to court after warranty companies refused their claims. "Some of [the warranty companies] are just putting their own interpretation on the claims and deciding what they think is covered and not covered and others are just saying, 'well, as an opening gambit, we're going to say we're denying everything.'"The new home warranties are provided by four authorized private-sector insurance companies and cover labour and material defects for two years, building envelope defects for five years and structural defects for 10 years. Claims denied

Construction lawyer John Mendes, who represents some of the owners, says claims for both leaks and other defects are being denied for a variety of reasons, including telling the owners the problems are their fault."Some aggressive positions are being taken by some of the warranty providers," said Mendes. "The response that we're getting back on some buildings is this is all maintenance and inadequate maintenance and really an owner-caused problem rather than a construction problem."But Ray Windsor, the president of one of the largest warranty providers, the National Home Warranty Group, said there's no merit to the homeowners' complaints. He admits there is sometimes disagreement about what the warranty covers, but says the system is working.The Homeowner Protection Office has not responded to request for an interview from CBC News, and B.C. Housing Minister Rich Coleman has so far refused to schedule an interview with CBC News

World Twenty20

World Twenty20: Shahid Afridi powers Pakistan to final victory over Sri Lanka.

Pakistan (139-2) bt Sri Lanka (138-6) by 8 wkts.Lord's was all green on Sunday. The greensward was as spectacular as ever but it was the green of Pakistani flags flying with pride at their team’s crowning as World Twenty20 champions that dominated the eye.It is a long time since Pakistan supporters have been able to puff out their chests at the achievements of their talented but flawed cricket team. Scandals of match-fixing and ball-tampering have both eaten away at their credibility since Imran Khan’s Tigers won the 1992 World Cup.But recently it has been the action of terrorists that has made them the outcasts of the world game. Shots fired at beaten finalists, Sri Lanka, have ultimately hurt their own players the most, knowing as they do that it will be years before another team sets foot in Pakistan.This week it is likely the International Cricket Council will deliver a final, telling blow when they find a new home for the 2011 World Cup due to be co-hosted by Pakistan.With such a parlous future in mind, their captain, Younus Khan, made a frank plea after the team’s momentous eight-wicket victory. “This is a message from our nation: please come to Pakistan,” he said. “I am proud of my country and this victory is very nice for all of us but to keep our youngsters interested and for the structure of our cricket we need home series.” The Test tour by Sri Lanka, that ended at a roundabout in Lahore on March 3, was their first home Test series for 18 months. This was a team of strangers when they arrived here and it is little wonder they started so slowly losing to England and scraping through the first round on run rate over Holland.But Pakistan were destined for victory. The last word falls to Younus who announced his Twenty20 retirement before making one final declaration. “This final goes to Bob Woolmer (the coach who died at the 2007 World Cup). I would be a very proud man if he was alive and sitting here next to me.”

Source;.......telegraph.co.uk