IOC hails sports facilities of Madrid

MADRID, May 7 (Xinhua) -- The evaluation commission from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) hailed on Thursday the work done in the sports facilities of Madrid, when beginning on Thursday the fourth date of its work visit in Madrid.

Madrid's government said on Thursday that Madrid offers economic solvency, politic unit, fiscal advantage and support from the 86 percent of the inhabitants to host the Olympic Games of 2016.

President from the Autonomous government of Madrid, Esperanza Aguirre assured the financing of the Games with 1.117 billion euro(1.485 billion U.S. dollars) and she hailed the economic and population growth in the region.

IOC former president Juan Antonio Samaranch, current member of the sport organizations, said on Thursday that Madrid can host the Olympic Games 2016 "with and without crisis because most of the investments are already done".

On Thursday it was proposed that all the profits the IOC will get in Spain for hosting in Madrid the Games 2016 will be free of taxes for the Treasury Minister.

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China Open seeks frames from Spain

BEIJING, May 6 -- Spanish tennis fans will have the chance to travel to China for the China Open in October thanks to an overseas promotion launched by tournament organizers last week.

A campaign - the Starry China Open, Charming Beijing picture exhibition - was launched last Monday inviting Spanish sports fans ahead of the Madrid Open to send their photographs from the Beijing Olympics or previous China Opens.

The two entrants with the best snaps will be invited to visit Beijing and watch the China Open.

An additional 10 people will receive a ticket to the Madrid Open and another 20 will each be sent a souvenir from the China Open. Winners will be announced at a promotion banquet on May 16 during the Madrid Open.

After five highly successful years, the China Open has grown to become a combination of a WTA Crown Pearl and ATP 500 tournament, making it Asia's premier competition and only second to the four grand slams, on the same level as the Madrid, Miami and Indian Wells ppens. The total prize money for the tournament has accordingly risen to 6,600,000 U.S. dollars from 1,100,000 U.S. dollars.

The event will be held at the Beijing Olympic National Tennis Center, the venue for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, from Oct 2-11.

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Madrid showcase bid for 2016 Olympics

Madrid officially opened its new tennis showcase, known as the Magic Box, on Thursday. It's expected to be a centrepiece in the city's 2016 Olympic bid.

AviewinMadridoftheMagicBox(LaCajaMagica)arenabyFrench
architectDominiquePerrault,newlybuilttohosttheMadrid
CombinedTennisTournamentwhichwilltakeplacefromMay08to
17,2009.(AFP/JavierSoriano)

Madrid - the only major European capital to have never hosted the Olympic Games, placed a bid for the Games in 2016 and the Magic Box will be one of the venues to be evaluated by the International Olympic Committee when they visit the Spanish capital next week.

The Magic Box was designed by the famed French architect Dominique Perrault, and built on 20 hectares of land. The glass and steel construction cost 150 million euros.

Madrid striker Higuain believes Barcelona can win treble

MADRID, April 16 (Xinhua) -- Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain said on Thursday that he believed bitter rivals FC Barcelona were capable of winning a Primera Liga, Champions League and King's Cup treble.

Barcelona qualified for the semifinals of the Champions League with a 1-1 draw away to Bayern Munich on Tuesday night.

May 13 sees Barcelona face Athletic Club Bilbao in the final of the King's Cup, while Real Madrid trails Barcelona by six points in the race for the Primera Liga.

For that reason, Higuain admitted their rivals winning the treble was a possibility.

I do not think it is an exaggeration. They are very much alive in all three competitions and are playing very well, but this is football and anything can happen, he said on the official Real Madrid website.

However, that does not mean that that Higuain is giving up the race for the title.

We will be right on their heels in case they do slip up, he added.

The forward also discussed recent declarations from goalkeeper Iker Casillas, who said Real Madrid lacks the players to be competitive in Europe.

The current Spanish Champion has crashed out of the Champions League in the last 16 for the last five years -- something he hopes will change next season.

Iker is the best goalkeeper in the world and I do not want to create any controversy with him. Everyone is entitled to an opinion. We are not in it because we were not able to make it to the next round, he said, confident of a change of fortune.

Madrid will recover its European prestige, and I hope it happens next season, he said.

Higuain was also asked about his own future at the club, given rumors of new arrivals at the Santiago Bernabeu thanks to the presidential elections that will be held on June 14.

He has also been linked to several clubs in the Premier League, but the Argentinean expects to stay where he is.

I see myself here. I have a contract until 2013. There is always talk about players coming and going, but you have to stay calm and collected in such situations, he said.

Atletico Madrid beaten at home by Osasuna 4-2

Over in Spain, Osasuna climbed out of the Primera Liga relegation zone and severely dented Atletico Madrid's hopes of a Champions League place after claiming a deserved 4-2 win at the Vicente Calderon.

OsasunaclimbedoutofthePrimeraLigarelegation
zoneandseverelydentedAtleticoMadrid'shopes
ofaChampionsLeagueplaceafterclaiminga
deserved4-2winattheVicenteCalderon.

Osasuna capitalized on their bright start by taking the lead after 8 minutes. The home defence appealed for offside from a Masoud free kick as Walter Pandiani ran through to head into the corner.

Atletico got an immediate response from their players. The Rojiblancos were back on level terms through Diego Forlan in the 15th minute.

The visitors retook the lead and went into the break 2-1 ahead thanks to Krisztian Vadocz, who took advantage of the ball rebounding off Madrid's Tomas Uj***si.

Three minutes into the second half, Osasuna played above their lowly position by opening a two goal lead as Pandiani grabbed his second of the game.

The visitors killed of the game with a fourth goal. A long kick from goalkeeper Roberto was collected by 24 year old playmaker Masoud and the Iranian danced his way around the the Atletico defence before scoring.

The home supporters had something to cheer four minutes later when central defender Pablo Ibanez knocked in the ball following a corner to make it 4-2, but it proved no more than a consolation.