Briefs | Motor sports: Dakar Rally begins in Argentina

Motor sports

Event was moved from Africa to South America: Moved from Africa because of the threat of terrorism, the Dakar Rally has a symbolic drive today in Buenos Aires, Argentina, before its official start Saturday.

The 5,949-mile, 14-stage rally crosses the Pampas, heads into Patagonia, arrives at the Andes on Thursday, drives into Chile the next day, cruises alongside the Pacific Ocean for five days and finally heads back to Buenos Aires on Jan. 18.

"The drivers will discover a new territory, another landscape, but they are imbued with the same spirit of competition and adventure," rally director Etienne Levigne said.

The 2008 Dakar Rally was canceled because of security fears after four French tourists and three Mauritanian soldiers were killed before the start. The French government warned of a terrorist threat, and the race was called off for the first time in its 30-year history.

Levigne vowed the event will return, and moved the rally to South America with the hope of returning to Africa in 2011 or 2012.

Dakar's South American version will include an estimated 530 vehicles.

Olympics

Bolt is voted 2008 male athlete of the year: Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt edged U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps in a vote for the 2008 male athlete of the year by international media.

Olympic pole-vault champion Yelena Isinbayeva of Russia took the top place as sportswoman of the year.

In a poll by the International Sports Press Association, journalists from 96 nations gave Bolt 1,673 points to 1,557 for Phelps.

Bolt won three gold medals, setting world records in the 100 meters, 200 and 400 relay to become the standout of Beijing's Bird's Nest stadium. At the Water Cube, Phelps made history by winning eight golds in the pool for the United States.

Isinbayeva was undefeated outdoors in 2008, successfully defending her Olympic title in Beijing with one of her four world records on the year.

Soccer

Manchester United's Ronaldo says he intends to stay: Cristiano Ronaldo has dismissed the latest speculation linking him with Real Madrid of Spain and says he plans to stay with Manchester United of England.

Although the 23-year-old Portuguese winger repeatedly said at the end of last season he wanted a move to Real Madrid, he said it is untrue the two teams made an agreement that he would switch teams at the end of the current campaign.

College athletics

Iowa State's Cy is voted Capital One Mascot of the Year: After months of competition, Iowa State's Cy won the title of Capital One Mascot of the Year, edging Thundar from North Dakota State in the championship round.

"The fans have spoken, and named Cy as the BBOC — Big Bird on Campus," said Capital One's Steve Schooff, who said more than 4.5 million votes were cast in the 12-mascot competition.

The lone mascot from a Pac-10 school was UCLA's Joe Bruin.

Tennis

Murray advances: Andy Murray of Scotland defeated American James Blake 6-2, 6-2 to set up a semifinal meeting with Roger Federer of Switzerland at the inaugural Capitala World Tennis Championship, an exhibition event in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

In the other first-round match, Nikolay Davydenko of Russia ousted American Andy Roddick 6-4, 6-4 and will face top-ranked Rafael Nadal of Spain in today's other semifinal.

Nadal and Federer received first-round byes in the tournament, which features six of the world's top 10 players and offers a winner-take-all prize of $250,000.

Ski jumping

Loitzl soars to victory: Wolfgang Loitzl of Austria earned his first World Cup victory, winning the second leg of the Four Hills competition in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany.

The 28-year-old Loitzl, who finished second in the first leg in Oberstdorf, Germany, on Monday, had jumps of 134.5 and 136.5 meters for a total of 276.3 points.

Simon Ammann of Switzerland was second and Harri Olli of Finland was third.

"This is like Easter and Christmas together," said Loitzl, who leads Ammann by a point with two Four Hills meets left.

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