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Serbia-Albania joint bid with political history set to win hosting of soccer’s Under-21 Euros

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NYON, Switzerland (AP) — Serbia and Albania are set to co-host the men’s Under-21 European Championship in 2027 in a soccer project that aims to overcome political tensions.

UEFA said Thursday only the Serbia-Albania bid met a deadline this week to file detailed tournament plans. Belgium and Turkey had declared interest earlier in the bidding process scheduled to be decided at a Dec. 16 meeting of the UEFA executive committee.

The Serbian and Albanian soccer federations teamed up in May to plan organization of the 16-team tournament played every two years that needs eight stadiums to host 31 games.

Albania soccer federation leader Armand Duka, who is a UEFA vice president, told The Associated Press in May that “it’s a 100% football project” with “a very good political message that we can get across.”

Weeks later at the men’s European Championship held in Germany, historic tensions between the Balkan countries — which in soccer included a notorious drone incident at a Serbia-Albania game in 2014 — played out at separate games involving their senior teams.

An Albania player was banned for games by UEFA for using a megaphone to join fans in nationalist chants, including targeting Serbia, after a Euro 2024 game against Croatia. Fans of Albania and Croatia earlier joined in anti-Serb chants, leading UEFA to impose fines for discrimination.

UEFA also fined both the Albanian and Serbian federations in separate incidents at Euro 2024 for fans displaying politically motivated banners about neighboring Kosovo.

After historic tensions were heightened by the 1990s Balkans conflicts, in 2008 majority ethnic Albanians in Kosovo declared independence for the former Serbian province. Serbia refuses to recognize that independence and considers Kosovo the cradle of its statehood.

An Albanian fans group daubed red paint on the federation offices in May when the cooperation with Serbian soccer for the Under-21 Euros was announced.

“We did have a few negative reactions from fans, mainly, and some interest groups,” Duka said then, “but not from the Albania government.”

UEFA has shown broad support for Serbia and Albania under its president, Aleksander Ceferin, who is from Slovenia.

The next annual congress of UEFA’s 55 national federations is in the Serbian capital Belgrade on April 3, and an executive committee meeting in September 2025 will be held in Tirana, Albania.

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AP soccer:

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Receiver Marken Michel earns Stampeders’ Herm Harrison Memorial Award

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CALGARY – The Calgary Stampeders named receiver Marken Michel as this year’s recipient of the Herm Harrison Memorial Award on Thursday.

The honour, established in 2013, recognizes outstanding community service. Harrison was a tight end with the Stampeders from 1964-72, earning West Division all-star honours six times while being named a league all-star on three occasions.

Harrison remained in Calgary following his career and continued supporting numerous community initiatives. Harrison was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1993 and the Stampeders retired his No. 76.

Harrison registered 443 career catches for 6,693 yards and 43 touchdowns. He died in November 2013.

Michel, 31, a Florida native in his fifth season with Calgary, is an active participent in many of the CFL club’s community programs. That incluces Every Yard Counts, which features player visits to the Alberta Children’s Hospital the night before each home game.

Michel has also often led groups of teammates into the downtown core to distribute food and water to those in need.

“One of the toughest questions in life is what is my purpose and my assignment in life?” Michel said in a statement. “What you wake up thinking about and what you think about constantly before you go to sleep is a clue as to what your purpose and assignment is in life.

“Your assignment is any problem you were created to solve on the Earth. What you love is a clue to the gift and wisdom you contain to complete your assignment. What you hate is a clue to something you are assigned to correct. What grieves you is a clue to something you are assigned to heal. These are my constant reminders to make a difference.”

Past winners include: Rob Cote (2013), Randy Chevrier (2014), Bo Levi Mitchell (2015-16), Joshua Bell (2017), Rob Maver (2018-19), Kamar Jorden (2021), Colton Hunchak (2022) and Reggie Begelton (2023).

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 10, 2024.

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Raptors 2019 title team member Danny Green retires from NBA

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Former Toronto Raptors guard Danny Green has announced his retirement from the NBA.

The 37-year-old spent 15 years in the league, with a reputation for his “three-and-D” play and helping three teams to an NBA title, including the Raptors.

“I’m officially moving on from the game of basketball and the NBA,” Green said on his YouTube channel. “It’s been a great run. I’m very proud to be able to walk away from the game. I’m at peace with it. I wasn’t at first, but I think it’s one of those things — once I turned 37, the body started reacting a little differently.”

Green joined Toronto in 2018 when he was traded by the San Antonio Spurs alongside Kawhi Leonard for DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poeltl, and a protected 2019 first-round pick, a move that changed the course of Raptors history as they won their first-ever NBA title that season.

He shot a career-high 45.5 per cent from three-point range, averaging 10.3 points across 80 regular-season games with Toronto.

He also won titles in 2013-14 with the Spurs — alongside Leonard — and with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2019-20.

Green was a starter on all three championship clubs.

“People ask me, ‘How did you learn how to become a winner? How do you become a leader?’” Green said. “And it’s the people before me, the people that have taught me, my coaches. They prepared me to be successful because ultimately I’m just a normal kid. I had some height, but I was not freakishly athletic. I just worked very hard, and I had the good resources around me to learn how to be professional and do things the right way.”

Green, a second-round pick (46th overall) by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2009, averaged 8.7 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 832 career games. He also spent time with the Philadelphia 76ers and Memphis Grizzlies.

Green retires with 1,577 three-pointers, 43rd-most in NBA history. He’s one of only 12 players to make that many three -pointers and shoot at least 40 per cent from beyond the arc.

He’s also ninth in post-season three-pointers, with 315 of those.

Green is one of only four players — Kyle Korver, Rashard Lewis and Trevor Ariza are the others — to make as many three-pointers as he did without being a first-round draft pick

Green last played for the 76ers during the 2023-24 season, appearing in only two games before being waived in November.

He said he’s hoping to work in media and indicated that he has some opportunities to consider.

“I’m excited for the next chapter, the next journey,” Green said.

With files from The Associated Press.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 10, 2024.

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Grey Cup game will be carried south of border by CBS Sports Network

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TORONTO – The 2024 Grey Cup will be broadcast south of the border by CBS Sports Network.

The CFL’s championship game will be held Nov. 17 at B.C. Place Stadium in Vancouver.

CBS Sports Network is an American digital cable and satellite television network. It is owned by the CBS Entertainment Group unit of Paramount Global.

CBS Sports Network was scheduled to carry 34 regular-season CFL games in 2024. Included were the season kickoff, the league’s Labour Day matchups.

The American broacaster will carry the Ottawa Redblacks-Montreal Alouettes contest Monday afternoon.

Its final regular-season broadcast before the Grey Cup will be the Calgary Stampeders visiting the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Oct. 18.

“We couldn’t be more thrilled to have the biggest game of the season on CBS Sports Network,” CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie said in a statement. “Since the day we announced this partnership, our American fans have wanted nothing more than to see the Grey Cup on TV.

“And now, with this momentous announcement, the countdown begins to the sights, surprises and spectacle that we have in store for Vancouver.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 10, 2024.

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