Rosset Decides to Defend Tennis Title

Switzerland’s Marc Rosset, who won the men’s singles tennis gold medal at Barcelona four years ago, said that he will defend his title despite recent setbacks.

“It hasn’t been an easy choice for me,” Rosset said in Gstaad, Switzerland.

After losing to qualifier Oliver Gross in the first round of the Swiss Open earlier this week, Rosset said he might pull out of Atlanta so that he could concentrate on improving his world ranking from No. 16 into the top 10.

“I’ve given this much thought over the past few days,” Rosset said. “The Games are important and it might be my last opportunity to compete in the Olympics. Thinking about my gold medal in Barcelona gave me the desire to relive that experience.”

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The entire U.S. shooting team will be able to march as a unit in the opening ceremonies at the Olympics after settling a dispute with international officials over the status of six alternates.

U.S. Olympic Committee officials said the athletes would be accredited, outfitted and included in the line of march when the Games open on Friday.

But Dick Schultz, USOC executive director, said the six would be housed outside the Olympic Village because of tight space, as international officials had requested.

“They will be accredited as alternates, they will get set out in uniforms and they will march in the ceremonies,” Schultz said. “But they will only compete if one of the others can’t.”

The status of alternates Greg Derr, Bob Foth, Terry Anderson, Jayne Dickman, Ken Johnson and John Oppio was put in doubt this week when the UIT, the international shooting federation, put a hold on their credentials.

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Oscar Schmidt, preparing for his fifth Olympic Games, scored 30 points as Brazil overcame a sluggish start to beat the Triangle All-Stars, 118-97, in Greenville, N.C.

Fernando Minucci and Rogerio Klafke each added 18 points for Brazil, which will face the team of former college players again Monday night. Former North Carolina Central player LaVelle Moton led the All-Stars with 17 points.

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The International Olympic Committee executive board heard reports from organizers of the 2000 Summer Games in Sydney, Australia and the 2002 winter games in Salt Lake City. The IOC said it was satisfied with progress in both cities.