The US Olympic Committee has defended its method of selecting a Games flag bearer for the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeonchang after speed skater Shani Davis expressed his anger at losing on the flip of a coin and suggested it was racially motivated.
Davis, the top medal winner among the US team at Pyeongchang, missed out to luger Erin Hamlin for the role in Friday's opening ceremony, and he will reportedly now not march at all in the opening ceremony.
Voting from one US representative from each of the eight winter sports federations was deadlocked 4-4 between Hamlin - the first US luge singles medalist - and Davis. In such cases a coin flip settles the issue.
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Davis, a two-time 1,000m champion, took issue at how he lost out and noted it came during what in America is "Black History Month".
"I am an American and when I won the 1000m in 2010 I became the first American to 2-peat in that event. @TeamUSA dishonorably tossed a coin to decide its 2018 flag bearer. No problem. I can wait until 2022. #BlackHistoryMonth2018#PyeongChang2018."
USOC spokesman Mark Jones told a news conference: "The Team USA flag bearer is selected using a detailed selection procedure that is fully driven by athletes.
"As is always the case, there were many worthy candidates for this year's honour and we look forward to having four-time Olympian Erin Hamlin lead our delegation into the opening ceremony of the Olympic Winter Games Pyeongchang 2018."
Davis, 35, is one of only three five-time Olympians in the US line-up.
He has 1,500m silver from Turin and Vancouver as well as his 1,000m golds.
It's not the first flap involving Davis at an Olympics. He and US speed skating were at odds over his status for the team pursuit event debuting at the 2006 Turin Olympics.
US teammate Chad Hedrick criticised Davis for not taking part, saying it cost the Americans a gold medal. They finished sixth.
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UK's plans to cut net migration
Under the UK government’s proposals, migrants will have to spend 10 years in the UK before being able to apply for citizenship.
Skilled worker visas will require a university degree, and there will be tighter restrictions on recruitment for jobs with skills shortages.
But what are described as "high-contributing" individuals such as doctors and nurses could be fast-tracked through the system.
Language requirements will be increased for all immigration routes to ensure a higher level of English.
Rules will also be laid out for adult dependants, meaning they will have to demonstrate a basic understanding of the language.
The plans also call for stricter tests for colleges and universities offering places to foreign students and a reduction in the time graduates can remain in the UK after their studies from two years to 18 months.
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Cyber warfare - Shaped by geopolitical tension, hostile actors seek to infiltrate and compromise national infrastructure, using one country’s systems as a springboard to launch attacks on others.
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
Omar Yabroudi's factfile
Born: October 20, 1989, Sharjah
Education: Bachelor of Science and Football, Liverpool John Moores University
2010: Accrington Stanley FC, internship
2010-2012: Crystal Palace, performance analyst with U-18 academy
2012-2015: Barnet FC, first-team performance analyst/head of recruitment
2015-2017: Nottingham Forest, head of recruitment
2018-present: Crystal Palace, player recruitment manager
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