Digest

Ice Hockey

Burke, Desjardins helming Canadians

Sean Burke will serve as general manager and Willie Desjardins will be head coach for defending champion Team Canada at the 2018 Winter Olympics - the first Games since 1994 without NHL players.

Hockey Canada named its management and coaching staff for the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics on Tuesday. St. Louis Blues assistant GM Martin Brodeur will work under Burke on the management side, while Desjardins will be assisted by Dave King, Scott Walker and Craig Woodcroft.

Canada has been grooming Burke for this responsibility for some time as he served as assistant GM for this year's gold-medal squad at the world championships, GM for the 2016 Spengler Cup and director of player development for the 2016 worlds. Desjardins coached Canada's 2010 world champion junior team.

Soccer

Mourinho blasts 'harsh' Bailly ban

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho on Tuesday expressed surprise at the three-match ban that UEFA handed defender Eric Bailly on Monday.

Ivorian international Bailly was sent off for violent conduct in the second leg of United's Europa League semifinal victory over Spain's Celta Vigo in May for his part in a melee in the final minutes of a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford.

"It was a red card in a semifinal, so I think the punishment of not to play the final is enough," said Mourinho. "Three matches is very harsh. It's a big punishment not to play the final. Normally he would deserve a clean sheet and start the next season with a clean sheet and be ready to play in the Super Cup."

Running

Liupanshui efforts gain recognition

Opening China's first marathon-themed museum and setting up a marathon training camp, including a special women's camp, distinguished the Liupanshui International Marathon from other runs, it was concluded at the inaugural marathon sports tourism forum in Liupanshui, Guizhou province over the weekend.

Marathons have become very popular in China, with more than 350 registered at the China Athletics Association in 2016. The number could hit 500 this year.

"Professional organization is very important for successful marathons, but having unique features like Liupanshui is also necessary," said Bao Mingxiao, director of the sports industry research center at Tsinghua University.

Outdoor

Students flock to camping congress

The Guizhou-Panzhou international university camping congress was held over the weekend in Panzhou city, Guizhou province.

Organized by the Guizhou Provincial Sports Bureau, Liupanshui Municipal People's Government and Guizhou Aoqian Sports Industry Development Co Ltd, the event attracted more than 1,000 students from Yunnan, Guizhou and Shaanxi provinces.

Camping and other outdoor activities are becoming increasingly popular among university students, who took part in the 5km off-road run across the Wumeng prairie in Panzhou city before enjoying films and a music festival.

Agenceis - China Daily