BC-AP London Olympics Digest

The supervisor in London is Chris Lehourites. Questions concerning the Olympics report should be directed to the New York Sports desk at 800 845-8450, ext. 1630. Sports photos, ext. 1918; graphics, ext. 7636; agate, ext. 1635. AP stories, along with the photos that accompany them, also can be obtained from http://www.apexchange.com. Reruns are available from the Service Desk (800 838-4616) or your local AP bureau.

TOP STORY:

OLY--BKO-ARGENTINA-US

BARCELONA, Spain - The U.S. men's Olympic basketball team plays its first of two exhibition games in the home of the Dream Team's triumph, facing 2004 gold medalist Argentina in Barcelona. By Basketball Writer Brian Mahoney. Game starts 3:30 p.m. EDT.

OLY--LONDON OLYMPICS-VATICAN

VATICAN CITY - Pope Benedict XVI prays that the Olympics will help promote world peace and friendship - a message the Vatican is increasingly emphasizing as it focuses renewed attention on sports and their role in society. While the message is new, sports have long been a mainstay for the Vatican: the first soccer game was played in the Apostolic Palace in 1521, and every year Swiss Guards face off with staff of the Vatican Museums. A new movie "100 Meters to Paradise'' about a fictitious Vatican team at the London Games won a rave review in the Vatican newspaper - but the prospects of the world's tiniest sovereign state actually fielding an Olympic squad are slim. By Nicole Winfield.

NEW/DEVELOPING:

OLY--BKW-US-TURKEY

ISTANBUL - The U.S. women's basketball team will close out its pre-Olympic exhibition schedule against Turkey on Sunday. The game will be a homecoming for half the squad who have played in Turkey for either Galatasaray or rival Fenerbahce during the winter. By Basketball Writer Doug Feinberg. Game started at 11 a.m. EDT.

OLY--BVL-NO BIKINIS?

LONDON - Two piece or not two piece: that is the question. Chilly weather and evening matches at the London Olympics may force a cover up in beach volleyball - from bikinis to long johns. By Gerald Imray. Sent.

OLY--BASEBALL-SOFTBALL

LONDON - Baseball and softball have agreed to unite as a single international federation in a joint bid to return to the Olympics. The two sports were dropped from the Olympics after the 2008 Beijing Games. Each has failed in separate attempts to win reinstatement. By Stephen Wilson.

TRACK:

OLY--ATH-PATTON'S BURDEN

BIRMINGHAM, England - Darvis Patton ran through his list of mishaps in the 400-meter relay, almost reliving each scene with a sense of detachment. He doesn't dwell on those misadventures, because it will only hold him back. By Pat Graham. Sent.

Also:

- KOURTANE, Finland - OLY--ATH-Kluft Withdraws. Swedish long jumper Carolina Kluft says she won't compete at the London Olympics because of a hamstring injury. Sent.

FEATURES:

OLY--BOX-WARREN'S THIRD TRY

Rau'shee Warren is making American boxing history in London because nobody tells him what to do. Warren again proved his independence when he decided to become the first three-time Olympian in U.S. boxing history. By Greg Beacham. Sent.

OLY--HAITIAN OLYMPIANS

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - Four of Haiti's five Olympians at the London Games have something in common - they're not from Haiti. With millions of Haitians living on $2 a day or less and hundreds of thousands of people rendered homeless by a devastating earthquake two years ago, the country struggles to produce world-class athletes. But those with Haitian links are still eager to represent the small Caribbean country. By Trenton Daniel. Sent.

OTHER:

OLY--FINLAND-OLYMPIC LEGACY

HELSINKI - If Londoners need inspiration on how to ensure that the Olympic legacy lives on long after the Summer Games, they may want to throw a glance at Helsinki. Sixty years after the Finnish capital hosted the Olympics, almost every stadium built is still being used for the purpose it was intended. By David MacDougall. Sent.

OLY--LIBYA-OLYMPIC KIDNAPPING

TRIPOLI, Libya - The president of Libya's Olympic Committee is released Sunday, a week after unknown gunmen nabbed him from his car in the capital, his brother said. By Esam Mohamed. Sent.

Also:

- LONDON - OLY--EQU-Australian Withdraws. Australian rider Shane Rose withdraws from the Olympic equestrian competition because his horse, Taurus, was ruled out with a leg injury. Sent.

- LONDON - OLY--London Olympics-Sunday Shopping. The Olympics are bringing longer Sunday shopping hours to England. Sent.