Summer Sports



Poland's World Championship opening win signals "new era" in volleyball

By Mike Rowbottom at Stadion Narodowy in Warsaw

FIVB President Dr Ary Graça has promised a "new era" in volleyball at the opening of the World Championships in Warsaw ©Getty ImagesA sell-out crowd of 70,000 in Poland's national football stadium here tonight to witness the opening match of the 2014 World Volleyball Championships between the hosts and Serbia after a lengthy, glitzy, pumped-up Opening Ceremony – an experience that the President of the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB), Dr Ary Graça, believes will prove a landmark for his sport.








Dutch celebrate home gold as World Rowing Championships witness nine world best times

By Mike Rowbottom

Six of today's eight finals at the World Rowing Championships in Amsterdam produced world best times ©Getty ImagesAs is their custom, Dutch swimmers wasted no time in reaching their home crew on the first of three finals days at the World Rowing Championships in Amsterdam – and there was special reason for celebration as the defending champions in the lightweight women's quadruple sculls had set the stands in a ferment by finishing eight seconds inside the eight-year-old world best set by China.