UPI NewsTrack Sports

Brits expect 600k+ visitors for Olympics

LONDON, Jan. 26 (UPI) -- The British Border Agency said 600,000 to 700,000 foreign visitors are expected in the country for the Summer Olympics.

Tony Smith, senior director of the Olympic program for the agency, told a crowd at the Royal United Services Institute in London that 70,000 of the expected visitors will be bearing Olympic passes as team members, supporters and officials, The Daily Telegraph reported Thursday.

Smith said 20,000 of the pass-holders who would normally need a visa to enter the country will instead have their identities verified through biometric tests.

"We will be sharing data with the intelligence and security services and with the Serious and Organized Crime Agency so we will have every opportunity to identify any serious threat," he said.

Smith said 470 volunteers and 500 reserve or retired agents are being added to the agency's 4,500-strong staff for the Olympics.

Homeowners make thousands on Super Bowl

INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 26 (UPI) -- Companies specializing in helping people rent their homes to vacationers said Indianapolis residents can rent to Super Bowl-goers for thousands.

Jon Gray, vice president of vacation rental Web site HomeAway's North American division, said the average price of a rental property is $1,750 per week, but the price can reach $3,000 per week for large events such as the Super Bowl, The Indianapolis Star reported Thursday.

"It is a once-in-a-very-long-time opportunity to make a nice chunk of money out of renting your house for a very short time," Gray said.

Bob Hayes, owner of Sports Event Rentals, said four-bedroom homes in the area around Lucas Oil Stadium can rent for $1,000 to $2,500 per night during the Super Bowl.

However, he said signs from a local company promising up to $10,000 per night are "just unrealistic."

Karlsson, McIlroy share Abu Dhabi lead

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates, Jan. 26 (UPI) -- Robert Karlsson and Rory McIlroy shot 5-under-par 67 Thursday for the first-round lead at the European Tour's Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship.

Karlsson overcame two early bogeys Thursday while McIlroy also had seven birdies and two bogeys on the day to share the lead.

Jean-Baptiste Gonnet, Richard Finch and Gareth Maybin are tied for third at 4-under with another group of three in at 3-under 69. Tiger Woods, who had two birdies and 16 pars Thursday, is among 11 players tied at 2-under.

Karlsson, playing the second nine of the Abu Dhabi Golf Club first Thursday, countered bogeys at 10 and 12 with birdies at 11 and 13. He closed the side with two birdies and climbed into the lead with three birdies in a five-hole span over Nos. 4-8.

McIlroy, also starting at the 10th hole, had three birdies in his first four holes before a bogey at 14. He had a 5 at the par-4 17th but came back with a birdie at 18.

He returned to 3-under with a second-hole birdie and added birdies at Nos. 7 and 8.

Nadal again defeats Federer

MELBOURNE, Jan. 26 (UPI) -- Rafael Nadal continued his string of success over Roger Federer with a four-set win Thursday in the semifinals of the Australian Open.

Nadal improved to 18-9 lifetime against Federer with a 6-7 (5-7), 6-2, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4 victory over three hours, 42 minutes. Nadal, the world's No. 2-ranked player, has won four of his last five meetings against Federer and each of the last five times they played in a Grand Slam event.

Nadal advanced to Sunday's tournament finals against either No. 1-ranked Novak Djokovic or fourth-seeded Andy Murray, who play in a semifinal Friday. Djokovic beat Murray in the finals of last year's Australian Open.

Federer, No. 3 in the world, hadn't lost a set in the tournament and was up a set and a break one game into the second set. But Nadal broke back at love and, after getting even at 2-2, ran off four straight games to even the match.

They traded breaks in the middle of the third set but Nadal built a 6-1 lead in the tiebreaker. Federer won four straight points before Nadal finished off the set.

Nadal edged ahead with a ninth-game break in the fourth set. Federer had a break chance in the final game but Nadal pulled to 40-40 with a cross-court winner, got to match point with a service winner and advanced when Federer sent a shot long on the final point.

Federer, who generally seemed to be fighting from behind, had an uncharacteristic 63 unforced errors and five double faults. Nadal had 16 break-point chances -- winning six. Federer was 3-of-10 in his break opportunities

Nadal has one Australian Open title among his 10 Grand Slam championships. He beat Federer in a classic five-set match to take the 2009 title.