Wednesday, June 18, 2003 | 9:43 a.m.
Background checks planned for 2004
A new electronic database of criminal records will allow background checks on everyone seeking passes for the 2004 Olympics, including athletes and journalists, Greece's justice minister said.
Security is a top issue for Athens organizers and the government plans to spend more than $600 million on surveillance, patrols and other measures. Security officials have said Greece poses an additional challenge because of its porous land and sea borders.
Anyone who applies for an Olympic accreditation -- including athletes, officials, journalists and others -- will have to pass background checks, said Justice Minister Philippos Petsalnikos. The project will cost about $5.3 million.
Beckham sold to Real Madrid
English soccer star David Beckham was sold to Real Madrid by Manchester United for a $41 million transfer fee.
The Premier League champions said the deal would be finalized in July.
The England captain and midfielder left London for a promotional tour of Japan, Vietnam, Malaysia and Thailand.
Beckham, a 13-year veteran with Manchester United, was benched during last season by team manager Sir Alex Ferguson. Beckham dismissed suggestions of a rift with Ferguson despite several publicized fallouts.
Lewis has sixth place stripped after drug test
Kristen Lewis lost her sixth-place finish in the 200-meter butterfly at the USA Swimming Grand Prix Series because she tested positive for a banned substance, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency said.
Lewis, of Moraga, Calif., said she took an over-the-counter cold medicine for a fever before the race in Ann Arbor, Mich., on May 18. She said she didn't know the banned substance pseudoephedrine was in the medicine.
Winter X Games set for Aspen again
The Winter X Games are headed back to Aspen, Colo.
The games will take place in Aspen-Snowmass for the third consecutive year. The eighth version of Winter X will be Jan. 22-25.
About 250 athletes are expected to compete moto X, skiing, snowboarding and snowmobile events. Last year's games drew more than 48,000 to the slopes of Buttermilk Mountain in three days.
The X Games were created in 1995 by ESPN. Winter X started two years later at Big Bear Lake, Calif.
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