Athletes and firefighters carry the flag that flew over the World Trade Center in a moving tribute at the 2001 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. - Mark Reis/Krt
LONDON, (Reuters):
PROFESSIONAL SPORT will go ahead across the world on today's anniversary of the September 11 attacks but security will be tight at some events and tributes to the victims are planned before and during the action.
Baseball games will take place in the US but play will stop at 9.11 p.m. local time and video tributes will follow in honour of the victims of the attacks on New York and Washington.
Soccer in leading European nations such as England, France, Spain and Germany was also scheduled to take place.
Last year leading sportsmen put their professions on hold in the days after the attacks as a mark of respect. The US, which lives and breathes sport, postponed major league baseball games.
European soccer games were postponed the day after the attacks although Champions League matches did take place on September 11 2001 - just hours after the attacks - sparking criticism.
Players in the English Premier League were due to wear black armbands and hold a minute's silence before today's eight games, English soccer officials said yesterday.
Similar tributes were planned in the German first division where five Bundesliga games were scheduled.
In Spain, King's Cup first-round soccer games will go ahead. Organisers of cycling's Tour of Spain said they planned a tribute but did not give any details.
Major League Baseball was the first domestic sport affected in the United States after September 11, with all games postponed for the following two days. Three PGA golf events were put back a day.
As a result the World Series was extended into November for the first time and the New York Yankees, generally unloved outside the Bronx, became sentimental favourites as they took the field against the Arizona Diamondbacks wearing hats honouring the New York police and fire departments.
Security is expected to be very tight at the Yankees Stadium, where the New York Yankees take on Baltimore.
Extra police will also be in place at the world volleyball championships in Germany where the US were due to play Cuba yesterday in the northern port of Bremen.
In the Italian city of Milan a match is planned between a Formula One motor racing drivers team featuring world champion Michael Schumacher and a Fashion Industry side.
Officials said all the money raised would go to families of the victims. Marcello Lippi of Juventus will coach the Fashion team.
