Olympic Beach Volleyball Moved To Inland Site

Coastal Georgia's Tybee Island was dropped yesterday as the site for 1996 Olympic beach volleyball.

Olympic officials announced they were moving beach volleyball to Clayton County's Atlanta Beach, a private recreation facility about 15 miles south of Atlanta.

The Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games switched sites after Ruben Acosta, executive director of the International Volleyball Federation, objected to the site, accessible only by a two-lane causeway.

While Acosta endorsed the island near Savannah a year ago, "a more thorough study of the venue by his technical staff led him to conclude that the interest of the athletes and the Olympics would be best served at another site," said ACOG sports director Dave Maggard.

HOCKEY

The Buffalo Sabres have re-signed center Pat LaFontaine, according to team sources. The deal will reportedly bring LaFontaine, the NHL's No. 2 scorer in 1992-93 who missed most of last season with a knee injury, $22.5 million over five years. That would make him the NHL's fourth highest-paid player.

TENNIS

Top-seeded Goran Ivanisevic overcame a tantrum and struggled to a 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 win over Alex Corretja of Spain in the quarterfinals of the Romanian Open in Bucharest. Ivanisevic threw his racket several times during the first set, but used his service and powerful left-handed shots to rally.

Ivanisevic, the defending champion, will meet Renzo Furlan of Italy. Furlan advanced when fifth-seeded Thomas Muster of Austria withdrew from their match with a fever.

-- Fifth-seeded Karel Novacek of the Czech Republic beat Daniel Nestor of Canada 6-4, 6-3 to advance to the quarterfinals of the Club Colombia Open in Bogota. Novacek will face Nicolas Pereira of Venezuela. Pereira beat eighth-seeded Fernando Meligeni of Brazil 6-4, 7-5.

SOCCER

Diego Maradona, his playing days behind him, said he would begin coaching as an unpaid assistant with his former Argentine league team. Maradona, 33, was to begin work today with Boca Juniors Coach Cesar Menotti in Buenos Aires.

COLLEGES

A federal grand jury in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., indicted two men in a point-shaving scheme in a 1990 basketball game involving the University of Central Florida and Stanford. Each of the charges carries a five-year prison term and $250,000 fine.

Kelly Michael Hunter, 26, and his father, Larry H. Hunter, 50, were charged with conspiracy to commit sports bribery and attempted sports bribery. U.S. Attorney Kendall Coffey would not disclose details or identify any players involved. The defendants allegedly offered money to guarantee Stanford won the game by a margin greater than the point spread. The attempt was unsuccessful, Coffey said.

LOCAL NOTES

The public is invited to attend a briefing on the Interbay Family Golf Center, at 7 p.m. Thursday at Seattle Parks headquarters, 100 Dexter Ave. N. Eight firms have been asked to submit bids to finance, design, build and manage the center, which will feature a new driving range, executive nine, restaurant and pro shop.

-- The NFL Gatorade Punt, Pass and Kick contest will be at 9 a.m. today at the Kirkland Boys & Girls Club, 10805 124th NE, Kirkland. Former Seahawks Ron Mattes and Curt Singer will be on hand.