Sports News Roundup: Soccer-Pele sings for Santos as recovery continues; Olympics-USOPC will require COVID-19 vaccine for all US athletes at Beijing Games and more

The former Santos, Brazil and New York Cosmos player has been in hospital since the start of September and the 80-year-old has improved enough to post videos of him doing exercises and using a stationary bicycle. Olympics-USOPC will require COVID-19 vaccine for all US athletes at Beijing Games The United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee on Wednesday said all U.S. athletes hoping to compete at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics will need to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.

Soccer-Pele sings for Santos as recovery continues

Pele delighted fans of his former club Santos on Wednesday after his daughter posted a video of him singing the club’s anthem as the three-time World Cup winner continues his recovery from colon surgery. The former Santos, Brazil, and New York Cosmos player has been in hospital since the start of September and the 80-year-old has improved enough to post videos of him doing exercises and using a stationary bicycle.

Olympics-USOPC will require COVID-19 vaccine for all US athletes at Beijing Games

The United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee on Wednesday said all U.S. athletes hoping to compete at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics will need to be vaccinated against COVID-19. "Effective Nov. 1, 2021, the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee will require all USOPC staff, athletes, and those utilizing USOPC facilities – including the training centers – to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19," USOPC CEO Sarah Hirshland wrote in a letter reviewed by Reuters.

Soccer-Bruno Henrique double gives Flamengo first leg Libertadores lead

Bruno Henrique scored twice in the first half as Brazilian side Flamengo beat Ecuador's Barcelona 2-0 in the first leg of their Copa Libertadores semi-final on Wednesday. Flamengo, champions in 2019, took the lead after 21 minutes with a Bruno Henrique header before the former Santos and Wolfsburg striker doubled their lead 18 minutes later when he finished off a fine passing move.

Soccer-Ronaldo leapfrogs Messi in Forbes list of top-earning players

Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo has reclaimed top spot in the list of the world's highest-paid soccer players from Lionel Messi, according to Forbes.

Ronaldo, 36, rejoined United from Juventus in August after 12 years away, while Messi has swapped boyhood club Barcelona to join Paris St Germain.

Golf-'Say cheese', Europeans court Packers fans at Ryder Cup

If you want to get on the right side of Wisconsin locals you can do two things -- dress like you are a Green Bay Packers supporter and wear a giant slice of foam cheese on your head. The European Ryder Cup team did both on Wednesday as they launched a charm offensive at Whistling Straits before facing the hostile U.S. home crowd when play begins on Friday in the biennial event.

Cricket-British PM Johnson asks Australia to help resolve Ashes stand-off

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has asked his Australian counterpart, Scott Morrison, to help ease strict quarantine rules to allow the families of England's cricketers to tour with the players during the upcoming Ashes series. England players are seeking assurances their family members will be allowed to join them in Australia during the five-test series in December and January.

Can you 'own' a goal? Collectible NFTs rolling into elite soccer

It might have seemed a long shot a year ago when a company built a digital platform for basketball fans to buy and trade video highlights of NBA games that they could probably watch for free online. It was more bewildering when some clips changed hands for tens, or even hundreds, of thousands of dollars.

Tennis-Osaka confirms withdrawal from Indian Wells

Naomi Osaka, who said at the U.S. Open that she planned to take a break from tennis, has officially pulled out of next month's BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. The four-time Grand Slam champion fell in the third round of the year's final major and afterward told reporters she needed the break to concentrate on her mental health.

MLB roundup: Rays wrap up playoff berth

Austin Meadows' three-run homer highlighted Tampa Bay's six-run third inning Wednesday afternoon, securing a playoff berth for the Rays in a 7-1 drubbing of the Toronto Blue Jays in St. Petersburg, Fla. After losing Tuesday despite being issued 11 walks and a hit batter, the Rays erupted by batting around against Toronto for the third time this season.

Tennis-Murray makes first ATP quarter-final since 2019

Former world number one Andy Murray said he is seeing signs of improvement in his game after reaching his first ATP quarter-final in two years on Wednesday with a comfortable victory over Canada's Vasek Pospisil at the Moselle Open. The 34-year-old Briton, who had hip surgeries in 2018 and 2019, has not been able to get back to the kind of form that helped him win three major titles and two consecutive Olympic singles gold medals in London and Rio de Janeiro.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)