Atlanta Hawks forward Josh Childress has reportedly arrived in Athens to negotiate his transfer to the Olympiakos basketball club. The 25-year-old is said to be discussing the offer of a three-year contract that will set the Piraeus club back by a total 12.6 million euros. Although Olympiakos has said nothing about the reports in various Greek or US media, Childress is expected to seal his move to Greece by today. He averaged 11.8 points and 4.9 rebounds per game last season. He played 76 times for the Hawks in 2007-08, though none in the starting lineup.

The lawyer of Greek sprinter Katerina Thanou told the BBC yesterday that his client would like to take part in the Olympic Games, despite reactions due to her missing three doping tests in 2004 and serving a two-year ban since. “I believe she will compete. Those who advocate the contrary must produce compelling justification and not simply empty rhetoric,” said Gregory Ioannidis. Thanou has made the mark for the 100-meter event and official selection by the Hellenic Olympic Committee is pending.

Greece grabbed one gold and one silver medal at the World Under-23 Championship last weekend in Brandenburg, Germany. Yiannis Tsilis and Giorgos Tziallas won the gold for the second year in succession in men’s double skulls, finishing four seconds ahead of the second-placed Argentinean crew. Triantafyllia Kalamboka and Christina Yiazitzidou finished second in the women’s lightweight double skulls, trailing only the German boat.

Aristeidis Michael finished fourth in sailing’s European Laser Radial Championship in Nieuwpoort, Belgium, on Saturday. Aris had 23 penalty points, nine behind the winner, Mathieu Frei of France, at the end of all 10 races in the event.

Panathinaikos soccer club returned yesterday from Austria, where it conducted its main pre-season training, and is gearing up for next week’s first match in the Champions League. On Thursday, it will host Belgium’s Charleroi in a friendly match at the Olympic Stadium.