Los Angeles - With one eye on the present and the other on the future, the New York Knicks made a bold move by unloading their top two scorers, Zach Randolph and Jamal Crawford, in separate trades.

The Knicks on Friday acquired forward Al Harrington from the Golden State Warriors in exchange for sharpshooting guard Crawford.

Just a few hours later, New York shipped starting forward Randolph and backup guard Mardy Collins out west to the bottom-feeding LA Clippers in exchange for guard Cuttino Mobley and forward Tim Thomas.

Istanbul/Washington  - US president-elect Barack Obama threw his weight behind Chicago's bid for the 2016 Olympics, recording a video message for organizers meeting in Turkey on Friday.

Obama promised his incoming administration "will bring a fresh perspective on America's role and responsibilities around the world" and praised the Olympic movement for its ability to bring the global community together.

Athen - Greece's former 400 metres hurdles Olympic champion Fani Halkia was Friday suspended for two years by the Greek athletics federation SEGAS.

Halkia was tested positive for banned steroids at the Beijing Olympics and barred from competing.

The Athens 2004 Olympic champion, her coach and two more athletes have already been charged by Athens prosecutors with doping violations before and during the Beijing Games.

Halkia, 400m runner Dimitris Regas, 200m sprinter Tassos Gousis and coach Giorgos Panagiotopoulos face prison sentences of up to two years.

Johannesburg - Football's controlling body FIFA on Friday said that the global economic crisis has not caused a problem for the organization.

"We are glad that the crisis has not touched FIFA. We are not Swiss for nothing. We are still a safe company," general secretary Jerome Valcke said.

Addressing a press conference in Johannesburg a day before the Confederations Cup draw Valcke said that any unplanned changes that the FIFA expected to be implemented by the local organizing committee (LOC) that placed a financial burden on the LOC would be discussed between the parties.

Johannesburg - This weekend's Confederations Cup draw in Johannesburg will draw on the input of some of the world's most beautiful women, world football body FIFA announced Friday.

Eight contestants in the Miss World competition that takes place in South Africa in December will assist FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke in the draw to determine two groups for the eight-team championship.

"Hosting as prestigious an event as the Miss World competition again underlines South Africa's ability to stage major global events. And as for the beautiful contestants assisting me on Saturday, it's certainly a draw I will be looking forward to more than most," Valcke said in a statement.