11.   American Tonia Kwaitkowski, who is not entered in the qualifying competition, skated a clean, though not brilliant program to Japanese music.

12.   Brescia coach Carlo Mazzone has left the club in disgust and is set to announce his resignation following the elimination from European qualifying competition, Italian media reported Thursday.

13.   Chen had to go through a qualifying competition to be able to compete at the Olympics in Japan.

14.   Cook hurt herself jumping at an Olympic qualifying competition in Lake Placid, New York, last week.

15.   For Athens, Carrard said it would be difficult for Afghanistan to compete in any team sports because of the need to go through qualifying competitions.

16.   In June, the Iraqi national team lost twice to Kazakstan in World Cup qualifying competition.

17.   Jamaica led the preliminary qualifying competition with nine points.

18.   Li, the diving official, said China would hold qualifying competitions for the Sydney Olympics later in the year.

19.   Middlesbrough was again without its other Brazilian star, Juninho, who is playing for his country in an Olympic qualifying competition in Argentina.

20.   North Korea did not take part in the regional qualifying competition, thus disqualifying itself from the tournament.