Volcanic Ash Cloud Hits World Sport
Travel chaos triggered by the cloud of volcanic ash which has grounded the bulk of Europe's airfleet has hit sporting events around the globe.
Australia's Federations Cup squad including Samantha Stosur and Alicia Molik are due in Ukraine this week for a World Group playoff tie.
However, Stosur, who claimed her second career title in the Family Circle Cup in South Carolina on Monday, may struggle to get a flight to Europe in time.
Cricket Australia is considering changing its travel plans for the world Twenty20 championships, as the squad is scheduled to travel to the Caribbean via Europe.
The Australian team is scheduled to leave on Friday.
Dozens of cricketers at district level have also been affected, as they have been prevented from taking up positions at leagues across England and Scotland because they cannot fly into the United Kingdom.
One player agent estimated "up to 100'' players were unable to leave home.
Next weekend's Japanese MotoGP has been postponed until 3rd October while in China, the massive cancellation of flights back to Europe has left Formula One cars, equipment and personnel stranded in Shanghai after Sunday's Grand Prix.
Britain's Olympic cycling champion Bradley Wiggins was forced to miss the Amstel Gold one-day classic in the Netherlands.
Monday's Boston marathon meanwhile will go ahead without Abdellah Falil, an elite runner from Morocco who has had to ditch his attempt to run in the race for the first time.
The 34-year-old failed to make it across the Atlantic after being trapped in Paris for several days.
In Manchester, Valeria Sorokina and Nina Vislova became the first Russians ever to win a European Badminton title when they took the women's doubles on Sunday - but they may now be stranded in Britain for some time.
Not only has the Icelandic volcanic ash grounded them but their visa does not enable them to travel overland through countries other than the United Kingdom.
About 30 European countries have closed or restricted their airspace due to safety fears presented by the dust cloud from last Wednesday's eruption by the Eyjafjoell volcano in Iceland.
