2008 World Junior Curling Championships, Qualifying events, European Junior Curling Challenge
The European Qualification takes place via a challenge tournament this year in Prague, Czech Republic. 8 women's teams and 12 men's teams will compete for 1 spot to the WJCC.


2008 World Junior Curling Championships, Qualifying events, Pacific Junior Curling Championships
Played between 16-20 Jan-2008 in Jeonju, Korea. The format saw a double round-robin with the top 3 making the medal round. First got a bye to the Final and 2nd and 3rd played in a single semi-final.


2008 World Junior Figure Skating Championships
The 2008 World Junior Figure Skating Championships were held from February 25 through March 2 in Sofia, Bulgaria. Commonly called "World Juniors" and "Junior Worlds", they are an annual figure skating competition in which elite figure skaters compete for the title of World Junior Champion. The event is open to figure skaters from ISU member nations who have reached the age of 13 by July 1 of the previous year, but have not yet turned 19. The upper age limit for men competing in pairs and dance is 21. Skaters compete in four disciplines: men's singles, ladies' singles, pair skating, and ice dancing.


2008 World Junior Figure Skating Championships
The term "Junior" refers to the age level rather than necessarily the skill level. Therefore, some of the skaters competing have competed nationally and internationally at the senior level, but are still age-eligible for World Juniors. Regardless of whether they have competed as seniors, all competitors perform programs that conform to the ISU rules for junior level competition in terms of program lengths, jumping passes, etc.


2008 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
The 2008 IIHF World U20 Championship, commonly referred to as the 2008 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships (2008 WJHC), was the 32nd edition of the Ice Hockey World Junior Championship. The Elite group, what the IIHF refer to as the Top Division, was held in Pardubice and Liberec, Czech Republic, between 26 December 2007 and 5 January 2008. Canada won the gold medal for the fourth consecutive time. Sweden earned its first World Junior medal since 1996 by reaching the final.


2008 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, Top Division, Scoring leaders
GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/− = Plus-minus; PIM = Penalties In MinutesSource:


2008 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, Top Division, Scoring leaders, Goaltending leaders
TOI = Time On Ice (minutes:seconds); GA = Goals Against; GAA = Goals Against Average; SA = Shots Against; Sv% = Save Percentage; SO = ShutoutsSource:


2008 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, Division I
The following teams took part in the Division I tournament, that was held from December 9, through December 18, 2007. Group A was played at Bad Toelz, Germany. Group B was played at Riga, Latvia:


2008 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, Division I, Group A
Germany is promoted to Pool A and  Lithuania is relegated to Division II for the 2009 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships


2008 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, Division I, Group B
Latvia is promoted to Pool A and  Great Britain is relegated to Division II for the 2009 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships


2008 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, Division II
The following teams took part in the Division II tournament, that was held from December 9, through December 16, 2007. Group A was played at Canazei, Italy. Group B was played at Tallinn, Estonia:


2008 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, Division II, Group A
Italy is promoted to Division I and  Iceland is relegated to Division III for the 2009 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships


2008 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, Division II, Group B
Estonia is promoted to Division I and  China is relegated to Division III for the 2009 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships


2008 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, Division III
The following teams took part in the Division III tournament, that was held from January 16 through January 24, 2008 in Belgrade, Serbia.


2008 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, Division III
New Zealand and  Serbia were promoted to Division II for the 2009 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships


2008 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships – Division I
The following teams took part in the 2008 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships – Division I tournament, that was held from December 9, through December 18, 2007. Group A was played at Bad Tölz, Germany.


2008 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships – Division I, Group A
Germany is promoted to Top Division and  Lithuania is relegated to Division II for the 2009 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships


2008 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships – Division I, Group B
Latvia is promoted to Top Division and  Great Britain is relegated to Division II for the 2009 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships


2008 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships – Division II
The following teams took part in the 2008 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships – Division II  tournament, that was held from December 9, through December 16, 2007. Group A was played at Canazei, Italy.


2008 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships – Division II, Group A
Italy is promoted to Division I and  Iceland is relegated to Division III for the 2009 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships


2008 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships – Division II, Group B
Estonia is promoted to Division I and  China is relegated to Division III for the 2009 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships


2008 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships – Division III
The following teams took part in the Division III tournament, that was held from January 16 through January 24, 2008 in Belgrade, Serbia.


2008 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships – Division III, Results
New Zealand and  Serbia were promoted to Division II for the 2009 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships


2008 World Junior Table Tennis Championships
The 6th World Junior Table Tennis Championships 2008 were held in Madrid, Spain, from 6 to 13 December 2008. It was organised by the Real Federacion Española de Tenis de Mesa under the auspices and authority of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF).


2008 World Karate Championships
The 2008 World Karate Championships are the 19th edition of the World Karate Championships, and were held in Tokyo, Japan from November 13 to November 16, 2008.


2008 World Ladies Snooker Championship
The 2008 World Ladies Snooker Championship was the 2008 edition of the World Women's Snooker Championship, first held in 1976, and was played at Cambridge Snooker Centre from 3 to 7 May. The tournament was won by Reanne Evans, who achieved her fourth consecutive world title by defeating June Banks 5–2 in the final. Evans also made the highest break of the tournament, 102.


2008 World Ladies Snooker Championship
There were four round-robin qualifying groups, three of six players each, and one of seven players, with the top two players in each group progressing into the knockout stage. In the final, Banks won the first frame on the pink. Evans compiled a break of 52 in the next frame to win it, then took five of the next six frames. Hannah Jones, aged 11, won the under-21 title in an event run alongside the main tournament.


2008 World Long Distance Mountain Running Challenge
The 2008 World Long Distance Mountain Running Challenge was the 5th edition of the global Mountain running competition, World Long Distance Mountain Running Championships, organised by the World Mountain Running Association.


2008 World Masters (darts)
The 2008 Winmau World Masters was the fourth major tournament on the BDO/WDF calendar for 2008. It took place from 5–7 December in the Bridlington Spa Royal Hall. Martin Adams beat Scott Waites in the final to take his first Masters title and join an elite list of players to win both the World Championship and the Masters in their career.


2008 World Masters Athletics Indoor Championships
The third World Masters Athletics Indoor Championships were held in Clermont-Ferrand, France, from March 17-22, 2008. The World Masters Athletics Championships serve the division of the sport of athletics for people over 35 years of age, referred to as masters athletics.


2008 World Masters Athletics Indoor Championships
A full range of indoor track and field events were held.


2008 World Matchplay
The 2008 Stan James World Matchplay was the 15th annual staging of the World Matchplay darts tournament by the Professional Darts Corporation. The tournament took place at the Winter Gardens, Blackpool, from 20–26 July 2008.


2008 World Matchplay
World number three James Wade went into the competition as the defending champion and managed to reach the final for the third year in a row, but was defeated by top seed Phil Taylor 18–9 who won his ninth World Matchplay championship.


2008 World Matchplay, Prize fund
A total of £300,000 was available for the players, divided based on the following performances:


2008 World Matchplay, Qualification
The qualification process for the World Matchplay differed this year. The top 16 in the  after the 2008 UK Open qualified automatically as the 16 seeds. The other 16 places would be made up of the 16 highest ranked players (not already in the top 16) from the  - decided by the various Player Championship events taking place on the PDC Pro Tour from January 2008 - the cutoff point was the Las Vegas Players Championship just before the 2008 Las Vegas Desert Classic.


2008 World Men's Curling Championship
The 2008 World Men's Curling Championship was held from April 4–13, 2008 at Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks, North Dakota in the USA. The 12-team tournament took place in the 11,643 seat hockey arena on the grounds of the University of North Dakota.


2008 World Men's Curling Championship, Teams
Skip : Hugh Millikin* Fourth: Ian Palangio Second: Sean Hall Lead: Stephen Johns Alternate: Stephen Hewitt (*Throws third rocks)


2008 World Men's Curling Championship, Teams
Skip : Kevin Martin Third: John Morris Second: Marc Kennedy Lead: Ben Hebert Alternate: Adam Enright


2008 World Men's Curling Championship, Teams
Skip : Wang Fengchun Third: Liu Rui Second: Xu Xiaoming Lead: Zang Jialang Alternate: Li Dongyan


2008 World Men's Curling Championship, Teams
Skip : Jiří Snítil Third: Martin Snítil Second: Jindřich Kitzberger Lead: Marek Vydra Alternate: Miloš Hoferka


2008 World Men's Curling Championship, Teams
Skip : Johnny Frederiksen Third: Lars Vilandt Second: Bo Jensen Lead: Ulrik Schmidt Alternate: Mikkel Poulson


2008 World Men's Curling Championship, Teams
Skip : Thomas Dufour Third: Tony Angiboust Second: Jan Ducroz Lead: Richard Ducroz Alternate: Raphael Mathieu


2008 World Men's Curling Championship, Teams
Skip : Andy Kapp Third: Andreas Lang Second: Holger Höhne Lead: Andreas Kempf Alternate: Felix Schulze


2008 World Men's Curling Championship, Teams
Skip : Thomas Ulsrud Third: Torger Nergård Second: Christoffer Svae Lead: Havard Vad Petersson Alternate: Thomas Due


2008 World Men's Curling Championship, Teams
Skip : David Murdoch Third: Graeme Connal Second: Peter Smith Lead: Euan Byers Alternate: Peter Loudon


2008 World Men's Curling Championship, Teams
Skip : Anders Kraupp Third: Peder Folke Second: Björn Brandberg Lead: Anton Sandström Alternate: Mats Nyberg


2008 World Men's Curling Championship, Teams
Skip : Claudio Pescia Third: Patrick Hürlimann Second: Pascal Sieber Lead: Marco Battilana Alternate: Toni Müller


2008 World Men's Curling Championship, Teams
Skip : Craig Brown Third: Rich Ruohonen Second: John Dunlop Lead: Pete Annis Alternate: Kevin Kakela


2008 World Mind Sports Games
This is the current revision of this page, as edited by 94.178.234.44 (talk) at 13:46, 10 April 2020 (→External links). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this version.


2008 World Mind Sports Games
The first World Mind Sports Games (WMSG) were held in Beijing, China from October 3 to 18, 2008, about two months after the Olympic Games. They were sponsored and organised by the International Mind Sports Association with the General Administration of Sport of China and the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Sport.


2008 World Mind Sports Games
Five mind sports participated in the first Games: bridge, chess, draughts (checkers), go (weiqi), and xiangqi (Chinese chess). Thirty-five gold medals were contested by 2,763 competitors from 143 countries.


2008 World Mind Sports Games
According to the World Bridge Federation, it incorporated the World Team Olympiad (1960–2004) and some established youth events in the Games "as the stepping stone on the path of introducing a third kind of Olympic Games (after the 'regular' Olympics and the Paralympics)".


2008 World Mind Sports Games, Events, Bridge
The World Bridge Federation organized eleven events in Beijing that constituted the "World Bridge Games" including nine WMSG medal events. Six were among the established world bridge championships contested in even-number years. The other three were for "youth" under age 28, a one-time compromise. More than 1400 players participated, about half of all players in the Games. Entries from European Bridge League countrieswon 22 of the 27 medals, led by Norway with six medals including two gold.


2008 World Mind Sports Games, Events, Bridge
Two other events were continued by the WBF from its quadrennial "Olympiad" program, as part of its new "World Bridge Games" but separate from the WMSG (non-medal events sharing the facilities). Japan won the third Senior International Cup, for national teams of seniors (age 58+). ' Yeh Bros' from Chinese Taipei won the second Transnational Mixed Teams, for teams of any nationality comprising mixed pairs, one man and one woman.


2008 World Mind Sports Games, Events, Chess
The World Chess Federation organized ten events in Beijing, all of them in rapid or blitz chess.


2008 World Mind Sports Games, Events, Draughts
Under the auspices of the World Draughts Federation 288 players participated in five medal events in Beijing. There was a strong regional showing as twelve of the fifteen medals were won by players from Russia, Latvia, Moldova, and Ukraine.


2008 World Mind Sports Games, Events, Go
Under the auspices of the International Go Federation 560 players participated in six medal events in Beijing. South Korea won half of the 18 medals and all were swept by competitors from Eastern Asia.


2008 World Mind Sports Games, Events, Xiangqi
Xiangqi, or "Chinese chess", was the fifth sport to participate in Beijing, where 125 players participated in five events. Although the World Xiangqi Federation was not a member of IMSA at the time, the sport was included in the Beijing games as a traditional Chinese sport with a large number of players, especially in China. The host country won all five gold medals.


2008 World Mind Sports Games, Medals
Teams from the host country China won one-quarter of the 105 medals, including one-third of the gold.


2008 World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship
The 2008 World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship was held March 8–15, 2008 in Vierumäki, Finland at the Vierumäki Ice Rink. It was the first mixed doubles world championships organized by the World Curling Federation.


2008 World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship
Switzerland scored two perfect ends in Draw 2 against Wales, a rare feat.


2008 World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship, Teams, Not Competing
The following teams were initially listed as participating in this event but on February 24, 2008 updated schedule they are not included.


2008 World Modern Pentathlon Championships
The 2008 World Modern Pentathlon Championships were held in Budapest, Hungary from May 29 to June 3. It was the last Olympic qualification event in modern pentathlon before the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.


2008 World Monuments Watch
The World Monuments Watch is a flagship advocacy program of the New York-based private non-profit organization World Monuments Fund (WMF) that calls international attention to cultural heritage around the world that is threatened by neglect, vandalism, conflict, or disaster.


2008 World Monuments Watch, Selection process
Every two years, it publishes a select list known as the Watch List of 100 Most Endangered Sites that are in urgent need of preservation funding and protection. The sites are nominated by governments, conservation professionals, site caretakers, non-government organizations (NGOs), concerned individuals, and others working in the field. An independent panel of international experts then select 100 candidates from these entries to be part of the Watch List, based on the significance of the sites, the urgency of the threat, and the viability of both advocacy and conservation solutions.


2008 World Monuments Watch, Selection process
For the succeeding two-year period until a new Watch List is published, these 100 sites can avail grants and funds from the WMF, as well as from other foundations, private donors, and corporations by capitalizing on the publicity and attention gained from the inclusion on the Watch List. Since the Watch List was launched in 1996, more than 75 percent of the enlisted threatened sites have been saved.


2008 World Monuments Watch, 2008 Watch List
The 2008 World Monuments Watch List of 100 Most Endangered Sites was announced on June 6, 2007 by WMF President Bonnie Burnham. The 2008 Watch List highlights three critical man-made threats affecting the world's cultural heritage: political conflict, unchecked urban and industrial development, and global climate change.


2008 World Monuments Watch, 2008 Watch List
On this list, man is indeed the real enemy. But, just as we caused the damage in the first place, we have the power to repair it, by taking our responsibility as caretakers of the world’s cultural heritage seriously. So today we are sounding the alarm, using the World Monuments Watch List to demonstrate, through the vivid examples of beloved places around the world, the importance of working together to meet these challenges and join forces to protect our world’s shared architectural heritage.


2008 World Monuments Watch, Statistics by country/territory
The following countries/territories have multiple sites entered on the 2008 Watch List, listed by the number of sites:


2008 World Mountain Running Trophy
The 2008 World Mountain Running Championships was the 24th edition of the global mountain running competition, World Mountain Running Championships, organised by the World Mountain Running Association.


2008 World Music Awards
The 20th annual World Music Awards was held on 9 November 2008 in Monaco. Awards are given based on worldwide sales figures for that year. The ceremony was hosted by actor Jesse Metcalfe and singer Michelle Williams.


2008 World Music Awards, Nominees
Below is a list of all the nominees for each award, the winners are in bold.


2008 World Orienteering Championships
The 2008 World Orienteering Championships, the 25th World Orienteering Championships, were held in Olomouc in the Czech Republic, 10 –20 July 2008.


2008 World Orienteering Championships
The championships had eight events; sprint for men and women, middle distance for men and women, long distance (formerly called individual or classic distance) for men and women, and relays for men and women.


2008 World Outdoor Bowls Championship
The 2008 World Outdoor Bowls Championship was held at the Burnside Bowling Club in Christchurch, New Zealand, from 12 to 24 January 2008. Safuan Said won the men's singles Gold. New Zealand won the pairs, fours and Leonard Trophy with only Scotland preventing a clean sweep by claiming the triples.


2008 World Outdoor Bowls Championship – Men's Fours
The 2008 World Outdoor Bowls Championship - Men's Fours was held at the Burnside Bowling Club in Christchurch, New Zealand, from 12 to 24 January 2008.


2008 World Outdoor Bowls Championship – Men's Fours
Andrew Todd, Richard Girvan, Russell Meyer and Gary Lawson won the men's fours gold medal.


2008 World Outdoor Bowls Championship – Men's Pairs
The 2008 World Outdoor Bowls Championship - Men's Pairs was held at the Burnside Bowling Club in Christchurch, New Zealand, from 12 to 24 January 2008.


2008 World Outdoor Bowls Championship – Men's Pairs
Russell Meyer and Gary Lawson of New Zealand won the gold medal.


2008 World Outdoor Bowls Championship – Men's Pairs
+ Bizarrely there is confusion as to the actual Brunei team that competed. Although HJ Brahim Naim is listed as competing in the singles & pairs he publicly announced that he was not there after missing his flight.


2008 World Outdoor Bowls Championship – Men's Singles
The 2008 World Outdoor Bowls Championship - Men's Singles was held at the Burnside Bowling Club in Christchurch, New Zealand, from 12 to 24 January 2008.


2008 World Outdoor Bowls Championship – Men's Singles
+ Bizarrely there is confusion as to the actual Brunei team that competed. Although HJ Brahim Naim is listed as competing in the singles and pairs he publicly announced that he was not there after missing his flight.


2008 World Outdoor Bowls Championship – Men's Triples
The 2008 World Outdoor Bowls Championship - Men's Triples was held at the Burnside Bowling Club in Christchurch, New Zealand, from 12 to 24 January 2008.


2008 World Outdoor Bowls Championship – Men's Triples
Wayne Hogg, Willie Wood and David Peacock of Scotland won the gold medal.


2008 World Outdoor Bowls Championship – Women's Fours
The 2008 World Outdoor Bowls Championship – Women's Fours was held at the Burnside Bowling Club in Christchurch, New Zealand, from 12 to 24 January 2008.


2008 World Outdoor Bowls Championship – Women's Fours
Lynsey Armitage, Claire Duke, Julie Keegan and Karen Murphy won the women's fours gold medal.


2008 World Outdoor Bowls Championship – Women's Pairs
The 2008 World Outdoor Bowls Championship - Women's Pairs was held at the Burnside Bowling Club in Christchurch, New Zealand, from 12 to 24 January 2008.


2008 World Outdoor Bowls Championship – Women's Pairs
Jo Edwards and Val Smith  won the women's pairs gold medal.


2008 World Outdoor Bowls Championship – Women's Singles
The 2008 World Outdoor Bowls Championship - Women's Singles was held at the Burnside Bowling Club in Christchurch, New Zealand, from 12 to 24 January 2008.


2008 World Outdoor Bowls Championship – Women's Triples
The 2008 World Outdoor Bowls Championship - Women's Triples was held at the Burnside Bowling Club in Christchurch, New Zealand, from 12 to 24 January 2008.


2008 World Outdoor Bowls Championship – Women's Triples
Sylvia Burns, Loraine Victor and Lorna Trigwell won the women's triples gold medal.


2008 World Polo Championship
The 2008 World Polo Championship, eight edition, took place in Mexico during May 2008 and was won by Chile.


2008 World Polo Championship, Background
This event will bring together eight teams from around the world in the Campo Marte of the Mexican capital, where they will play the finals, and all three pitches Tecamac Polo Club, located in the state of Mexico, the Federal District neighboring entity.


2008 World Polo Championship, Background
Already confirmed the selections are classified as at the end of 2007 completed the classification process. The seleccions participating are: Brazil, as reigning world champion in the category; Mexico, as host country, Canada, New Zealand, England, South Africa, Spain and Chile.


2008 World Polo Championship, Background
Mexico received the headquarters of the event thanks to the work of the entrepreneur Pablo Rincón Gallardo Corcuera, known as Mr.Polo in the Mexican community in the years and winner of 70 Cup Avila Camacho and Eduardo Sólorzano Barrón, holders Propolo century. The institution was unable to continue with the completion of the project because of the death in 2006 of Rincon-Gallardo. Since the start of efforts to achieve headquarters Propolo century was supported by the Family Bailleres who continue as sponsors via El Palacio de Hierro, one of the companies it owns.


2008 World Polo Championship, Background
A decision was taken to seek support for the International Polo (FIP) in the form of a postponement of the Championship. Originally open on November 20, 2007. The international governing body accepted at the same time that a new Organizing Committee took over concretize the tournament. Group headed by polista Alfredo Solorzano and the president of the Mexican Federation of Polo, Rogelio Igartúa.


2008 World Professional Billiards Championship
The 2008 World Professional Billiards Championship, the top international professional competition in English billiards, was held between 23 and 27 July 2008 at the Northern Snooker Centre in Leeds, England. The 16 players were divided into four groups of four, with the top two in each group advancing into the knock-out round.


2008 World Professional Billiards Championship
Mike Russell won his ninth World Professional Billiards Championship title after beating Geet Sethi 1821–1342 in the final.


2008 World Rally Championship
The 2008 World Rally Championship was the 36th season of the FIA World Rally Championship. The season consisted of 15 rallies and began on 24 January, with the 2008 Monte Carlo Rally. Frenchman Sébastien Loeb successfully retained the Drivers' World Championship, his and co-driver Daniel Elena's record-breaking fifth consecutive title, all of them attained driving Citroëns. In addition, Citroën secured their fourth Manufacturers' title, and their first since 2005, from 2006 and 2007 victors, Ford.


2008 World Rally Championship, Rule changes
The running order for the first day is governed by championship position, with the championship leader running first on the road. For every other day of a rally, the order is decided by the previous end of day classification (with the leader on classification running first). The term 'leg' has been replaced by 'day' in order to sound more understandable. Extra 10-minute service prior to the finish podium has been added, intended to allow the service park to remain an attraction until the end of the event.


2008 World Rally Championship, Rule changes
With the switch to Pirelli tyres, tyre mousse (along with all anti-deflation devices) has been banned, and fewer compounds are available. Also the teams aren't allowed to modify tyres by themselves (e.g. by making additional cuts) anymore. At the first event of the season, the available tires were the soft slick DS tire (Pirelli PZero), the WX snow tire without studs, and the WX snow tire with studs (both variants of Pirelli Sottozero). The same snow tyres were used in Sweden as well.


2008 World Rally Championship, Rule changes
Later on loose surface tyres were introduced: Pirelli Scorpion, available in two variants – hard compound for abrasive surfaces, such as roads in Mexico or Greece, and soft one, for more muddy stages as seen on Welsh event. Tire walls have been strengthened in order to endure long, rough gravel stages often full of sharp rocks. The tread on Scorpions is asymmetric and directional, as it has proven more efficient during the tests.


2008 World Rally Championship, Calendar
The 2008 championship was contested over fifteen rounds in Europe, North America, the Middle East, Asia, South America and Oceania.


2008 World Rally Championship, Calendar
The 2008 season included 15 rallies, which was one less than the 2007 season. Rally Norway, Rally Portugal and Rally Ireland were dropped from the calendar for 2008. Rally of Turkey returned to the schedule, and Jordan Rally was part of the calendar for the first time. Rally Australia was planned to make a return after being absent in 2007, but the organizers submitted a request to the FIA to delay the event's return to the schedule until 2009.


2008 World Rally Championship, Calendar
The events also part of the Production World Rally Championship were Sweden, Argentina, Greece, Turkey, Finland, New Zealand, Japan and GB. The seven rallies also on the Junior World Rally Championship schedule were Mexico, Jordan, Italy, Finland, Germany, Spain and France.


2008 World Rally Championship, Teams and drivers
In 2008 two categories are valid to compete for the Manufacturer's championship:


2008 World Rally Championship, Teams and drivers
The teams and drivers for the 2008 season are as follows:


2008 World Rally Championship, Events
The Rally Finland is notable this year for having dropped its famous Ouninpohja stage. This has been done for safety reasons, however this is likely to be a huge disappointment for race fans.


2008 World Rowing Championships
The 2008 World Rowing Championships were World Rowing Championships that were held from 22 to 27 July 2008 in conjunction with the World Junior Rowing Championships in Ottensheim near Linz, Austria. Since 2008 was an Olympic year for rowing, the World Championships did not include Olympic events scheduled for the 2008 Summer Olympics, or the adaptive rowing events at the 2008 Summer Paralympics.


2008 World Running Target Championships
The 2008 World Running Target Championships were separate ISSF World Shooting Championships held in Plzeň, the Czech Republic, in October 2008 as a replacement for the lost Olympic status of 10 metre running target. Apart from this event, competitions were also held in 10 metre running target mixed, 50 metre running target and 50 metre running target mixed. The men's and women's regular 10 metre competitions featured the new semifinal and final stages known as medal matches.


2008 World Running Target Championships
Most of the top European shooters, which constitute the majority of the worldwide elite in running target, were present. No shooters from the most successful non-European nation, China, were competing. Russia and Ukraine dominated, winning 19 medals each.


2008 World Sambo Championships
The 2008 World Sambo Championships was held in St. Petersburg, Russia on 13 to 17 of November, 2008. This tournament included competition in both sport Sambo, and Combat Sambo.


2008 World Sambo Championships
Also See 2010 World Sambo Championships, 2009 World Sambo Championships, 2007 World Sambo Championships, and the 2006 World Sambo Championships


2008 World Senior Curling Championships
The 2008 World Senior Curling Championships were held from March 9 to 15 at the Vierumäki Ice Rink in Vierumäki, Finland. Teams from Alberta, Canada won both the men's and women's events.


2008 World Series
The 2008 World Series was the championship series of Major League Baseball's (MLB) 2008 season. The 104th edition of the World Series, it was a best-of-seven playoff between the National League (NL) champion Philadelphia Phillies and the American League (AL) champion Tampa Bay Rays; the Phillies won the series, four games to one. The 2008 World Series is notable because it is the only Fall Classic to involve a mid-game postponement and resumption (two days later).


2008 World Series
The Series began on Wednesday, October 22, and (after weather delays had postponed the end of Game 5) concluded the following Wednesday, October 29. The AL's 4–3 win in the 2008 All-Star Game gave the Rays home field advantage for the series, meaning no more than three games would be played at Citizens Bank Park (the Phillies' home ballpark). The Phillies won their second championship in their 126-year history to bring the city of Philadelphia its first championship in 25 years (since the 1983 NBA Finals).


2008 World Series
This was the first postseason series lost by an MLB team based in the state of Florida; previously, the Rays and Florida Marlins were 8–0 in post-season series. Additionally, both the Phillies' World Series wins have come against a team making their World Series debut (in 1980, they beat the Kansas City Royals).


2008 World Series
The Phillies advanced to the World Series after defeating the Milwaukee Brewers and the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL's Divisional Series and Championship Series, respectively. The team won its position in the playoffs after its second consecutive NL East division title. This was the Phillies' first World Series appearance in fifteen years. The Tampa Bay Rays advanced to the World Series after defeating the Chicago White Sox and the Boston Red Sox, the 2007 World Series champion, in the AL's Division Series and 2008 American League Championship Series.


2008 World Series, Teams, Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia opened the season by posting a winning record in the opening month of April. The team scored 60 runs over a five-game span in late May and went 14–4 into the beginning of June. The team lost 9 of 11 games to end June, but came out of the All-Star break with a 9–6 record following the midseason hiatus. The Phillies posted the best road record in the National League, at 44–37.


2008 World Series, Teams, Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia traded sweeps with the Los Angeles Dodgers in August and went 13–3 in their last 16 games, to win the National League East title for the second consecutive season. They defeated the Milwaukee Brewers in the Division Series, 3–1, and the Dodgers in the Championship Series, 4–1, to book their place in the 2008 Fall Classic. This was the Phillies' first World Series appearance in fifteen years.


2008 World Series, Teams, Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays also began the season (their first after dropping the "Devil" from their name) with a winning record in the opening month of April. The Rays became the first team since 1903 to have the league's best record on Memorial Day (the last Monday in May) after finishing in last place the previous season. The team went 16–10 in June, but lost seven consecutive games leading up to the All-Star break. In August, the Rays lost seven games to finish out the month with an overall record of 84–51.


2008 World Series, Teams, Tampa Bay Rays
The team concluded the season, albeit with a 13–14 record in September, by winning the American League East title for the first time in franchise history. As the Devil Rays, they had never finished with a winning record, nor finished higher than fourth in their division. The Rays beat the Chicago White Sox 3–1 in the American League Division Series. In the American League Championship Series, Tampa Bay defeated the Boston Red Sox in seven games (4–3), to advance to their first World Series in franchise history. The Rays became the third MLB team in the post-1969 "Divisional Era"  to make the World Series in their first trip to the playoffs, joining the 1969 New York Mets and the 1997 Florida Marlins.


2008 World Series, Game summaries, Game 1
The Philadelphia Phillies scored the first runs of the Series when Chase Utley hit a home run with Jayson Werth on base in the top of the first inning. The Phillies loaded the bases in the second inning, but were unable to score when Shane Victorino was thrown out at home plate by B. J. Upton. The Tampa Bay Rays loaded the bases in the bottom of the third inning; however, Upton grounded into an inning-ending double play and the score remained 2–0. The Phillies extended their lead when Carlos Ruiz batted in Victorino in the fourth inning.


2008 World Series, Game summaries, Game 1
In the bottom of the inning, a home run from Carl Crawford pulled the Rays within two runs. The Rays added their second run the following inning when a double by Akinori Iwamura scored Jason Bartlett. Tampa Bay starting pitcher Scott Kazmir was removed after six innings; J. P. Howell and Grant Balfour combined to shut out the Phillies for 1⅓ innings. Ryan Madson relieved Phillies' starter Cole Hamels in the eighth inning, pitching a single perfect inning. In the top of the ninth inning, two Phillies' runners reached base.


2008 World Series, Game summaries, Game 1
Tampa Bay's Trever Miller was brought on and threw four pitches—striking out Ryan Howard—before he was relieved. Philadelphia stranded two runners, on second and third base, and entered the bottom of the ninth inning ahead by one run. Philadelphia's Brad Lidge struck out the first two batters he faced and retired the third batter to get the save.


2008 World Series, Game summaries, Game 2
Tampa Bay scored the first runs of the game in the first inning when Akinori Iwamura and B. J. Upton scored on consecutive ground outs by Carlos Peña and Evan Longoria respectively. The following inning Upton singled, scoring Dioner Navarro. Rocco Baldelli attempted to score from second base, but was thrown out by right fielder Jayson Werth, keeping the Rays lead at 3–0. Cliff Floyd extended the Rays lead to four runs after leading off the bottom of the fourth inning with a single, advancing to third base, and scoring on a Jason Bartlett sacrifice bunt.


2008 World Series, Game summaries, Game 2
Rays starter James Shields shut out the Phillies through 5⅔ innings to earn the win, before being relieved by Dan Wheeler who pitched an additional scoreless inning. Philles starter Brett Myers lasted seven innings, giving up four runs (three earned) and took the loss. Eric Bruntlett hit a home run in the top of the eighth inning to bring the score to 4–1. The Phillies added a second run in the top of the ninth inning against David Price, but were unable to score any more runs; Tampa Bay's win tied the Series at one game apiece.


2008 World Series, Game summaries, Game 3
Steve Carlton threw out the Ceremonial First pitch. The third game of the Series was delayed for an hour and 31 minutes because of rain. Country music star Tim McGraw, son of Phillies reliever Tug McGraw, spread his father's ashes on the pitching mound of Citizens Bank Park, prior to the game's start. The Phillies scored in the bottom of the first inning after Jimmy Rollins led off with a single and eventually scored when Chase Utley grounded out.


2008 World Series, Game summaries, Game 3
In the next half inning, Tampa Bay's Carl Crawford doubled, stole third base and scored on a Gabe Gross sacrifice fly to center field. Carlos Ruiz gave the Phillies their second lead of the night when he hit a home run in the bottom of the second inning. Starting pitchers Matt Garza and Jamie Moyer pitched six and 6⅓ innings respectively. The 2–1 score remained unchanged until the sixth inning when Chase Utley and Ryan Howard hit the 14th back-to-back home runs in World Series history.


2008 World Series, Game summaries, Game 3
Crawford scored his second run of the game in the top of the seventh inning when he was batted in by Gross again. Dioner Navarro continued the rally by scoring on a Jason Bartlett ground out—bringing the score to 4–3. In the top of the eighth inning, B.J. Upton led off with a single, stole second and third, and scored on a throwing error by catcher Carlos Ruiz to tie the game.


2008 World Series, Game summaries, Game 3
Eric Bruntlett was hit by a pitch by J.P. Howell leading off the bottom of the ninth, moved to second on a wild pitch and to third on a throwing error. Tampa Bay intentionally walked the next two batters, Shane Victorino and pinch hitter Greg Dobbs to load the bases, creating a force play at the plate. They then brought the infield in (including right fielder Ben Zobrist who was brought in to be a fifth infielder) and replaced Howell with Grant Balfour hoping to convert any groundball into a force out at home and preventing the game winning run.


2008 World Series, Game summaries, Game 3
However, Bruntlett scored the winning run on Ruiz's 45-foot infield single. The infield single was fielded by third baseman Evan Longoria who threw desperately to the plate in an attempt to save a run. However, any hope of an out vanished as the throw missed Navarro and Bruntlett scored (it would not be counted as an error). Ruiz's walk-off infield single was the first walk-off infield single in World Series history, giving the Phillies a 2–1 lead in the series. Phillies reliever J. C. Romero earned the win and Howell took the loss.


2008 World Series, Game summaries, Game 4
Philadelphia took a 1–0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, as Jimmy Rollins led off with a double and scored when Pat Burrell later walked with the bases loaded. The Phillies doubled their lead in the third inning when Chase Utley reached base on a fielding error and scored on Pedro Feliz's single. The Rays scored their first run when Carl Crawford hit a solo home run in the top of the fourth inning. Ryan Howard's three-run home run in the bottom of the inning brought the score to 5–1.


2008 World Series, Game summaries, Game 4
Tampa Bay's Eric Hinske hit a pinch-hit home run to bring the Rays within three runs, but Phillies pitcher Joe Blanton responded with a home run of his own to re-extend the lead to four; it was the first time a pitcher hit a home run in the World Series since Ken Holtzman in game 4 of the 1974 World Series. Blanton pitched six innings, giving up two runs on four hits to acquire his first win of the Series.


2008 World Series, Game summaries, Game 4
Jayson Werth hit a two-run home run in the eighth inning—the Phillies' third of the game—to bring the score to 8–2. Later in the inning, Ryan Howard's second home run, and fifth RBI, increased the Phillies' lead to eight runs. Philadelphia's four relief pitchers combined for three shutout innings, giving up one hit. Due to the late completion of the previous game, Games 3 and 4 each ended on the same calendar day.


2008 World Series, Game summaries, Game 5
Philadelphia scored in the first inning for the third consecutive game, taking a 2–0 lead when Shane Victorino batted in Jayson Werth and Chase Utley. Tampa Bay cut the lead in half in the fourth inning; Carlos Peña doubled and was batted in on Evan Longoria's single, both players' first hits of the Series. The Rays then tied the game in the sixth inning when B. J. Upton scored from second base on a Peña single.


2008 World Series, Game summaries, Game 5
The game was suspended after the top of the sixth inning because of rain, making it the first game in World Series history not to be played through to completion or declared a tie. Phillies starter Cole Hamels, making his fifth start, had pitched six innings when the umpires suspended play. (The Phillies pinch-hit for Hamels in the bottom of the 6th inning. By retaking the lead in that half-inning, the Phillies put Hamels in line for the victory, which would have been his 5th win in the postseason, tying an MLB record. However, when Tampa Bay again tied the game in the 7th, Hamels was left with a no-decision.)


2008 World Series, Game summaries, Game 5
After the game was suspended, umpiring crew chief Tim Tschida told reporters that he and his crew ordered the players off the field because the wind and rain threatened to make the game "comical." Chase Utley agreed, saying that by the middle of the sixth inning, "the infield was basically under water." Rain continued to fall in Philadelphia on Tuesday, further postponing the game to Wednesday, October 29.


2008 World Series, Game summaries, Game 5
The game resumed with the Phillies batting in the bottom of the sixth inning. Pinch hitter Geoff Jenkins led off with a double and was bunted to third by Rollins. Jayson Werth then batted in Jenkins to take the lead for the Phillies, 3–2. In the top of the seventh inning, Rocco Baldelli re-tied the game at three runs with a solo home run. Later in the inning, Utley faked a throw to first, then threw Bartlett out at home for the third out in a play later described as having saved the Series for the Phillies.


2008 World Series, Game summaries, Game 5
In the bottom of the seventh, Pat Burrell led off with a double for his only hit of the series off Game 3 loser J. P. Howell. Eric Bruntlett, pinch-running for Burrell, scored on a single by Pedro Feliz to put the Phillies up by a run again, 4–3. This gave Howell his second relief loss. In the top of the ninth, Brad Lidge gave up a single to Dioner Navarro and a stolen base to pinch runner Fernando Perez, but was able to strike out Eric Hinske to win the World Series for the Phillies. Phillies reliever J. C. Romero got his second win of the Series.


2008 World Series, Game summaries, Game 5
The Phillies won the Series despite committing at least one error in each game. This game also marked only the second time in MLB history that first-inning runs were scored in each of the first five games played in a World Series (it had previously occurred in 2003).


2008 World Series, Game summaries, Game 5, Implications of the suspension
Under normal conditions, games are considered to be official games after five innings, or four and a half if the home team is leading at that point. However, post-season games are operated by the Commissioner's Office, thus are subject to the Commissioner's discretion of how to handle the scheduling of the games. So, with rain in the forecast for Philadelphia, Commissioner Bud Selig informed both the Rays and the Phillies management before the game began that a team would not be allowed to clinch the Series in a rain-shortened game.


2008 World Series, Game summaries, Game 5, Implications of the suspension
Because of the rainfall, Game 5 was suspended after the top of the sixth inning. Rain continued to fall in Philadelphia on Tuesday, October 28, and the game ultimately resumed on Wednesday, October 29, at Citizens Bank Park. Official MLB records will show that even though the game was finished on October 29, the game was officially played two days earlier, and was completed on that date.


2008 World Series, Game summaries, Game 5, Implications of the suspension
This was the first game in World Series history to be suspended. There had been three tied games in the history of the World Series: 1907, 1912, and 1922, all of them called due to darkness. In general, no ties would be needed under modern rules, which provide for suspension of a tied game and resumption of it at the next possible date. Weather has caused numerous delays and postponements in Series history (notable postponements beforehand coming in 1911, 1962, 1975, 1986, 1996 and 2006), but never any suspended games before 2008. Although not officially a suspended game, the longest postponement for a World Series was during the 1989 edition in which the start of Game 3 was delayed 10 days, due to the Loma Prieta earthquake striking the San Francisco Bay Area.


2008 World Series, Game summaries, Game 5, Implications of the suspension
Several Nevada sports betting agencies treated the suspended game as a completed game and a win for the Phillies on Monday, October 27. Under Nevada house rules, the final score of a baseball game is determined by reverting to the last completed full inning, and the Phillies led 2–1 at the end of the fifth inning. Game 5 side bets on Philadelphia were paid off while bets on totals and run-line bets were refunded.


2008 World Series, Game summaries, Game 5, Implications of the suspension
During the following offseason, Selig's interpretation of the rules became codified, as the 30 Major League Baseball club owners approved a rule change stipulating that all "postseason games and games added to the regular season to determine qualifiers for the postseason" become suspended games if they are called before nine innings are played, regardless of whether the game would otherwise qualify as an official game, or the score at the time the game is called. The game is resumed when conditions permit at the same location from the point of suspension. Since that point in time, only one postseason game has been suspended because of rain; Game 1 of the 2011 ALDS was suspended after two innings because of rain and was resumed the following day.


2008 World Series, Game summaries, Composite line score
2008 World Series (4–1): Philadelphia Phillies (NL) beat Tampa Bay Rays (AL).


2008 World Series, Weather conditions
Games 3 and 5 of the World Series were delayed by rain storms in Philadelphia, with the start of Game 3 on Saturday, October 25 being delayed an hour and 31 minutes (with that game ending at 1:47 am EDT Sunday, October 26). Game 5, begun on Monday, October 27, was suspended after the top of the 6th inning and resumed Wednesday, October 29. Wet weather which affected Game 5 continued into Tuesday in the Philadelphia area, as Major League Baseball officials studied radar data to determine when Game 5 of the World Series would continue under conditions deemed "appropriate." Up to this point, there had never been a rain-shortened game in Series history, and this was the first suspension. As a result, had it been necessary to play them, Games 6 and 7 in St. Petersburg, originally scheduled for October 29 and 30, were postponed until a later date.


2008 World Series, Weather conditions
With temperatures plummeting towards 40 °F (4 °C) and with a cold rain falling at Citizens Bank Park, some of the Phillies and Rays players opted for an "Elmer Fudd" look, wearing specially made caps with built-in ear flaps. The caps, manufactured by New Era, were introduced during this year's spring training but were not used on the field until Game 5. New Era also supplied regular ball caps to both teams, which some players continued to wear despite the cold weather.


2008 World Series, Broadcasting
The games were televised on Fox in the United States with Joe Buck and Tim McCarver (himself a former Phillies broadcaster) as booth announcers and Chris Myers and Ken Rosenthal as field reporters. Jeanne Zelasko hosted the pre-game and post-game show with Kevin Kennedy and Mark Grace (Games 1, 2) or Eric Karros (Games 3, 4, 5). Fox Sports en Español did the simulcast of the Series in Spanish-language with Ángel Torres, Miguel Morales and Cos Villa behind the microphones. Fox's broadcasts were also streamed online at MLB.com.


2008 World Series, Broadcasting
On radio, the Series was broadcast nationally by ESPN Radio with Jon Miller and Joe Morgan announcing, and a Spanish broadcast on ESPN Deportes Radio. Locally, Dave Wills, Andy Freed, Dewayne Staats and Joe Magrane called the Series in English for the Rays on WHNZ-AM in Tampa, with Ricardo Tavaras and Enrique Oliu working the Spanish broadcast on St. Petersburg's WGES-AM. Harry Kalas, Scott Franzke, Larry Andersen, and Chris Wheeler called the Phillies' English broadcasts on WPHT-AM in Philadelphia, with Spanish announcers Danny Martinez, Bill Kulik and Juan Ramos on WUBA.


2008 World Series, Broadcasting
Following their contractual obligations, the non-flagship stations on the teams' radio networks carried the ESPN Radio broadcasts. MLB.com also carried the local radio broadcasts for online streaming, while XM Satellite Radio aired the local and national feeds to its subscribers. For Harry Kalas, this series brought together a father and son calling the series for different teams; his son Todd worked as a pregame announcer for the Rays, and joined his father in the WPHT booth for an inning of Game 1.


2008 World Series, Broadcasting
For international viewers, MLB International televised the game with commentators Rick Sutcliffe and Dave O'Brien. This feed was also carried to U.S. service personnel stationed around the globe via the American Forces Network.


2008 World Series, Broadcasting
This World Series win had significance for McCarver and Harry Kalas. Both had been Phillies broadcasters in 1980, but neither had gotten to call that year's World Series. McCarver was a backup commentator for Game of the Week on NBC, but he was not part of the network's Series announcing team. For Kalas, MLB radio-broadcasting regulations forbade local stations from producing live coverage of World Series games, instead forcing them to air the national CBS Radio feed of the games.


2008 World Series, Broadcasting
Philadelphia fans were so outraged about this afterward that they started a letter-writing campaign to the Commissioner's Office, demanding a change to the rule. The following year, MLB amended its broadcasting contracts to allow World Series teams' flagship radio stations to air the games with local announcers, due at least in part to this outcry from Philadelphia fans. In 2008, both called the Phillies' World Series win.


2008 World Series, Ratings
The Nielsen ratings for the 2008 World Series were among the worst in Major League Baseball's history. The 8.4 rating set a record low, sinking below the 10.1 set two years earlier in 2006. 2008 bears the distinction of being the first World Series to draw fewer than 10.0. Game three's 6.1 rating also set a record for the lowest rated individual game.


2008 World Series, Ratings
In fairness, the Series suffered from factors beyond MLB's control. Game 3 was delayed one hour thirty-one minutes for weather and, consequently, ended at 1:47 am ET. Game 5 was also suspended after 5.5 innings and resumed two days later. These factors likely brought the ratings down.


2008 World Series, Ratings
Today, the ratings for 2008 are tied for second worst. The 2010 World Series also generated an 8.4, and the 2012 World Series set a fresh record low with 7.6 (though this was a sweep, which usually draws lower ratings). The 6.1 in game 3 of the 2008 World Series is currently tied with Game 3 of the 2012 World Series for the lowest rated individual game in World Series history.


2008 World Series, Umpiring
In Game 2, home plate umpire Kerwin Danley appealed a call to the first base umpire after calling strike three; the first base umpire called ball four to award the Rays' Rocco Baldelli a walk. Baldelli indicated that the calls did not come up in the locker room, and he did not believe they had an effect on the results.


2008 World Series, Umpiring
In Game 3, Phillies' pitcher Jamie Moyer threw the ball to Ryan Howard to force out the Rays' Carl Crawford at first base, despite umpire Tom Hallion calling Crawford safe in the game. In Game 4, Evan Longoria tagged Rollins at third base, though umpire Tim Welke had ruled Rollins safe. The league admitted these errors between Games 4 and 5.


2008 World Series, Impact and aftermath, Phillies
The Phillies' second World Series championship brought about a series of firsts, not just for them, but for Philadelphia. In winning their first championship since 1980, the Phillies brought the city of Philadelphia its first major professional sports championship since the 76ers swept the 1983 NBA Finals, breaking the alleged Curse of Billy Penn.


2008 World Series, Impact and aftermath, Phillies
In summing up the firsts and given how long the city's sports fans have waited, Phillies President David Montgomery said that "our first name is Philadelphia", and he and manager Charlie Manuel dedicated the championship to the city of Philadelphia and the fans. Manuel also dedicated the championship to his mother, who died on the day of Game 2 of the NLCS. Phil Sheridan of The Philadelphia Inquirer said that the 25 years without a championship "helped define this city as a sports town for way too long. It was long enough to turn passion too often to anger. Maybe this championship will turn the vinegar back into wine," and said that the fans "waited forever and a day."


2008 World Series, Impact and aftermath, Phillies
On Halloween, October 31, approximately two million fans lined Broad Street for a ticker-tape parade, making it the largest gathering for a championship parade in Philadelphia since the Flyers won the 1974 Stanley Cup Finals. This parade had significance for Phillies pitcher Jamie Moyer and Phillies broadcaster Harry Kalas, as they both were at the 1980 parade. Moyer grew up in the Philadelphia area as a Phillies fan and whose childhood hero was Steve Carlton, a member of the 1980 team, and whom he won against in his first Major League start.


2008 World Series, Impact and aftermath, Phillies
He was at both of the Phillies' World Series parades, skipping school to attend in 1980, and as a pitcher in 2008. Kalas was at both parades, as a broadcaster for the Phillies. When comparing the parade to the one in 1980, he told WCAU-TV that "this is bigger...the biggest I've ever seen."


2008 World Series, Impact and aftermath, Phillies
In 2010, Philadelphia sports fans picked both of the Phillies' World Series wins as the two greatest moments in Philadelphia sports, picking the 2008 championship as the greatest moment.


2008 World Series, Impact and aftermath, Phillies
The Phillies returned to the World Series in 2009, the first defending champion to return to the Series since the 2001 New York Yankees. During that season they finished first in the National League East with a 93–69 mark, and eliminated the Rockies and the Dodgers in the NL playoffs. They would lose to the Yankees in six games.


2008 World Series, Impact and aftermath, Phillies
Subsequent regular season meetings between the Rays and the Phillies would be relatively uncommon. The Rays only visited Philadelphia twice within the next seven years (in 2012 and 2015).


2008 World Series, Impact and aftermath, Phillies
This would be the last professional sports championship for the city of Philadelphia until the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the New England Patriots 41–33 in Super Bowl LII in 2018.


2008 World Series, Impact and aftermath, Rays
For the Rays, at the same time the ticker-tape parade went down Broad Street in Philadelphia, thousands of Rays' fans attended a rally at Straub Park in St. Petersburg, celebrating their 2008 season.


2008 World Series, Impact and aftermath, Rays
Mayor Rick Baker said that the rally "really needed to be done. There was so much demand in the community. They didn't win the World Series but they won the AL. And we want to celebrate that and thank them." He and Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio addressed the fans during the rally.


2008 World Series, Impact and aftermath, Rays
Though the Rays missed the playoffs in 2009, they earned a winning record of 84–78, placing them third behind the Red Sox and eventual champion Yankees. From 2010-2013, the Rays won at least 90 games each season, a remarkable feat for a team with one of the lowest payrolls in baseball. The 2008 Rays were covered in depth in the book ‘The Extra 2%: How Wall Street Strategies Took a Major League Baseball Team from Worst to First’ by Jonah Keri.


2008 World Series, Impact and aftermath, Rays
The Rays returned to the World Series in 2020, but lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers.


2008 World Series by Renault
The 2008 World Series by Renault was the fourth season of Renault Sport's series of events, with three different championships racing under one banner.


2008 World Series of Poker
The 2008 World Series of Poker was the 39th annual World Series of Poker (WSOP). Held in Las Vegas, Nevada at the Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino, the series began on May 30th, 2008, and featured 55 poker championships in several variants. All events but the $10,000 World Championship No Limit Texas hold 'em Main Event, the most prestigious of the WSOP events, ended by July 15th. As has been the WSOP custom since 1976, each of the event winners received a championship bracelet in addition to that event's prize money, which (after the casino's rake) ranged from $87,929 to $9,119,517.


2008 World Series of Poker
Highlights of the 2008 series include the selection of Erick Lindgren, who won a bracelet and made three final tables, as recipient of the "Player of the Year Award". Nikolay Evdakov led all players with a record 10 money finishes, and Phil Hellmuth set a WSOP record of 41 career final tables.


2008 World Series of Poker
The Main Event, which began with 6,844 participants (a level exceeded only by the number of participants at the 2006 event), was suspended once the event was down to the 9 players needed for the final table; the Main Event was resumed on November 9th, and concluded with the heads-up final between Peter Eastgate and Ivan Demidov the next day. This year was the first in which the Main Event was suspended in this fashion, a change introduced at ESPN's request to allow the TV network to do a same-day Main Event broadcast.


2008 World Series of Poker
In a stunning statistical improbability, Justin Phillips knocked out Motoyuki Mabuchi in the Main Event. Phillips held a Royal Flush, while Mabuchi held quad aces. One of the broadcasters, Lon McEachern, mentioned on air that the chances of such a showdown occurring were 1:2.7 billion. Ray Romano had just sat down at the table when this hand played itself out.


2008 World Series of Poker, 2008 records
Nikolay Evdakov set a WSOP record for most cashes at a single World Series with 10. The previous record of 8 was held by 5 players: Chris Ferguson, Phil Hellmuth, Humberto Brenes, Michael Binger, and Chad Brown. Evdakov's achievement also represents the most cashes by a player at one WSOP without reaching a single final table. Hellmuth, who made two final tables, established a new WSOP career record of 41 final tables, two more than T. J. Cloutier. Scotty Nguyen became the first player to hold both a Main Event and a $50,000 H.O.R.S.E World Championship bracelet.


2008 World Series of Poker, 2008 records
Several nationals were the first from their country to win bracelets. Brazilian Alexandre Gomes won Event 48 to become the first South American player to win a WSOP bracelet since Ecuadorian-born Carlos Mortensen won the 2001 Main Event. Rob Hollink won Event 30, becoming the first Dutch WSOP bracelet winner, and Davidi Kitai won Event 38, becoming the first Belgian player to win a bracelet.


2008 World Series of Poker, 2008 records
The 2008 Main Event final table took 15 hours and 28 minutes to play, beating the previous record of 14 hours and 2 minutes in 2005.


2008 World Series of Poker, Main Event
The $10,000 World Championship No Limit Texas Hold 'em Main Event began on July 3 with the first of four starting days. After reaching the final table of nine players on July 14, the final table was delayed until November 9. This change in schedule was made to allow ESPN to broadcast the final table on November 11, shortly after it was played. All final table players were paid ninth place prize money ($900,670) in July, with the remaining prize pool distributed in November.


2008 World Series of Poker, Main Event
Instead of the Amazon Room, aka "the Poker Room," where all of the events were held, the final table would be held in the Penn and Teller Theatre. On November 9, players played down from nine to two and the winner was decided the next night. The final table consisted of 274 hands in total.


2008 World Series of Poker, Main Event
After a large decrease in Main Event participants in 2007 (6358) compared to 2006 (8773), the number increased slightly in 2008 (6844) but was still far from the 2006 number. As in 2007, the payout structure is flatter than in 2006 and before, with the lowest payouts at $21,230 (more than double the buy-in), as compared to $10,616 in 2006.


2008 World Series of Poker, Main Event
The "last woman standing" in the 2008 Main Event was Tiffany Michelle, who finished in 17th place. Celebrities best known from television, music, and professional sports, among other areas, also participated, with two placing in the money. The list includes:


2008 World Series of Poker, Main Event, November Nine
*Career statistics prior to the beginning of the 2008 Main Event


2008 World Series of Poker, Main Event, Final table
At the age of 22, Peter Eastgate became the youngest Main Event winner, surpassing Phil Hellmuth who was 24 when he won in 1989 and became the first European to capture the title since Carlos Mortensen won in 2001. His winning hand was a 5 high straight known as a "wheel", made from his hole cards A♦ 5♠ and 3 of the community cards which were 2♦ K♠ 3♥ 4♣ 7♠, while his opponent Ivan Demidov lost with 4♥ 2♥ for two pair.


2008 World Series of Poker, Main Event, Other notable high finishes
NB: This list is restricted to top 30 finishers with an existing Wikipedia entry.


2008 World Series of Poker, Main Event, Performance of past champions
Twenty past WSOP Main Event champions, representing 22 bracelets, participated in the 2008 Main Event. Two champions from the late 1980s finished in the money: Johnny Chan placed 329th for $32,166, and Phil Hellmuth finished 45th for $154,400.


2008 World Series of Poker Europe
The World Series of Poker Europe (WSOPE) is the first expansion effort of World Series of Poker-branded poker tournaments outside the United States. Since 1970, participants have had to travel to Las Vegas if they wanted to compete in the World Series of Poker (WSOP). Although the WSOP held circuit events in other locations, the main tournaments, which awarded bracelets to the winners, were exclusively held in Las Vegas. The inaugural WSOPE, held in 2007, marked the first time that a WSOP bracelet was awarded outside Las Vegas.


2008 World Series of Poker Europe
In 2004, Harrah's Casinos purchased the rights to the WSOP label. Harrah's later purchased London Clubs International (LCI). LCI operates three casinos in the London area—Fifty, Leicester Square, and The Sportsman. After the purchase of these casinos, Harrah's decided to expand its WSOP label into Europe. European casinos typically have a different environment than those in the U.S. Jeffrey Pollack, the WSOP Commissioner, indicated that the WSOPE would have a "style and flair that is both unique and appropriate to the setting. So don't be surprised if we require participants to wear blazers at the tables. If James Bond were hosting a poker tournament it may look like the World Series of Poker Europe."


2008 World Series of Poker Europe
In marketing the WSOPE, Harrah's Casino did not rely upon the reputation of Harrah's or the WSOP alone. On July 5, 2007, Harrah's announced its alliance with England-based Betfair, one of the largest online gaming companies in the world. The agreement, the largest-ever union of an online and offline gaming company, is intended to build on Betfair's European reputation in advertising the WSOPE. Due to changes in U.S. laws, effective in 2007, the WSOP could no longer accept money from online gambling companies. This prevented the WSOP from acknowledging WSOP qualifiers from online events.


2008 World Series of Poker Europe
The WSOPE is not bound by this limitation. The United Kingdom Gambling Act of 2005 allows for legal regulated online poker sites. Furthermore, as the laws that govern the age of gambling differ in England than the U.S., the WSOPE admits younger players. In 2007, one of these younger players, 18-year-old Annette "Annette_15" Obrestad became the youngest player to win a WSOP bracelet event.


2008 World Series of Poker Europe
The second WSOPE took place between September 19 and October 1, 2008. It consisted of four events held at the Casino at the Empire in Leicester Square, London. The 2008 WSOPE was particularly notable,  as Jesper Hougaard became the first person to win a bracelet at both the WSOP and WSOPE. Three-time bracelet winner John Juanda won his fourth bracelet in the WSOPE Main Event. Ivan Demidov, who was one of the November Nine—players scheduled to play in November for the WSOP Main Event—advanced to the final table of the WSOPE, becoming the first player to make it to the final table at both the WSOP and WSOPE Main Events.


2008 World Series of Poker Europe, Results, Event 4: £10,000 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event
The final table took a WSOP record 22 hours to finish. Heads up between John Juanda and Stanislav Alekhin took more than seven hours of play, another WSOP record. It took 242 hands to eliminate the first seven players and it took another 242 hands heads up before Juanda secured the win.


2008 World Series of Poker Europe, Results, Event 4: £10,000 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event
Ivan Demidov finished third, becoming the first player to make the final table at both the WSOP and WSOPE Main Events.


2008 World Series of Poker results
The 2008 World Series of Poker was the 39th annual World Series of Poker (WSOP). Held in Las Vegas, Nevada at the Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino, the 2008 series began on May 30 and featured 55 poker championships in several variants. All events but the $10,000 World Championship No Limit Texas hold 'em Main Event, the most prestigious of the WSOP events, ended by July 15. The final table, known as the November Nine,  of the Main Event was suspended until November, to allow for better television coverage. As a WSOP custom since 1976, each of the event winners received a championship bracelet in addition to that event's prize money ranging from US$87,929 for the $500 Casino Employees No-Limit Hold'em  to US$9,119,517 for the Main Event.


2008 World Series of Poker results
Most of the tournaments played at the WSOP are variants of Texas Hold 'em. Hold 'em is a community card game where each player may use any combination of the five community cards and the player's own two hole cards to make a poker hand, in contrast to poker variants such as stud or draw in which each player holds a separate individual hand. Between 2000 and 2009, hold'em has surpassed seven-card stud as the most common game in U.S. casinos, almost totally eclipsing the once popular game.


2008 World Series of Poker results
Seven-card stud is a poker variant wherein each player is dealt two hole card, followed by four face up cards, and then another hidden card, with betting after each round. Another poker variant played is Omaha. Omaha is a version of poker wherein each player is dealt four hole cards and must use two of them in conjunction with three community cards to make the best possible five card hand. Other games played at the 2008 tournament included Razz, HORSE, and Deuce-to-Seven.


2008 World Series of Poker results
Within each of these poker variants a myriad of options exist. For example, depending on the betting structure, a tournament might be described as no limit, limit or pot-limit. Games may also include other variations on the rules governing the execution of the specific game such as shootout, eight or better, or heads up.


2008 World Series of Poker results
Highlights of the 2008 series include the selection of Erick Lindgren as the Player of the Year. Before the 2008 WSOP, Lindgren, who won a bracelet and made three final tables,  was widely considered to be the "best player to never win a WSOP bracelet”. Phil Hellmuth, a Poker Hall of Famer, set new records for the most WSOP career cashes (68) and most WSOP career final tables (41). Nikolay Evdakov led all players with a record 10 money finishes.


2008 World Series of Poker results
The Main Event, which began with 6,844 participants (a level exceeded only by the number of participants at the 2006 event), was suspended once the event was down to the nine players needed for the final table; the Main Event was resumed on November 9 and concluded with the heads-up final between Peter Eastgate and Ivan Demidov the next day. This year was the first in which the Main Event was suspended in this fashion, a change introduced at ESPN's request to allow the television network to do a same-day Main Event broadcast.


2008 World Series of Poker results, Results, Event 8: $10,000 World Championship Mixed Event
Note: This event comprised eight poker variants played on a rotating format with one-hour long levels. Every eight hands the game alternated in the following order: Limit Deuce-to-Seven Triple Draw, Limit Hold'em, Limit Omaha Hi-Low Split-8 or Better, Razz, Seven-Card Stud, Seven-Card Stud-8 or Better, No-Limit Hold'em, Pot-Limit Omaha.


2008 World Short Track Speed Skating Championships
The 2008 World Short Track Speed Skating Championships took place between 7 and 9 March 2008 in Gangneung, South Korea. The World Championships are organised by the ISU which also run world cups and championships in speed skating and figure skating.


2008 World Short Track Speed Skating Championships, Results, Men
* First place is awarded 34 points, second is awarded 21 points, third is awarded 13 points, fourth is awarded 8 points, fifth is awarded 5 points, sixth is awarded 3 points, seventh is awarded 2 points and eighth is awarded 1 point in the finals of each individual race to determine the overall world champion. The relays do not count for the overall classification.


2008 World Short Track Speed Skating Championships, Results, Women
* First place is awarded 34 points, second is awarded 21 points, third is awarded 13 points, fourth is awarded 8 points, fifth is awarded 5 points, sixth is awarded 3 points, seventh is awarded 2 points, and eighth is awarded 1 point in the finals of each individual race to determine the overall world champion. The relays do not count for the overall classification.


2008 World Short Track Speed Skating Team Championships
The 2008 World Short Track Speed Skating Team Championships was the 18th edition of the World Short Track Speed Skating Team Championships, which took place on 15-16 March 2008 in Harbin, China.


2008 World Single Distance Speed Skating Championships
The 2008 World Single Distance Speed Skating Championships were held between 6 March and 9 March 2008 in the M-Wave, Nagano, Nagano.


2008 World Snooker Championship
The 2008 World Snooker Championship (also referred to as the 2008 888.com World Snooker Championship for the purposes of sponsorship) was a professional snooker tournament that took place between 19 April and 5 May 2008 at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, England. It was the 33rd consecutive year that the World Snooker Championship was held at the Crucible Theatre, and the seventh and final ranking event of the 2007–08 snooker season. The tournament was organised by World Snooker, and sponsored by betting company 888.com. The tournament featured a total prize fund of £1,050,000 with £250,000 being awarded to the winner.


2008 World Snooker Championship
Qualifying for the event took place between 6 and 11 January at Pontin's in Prestatyn, Wales. Sixteen players progressed from a four-round qualification tournament to meet a further sixteen seeded players. John Higgins was the defending champion who had won his second championship the previous year, defeating Mark Selby in the final 18–13. This year, Higgins lost in the second round 9–13 to Ryan Day. Ronnie O'Sullivan met Ali Carter in the final, won 18–8 to win his 20th ranking title.


2008 World Snooker Championship, Overview
The World Snooker Championship is an annual cue sport tournament and the official world championship of the game of snooker. Founded in the late 19th century by British Army soldiers stationed in India, the sport was popular in Great Britain. In modern times it has been played worldwide, especially in East and Southeast Asian nations such as China, Hong Kong and Thailand. The event  was sponsored by 888.com.


2008 World Snooker Championship, Overview
In the 2008 tournament, 32 professional players competed in one-on-one snooker matches played over several frames, using a single-elimination tournament format. The 32 players were selected for the event using the  snooker world rankings and a pre-tournament qualification competition. In 1927, the first world championship was won by Joe Davis. The event's final took place in Camkin's Hall, Birmingham, England. Since 1977, the event has been held at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, England. As of 2020, Stephen Hendry is the most successful player in the modern era, having won the championship seven times. The event was organised by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. Scotsman John Higgins was the defending champion, having defeated Mark Selby 18–13 in the previous years final.


2008 World Snooker Championship, Overview, Format
The 2008 World Snooker Championship took place from 19 April to 5 May 2008 in Sheffield, England. The tournament was the last of seven ranking events in the 2007–08 snooker season on the World Snooker Tour. It featured a 32-player main draw that was held at the Crucible Theatre, as well as a qualifying draw that was played at the Pontin's, Prestatyn Sands, from 6 to 11 January. This was the 32nd consecutive year that the tournament had been staged at the Crucible.


2008 World Snooker Championship, Overview, Format
The top 16 players in the latest world rankings automatically qualified for the main draw as seeded players. Higgins was seeded first overall as the defending champion, and the remaining 15 seeds were allocated based on the latest world rankings. The number of frames required to win a match increased throughout the tournament. The first round consisted of best-of-19-frames matches, with the final match being played over a maximum of 35 frames. All 16 non-seeded spots in the main draw were filled with players from the qualifying rounds. The event was broadcast by the BBC and Eurosport in Europe.


2008 World Snooker Championship, Overview, Prize fund
The breakdown of prize money for this year is shown below:


2008 World Snooker Championship, Tournament summary, Early rounds
The first round was played between 20 and 24 April as the best of 19 frames, held over two sessions. Defending champion John Higgins defeated Matthew Stevens 10–5, but runner-up Mark Selby was knocked out by qualifier Mark King 10–8. Ding Junhui's 10–9 victory over Marco Fu was his first ever win at the Crucible. Stephen Maguire took the first eight frames in the first session of his first round match against Anthony Hamilton, before Hamilton won frame 9. Maguire won the match 10–3. Three players were making their debuts at the event; Jamie Cope, Liu Chuang  and Liang Wenbo.


2008 World Snooker Championship, Tournament summary, Early rounds
Of the three, Wenbo won their first round match, as he defeated Ken Doherty 10–5. The defeat caused Doherty to drop out of the top 16 of the World Rankings for the first time since the 1992/93 season. Cope lost in a deciding frame to Peter Ebdon despite having led 5–2 up earlier on.


2008 World Snooker Championship, Tournament summary, Early rounds
The second round was played from 24 to 28 April as the best of 25 frames, held over three sessions. Defending champion Higgins was defeated by Ryan Day 9–13. This was the first time Day had progressed to the quarter-finals at the event. Ronnie O'Sullivan made a maximum break against Mark Williams in the final frame of his 13–7 win. Williams, ranked twelfth in the world before the tournament, fell out of the top 16 after the loss. Hendry reached the quarter-finals for the seventeenth time in his career, after a 13–7 win over Ding Junhui.


2008 World Snooker Championship, Tournament summary, Early rounds
Maguire also won the first eight frames of the match in his second round clash with Neil Robertson, which he won 13–7. Leading at 12–10, Liang Wenbo punched the air in celebration as he potted match ball. However, his opponent, Joe Swail earned the snookers he required, and also won the next frame to force the match into a deciding frame. Swail missed a brown ball allowing Wenbo to win the match 13–12. After the match, Swail complained bitterly that in the final frame the referee had incorrectly replaced the cue ball after calling a miss, giving Liang an easier escape from a snooker, and accused Liang of unprofessional conduct for not pointing out the referee's mistake.


2008 World Snooker Championship, Tournament summary, Later rounds (Quarter-finals—final)
The quarter-finals were played on 29 and 30 April as the best of 25 frames held over three sessions. Carter made a maximum break in his 13–9 win over Ebdon. His opponent came very close to a maximum of his own just a frame earlier, but narrowly missed the fifteenth black. Just minutes before on the other table, Stephen Hendry was also attempting a maximum of his own but also missed the fifteenth red. Hendry reached the 12th Crucible semi-final of his career after a 13–7 win over Day, setting a record for one-table appearances that still stands. Wenbo was the first player from mainland China to reach the quarter-finals of the world championships, but lost 7–13 to O'Sullivan. Perry defeated Maguire on a deciding frame 13–12.


2008 World Snooker Championship, Tournament summary, Later rounds (Quarter-finals—final)
The semi-finals were played from the 1 to 3 May as the best of 33 frames. After tying the first session 4–4, O'Sullivan completed an 8–0 whitewash over Hendry in their second session, and won the first frame of session three, winning twelve consecutive frames. At one point O'Sullivan scored 448 points without reply. This was the first time Hendry had lost every frame in a full session at the Crucible. O'Sullivan won the match 17–6 with a session to spare. Carter reached his first ranking final by defeating Perry 17–15.


2008 World Snooker Championship, Tournament summary, Later rounds (Quarter-finals—final)
The final was played on 4 and 5 May between O'Sullivan and Carter. Both men were English for the first time since the 1991 event, when John Parrott defeated Jimmy White 18–11. O'Sullivan led 11–5 after the first day's play and won the match 18–8. This was O'Sullivan's third world championship joining Steve Davis and Hendry having won than two World titles at the Crucible; and was his 20th career ranking title. In post-match interviews, both players admitted to not having played particularly well, with O'Sullivan commenting "Ali and I are disappointed not to put on a better performance". Carter's performance was described as "jaded". The win also gave O'Sullivan the top spot in the world rankings.


2008 World Snooker Championship, Main draw
Shown below are the results for each round. The numbers in parentheses beside some of the players are their seeding ranks.


2008 World Snooker Championship, Qualification, Preliminary qualifying
The preliminary qualifying rounds for the tournament took place at Pontin's in Prestatyn, Wales  between 3 and 5 January 2008.


2008 World Snooker Championship, Qualification, Qualifying
The qualifying rounds 1–4 for the tournament took place at Pontin's in Prestatyn, Wales  between 6 and 11 January 2008. The final round of qualifying took place at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield between 7 and 10 March.


2008 World Snooker Championship, Century breaks, Televised stage centuries
The highest break received a prize of £10,000, and a maximum break received a prize of £147,000 – a total of £157,000. This prize was shared, as two players made a 147, winning £78,500 each. In total there were 63 century breaks made at this year's world championships. O'Sullivan and Carter both made a maximum break during the event.


2008 World Snooker Championship, Century breaks, Qualifying stage centuries
The highest break in qualifying was a 139 made by Patrick Wallace.


2008 World Sprint Speed Skating Championships
The 2008 World Sprint Speed Skating Championships were held in the Thialf arena in Heerenveen, Netherlands, on 19 and 20 January 2008. They were the 37th World Championships.


2008 World Team Challenge
The 7th World Team Challenge 2008 (officially: VELTINS-Biathlon-WTC 08) was a commercial biathlon competition, that was held at the 27th of December, 2008, at the Veltins-Arena in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. The winners were Andriy Deryzemlya and Oksana Khvostenko from Ukraine.


2008 World Team Challenge, Participants
20 sportsmen (10 male, 10 female) participated as mixed teams. Host country was represented by 3 teams. Beside that, one German athlete competed in a mixed pair with a partner from Austria. There were representatives from 7 countries, including one outside Europe.


2008 World Team Table Tennis Championships
The 2008 Evergrande Real Estate World Team Table Tennis Championships was held in the Guangzhou Gymnasium of Guangzhou, China from February 24 to March 2, 2008. This decision was announced in May 2005. It is the 49th edition to be contested.


2008 World TeamTennis season
The 2008 World TeamTennis season was the 33rd season of the top professional team tennis league in the United States.


2008 World TeamTennis season
The New York Buzz defeated the Kansas City Explorers, 21–18, in the WTT Final to win the King Trophy as WTT champions.


2008 World TeamTennis season, Competition format
The 2008 World TeamTennis season included 11 teams split into two conferences (Eastern and Western). The Eastern Conference had six teams, and the Western Conference had five teams. Each team played a 14-match regular-season schedule with seven home and seven away matches. The top teams in each conference were the conference champions. WTT Championship Weekend matches were played at Allstate Stadium at Westfield Galleria at Roseville in Roseville, California. The conference champions and runners-up qualified for the playoffs.


2008 World TeamTennis season, Competition format
In addition, there was a wild-card team that was either the host team (the Sacramento Capitals) or the team with the best record among teams that did not finish first or second in their conference, if the Capitals qualified based on finishing first or second. The teams were seeded 1 through 5, regardless of conference, with the top three seeds getting a bye to the WTT Semifinals. The fourth seed and the wild card met in a wild card match with the winner facing the number 1 seed in the semifinals.


2008 World TeamTennis season, Competition format
The other semifinal match pitted the number 2 seed against the number 3 seed. The winners of the semifinal matches met in the WTT Final to decide the winner of the King Trophy and the league championship. Higher seeded teams were treated as "home" teams in playoff matches and had the right to determine order of play.


2008 World TeamTennis season, Franchise contraction and expansion
The Houston Wranglers folded following the 2007 season. Owner Linda McIngvale said, "This is not the right type of community for the Wranglers. We're just too big of a city with too many options. There's a jillion other things to do in the summertime in Houston." The team sold fewer than half of the 4,500 available tickets for a match that featured Anna Kournikova playing for the visitors. Late in the 2007 season, attendance at Wranglers' home matches was typically less than 1,000.


2008 World TeamTennis season, Franchise contraction and expansion
The Washington Kastles joined the league as an expansion franchise, making their debut in 2008. The team was founded by a group led by venture capitalist and entrepreneur Mark Ein, a native of Washington. At the press conference announcing the team's creation, Ein said, "I am thrilled to bring World TeamTennis to our area. WTT tennis is great entertainment emphasizing fan interaction, and it is the only major sport with men and women playing together on the same team. The Washington Kastles season will be an exciting summertime addition to our local economy and a fun activity for our entire community." The team was named after Kastle Systems, LLC, a provider of building and office security systems, of which Ein is the majority owner and managing member.


2008 World TeamTennis season, Drafts, Marquee player draft
The 2008 WTT Marquee Player Draft was conducted in New York City on March 19, 2008. The order in which teams selected was based on the results the teams achieved in 2007 with weaker teams selecting earlier and stronger teams selecting later. The draft order is ordinarily determined as follows:


2008 World TeamTennis season, Drafts, Marquee player draft
Expansion teams select in the middle of each round. If there is an even number of teams, an expansion team selects in the middle position that is closest to the first pick. There were seven nonplayoff teams in 2007, and ranked from worst record to best record, they were


2008 World TeamTennis season, Drafts, Marquee player draft
However, the Wranglers folded prior to the draft. Therefore, the Breakers, Aces, Lobsters, Sportimes, Smash and Explorers were assigned the preliminary first through sixth draft positions. The Philadelphia Freedoms lost the 2007 Eastern Conference Championship Match and had a worse record than the Springfield Lasers, who lost the Western Conference Championship Match. Therefore, the Freedoms were assigned the preliminary seventh draft position and the Lasers the eighth. The New York Buzz lost the 2007 WTT Final and were assigned the preliminary ninth draft position. The 2007 WTT champion Sacramento Capitals were assigned the preliminary tenth draft position.


2008 World TeamTennis season, Drafts, Marquee player draft
The addition of the expansion Washington Kastles resulted in 11 teams in the league, and the Kastles were assigned the sixth draft position putting them in the middle with five teams drafting before them, and five teams drafting after them. This resulted in the Explorers, Freedoms, Lasers, Buzz and Capitals each moving down one position.


2008 World TeamTennis season, Drafts, Marquee player draft
Teams could protect up to two marquee players or doubles teams to which they held the rights from the previous season or acquired in a trade. Rights to marquee players could be traded from one team to another before or during the draft, and the acquiring team could protect and then select those players. The selections made are shown in the tables below.


2008 World TeamTennis season, Drafts, Roster player draft
The 2008 WTT Roster Player Draft was conducted in Miami, Florida on April 1, 2008. Teams selected in the same order as was determined for the Marquee Player Draft. Teams could protect up to four players to which they held the rights from the previous season or acquired in a trade. Rights to roster players could be traded from one team to another before or during the draft, and the acquiring team could protect and then select those players. In addition, the rights to make a selection in a particular position within the draft could be traded from one team to another. The selections made are shown in the tables below.


2008 World TeamTennis season, Drafts, Roster-Exempt Player Draft
WTT conducted its 2008 Roster-Exempt Player Draft on the same day as its Roster Player Draft. Teams drafted in the same order as in the Marquee Player Draft and the Roster Player Draft. Teams were permitted to select part-time players classified by the league as either roster-exempt based on their recent appearances in international team events or featured roster players based on WTT's discretion. The selections made are shown in the table below.


2008 World TeamTennis season, Playoff match summaries
All playoff matches were played as part of WTT Championship Weekend at Allstate Stadium at Westfield Galleria at Roseville in Roseville, California. Higher seeded teams (shown in CAPS below) were treated as "home" teams and had the right to determine the order of play.


2008 World TeamTennis season, Playoff match summaries, Wild Card Match
July 24: #4 SACRAMENTO CAPITALS 22, #5 Boston Lobsters 15


2008 World TeamTennis season, Playoff match summaries, WTT Semifinals
July 25: #1 KANSAS CITY EXPLORERS 21, #4 Sacramento Capitals 10


2008 World TeamTennis season, Playoff match summaries, WTT Semifinals
July 26: #2 NEW YORK BUZZ 25, #3 New York Sportimes 17 (overtime)


2008 World TeamTennis season, Playoff match summaries, WTT Final
July 27: #2 New York Buzz 21, #1 KANSAS CITY EXPLORERS 18


2008 World TeamTennis season, Television
There were seven WTT regular-season matches telecast nationally on the Tennis Channel. These matches all featured marquee players and were recorded and premiered between two and eight days after they were played. The WTT Final was telecast live on Versus. It was the first live telecast of the WTT Final since 2004. Select matches shown on the Tennis Channel were also rebroadcast by regional sports networks.


2008 World Thoroughbred Rankings
The 2008 World Thoroughbred Rankings was the 2008 edition of the World Thoroughbred Rankings. It was an assessment of Thoroughbred racehorses issued by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) in January 2009. It included horses aged three or older which competed in flat races anywhere in the world during 2008. It was the first edition to be open to all horses irrespective of where they raced or were trained. In previous years the IFHA had published two separate listings – a "Northern Hemisphere" edition in January, and a "Southern Hemisphere" version in August.


2008 World Thoroughbred Rankings
This year's joint-highest ratings were awarded to Curlin for his performances in both the Dubai World Cup and the Stephen Foster Handicap, and to New Approach for his win in the Champion Stakes. Each was given a rating of 130. A total of 288 horses were included in the list.


2008 World Thoroughbred Rankings, Top ranked horses
The following table shows the top ranked horses overall, the top three-year-olds, the top older horses and the top fillies and mares in the 2008 Rankings. It also shows the leading performers in various subdivisions of each group, which are defined by the distances of races, and the surfaces on which they are run.


2008 World Touring Car Championship
The 2008 World Touring Car Championship season was the fifth World Touring Car Championship season, the fourth since its 2005 return. It began on 2 March, and ended on 16 November, after twenty-four races. The championship, which was open to Super 2000 Cars and Diesel 2000 Cars, was composed of the FIA World Touring Car Championship for Drivers and the FIA World Touring Car Championship for Manufacturers.


2008 World Touring Car Championship
Frenchman Yvan Muller won the Drivers title by 26 points from SEAT team-mate Gabriele Tarquini, with Chevrolet's Robert Huff finishing third just a point behind Tarquini. The Manufacturers Championship was awarded to SEAT.


2008 World Touring Car Championship, Teams and drivers
Note: Macau-based RPM Racing Team had planned to race one Toyota Altezza and one Honda Civic Type-R for Macanese drivers Lei Kit Meng and Jo Rosa Merszei in the final races in Macau. Although car numbers were allocated to them (#64 for Meng (Toyota Altezza) and #65 for Merszei (Honda Civic)), the FIA Touring Car Bureau rejected the entries because neither of these cars had been homologated by the FIA.


2008 World Touring Car Championship, Teams and drivers, Driver changes
Entering WTCC including those who entered one-off rounds in 2007


2008 World Touring Car Championship, Calendar
Sweden was to be included in the calendar for 21 September but the FIA confirmed on 3 May 2008 that the Swedish round at the Scandinavian Raceway was replaced by an Italy round at the revamped Imola Circuit.


2008 World Touring Car Championship, Results and standings, Standings, Drivers' Championship
The final standings in the 2008 FIA World Touring Car Championship for Drivers were :


2008 World Touring Car Championship, Results and standings, Standings, Drivers' Championship
† — Drivers did not finish the race, but were classified as they completed over 90% of the race distance.


2008 World Touring Car Championship, Results and standings, Standings, Drivers' Championship
Drivers' Championship points were awarded on a 10–8–6–5–4–3–2–1 basis to the first eight finishers in each race.


2008 World Touring Car Championship, Results and standings, Standings, Manufacturers' Championship
Manufacturers' Championship points were awarded on a 10–8–6–5–4–3–2–1 basis to the first eight finishers in each race. However, only the results of the best two cars for each manufacturer were taken into account.


2008 World Touring Car Championship, Results and standings, Standings, Yokohama Independents' Trophy
The Yokohama Independents' Trophy uses a similar system to the Drivers’ Championship, however double points are awarded at Macau.


2008 World Touring Car Championship, Results and standings, Standings, Yokohama Teams' Trophy
All the teams taking part in any of the rounds of the 2008 FIA World Touring Car Championship were eligible toscore points for the Yokohama Teams' Trophy. Points were awarded to the two best classified cars of each team, providing they were driven by Independent drivers. All other cars of that same team were considered invisible as far as scoring points was concerned.


2008 World U-17 Hockey Challenge
The 2008 World U-17 Hockey Challenge was an ice hockey tournament held in London, Lucan, St. Thomas, Stratford, Strathroy, and Woodstock, Ontario, Canada between December 29, 2007 and January 4, 2008. The venues used for the tournament included the John Labatt Centre and Western Fair Sports Centre in London, the Lucan Community Memorial Centre in Lucan, the Gemini Sportsplex in Strathroy, the Timken Community Complex in St. Thomas, the Rotary Complex in Stratford, and the Southwood Community Complex in Woodstock. Team Canada Ontario defeated the United States 3–0 to win the gold medal, while team Canada West defeated team Canada Pacific 9–6 to win the bronze medal.


2008 World University Baseball Championship
The 2008 World University Baseball Championship was an under-23 international college baseball tournament that was held from July 17 to 27, 2008. The final game was held on July 27, 2008 in Brno, Czech Republic. It was the 4th time the University Championship took place. Czech Republic hosted the tournament and 7 nations competed, including defending champions the United States. India was originally to have participated but withdrew.


2008 World University Baseball Championship
In the end, the United States won their third University Championship, over a win against runner-up Japan.


2008 World University Boxing Championship
The 2008 World University Boxing Championships took place in Kazan, Russia between September 19-28, 2008. The championship was staged in eleven weight categories. 94 boxers and 38 officials from 16 countries participated at the championship.


2008 World University Cycling Championship
The 2008 World University Cycling Championship is the 5th Word University Cycling Championship sponsored by the International University Sports Federation (FISU) and sanctioned by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI). The championship took place in Nijmegen, Netherlands from 21 to 25 May 2008. Prague, Czech Republic and Bangkok, Thailand were also candidate cities to organize the championship. The NOC*NSF chairman Erica Terpstra opened he World Championships at the opening ceremony on 21 May. Athletes from 25 countries competed in the disciplines mountain bike cross-country, mountain bike marathon, individual time trial and road race. It was the first time in student sports that there was held a World Championship Mountain Biking.


2008 World University Cycling Championship, Participation
Each country was allowed to enter a maximum of 20 competitors: 4 men and women in the road race events and 6 men and women in the mountainbike events. A person was allowed to participate as a competitor if he/she was born between 1 January 1980 and 31 December 1990 and was a full-time student at a university or similar institute or had obtained their academic degree in the year preceding the event.


2008 World University Cycling Championship, Cycling disciplines, Road cycling (road race, time trial)
The road cycling competitions at the 2008 World University Cycling Championship were held at 23 and 25 May 2008. Athletes from 23 different countries competed in the road race and the individual time trial. The competitions took place in the countryside of Nijmeten with un-Dutch difference in altitude and was along the dikes of the river Waal. You can view on YouTube the  and the .