2009 South American Championships in Athletics
The competition was marred by drugs bans for medalling athletes: a Brazilian coach, Jayme Netto, admitted that he had administered the banned drug recombinant EPO on five of his athletes without their knowledge, which included: 800 m silver medallist Josiane Tito, 200 m bronze medallist Bruno de Barros, heptathlon champion Lucimara da Silva and 400 m hurdles silver medallist Luciana França. In a separate case, Lucimar Teodoro, the 400 m hurdles gold medallist, also received a two-year ban.


2009 South American Championships in Athletics – Results
These are the official results of the 2009 South American Championships in Athletics which took place on 19–21 June 2009 in Lima, Peru.


2009 South American Cross Country Championships
The 2009 South American Cross Country Championships took place on February 21, 2009. The races were held at the Parque del Stadio Italiano in Coronel, near Concepción, Bío Bío, Chile. A detailed report of the event was given for the IAAF.


2009 South American Cross Country Championships
Complete results and results for junior and youth competitions were published.


2009 South American Cross Country Championships, Participation
According to an unofficial count, 73 athletes from 7 countries participated.


2009 South American Footballer of the Year
The 2009 South American Footballer of the Year, given to the best football player in South America by Uruguayan newspaper El País through voting by journalists across the continent, was awarded to Juan Sebastián Verón of Estudiantes de La Plata on December 31, 2009.


2009 South American Footballer of the Year
Verón became the first player since Carlos Tevez in 2004 (and later in 2005) to repeat the award.


2009 South American Junior Championships in Athletics
The 38th South American Junior Championships in Athletics (Campeonatos Sudamericanos de Atletismo de Juveniles) were heldin São Paulo, Brazil in the Estádio Ícaro de Castro Melo from July 25–26, 2009. The Champions formen’s 10,000m, both Race Walking and Combined Events were extracted from theclassification of the 2009 Pan American Junior Championships held inPort of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago in the Hasely Crawford Stadiumfrom July 31 to August 2, 2009. A detailed report on the results wasgiven.


2009 South American Junior Championships in Athletics, Participation (unofficial)
Detailed result lists can be found on the "World Junior Athletics History"website. An unofficial count yields the number of about 212athletes from about 12 countries: Argentina (30), Bolivia (6), Brazil (75),Chile (27), Colombia (21), Ecuador (10), Panama (6), Paraguay (2), Peru (10),Suriname (2), Uruguay (3), Venezuela (20).


2009 South American Junior Championships in Athletics, Medal summary
Medal winners are published. Complete results can be found on the CBAt website, and on the "World Junior Athletics History"website.


2009 South American Junior Championships in Athletics, Team trophies
The placing tables for team trophy(overall team, men and women categories) were published.


2009 South American Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships
The 2009 South American Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships were held in Guayaquil, Ecuador, December 14–20, 2009. The competition was organized by the Ecuadorian Gymnastics Federation.


2009 South American Rugby Championship "A"
The 2009 South American Rugby Championship was the 31st edition of the two tiered competition of the leading national Rugby Union teams in South America.


2009 South American Rugby Championship "A"
The first phase of division A doubled as Round 3A of 2011 Rugby World Cup - Americas qualification for everyone but Paraguay. For this reason matches against Paraguay did not count in World Cup standings. The first two of the first phase was admitted to the second phase, keeping the results of their match, with Argentina (holder).


2009 South American Rugby Championship "B"
The 2009 South American Rugby Championship "B" was the 10th second tier of national Rugby Union teams in South America.


2009 South American Rugby Championship "B"
The tournament was played in Costa Rica, outside South America, but the hosts were given a place and the right to organize the tournament.


2009 South American Ski Mountaineering Championship
The 2009 South American Ski Mountaineering Championship (Spanish: Campeonato Sudamericano de Esquí de Montaña) was the third edition of a South American continental championship of competition ski mountaineering, and the first that was sanctioned by the International Ski Mountaineering Federation (ISMF), which emerged from the International Council for Ski Mountaineering Competitions (ISMC) in 2008. Furthermore, the competition was sanctioned by the Unión Panamericana de Montaña y Escalada (UPAME).


2009 South American Ski Mountaineering Championship
The event, carried out at Villa La Angostura from 22 to 23 August 2009, was organized by the Federación Argentina de Ski y Andinismo (FASA), the Club Andino Bariloche (CAB) and the local Club Andino Villa La Angostura (CAVLA). Participating were racers from Argentina and Chile as well as two French competitors, that did not appear in the continental ranking.


2009 South American Ski Mountaineering Championship, Results
Event was held on the Cerro Bayo on August 23, 2009.


2009 South American Ski Mountaineering Championship, Results, Men
*) The French racers Jérôme Pezet (01h 03' 44") and Olivier Levasseur (01h 03' 45") finished first and second, but were no South American nationals.


2009 South American U-15 Championship
The 2009 South American Under-15 Football Championship was the fourth South American Under-15 Football Championship, the championship for men's under-15 national association football teams in CONMEBOL. It took place in Bolivia for the second time from 6 November to 22 November 2011.


2009 South American U-15 Championship, Venues
Four stadiums in four host cities were chosen for the tournament:


2009 South American U-15 Championship, Officials
On 7 October 2009, CONMEBOL's Commission on Referees announced the list of 10 referees and assistant to be used for the tournament.


2009 South American U-15 Championship, First round
The 10 national teams were divided in 2 groups of 5 teams each. The top 2 teams in each group qualified for the final round.


2009 South American U-15 Championship, Final round
The final round was played in a round robin system between the four best teams.


2009 South American U-17 Championship
The 2009 South American Under-17 Football Championship (Spanish: Sudamericano Sub-17) was a football competition for U-17 national teams affiliated with CONMEBOL. It was the 13th time the tournament was held. The tournament took place in Chile from April 17 to May 9.


2009 South American U-17 Championship, First Group Stage
The teams were divided into two groups of five, with the top three teams in each group classifying to the second round.


2009 South American U-17 Championship, Countries to participate in 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup
Top 4 teams qualify for 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup:


2009 South American U-17 Championship squads
The 2009 South American Under-17 Football Championship was an international football tournament held in Chile from April 17, 2009 to May 9, 2009. The ten national teams involved in the tournament were required to register a squad of 20 players; only players in these squads are eligible to take part in the tournament. Each player had to have been born after January 1, 1992.


2009 South American U-17 Championship squads
Players name marked in bold have been capped at full international level.


2009 South American U-20 Championship
The 2009 South American Youth Championship (Sudamericano sub-20) was a football competition for national teams U-20 who are associated with the football federation CONMEBOL. It was the 24th time the tournament was held and took place in Venezuela from January 19 to February 8. It also served as qualification for the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup. Brazil won the tournament, becoming champions for the tenth time.


2009 South American U-20 Championship
The tournament was initially hosted in Peru, however following FIFA sanctions over Peruvian Government's investigation of the FPF's corruption, it was moved to Venezuela.


2009 South American U-20 Championship, First Group Stage, Group A
(*) Colombia qualified to the following round after winning a coin toss


2009 South American U-20 Championship squads
Below are the rosters for the 2009 South American Youth Championship tournament in Venezuela.


2009 South American U-20 Championship squads
Players name marked in bold have been capped at full international level.


2009 South Carolina Gamecocks football team
The 2009 South Carolina Gamecocks football team represented the University of South Carolina in the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team's head coach was Steve Spurrier, who was in his fifth season at USC. The Gamecocks played their home games at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina. Carolina finished the season 7–6, winning the Palmetto Bowl over in-state rival Clemson 34–17 in their final regular season game, before losing in the PapaJohns.com Bowl 20–7 against Connecticut.


2009 South Carolina Gamecocks football team, Preseason
On April 11, 2009, the Garnet squad defeated the Black squad, 30–14, in the annual Garnet & Black Spring Game, in front of a crowd of 25,157. Redshirt sophomore quarterback Stephen Garcia finished the game 13–20 with 144 yards and two touchdowns, while true freshman Jarvis Giles led the ground game with 114 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries.


2009 South Carolina Gamecocks football team, Players, Depth chart
Projected starters and primary backups versus Clemson on November 28, 2009.


2009 South Dublin County Council election
An election to South Dublin County Council took place on 5 June 2009 as part of that year's Irish local elections. 26 councillors were elected from five electoral divisions using the Single transferable vote system for a five-year term of office.


2009 South Florida Bulls football team
The 2009 South Florida Bulls football team represented the University of South Florida (USF) in the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Their head coach was Jim Leavitt, and they played their home games at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The 2009 season was the 13th season overall for the Bulls, and their fifth season in the Big East Conference. The Bulls finished the season 8–5 (3–4 Big East) and won the International Bowl, 27–3, against Northern Illinois. The roster had 11 eventual NFL draft picks and a total of 14 players would go on to play in the NFL.


2009 South Korean Figure Skating Championships
The 2009 South Korean Figure Skating Championships were the South Korean Figure Skating Championships for the 2008–09 season. They were the 63rd edition of those championships held. They were organized by the Korean Skating Union.


2009 South Korean Figure Skating Championships
Skaters competed in the disciplines of men's and ladies singles on the senior, junior, and novice levels for the title of national champion of South Korea. The results of the national championships were used to choose the South Korean teams to the 2009 World Figure Skating Championships, the 2009 Four Continents Figure Skating Championships, and the 2009 World Junior Figure Skating Championships.


2009 South Korean Figure Skating Championships
The 2009 Championships took place between January 9 and 10, 2009 in Goyang.


2009 South Korean Figure Skating Championships, International team selections
Following the national championships, the teams to the World Championships, the World Junior Championships, and the Four Continents Championships were announced as follows.


2009 South Ossetian parliamentary election
Parliamentary elections were held in South Ossetia on 31 May 2009. The result was a victory for the ruling Unity Party, which won seventeen of the 34 seats. Two opposition parties were not permitted to run out of concern that they might not be loyal to President Eduard Kokoity.


2009 South Ossetian parliamentary election
The European Union, the United States, and NATO have issued statements saying these organisations consider the elections illegal, and have rejected their results.


2009 South Ossetian parliamentary election, Background
The Republic of South Ossetia has a population of about 70,000. It has had de facto independence from central Georgian rule since the 1991–1992 South Ossetia War. After the August 2008 South Ossetia war, Russia recognized the independence of South Ossetia, followed by Nicaragua. Other countries, including Georgia, consider South Ossetia part of Georgia's constitutional territory.


2009 South Ossetian parliamentary election, Campaign
Four parties were contesting for 34 seats in the Parliament of South Ossetia. According to the central election commission, 45,000 people were registered to vote on Sunday. This was the first South Ossetian election since the republic obtained its limited international recognition in 2008. The election was observed by over 70 observers from 10 countries, including representatives from Abkhazia, the Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Nagorno-Karabakh, Ukraine, Poland, and Russia. Among the observers were Vladimir Churov, the chairman of the Central Election Commission of Russia and Giulietto Chiesa, Italian MEP for Italy of Values, former member of the Italian Communist Party.


2009 South Ossetian parliamentary election, Campaign
About 100 Russian and international reporters arrived in South Ossetia to cover the event. Voters were able to cast ballots at 95 polling stations, 88 in South Ossetia and 7 in Russia (6 of them opened in North Ossetia and 1 in Moscow). No other overseas polling stations were open.


2009 South Ossetian parliamentary election, Structure
The election was conducted using the party-list proportional representation system with a 7% election threshold. For South Ossetian authorities to consider the election valid, the voter turnout would have been at least 50% + 1 vote, and at least two parties would have acquired securing seats in the parliament. If these criteria hadn't been fulfilled, the South Ossetian legislation provided for a repeat election in four months.


2009 South Ossetian parliamentary election, Parties
The Unity Party is the ruling party in the current parliament. According to Reuters, Unity, Communists, and the People's party support the current President Eduard Kokoity, while the Fatherland Socialist party opposes him. Two opposition parties were barred from running.


2009 South Ossetian parliamentary election, Results
As of 10:00 UTC, 59.88% of registered voters had cast their votes, crossing the electoral threshold of 50% plus one vote. The South Ossetian election commission has thus declared the elections valid.


2009 South Ossetian parliamentary election, Results
According to the preliminary results, the Unity Party has obtained the most votes with 46.38% of the vote, followed by People's Party with 22.58% and the Communists with 22.25%, thus securing 17, 9 and 8 parliament seats respectively, while the Fatherland Socialist Party fell just short of passing the 7% threshold with only 6.37%. The official results were expected by June 7.


2009 South Ossetian parliamentary election, Results
According to the final results, the Unity Party won 17 seats with 21,246 votes, the People's Party won nine seats with 10,345 votes and the Communist Party won eight seats with 10,194 votes.


2009 South Ossetian parliamentary election, Reaction
What they in South Ossetia call elections are very far from real elections.


2009 South Ossetian parliamentary election, Reaction
Nothing but clownery, a farce and a redistribution of criminal power.


2009 South Ossetian parliamentary election, Reaction
They neither recognize the result, nor want to see the real situation as it unfolds. This is an attempt to deprive the South Ossetian nation of the right to build its own life independently. Such statements from the promoters of democratic norms everywhere rather harm themselves.


2009 South Sydney Rabbitohs season
The 2009 South Sydney Rabbitohs season in Australian rugby league was the 100th in the club's history. They competed in the NRL's 2009 Telstra Premiership, and despite being in 1st position at some points during the year and scoring over 500 points in a season for the first time, they finished 10th out of 16 teams and so failed to reach the play-offs.


2009 South Sydney Rabbitohs season
In Round 25, South Sydney defeated the minor premiers St. George Illawarra Dragons 41 to 6. This is the only loss greater than 20 points the Dragons have suffered since Wayne Bennett's inception as coach.


2009 South Sydney Rabbitohs season
John Sutton was awarded the George Piggins Medal for Souths player of the year.


2009 South Sydney Rabbitohs season
On the ensuing 'Mad Monday', coach Jason Taylor and forward David Fa'alogo were involved in a drunken altercation and both sacked from the club. This prompted the club's co-owner Russell Crowe to write an 800-word letter of apology to a Sydney newspaper.


2009 South Sydney Rabbitohs season, Ladder
* Bulldogs stripped of 2 competition points after an interchange breach in round 2


2009 South Sydney Rabbitohs season, Kit and Sponsors, National Australia Bank
The National Australia Bank was the Rabbitohs major home sponsor for the 2009 Telstra Premiership.


2009 South Sydney Rabbitohs season, Kit and Sponsors, DeLonghi
DeLonghi was the major away sponsor for the Rabbitohs in the 2009 Telstra Premiership.


2009 South Sydney Rabbitohs season, Kit and Sponsors, V8 Supercars Australia
V8 Supercars was the Rabbitohs major sleeve sponsor for the 2009 Telstra Premiership.


2009 South Sydney Rabbitohs season, Kit and Sponsors, Virgin Blue
Virgin Blue was the Rabbitohs major training sponsor for the 2009 Telstra Premiership.


2009 South Tipperary County Council election
An election to South Tipperary County Council took place on 5 June 2009 as part of that year's Irish local elections. 26 councillors were elected from five electoral divisions by PR-STV voting for a five-year term of office. .


2009 Southeast Asian Games
The 2009 Southeast Asian Games (Lao: ກີລາພູມິພາກອາຊີຕາເວັນອອກສຽງໃຕ້ 2009, translit. Kila phoumipak asi taven oak siang tai 2009), officially known as the 25th Southeast Asian Games, was a Southeast Asian multi-sport event hosted by Vientiane, Laos. This was the first time Laos had held the Southeast Asian Games as Laos had previously declined hosting the 1965 Southeast Asian Peninsular Games, citing financial difficulties. This was also the first time the Southeast Asian Games was held in a landlocked country.


2009 Southeast Asian Games
The games commemorated 50 years of SEA Games and the main schedule was formally held from 9 to 18 December 2009, with several events had commenced from 2 December 2009. Around 3,100 athletes participated at the event, which featured 372 events in 25 sports. Laos is the ninth nation to host the games after Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, Brunei and Vietnam. It was opened by Choummaly Sayasone, the President of Laos at the New Laos National Stadium.


2009 Southeast Asian Games
The final medal tally was led by Thailand, followed by  Vietnam and Indonesia with host Laos in seventh place. Several Games and national records were broken during the games.


2009 Southeast Asian Games, Host city
During the Southeast Asian Games Federation meeting at the 2003 Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam, Vientiane, the capital city of Laos was chosen as the host of the 2009 Southeast Asian Games.


2009 Southeast Asian Games, Development and preparation
The Laos 25th SEA Games Organising Committee (LAOSOC) led by president Somsavath Lengsavath was formed to oversee the staging of the games.


2009 Southeast Asian Games, Development and preparation, Branding
The logo of the 2009 Southeast Asian Games is the image of the Pha That Luang, the national landmark and shrine of Laos beside the Mekong River. The shrine represents Laos as the host of the 2009 Southeast Asian Games and the Lao Culture, Arts and History, whereas the Mekong River, resembled by three wavy lines below the shrine, represents the origin of life, culture and lifestyle of Lao community especially in sport field. The river itself also represents the integration of the Southeast Asian countries and the friendship made through sport events.


2009 Southeast Asian Games, Development and preparation, Branding
The mascots of the 2009 Southeast Asian Games are two white elephants dressed in traditional Lao attire named Champa, the male elephant and Champi the female elephant. The two white elephants symbolises the host nation, Laos as it was known as the kingdom of Lan Xang in ancient times, which literally means "the kingdom of a million elephants". The cheerful expression on the faces of the mascots represents the joyful and lively atmosphere during the games and warm welcome from Laos as the host country of the 25th SEA Games.


2009 Southeast Asian Games, Development and preparation, Branding
33 songs were written for the games, which included The Spirit of the Flame, the theme song of the games which was written and performed by Sam Intharaphithak. Other songs included "Go Laos" which was sung by Sam Intharaphithak, Nalin Daravong, and Kave, "SEA Games Harmony" which was sung by Sithiphone, Sam Intharaphithak, Gai, Malya and Poui and "Vietiane Games" which was sung by Buratino. A Beerlao Campaign song for the games was also composed.


2009 Southeast Asian Games, Development and preparation, Countdown
The countdown to the 25th SEA Games was held at the Chao Anouvong stadium on 31 December 2008, featured programmes such as the New Year celebrations, a show from Miss SEA Games contestants, performances by various artists, and a fireworks display. A countdown clock was also placed at a nearby shopping mall and the Patuxay Monument in Vientiane.


2009 Southeast Asian Games, Venues
The 2009 Southeast Asian Games used mostly new and some existing venues with the centrepiece of the activities being the new National Sport Complex. Incorporating the new 25,000-seat national stadium, it hosted most of the events. Athletes were housed at the National University of Laos, which was chosen as the games village.


2009 Southeast Asian Games, Venues
The 25th Southeast Asian Games had 27 venues for the games, all in Vientiane.


2009 Southeast Asian Games, Venues, Public transport
Lao Association of Travel Agents provided bus services during the Games to fetch volunteers between the city and outlying venues and transport athletes and performers to and from the games village, airport, the city, the games venues and within Laos. Car services were also available in the city throughout the games period.


2009 Southeast Asian Games, The games, Opening ceremony
The opening ceremony of the 2009 Southeast Asian Games was held on 9 December 2009 at 18:10 (LST) at the New Laos National Stadium. The ceremony preceded with the arrival of the then President Choummaly Sayasone and several guests of honour to the stadium. This was followed by announcement of the ceremony commencement by announcers, the scoreboard countdown and the parade of athletes from the participating nations led by Lao Police Force band and flag bearers carrying the flags of the games and the flags of the participating nations began with the Bruneian delegation.


2009 Southeast Asian Games, The games, Opening ceremony
The Lao delegation, the largest of all participating nations with 733 athletes and officials, received the warmest welcome from the audiences when they marched into the stadium. After all the contingent marched into the stadium, the National Flag of Laos and the games' flags were raised as the National Anthem of Laos is played. After that, Somsavat Lengsavad, the Standing Deputy Prime Minister of Laos and the chairman of the 25th Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee gave the welcome speech and president Choummaly then declared the games opened.


2009 Southeast Asian Games, The games, Opening ceremony
Mayuly Phanouvong took the athlete's oath, while the judge's oath was taken by Somphone Manikham. Later, a group of athletes passes the flame during the torch relay one after another before Phoxay Aphailath, lit the flame on an arrow carried by a man dressed as Sang Sinxay. The man who dressed as Sang Sinxay then aim the arrow lit by the flame from Phoxay with his bow carried with him at the cauldron, shoot and lit it instantly, symbolised the beginning of the games.


2009 Southeast Asian Games, The games, Opening ceremony
After the cauldron was lit, the athletes took part at the parade earlier were escorted out of the stadium by the Lao Police Force, making way for the dance performance which concluded the ceremony. The dance performance includes segments such as Welcome dance for SEA Games, Forest, streams and life, Sinxay of Modern Times, Bright Future, In Harmony towards the future, Golden rice field and the light of righteousness.


2009 Southeast Asian Games, The games, Closing ceremony
The closing ceremony of the 2009 Southeast Asian Games was held on 18 December 2009 at 18:10 (LST) at the New Laos National Stadium. The ceremony preceded with the arrival of the then Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh and several guests of honour to the stadium. It began with the parade of athletes by order of sports competed, followed by the closing speech of the games chairman, Songsavad Lengsavad, the lowering of the flag of Laos and the games flag and the extinguish of the games cauldron.


2009 Southeast Asian Games, The games, Closing ceremony
The hosting rights of the SEA Games was then handed over to Indonesia, host of the 2011 Southeast Asian Games in which Andy Mallarangeng, the Minister of Youth and sports of Indonesia receiving the flag as its symbol. The Indonesia segment dance performance Gather together again, was performed by Indonesian dancers. The ceremony concluded with the Lao farewell segment dance performance which included Paddy Trash, Lao New Year, Rocket Festival and boat racing festival.


2009 Southeast Asian Games, The games, Sports
Because of the limited sports facilities in Vientiane and Laos' lack of a coastline, only 25 sports featured in the programme, compared to 43 held in the 2007 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand. Among the Olympic sports removed from the Games were baseball, canoeing, sailing, gymnastics, hockey, rowing, fencing, triathlon, equestrian, softball, and basketball.


2009 Southeast Asian Games, The games, Medal table
A total of 1246 medals, comprising 372 gold medals, 374 silver medals, and 500 bronze medals were awarded to athletes. The Host Laos performance was its best ever yet in Southeast Asian Games history and was placed seventh overall amongst participating nations.


2009 Southeast Asian Games, Broadcasting
The games were broadcast live on 14 radio and television channels and websites in six countries.


2009 Southeast Asian Games, Broadcasting
Malaysia's TV3 and TV2 only broadcast the Games' Men's Football events.


2009 Southeast Asian Games, Concerns, controversies and legacy
Prior to the games, the Laotian organising committee was criticised for reducing the number of sports. This had been done partly because Laos has no coastline (rendering sailing, windsurfing, and triathlon infeasible), and a general lack of sporting facilities in Vientiane. The inclusion of a number of Olympic sports, previously uncontested at the SEA Games, were interpreted as a bid for greater coverage of the Games in Laos. Few critics stated that Laos specifically selected games in which they had a better chance of winning gold medals. The decision to remove basketball from the programme was an unpopular one.


2009 Southeast Asian Games, Concerns, controversies and legacy
Many countries, including the Philippines – the defending champions for the men's division – offered to help to host the Games but Laos rejected these offers. Laos accepted funding from China, Japan, Vietnam and the ASEAN nations to construct the appropriate sports facilities  including the USD 100 million New Laos National Stadium and USD 19 million Games village. Although prior criticisms had been levelled over the reduced programme and financing of facilities, upon commencement, the Games received a largely positive reaction from the other competing nations. The Games were considered a success for Laos, one of the poorest countries in the world, and a nation which had only sent four athletes to the 2008 Olympic Games.


2009 Southeast Asian haze
The 2009 Southeast Asian haze was an episode of large scale air pollution primarily caused by slash and burn practices used to clear land for agricultural purposes in Sumatra, Indonesia. It affected the areas surrounding the Straits of Malacca which besides Indonesia include Malaysia and Singapore.


2009 Southeast Asian haze
The haze began in early June 2009 and progressively became worse toward July. With a prevailing dry season caused by El Nino, burning and hence the haze was expected to continue until August or September when the monsoon season arrived.


2009 Southeast Missouri State Redhawks football team
The 2009 Southeast Missouri State Redhawks football team represented Southeast Missouri State University in the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) for the 2009 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Redhawks played their home games at Houck Stadium in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. With fifth-year head coach Tony Samuel, the Redhawks finished the season 2–9 (1–8 in conference play) and in last place in the OVC.


2009 Southeastern Conference Baseball Tournament
The 2009 Southeastern Conference Baseball Tournament was held at Regions Park in Hoover, AL from May 20th through May 24th. LSU won the tournament and earned the Southeastern Conference's automatic bid to the 2009 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament. LSU won the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska.


2009 Southeastern Conference Baseball Tournament, Regular Season results
The top eight teams (based on conference results) from the conference earned invites to the tournament.


2009 Southeastern Conference Baseball Tournament, Format
The 2009 tournament will once again feature a "flipped bracket". This means that after two days of play the undefeated team from each bracket will move into the other bracket. This reduces the number of rematches teams will have to play in order to win the tournament.


2009 Southeastern Conference football season
The 2009 Southeastern Conference football season started on Thursday, September 3 as conference member South Carolina visited North Carolina State. The conference's other 11 teams began their respective 2009 season of NCAA Division I FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision) competition on Saturday, September 5. All teams started their season at home except Kentucky, who started their season on neutral turf at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio against Miami (OH),  Georgia, who traveled to Oklahoma State, and Alabama, who traveled to the Georgia Dome to face Virginia Tech in the Chick-fil-A College Kickoff for the second straight year.


2009 Southeastern Conference football season, Bowl games
The SEC was the second conference to send 10 teams to bowl games in a given year. The ACC was the first to do so in 2008.


2009 Southeastern Conference football season, Bowl games
Rankings are from AP Poll. All times Central Standard Time. * Penn State's win was vacated due to the Penn State child sex abuse scandal


2009 Southeastern Conference football season, Previous season
During the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season, Florida and Alabama won their respective divisions and met in the 2008 SEC Championship Game which Florida won 31–20. Florida went on to win the 2009 BCS National Championship while SEC Runner-Up Alabama lost in the Sugar Bowl. Georgia was the heavy favorite to win the SEC in the pre-season, but did not live up to the hype. The Bulldogs, however, did finish strong winning the Capital One Bowl. Other bowl winners include Chick-fil-A Bowl champion LSU, Cotton Bowl Classic champion Ole Miss, Liberty Bowl champion Kentucky, Music City Bowl champion Vanderbilt


2009 Southeastern Conference football season, Preseason
Tennessee head coach Lane Kiffin begins his first season in Knoxville. Kiffin is a former head coach of the Oakland Raiders and assistant coach at USC. Gene Chizik also begins his first season as head coach at Auburn.


2009 Southeastern Conference football season, Preseason
In a given year, each SEC team will play its five other division foes plus three opposing division opponents. Each team has a set opposing division opponent. The other teams from the division are on a rotation, playing a home/away series every five seasons.


2009 Southeastern Conference football season, Preseason
The Southeastern Conference announced on July 22 that the SEC media had elected Florida and Alabama as the preseason favorites for their divisions for the 2009 football season. It chose Florida quarterback Tim Tebow as the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year and Tennessee cornerback Eric Berry  as the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.


2009 Southeastern Conference football season, Preseason
In the preseason Coaches' Poll released on August 7, the SEC was one of only three conferences with multiple teams ranked in the top ten. Florida was elected pre-season #1 while Alabama, LSU, Ole Miss, and Georgia also were in the top 25.


2009 Southeastern United States floods
The 2009 Southeastern United States floods were a group of floods that affected several counties throughout northern Georgia,  Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, and Arkansas. The worst flooding occurred across the Atlanta metropolitan area. Continuous rain, spawned by moisture pulled from the Gulf of Mexico, fell faster than the local watersheds could drain the runoff.


2009 Southeastern United States floods
Initial damages from around the state were estimated at $250 million. On September 26, Georgia Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine raised the estimated cost to $500 million with the potential for it to rise. Some 20,000 homes, businesses and other buildings received major damage and 17 Georgia counties received Federal Disaster Declarations. The flood is blamed for at least ten deaths.


2009 Southeastern United States floods
The floods were historic, breaking records that went back more than a century in some locations. The Chattahoochee River, the largest river in the region, measured water levels at a 500-year flood level.


2009 Southeastern United States floods, Beginnings
Rain began falling on the Atlanta area on September 15, 2009, with the National Weather Service reporting only 0.04 inches that day at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Additional rain fell throughout the week, with only a trace amount recorded for September 18. However, a large rain event began to inundate the area on September 19.


2009 Southeastern United States floods, Beginnings
The official NWS monitoring station at the Atlanta airport recorded 3.70 inches (94 mm) of rainfall from daybreak to 8pm (more than doubling the previous record for rainfall on that date), while outlying monitoring stations recorded 5 inches (130 mm) of rainfall in a 13-hour period. Flooding began in one neighborhood that day, with the remainder of the area placed under a flash flood watch for the rest of the weekend.


2009 Southeastern United States floods, Effects
Hundreds of people were rescued by boat from their homes, and at least ten people died, mostly in their cars by driving where water crossed the road, which motorists were repeatedly warned against on local radio and TV. The American Red Cross started emergency shelters in each county affected by the floods. Most Atlanta area school districts were closed September 21, due to floodwaters and the difficulty for school buses to get around the hundreds of closed roads.


2009 Southeastern United States floods, Effects, Chattahoochee River
The Chattahoochee rose to the highest levels since Buford Dam was built. Water levels along the river rose over the 0.2 percent chance exceedence (500-year) flood at the gage location. The River reached its second-highest level ever in Vinings at Paces Ferry Road, and would have surpassed its 1916 record were it not for the impoundment built in the 1950s. Along the river in both Vinings and Roswell, a one percent chance exceedence (100-year flood) level was measured.


2009 Southeastern United States floods, Effects, Chattahoochee River
Peachtree Creek topped its stream gauge and the bridge itself at Northside Drive, but remained just below its 1916 record. Nancy Creek, however, did reach a record level, destroying the Peachtree-Dunwoody Road bridge. Peachtree-Dunwoody Road bridge reopened March 23, 2010. Both Peachtree Creek and Nancy Creek are tributaries of the Chattahoochee River.


2009 Southeastern United States floods, Effects, Chattahoochee River
The western side of the Interstate 285 beltway crosses the Chattahoochee River. This section of the interstate was completely underwater for several days. Many of the roller coasters and rides at Six Flags Over Georgia were partly underwater, with at least 80% of Great American Scream Machine submerged by the Chattahoochee River.


2009 Southeastern United States floods, Effects, Chattahoochee River
Located along the Chattahoochee River in west Atlanta, the R.M. Clayton sewage treatment plant, the largest in the Southeastern U.S., was swamped with four feet of water as the river rose by twelve additional feet. Millions of gallons of untreated sewage were released into the rising waters. Other plants in Cobb and Gwinnett counties experienced similar spills. Also located near the Chattahoochee, a Kellogg Company food plant was flooded, resulting in the closure of the plant and a subsequent national shortage of frozen waffles.


2009 Southeastern United States floods, Effects, Lake Lanier and Lake Allatoona
Lake Lanier rose quickly, while Lake Allatoona soared to more than ten feet or three meters over full pool, using its flood reserve capacity for the first time after years of the 2006–2009 Southeastern U.S. drought. Lake Allatoona reached its highest level since 1990.


2009 Southeastern United States floods, Effects, Sweetwater Creek
On Monday, September 21, Sweetwater Creek rose to its highest level ever. On September 22, The United States Geological Survey measured the greatest flow ever recorded on Sweetwater Creek, at 28,000 cubic feet per second (790 m3/s). The flooding from the creek was met with water from the swollen Chattahoochee River, which blocked Interstate 20 west of Atlanta for two days. Many homes and businesses in the area were completely submerged.


2009 Southeastern United States floods, Effects, Cherokee County
Interstate 575 was heavily blocked by Noonday Creek, which also blocked several other roads including Georgia State Route 92. The Little River also caused major problems in the same area, blocking the original parallel route of Georgia 5 (which was replaced by I-575 in the 1980s), and Arnold Mill Road, north and east of Woodstock. Commuters trying to get back home to Cherokee county found it took hours due to the numerous road closures and unmarked detours, extending the September 21, 2009 rush hour until after 9:00pm as people sat in gridlocked traffic.


2009 Southeastern United States floods, Effects, Cobb County
Kennesaw State University in Cobb County received significant flooding on several parts of campus including the east parking deck. Several buildings and dormitories along Campus Loop Drive were flooded from a nearby creek and lake. Water rushing into the Social Science building reportedly rose up to the bottom of the hand-rail of the first floor stairs. Classes were cancelled at 1:00pm on Monday, September 21 for the remainder of the day and again on September 22 and 23 while damage was assessed and clean-up began.


2009 Southeastern United States floods, Effects, Cobb County
Pope High School was surrounded by water, which receded in time to let the students leave. Clarkdale Elementary School was flooded to the roof. Students were evacuated early September 21, while waters were ankle-deep. The Cobb County School District, wary of rising waters, let middle school students leave before elementary and high schools. Though because of heavy rainfall in Legacy Park subdivision, 3 buses had to return to Awtrey Middle School. Powder Springs Park and parts of Brownsville Road were completely submerged by floodwaters.


2009 Southeastern United States floods, Effects, City of Atlanta
Inside the city limits of Atlanta, several neighborhoods were underwater, including Peachtree Hills. The Downtown Connector, a section where Interstate 75 and Interstate 85 run concurrent with each other and one of Georgia's busiest expressways, was submerged by the floodwaters. Several cars were swept into the water before police could redirect traffic.


2009 Southeastern United States floods, Appalachian Mountains landslides
As a result of the flooding rains, many parts of the southern Appalachian Mountains became saturated. This caused a number of landslides and rockslides, including one in October, 2009 on Interstate 40 in the Great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina. This closed the highway for several months.


2009 Southeastern United States floods, Appalachian Mountains landslides
Another rockslide occurred on U.S. Route 64 in Tennessee, in November, 2009. This section, known as the Ocoee Scenic Byway, was closed for several months. The rockslide was captured in a dramatic video, which aired on many television news outlets.


2009 Southeastern United States floods, Appalachian Mountains landslides
A rockslide also occurred in February, 2010 on U.S. Route 129. This closed the section known as "The Dragon", along the Tennessee/North Carolina border, until summer.


2009 Southeastern United States floods, Government response
The governor of Georgia, Sonny Perdue, declared a state of emergency, and requested a disaster declaration from the U.S. government for 17 counties in Georgia. The counties were Bartow, Carroll, Cherokee, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fulton, Gwinnett, Heard, Newton, Paulding, and Rockdale counties around Metro Atlanta, Catoosa, Chattooga, and Walker counties in far northwest Georgiaand Stephens County in northeast Georgia. While state military assets, including elements of the Georgia National Guard and the Georgia State Defense Force, were placed on a heightened state of alert immediately following Governor Perdue's declaration, there were no reports that any military personnel were fielded in significant numbers.


2009 Southeastern United States floods, Government response
Beginning on September 24, President Barack Obama approved a Federal disaster declaration for all 17 Georgia counties requested by Governor Perdue.


2009 Southeastern United States floods, Government response
In the wake of these floods, the Georgia Emergency Management Agency has made strides to increase flood preparedness in Georgia through its Ready Georgia campaign.


2009 Southern 100 Races
The 2009 Southern 100 Races were held between Monday 13 July and Thursday 16 July on the 4.25-mile Billown Circuit near Castletown, Isle of Man.


2009 Southern 100 Races
The main event was won by Guy Martin claiming victory in the 2009 Southern 100 Solo Championship race. Sixteen races were held, with Ryan Farquhar taking the most wins with four victories. Roy Richardson and William Dunlop took double victories with, Jamie O'Brien, Dennis Booth, Dave Madsen-Mygdal and Stephen McIlvenna all achieving solo victories. Steven Coombes and Paul Knapton, Ian and Carl Bell, and Glyn Jones and Jason Slous all tasted sidecar success during the meeting.


2009 Southern 100 Races, Race results, Race 12; 2009 Southern 100 Solo Championship Race final standings
Thursday 16 July 2009 10 laps – 42.50 miles Billown Circuit (Reduced Race Distance)


2009 Southern 100 Races, Race results, Race 12; 2009 Southern 100 Solo Championship Race final standings
Fastest Lap: Ryan Farquhar, 2' 16.401 112.619 mph on lap 9


2009 Southern 500 presented by GoDaddy.com
The 2009 Southern 500 presented by GoDaddy.com, the 52nd running of the race which its lineage dates to the 1957 Rebel 300  and was the first year the Rebel was given the name of the then-suspended fall race , was the eleventh race of the NASCAR Sprint Cup season, was held on Saturday, May 9, 2009 at Darlington Speedway in Darlington, South Carolina.


2009 Southern 500 presented by GoDaddy.com
The race was televised in the USA on Fox starting at 7 PM US EDT with radio being handled on MRN on terrestrial radio and Sirius Satellite Radio.


2009 Southern 500 presented by GoDaddy.com
Seventy-two thousand fans were eyewitnesses to four hours and eleven minutes of racing action. There were 23 changes to the lead position recorded during the race and 17 cautions were taken for a duration of 73 laps. Almost 20% of the race was held under the caution flag due to debris and accidents while the average green flag run was slightly more than 16 laps.


2009 Southern Conference Baseball Tournament
The 2009 Southern Conference Baseball Tournament was held at Fluor Field at the West End in Greenville, SC from May 20 through May 24. Second seeded Georgia Southern won the tournament and earned the Southern Conference's automatic bid to the 2009 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament. It was Georgia Southern's fourth SoCon tournament win.


2009 Southern Conference Baseball Tournament
The tournament used a modified two bracket, double-elimination format. The teams that emerge from the loser's bracket on each side switch to the other bracket and play the team emerging from each winner's bracket, with the surviving teams playing a one-game final. Only the top eight teams participate, so Wofford, UNC Greensboro, and Davidson were not in the field.


2009 Southern Conference Men's Basketball Tournament
The 2009 Southern Conference Men's Basketball Tournament took place between Friday, March 6 and Monday, March 9 in Chattanooga, Tennessee, at McKenzie Arena. The semifinals were televised by SportSouth, and the Southern Conference Championship Game was televised by ESPN.


2009 Southern Conference Men's Basketball Tournament, All-Tournament Team
First TeamStephen McDowell, ChattanoogaTony White Jr., College of CharlestonStephen Curry, DavidsonKevin Goffney, ChattanoogaBryan Friday, SamfordSecond TeamNicchaeus Doaks, ChattanoogaDustin Scott, College of CharlestonDonald Sims, Appalachian StateAndrew Goudelock, College of CharlestonJeremy Simmons, College of Charleston


2009 Southern Islands by-election
A by-election was held in the constituency of the Southern Islands in Vanuatu in December 2009.


2009 Southern Islands by-election
The constituency covers four of the five islands of Tafea Province (Aniwa, Futuna, Erromango and Anatom, excluding only Tanna). It elects a single representative to Vanuatu. The by-election was due to the death of sitting MP Ture Kailo, of the Vanua'aku Party, who had died suddenly in October while attending a seminar organised by the Australian government in Canberra.


2009 Southern Islands by-election
The seat was retained by the Vanua'aku Party; its candidate, Philip Charley, finished "well ahead" of the candidates from the Union of Moderate Parties and the National United Party.


2009 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team
The 2009 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team represented The University of Southern Mississippi in the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team's head coach was Larry Fedora, who was in his second year at Southern Miss. They played their home games at M. M. Roberts Stadium in Hattiesburg, Mississippi and competed in the East Division of Conference USA.


2009 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team
The Golden Eagles finished the season with a record of 7–6, 5–3 in C-USA play and lost to Middle Tennessee, 42–32, in the New Orleans Bowl.


2009 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team, Game Summaries, Alcorn State
The Golden Eagles and Braves met for the first time in each schools' history. Southern Miss set an attendance record of 36,232.


2009 Southland Conference Baseball Tournament
The 2009 Southland Conference Baseball Tournament was held from May 20–23. The top eight regular season finishers of the league's twelve teams met in the double-elimination tournament held at Whataburger Field in Corpus Christi, Texas. The winner of the tournament, Sam Houston State, earned the conference's automatic bid to the 2009 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament.


2009 Southland Conference Baseball Tournament, Seeding and format
The top eight finishers from the regular season were seeded one through eight. They played a two bracket, double-elimination tournament, with the winner of each bracket meeting in a single championship final.


2009 Southland Conference Men's Basketball Tournament
The 2009 Southland Conference Men's Basketball Tournament, a part of the 2008-09 NCAA Division I men's basketball season, will take place March 12–15, 2009 at the Merrell Center in Katy, Texas. The winner of the tournament will receive the Southland Conference's automatic bid to the 2009 NCAA Tournament.


2009 Southland Conference Men's Basketball Tournament, Format
The top eight eligible men's basketball teams in the Southland Conference receive a berth in the conference tournament. After the conference season, teams are seeded by conference record. The first round match-ups will be as shown below.


2009 Southland Conference Men's Basketball Tournament, Championship Game
In the title game, Stephen F. Austin won their first conference title and clinched their first birth to the Division I NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship. Matt Kingsley, a fifth-year senior, led the Lumberjacks with 20 points in the 68–57 win over Texas-San Antonio. Kingsley was named the tournament MVP. The Lumberjacks also got 16 points apiece from Eddie Williams and Josh Alexander.


2009 Southland Conference Men's Basketball Tournament, Championship Game
Devin Gibson led UTSA with a game-high 23 points. While the game was close throughout, SFA never trailed in the first half, and led 37–28 at halftime. They closed the first half on a 20–6 run that culminated with a three-pointer from Walt Harris. Despite Gibson's best efforts, the Roadrunners never got closer than five points behind the second half.


2009 Southland Conference Men's Basketball Tournament, Championship Game
The Lumberjacks became the fifteenth different team to win the Southland Conference Tournament.


2009 Southland Conference Softball Tournament
The 2009 Southland Conference tournament was held at Cowgirl Diamond on the campus of McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana from May 7 through May 9, 2009. The tournament winner, Texas State, earned the Southland Conference's automatic bid to the 2009 NCAA Division I Softball Tournament.


2009 Southland Conference Softball Tournament, Format
The top 6 teams will qualify for the Southland Softball Tournament. The tournament used a true double-elimination format with a maximum of eleven games.


2009 Soweto Open
The 2009 Soweto Open was a professional tennis tournament played on Hard courts. It was part of the 2009 ATP Challenger Tour. It took place in Johannesburg, South Africa between 13 and 18 April 2009.


2009 Soweto Open, Singles entrants, Other entrants
The following players received wildcards into the singles main draw:


2009 Soweto Open, Champions, Men's doubles
Chris Guccione /  George Bastl def. Michail Elgin /  Alexandre Kudryavtsev, 6–2, 4–6, [11–9]


2009 Soweto Open – Doubles
Chris Guccione and George Bastl won in the final 6–2, 4–6, [11–9], against Michail Elgin and Alexandre Kudryavtsev.


2009 Soweto Open – Singles
Fabrice Santoro won in the final of first edition of this tournament. He defeated Rik de Voest 7–5, 6–4.


2009 Spa Formula Two round
The 2009 Spa Formula Two round was the third round of the 2009 FIA Formula Two Championship season. It was held on 27 and 28 June 2009 at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps at Spa, Belgium. The weekend was dominated by Tobias Hegewald, who took two poles, won both races and got fastest lap for both races.


2009 Spa-Francorchamps GP2 Series round
The 2009 Belgian GP2 round was the seventh race of the 2009 GP2 Series season. It was held on 29 August and 30, 2009 at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps at Spa, Belgium. The race was used as a support race to the 2009 Belgian Grand Prix. PartyPokerRacing.com Scuderia Coloni, along with their drivers Andreas Zuber and Luiz Razia, were forced to miss the round due to unresolved financial disputes. Álvaro Parente achieved the first pole position in his GP2 Series career, and also recorded the first pole for his team Ocean Racing Technology.


2009 Spa-Francorchamps GP2 Series round
A day later, the Portuguese driver won the 100th race in GP2 history — again the first for his team — and the second of his career. Diego Nunes, Dani Clos and Nelson Panciatici were given 25-second time penalties by the race stewards as a result of various incidents during the feature race.


2009 Spanish Grand Prix
The 2009 Spanish Grand Prix (officially the Formula 1 Gran Premio de España Telefónica 2009) was a Formula One motor race held on 10 May 2009 at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona, Spain. It was the fifth race of the 2009 Formula One season.


2009 Spanish Grand Prix
It resulted in a one-two finish by Brawn GP drivers Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello, respectively.


2009 Spanish Grand Prix, Report, Background
Brawn GP driver Jenson Button led the Drivers Championship by 12 points from teammate Rubens Barrichello, who was a further point ahead of Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull. The top six drivers were from the top three teams of Brawn, Red Bull and Toyota.


2009 Spanish Grand Prix, Report, Background
Brawn GP led the Constructors' Championship by 22.5 points from Red Bull, who led Toyota by another point. McLaren were the only other team to reach double figures, having scored thirteen points.


2009 Spanish Grand Prix, Report, Background
The 2009 Spanish Grand Prix was widely anticipated as a restart to the season, with most teams bringing new developments to their cars. Brawn GP made their first upgrades to the BGP 001 in an attempt to remain at the front, whilst Ferrari introduced a new two-tier diffuser to the Ferrari F60, and reduced the weight of Kimi Räikkönen's car. Ferrari also ran KERS on both their cars, despite having reliability problems with it at previous races.


2009 Spanish Grand Prix, Report, Background
Having run KERS on Nick Heidfeld's car for the first four races, and Robert Kubica's car in Bahrain, BMW Sauber raced without the system in Spain. This was due to a significant aerodynamic update to the F1.09 and the need to get the best out of it, which is limited with KERS' weight disadvantage. BMW's aerodynamic update included a new nose, front wing, revised sidepods, a new rear wing and an overall lightening of the chassis.


2009 Spanish Grand Prix, Report, Background
In addition, BMW decided not to introduce a two-tier diffuser in Spain, claiming they would not have been able to exploit the performance benefit it gives. Force India also abandoned plans to run KERS to instead focus on aerodynamic developments, but may run the system later in the year according to team principal Vijay Mallya.


2009 Spanish Grand Prix, Report, Background
During the previous year's grand prix, McLaren driver Heikki Kovalainen suffered a large crash at turn nine of the circuit. After the race, Mark Webber, a director of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association, said that standards at the track should have been better. Speaking in his regular BBC Sport column, Webber said the run-off area at turn nine was too tight, which could cause an even more serious accident in the future without improvements. In response to this, the FIA made modifications to the track, which should minimise the chances of such a severe accident happening again.


2009 Spanish Grand Prix, Report, Background
The rear of the gravel trap at the turn was raised by 1.5 metres to give a gradual upward incline to slow down cars, while the gravel trap itself has been changed. An additional conveyor belt has been fitted to tyres straight on at the corner, to minimise the chances of a car penetrating the barriers again. Also, the kerb and artificial grass behind the track at turn nine have been extended by ten metres.


2009 Spanish Grand Prix, Report, Practice and qualifying
Three practice sessions were held before the race; of which two were held on Friday May 8, 2009, with the first in the morning and the second in the afternoon. Both sessions lasted 90 minutes with weather conditions sunny throughout. The third session was held on Saturday morning, lasting for 60 minutes.


2009 Spanish Grand Prix, Report, Practice and qualifying
In the first practice session, Jenson Button of Brawn GP set the fastest time of 1:21.799. Jarno Trulli of Toyota was second, with the two BMW Sauber cars of Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld third and fourth fastest. In the second practice session, Williams' driver Nico Rosberg went quickest with a time of 1.21.588. His teammate, Kazuki Nakajima, was second, with Renault's Fernando Alonso third. The third practice session saw Ferrari leading the way, Felipe Massa ahead of Kimi Räikkönen, with the two Brawn cars over half a second slower in third and fourth.


2009 Spanish Grand Prix, Report, Practice and qualifying
Qualifying on Saturday afternoon was split into three parts. At the end of the first session, Kimi Räikkönen was knocked out from 16th place. He later admitted his fault, believing his first qualifying lap was good enough to secure passage to the next session. Also knocked out were the Force India's of Giancarlo Fisichella and Adrian Sutil, McLaren's Heikki Kovalainen, and the Toro Rosso of Sébastien Bourdais. The second part of qualifying saw the Toro Rosso of Sébastien Buemi, McLaren's reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton, BMW's Heidfeld, Renault's Nelson Piquet, and Williams' Nakajima all fail to progress.


2009 Spanish Grand Prix, Report, Practice and qualifying
Jenson Button claimed pole position in the final part of qualifying, starting his lap just two seconds before the session ended to put in a time of 1.20.527, one tenth quicker than second-placed Sebastian Vettel in the Red Bull. Button's teammate Rubens Barrichello was third quickest, with Ferrari's Felipe Massa and Red Bull's Mark Webber in fourth and fifth. Toyota's Timo Glock and Jarno Trulli were sixth and seventh fastest, in front of Renault's Alonso, Rosberg in the Williams, and the BMW of Kubica.


2009 Spanish Grand Prix, Report, Race
Rubens Barrichello made a good start from third on the grid and took the lead at the first corner. Jenson Button was running second, whilst the KERS-equipped Ferrari of Felipe Massa was able to gain one place from the start and was placed third ahead of Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel.


2009 Spanish Grand Prix, Report, Race
An accident on the first lap of the race caused the retirement of Jarno Trulli, Adrian Sutil and both Toro Rosso drivers. Four laps behind the safety car followed while marshals cleared debris from the track. Replays of the incident showed that Nico Rosberg ran wide at turn two, forcing Trulli into the gravel, where he lost control and spun back onto the track, hitting Sutil. Sébastien Buemi and Sébastien Bourdais collided in the aftermath of the initial carnage, when Buemi braked hard to avoid Trulli, and Bourdais ran into the back of his teammate.


2009 Spanish Grand Prix, Report, Race
Lewis Hamilton had been forced onto the grass at the start by Nelson Piquet and had ended up at the back of the field, but was able to avoid the incidents in front of him. Shortly after the safety car pulled in and the race restarted, the McLaren of Heikki Kovalainen suffered from gearbox failure, forcing him to retire.


2009 Spanish Grand Prix, Report, Race
Barrichello pulled away from Button consistently during the first part of the race. After the first set of pit-stops, it was evident that Barrichello was running a three-stop strategy, while Button and the other front runners were making two stops. Barrichello, however, was unable to create enough of a gap to the chasing pack before his second pit-stop, and lost the lead to Button. After all the other drivers had pitted at least once, Barrichello found himself behind third-placed Massa and fourth-placed Vettel.


2009 Spanish Grand Prix, Report, Race
After the last round of pit-stops were completed, Button was first, while Barrichello had moved up to second, and Red Bull's Mark Webber took third position – the result of a long second stint that Red Bull had opted for in order to emerge in front of the slower Ferrari of Massa. Button had originally been on the same three-stop strategy as Barrichello, but was switched to a two-stop strategy by the team to avoid exiting the pits into the dirty air of Rosberg's Williams.


2009 Spanish Grand Prix, Report, Race
Ferrari's problems continued as Kimi Räikkönen experienced hydraulic failure on his car, causing him to retire on lap 17. Massa had defended his position against Vettel throughout the afternoon, but late in the race, Ferrari identified a problem in that Massa was consuming more fuel than expected. As he could potentially run out of fuel before the end of the race, Massa was instructed to slow down and conserve fuel, and as a result he lost fourth place to Vettel, then fifth place to Fernando Alonso on the last lap.


2009 Spanish Grand Prix, Report, Race
Button took his fourth victory of the season, with Brawn GP claiming a one-two finish as Barrichello crossed the line 13 seconds later. Webber took the final podium position, with teammate Vettel behind him in fourth. Alonso was fifth, Massa sixth, Nick Heidfeld, who had significantly closed the gap to Massa in the final lap, had to settle for seventh but in the process breaking Michael Schumacher's record of  24 consecutive finishes, while Nico Rosberg claimed the final point in eighth place. Webber claimed that driving a long stint with a heavy fuel load "felt as though [he] was towing a caravan."


2009 Spanish National Badminton Championships
The 2009 Spanish National Badminton Championships was the 28th edition of the Spanish National Badminton Championships. It was held in Polideportivo Florida y Babel located in Alicante, from May 8 to May 10, 2009.


2009 Spanish motorcycle Grand Prix
The 2009 Spanish motorcycle Grand Prix was the third round of the 2009 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. It took place on the weekend of 1–3 May 2009 at the Circuito de Jerez located in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain.


2009 Spanish motorcycle Grand Prix, Report
In the MotoGP race, Valentino Rossi achieved his first win of the season to go top of the world championship standings, the world champion came home ahead of home favourite Dani Pedrosa, with Casey Stoner in third place. In the 250cc race, Hiroshi Aoyama capitalised on a late mistake of another home favourite, Álvaro Bautista, to take his first win since the 2007 Malaysian motorcycle Grand Prix. In the 125cc race, British rider Bradley Smith dominated the race to achieve his first victory at the 50th attempt, after title rivals Andrea Iannone and Julián Simón both crashed.


2009 Spanish motorcycle Grand Prix, Championship standings after the race (MotoGP)
Below are the standings for the top five riders and constructors after round three has concluded.


2009 Speaker of the British House of Commons election
The 2009 election of the Speaker of the House of Commons occurred on 22 June 2009 following the resignation of Michael Martin as Speaker during the parliamentary expenses scandal. Martin was the first Speaker since Sir John Trevor in 1695 to be forced out of office. It was the first Speaker election since 11 May 2005, and the first contested election of a Speaker since 23 October 2000.


2009 Speaker of the British House of Commons election
Conservative MP John Bercow was elected as the new speaker, after three rounds of voting.


2009 Speaker of the British House of Commons election, Rules
Voting took place in the House of Commons of the Fifty-Fourth Parliament of the United Kingdom.


2009 Speaker of the British House of Commons election, Rules
Under the new rules for the election of the Speaker, introduced in 2001, candidates needed to be nominated by at least twelve Members of Parliament, at least three of them members of a party different from that of the candidate. Each member was allowed to nominate only one candidate. After the candidates' speeches, the House voted by secret ballot, with an absolute majority required for victory. If no candidate won a majority, then the individual with the fewest votes was eliminated, as were any candidates who received less than five per cent of the votes cast.


2009 Speaker of the British House of Commons election, Rules
The House continued to vote until one member received the requisite majority under a voting system known as the exhaustive ballot. Then, the House voted on a formal motion to appoint the member in question to the Speakership. The Father of the House, Alan Williams, was the presiding officer of the Commons during the election process.


2009 Speaker of the British House of Commons election, Rules
The final stage of appointment of a new Speaker is a formality but has constitutional significance. The Queen must signify her approval of the new Speaker, which is done by the appointment of a Royal Commission.


2009 Speaker of the British House of Commons election, Candidates, Announced
The following individuals all confirmed their intention to stand for election to the office of Speaker, and were all in turn confirmed as nominated candidates by the Parliamentary authorities on the morning of the election:


2009 Speaker of the British House of Commons election, Candidates, Announced
All 10 of the above candidates appeared at a Hansard Society hustings on 15 June. This was the first full hustings to take place for a Speaker election, although there was a hustings for the 2000 speaker election, which several of the candidates did not attend.


2009 Speaker of the British House of Commons election, Candidates, Nominations
No official list of MPs who nominated candidates was publicly released. A partial list of nominations is as follows:


2009 Speaker of the British House of Commons election, Results
The result of the first secret ballot was announced at 17:10 on 22 June 2009, after the nominated candidates had all addressed the House of Commons. The result of the second ballot was announced at approximately 18:55. Following the result of the second ballot, Beckett, Haselhurst and Beith withdrew their candidacies after their support fell, leaving a straight runoff in the third round between two Conservative MPs, John Bercow and George Young. The result of the third ballot was announced around 20:30. Bercow won, with 54% of the final vote.


2009 Speaker of the British House of Commons election, Results
Following the final vote, the question was put "That John Bercow do take the Chair of this House as Speaker", which was carried without any audible opposition. After this, Bercow was dragged to the Chair (as per House custom) by Charles Walker and Sandra Gidley, and gave an inaugural speech as Speaker-Elect.


2009 Speaker of the British House of Commons election, Results
Later that evening, Bercow was formally appointed Speaker by receiving the Queen's approbation through a Royal Commission in the House of Lords.


2009 Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament election
The 2009 Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament election was the 5th legislative speaker election since the implementation of the Taif Agreement, held on 25 June 2009 during the first session of the 23rd parliament. The incumbent Speaker Nabih Berri and head of the Amal Movement was re-elected to a fifth term.


2009 Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament election
Under the article 44 of the constitution, the speaker is elected at the start of each parliamentary cycle by an absolute majority of the deputies' vote. By convention, he is always a Shia Muslim.


2009 Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament election
Berri won the majority of the votes cast, receiving 90 votes and 70.3% out of 128 deputies.


2009 Special Honours (New Zealand)
The 2009 Special Honours in New Zealand were announced in August 2009 as a result of the reinstatement of the appellations of "Sir" and "Dame" to the New Zealand Royal Honours System by passing Special Regulation 2009/90 Additional Statutes of The New Zealand Order of Merit, a legally binding regulation with the force of law in New Zealand.


2009 Special Honours (New Zealand)
The effect of the change was that individuals who had been appointed as Principal Companions or Distinguished Companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit were given the option of accepting titular honours: Principal Companions could opt to become Knights or Dames Grand Companion, and Distinguished Companions could become Knights or Dames Companion. Of the 85 living Principal and Distinguished Companions at the time, all but 13 accepted redesignation. Living widows of deceased male Principal or Distinguished Companions were eligible to be granted the courtesy title of "Lady".


2009 Special Honours (New Zealand)
The recipients are displayed as they were styled before the redesignation, and the date given in brackets is the date of the original appointment as a Principal or Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.


2009 Special Honours (New Zealand), New Zealand Order of Merit, Widows of Principal and Distinguished Companions
The following surviving spouses of deceased Principal and Distinguished Companions were granted the use of the courtesy title of "Lady":


2009 Special Olympics Great Britain National Games
The 8th Special Olympics Great Britain National Games were held in Leicester between the 25 and 31 July 2009.


2009 Special Olympics Great Britain National Games, Athletes and volunteers
Over 2,400 athletes representing 19 Special Olympics regions across the UK have visited the city of Leicester over the seven-day period along with 1,200 coaches and 1,500 volunteers.


2009 Special Olympics Great Britain National Games, Athletes and volunteers
2,422 athletes competed in 21 Olympic style competitions across the city. The city of Leicester have also recruited about 1,500 volunteers to participate in the Games.


2009 Special Olympics Great Britain National Games, Athletes and volunteers
Leicester's landscape has changed dramatically since the city first hosted the Games in 1989. From the rich diversity of its population, to the magnificent ongoing 3 billion regeneration programme, Leicester was a city rising to the challenge on many fronts.


2009 Special Olympics Great Britain National Games, Athletes and volunteers
A host of celebrities have already offered up their support to the Games next year including Martin Johnson, Gary Lineker, Leicester Tigers, Leicester City FC, and Leicestershire CCC.


2009 Special Olympics Great Britain National Games, Sports and venues
Sailing was held at Rutland Sailing Centre and Kayaking have taken place at the Anglian Water Site. Leicestershire County Cricket Club were used for Kwik Cricket. Walkers Stadium, home of Leicester City Football Club, was also used for the Opening Ceremony and the Games Village. There are some of the sporting venues hosted the 2009 Games, including Abbey Park (cycling), New College Leicester (gymnastics), Hollywood Bowl (ten pin bowling) and Saffron Lane Sports Centre (athletics).


2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games
The 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games was held in the state of Idaho, USA from February 7 through February 13, 2009.


2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games
Nearly 2,500 athletes from over 100 countries participated in the games. Dignitaries included actors, musicians, athletes and politicians from around the United States and the world. Vice President Joe Biden presented awards to athletes, and met athletes and their families at other events on Thursday, February 12. He further announced the appointment of Kareem Dale as special assistant to the president for disability policy.


2009 Speed World Challenge
The 2009 SCCA Speed World Challenge was the twentieth Speed World Challenge season. began March 18, 2009, and was completed on October 11, after 10 rounds. The Grand Touring championship was won by Brandon Davis driving a Ford Mustang GT, and the Touring Car championship was won by Pierre Kleinubing driving an Acura TSX. It was the last season under the Speed Channel sponsorship.


2009 Speed World Challenge, Schedule
Five of the rounds were held as an undercard to the American Le Mans Series: Sebring, Long Beach, Mid-Ohio, Road America, Road Atlanta and Laguna Seca. The Sebring, Mid-Ohio, Road Atlanta and Laguna Seca races were also shared with the Atlantic Championship, as well as the Autobahn date. The race at New Jersey was held as an undercard to the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series.


2009 Speedway Ekstraliga
The 2009 Speedway Ekstraliga (known as the CenterNet Mobile Speedway Ekstraliga for sponsorship reasons) is the 10th Speedway Ekstraliga season, the top division of Team Speedway Polish Championship. The Ekstraliga have eight teams competing (six the top teams from 2008 season and two the top teams from 2008 First League. The first fixtures of the season are scheduled for April 5, 2009, and the season will end on October 18 or 25, 2009. The defending Polish champion are Unibax Toruń, who won in 2008 after defeating Unia Leszno in the play-off final.


2009 Speedway Grand Prix
The 2009 Speedway Grand Prix was the 64th edition of the official World Championship and the 15th season of the Speedway Grand Prix era, deciding Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme Speedway World Championship. It is the third series under the promotion of Benfield Sports International, an IMG company.


2009 Speedway Grand Prix, Qualification
For the 2008 season, there was the 15 permanent riders, to be joined at each Grand Prix by one wild card and two track reserves.


2009 Speedway Grand Prix, Qualification, 2008 Grand Prix
The top eight riders from the 2008 championship qualified as of right. These eight qualifiers are, in championship order:


2009 Speedway Grand Prix, Qualification, Grand Prix Challenge
The top eight riders from the 2008 championship were joined by three riders who qualified via the Grand Prix Challenge. These riders are, in order by qualifying position:


2009 Speedway Grand Prix, Qualification, Nominations
The final four riders were nominated by series promoters, Benfield Sports International, following the completion of the 2008 season. Riders were nominated after the season ended on October 28, 2008.


2009 Speedway Grand Prix Qualification
The 2009 Individual Speedway World Championship Grand Prix Qualification Meetings are a series of speedway meetings used to determine the three riders and one reserve who qualify for the 2009 Speedway Grand Prix. The top eight riders finishing the 2008 Grand Prix series automatically qualify for 2009.


2009 Speedway Grand Prix Qualification, Domestic Qualifications, Poland
Domestic Qualifications for the 2009 Grand Prix and the 2008 Individual European Championship Krajowe eliminacje do Grand Prix 2009 i IME


2009 Speedway Grand Prix Qualification, Domestic Qualifications, Poland
(17) Jankowski: 7, 14, 18(18) Kłopot: 12, 15 (19) Kołodziej: 13, 17Times:Heat 1-4:   66.90 67.42 67.98 69.22Heat 5-8:   67.70 68.10 68.40 68.64Heat 9-12:  68.42 67.95 68.80 68.19Heat 13-16: 68.10 70.29 67.94 68.08Heat 17-20: 68.56 69.02 68.23 68.63Heat 21-24: 68.18 69.36 69.09 68.87


2009 Speedway Grand Prix Qualification, Domestic Qualifications, Poland
(17) Cemler: 9, 16, 19(18) Wiśniewski: 13, 18, 20(19) Lampkowski: 15, 18


2009 Speedway Grand Prix Qualification, Grand Prix Challenge
m - exclusion for exceeding two minute time allowance •  t - exclusion for touching the tapes •  x - other exclusion •  e - retired or mechanical failure •  f - fell •  ns - non-starter •  nc - non-classify


2009 Speedway Grand Prix of Czech Republic
The 2009 Speedway Grand Prix of Czech Republic the first race of the 2009 Speedway Grand Prix season. It took place on 25 April in the Markéta Stadium in Prague, Czech Republic. Czech Republic Grand Prix was won by Russian rider Emil Sayfutdinov.


2009 Speedway Grand Prix of Czech Republic, Riders
The Speedway Grand Prix Commission nominated Matěj Kůs as Wild Card, and Luboš Tomíček, Jr. and Adrian Rymel both as Track Reserves. The riders' starting positions draw for Grand Prix meeting was made on 24 April at 13:00 CET by Mayor of Prague Pavel Bém.


2009 Speedway Grand Prix of Czech Republic, Heat details
e: retired or mechanical failure • m: exclusion for exceeding two minute time allowance • t: exclusion for touching the tapes • x: other exclusion • f: fellns: non-starter • nc: non-classifySemi-finals: Heat 21: Riders placed 1st, 4th, 6th & 7th in the intermediate classification (after 20 heats)Heat 22: Riders placed 2nd, 3rd, 5th & 8th in the intermediate classification (after 20 heats)Big Final (heat 23): The first and second placed riders in each of the Semi-Finals


2009 Speedway Grand Prix of Denmark
The 2009 FIM Speedway World Championship Grand Prix of Denmark was the fourth race of the 2009 Speedway Grand Prix season. It took take place on 13 June 2009 in the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen, Denmark.


2009 Speedway Grand Prix of Denmark
The Grand Prix was won by Australian Jason Crump who beat American Greg Hancock, Pole Tomasz Gollob and Danish wild card Niels Kristian Iversen in the final. It was Crump's second Grand Prix win of the 2009 season.


2009 Speedway Grand Prix of Denmark, Riders
The Speedway Grand Prix Commission nominated Niels Kristian Iversen as the wild card and Patrick Hougaard and Nicolai Klindt as the first and second track reserves. The riders' starting positions draw for Grand Prix meeting was made on 12 June at 13:00 CET.


2009 Speedway Grand Prix of Denmark, Heat details
e: retired or mechanical failure • m: exclusion for exceeding two minute time allowance • t: exclusion for touching the tapes • x: other exclusion • f: fellns: non-starter • nc: non-classifySemi-finals: Heat 21: Riders placed 1st, 4th, 6th & 7th in the intermediate classification (after 20 heats)Heat 22: Riders placed 2nd, 3rd, 5th & 8th in the intermediate classification (after 20 heats)Big Final (heat 23): The first and second placed riders in each of the Semi-Finals


2009 Speedway Grand Prix of Europe
The 2009 FIM Speedway European World Championship Grand Prix was the second race of the 2009 Speedway Grand Prix season. It took place on 9 May 2009, in the Alfred Smoczyk Stadium in Leszno, Poland.


2009 Speedway Grand Prix of Europe
On 9 May European Union celebrates Europe day, commemorating the Schuman declaration. The main sponsor was a Polish webside .


2009 Speedway Grand Prix of Europe
The European SGP was won by Australian rider Jason Crump.


2009 Speedway Grand Prix of Europe, Riders
The Speedway Grand Prix Commission nominated Jarosław Hampel as the wild card for the Grand Prix. Damian Baliński and Janusz Kołodziej were nominated as the track reserves. The riders' starting positions draw for Grand Prix meeting was made on 8 May at 13:00 CET by President (=Mayor) of Leszno Tomasz Malepszy.


2009 Speedway Grand Prix of Europe, Heat details
e: retired or mechanical failure • m: exclusion for exceeding two minute time allowance • t: exclusion for touching the tapes • x: other exclusion • f: fellns: non-starter • nc: non-classifySemi-finals: Heat 21: Riders placed 1st, 4th, 6th & 7th in the intermediate classification (after 20 heats)Heat 22: Riders placed 2nd, 3rd, 5th & 8th in the intermediate classification (after 20 heats)Big Final (heat 23): The first and second placed riders in each of the Semi-Finals


2009 Speedway Grand Prix of Great Britain
The 2009 FIM Speedway World Championship Grand Prix of Great Britain was the fifth race of the 2009 Speedway Grand Prix season. It took place on 27 June 2009 in the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Great Britain.


2009 Speedway Grand Prix of Great Britain
The British Grand Prix was won by GP leader Jason Crump who beat Fredrik Lindgren, Hans Andersen and Greg Hancock in the final. Crump won with a 24 point maximum score and it was his third Grand Prix win of the season.


2009 Speedway Grand Prix of Great Britain, Riders
One wild card and two track reserves were nominated by the Auto-Cycle Union. Edward Kennett was selected as the wild card after finishing second behind Chris Harris at the 2009 British Speedway Championship. Tai Woffinden and Simon Stead will be the track reserves. The riders' starting positions draw for Grand Prix meeting was made on 26 June at 12:00 CET and it was carried outby Jury President Christer Bergström and Miss Wales Chloe-Beth Morgan.


2009 Speedway Grand Prix of Great Britain, Heat details
e: retired or mechanical failure • m: exclusion for exceeding two minute time allowance • t: exclusion for touching the tapes • x: other exclusion • f: fellns: non-starter • nc: non-classifySemi-finals: Heat 21: Riders placed 1st, 4th, 6th & 7th in the intermediate classification (after 20 heats)Heat 22: Riders placed 2nd, 3rd, 5th & 8th in the intermediate classification (after 20 heats)Big Final (heat 23): The first and second placed riders in each of the Semi-Finals


2009 Speedway Grand Prix of Italy
The 2009 FIM Speedway World Championship Grand Prix of Italy will be the tenth race of the 2009 Speedway Grand Prix season. It took place on 26 September in the Pista Olimpia in Terenzano, Italy. It will be first Speedway Grand Prix (SGP) event held in Terenzano; previous Italian SGP events had always taken place in Lonigo.


2009 Speedway Grand Prix of Italy
The first Grand Prix in Terensano was won by Pole Tomasz Gollob who beat Hans N. Andersen, Nicki Pedersen and Grzegorz Walasek in the final.


2009 Speedway Grand Prix of Italy, Riders
The Speedway Grand Prix Commission nominated Guglielmo Franchetti as the wild card and Mattia Carpanese and Andrea Maida as the track reserves. The riders' starting positions draw for Grand Prix meeting was made on 25 September at 13:00 CEST by Mayor of Terenzano.


2009 Speedway Grand Prix of Italy, Heat details
e: retired or mechanical failure • m: exclusion for exceeding two minute time allowance • t: exclusion for touching the tapes • x: other exclusion • f: fellns: non-starter • nc: non-classifySemi-finals: Heat 21: Riders placed 1st, 4th, 6th & 7th in the intermediate classification (after 20 heats)Heat 22: Riders placed 2nd, 3rd, 5th & 8th in the intermediate classification (after 20 heats)Big Final (heat 23): The first and second placed riders in each of the Semi-Finals


2009 Speedway Grand Prix of Latvia
The 2009 FIM Speedway World Championship Grand Prix of Latvia was the sixth race of the 2009 Speedway Grand Prix season. It took place on 1 August in the Latvijas Spidveja Centrs in Daugavpils, Latvia.


2009 Speedway Grand Prix of Latvia
The Latvian Grand Prix was won by American Greg Hancock, who beat Kenneth Bjerre, Tomasz Gollob and GP leader Jason Crump in the final.


2009 Speedway Grand Prix of Latvia, Riders
2008 World Champion Nicki Pedersen was injured at 2009 Speedway World Cup Event 1 (undergoing skin graft surgery on burns to his left leg). On Monday 20 July he had an operation. Pedersen said, "The wounds need to be completely healed before I get back on the bike, otherwise I could risk having problems for the rest of the season". At the Latvia SGP Pedersen will be replaced by first Qualified Substitutes Niels Kristian Iversen, Dane also. The Speedway Grand Prix Commission nominated Grigory Laguta as a Wild Card, and Maksims Bogdanovs and Vjačeslavs Giruckis, both as Track Reserve. The riders' starting positions draw for Grand Prix meeting was made on 31 July by Jānis Lāčplēsis, the President of Latvian Track Racing Commission.


2009 Speedway Grand Prix of Latvia, Heat details
e: retired or mechanical failure • m: exclusion for exceeding two minute time allowance • t: exclusion for touching the tapes • x: other exclusion • f: fellns: non-starter • nc: non-classifySemi-finals: Heat 21: Riders placed 1st, 4th, 6th & 7th in the intermediate classification (after 20 heats)Heat 22: Riders placed 2nd, 3rd, 5th & 8th in the intermediate classification (after 20 heats)Big Final (heat 23): The first and second placed riders in each of the Semi-Finals


2009 Speedway Grand Prix of Nordic
The 2009 FIM Speedway World Championship Grand Prix of Nordic will be the eighth race of the 2009 Speedway Grand Prix season. It took place on 29 August in the Vojens Speedway Center in Vojens, Denmark. Vojens was GP host between 1995 and 2002.


2009 Speedway Grand Prix of Nordic
The first Nordic SGP was won by Andreas Jonsson, who beat Rune Holta, Kenneth Bjerre and Emil Sayfutdinov in the final.


2009 Speedway Grand Prix of Nordic, Riders
The Speedway Grand Prix Commission nominated Niels Kristian Iversen as the wild card and Kenneth Hansen and Morten Risager as the track reserves. On 26 August in Danish league match between Esbjerg and Slangerup SK Kenneth Hansen feel on track and was hospitalize. The riders' starting positions draw for Grand Prix meeting was made on 28 August at 13:00 CEST by FIM Jury President Christer Bergström.


2009 Speedway Grand Prix of Nordic, Heat details
e: retired or mechanical failure • m: exclusion for exceeding two minute time allowance • t: exclusion for touching the tapes • x: other exclusion • f: fellns: non-starter • nc: non-classifySemi-finals: Heat 21: Riders placed 1st, 4th, 6th & 7th in the intermediate classification (after 20 heats)Heat 22: Riders placed 2nd, 3rd, 5th & 8th in the intermediate classification (after 20 heats)Big Final (heat 23): The first and second placed riders in each of the Semi-Finals


2009 Speedway Grand Prix of Poland
The 2009 FIM Speedway World Championship Grand Prix of Poland was the eleventh and a last race of the 2009 Speedway Grand Prix season. It took place on 17 October in the Polonia Stadium in Bydgoszcz, Poland.


2009 Speedway Grand Prix of Poland
The 13th Bydgoszcz Grand Prix was won by Nicki Pedersen who beat Leigh Adams, Sebastian Ułamek and Rune Holta in the final.


2009 Speedway Grand Prix of Poland, Riders
The Speedway Grand Prix Commission nominated Adrian Miedziński as the wild card and Grzegorz Zengota and Krzysztof Buczkowski as the track reserves. The riders' starting positions draw for Grand Prix meeting was made on 16 October at 13:00 CEST by Deputy Mayor of Bydgoszcz Maciej Grześkowiak.


2009 Speedway Grand Prix of Poland, Heat details
e: retired or mechanical failure • m: exclusion for exceeding two minute time allowance • t: exclusion for touching the tapes • x: other exclusion • f: fellns: non-starter • nc: non-classifySemi-finals: Heat 21: Riders placed 1st, 4th, 6th & 7th in the intermediate classification (after 20 heats)Heat 22: Riders placed 2nd, 3rd, 5th & 8th in the intermediate classification (after 20 heats)Big Final (heat 23): The first and second placed riders in each of the Semi-Finals


2009 Speedway Grand Prix of Scandinavia
The 2009 FIM Speedway World Championship Grand Prix of Scandinavia was the sixth race of the 2009 Speedway Grand Prix season. It took place on 15 August in the G&B Stadium in Målilla, Sweden.


2009 Speedway Grand Prix of Scandinavia
The Grand Prix was won by Pole Tomasz Gollob who beat Jason Crump, Hans N. Andersen and Kenneth Bjerre in the final. It was first GP winning in this season for Gollob.


2009 Speedway Grand Prix of Scandinavia, Riders
The Speedway Grand Prix Commission nominated Antonio Lindbäck as a Wild Card, and Simon Gustafsson and Ludvig Lindgren, both as Track Reserve. The riders' starting positions draw for Grand Prix meeting was made on 14 August by Ilkka Teromaa, FIM Jury President.


2009 Speedway Grand Prix of Scandinavia, Heat details
e: retired or mechanical failure • m: exclusion for exceeding two minute time allowance • t: exclusion for touching the tapes • x: other exclusion • f: fellns: non-starter • nc: non-classifySemi-finals: Heat 21: Riders placed 1st, 4th, 6th & 7th in the intermediate classification (after 20 heats)Heat 22: Riders placed 2nd, 3rd, 5th & 8th in the intermediate classification (after 20 heats)Big Final (heat 23): The first and second placed riders in each of the Semi-Finals


2009 Speedway Grand Prix of Slovenia
The 2009 FIM Speedway World Championship Grand Prix of Slovenia will be the ninth race of the 2009 Speedway Grand Prix season. It took place on 12 September in the Matija Gubec Stadium in Krško, Slovenia.


2009 Speedway Grand Prix of Slovenia
The Slovenian SGP was won by Emil Sayfutdinov, who beat Rune Holta, Tomasz Gollob and Nicki Pedersen in the final. It was third GP Emil's winning.


2009 Speedway Grand Prix of Slovenia, Riders
The Speedway Grand Prix Commission nominated Matej Žagar as the wild card and Izak Šantej and Aleksander Čonda as the track reserves. The riders' starting positions draw for Grand Prix meeting was made on 11 September at 13:00 CEST by Jury President Wolfgang Glas.


2009 Speedway Grand Prix of Slovenia, Heat details
e: retired or mechanical failure • m: exclusion for exceeding two minute time allowance • t: exclusion for touching the tapes • x: other exclusion • f: fellns: non-starter • nc: non-classifySemi-finals: Heat 21: Riders placed 1st, 4th, 6th & 7th in the intermediate classification (after 20 heats)Heat 22: Riders placed 2nd, 3rd, 5th & 8th in the intermediate classification (after 20 heats)Big Final (heat 23): The first and second placed riders in each of the Semi-Finals


2009 Speedway Grand Prix of Sweden
The 2009 FIM Speedway World Championship Grand Prix of Sweden will be the third race of the 2009 Speedway Grand Prix season. It took place on 30 May 2009, in the Ullevi Stadium in Gothenburg, Sweden.


2009 Speedway Grand Prix of Sweden
The Swedish Grand Prix was won by Russian junior Emil Sayfutdinov who beat in the final Australian Jason Crump and Swedish wild card Antonio Lindbäck. It was second Sayfutdinov' winning in his third Grand Prix.


2009 Speedway Grand Prix of Sweden, Riders
The Speedway Grand Prix Commission nominated Antonio Lindbäck as the wild card and Ricky Kling and Simon Gustafsson as the first and second track reserves. However, Gustafsson suffered a broken collar bone when he crashed during a Swedish league match on 5 May, and his replacement will be Thomas H. Jonasson. The riders' starting positions draw for Grand Prix meeting was made on 29 May at 13:00 CET.


2009 Speedway Grand Prix of Sweden, Heat details
e: retired or mechanical failure • m: exclusion for exceeding two minute time allowance • t: exclusion for touching the tapes • x: other exclusion • f: fellns: non-starter • nc: non-classifySemi-finals: Heat 21: Riders placed 1st, 4th, 6th & 7th in the intermediate classification (after 20 heats)Heat 22: Riders placed 2nd, 3rd, 5th & 8th in the intermediate classification (after 20 heats)Big Final (heat 23): The first and second placed riders in each of the Semi-Finals


2009 Speedway World Cup
The 2009 FIM Speedway World Cup (SWC) was the ninth FIM Speedway World Cup season. The final took place on 19 July 2009 in Leszno, Poland. The defending World Champions were Denmark who won the 2008 final in Vojens, Denmark. It was the fourth final to be held in Poland, and the second in the Alfred Smoczyk Stadium after the 2007 final was held there when Poland beat Denmark, Australia and Great Britain. Poland won the 2009 Speedway World Cup.


2009 Speedway World Cup, Qualification
Fourteen teams attempted to qualify for the 2009 Speedway World Cup. The top six nations (Denmark, Poland, Sweden, Australia, Great Britain and Russia) from the 2008 Speedway World Cup were granted automatic qualification, with the remaining two places divided among two qualifying rounds. Qualifying Round 1 was won by Slovenia and Qualifying Round 2 was won by the Czech Republic. The Czech Republic took part in the 2008 tournament, but it was the first time Slovenia had qualified since 2003.


2009 Speedway World Cup, Squads
Squads for the 2009 Speedway World Cup consisted of 10 riders; the same as the previous tournament in 2008. Each participating national association had to confirm its 10-riders one month before the first tournament meeting.


2009 Speedway World Cup Event 1
The 2008 Speedway World Cup Event 1 was the first meeting of the 2009 Speedway World Cup tournament. It took place on 11 July 2009 in the Speedway Center in Vojens, Denmark. The meeting was won by the Russian team and they qualified directly for the World Cup Final in Leszno, Poland. Sweden and host team Denmark qualified for the Race-Off. The last placed team, the Czech Republic, were knocked out of the competition.


2009 Speedway World Cup Event 1, Heat details
M - exclusion for exceeding two minute time allowance • T - exclusion for touching the tapes • X - other exclusion • E - retired or mechanical failure • F - fell


2009 Speedway World Cup Event 2
The FIM Tobet Speedway World Cup – Event 2 was the second meeting of the 2009 Speedway World Cup tournament. It took place on 13 July 2009 in the East of England Showground in Peterborough, Great Britain.


2009 Speedway World Cup Event 2
The meeting was won by the Polish team and they qualified directly for the World Cup Final in Leszno, Poland. Australia and host team Great Britain qualified for the Race-Off. The last placed team, Slovenia, were knocked out of the competition.


2009 Speedway World Cup Event 2, Results
As a Teams Declared was two changes. Pole Sebastian Ułamek (who broke a shoulder blade riding in the Swedish Elitserien) was replaced by Krzysztof Kasprzak. Polish manager Marek Cieślak said: I watched the Polish Championship semi-final where Krzysztof scored 13 points. He also had a very good performance in the Polish Ekstraliga before that. Injured was Australian Rory Schlein, who broke a collarbone and wrist in the British Elite League. Teenage Darcy Ward was an option, but he was injured also. Schlein will be replaced by Davey Watt.


2009 Speedway World Cup Event 2, Results
It will be a SWC debut for five riders: two the British Lewis Bridger and Daniel King, one Pole Adrian Miedziński and two Slovenian riders Aleksander Čonda and Maks Gregorič.


2009 Speedway World Cup Event 2, Heat details
M - exclusion for exceeding two minute time allowance • T - exclusion for touching the tapes • X - other exclusion • E - retired or mechanical failure • F - fell


2009 Speedway World Cup Final
The FIM Tobet Speedway World Cup Final was the fourth meeting of the 2009 Speedway World Cup tournament. It took place on 19 July 2009 in the Alfred Smoczyk Stadium in Leszno, Poland.


2009 Speedway World Cup Final, Heat details
M - exclusion for exceeding two minute time allowance • T - exclusion for touching the tapes • X - other exclusion • E - retired or mechanical failure • F - fell


2009 Speedway World Cup Qualification
The 2009 Speedway World Cup Qualification (SWC) was a two events of motorcycle speedway meetings used to determine the two national teams who qualify for the 2009 Speedway World Cup. According to the FIM rules the top six nations (Denmark, Poland, Sweden, Australia, Great Britain and Russia) from the 2008 Speedway World Cup were automatically qualified.


2009 Speedway World Cup Qualification, Heat details, Qualifying Round 1
M - exclusion for exceeding two minute time allowance • T - exclusion for touching the tapes • X - other exclusion • E - retired or mechanical failure • F - fell


2009 Speedway World Cup Qualification, Heat details, Qualifying Round 2
M - exclusion for exceeding two minute time allowance • T - exclusion for touching the tapes • X - other exclusion • E - retired or mechanical failure • F - fell


2009 Speedway World Cup Race-off
The FIM Tobet Speedway World Cup Race-Off was the third meeting of the 2009 Speedway World Cup tournament. It took place on 16 July 2009 in the Alfred Smoczyk Stadium in Leszno, Poland.


2009 Speedway World Cup Race-off
The Race-off was won by Australian team (51 points). Australia and Sweden (39 pts) qualifying to Saturday's World Cup Final at Leszno also. Third Great Britain (35 pts) and fourth Denmark (34 pts) was knocked out of the competition.


2009 Speedway World Cup Race-off, Heat details
M - exclusion for exceeding two minute time allowance • T - exclusion for touching the tapes • X - other exclusion • E - retired or mechanical failure • F - fell


2009 Speedway World Cup squads
This article lists the confirmed national speedway squads for the 2009 Speedway World Cup tournament held between 11 and 18 July 2009. Squads for the tournament consisted of 10 riders, same as the previous tournament in 2008. Each participating national association had to confirm its 10-rider until one month before first tournament meeting.


2009 Spengler Cup
The 2009 Spengler Cup was held, as it always was, in Davos, Switzerland, between 26 and 31 December, 2009. All matches were played at host HC Davos' home Vaillant Arena. The tournament featured all of the last year's tournament participants except for last year's winners Dynamo Moscow who was replaced by Dinamo Minsk and ERC Ingolstadt who was replaced by Adler Mannheim.


2009 Spengler Cup, Television
Several television channels around the world will cover many or all matches of the Spengler Cup. As well as most Swiss channels, here is a listing of who else will cover the tournament:


2009 Split local elections
The 2009 local elections were held in Split, Croatia on 17 and 31 May 2009.


2009 Split local elections
The incumbent HDZ mayor Ivan Kuret  was running for a full four-year term after he was appointed mayor on 17 July 2007 after the former mayor Zvonimir Puljić was impeached by the city council.


2009 Split local elections, Mayoral election
The percentages of votes from each candidate are calculated from number of valid votersThe percentages of valid and invalid votes are calculated from the turnout numberThe turnout percentage is calculated from the number of expected voters


2009 Split local elections, Council election
The percentages of votes from each list are calculated from number of valid votersThe percentages of valid and invalid votes are calculated from the turnout numberThe turnout percentage is calculated from the number of expected voters


2009 Sporting Challenger
The 2009 Sporting Challenger was a professional tennis tournament played on outdoor red clay courts. It was the ninth edition of the tournament which was part of the Tretorn SERIE+ of the 2009 ATP Challenger Tour. It took place in Turin, Italy between 29 June and 5 July 2009.


2009 Sporting Challenger, Singles entrants, Other entrants
The following players received wildcards into the singles main draw:


2009 Sporting Challenger, Champions, Doubles
Daniele Bracciali /  Potito Starace def. Santiago Giraldo /  Pere Riba, 6–3, 6–4