News In Brief

Canada begins sports pool against stout opposition

The Canadian government officially launched a controversial sports betting pool Tuesday, despite legal action by all 10 provinces and major-league baseball.

Officials said they hoped the pool would raise about $25 million this year to be used for funding the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary.

Canada's provinces say the federally run pool violates a 1979 agreement that gave them control over lottery prizes. Baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn says the pool will tarnish the game's image and impair its integrity.