Africa

A pair of heavyweights are set to challenge Japan's hopes of hosting the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

Dubai Sports City, the world's first integrated purpose-built sports city, is to host the first International Cricket Council (ICC) global cricket academy.

FIFA has voiced mounting concerns over government interference in the affairs of football associations.

Japan wants to stage the Rugby World Cup in 2011 according to the secretary of the Japanese RFU.

Editorial director Kevin Roberts reviews the issues of the past seven days.

The jockeying continues in Australia following the announcement of a new Super 14 team to be based in the country from 2006.

Real Madrid is the football club with the biggest potential global fan base according to a survey of 1,000 people in 13 countries carried out by Sport+Markt.

The southern hemisphere's Tri-nations and Super 12 rugby union competitions are to be expanded from 2006.

The Lebanese Rugby League is set to host the Mediterranean Cup next month, from October 2 to 9 in Tripoli, north Lebanon.

Sky Sports’ Rugby Union programming, including next summer's British & Irish Lions tour, will be sponsored by Diageo's Guinness brand.

The International Cricket Council warned it would be ruthless in guarding against “ambush” marketing activities during the ICC Champions Trophy in England starting on September 10.

Eight nations will contest the ICC Trophy qualifying tournament in Malaysia next year in a bid to win a place in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007.

Players or officials breaching the anti doping policy put in place for September’s ICC Champions Trophy will face bans of up to two years from the game, along with financial penalties.

Sky Sports will become the UK’s first broadcaster to screen live coverage of the brand new A1 Grand Prix motor racing series, starting in autumn 2005.

International Cricket Council CEO Malcolm Speed has warned cricket chiefs around the world to stay vigilant in light of the findings from a report into the latest corruption scandal.

Sportswear firm Puma has filed a EUR2m lawsuit against soccer world governing body FIFA in the latest twist to the row over the strip worn by the Cameroon national team during this year’s African Nations Cup.