Australia

Five years after its bitter defeat to Sydney in the race for the 2000 Olympics, China looks ready to bid for 2008.

IOC President Samaranch said Wednesday he hopes the proposed Olympic anti-drug agency could be up and running by the end of next year.

South Korean President Kim Dae-jung has said he hoped an International Olympic Committee initiative to host sports ties between North and South Korea would eventually lead to joint Korean teams for international competitions.

Work to build a new generation stadium in Melbourne, Australia has given the local economy a major boost.

Australia is to phase out tobacco sponsorship of international sports events by 2006.

One of Australia's oldest and most famous rugby league clubs has agreed to merge with a rival.

The Melbourne Cricket Club could lose the right to run the world famous Melbourne Cricket Ground under the State Government's radical plan to "professionalise" the ground's management by removing sports clubs and politicians.

China is considering rival bids by three of its largest cities - Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou - to host the 2008 Olympic Games, state media said on Monday.

The world's best soccer players will be invited to Sydney next year to play in a ceremonial match to mark the official opening of the stadium that will host the 2000 Olympics.

English rugby officials have turned down a proposal to change the cycle of British Lions tours from four to six years.

Dutch soccer champions Ajax Amsterdam say they are in talks with Belgian first division team Germinal Ekeren with a view to forming some sort of partnership.

Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram has denied charges of betting and match-fixing and accused Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief executive Majid Khan of trying to sabotage his reputation.

The State Government would effectively take control of the Melbourne Cricket Ground trust under plans aimed at modernising the ground's management.

Stock prices of both News Corp. and CBS Corp. fell Tuesday as expectations grew that stock offerings planned by offshoots of both companies are likely to be postponed.

Plan to restrict England tours to the three main southern hemisphere rugby nations are unlikely to be accepted by the sport's governing body, Australia Rugby Union chief executive John O'Neill said on Wednesday.

Australian Olympic chiefs are increasing pressure on the federal government to introduce tough laws against the importation of performance-enhancing sports drugs before the Sydney 2000 Games.