Japan

From delinquent to dohyo master in six short years, Japan's newest sumo superstar Ryuji Hiroshima has made his mother very proud, and unwittingly become a shining example for the nation's disaffected youth.

Confusion over scheduling, disputes over judges' decisions, rumours of food poisoning and an upside down flag are some of the problems faced by organisers of this week's Asian Winter Games in South Korea.

A scandal over Japan's successful bid for the 1998 Winter Olympics has flared up again when a major newspaper reported hard evidence had been found that Nagano spent millions of dollars on lavish entertainment as part of its bidding campaign.

The Japanese government decided on Thursday to cut even symbolic links with cities bidding for Olympic Games until investigations into the bribery scandal over selecting venues are completed and it has had time to study them.

A top Japanese Olympics official has said there were "excesses" in Nagano's winning bid for the 1998 Winter Games but that a probe was being hampered because Olympic documents had been destroyed.

Osaka, Japan's second largest city, has formally launched its bid to host the 2008 Summer Olympics saying its campaign would mark the rebirth of "clean" Games.

Soccer?s World Cup has been dealt a triple-blow after three of the main sponsors from France 98 look set not to renew with FIFA?s commercial arm ISL.

A former leader of Atlanta's bid for the 1996 Olympics said his group violated the gift rules of the International Olympic Committee in its pursuit of the Summer Games.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has made a formal appeal to FIFA, and to the presidents of the five other soccer confederations, for the 2006 World Cup finals to be awarded to Africa.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has strongly denied corruption claims of a cash-for-votes scandal made in a sensational new book.

South Africa`s 2006 World Cup bid committee said it was vital for the future of soccer as a sport and the World Cup as a multi-billion dollar business that the African continent stage the finals in seven years' time.

Major League Baseball could swing into the Far East as part of a plan to increase its international profile.

The first broadcast deal for soccer's 2002 World Cup Finals in Europe has been agreed.

A prominent member of soccer's world governing body FIFA believes Asia is winning the battle for more places in the World Cup finals in 2002.

The Sports Authority have announced that Jeffrey I. Handler has been appointed senior vice president, marketing & advertising.

World soccer's governing body FIFA is open to the possibility of North Korea staging matches in the 2002 World Cup finals, which will be jointly hosted by Japan and South Korea, FIFA president Sepp Blatter has said.