Sub-Saharan Africa

The firm building the venue for the 1999 rugby union world cup final has warned it needs to work around the clock on the #121 million Millennium Stadium in Cardiff or it will not be ready in time.

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.

Former South African rugby boss Louis Luyt is setting up a new political party to challenge Nelson Mandela's ruling African National Congress (ANC) in general elections next year.

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

Xerox is to be an official sponsor of Rugby World Cup 1999 to be hosted by Welsh Rugby Union.

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.

South Africa wants to host the unification fight between Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis in what would be the continent's biggest boxing event since the "Rumble in the Jungle" between Mohammad Ali and George Foreman.

Organisers of last month's athletics World Cup in Johannesburg reported a small profit on Thursday and hit back at suggestions the event had been a flop.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has said that he expected England to present a strong, professional bid to host the 2006 World Cup finals - although Africa was still the logical choice to stage the tournament.

Superbike world championship organisers have said they had proposed a new starting grid format to reward the fastest riders.

Japanese coach Philippe Troussier said that soccer's world governing body FIFA should introduce weight categories to cut out cheating in age-group football.

International rugby union officials have agreed that the British Lions will continue to tour every four years.

The West Indies' first official test tour of South Africa has been hit by a row over the players' payments.

South African cricket boss Ali Bacher will deliver a message from president Nelson Mandela when he takes part in negotiations in London to save the West Indies tour on Friday.

England's Rugby Football Union (RFU) has announced the appointment of professional referees for the first time in the sport in the northern hemisphere.

Former South African wicketkeeper Dave Richardson said on Saturday that he had found a sponsor for the West Indies cricket team, providing their stalled tour of South Africa went ahead.