LONDON: The general public will be given priority for tickets for the 2012 London Olympics and everything possible will be done to fill stadiums, the chief organiser said in a newspaper interview Tuesday.Paul Deighton, the chief executive of LOCOG, the organising committee of the London

OSAKA: Japan`s football chief said Tuesday he felt FIFA inspectors had gained a "considerable understanding" of the country`s bid to host the 2022 World Cup, including its promise of global 3-D broadcasts.The Japanese bidders gave a three-hour presentation on the World Cup plans to a

LEEDS: The International Cricket Council (ICC) should ensure the controversial decision review system is used in all Test series, according to Australia captain Ricky Ponting.The referral system is not being used in Australia`s two-match series with Pakistan in England, where the second

LEEDS: Michael Clarke may be Australia`s captain in waiting but for now the batsman is adamant his main priority is to focus on making a success of his new role at number four.Clarke was made captain of Australia`s Twenty20 side after star batsman and Test captain Ricky Ponting opted out

LONDON: Sachin Tendulkar`s blood is to be used in a special edition of a huge biography of the Indian cricket legend, its publishers said Monday.A giant de luxe book, the Tendulkar Opus, is coming out in February, with 10 copies being printed using his blood.The mammoth book is designed

LEEDS: Pakistan assistant coach Ijaz Ahmed has given the strongest hint yet a recall for former captain Mohammad Yousuf is being considered.Yousuf and fellow senior batsmen Younus Khan, who has been playing county cricket for Surrey, were both given indefinite bans after Pakistan`s 3-0

DHAKA: Floodlights of the Shahid Candhu Stadium of Bogra have caused trouble for Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).   The BCB has been counting Tk 1.5 lakh each month for these lights which remained switched off for the last three and a half years.The stadium had hosted international on

GLASGOW: No play was possible in the one-day international between Scotland and Bangladesh here on Monday, with rain meaning the match was abandoned without a ball being bowled.Bangladesh are due to meet the Netherlands here on Tuesday but bad weather could affect that match as well.BDST:

LONDON: England cricketer Graeme Swann has been charged with drink driving, police said Monday.The Nottinghamshire off-spinner, ranked the third best Test bowler in the world, was stopped near his home in the West Bridgford area of Nottingham, central England, on April 2.The 31-year-old

SARAJEVO: Bosnia`s Football Federation (NS/FSBIH) was threatened to be excluded from international competitions as it has failed to adopt statute changes requested by FIFA and UEFA, a statement said on Monday.Only 27 out of 60 delegates backed the changes aimed at replacing an

LIVERPOOL: England midfielder Joe Cole has joined Liverpool on a four-year contract from Premier League rivals Chelsea, the Anfield club announced here on Monday.Cole, 28, has agreed personal terms with the Reds and will undergo a medical in the next 48 hours, Liverpool said in a

LONDON: The London 2012 Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) announced on Monday they had successfully absorbed a 27 million pound government-ordered reduction in their budget.The ODA also revealed the overall cost of the London Games was expected to fall by six million pounds.Last month saw

MUMBAI: An Indian entrepreneur is close to clinching a deal to buy English Premier League club Blackburn Rovers worth between 54 and 69 million dollars, a source familiar with the matter has told AFP.The process of due diligence -- which opens up the club`s financial accounts for

BAGHDAD: Soldiers raided the Iraqi Football Association offices on Sunday, less than a week before IFA elections to be overseen by world football`s governing body FIFA, an IFA official said.Around 20 soldiers arrived at the head offices in Baghdad with an arrest warrant on corruption

OSAKA: Hot on the heels of the World Cup in South Africa, FIFA kicked off a whirlwind two-month tour Monday to inspect nine candidates vying to host the 2018 or 2022 tournaments, the first stop in Japan.A five-member team from the sport`s world governing body was to arrive in the western

GALLE: The second day`s play in the first Test between India and Sri Lanka on Monday was abandoned without a ball being bowled due to bad weather.The morning start had already been delayed by a wet outfield at the Galle International Stadium when a thunderstorm soon after ensured there

DHAKA: Bangladesh cricket team is expecting a clean victory against Scotland and Netherlands in their two different matches at Glasgow on Monday and Tuesday.“There is no chance to take them lightly, we are serious and in international cricket nobody takes their opponents lightly

HELSINKI : South African world champion Caster Semenya crowned her comeback week following an 11-month absence caused by a gender controversy with an easy victory in the 800m at a low-key meeting on Sunday.Semenya clocked 2min 02.42sec in her favoured event at the Lapinlahti meet,

ST. ANDREWS: Tiger Woods has gone 0-for-3 in what had been expected to be a pivotal run of majors in pursuit of the record 18 major titles won by Jack Nicklaus, a quest likely to be much tougher now. After a flop at the British Open, Woods has not won in the past nine majors, one shy of

BERLIN: Werder Bremen are ready to listen to offers for their German international playmaker, Mesut Ozil, the club`s sporting director Klaus Allofs admitted on Sunday.The German first division side had been hoping to extend the 21-year-old`s contract but with negotiations having hit a