North Korea squeezed through to the quarter-finals of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Under-23 Championships as they drew 2-2 with Thailand at the Grand Hamad Stadium in Doha.

The International Federation of American Football (IFAF) has officially released its new guidelines for bidding for its major events.

Fitness equipment manufacturer Exertrain will be the title sponsor of the upcoming English Weightlifting Championships, it has been announced.

Fourteen-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal of Spain crashed out of the Australian Open today as he suffered a first-round exit following a five-set defeat to compatriot Fernando Verdasco in Melbourne.

FIFA Presidential candidate Gianni Infantino will explore the possibility of hosting World Cups across entire regions rather than limiting the tournament to one or two countries if he is elected as the head of world football’s governing body.

Sri Lanka fast bowling coach Anusha Samaranayake has been suspended for two months by the country's cricket board for alleged involvement in a match-fixing attempt during the country's Test match with the West Indies in October.

The head of one of the losing bidders in the controversial tender for the Gold Coast 2018 Ceremonies has called for Queensland’s Auditor General to delve further into the involvement of former Jack Morton Worldwide (JMW) employees Mik Auckland and Celia Smith in the process.

Russia and Qatar will “cooperate closely” in their respective preparations for the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups after Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Thani met with Vladimir Putin in Moscow, it has been announced.

Team North America survived a late rally from Team World to secure the 2016 World Financial Group Continental Cup title on a dramatic final day of curling action at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.

Iran striker Amir Motahari scored one and set up the other as his nation got their Asian Football Confederation Under-23 Championships campaign off to a winning start by beating Syria 2-0 at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha.

There is “no need” for a public referendum on Rome’s bid for the 2024 Olympics and Paralympics, Bid Committee chairman Luca Cordero di Montezemolo has claimed, while vowing to use their candidacy as a way to repair the reputation of the corruption-laden city.

South Korea’s Government has initiated a “corruption vaccination” programme in the country to monitor spending in Pyeongchang 2018’s preparations for the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, it has been announced.

Argentina star Lionel Messi will not represent his country at this year's Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, instead preferring to have a break ahead of Barcelona's 2016- 2017 La Liga season, the country's head coach Gerardo Martino has confirmed.

Japan's London 2012 judo bronze medallist Masashi Nishiyama has retired from the sport, according to his sponsor Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal.