The Netherlands will hope to build on their European Baseball Championship success by winning the crucial Africa/Europe qualification event for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

to a final qualification tournament.The Netherlands are joined by Italy, Czech Republic, Israel and Spain

Nino Cavalli in Parma.Hosts Italy face South Africa at the same venue later in the day.Israel play Spain

Russia are favourites to defend their title at the Blind Football European Championships which begin tomorrow in Rome.

The Russians beat Spain on penalties after the 2017 final in Berlin and have been placed in Group B in

Paralympics Preparation Center.Hosts Italy have been placed in Group A and will face 2015 winners Turkey, Spain

in Group A.Hosts Italy will play the first game of the tournament against Turkey in Group B, where Spain

United States finished top of the medal table at the inaugural World Urban Games as the three-day competition came to a close here today.

Dimitris Kyrsanidis after the Greek athlete scored 24.00.Parkour gold also went to Stefanny Navarro of Spain

Spain won the International Basketball Federation World Cup for the second time as they beat Argentina

semi-final, were never able to get on terms, losing each of the four quarters – 23-14, 20-17, 23-16, 29-28.Spain

Two-time National Basketball Association (NBA) most valuable player Stephen Curry is expected to volunteer his services for the United States' men's basketball team at next year's Olympic Games in Tokyo.

Bryant was speaking in Beijing on the eve of the FIBA World Cup final, which was held today between Spain

Defending champions the Netherlands will take on Italy in the gold-medal match at the European Baseball Championship after both sides came through their semi-finals in Germany.

The two last-four encounters were hard-fought affairs as the Dutch side edged out Spain 1-0, while Italy

title and 23rd overall.Israel will have the chance to end the tournament on a high when they take on Spain

Tristan Bangma and Patrick Bos of the Netherlands clinched the men's B title, as road races began at the International Cycling Union Para-cycling Road World Championships in Emmen, The Netherlands. 

the tandem race, crossing the line in 2 hours 16min 14sec.Adolfo Bellido Guerrero and Noel Infante of Spain

South Korea finished day two of the World Taekwondo Grand Prix in Chiba with the bragging rights after winning two of the three gold medals on offer.

points after two nondescript rounds saw the Korean win 22-14.Bronzes went to Adrian Vicente Yunta of Spain

The rest of the basketball world has caught up with the United States, according to one of the game's superstars, Kobe Bryant.

Speaking in Beijing on the eve of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) World Cup final between Spain

Bryant recalled the battle the Americans had in the 2008 Olympic Final against Spain – a 118-107 victory

I remember on the Redeem Team we needed a hell of a fourth quarter to beat Spain."

We still needed a really late push to beat Spain in that gold-medal match."

Italy beat hosts Germany this evening to secure their place in the semi-finals of the European Baseball Championship.

other semi-final match pits The Netherlands against Spain.The Netherlands overcame Belgium 17-2, before Spain

through to the semi-finals ©Baseball-em.deBy reaching the semi-finals, Israel, Italy, The Netherlands and Spain

Spain earned an historic victory over Australia to reach the final of the International Basketball Federation

, 12 assists, seven rebounds and four steals.Sergio Lllull added 17 points and 6 assists in helping Spain

11 rebounds.Australia led by eight points with seven minutes left in regulation when Gasol brought Spain

It's a great feeling to be in the final," said Spain coach Sergio Scariolo."

Morocco's Ramzi Boukhiam and New Zealand's Billy Stairmand earned provisional continental qualification slots for Tokyo 2020, as the last standing surfers from Africa and Oceania, respectively, at the World Surfing Games in Miyazaki, Japan.

in silver medal position, with both Slater and Andino unbeaten.Defending world champions Japan and Spain

Artificial snow was sprayed on volunteers attending the Tokyo 2020 canoe sprint test event, as part of measures designed to combat the high temperatures expected during next year's Olympic Games.

metres.Litvinchuk clocked 42.862sec to beat Linnea Stensils of Sweden, second in 43.340, while Teresa Portela of Spain

Austria and Croatia claimed wins over Great Britain and Sweden, respectively, in the race for ninth place at the European Baseball Championship in Germany.

place tomorrow are the four quarter-final ties between Israel and France, The Netherlands and Belgium, Spain

Juli Inkster is bidding to make history at the Solheim Cup by becoming the first captain to win the prestigious women's team golf event three times.

World number 12 Carlota Ciganda of Spain is the highest ranked of the automatic European qualifiers.England's