As we move towards the close of another hectic, controversial, spectacular, worrying (please employ another five or so random adjectives of your choice, to taste) sporting year it is clear that we have had some very obvious highs and, yes, some very clear lows.

Other high profile Olympic champions in the ISL camp include Chad le Clos of South Africa and Britain's

Nile Wilson won five medals in all and three golds in gymnastics ©Getty ImagesCaster Semenya of South Africa

The President of the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Riccardo Fraccari has issued his end of year address to the body's members, saying 2019 will be "the biggest and most important year in the history of international baseball and softball".

Baseball5 construction projects have been announced or completed this year in Asia, [the] Americas, Africa

Belgium will begin 2019 at the top of the FIFA world rankings having preserved their single-point lead over France at the table's summit.

Asia has also boosted its top-50 numbers from two to three, with these rises coming at the expense of Africa

The Algerian Olympic Committee (COA) organised Southern Olympic Day in the city of Biskra.

elected to the same role at continental body the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa

Planning permission has been granted for the residential element of Birmingham 2022's Athletes' Village, with the city poised to celebrate the one year anniversary since they were awarded the next edition of the Commonwealth Games.

year.Birmingham was only awarded the Commonwealth Games on December 21, 2017 after Durban in South Africa

The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has signed a partnership agreement with sports technology and management company Global Sports Commerce (GSC) for a duration of four years.

cities, across 10 countries including Australia, Great Britain, Hungary, India, New Zealand, South Africa

A reformed Nigeria Rugby League Association (NRLA) has become an observer member of the Rugby League European Federation (RLEF).

The RLEF currently governs teams in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and North America, while the Asia

news to see a reformed and active Nigeria Rugby League,”" said Remond Safi, the RLEF's Middle East Africa

Sal 2019 held an event to mark the six-month countdown to the inaugural African Beach Games in Cape Verde.

awarded to Sal island on the Atlantic archipelago at the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa

South Africa's celebrated karate exponent and administrator Sonny Pillay has been elected unopposed as President of the Commonwealth Karate Federation - and is tasked with getting the sport into the Commonwealth Games.

pictured with his colleagues after the election in Durban  ©CKFHe has been in charge of Karate South Africa

Confederation of African Football (CAF) have claimed they will decide on a replacement host for the 2019 Africa

Cup of Nations on January 9, with Egypt and South Africa the two contenders.

staging the event, after they originally said they would not compete with another Arabic country.South Africa

initially stated they would not bid and insisted they must be offered the event.As it stands, South Africa

overtaken by Libya should they lose to the nation in the final round of matches.Egypt are rivaling South Africa

for the chance to host the Africa Cup of Nations ©Getty ImagesThe 2019 tournament will be the first

Africa Cup of Nations to take place in June and July after it was moved from its original January and

The International Netball Federation (INF) has confirmed the appointment of a number of people in officiating roles.

Their hiring spree includes Roseline Wolmarans of South Africa as a new international talent identified

Davidson in leading international officiating.Neo Gwafila-Bulayani has been awarded the role for Africa

An announcement from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) last week regarding the location of its Super Cup final represents a worrying trend for supporters of the so-called beautiful game.

TotalCAFSC pic.twitter.com/wBVBa4g1Yw— CAF (@CAF_Online) December 12, 2018When rumours of a switch from Africa

International Surfing Association (ISA) have announced the 2019 World Surfing Games will take place in Japan - a year before the sport’s Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020.

Surfers will qualify from the Games on a regional basis, with the top eligible man and women from Europe, Africa

Algeria has hosted the African Bodybuilding, Classic Bodybuilding and Men's Physique Championships.

Championships.This included a meeting with newly elected Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa