By David Gold at Wembley Stadium in LondonApril 24 - Britain's women were paired with Brazil in the group stage of the London 2012 Olympic Games, while the men face an intriguing tussle with Copa America champions Uruguay after the draw here today.

abuse – as well as a host of talented young players, such as Diego Polenta and Nicolás Lodeiro.The South

one of Europe's most sought-after forwards who could cause Britain big headaches.In Group B, Mexico, South

they beat in the semi-finals of the FIFA Women's World Cup in Germany last year, as well as Canada and South

Africa, in Group F.Group G pitches the United States, the triple and reigning Olympic champions, against

By David GoldApril 23 - Former Brazil star Ronaldo will be the biggest name at the London 2012 football draw tomorrow  – although Argentina, winner of the last two men's tournaments, will be conspicuous by its absence.

Mexican squad.Also qualified for the men's tournament are Switzerland, Honduras, New Zealand, Japan and South

Korea and Canada all return to the Games, but London 2012 marks the first time Cameroon, Colombia, South

Africa, hosts Britain and France will have competed.The women's tournament will feature three groups

By David GoldApril 22 - Tottenham Hotspur's Ryan Nelsen is to captain the New Zealand men's football team at the London 2012 Olympic Games, with Wolfsburg's Rebecca Smith leading the women's team.

Belgium and Brazil on its Olympic football debut, as well as leading the team at the World Cup in 2010.In South

Africa the All Whites finished unbeaten and above then reigning world champions Italy, though they exited

By David GoldApril 15 - Australian Erin Densham followed up on a World Cup win in Mooloolaba last month by claiming the opening leg of the International Triathlon Union (ITU) World Series, while Steffen Justus of Germany won the men's race in Sydney.

soon caught up by the chasing pack.He was unable to keep up though in the run and the trio of Justus, South

second, building on his African Championships victory last month, and becoming the first competitor from Africa

By David GoldApril 14 - South African Airways (SAA) will be supporting its country's Olympic and Paralympic

teams in Britain after a deal was agreed with the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee

significant contribution to our national efforts, and our company's mission of bringing the world to Africa

and taking Africa to the world."

As the national carrier we are honoured to support Team South Africa by flying them to London – backing

them all the way in true South African style."

She was adamant that it would be 'over her dead body' that the pride of South Africa be transported to

By Andrew WarshawApril 12 - FIFA President Sepp Blatter looks likely to be conspicuous by his absence when the draw is made at Wembley later this month for the London 2012 Olympic football tournament.

Jérôme Valcke (left).Valcke will oversee the draw, just as he did for the Beijing 2008 Olympics and the South

Africa 2010 World Cup, and will hope not to be drawn into any more controversies following his notorious

By David GoldApril 12 - World champions Japan (pictured in blue) laid down a marker for the London 2012 women's football tournament with a 4-1 win over Brazil (pictured in yellow) to lift the Kirin Cup in Kobe.

was confirmed when New Zealand beat Papua New Guinea in the Oceania qualifiers.North Korea, Britain, South

Africa, Cameroon, Canada, Colombia, Sweden and France will also be in London this summer.Japan and the

By Duncan MackayApril 11 - A row has broken out in South Africa after it was revealed that Chinese company

Local pressure groups in the country are furious with the deal but the South African Sports Confederation

along with wheelchair basketballer Marius Papenfus.Also revealed at the launch was Chukuru the rhino, South

Africa."

The news that the manufacturing of South Africa's national team kit is done in China is a mockery and

Africa mascots

riders on the circuit.At the last mountain bike World Cup in March, at the Pietermaritzburg venue in South

Africa, Last finished in the top 10, having led the race for almost half of the five circuits.

If it did not comply, one of the world's wealthiest sporting nations could face expulsion, just as South

Africa did over their own form of discrimination.

It smacks of the old South Africa, where occasionally approved prominent black sports figures were allowed

Saudi Arabia on several occcasions and every time I have felt as uncomfortable as I did in apartheid South

Africa and Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) had been banned earlier because they refused to send teams that were

By David GoldApril 4 - The line-up for the London 2012 women's football tournament is now complete after New Zealand annihilated Papua New Guinea 15-0 on aggregate in the final Oceania group qualifying tie.

Brazil also set to line up in London.Hosts Great Britain, Canada, Colombia, North Korea, Cameroon, South

Africa, France, Sweden complete the London line-up."

By David GoldApril 2 - South Africa has won two triathlon places at the London 2012 Olympic Games after

last year at the Championships, claimed the women's title with a superb run, a minute ahead of All Africa

Games gold medallist and fellow South African Carlyn Fischer.It was an all South African top three too

this summer's Games.The performances from Murray and Roberts ensured a highly satisfactory weekend for South

Africa, who have now secured at least two spots for their National Olympic Committee allocation.The

By Tom DegunApril 1 - Sam Ramsamy (pictured), South Africa's International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive

, but were left disappointed when South Africa announced they would not bid for the 2020 Olympic and

I believe that everybody is looking forward to a South African bid because Africa is the one continent

Many people believe that South Africa is the ideal spot for the Games and we will work on that."

Africa will not bid for 2020 Olympics says Sports MinisterAugust 2011: South Africa still undecided

bid for 2020 OlympicsJuly 2011: David Owen - Does Zuma's presence mean South Africa will bid for

is one of the most respected and powerful figures in sport, praised widely for shaping dramatically South

high-profile anti-apartheid campaigners for the latter part of the last century and served as chairman of the South

Africa non-racial Olympic Committee (SANROC) during the apartheid years of 1976 to 1990.

criticism, he campaigned tirelessly against racist discrimination in sport and against the participation of South

Africa have a thriving, racially integrated team that will compete at London 2012 in a Games that many

Africa bid for the 2024 Olympic Games, most likely from Durban, is now set to be given the green light

I believe that everybody is looking forward to a South African bid because Africa is the one continent

Many people believe that South Africa is the ideal spot for the Games and we will work on that."

By David GoldMarch 31 - Qualifying for the London 2012 is continuing this weekend at the Le Morne African Triathlon Union (ATU) African Triathlon Championships, with two spots at London 2012 up for grabs.

claimed gold in both 2010 and 2011.Carlyn Fischer may push the duo close after claiming gold at the All-Africa

St Louis, the reigning under-23 African champion, will be a dark horse to claim a berth London 2012.South

Africa will be optimistic of picking up both London 2012 spots on offer if Richard Murray can live up

Town ITU Sprint Triathlon African Cup.In 2010 Murray burst onto the scene by taking the African and South

Villiers at a ITU Triathlon Premium African Cup event in Port Elizabeth recently.Erhard Wolfaardt, another South