AUGUST 8 - AFTER all the controversy, the Beijing Olympics finally opened tonight with a spectacular ceremony at the Bird's Nest watched by an estimated worldwide television audience of four billion.

these Games despite having had part of her leg amputated following a motor accident, led the way for South

Africa.  

South and North Korea, who failed to agree on marching in side-by-side, entered separated by three other

attended the ceremony included French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and South

 AUGUST 8 - SHEFFIELD are in discussions with China, Brazil, Canada and South Africa about setting up

ENGLAND have been warned today by World Cup officials that failure to qualify for the 2010 tournament in South

Africa could directly affect their bid to host the event eight years later.

Unlike England, Jordaan has been at Euro 2008 and has insisted that South Africa are on track with preparations

Also in the Austrian capital was George Weah, who helped take the world's biggest tournament to Africa

Jordaan added that there are no fears of hooliganism if England do make it to South Africa.  

  MAY 1 - LONDON agencies Bell Pottinger and Fast Track have been appointed to lead Madrid's bid to host the 2016 Olympics, it was announced today.

Pottinger and Fast Track also supported communications for the winning bids for the Beijing 2008 Olympics, South

Africa 2010 World Cup, London 2012 Olympics, Glasgow 2014.

MAY 3 - THE biggest event to be staged before the London 2012 Olympics will be the 2010 World Cup in South

Africa where, as DAVID OWEN reports, their biggest concern is whether they will have enough electricity

 WEDNESDAY brought a welcome announcement for all South Africans.  

Africa’s so-called “reserve margin” – the cushion by which installed capacity exceeds

Africa which has no power-rich neighbours capable of helping out when demand is high.  

”  Overall, Statham seemed confident South Africa would rise to the task, particularly as efficiency

So would South Africa be OK, all things considered?  

 MAY 3 - BRITAIN will have two representatives when open water swimming makes its Olympic debut in Beijing, including one of the favourites.

There was also an historic performance in fourth place by South Africa’s Natalie du Toit, who has

 MAY 4 - DAVID DAVIES (pictured) today claimed the silver medal at the World Open Water Swimming Championships in Seville and guaranteed his nomination to the Olympic team in the men's 10km race.

"That was my first competitive 10km swim, in South Africa there was only six athletes competing, so the

  SOUTH AFRICAN Paul Revington (pictured) will be tasked with leading Ireland's men's hockey team

Revington was in charge of his native South Africa from 2001 until 2006 and oversaw both the 2004 Olympic

Angus Kirkland, the chief executive of the Irish Hockey Association, said: “Having coached the South

  SOUTH AFRICAN Paul Revington (pictured) will be tasked with leading Ireland's men's hockey team

Revington was in charge of his native South Africa from 2001 until 2006 and oversaw both the 2004 Olympic

Angus Kirkland, the chief executive of the Irish Hockey Association, said: “Having coached the South

  A COMPROMISE has been hammered out between the Football Association and its counterparts in Jamaica over an unpaid debt that could include England, including David Beckham (pictured), playing another friendly in the Caribbean.

£135,431.94 owed by the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) until after the 2010 FIFA World Cup Finals in South

Africa.  

threatened to prevent Jamaica from being unable to fulfil its qualifiying fixtures for the 2010 World Cup in South

Africa.

 JULY 4 - LORD'S, which is due to stage the archery during the 2012 Olympics,will still host the final of the Twenty20 Cricket World Cup in 2009, after Zimbabwe agreed today to withdraw from the tournament.

Cricket Council (ICC) has been discussing Zimbabwe's future at a board meeting in Dubai after England and South

Africa broke off cricketing relations last week in protest at the re-election as President last week

  ITALY'S hopes of hosting the Rugby World Cup for the first time have taken a significant step forward after the Government pledged its full financial support.

South Africa and England have also received assurances of support from their respective Governments,

  ENGLAND could stage the 2010 World Cup - with the final at the new Wembley - if FIFA decide South

Africa are not up to the job, it was revealed today.

"But then for the time being the plan B is South Africa and the plan C we definitely must have a possibility

of the finest stadia and football infrastructure in the world but it's hypothetical as we understand South

Africa are on course to stage the 2010 World Cup."  

  IN THE second of his new regular columns, DAVID OWEN looks at whether it is realistic to expect Britain's talented amateur boxers, including world champion Frankie Gavin (pictured), to stay around until London 2012 after Beijing

sport all over the world from dogsledding in Yukon to cricket in Chicago and football in Japan and South

Africa.

  DAVID OWEN, one of the world's leading experts when it comes to the financial aspects of the Olympic movement, starts a regular new column by assessing the chances of Russian company Gazprom becoming a sponsor for London in 2012

sport all over the world from dogsledding in Yukon to cricket in Chicago and football in Japan and South

Africa.