By Emily GoddardAustralia are leading the World Rugby Women's Sevens Series seedings after three wins on the opening day of the first round in Dubai.

for the top four teams at the end of the series next May, the squad saw off competition from South Africa

facing France and the US battling Canada in the quarterfinals, while the bowl semi-finals will see South Africa

2014: Women's rugby sevens confirmed for Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth GamesSeptember 2014: Fiji, South Africa

By Nick ButlerFormer Nigerian Olympic Committee vice-president Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima has reiterated the importance of "true independence" following the re-election of Habu Gumel as President.

highlighted.Praise for Gumel's election has also come from Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa

By Paul OsborneThe eyes of the rugby sevens world will be firmly fixed on the United Arab Emirates over the next couple of days as the 2014-2015 Women's Sevens Series gets underway in Dubai.

2014: Women's rugby sevens confirmed for Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth GamesSeptember 2014: Fiji, South Africa

By Nick ButlerImaging solutions giants Canon have become the latest official sponsor of the England 2015 Rugby World Cup, it has been announced. 

well as help with minor repairs.James Leipnik, chief of communication, Canon Europe, Middle East and Africa

By Paul OsborneThe International Triathlon Union (ITU) has confirmed a number of key dates on the Para-triathlon calendar for 2015 as the sport prepares to make its Paralympic debut at Rio 2016.

According to current dates, the seasonis due to start in London, South Africa with the 2015 East London

By Paul OsborneThe International Basketball Federation (FIBA) has appointed five regional directors in the first meeting of the newly-established FIBA Executive Committee.

appointed five individuals to act as regional directors.Alphonse Bile will be regional director for Africa

Most of all, it would allow athletes from Africa - including the cross country running hubs of Kenya

something that will certainly never otherwise happen on even a semi-regular basis.Indeed, so dominant is Africa

By Nick ButlerBarbara Kendall turns and swivels around on her chair during our interview in Bangkok following an Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) Athletes' Commission meeting."We've sent a questionnaire to every National Olympic Committee about the issues facing athletes today, but less than half have replied," she outlines, pausing for dramatic effect."But in Oceania, every single one has."

Athletes' Commissions, Oceania is at one of end of the spectrum, with its 100 per cent record, while Africa

By Nick ButlerEight athletes from Seychelles have been awarded Rio 2016 Olympic Solidarity Scholarships as the Indian Ocean island nation builds towards its eventual goal of a first Olympic medal.

made to provide assistance.Seychelles, a member of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa

By Nick ButlerSteps have been taken to try to strengthen the autonomy of the Olympic Movement in the Republic of Congo. 

Next year, the country is due to host the All-Africa Games in capital city Brazzaville from September

few of us were chatting to the late boxing promoter Harry Levene about his recent holiday in South Africa

By Brian OliverWhen the sport finished it was party time in Almaty, host city for the 2014 International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) World Championships that concluded on November 16. The grand ballroom at the Royal Tulip hotel was the venue for the end-of-event banquet, a lavish affair that featured singing, dancing, traditional music, awards presentations and a feast of Kazakh food.The expensive wine flowed freely, nowhere more than on the Chinese delegation's tables. Athletes, coaches and officials, most of them dressed in the team's vivid western-style leisurewear, repeatedly toasted each other and were clearly there to enjoy themselves.When the compere asked...

Now there are 10,000 worldwide, from Brazil to South Africa, to Australia to China, and this has helped

By Nick ButlerTaekwondo player Mbongeni Nsibandze has been elected interim chairman of the Swaziland Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association (SOCGA) Athletes' Commission.

Championships in Puebla, Mexico, received 82 per cent of the vote at elections held at the Olympic Africa

By Nick ButlerNew Zealand's International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Barbara Kendall believes Oceanic nations should only compete in Asian sporting events on a "sport-by-sport" basis, dependent on a number of different variables.

and rugby development, warn top officialsSeptember 2014: Australia welcome Asian Games proposal as Africa

By Nick ButlerInternational Olympic Committee (IOC) member Habu Gumel has returned to his role as President of the Nigerian Olympic Committee after winning a bitterly contested election with incumbent rival Sani Ndanusa.

Nigerian Volleyball Federation.He is also treasurer of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa