By Gary AndersonRafal Majka of Poland has won stage 17 of the Tour de France to seal his second win in this year's race after he soloed his way to the top of the ascent of Saint-Lary Pla d'Adet from 2.4 kilometres out.

France ©Getty Images Astana rider Nibali stretched his lead over nearest rival Alejandre Valverde of Spain

By David OwenThe chief executive of British Swimming has made a strongly-worded call on UK Sports Minister Helen Grant to "decide what is important for the future of sport in the UK", in the wake of funding cuts to team sports such as water polo and basketball that he says are "attractive to women".

polo team prior to its loss of funding - progress that included an upset victory over world champions Spain

By Gary AndersonReigning International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Asia Cup champions Iran made it two-in-a-row in Wuhan, China, as they secured a 10 point win over Chinese Taipei in today's gold medal match.

pleased with his side's overall performance in Wuhan as attention now turns to the FIBA World Cup in Spain

Both Iran and Philippines will be Asia's representatives when the action gets underway in Spain, having

Championships.Iran will be based in Granada, where they have been drawn in Group A alongside hosts Spain

build-up to this year's International Basketball Federation (FIBA) World Cup which gets underway in Spain

By Gary AndersonFrenchman Tony Gallopin won stage 11 of the Tour de France as he held on to cross the line ahead of the closing chasing pack in Oyonnax, while Astana's Vincenzo Nibali retained the yellow jersey.

Planche des Belles Filles  but struggled badly on a day that saw two-time winner Alberto Contador of Spain

leader, 2min  23sec ahead of Team Sky's Australian Richie Porte and Movistar rider Alejandro Valverde of Spain

By Gary AndersonMore than 400,000 jubilant fans packed the streets of Berlin today to welcome home the Germany squad following the side's triumph at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

third place finish at the FIFA World Cup in South Africa in 2010.They also finished as runners-up to Spain

By Gary AndersonThe International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) has announced details of live television coverage of the upcoming World Championships in September that will see all 15 Olympic events in rifle, pistol and shotgun disciplines broadcast live via Eurovision.

European Broadcasting Union, will film and distribute live coverage of the Championships in Granada, Spain

non-Olympic disciplines.The ISSF says it anticipates a similar number of shooters to be competing in Spain

By Nick ButlerAustralia have secured their second consecutive World Wheelchair Basketball Championships title with a 63-57 victory over the United States in a pulsating final in Incheon today. 

Turkey, arguably the surprise package of the tournament, claimed third place after beating Spain 68-63

left unbeaten at World Wheelchair Basketball ChampionshipsJuly 2014: Wins for Australia, Britain and Spain

By Gary AndersonDefending champions Australia came back from the brink to set up a gold medal clash with the United States at the World Wheelchair Basketball Championships as they came from 20 points behind to edge pass Turkey in a dramatic semi-final.

the tournament.The US came through their semi-final in more comfortable fashion against a determined Spain

emerging with a 56-49 win.It was not all plain sailing for the Paralympic bronze medallists though, as Spain

sides registered 13 points apiece in the third quarter to set up a mouth-watering final period.However, Spain

left unbeaten at World Wheelchair Basketball ChampionshipsJuly 2014: Wins for Australia, Britain and Spain

: United States suffer shock defeat at World Wheelchair Basketball ChampionshipsJuly 2014: Britain, Spain

By Zjan ShirinianGerman coach Joachim Löw told Mario Götze "show you are better than Messi" minutes before he scored the goal which saw his team win the FIFA World Cup for the first time in 24 years.

towards goal from the centre of the box.As penalty kicks became ever more likely, Germany, just like Spain

By Terrence BurnsWe are a little less than four-years away from the Pyeongchang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.This is a story, just one of many, of their bid's path, culminating in victory almost three years ago in Durban, South Africa.Much is being written and read in the current media about prospective bid cities for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. A lot of the commentary pertains to "consultants". Much of the commentary is ill informed or naive at best, or wrong, spiteful and even defensive at worst.

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy of Spain is the most recent client of ours - Madrid 2020 - who spoke in

By Gary AndersonFrenchman Blel Kadri secured the most popular win of the Tour de France so far as he powered his way to victory on today's mountainous stage eight from Tomblaine to Gerardmer La Mauselaine.

more than two minutes clear of the chasing pack which was led by two-time winner Alberto Contador of Spain

By Emily GoddardThe pots are ready for the draw of the 2015 Men's Handball World Championship that will take place in Qatar.

International Handball Federation (IHF) Qatar 2015 Commission in Doha on July 20.Defending world champions Spain

participating nations, with Iran, United Arab Emirates, Chile and Germany.Defending world champions Spain

By Gary AndersonTurkey edged a thrilling contest to advance to the semi-finals of the World Wheelchair Basketball Championships in Incheon after a two-point win saw them gain revenge on Great Britain, who had defeated them in last year's European Championship final.

left unbeaten at World Wheelchair Basketball ChampionshipsJuly 2014: Wins for Australia, Britain and Spain

: United States suffer shock defeat at World Wheelchair Basketball ChampionshipsJuly 2014: Britain, Spain

By Emily GoddardBritish Olympic champion Alistair Brownlee has claimed his first win of the year at the World Triathlon Series in Hamburg after a sprint battle with France's Vincent Luis, who took silver.

cycle to lead the five-kilometre run with Alistair making his move with 600m to go.Javier Gómez Noya of Spain