By David GoldFebruary 27 - India's men's hockey team will be at London 2012 after crushing France 8-1 in the final of the qualifying tournament held on home turf in New Delhi.

beating Poland 4-3, and Italy took fifth after crushing Singapore 5-0.In the women's qualifiers South Africa

before they were forced to soak up pressure from India as they looked to get back into the game.South Africa

into the net, before India pulled one back through Jaspreet Kaur to make it a tense finale, but South Africa

South Africa played very well and deserved to win."

storiesFebruary 2012: Hero MotoCorp sponsors Olympic hockey qualifiers September 2011: South Africa

By David GoldFebruary 26 - Great Britain Hockey has announced that the women's team will be hosting the 2012 Investec London Cup from June 5 until 10, just seven weeks before the Olympic Games.

Netherlands, the reigning Olympic champions, plus Germany and Australia.They will be joined by South Africa

By David GoldFebruary 25 - British hockey star Simon Mantell (pictured) says that the team have a "massive opportunity" to pick up a medal at London 2012.

Mantell has been with the British squad in Stellenbosch, South Africa this month playing three games

5-3, Britain then won the second 3-1 before a 3-3 draw rounded off their tour.Britain went to South Africa

By David GoldFebruary 23 - International Rugby Board (IRB) chairman Bernard Lapasset is the latest speaker confirmed for the International Sport Security Conference (ISSC) taking place from March 14 and 15 in Doha.

entitled 'Maximising The Legacy and Economic Impact of Hosting a Secure Major Sporting Event'.South Africa

By Andrew Warshaw February 17 - Chris Eaton (pictured), the former Interpol crime-buster whose blueprint to weed out match fixing and other forms of football corruption was hailed as a major breakthrough, is leaving his post as FIFA's head of security to join the world's first non-profit-making organisation specialising in safety and security across all sports.

success in recent months; scores of former and present players, managers and referees – in Europe, Africa

By Tom DegunFebruary 16 - Dagestan's bid to host the 2018 Summer Youth Olympic Games has received a significant boost after Valentina Matviyenko (pictured), the chair of the Federation Council of Russia and the country's highest-ranked female politician, backed it.

in Scotland.Sweden are also considering a bid from either Gothenburg, Malmö or Stockholm and South Africa

Last year for me was a really positive one, especially after a tough period following the Beijing Olympic Games. After Beijing I had to take a lot of time to sort everything out, personally and physically – I moved from Swansea to Bath and really shook things up. We – my team and I – worked hard on a new programme to ensure that I was at my peak for 2012 and we really started to reap the rewards last year.

lose every event and win in London 2012.I've just come back from my training camp in Durban, South Africa

  In 1991 he was appointed Argentine Ambassador to South Africa, and in 1994 became Argentina's

By David GoldFebruary 13 - British tennis hopes may seem forever focused on Andy Murray, but the improving Ross Hutchins (pictured left) and Colin Fleming (right) doubles partnership have told insidethegames that they can serve their way to victory at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

The pair helped Britain beat Slovakia 3-2 in the Davis Cup Europe/Africa Zone Group I clash 

By Andrew WarshawFebruary 12 - Controversial African powerbroker Issa Hayatou (pictured) has been handed a vote of confidence to remain as President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) despite being recently reprimanded by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) over corruption allegations.

President Sepp Blatter last year.Iya Mohammed, president of the Union of Football Associations for Central Africa

Under Hayatou's leadership, Africa staged the World Cup finals for the first time in South Africa in

is "incorruptible" claims former England 2018 bid adviserDecember 2011: IOC have "disrespected" Africa

By David OwenFebruary 9 - Golf participation in Europe fell in 2011 for the first time in more than two decades, according to a new report.

10 per cent juniors.Andrea Sartori, head of KPMG's golf advisory practice in Europe, Middle East and Africa

By Tom DegunFebruary 9 - Edmonton have revealed that they are looking to be put forward as a candidate for the 2022 Commonwealth Games after Brian MacPherson, the chief executive of Commonwealth Games Canada, revealed exclusively to insidethegames that the country is intending to bid for the prestigious competition.

Commonwealth Games, while Christchurch in New Zealand are also contemplating a bid.However, a bid from South Africa

Commonwealth Games Movement very keen to bring the event to the continent for the first time ever and Africa

Federation (CGF) vice-president in November.Sam told insidethegames last year that a bid from South Africa

By David GoldFebruary 8 - Australia are taking nothing for granted ahead of London 2012 despite the wheelchair basketball team's status as Beijing gold medal holders and favourites.

have a tough draw at London 2012, being pooled with the United States, Italy, Spain, Turkey and South Africa

By Tom DegunFebruary 8 - The International Rugby Board (IRB) has unveiled a major new qualification pathway for the HSBC Sevens World Series as the sport looks to expand its global reach ahead of Rio 2016, when the rugby reappears at Olympic Games for the first time since Paris in 1924.

status alongside Argentina, Australia, England, Fiji, France, Kenya, New Zealand, Samoa, Scotland, South Africa

London 2012 with victory in the K1 race at the African Canoe Slalom Championships in Bethlehem, South Africa

place at the Olympic Games.Debra Merembe of Uganda was second with Kenya's Grace Maina in third, as Africa

Championships, from February 24 until 26.Along with the qualifiers an ICF Talent Identification Programme for Africa