A JOINT proposal from Belgium and the Netherlands to host the 2018 World Cup should not be ruled out against England and Russia, the leader of the bid said today.

football's biggest event alongside Australia, England, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Qatar, Russia, Spain

  FEBRUARY 14 - SIR CHRIS HOY (pictured) crashed out of the men's keirin final on the second day of the Track World Cup in Copenhagen today.

Britain were consistently quicker than Spain, eventually passing their rivals 150 metres from the finish

Government, local Governments of the partner cities as well as supporting institutions from all over Spain

There has also been collaboration and external advice from high profile companies and organizations in Spain

  FEBRUARY 12 - THE United States is the best candidate to stage the World Cup but could miss out because of the quality of its rivals, the man running the country's bid has admitted.

Indonesia, Japan, Qatar, Mexico, South Korea, Russia plus joint bids from Belgium-Netherlands and Portugal-Spain

Earlier in the day the Irish had beaten Spain 3-2 with Sam Magee winning two points, with sister Chloe

February 11 - Madrid officials today delivered its candidature file to follow London and host the 2016 Olympics to the headquarters of the International Olympic Committee in Lausanne.

facilities and bid.The IOC will choose the 2016 host city at its Session in Copenhagen on October 2.Spain

 FEBRUARY 11 - ENGLAND'S badminton players are in line to reach the quarter-finals of the European Team Championships in Liverpool after another comprehensive 5-0 victory, this time over Wales.

lost to Pablo Abian - ranked 103rd in the world - in a 61-minute match before they eventually beat Spain

bidding are Japan, Qatar and South Korea and there are joint bids from Belgium-Netherlands and Portugal-Spain

 FEBRUARY 8 - ENGLAND should not underestimate Australia in the race to host the 2018 World Cup, the former executive director of the Football Association warned today.

"There are people here in Europe who say that if it is not England in 2018 then it will be Spain or Russia

 FEBRUARY 5 - UEFA PRESIDENT Michel Platini (pictured) said today he would try to convince FIFA to restrict the candidates to host the 2018 World Cup to European bids only, which would boost England's chances.

comprising individual bids from England and Russia and joint bids from Belgium-Netherlands and Portugal-Spain

  FEBRUARY 4 - SPAIN, the world basketball champions, have appointed Italian Sergio Scariolo (pictured

World Military Championship in 1985 when he was only 24, already has extensive experience of working in Spain

He returned to Spain in 2003 to take over Unicaja Malaga, lifting them from 17th to fourth and qualifying

for the EuroLeague.a ,   The post of Spain coach had been vacant since August following Aito Garcia

 FEBRUARY 4 - BRITAIN'S new independent anti-doping agency will be operational by the end of this year, the Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe promised today in what represents a major shift by the Government and UK Sport.

Operation Raw Deal, the BALCO (Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative) case in the USA and Operation Puerto in Spain

  FEBRUARY 4 - THE Football Association have appointed Kris Dent from the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) to become its director of communications for the bid to host the 2018 World Cup.

There are also joint bids from Belgium-Netherlands and Portugal-Spain.  

  FEBRUARY 4 - THE Football Association have appointed Kris Dent from the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) to become its director of communications for the bid to host the 2018 World Cup.

There are also joint bids from Belgium-Netherlands and Portugal-Spain.  

  FEBRUARY 2 - CHINA has reportedly ruled out a bid for either the 2018 or 2022 World Cup tournaments, it was claimed in Beijing today.   After the successful hosting of last August's Beijing Olympics and the 2007 women's World Cup finals, China was expected to officially register its interest in bidding for the tournaments before todya's deadline set FIFA.

There are also joint bids from Belgium-Netherlands and Portugal-Spain but FIFA President Sepp Blatter