FEBRUARY 2 - A RECORD 12 countries have now put themselves forward to stage the 2018 or 2022 World Cup Egypt and South Korea made unexpected late entries. The world governing body FIFA said Egypt became the first African country to put their name forward in a race that includes five potential bidders from Asia, four from Europe and two from the Americas.

Russia are among the European contenders along with joint bids from Belgium-Netherlands and Portugal-Spain

  FEBRUARY 2 - BOOKMAKERS have made England the favourites to win the race to host the 2018 World Cup as the United States officially declared that it would bid, as insidethegames reported they would last week.

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

Nevertheless, Portugal and Spain, along with Australia, are both second favourites at 4-1.  

  RETIRED sports stars Justine Henin (pictured) and Kim Gevaert were named today as goodwill ambassadors for the Belgium and Netherlands bid to co-host the 2018 World Cup.

Championship, will face tough opposition from almost a dozen nations, set to include England, China, Spain

  MADRID'S bid to follow London and host the 2016 Olympics has been given overwhelming all-party support in the Spanish Parliament.

It said: "As representatives of the citizens of Spain, the Congress of Deputies considers the Olympic

"All of Spain wants the 2016 Games."  

  SPAIN is planning to draw up a new plan for London 2012 after Jose Maria Odriozola (pictured) was

  Spain failed to win a medal in athletics in China and only two at the Athens Olympics in 2004.

Odriozola promised to concentrate on a new plan that will help reinvigorate the sport in Spain.  

  SPAIN is planning to draw up a new plan for London 2012 after Jose Maria Odriozola (pictured) was

  Spain failed to win a medal in athletics in China and only two at the Athens Olympics in 2004.

Odriozola promised to concentrate on a new plan that will help reinvigorate the sport in Spain.  

efforts saw the men's side claim the bronze medals - their first podium finish for four years behind Spain

  RUSSIA are set to challenge England for the right to host the 2018 World Cup after ruling out a campaign to try to stage the 2016 European Championships.

Other candidates are expected to include Qatar, Mexico, China, the United States and Spain.  

  FOOTBALL FEDERATION AUSTRALIA (FFA) chairman Frank Lowy promised today that the $45.6 million (£20.2 million) secured from the Government to bid for the 2018 World Cup will not be spent on "lunches, dinners and entertainment".

bid from Belgium and the Netherlands, Russia, China, the United States, Qatar, Mexico, Portugal and Spain

  AUSTRALIA'S bid for the 2018 World Cup has been boosted by a A$45.6 million (£20.2 million) grant Football Federation Australia (FFA) from the Government.

bid from Belgium and the Netherlands, Russia, China, the United States, Qatar, Mexico, Portugal and Spain

  SPAIN'S Leandro Negre (pictured) has replaced Els van Breda Vriesman as the new president of the International Hockey Federation (IHF).

He played for Spain as a goalkeeper at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics and served on the committee organising

  SPAIN'S Leandro Negre (pictured) has replaced Els van Breda Vriesman as the new president of the International Hockey Federation (IHF).

He played for Spain as a goalkeeper at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics and served on the committee organising

  BRITAIN'S female basketball players, including Lisa Hutchinson (pictured), will begin a crucial set of fixtures that will help determine whether they qualify for London 2012 in Sheffield next month.

Hutchinson, who started her career in Sheffield but is currently in Spain playing for Tenerife Aguere

October 29 - Lance Armstrong's (pictured) sensational return to cycling has captured the imagination of the world but, in the second of this exclusive two-part interview, former World Anti-Doping Agency president Dick Pound is not celebrating, as he tells Paul Gains

cross-country skiers,” he says.Larissa Lazutina and Olga Danilova both of Russia as well as Johann Muehlegg of Spain

  OCTOBER 23 - FIFA, football's world governing body, are tomorrow set to officially fire the starting gun on the race to host the 2018 World Cup.

expected candidates include Japan, Qatar, Mexico and combined bids Netherlands-Belgium and Portugal-Spain