London wins 2012 Olympics race

London, which last hosted sports biggest event in1948, will become the first city to host the games three times.

London, on Wednesday, won the race to host the 2012 Olympic Games, beating long-term favourite Paris at the finish line to secure one of sport’s greatest prizes. The result, broadcast live to television audiences around the world, was announced by International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge, in Singapore. Rogge opened the envelope containing the name of the winning bid at around 12:48 (BST) and told the hushed ballroom of the Raffles city complex: “The IOC has the honour of announcing the Games of the 30th Olympiad in 2012 are awarded to the city of London.”

London has crushed the dreams of Paris, winning the 2012 Olympics by just four votes in a tense final round against the city most thought would triumph.

Announcing the host city in Singapore last night, Jacques Rogge, the president of the International Olympic Committee, said: “Only one of you can be the winner … the Games of the 30th Olympiad in 2012 are awarded to the city of London.”

London’s delegates in Singapore cheered and the thousands who had gathered in Trafalgar Square to watch the result live exploded on hearing their city’s name.

London’s bid chairman, the Olympic gold medallist Sebastian Coe, promised the 2012 Olympics would be “special”, while England football captain David Beckham, a delegate in Singapore, was “totally stunned. I just really can’t believe what’s happened.” Alongside Beckham Australia’s Cathy Freeman, also part of the London bid, said: “I just threw myself at someone. I was very, very happy.”

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New Zealand with a colibration of Australia bid with Australia to host the World Cup in 2011

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) will bid with Australia to host the World Cup in 2011 - the same year New Zealand is vying to stage the Rugby World Cup.

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Grand final

Wimbledon Women’s Title Returns to Planet Venus

Venus Williams insists there are a lot more grand slam titles to come after winning her third Wimbledon title with a dramatic victory over fellow American Lindsay Davenport.

IT WAS the longest women’s final in Wimbledon history and one of the most heart-stopping epics the old place has seen in a century and more. Right up to the last pulsating point - a tired Lindsay Davenport forehand to the net, which gave victory to Venus Williams and sparked the kind of joy we have not seen on her face for an awful long time - this was extra special, a day to live long in the memory.

Venus Williams captured her third Wimbledon title in the space of six years in a final of high drama and record length when she outlasted Lindsay Davenport 4-6, 7-6, 9-7.

At 2 hours 45 minutes the match exceeded the previous mark for a women’s final. In 1970, Margaret Court and Billie Jean King battled for 2 hours 28 minutes before Court won, 14-12, 11-9.

This was the 27th match between these two, and it turned out to be easily the most dramatic, with Davenport missing a match point at 5-4 in the third set, then needing to go off court for treatment to a back injury. Twice more she came within two points of what would have been her second Wimbledon win, before her spirit and her legs gave out against an opponent who simply refused to recognise the possibility of defeat.

As Davenport’s weakly-struck forehand plopped into the net, Williams shrieked and leapt high into the air, a process she repeated after receiving the Venus Rosewater Dish from the Duke of Kent.

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England tie in last ball thriller

Australia 196 (Hussey 62*) and England 196 for 9 (Jones 71, Collingwood 53) tie the NatWest Series final

Nerves are high as Glen McGrath bowl to Ashley Giles who scrambled the bowl for two leg-byes on the last bowl of the match to tie the series played between England and Australia.Paul Collingwood and Geraint Jones put on 116 runs for the sixth wicket to rescue a desperate situation, but neither could go on to win the match.

Ten runs were needed off the last over, bowled by Glenn McGrath, and that became three of the last two balls.

But Darren Gough was run out and Ashley Giles scrambled a couple at the death.

With the day dawning overcast - the clouds never left north-west London - Michael Vaughan opted to bowl first after winning the toss.

England’s pace bowlers exploited the swinging conditions to shoot Australia out for 196. Matthew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist once again got Australia off to a flyer, taking 46 runs from the first six overs. But they both fell in quick succession and from then on England applied the squeeze. The dangerous Andrew Symonds made 29 - but it took him 71 balls, an unusually slow rate for him, while Mike Hussey posted his third one-day fifty on his way to an unbeaten 62. Steve Harmison and Andrew Flintoff were the pick of the bowlers, arresting the run-feast at first, and taking wickets later. (more…)

ICC ODI Ranking

Team Rating

Australia 137
Sri Lanka 117
N Zealand 116
South Africa 112
Pakistan 112
England 106
India 97
West Indies 95
Zimbabwe 50
Kenya 26
Bangladesh 13

ICC Test Ranking

Team Rating

Australia 132
England 111
India 107
Pakistan 100
Sri Lanka 100
South Africa 100
New Zealand 97
West Indies 75
Zimbabwe 41
Bangladesh 5

ICC CWC 2007 venue summary

Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua

Capacity: 20,000 of which 10,000 will be permanent

Location: the stadium is to be conveniently built between the city and the airport.

Kensington Oval, Barbados

History: hosted its first Test in 1929-30 and first ODI in 1984-85

Capacity: 32,000

Status: major upgrade to be undertaken to add additional seats and improvements to player, media and sponsor facilities

Queens Park, Grenada

Built: 1998

Capacity: present capacity of 13,000 to increase to 20,000 through temporary stands

Status: minor upgrade required

Providence Stadium, Guyana

Capacity: 20,000

Status: to be built on a completely new site

Sabina Park, Jamaica

Capacity: 30,000

History: hosted its first Test in 1929-30 and first ODI in 1983-84

Status: major upgrade to be undertaken

Warner Park Stadium, St Kitts and Nevis

Capacity: increase from 4000 to 10,000 with the addition of temporary stands

Status: the stadium is to be completely renovated and rebuilt with new facilities for media, spectators and players

Beausejour Stadium, St Lucia

Built: 2001-02

Capacity: increase existing capacity of 12,000 to 20,000 with the addition of temporary stands

Status: relatively new stadium - minor upgrade required

Queens Park Oval, Trinidad and Tobago

The oldest ground in the Caribbean

Capacity: 25,000

Status: minor upgrade required