The competition, which will be held in the UAE from 16 April to 2 May, will be a step forward in the recognition of youth talent and a platform for the promotion of sport in the region.

Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Nicaragua and Venezuela secured their places at the 2024 WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup to be played in Barranquilla in August by finishing top of the standings in last weekend's qualifier in the Dominican Republic. Host Colombia also received a wildcard.

The World football's governing body announced at the weekend that the return match in North Korea on 26 March "will not be played and will not be rescheduled". If this is confirmed, FIFA will award Japan a 3-0 win, which would take them straight through to the third round.

Data from Kolsquare's report 'Paris2024': The Olympics of Influence' reveals an unprecedented scenario. Interactions between athletes, fans and the general public across multiple social networks and platforms reveal data and records never seen before.

The German Football Association is to change its sportswear supplier after 70 years. The contract runs until 2027. Robert Habeck, Germany's finance minister, said: "I expected more patriotism" from the association. Adidas is a German multinational company founded in 1949.

The body, which was established in 2023, said in a statement: "We want to fill the void left by the IOC's exclusion of the IBA as the governing body of boxing. World Boxing's response to the IOC's comments last Tuesday about the need for a new body "to keep boxing in the Olympic programme."

The men's World Cup qualifier between North Korea ans Japan has been called off and will be played at a neutral venue. The decision was taken after discussions with FIFA and a day after North Korea said the match would not be played in the capital, Pyongyang.

The French group, which provides essential services for the Games, is in decline and in the process of being sold. It has been an IOC partner since Salt Lake City in 2002 and it is responsible for managing 300,000 accreditations. Nevertheless, Tony Estanguet, head of the Paris 2024 organising committee, has "full confidence in Atos."

A court in Brasilia announced this Wednesday that the former Real Madrid player will have to serve the nine-year sentence handed down by an Italian judge in 2017 for his involvement in a gang rape in Milan in 2013 in Brazil. Robinho's lawyers filed a 'habeas corpus' petition yesterday to prevent his imprisonment.

The inaugural Gulf Youth Games, hosted by the United Arab Emirates from 16 April to 2 May, will bring together more than 3,500 athletes under the theme "Our Gulf is One? Our Youth is Promising". The competitions will take place in different countries.

His translator, Ippei Mizuhara, was sacked on Wednesday for allegedly stealing from Ohtani to pay off debts from illegal gambling. The case has been handed over to the authorities by the Japanese player's representatives. More than $4.5 million was taken from Ohtani's account.

The second edition of the course was held at the Asis Boxing Academy in Italy. It brought together 10 candidates with experience both inside and outside the ring. The aim of the initiative was to ensure that employee learning is vital to the growth of the organisation.

The International Boxing Association (IBA) said on Thursday: "We will use all legal means to prove that we are right. The organisation criticised the IOC's decision last Tuesday to maintain its exclusion "if boxing is part of the LA 2028 programme". "There is no alternative," insisted the IBA, which also said the IOC's decisions are "politicised".

 At its meeting on Tuesday, the Executive Board of the IOC approved the requests of seven athletes to change their Olympic nationality in order to be eligible to take part in the next Olympic Summer Games. The decision was taken on the basis of Article 41 of the Olympic Charter.