Istanbul will bid to host the 2020 Olympic Games, confirmed Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Istanbul has joined the Italian capital of Rome, Madrid in Spain and Tokyo in Japan in bidding for the 2020 edition of the Games. It is also expected that the Qatari capital of Doha and South Africa’s Durban are also considering a bid by the September 1 deadline.

Erdogan said: “We are here today to declare to the world our candidacy for the 2020 Olympic Games, which we consider extremely important for our country and people. We bid because we deem sporting values and Olympic spirit that have made a great contribution in establishing peace in the world to be extremely important.”

In a statement, the Istanbul 2020 Olympics bid team highlighted Turkey’s relative financial strength in comparison to most countries, saying: “In a time of global economic downturn, we maintain our position as one of the fastest growing economies throughout the world. We will provide the strength, stability and secure foundation that is needed to guarantee and deliver the IOC institutional and operational requirements.”

Turkey has never hosted the Games and has failed with four previous bids for the Olympics since 2000.

However, Erdogan insists that the country has the necessary transport infrastructure, saying: “We can say that the infrastructure is ready and with regard to the other structures we can finish those investments quickly and easily. Within two years we will eliminate all our problems about rail systems.”

Dr Ugur Erdener, president of the Turkish National Olympic Committee, said: “We are delighted that the whole country is rallying behind this remarkable event, and with support from the President of the Republic, our Prime Minister, all our government and our great nation, we fully believe that we are in line to become one of the strongest contenders for this bid.”

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will vote on the winning bid on September 7, 2013 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Herbert Hainer, chief executive of the Adidas Group, has revealed that the company is on track to achieve its goals set for the London 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Games. 

As part of its Route 2015 strategic business plan, the Group plans to use the Olympic & Paralympic Games as platform to reach market leadership in the UK. 

adidas will outfit Olympic & Paralympic athletes with top performance products, including host nation Team GB in its role as Official Sportswear Partner of London 2012.

The brand appointed Stella McCartney as creative director for Team GB, and will also be the Official Licensee, providing fans across the UK with both Licensed as well as Event-Branded Olympic fan wear.

Hainer said: “I am happy to announce that our preparations for the London 2012 Olympic Games are going according to plan. As the Official Sportswear Partner of London 2012, we will use the Olympic & Paralympic Games to become market leader in the UK.” 

In working closely with the London Olympic Games Organising Committee (LOCOG), adidas is contributing to the sustainability goals of the Games, with 100 per cent of all adidas volunteer uniforms, torch relay outfits and athletes’ village wear containing sustainable components. 

Hainer added: “As part of our environmental strategy we are contributing to making London 2012 the sustainable Games: All 1.5 million products which we will be providing to the volunteers will contain sustainable components. 

“By launching around 100 multi-sport facilities called adiZones across the UK we make sports participation accessible for everyone and leave a true Olympic legacy.” 

The company is determined to increase sports participation in the UK and will have set up more than 100 adiZones across the country by the time the Games start which offer people across the UK access to sport and enable them to lead a healthier, more active lifestyle.

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) will air Northern Ireland’s friendly against Uruguay live before the World Cup.

The match, in Montevideo on Friday, 30 May, will be broadcast on the Red Button and also be streamed on the BBC Sport website. 

Kick-off for the match at the Estadio Centenario is 23:30 BST and the commentator will be Michael McNamee.

Uruguay are in England’s World Cup pool, Group D.

Shane Glynn, editor of BBC Sport NI, said: “Uruguay will be a tough test for Northern Ireland.

“They will be one of the sides who fancy their chances of winning the World Cup – and with players of the calibre of Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani, why not?

“I’m delighted BBC Northern Ireland has secured the rights to show the Uruguay game live on the Red Button and via our BBC Sport NI website.

“We will also broadcast on the website an extended highlights package of the friendly match against Chile the following week.”

Patrick Nelson, chief executive of the Irish Football Association, said: “We are delighted that BBC Northern Ireland have obtained the rights to show this game live on their Red Button and internet services. Northern Ireland fans all over the UK will be able to see live how well our team does against one of the World Cup favourites.”

The European Games will welcome a new Chief Operation Officer after National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) Commissioner Jim Scherr accepted the position.

Scherr, prostate who has served as NCHC Commissioner since January 2012, seek will oversee the operation of the 49-nation Games in Baku, apoplectic Azerbaijan — which will feature up to 10,000 athletes — in June 2015.

“We knew when we hired Jim that there would come a time when there would be competing bids for his services,” said NCHC Chairman of the Board and University of North Dakota Director of Athletics Brian Faison. “We are grateful for what Jim has done in his time with the NCHC and we are very happy that he has the opportunity to return to the Olympic sports world with the European Games in Baku. We know his expertise will greatly benefit their event.”

Prior to his appointment with the NCHC, Scherr served as the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) Chief Executive Officer. During his tenure in that role, he oversaw the U.S. contingent at the 2004 Summer Olympics (Athens), 2006 Winter Olympics (Turin), and the 2008 Summer Olympics (Beijing), while managing a budget in excess of $150 million. Scherr was appointed USOC CEO after having served for 10 years as the Executive Director of USA Wrestling. A former wrestling standout himself, Scherr was a three-time national champion and a 1988 Olympian.

“Jim was presented with what is really a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said Ken Ralph, NCHC Treasurer and Colorado College Director of Athletics. “While it is difficult to see him go, we understand his decision. With what has already been done with our bylaws, operating manuals, office setup and personnel, officiating program, and championship site, we are in a great position for our inaugural season.”

“Serving as commissioner of the NCHC has been a tremendous experience and it is a difficult position to leave behind,” said Scherr. “I want to express my sincere appreciation to the Board for understanding the opportunity presented to me, and for working with me to make it a reality. I regret that I will not be there to lead the conference through its inaugural season, but I have full confidence in the coaches, administrators and conference staff that the NCHC will set the standard for excellence in college hockey.”

The London rail industry are producing a special timetable which will see trains in the capital running longer and more frequently in order to get more than eight million people to and from London 2012 Olympic Games venues next summer.

Network Rail were assisted by train companies with input from the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) in producing the Olympic and Paralympic timetable which will see over 2,000 extra services during the Olympic Games and over 1,500 extra services during the Paralympic Games.

There will also be an earlier start to services, more maximum-length trains, extended peak-hour periods offering more frequent trains and later evening trains leaving London to reach other major cities in Britain.

David Higgins, the chief executive of Network Rail and former chief executive of the ODA, said: “The Olympics is about sport, not transport.

“Our job during Games time is to provide smooth, seamless journeys for spectators travelling to and from Olympic and Paralympic venues whilst continuing to offer the service which keeps millions of people moving across Britain each day.”

Michael Roberts, chief executive of the Association of Train Operating Companies, said: “The rail industry is committed to offering fast, flexible, reliable and affordable travel for the millions of spectators expected at Olympic and Paralympic events.

“As well as being able to book their London 2012 Games train fares up to 12 months in advance – a UK first – spectators will also be able to take advantage of thousands of extra services, earlier starting and later trains to make sure they don’t miss a second of the action.”

One of the key features of London 2012 Games will see a high-speed rail service called the Javelin run from St Pancras International Station in central London to Stratford International in just seven minutes.

During the Olympics, the latest services to leave London will be to Exeter at 00.30, Liverpool Lime Street and Cardiff Central at 01.00, Birmingham New Street at 01.10, and to Oxford and Manchester Piccadilly at 01.30.

The Tube will run around an hour later than normal during the Games and extra Tube services will also run later in the evening on the Games’ busiest days.

This will see the last trains leaving the Olympic Park at around 01.30am and central London around 02.00am, with trains reaching their final destinations before 02.30am.

Rail Minister Theresa Villiers said: “For the Games to be a massive success we need effective transport links that can get the millions of sports fans where they need to go, when they want to travel.

“This work demonstrates how the transport industry at large is focused on bringing all travel modes to life for the Games.”

Ticketed spectators travelling to Games events in and around London will also be given a free Games Travelcard with their Games event ticket allowing free travel within zones 1–9 on the London public transport network throughout the day of their event.

Hugh Sumner, ODA director of transport, said: “Travelling to the Games will be very much a part of the spectator experience and we need to get it right.

“The UK’s transport network has responded to the requirement for enhanced services during London 2012.

“Longer, later and more frequent trains are being provided to ensure as best we can that spectators are able to get to their events on time and get back home afterwards even if they decide to stay for a bite to eat or a sports session overruns.”

Glamorgan County Cricket Club will begin their bid to host a 2013 Ashes Test in Cardiff on Tuesday when a delegation, led by chief executive Alan Hamer, are to present their case.

Cardiff hosted a successful Ashes Test, played between England and Australia, in 2009. However, the city was stripped of its right to host a Test match against West Indies in 2012 after being late on their payments for previous matches.

Paul Russell, the then Glamorgan chairman, had conceded the county had found it difficult to sell tickets for the England v Sri Lanka international held earlier this year, a fixture which the county had bid over £2m for staging rights.

Three venues are yet to be decided for the five-match Ashes series in 2013, with Durham’s Chester-le-Street ground and The Oval (London) being the only two confirmed hosts so far.

Cardiff’s Swalec Stadium is to host a one-day international against world champions India on 16 September and is scheduled to host a minimum of one Test, five one-day internationals and one Twenty20 game before 2016.

Hamer hopes to lure another Ashes Test back to Cardiff.

He said: “We have submitted a bid to stage another Ashes Test match.

“Clearly like every other Test match venue we are to put forward our case, our strategy and business plan.”

The Welsh capital will face strong competition from established Test venues like Old Trafford (Manchester), Trent Bridge (Nottingham), Edgbaston (Birmingham) and Lord’s (London) – plus Southampton’s Rose Bowl – to stage the remaining three matches in the prestigious five-matches Ashes series.