Guenther Hujara, director of the men’s World Cup, says there isn’t enough sponsorship money for Colorado resorts to hold some of the ski races that have been scrapped by warm weather and a lack of snow in Europe.

The International Olympic Committee has come to the defence of the organisers of the London Games, saying it is “very happy” with current progress and “not unduly concerned” about the budget.

John Kucera of Canada wins the season-opening super giant slalom Sunday in Lake Louise, Alberta, his first top 10 finish in a World Cup race.

Seoul 1988 was to hockey what Wembley 1966 was to football. When Sean Kerly’s Great Britain team defeated Germany to win the Olympic gold medal, even the sports minister of the time, Colin Moynihan, openly blubbed as he sprinted on to the pitch to embrace the lads. It also provided a commentary moment almost in the same league as Ken Wolstenholme’s “They think it’s all over”. “Where were the Germans?” screeched the BBC’s Barry Davies as the third goal went in. “Frankly, who cares!”

Liechtenstein’s Marco Buechel gives his father a birthday gift on the slopes Saturday, winning a World Cup downhill in Lake Louise, Alberta, by 0.05 of a second.

Giant slalom favorite Julia Mancuso makes her first start on Saturday when the women’s World Cup tour stops in Aspen for two days.

South Korean figure skater Kim Yu Na holds off American world champion Kimmie Meissner to win the women’s event Saturday at the Trophee Bompard.

World champion Kimmie Meissner falls on her opening jump and is in fourth place at the Trophee Bompard figure skating competition in Paris Saturday.

Emily Hughes, the younger sister of 2002 Olympic gold medalist Sarah Hughes, wins the short program at the Cup of China?on Thursday?in Nanjing.

England’s hopes of hosting the 2018 football World Cup, said to be the dream of putative premier Gordon Brown, may rest on the future of the stadium in east London which will be built for the Olympic Games six years earlier. Not because it could become a venue for any of the matches - but because it must never be one.