Open returns north
The Irish Open will be staged at Royal Portrush between June 28th and July 1st.  Confirmation of the decision will be announced at a press conference attended by local resident Darren Clarke on Friday afternoon.
The Irish Open was last held in Northern Ireland in 1953. The decision will raise hopes that the Open Championship, last held at the course in 1947, may someday return again.
The news will be a disappointment to Carton House which was rumoured to have been the venue before Christmas but a relief to the Curragh racecourse where the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby will now have more geographic breathing space on the Saturday.
Olympic tickets back on sale
Tickets to events at the London Olympics are on sale again today, Friday January 6th with up to 1 million tickets likely to be resold at face value through www.tickets.london2012.com. Boxing tickets remained sold out on the website through the morning but there were tickets available for football, beach volleyball, many other events and even some of the Blue Riband athletics.  The final sale of public tickets will take place in April.  Tickets for the Paralympics games at the same venues are also on sale.
William Hill become official betting partner of English FA
Despite continued unease over possible corruption via betting, the FA has announced their first official betting partner in William Hill.  The bookmaker is already sponsoring the Scottish FA Cup and many other betting companies have arrangements with individual clubs in the Barclays Premier League and across Europe.  Boylesports are an official partner of the FAI.
Nike launches 2012 #makitcount campaign
Nike has launched its global video campaign for 2012.  Mo Farah, Rio Ferdinand and a number of athletes are seen in training in the black and white video without any music.