The 33rd America's Cup features the biggest and fastest boats in the 159-year history of sailing's most prestigious trophy -- but fickle winds at the Spanish port picked by a US court to host the event threaten serious disruption.

Manchester City moved back on to Liverpool's shoulder in the race for a place in next season's Champions League with a 2-0 win over Bolton on Tuesday.

Arsenal's star midfielder and captain, Cesc Fabregas, has struck a verbal agreement with Champions League holders Barcelona to return to the club next season, Cadena Ser radio reported on Tuesday.

Ireland coach Declan Kidney has no qualms about starting with Ronan O'Gara in the Grand Slam champions' Six Nations match away to France on Saturday.

United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday called for the world to respect the Olympic Truce and urged all warring countries to cease hostilities for the duration of the Winter Games in Vancouver.

French Second Division side Guingamp's reign as French Cup holders ended on Tuesday when they were beaten 1-0 by First Division strugglers Boulogne-sur-Mer in their last 16 match.

Marian Gaborik, slated to play for Slovakia at the Vancouver Olympics, limped off the ice at New York Rangers practice Tuesday after he was cut on the right knee by the skate of a teammate.

Winter Olympics chiefs insisted on Tuesday that the 2010 Games will finish with a balanced budget, sweet music for a country which reeled when Montreal needed 30 years to pay off its debts from the 1976 Summer Games.

South Korean pin-up Kim Yu-Na and American Shaun White are the top earning athletes at the Winter Olympics, each pocketing eight million dollars last year, according to Forbes magazine.

Ireland coach Declan Kidney has no qualms about starting with Ronan O'Gara in the Grand Slam champions' Six Nations match away to France on Saturday.

Defending champion Tom Boonen of Belgium sprinted to victory in the third stage of the Tour of Qatar on Tuesday, while Dutchman Wouter Mol held on to the leader's yellow jersey.

Winter Olympics chiefs insisted on Tuesday that the 2010 Games will finish with a balanced budget, sweet music for a country which reeled when Montreal needed 30 years to pay off its debts from the 1976 Summer Games.

South Korean pin-up Kim Yu-Na and American Shaun White are the top earning athletes at the Winter Olympics, each pocketing eight million dollars last year, according to Forbes magazine.

IOC chief Jacques Rogge was swept up in Vancouver's Olympic weather worries as Hollywood star Arnold Schwarzenegger prepared to run the gauntlet of Games protesters.

Winter Olympics chiefs will not sanction a desperate last-minute venue switch despite unseasonably warm temperatures continuing to curse Cypress Mountain, the host of the freestyle events at the Games which begin on Friday.

Downhill skiing is undoubtedly one of the most dangerous sports to practise and the absence from the Winter Olympics of a number of top racers through injury has the sport's governing body worried.

Winter Olympics chiefs will not sanction a desperate last-minute venue switch despite unseasonably warm temperatures continuing to curse Cypress Mountain, the host of the freestyle events at the Games which begin on Friday.

Austria's Gregor Schlierenzauer leaves for next week's Winter Olympics on a winning note after finishing in first place in the World Cup ski jump event here on Saturday.

Italy's Giorgio di Centa warmed up for the Winter Olympics later this month by winning the men's World Cup nordic skiing 15km freestyle race here on Friday.

Italy's Olympic Committee (CONI) warned Tuesday it would fine drugs cheats 100,000 euros if they are caught doping during the Winter Olympics in Vancouver from February 12-28.

An African skier, a blind nordic athlete, and an aerials ace pushing 50 hope to grab a share of the Winter Olympics spotlight in Vancouver and Whistler.

Lindsey Vonn of the United States set the stage for her Winter Olympics campaign with a World Cup super-G win here on Sunday.