Turkey officially applied to host the 2024 UEFA European Championship, state-run Anadolu Agency reported. Turkish Football Federation President Yildirim Demiroren "handed over the application to UEFA's General Secretary in Switzerland on Thursday." Demiroren said that Turkey "deserves" to host the event after three failed bids for previous football championships (XINHUA, 3/2).
England's women's rugby team will play Australia, Canada and New Zealand in June as the club prepares for the World Cup in Ireland in August. The three Tests the world champion will play in the int'l series will be in New Zealand. The match against New Zealand in Rotorua on June 17 will be followed by the British & Irish Lions "taking on" the Maori All Blacks (BBC, 3/1).
Indonesia President Joko Widodo on Thursday "asked authorities put all preparation for the Asian Games 2018 in the country into their final forms." Widodo said, "I want to ensure that all preparation has been well conducted." About 33,000 athletes from Asian countries and regions will take part in the event (XINHUA, 3/2).
The FA of Malaysia was notified by the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs that "there is no reason why the national team cannot travel to Pyongyang" for an int'l match later this month. Malaysia is scheduled to play North Korea in the 2018 Asian Cup Group B qualifying match on March 25 (NEW STRAITS TIMES, 3/2).
Manny Pacquiao's promoter Bob Arum said that "he is no closer to agreeing a fight date with Amir Khan's camp." Both fighters tweeted confirmation that the contest will take place on April 23 but that date is "now in doubt" and Arum said that "even May might not be possible" (SKY SPORTS, 3/2).
The organizers of the Route de France Féminine stage race -- "arguably the women's Tour de France" -- confirmed the cancellation of this year's event, blaming the Int'l Cycling Union (UCI) for "failing to include the stage race" in the '17 women's WorldTour calendar. La Route de France Féminine claims to be "the continuation" of the Tour de France Féminine and is France's "most prestigious stage race for women." However, the race "failed to secure a place in the 2017 WorldTour calendar" after the organizers were "late in submitting their request" (CYCLING NEWS, 3/1).
