Sportsday, Wednesday, 25 July - as it happened

That is it from Sportsday for Wednesday, 25 July. We will be back at 0800 BST on Thursday when Great Britain's men's football team will be in action against Senegal and we will have all the build-up to the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games on Friday.

New Zealand move on to 159-2 at Antigua in the first of two Tests against the West Indies with Martin Guptil on 73 not out.

There is more women's football kicking off at 1945 BST with Sweden v South Africa and Colombia v North Korea.

Great Britain's women handball team are beaten 33-17 by Spain in their final Olympic Games warm-up match at the Copper Box.

Tom Watson unveils a plaque to commemorate his famous 'Duel in the Sun' with Jack Nicklaus in 1977 on his return to Turnberry before the start of the Senior British Open on Thursday.

Yorkshire beat Worcestershire by 29 runs in their FL t20 quarter final at Headingley despite Australian batsman Phil Hughes hitting 80 not out from 53 balls for the Royals.

Britain's Andy Murray is the third seed in the men's tennis singles at the Olympics - following the withdrawal of Rafael Nadal - behind world number one Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. Victoria Azarenka of Belarus heads the seedings for the women's singles. The draw for the singles and doubles takes place on Thursday at 1100 BST.

A broad agreement is reached between the Scottish Premier League and Rangers following further discussions over Scottish FA membership.

Hull KR second-rower Con Mika is handed a one-match ban and £300 fine for a reckless high tackle during his side's 32-18 derby defeat by Hull.

It is full-time in the other two wmen's football matches. The games finished Japan 2-1 Canada and USA 4-2 France.

The organisers of Indonesia's Java Cup say they will sue Everton and Turkey side Galatasaray after the teams withdrew from the tournament. Everton said on its website it was forced to abandon plans to play the pre-season tournament, stating "unresolved issues mean that the risk of travelling was too great" following Galatasaray's withdrawal.

Swansea confirm Liverpool have made an approach for midfielder Joe Allen.

If you missed Steph Houghton's winning goal in Great Britain's 1-0 victory over New Zealand in the women's football opener, you can see it on the BBC website now.

Charles van Commenee, the head coach of UK Athletics, tells BBC Sport he "doesn't know" if triple jumper Phillips Idowu will be fit to take part in the Olympics.Van Commenee said: "He's not here - I wish he was here, because I think it is the best place to prepare. His coach is here, the best medical staff are here and all the athletes are here, so I'm slightly frustrated with that."

Newsnight science editor Susan Watts talks to marathon world record holder Paula Radcliffe about drugs in sport. She said: "I've been in the position of having my performances doubted. It's wanting to be able to prove in some way that they were 100% clean. I know that inside, and that means a hell of a lot to me, but to be able to prove that would be great."

Stoke are closing in on a deal for United States international Geoff Cameron. Chief executive Tony Scholes told the club's website: "Whilst we would not normally confirm a transfer until everything is complete, we have agreed a fee and personal terms in this instance and the player will now join up with the squad in Orlando to have his medical."

Tottenham say Gareth Bale has returned to fitness quicker than expected after scoring in a 1-1 friendly against LA Galaxy despite pulling out of the Great Britain Olympic squad. In a statement, the club said: "We initially anticipated that Gareth would return for our friendly against Baltimore on Saturday, but the winger's rehabilitation from a back injury has gone better than expected, having travelled out with dedicated medical personnel."

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has plays down the chances of Great Britain football teams competing at future Olympics. He said: ""Everything is possible but this would need a different approach and you have seen the difficulties they have already had to field a combined team here in London. So for the football family, and especially the four associations and Uefa, I don't think it is likely to be done."

German club Werder Bremen reveal negotiations have opened with Chelsea over a season-long loan of 20-year-old Belgium midfielder Kevin de Bruyne.

New Zealand openers Daniel Flynn and Martin Guptill reach 71 without loss at Antigua in the first Test of two against the West Indies.

Jacques Kallis is omitted from South Africa's one-day squad for the series against England so the 36-year-old can rest before the World Twenty20.

Wolves defender George Elokobi is warned about his future conduct and fined £5,000 after admitting a FA charge of violent conduct. The charge relates to an incident while Elokobi was on loan at Nottingham Forest and in a game against Reading in April.

South African eventer Alexander Peternell wins a Court of Arbitration (CAS) hearing to be included in his country's Olympic squad.

Joanna Parker, Team GB's only representative in the women's singles, will compete against Brazil's Caroline Kumahara or Djibouti's Yasmin Hassan Farah in her first round match.

Team GB handball squad member Holly-Lam Moores on Twitter: "Training match against Spain coming right up! Our last match before the Olympic competition begins!"

Team GB archery competitor Amy Oliver on Twitter: "Had a good familiarisation day at Lords. The view looks stunning from the highest seats."

BBC Sports News reporter Joe Wilson has interviewed UK Atletics head coach Charles Van Commenee, who says he "doesn't know" state of triple jumper Phillips Idowu's fitness or if he'll make it to the Games.

Midfielder Tom Cleverley says Team GB's football team can win a medal at the Olympics. He says: "There is enough quality here.

"There is everything in this squad; youth, experience, enthusiasm, speed, technical ability and a good manager. There is no reason why we can't do well.

"It is a strong tournament but if we work hard and turn up on the day, I am sure we will be amongst the medals."

Manchester United beat Shanghai Shenhua 1-0 in a pre-season friendly thanks to a goal from new signing Shinji Kagawa.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson tells MUTV: "I was very pleased with the way we played very well in the second half.

"In the first half we had a lot of possession but lacked penetration and speed of play. It's been a great workout, they were very well organised. They weren't easy to play against."

Robin van Persie's name is in Arsenal's official squad numbers list for the 2012/13 season with the 28-year-old being allocated his usual number 10 shirt. Summer signing Lukas Podolski has yet to be assigned a number so is he waiting for the prospect of a certain number being freed up in the near future?

The British Olympic Association withdraw marathon runner Dave Webb from Team GB's Olympic squad after he fails a fitness test. Team GB will now have 541 competitors at the Games.

Team GB's women get their campaign underway in the football at 1600 BST when they face New Zealand. You can follow the action with BBC Sport's live text commentary.

Team GB's Paul Drinkhall will face Ibrahem Alhasan of Kuwait or Congo's Saheed Idowu in the first round of the men's singles table tennis event at the Olympics.

Spain forward Iker Muniain is likely to miss the football team's first Olympic match because of a right leg injury.

Manchester United have beaten Shanghai Shenhua 1-0 in a friendly in China.

New signing Shinji Kagawa, brought in from Borussia Dortmund, scored the winner.

BBC Sport's Tom Fordyce on Twitter: "Nothing like a train full of kids getting faces painted to get you in Olympic mood. I'm only one without Union flag across my chops. Should I?"

There will be no Team GB swimmers at Friday's Olympic opening ceremony because the pool programme is due to start the following morning.

British 200m individual medley swimmer James Goddard says: "Ideally we'd all like to go but performance comes first and we all respect that decision."

The excitement is building in Cardiff as Team GB prepare to open the Olympic women's football tournament against New Zealand, live on BBC One, at 1600 BST.

GB keeper Rachel Brown tweets: "Heading to the Millennium Stadium to make a bit of history. Olympic fever/sunstroke is beginning. Fingers crossed for #TeamGB #fabcrowd."

Formula 1 bosses have introduced a rule change to outlaw controversial engine settings on the Red Bull car.

The issue, which blew up at the German Grand Prix, surrounds settings that improved cornering performance but ran against the intention of the rules.

Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins has rejected Liverpool's opening bid for Swansea midfielder Joe Allen.

Liverpool offered around £10m plus Jonjo Shelvey on loan for Allen, who is currently training with the Team GB Olympic football squad.

BBC Radio 5 live Olympics correspondent Gordon Farquhar has some stats from the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) on the extent of athlete drug testing ahead of the London Games.

He tweets: "Wada say National anti-doping agencies have carried out 71,649 drug tests between them in last 12 months, and 107 athletes sanctioned."

Andy Murray has been doing a bit of mingling in the Olympic village, to the delight of his girlfriend Kim Sears, as he prepares to represent Team GB at tennis.

The Wimbledon finalist bumped into a British eventing star, saying: "I met William Fox-Pitt. My girlfriend was very happy about that. She loves horses."

Hamilton is feeling confident thanks to the improved performance fo McLaren's car following the fitting of new parts.

He says: "There's good reason to feel confident; our upgrade package seems to have delivered the pace we anticipated."

McLaren's Lewis Hamilton, who lies fifth in the drivers' championship, thinks his team will be stronger in the second half of the season.

He says: "Things haven't always gone our way in the first half, but I certainly feel like we're experiencing something of a turning point for the whole team."

Leeds manager Neil Warnock, meanwhile, has told his club's official website that captain Robert Snodgrass has been allowed to discuss terms with an unnamed club. Norwich had an approach for Snodgrass rejected last week.

Warnock says: "He's made it clear what he wants to do and he's had his head turned. He wants to play in the Premier League."

The Press Association is reporting that Sunderland defender Michael Turner is having a medical at Norwich after the two clubs agreed a deal.

Turner, 28, joined Sunderland from Hull in the summer of 2009.

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew says Liverpool must accept a significant loss on the £35m they paid for Andy Carroll if they want to sell him.

Pardew, who had a bid to take Carroll back to Tyneside on loan rejected, has told BBC Radio Newcastle: "[Reading chairman] John Madejski used to say to me about certain players, just wipe your nose and move on. And I think [Liverpool] are going to have to do that with Andy."

Misty May-Treanor won beach volleyball gold with the US in 2004 and 2008 with playing partner Kerri Walsh, and will be retiring after the London Games.

She says: "When I won gold in Athens I felt I had accomplished everything I set out to do. Beijing was very much the icing on the cake and this is the chocolate sauce. We want to go for number three but we want to enjoy the process."

The United States, by the way, have a good record when it comes to Olympic beach volleyball. The women's team won gold at each of the last two Games, while the men were Olympic champions in 1996, 2000 and 2008.

Jennifer Kessy, April Ross' US beach volleyball playing partner, is also keen to see Prince Harry or the Duchess of Cambridge: "If they want to have tea, we are open to that."

Prince Harry pledges to pop down to Horse Guards Parade to watch a bit of beach volleyball during the Olympics, and United States women's star April Ross hopes he keeps his promise.

"We've been tweeting," she joked. "It would be great to see Harry at a game … Harry or Kate would be awesome."

Former Manchester City defender Danny Mills also thinks United would be the best destination for Van Persie.

"Manchester United are still, in terms of club, bigger on a worldwide basis," Mills says. "Manchester City are still up and coming."

According to former Manchester United defender Gary Pallister, Van Persie should go to Old Trafford.

"Strikers get frustrated at City and I don't think Van Persie would be rotated as much at United," Pallister says.

Arsene Wenger says he is determined to keep Robin van Persie (see 1234). But where do you think his future lies? Let us know via Twitter, using the hashtag #bbcsportsday

Mo Farah is a major gold medal hopeful for Team GB in the men's 5,000m and 10,000m. He's making sure to get his rest in as he prepares.

He tweets: "Nice run with the boys this morning....!! Now it's time for ZZZZzzzzzz..!!! Yeeeezzzzz..!!"

More from Blatter on Twitter: "Very proud of hard work by the Fifa & Locog staff who together are overseeing the organisation of the two Olympic Football Tournaments."

Fifa president Sepp Blatter is in Cardiff for the opening game of the women's football tournament between Great Britain and New Zealand, which kicks off at 1600 BST and is live on BBC One.

He tweets: "I understand the attendance in Cardiff today is expected to break the record for a women's match in Great Britain. This is fantastic."

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger tells the club's official website that he is determined to keep captain Robin van Persie, despite interest from Manchester City, Manchester United and Juventus.

"The options are clear - we want to keep our players. I would be happy for him to stay in the English Premier League - at Arsenal."

South Africa captain Graeme Smith is expected to be back in England for the second Test at Headingley next week after flying home to attend the birth of his first child.

Smith tweeted: "Our daughter, Cadence Christine Smith, was born this morning, 3.35kg. Mother and daughter doing well. Thx for all kind wishes, that was amazing."

Redgrave actually thinks the fact he is favourite with most bookmakers to light the flame might count against him.

He said: "I think that's quite sad, because it never goes to the favourite. You look back through history - the organisers want a surprise."

Who will be lighting the Olympic torch at Friday's opening ceremony? Former British gold medallist Sir Steve Redgrave is favourite, but he played down his chances when talking to BBC News.

He said: "I'd love to do it. There's no question about that. I would love to be playing a part of some sort in the opening ceremony, but I'd be very surprised if I was given that honour. I haven't had any phone calls yet."

Melbourne Heart defender Curtis Good closes in on a move to Newcastle as he prepares to head to England for a medical. The 19-year-old, a graduate of the Australian Institute of Sport, made 25 appearances for the club in his debut Hyundai A-League season.

Australian Olympic chief Nick Green tells Josh Ross to "get on with the job" after the sprinter reportedly threatened to pull out of the London Games. Ross, 31, is in his country's 4x100m relay squad but is unhappy at not being picked for the 100m individual race.

Team GB coach Chris Finch says injured duo Mike Lenzly and Dan Clark are "50/50 at best" to be fit for the Olympic Games. Lenzly has a calf problem while Clark is struggling with an ankle injury.

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew believes the club's owner Mike Ashley is keen to establish the Magpies in the higher echelons of the Premier League after their fifth-placed finish last season.

Pardew, speaking to the Newcastle Evening Chronicle, says: "Mike, sensing it in him, wants to give it a real go.

"He got excited about what we did last year. We got very, very close to the Champions League and I think it has egged him on to really give it a go."

Belgium are marking their presence at the Olympics by sending a delegation of its sporting personalities to London by bicycle. Former Tour de France champion Eddy Merckx is leading 24 cyclists, including former Belgian sports personalities and celebrities, on a three-day route from Brussels to London.

Pedro Botelho signs for Brazilian club Atletico Paranaense following an unsuccessful five-year stay at Arsenal. The 22-year-old defender had loan spells at Salamanca, Celta Vigo, Cartagena, Rayo Vallecano and Levante during his time with the Gunners.

Fresh from his victory in Germany on Sunday, and as he prepares to race in Hungary this weekend, Ferrari's Fernando Alonso is the latest BBC F1 greatest driver this week.

The Spaniard, leading the world this season, was ranked 10th best of all time in a list compiled by averaging the votes of the BBC F1 team.

Think he should be higher or lower? Let us know on Twitter via #BBCF1greatestdrivers or by commenting on the story.

Essex captain James Foster has described seamer Reece Topley as "a class act" following the teenager's recent performances for the team.

Topley has taken 17 FL t20 wickets this season at a cost of only 14 runs each and had figures of 3-27 in Tuesday's quarter-final defeat by Somerset.

"He's a class act, he really is. If he keeps doing what he's doing he's going to have a very, very successful career," Foster told BBC Essex.

More from 1980 Olympic swimming gold medallist Duncan Goodhew on BBC Radio 5 live:

"Around the village it is very pressured. If you think around the peak we are going to have 11,000 athletes, all have given up their life for this one chance of supreme excellence. There is an atmosphere of purpose and commitment but also of nerves and time to burn.

"I was wandering past the Australians two days ago and one of the girls got thrown in the pond. It's all that malarky and you have to realise that some of them are just kids."

Huddersfield have brought forward the appointment of Kieron Purtill as assistant to new head coach Paul Anderson.

The departure of Nathan Brown last week prompted the club to fast-track the promotion of Anderson and they have moved to bring on board Purtill ahead of Sunday's game against St Helens.

There's a BBC Sport montage of heartwarming Olympic moments for you to enjoy, 48 hours before the commencement of the opening ceremony in London.

Highlights include Wilma Rudolph, Cassius Clay, Derek Redmond and Matthias Steiner.

Italian trap shooter Francesco D'Aniello's tears are something to behold...

Gareth Bale scored for Tottenham after starting in a 1-1 draw with Los Angeles Galaxy in a pre-season friendly.

Wales international Bale, 23, is not part of Team GB's Olympic 18-man squad, who start their London 2012 campaign on Thursday, because of injury.

"He came back to us during this week, so [we had to] control the amount of effort he could put in," said Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas.

"Gareth is extremely young and physically a beast, so he was able to put on the effort, and we extended [his time] because we want him to complete a certain amount of minutes before we start the season."

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard says he's looking forward to working under new Anfield manager Brendan Rodgers.

"It's an exciting new era for the players," said the 32-year-old one-club midfielder.

"We've been looking in from our holidays and hearing what the manager has been saying, what his vision is and what his targets are.

"I'm really excited to get going again in the new set-up."

Kim Little is looking forward to kicking off the Olympics when Team GB open against New Zealand in Cardiff on today at 1600 BST.

"I am glad to be part of the Great Britain team and hopefully we can do well," said the Arsenal forward.

"A lot of the English girls have played in Euros and World Cups, but for me and Iffy [Dieke] it is completely new. But it is one that is very exciting, I wouldn't say daunting, and I can't wait to get out there."

The Rugby Football League releases a statement having docked Braford Bulls six points for entering administration: "The RFL board of directors has today ruled that Bradford Bulls will be deducted six points - the equivalent of three competition wins - as a penalty for entering into administration during the season."

BBC Radio 5 live will ensure listeners do not miss a moment of London 2012 by launching a new 24-hour sister station - 5 live Olympics Extra.

Meanwhile, former undisputed heavyweight champion of the world Lennox Lewis has joined the 5 live commentary team for boxing.

In addition to coverage of all the big moments on 5 live, Olympics Extra will bring extra choice to listeners, offering extended commentary from the Games and a catch-up service through the night.

It started broadcasting this week on digital radio and online.

Bradford Bulls have been deducted six Super League points with immediate effect as a penalty for entering administration in the 2012 season, the Rugby Football League has announced.

That deduction means the Bulls slip from seventh to ninth in the table, behind Huddersfield and Hull KR.

Team GB's men's football goalkeeper Jack Butland tells BBC Radio 5 live he expects his side to qualify from the group stages:

"We've got fantastic quality in this team. It's an Under-23 tournament and it's the same for every team. It's not as if we're behind on anything," he said.

"We've got three fantastic, experienced, over-23 players and a lot of young players who are very skilled, talented and looking to prove themselves. There's no doubt we're here to stay and give it everything to win."

Swansea were beaten 2-1 by Colorado Rapids in a pre-season friendly last night. Jonathan De Guzman scored in the 79th minute for Michael Laudrup's men who managed just two shots on goal.

Drivers in London have been confused by road restrictions which have come into force to assist the movement of Olympic athletes, officials and the media.

Starting from 06:00 BST, a £130 fine has become enforceable for drivers and cyclists straying into Games Lanes.

Motorists have been puzzled because some Games Lanes are still open to all traffic and some signs appear to be conflicting.

Portsmouth's joint administrator, Trevor Birch, tells BBC Radio Solent: "It seems quite unbelievable that at one level football is vibrant but lower down clubs are over extending themselves to reach the promised land. It's unsustainable."

Portsmouth is likely to have "no alternative" but to close on 10 August unless senior players agree to transfers or wage cuts, according to administrators.

The club has seven senior players left on its books and is due to start its League One campaign on 18 August.

Pompey entered administration in February.

Writing in his BBC Sport column, athletics commentator Steve Cram says he is feeling confident 48 hours ahead of the start of the Games.

"Usually, Great Britain go into an Olympic Games wondering where our athletics gold medal is going to come from," he says.

"This time around, I think we have three outstanding candidates in Jessica Ennis, Mo Farah and Dai Greene."

On Tuesday the Olympic legend that is Michael Johnson devoted two hours on BBC Radio 5 live to taking listeners' calls.

He also answered some of your question, posted to #bbcsportsday on Twitter.

Listen again to the broadcast on the BBC's iPlayer service, or download the programme as a free 5 live Sport podcast.

Duncan Goodhew, who won gold at Moscow 1980 in the 100m breaststroke, tells BBC Radio 5 live about the atmosphere on the Olympic site:

"It's absolutely fantastic here at the Olympic Village. Last night was beautiful. The team was welcomed by the national youth theatre. As Shakespearean folly, there were jester hats and singing to the Queen," he said.

"Everything you can imagine is in the Olympic Village.

"[Nick Clegg] made a speech and just welcomed everybody and wished them luck. Boris [Johnson] was very entertaining and I can't tell you how many jokes he made."

Former England captain Alec Stewart warns the current team not to panic after their comprehensive first Test defeat to South Africa.

"England were on the wrong end of an annihilation in the first Test against South Africa, but there is no need to panic yet," Stewart writes in his BBC Sport column. "South Africa may have won the first battle, but they have not yet won the war."

In another pre-season friendly, Norwich overcame Celtic 1-0 in Glasgow on Tuesday evening.

Grant Holt's last-gasp winner comes at a price, though: new signing Steven Whittaker limped off in the first half with an ankle injury.

David Beckham remains coy about the precise nature of his role in Friday's opening ceremony, choreographed by Slumdog Millionaire director Danny Boyle.

"Nope, I can't tell you any more! But it is some kind of role in the opening ceremony," Beckham told BBC Sport.

"I was at the stadium and the park yesterday and you can feel the atmosphere building, the excitement building."

There were a couple of pre-season friendlies overnight involving Premier League teams.

Aston Villa needed a penalty shootout to win their pre-season friendly against Portland Timbers after the game ended in a 2-2 draw, Ciaran Clark and Matthew Lowton scoring for the visitors.

Tottenham were held to a 1-1 draw in California by a Los Angeles Galaxy side featuring former striker Robbie Keane.

Gareth Bale gave Spurs a first-half lead, converting a 17th minute cross from summer signing Gylfi Sigurdsson.

Bale played in the match despite being omitted from Team GB's Olympic squad because of injury. Great Britain's first group game is against Senegal on Thursday.

In other Olympics news, former England football captain David Beckham will have a role in Friday's London 2012 Olympic opening ceremony.

Beckham, 37, cannot divulge any details of his role as organisers try to keep the ceremony events secret.

He said: "It is some kind of role in the opening ceremony which I am honoured to be involved in because, obviously, I was involved in the start process with this seven years ago.

"And for Seb [Coe] to have kept me involved, I'm very proud of that."

Yes, today is the day that the Olympics begin, with six women's football matches taking place at Millennium Stadium, Hampden Park and City of Coventry Stadium.

First up it's Team GB v New Zealand in Cardiff at 16:00 BST. Everton and Team GB midfielder Jill Scott told BBC Sport: "Our focus is very much on winning at the Millennium Stadium on Wednesday to make it an opening event to remember for Team GB.

"Quite simply, we want to get the Games off to the best possible start."