Iranian athletes will compete against Israelis at the London Olympics, according to the country's chef de mission.

Iran has been criticized in the past because some of its athletes withdrew from events against Israelis at the 2004 Athens Games and 2008 Beijing Games.

Didier Drogba made an instant impact on his debut for Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua, setting up his new team's equalizer in a 1-1 draw away to Guangzhou R&F.

The former Chelsea striker started the game on the bench but came on at half time, almost scoring with his first touch of the ball -- an outrageous 40-yard free kick which Guangzhou goalkeeper Cheng Yuelei tipped wide.

Bradley Wiggins has been crowned Britain's first Tour de France champion, becoming an instant sporting hero at home just ahead of the London Olympics -- in which he hopes to star again.

Wiggins, who had virtually sealed victory the previous day, finished the three-week, 3,479km epic with a 3min 21sec lead over British team-mate Chris Froome after Sunday's 20th and last stage to Paris.

McLaren have defended Lewis Hamilton's decision to pass Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel and un-lap himself during Sunday's German Grand Prix.

Hamilton, who fell to the back of the field after a second-lap puncture, emerged from his second pit stop with new tires and chose to un-lap himself by passing Vettel, who was battling for the lead with eventual race-winner Fernando Alonso.

The massacre of 11 Israeli athletes and coaches at the 1972 Munich Olympics had Jacques Rogge the athlete fighting with his conscience over whether to carry on competing or not.

Now, 40 years later, the 70-year-old International Olympic Committee president has endured similar soul-searching.

The IOC will allow a marathon runner born in what is now South Sudan to compete under the Olympic flag at the London Games.

The IOC executive board agreed Saturday to allow U.S.-based Guor Marial to take part as an independent athlete.

Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed that Manchester United have made a bid for unsettled Arsenal striker Robin van Persie.

Ferguson made his move after the Netherlands international, whose current contract expires at the end of the forthcoming campaign, announced earlier this month that he would refuse to sign a new deal with the Gunners.

For Bradley Wiggins, it's time to start handing out the gifts at the Tour de France.

With victory looking locked up, Wiggins was thinking all about payback for unusually unsung teammate Mark Cavendish on Friday, helping to lead him out to a 22nd career Tour stage victory.

Italy's Argentine-born World Cup-winner Mauro Camoranesi, 35, has signed for Argentine side Racing Club from Lanus, who announced his departure on Friday.

A member of Italy's 2006 World Cup-winning squad, Camoranesi has been playing in the Argentine first division since February 2011, following a brief stint in the German Bundesliga with Stuttgart.

Former Olympic gymnast Nadia Comaneci and ex-basketball star John Amaechi will carry the Olympic flame as it begins a seven-day tour of London on Saturday.

The pair will take the torch relay to the roof of the North Greenwich Arena, the venue on the banks of the River Thames that will host gymnastics events and basketball finals during the Games.