The municipality of the northern town of Deir al-Ahmar has organized a mini-marathon under the slogan of “Run for a Cleaner Society,” the first such event held in the village.

Around 400 people participated in Sunday’s marathon which was divided into two categories: Those under the age of 14 and those above it.

Real Madrid has signed a seven-year-old football prodigy from Argentina who goes by the name Leo — just like Lionel Messi.

Leonel Angel Coira signed with the Spanish club and will begin training Sept. 6, Madrid spokesman Juan Tapiador told The Associated Press on Monday.

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque has called up Malaga defender Ignacio Monreal to replace the injured Sergio Ramos for the squad to face Italy in a friendly on Wednesday.

Monreal, who has four caps, will join the squad on Monday, Malaga said on its website.

Endurance swimmer Diana Nyad stroked through the Florida Straits early Monday, trying to accomplish at 61 years old what she failed to do at 28: swim more than 100 miles from Havana to Key West.

If she makes it to the Florida Keys after an estimated 60-hour swim, Nyad would become the first person to traverse the strait without the aid of a shark cage, relying instead on technology and divers to fend off the finned predators.

Sydney will host one of Australia's 2014 World Cup Asian qualifying matches in October, with Oman to face the Socceroos at a yet to be named venue, officials said Sunday.

Football Federation Australia (FFA) said that under an agreement with the New South Wales government, the Socceroos will play two more qualifying matches in the state if they progress out of the third round in which they are grouped with Saudi Arabia, Oman and Thailand.

Former Ballon d'Or winner Ronaldinho is hoping his recent purple patch with Flamengo adds impetus to his bid to resurrect his career with the five-time World Cup winners.

"My objective is to do my best with Flamengo and if the coach needs me I will be ready," said Ronaldinho, who returned home in January 2011 after a two and a half year spell with Serie A giants AC Milan.

Racing has found it tough going some times to live up to the moniker of being the 'sport of kings' but this season is perhaps the best all round in decades.

There is a buzz about the sport that has been lacking in years gone by which have generally left the neutral observer cold as the powerhouse of Aidan O'Brien's stable and to a lesser extent Godolphin have dominated.

Arsenal must overcome Serie A opposition in the shape of Udinese if Arsene Wenger's team is to make it to the Champions League group stages for the 14th successive season.

The Gunners were pitted against the Italian side in the draw for the Champions league play-offs held at UEFA headquarters in Nyon on Friday.

China's most decorated Winter Olympic athlete has been expelled from the national team for a drunken brawl with an official, throwing the successful short track speed skating program into disarray.

Wang Meng went out drinking and failed to return to the team hotel before a curfew, China's sports governing body said in a statement released late Thursday. When she was confronted by the team manager Wang Chunlu, she punched her, it said.

Roger Federer is relaxed about turning 30 on Monday, having slid to third in the world rankings and the chance that this will be the first year since 2002 in which he does not win a Grand Slam title.

The 16-time Grand Slam singles champion told reporters on a teleconference Wednesday that he still has the competitive fire to challenge Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic for tennis supremacy.