South Korea launches support team for 2018 athletes

SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea launched a support team aimed at helping the home nation finish in the top four at the 2018 Winter Olympics on Wednesday and announced it had increased a special grant to help athletes prepare for the Games to almost $30 million.

MLS says 12 groups submit expansion applications

(Reuters) - Major League Soccer said on Tuesday 12 ownership groups have submitted official applications to land one of four expansion openings that will see the North American league grow to 28 clubs.

Patriots defense unfazed by high-flying Falcons

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Something has got to give on Super Bowl Sunday when the National Football League's top-scoring Atlanta Falcons face a New England Patriots defense that allowed the fewest points in the league.

Pats' Brady hungry for much more, with no 'end in sight'

HOUSTON (Reuters) - New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady had some bad news for the National Football League's 31 other teams as one of the most prolific passers of all-time said he has no plans to hang up his cleats anytime soon.

Falcons use table tennis to stay loose ahead of Super Bowl

HOUSTON (Reuters) - The Atlanta Falcons, preparing to battle the New England Patriots in Sunday's Super Bowl, brought along another game to help keep themselves loose ahead of the title clash.

Houston's downtown revamped in time for Super Bowl

HOUSTON (Reuters) - When Houston last hosted the Super Bowl in 2004, the oil city's sleepy downtown lacked the sizzle befitting the big game - and that prompted civic leaders to act.

GNC out of Super Bowl after NFL nixes advertisement

(Reuters) - GNC Holdings Inc will not advertise during Sunday's Super Bowl after the National Football League rejected the retailer's advertisement due to its policy against promoting supplements, the league and GNC confirmed on Tuesday.

Ron Hill's incredible running streak ends after 52 years

LONDON (Reuters) - Former British marathon great Ron Hill has been forced to end his amazing streak of running every day for more than 52 years after the 78-year-old suffered chest pains and decided not to risk it.

Super Bowl teams give Trump silent treatment

HOUSTON (Reuters) - While much of the world is talking about U.S. President Donald Trump's executive orders, including travel restrictions on seven Muslim-majority nations, players and coaches at the Super Bowl remain silent.

Super Bowl security tight amidst tension over Trump orders

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Security in Houston, America's fourth-largest city, is tight ahead of Sunday's Super Bowl 51, though officials have vowed to support peaceful demonstrations against President Donald Trump's executive order restricting entry to the United States for travelers from some Muslim-majority nations.

Olympians urge speedy resolution to Trump travel ban

(Reuters) - The World Olympians Association (WOA) expressed concern on Tuesday about the potential impact U.S. President Donald Trump's travel ban on visitors from some Muslim-majority nations could have on athletes and urged a quick resolution.

Motorcycling: Rabat to undergo surgery after crash in testing

(Reuters) - Spanish MotoGP rider Tito Rabat will return to Europe for surgery after breaking his hand in a crash during the first pre-season test in Malaysia on Tuesday.

Athletics: Coe denies misleading doping committee

LONDON (Reuters) - The head of world athletics Sebastian Coe has denied that he misled a British Parliamentary committee investigating doping in sport when he appeared before it last December.