Chinese Super League side Dalian Pro have established a Football Technology Innovation Hub in Dalian, Northeast China's Liaoning Province, as the club is in an initial three-year collaboration with the world football governing body FIFA, the club has announced.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Monday the league would not “jump the line” for the COVID-19 vaccine as the league prepared to tip off its new season amid a surge in coronavirus cases across the US.

In a year dominated by the coronavirus off the course and world No.1 Dustin Johnson on it, AFP Sport recalls some of golf's talking points of 2020.

Barcelona's Lionel Messi has explained how tough it has been to play without fans in the last year due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, likening the experience to a training session.

Tammy Abraham hit a quick-fire late double on Monday as Chelsea beat West Ham 3-0 to reignite their Premier League challenge after a consecutive defeats.

Manchester United blitzed Leeds 6-2 to climb to third in the Premier League on Sunday as Leicester put a major dent in Tottenham's title challenge.

The National Hockey League has given its 31 teams the green light to play a 56-game season that will begin January 13 without any preseason games.

AC Milan forward Rafael Leao scored the fastest-ever goal in Serie A history on Sunday, netting after just six seconds in a 2-1 win at Sassuolo which kept his side top of the table ahead of city rivals Inter Milan.

Patrick Mahomes tossed three touchdown passes as the Kansas City Chiefs improved to an NFL best 13-1 with a 32-29 victory over Drew Brees' New Orleans Saints on Sunday in Louisiana.

All the world's top players, including 20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer, are expected to be in Melbourne for the coronavirus-disrupted Australian Open, tournament organizer Craig Tiley said.

Charlie Woods wowed his 15-time major champion father Tiger with an impressive eagle for Team Woods in the PNC Championship family tournament in Orlando, Florida, on Saturday.

Lionel Messi scored his 643rd goal for Barcelona on Saturday to equal Pele's record of goals for a single club as the Spanish giants were held 2-2 by Valencia.

Furious Jose Mourinho had a heated exchange with Jurgen Klopp after Roberto Firmino's last-gasp header sent Liverpool to the top of the Premier League with a 2-1 win against title rivals Tottenham, while troubled Arsenal were held to a 1-1 draw by Southampton on Wednesday.

Barcelona reignited their La Liga title push on Wednesday when they came back from a goal down to defeat Real Sociedad 2-1, with veteran defender and goal scorer Jordi Alba claiming it was the team's “best game of the season.”

The Australian Open was pushed back to February 8 on Thursday after weeks of negotiations as coronavirus disruption hits a second Grand Slam tennis season.

Gennady Golovkin can claim a slice of middleweight boxing history on Friday as he chases a record 21st successful defense against mandatory Polish challenger Kamil Szeremeta in Florida.

Gennady Golovkin issued a deadly warning to Oscar De La Hoya on Tuesday after the US boxing legend said he wanted to fight the middleweight world champion when he makes his improbable return to boxing.

“A week,” Harold Wilson said,” is a long time in politics.”

To say that 2020 has been a strange year for sport would be an understatement. It is the first year that Liverpool were crowned champions of England in 30 years for a start, although rival fans will point to the English Premier League before and after its COVID-19 pause being completely different and asking for an asterisk on that title.

"With Kane and Son, what Mourinho has done has been incredible," former Spurs striker Jermain Defoe said on a recent episode of the Mennie Talks Podcast.

Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo ended speculation about his future on Tuesday after agreeing a new long-term deal reported to be the biggest in NBA history.

Real Madrid were made to toil by the 10 men of Athletic Bilbao but eventually won 3-1 on Tuesday thanks to two strikes from Karim Benzema to go level on points with La Liga leaders Real Sociedad.

The rescheduled Tokyo Olympics will be the centerpiece of a crammed sporting year in 2021 as sports administrators who had their calendars wiped away by the coronavirus pandemic try to fill the gaps even as a second wave hits.

South Korea's Kim A-lim produced a stunning finish to snatch her maiden major victory with a one-shot win in the delayed finale to the US ­Women's Open on Monday.

Cleveland's Major League Baseball team confirmed on Monday it will drop its long-held “Indians” name after protests from fans and Native American groups who regard the moniker as racist.

Paris Saint-Germain, last season's beaten finalists, will face Barcelona in the last 16 of the Champions League while Liverpool were paired with RB Leipzig in Monday's draw.

Tennis welcomed a first men's Grand Slam champion from outside the “Big Three” since 2016 in Dominic Thiem during a 2020 campaign with compelling storylines despite the COVID-19 pandemic wiping out almost half the season, including Wimbledon.

The Land Yacht Open was held in Qinhuangdao, North China's Hebei Province on Sunday, as the coastal city continues to boost yachting's popularity during the winter season.

The strictest ever expenditure and salary cap will be implemented in all levels of professional leagues next season, the Chinese Football Association (CFA) revealed Monday.

Lionel Messi saved Barcelona from another embarrassing result by scoring the decisive goal in a 1-0 win over lowly Levante, while Real Sociedad returned top of La Liga on Sunday.

Cristiano Ronaldo marked his 100th game for Juventus with a pair of penalties in a 3-1 success over Genoa on Sunday, as the champions closed the gap on Serie A leaders AC Milan who were held at home against Parma.

Peizhang "Jackson" He, the only Chinese-born player in major college American football, completed an amazing sport journey by scoring a touchdown for Arizona State in a victory over arch-rival Arizona.

Real Madrid reignited their La Liga title push on Saturday beating leaders Atletico 2-0 as their city rivals suffered a first league defeat of the season.

Manchester United and Manchester City did their Premier League title ambitions few favors in a drab 0-0 draw at Old Trafford as Chelsea's challenge also suffered a setback in a 1-0 defeat at Everton on Saturday.

Anthony Joshua said he wants to unify all four world heavyweight boxing ­titles in an all-British clash with Tyson Fury after a dominant ninth-round knockout of Bulgaria's Kubrat Pulev at London's Wembley Arena on Saturday.

Lewis Hamilton is back in training and set to return for Mercedes at this weekend's season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, but only if he is passed fit and returns negative tests for COVID-19.

Paolo Rossi, a hero of Italian football who fired the Azzurri to victory in the 1982 World Cup, has died aged 64, prompting an outpouring of grief and tributes.

Karim Benzema sent Real Madrid through to the last 16 of the Champions League on Wednesday alongside their rivals Atletico, while Neymar scored a hat trick as Paris Saint-Germain beat Istanbul Basaksehir in a match that had been delayed for 24 hours over a racism row.

Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher has made the most of the absence of the club's first-choice goalkeeper Allison Becker.

Despite a global boom, the closure of one of the southern hemisphere's biggest esports leagues has left its players in Australia and across Oceania facing an uncertain future.

They are the two biggest teams in Spain and arguably European - if not world - football.

"There's no use ignoring it," were the words of Paul Pogba's agent Mino Raiola earlier in the week. "I can say that it's over for Paul Pogba at Manchester United."

Three-time reigning NBA scoring champion James Harden reported to the Houston Rockets training camp Tuesday with coach Stephen Silas confident he can build a successful relationship with the superstar guard.

Anthony Joshua is "ready for war" as the British boxer prepares to face Kubrat Pulev in a world heavyweight title clash on Saturday.

Manchester United were knocked out of the Champions League after a 3-2 defeat by RB Leipzig on Tuesday, while Paris Saint-Germain's qualification for the last 16 was overshadowed by a racism row involving a match official that caused their game against Istanbul Basaksehir to be suspended for 24 hours.

Alex Smith threw for 296 yards and a touchdown on Monday, and the Washington Football Team stunned previously unbeaten Pittsburgh 23-17, preventing the Steelers from clinching an NFL playoff berth.

Double World Cup winner Richie McCaw and Olympic medalist and women's Six Nations champion Jessy Tremouliere were named players of the decade on Monday by World Rugby.

Andres Iniesta and Daigo Nishi struck either side of the break as Vissel Kobe edged out Shanghai SIPG 2-0 to reach the quarterfinals of the Asian Champions League on Monday.

Holders France were handed an awkward draw in qualifying for the 2022 World Cup on Monday, with Ukraine and Bosnia and Herzegovina standing in their way on the road to the finals in Qatar, while England will face Robert Lewandowski and Poland in their group.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has decided the event programme and the athlete quotas for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games on Monday as breaking, skateboarding, sport climbing and surfing were confirmed as additional sports proposed by the Paris 2024 organizing committee.

Liverpool turned on the style for their returning fans on Sunday, beating Wolves 4-0 to join Tottenham at the top of the Premier League, only behind Spurs on goal difference, after another episode of the Son Heung-min and Harry Kane show.

NBA champion LeBron James, Super Bowl winner Patrick Mahomes and Japan's Naomi Osaka were among five athletes honored Sunday by Sports Illustrated (SI) magazine for their off-field activism.

AC Milan kept hold of their five-point lead at the top of Serie A on Sunday after a hard-fought 2-1 win at Sampdoria, while Napoli moved third after strolling to victory over bottom side Crotone.

Sergio Perez, who may be out of work next season, took advantage of his rivals' misfortunes on Sunday to drive from last position to claim his first Formula One victory in a chaotic and crazy Sakhir Grand Prix.

The notorious Cape of Storms off Cape Town lived up to its reputation this weekend, bringing an abrupt end to the chances of Britain's Sam Davies and three other skippers in the Vendee Globe.

Argentina's Emiliano Grillo clung to a one-stroke lead after Saturday's third round of the PGA Mayakoba Classic with Americans Justin Thomas, Adam Long and Tom Hoge and Norway's Viktor Hovland charging into contention.

Manchester United roared back to beat West Ham 3-1 on Saturday, while Chelsea moved top of the Premier League by the same scoreline over Leeds as fans returned to the English top flight for the first time in nine months.

Barcelona conceded two embarrassing goals as they suffered a shock 2-1 defeat away to Cadiz in La Liga on Saturday.

A high-level conference on Thursday assessing the lead up to the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games discussed some of the challenges and future visions of this global sporting event, with officials vowing a green and cooperative games that will promote the development of winter sports in China.

Mick Schumacher, the son of seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher, says his childhood dream has come true following Wednesday's announcement that he will drive in Formula One for the first time with Haas next season.

Athletes at the coronavirus-postponed Tokyo Olympics will face regular testing, restrictions on mingling and potential punishment for non-compliance with health rules, organizers said Wednesday as they outlined plans for holding the Games.

The Pittsburgh Steers moved to 11-0 with a jumbled 19-14 victory over a severely depleted Baltimore squad in an NFL contest that was postponed three times because of a coronavirus outbreak on the Ravens.

Neymar's brace helped Paris Saint-Germain to a vital 3-1 win over Manchester United on Wednesday that took the French club to within touching distance of the Champions League last 16, while Borussia Dortmund secured their qualification for the next round and Olivier Giroud scored all four goals in Chelsea's 4-0 thumping of Sevilla.

"La Masia will be a personalized accompaniment to the player, under the slogan of 'You will never walk alone,'" wrote Barcelona presidential candidate in his manifesto to take charge of the Spanish giants at their next election in 2021 last week.

The BBC Sports Personality of the Year shortlist has been announced and it honors six of the outstanding athletes of the last 12 months.

The English Premier League has a VAR problem. Every week, despite some of the biggest clubs, best players and smartest coaches in world football, it is all there is to talk about.

World champion Lewis Hamilton said he was devastated to miss this weekend's Sakhir Grand Prix in Bahrain having tested positive for coronavirus.

The French Vendee Globe skipper recovering after a dramatic rescue by a rival competitor 600 nautical miles (1,111.2 kilometers) off the Cape of Good Hope on Tuesday has spoken of how a giant wave folded his boat in two “in four seconds.”

Curtis Jones sent a depleted Liverpool through to the Champions League last 16 on Tuesday, while Zinedine Zidane dismissed suggestions he might walk away from Real Madrid after another defeat by Shakhtar Donetsk left their European hopes in the balance.

The start of the Australian Open will be delayed until February 8 because of coronavirus prevention measures, a newspaper reported, as negotiations on players' arrival and quarantine in Melbourne continued on Wednesday.

World champion Lewis Hamilton has tested positive for coronavirus and will miss this weekend's Sakhir Grand Prix in Bahrain, Formula One's governing body FIA announced Tuesday.

NBA championship-winning center Andrew Bogut announced his immediate retirement from basketball on Tuesday after a 15-year career.

Fulham climbed out of the Premier League relegation zone after finally solving their penalty woes in a shock 2-1 win at Leicester on Monday.

Joachim Loew will remain in charge of Germany for next year's delayed European Championship despite a series of poor recent results, the German football federation (DFB) announced Monday.

Mike Tyson plans on fighting more exhibitions after a draw with Roy Jones Jr on Saturday in his comeback at age 54 and Jones says he'll be tough to beat.

Clubs across Europe continued to pay tribute to Diego Maradona on Sunday with particularly poignant moments in Italy and Spain where the Argentine played.

Lewis Hamilton powered to his record-increasing 95th victory at the Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday in a race overshadowed by Romain Grosjean's horrific crash, which left the Frenchman receiving hospital treatment for burns.

Mike Tyson's return to boxing at age 54 ended in a draw with 51-year-old Roy Jones Jr on Saturday in an eight-round exhibition battle of former heavyweight champions.

On the first weekend of sporting action since the death of Diego Maradona, sports leagues and teams round the world on Saturday paid tribute to the Argentine football great.

Real Madrid slumped to a 2-1 loss at home to Alaves in La Liga on Saturday as city rivals Atletico moved level with leaders Real Sociedad after extending their winning run to six matches.

They have exploded as has Kane. The England skipper has been outstanding under Mourinho -contributing to 45 goals in 34 games.

When AC Milan play Fiorentina this weekend they will be missing Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Much attention in recent weeks has been shone on the owners-elect of non-league side AFC Wrexham, Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.

Boxing great Mike Tyson says he has learned to protect that "kid always in me" as he prepares to return to the ring for an exhibition bout with Roy Jones Jr on Saturday.

Lewis Hamilton goes into this weekend's Bahrain Grand Prix aiming to continue his record­breaking romp this year and make a successful start on final talks to stay with Mercedes in 2021 and beyond.

The NFL's Thanksgiving Day showcase has been slammed by the coronavirus after the league suffered another COVID­19 outbreak, prompting officials to postpone Thursday's contest between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens.

Andres Iniesta scored his first goal in the Asian Champions League as Vissel Kobe powered their way to the last 16 with a dominant 3-1 win over Fabio Cannavaro's Guangzhou Evergrande in their Group G clash on Wednesday.

Robert Lewandowski set Bayern Munich on the way to a 3-1 Champions League win over Red Bull Salzburg on Wednesday as the holders joined Manchester City in qualifying for the last 16 with two group games to spare, while Liverpool went down to defeat and Marseille are now the owners of an unwanted record.

As arguably the best player in the 20th century, World Cup winner Diego Maradona made a tremendous contribution to the game of football, and brought so many beautiful and indelible memories for Chinese fans: Chinese Football Association

The Australian Open is likely to be delayed by a week or two as negotiations between organizers, the tennis tours and the Victoria government over health measures continue, the state's sports minister said Wednesday.

The COVID-19 pandemic has hindered the progress of traditional sports activities in the world, but for esports it's a different ball game.

Juventus, Chelsea and Sevilla all claimed last-gasp wins as they qualified for the Champions League last 16 on Tuesday, while Martin Braithwaite grabbed a double in Barcelona's 4-0 victory at Dynamo Kiev as they also secured a place in the knockout rounds.

Thomas Mueller admitted he watched Germany's humiliating loss to Spain with horror, but insists his focus remains on European champions Bayern Munich despite demands the playmaker be recalled to the national side.

Premier League clubs can look forward to welcoming back spectators in highly limited numbers next month for the first time since March, following an announcement by the British government on Monday.

Alex Thomson continued working on his damaged boat on Monday as his hopes of becoming the first non-Frenchman to win the Vendee Globe appeared to be dwindling.

Burnley won for the first time in the Premier League this season as Chris Wood sealed a 1-0 victory against Crystal Palace, while Southampton missed a chance to go third in their 1-1 draw at Wolves on Monday.

Daniil Medvedev barged to the head of the queue of young pretenders as the Russian captured the biggest title of his career by beating Dominic Thiem 4-6, 7-6 7/2), 6-4 in an absorbing climax to London's last ATP Finals on Sunday.

South Korean Kim Sei-young followed up her first major title at the Women's PGA Championship with her 12th LPGA crown on Sunday, firing an even-par 70 to win the Pelican Women's Championship by three strokes.

Liverpool shrugged off an injury crisis to move level on points with Tottenham at the top of the Premier League with a 3-0 win over Leicester, while 10-man Arsenal were left to cling on for a 0-0 draw at Leeds by Nicolas Pepe's red card on Sunday.