Motor sport, hockey and Olympic Games news in today's digest.
Fisichella set to join Force India
Motor Sport:Italian Giancarlo Fisichella is set to drive for the Force India Formula One team this season with compatriot Vitantonio Liuzzi taking the role of tester, sources have said.
There was no official confirmation from the Ferrari-powered team, who are due to announce their 2008 driver line-up in Mumbai tomorrow.
Germany's Adrian Sutil, a rookie last year with the Spyker team that Indian billionaire Vijay Mallya bought and renamed, has been confirmed as one driver, while Fisichella impressed at a test in Spain last month.
The Roman, who will be 35 next week, has been without a drive since his contract with former champions Renault expired at the end of last year.
Liuzzi raced for Ferrari-powered Toro Rosso in 2007.
Fresh bid from Rio for 2016
Olympic Games:Rio de Janeiro has unveiled details of its bid to stage the 2016 Olympic Games, with officials saying they had gone for a more modest approach than their previous attempt four years ago.
Leaders of the bid said the existing Joao Havelange stadium would be used to stage the showcase athletics events, while ambitious plans to expand the city's metro were shelved in favour of a high-capacity network of bus lanes.
Olympic vehicles would be powered by natural gas or biofuels.
Rio would become the first South American city to host the Olympics.
The city has decided to press ahead with its attempt even though Brazil will host the 2014 World Cup.
Chicago, Madrid, Tokyo, Doha and Baku are also bidding for the Games.
Passmore names qualifier squad
Hockey:Dave Passmore has named his squad for next month's Olympic qualifying tournament in Auckland, New Zealand, from February 2nd-10th, stressing it was his "hardest decision in nine years of international sport".
Ireland face a tough task in a winner-takes-all competition which features higher-ranked sides Argentina, hosts New Zealand and France as well as Trinidad and Tobago and the USA.
"The margins for not being selected were very fine and often came down to ability at set-pieces and versatility," said Passmore.
SQUAD:M Ruddle (gk), K Burns, D Hobbs (Cork C of I), P Brown (capt), M Gleghorne (Instonians), J Black, M Black (Cork Harlequins), D Harte (gk), R Gormley, T Lewis (Pembroke Wanderers), M Watt (Grange), S Butler, G Shaw (Glenanne), J Jermyn, I Lewers (HGC), E Magee (Banbridge), A Barbour (Cookstown), P Maguire (Three Rock Rovers). Travelling reserve: T Cockram (Lisnagarvey).
