The ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) confirmed this week that, as announced in July 2007, those players who compete at the Beijing Olympics will be awarded ranking points. The granting of points to tennis Olympians started in 2000 with the Sydney Games.

“The Olympic games remain an integral part of our sport's great story and are a welcome addition to this year's calendar,” Etienne de Villiers, ATP executive chairman, said. On the other hand, ITF president Francesco Ricci Bitti confirmed that all the necessary steps have been taken to ensure that the 2008 Olympic tennis competition have the best field.

It was certainly a tough match for number two of the world Rafael Nadal who lost to Jo-Wilfred Tsonga 6-2, 6-3, 6-2. The Frenchman, who is currently in Nº39 of the world ranking, was untouchable and played an astonishing match to advance to the final of the Australian Open for the first time in his career.

“I was playing fine,” Nadal commented after the match. “He played unbelievable. Congratulate him.” The second-ranked played well and had only 12 unforced errors, but this was not enough against the French player, who made it to the Open after struggling with several injuries.

The world’s number one tennis player Roger Federer won the Tennis Masters Cup this week after defeating David Ferrer in Shangai. This is the Swiss’s eight title of the year and also his eighth victory over the Spanish player. The final match for the Masters Cup ended 6-2 6-3 6-2.

Federer saved a break point in the second game and afterwards broke in the third game before taking he first set 6-2. Ferrer made his best but Federer broke twice in the second set and sailed through the third to win his fourth Masters Cup title in only five years.

A new Responsible Gambling Code was launched during the recent European I-Gaming Congress in Barcelona. The code is the result of a joint effort by the e-Commerce Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance (eCOGRA), GamCare and the Remote Gambling Association (RGA).

The initiative seeks to set standards for the global gaming industry. It also aims to enhance protection for players by providing greater clarity. “GamCare hopes that the adoption of this code will better enable the gambling public to make informed decisions with regards to their remote gambling participation,” GamCare’s Andrew Poole said.

The Irish Rugby Football Union has showed its support of coach Eddie O’Sullivan despite Ireland’s elimination from the Rugby World Cup. The team, which finished third in the tournament’s “group of death”, lost to France and Argentina and won against Namibia and Georgia but with poor performances.

“We have put our faith in Eddie. We made decisions last May in terms of where we wanted to go over the next four years,” Chief Executive Philip Browne said. He also explained that they see coach O’Sullivan as the man that would take them to the next World Cup. “In our view he's the best man for the job,” Browne added.

The Gulf state was the only country to present a formal proposal to host the Asian Cup, although they still had to satisfy the AFC of their ability to stage the tournament before being confirmed as hosts. India and Iran had originally indicated they would bid but they gave up before the final deadline in May.

Due to the AFC's rotation policy, the only countries allowed to participate were those from West Asia but the AFC said it would have changed the bidding process in case Qatar's proposal had failed to meet the required standards. “I think it will be a great tournament,” AFC President Mohamed Bin Hammam, who is from Qatar, said.

Al Muthna province has shown an important development on its sports performance. Disciplines vary, from traditional sports like football, to games like backgammon. Great plans await for this province to encourage its sport and gaming activities.

The Championship of the high southern region was recently hosted by Al Muthna. Disciplines included mini-football, volleyball, chess and backgammon. Results showed regional teams have increased their performance while getting ready for the final tournaments, which will be held in Al Najaf by the end of July.

When gaming inspectors are not working, casinos are not legally allowed to operate. In 2006 state budget stalemate once forced Atlantic City casinos to close for three days, resulting in an over $55 million loss. Now, lawmakers are trying to make sure it will not happen again.

The proposed solution was a law that would allow casinos to operate with a special casino fund. The money would be used to pay the salaries of the gaming inspectors. The law passed the state Assembly with an 80-0 vote last week.

Swiss Roger Federer, world’s number one, and the American Pete Sampras, who has the record of Grand Slam titles with 14, are carrying out an exhibition tour in November through several Asian countries.

Both men, considered by many specialists as the two best tennis payers of all times, are starting the tour on November 20th in Seoul, with a stop on November 22nd in Kuala Lumpur, before finishing on the 24th in Macao, where the presence of over 15,000 people is expected at the Venetian Hotel, the biggest casino in the world, that is going to open this summer.

The Swiss Joseph Blatter, president of FIFA, has re assured that the next World Cup will definitely take place in South Africa, during 2010. With his words he clarified any doubts that could have been about the capacity of the country to organize the event.

“If there isn’t any natural catastrophe, the 2010 World Cup will be played in South Africa. That is my last word in the matter.” Blatter said in Malaysia, where he attends the congress of the Asian Soccer Confederation. The FIFA president pointed out Mexico and Spain as the countries prepared to organize the 2010 World Cup in case South Africa can’t host this tournament.