Smith Pencilled in for 2012 British Football Team

Scotland's manager, Walter Smith, is being lined up to take charge of the British football team that will compete in the 2012 Olympics after he came out in support of the idea, defying his national association which had claimed that no Scotsman would be interested in taking part.

The support of the former Rangers and Everton manager has catapulted him into prime position to oversee the team in London when it is hoped that he could persuade Scottish players to take part despite the opposition of the Scottish FA.

Britain's first match in the 2012 Olympics is due to take place at Hampden Park on the eve of the opening ceremony in London and the games' organisers are keen for Scotland to have some involvement in the tournament.

"I am sure, if it [a British team] ever came around, the players would be keen," Smith said. "The Olympics are a fantastic event - the biggest in the world. Scotland is inclined to be insular. But if Great Britain had a team in it I am sure any player worth his salt would want to be picked. It would be terrific for them to show their talents on that stage. I am sure footballers would have as much pride in playing for Britain as they would for their own individual country."

Sports Personality at NEC

It was confirmed yesterday that for the first time in the 53-year history of BBC Sports Personality of the Year the show will be held outside London and the general public will be invited to take part in the experience. The 2006 Awards will be held at Birmingham's NEC and will be covered live on BBC1 on Sunday December 10. The move to the NEC will allow greater public access and for the first time ever members of the general public will be able to enjoy the unique Sports Personality of the Year Awards event. At least 3,000 public tickets will go on sale from the NEC box office on October 16 priced at £25 a ticket. "This is a landmark decision for BBC Sports Personality of the Year as not only is it unparalleled that we are heading out of London but thousands of sports fans are also going to have the chance to come and see the show for the first time," said Roger Mosey, the BBC head of sport.

Nike's $476m cash back

Nike is to spend more than $450m (£240m) this year to gain the endorsements of celebrity athletes such as Tiger Woods, below. Nike sponsors 14 of the world's 25 highest-paid athletes. Yet shoes plugged by retired basketball star Michael Jordan continue to outsell those of newcomers such as LeBron James and Kobe Bryant. Nike estimates it will pay athletes and sports teams $476.5m in the fiscal year ending in May, 74% more than it did four years ago. Sales will be 50% higher, according to analysts' predictions. Sales for the year ending in May will probably rise 7.6% to $16.1bn, according to the average estimate of 13 analysts in a Thomson Financial survey.

Falcons box clever

A lightweight Newcastle pack is hoping to cause an upset against the heavyweight forwards of the Llanelli Scarlets tonight night with the help of two Cuban Olympic boxing coaches. The Falcons have spent some of this week at Glenn McCrory's Northumbria Boxing Gym as part of their preparations for the arrival of the powerful Welsh outfit where they were put through their paces by Cuban coaches Alberto Pérez and Alberto González. The meeting was set up by Falcons fitness coach, Steve Black, who was McCrory's trainer when he won the IBF World Cruiserweight title, with the aim of giving Newcastle's forwards a break from their regular training routines as they attempt to spring a surprise in the EDF Energy Cup at Kingston Park.