A deadline for countries to submit a bid for the 2023 European Games has been extended by the European Olympic Committees (EOC) for a second time.

With the gift of a golden olive tree of peace and the music of Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi ringing in the night air of Rome, the Flame for the 2019 European Games has begun the 50-day journey that will take it to the host city of Minsk.

Illness has reportedly forced ex-biathlon star Darya Domracheva to pull out of helping to light the Flame for the Minsk 2019 European Games here tomorrow. 

Here in the Eternal City, two of the most successful Olympians from Belarus will join forces to launch the Minsk 2019 European Games Torch Relay on Friday.

The accession of Emperor Naruhito in Tokyo will continue a strong Olympic tradition in the Japanese royal family.

Motorcycle outriders are a familiar sight heralding the arrival of any Olympic Torch but for the journey of the European Games' Flame of Peace to Minsk, a biker club will be an integral part of the relay.

Former London Marathon race director David Bedford helped light an Olympic-style Torch at the traditional New Year's Eve "Nos Galan Race" in South Wales, before claiming that it had blazed a trail for the big mass participation running events that are so popular around the world. 

Kosovo were told at the last minute that their official standard bearer would not be allowed to parade with the national flag at the Opening Ceremony of the Mediterranean Games in Tarragona last month, insidethegames can reveal. 

As the sunlight faded on another glorious evening on the shores of the Mediterranean, Tarragona's Games came to an end at the Nou Estadi Nastic high above the city.

Italy won the last gold medal of Tarragona 2018 in a barnstorming men's volleyball final here at the Mediterranean Games.

Enrico Dall'Olmo might just return home as the biggest sports star in San Marino after his Mediterranean Games gold medal here at the Campclar Velodrome in Tarragona.

Ana Draskovic of Montenegro has been stripped of her karate silver medal at the Mediterranean Games for a doping offence.

Yahya Berabah of Morocco won the men's long jump after a tremendous Mediterranean Games contest here that will live long in the memory. 

A hat-trick from Barcelona's rising star Abel Ruiz gave Spain gold in a thrilling men's football final here at the Tarragona 2018 Mediterranean Games.