There's one undeniable fact about professional sport: when the competition is doing the hard yards, your yards simply have to be harder.

And that's the situation facing New Zealand's equestrian community with the retirement of some for the sport's biggest eventing names.

New Zealand Golf headlines its thoughts on golf’s inclusion in the 2016 Olympics:
“Olympic Lure for burgeoning New Zealand golf talent”

After an absence of more than a century, golf will return as an Olympic sport in 2016 along with rugby sevens following their approval by the International Olympic Committee membership during the IOC's 121st Session.

The Japan 2018/2022 Bid Committee, seeking to host the FIFA World Cup in 2018/2022, kicked off their activities on Oct. 8, announcing their bid intentions in a press conference at the JFA House in Tokyo.

England's Rugby Sevens players today welcomed the sport's inclusion in the 2016 Olympics.

Auckland, Oct 10 NZPA- The New Zealand Rugby Union says it is "delighted" at the news seven rugby will be included in the 2016 Olympics in Brazil.

Wellington, Oct 9 NZPA - All Blacks Richie McCaw and Mils Muliaina are keeping their fingers crossed rugby will win an International Olympic Committee (IOC) vote for a place in the 2016 Games.

All Blacks 2009 captains Richie McCaw and Mils Muliaina have joined the international rugby community in supporting the game's final push for inclusion in the Olympic Games from 2016.

Lake Wanaka brought a successful winter season to a close at the weekend with all four resorts, Treble Cone, Snow Park NZ, Cardrona Alpine Resort and Snow Farm, reporting excellent visitor numbers, great snow conditions throughout and many successful world-class events.

The Government's hapless interference in the Rugby World Cup broadcast rights bidding process smacks of a foreboding lack of co-ordination around the event, says Labour's Rugby World Cup spokesperson Trevor Mallard.