Olympics | Budapest announces intention to bid for 2024 games

The city of Budapest and the Hungarian Olympic Committee have officially announced their intention to bid for the 2024 Olympic Summer Games. Budapest Mayor Istvan Tarlos and Zsolt Borkai, head of Hungary’s Olympic agency, made the declaration in a letter to Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee. “The City of Budapest and the Hungarian Olympic Committee wish to participate in the application and bidding process with the aim of selecting the host city” of the 2024 Olympics, said the letter published yesterday.

Rugby | Springboks captain De Villiers on bench for World XV game

Jean de Villiers has made a quicker-than-expected recovery from a serious left knee injury to be picked on the bench for the Springboks’ opening game of the season, giving the two-time champions a big boost two months out from the World Cup The South Africa captain was a doubt to even make the World Cup in September after undergoing reconstructive surgery following his injury against Wales at the end of last year, when he dislocated his knee cap and badly damaged ligaments. With De Villiers playing off the bench, veteran lock Victor Matfield will captain the Springboks on Saturday, one of three players alongside De Villiers and wing Bryan Habana in the 23-man matchday squad to have played more than 100 tests.

Football | Alderweireld joins Spurs from Atletico Madrid

Belgium defender Toby Alderweireld has joined Tottenham from Atletico Madrid, signing a contract with the English club until 2020 for an undisclosed fee. Alderweireld spent last season on loan at Southampton. The versatile Alderweireld joins fellow Belgians Nacer Chadli, Mousa Dembele and Jan Vertonghen at Spurs, and could partner Vertonghen at center back. He started his career at Ajax in the Netherlands, before moving to Atletico in 2013.