Their country's misery was never far from their hearts.

Thousands dead or missing. Villages erased. Homes destroyed.

Kazan, Russia has been awarded the right to host the world swimming championships in 2015 and Guadalajara, Mexico in 2017.

World swimming body FINA made the announcement Friday just before the start of the 14th world titles in Shanghai. Barcelona, Spain, will host the same event in 2013.

Cesc Fabregas is "suffering" from the drawn-out transfer saga that has kept the Arsenal playmaker from joining Barcelona, according to Xavi Hernandez.

Xavi left little doubt over his Spain teammate's desire to move to the Catalan capital following a recent conversation.

Madrid will bid for the 2020 Olympics, hoping to replicate Pyeongchang's perseverance in winning on a third consecutive attempt.

Madrid Mayor Alberto Ruiz-Gallardon confirmed the Spanish capital's candidacy on Wednesday, citing Pyeongchang's victory as providing the necessary push for Madrid to bid again.

German football coach Silvia Neid told a newspaper Tuesday she will consider stepping down following the team's shock quarter-final exit from the women's World Cup.

"Right now I need some time off. In a couple of weeks when I've got myself back into everyday life I'll ask myself -- what do I really want? Can I motivate myself to take part in the European tournament in two years' time? And then I'll find the answer," she told Bild newspaper.

McLaren team Chief Martin Whitmarsh admitted he was feeling the pressure, but was not fearful for his future after the team experienced a hugely-disappointing and error-strewn weekend at the British Grand Prix.

Whitmarsh, who took over as McLaren team principal in succession to Ron Dennis two years ago, said the combination of under-fuelling Briton Lewis Hamilton's car and failing to fit a wheel properly during a pit-stop on compatriot Jenson Button's car had left him feeling down.

Italian champions AC Milan have admitted that they are deeply concerned about their financial future after club president Silvio Berlusconi, the Italian prime minister, was ordered to pay over half a billion Euros in connection with a bribery case.

A court on Saturday decreed that Berlusconi's Fininvest company, which owns AC Milan, should pay rival media group CIR 560million Euros after it bribed a judge to approve the takeover of publishing group Mondadori in 1990.

Argentina have made a poor start to their Copa America campaign with two draws and do not look like a team ready to end a two-decade trophy drought, but they will recover and reach the quarter-finals, insists star Lionel Messi.

World player of the year Messi proved unstoppable all season with a Barcelona shirt on his back but with Argentina he has become a metaphor for the team's stuttering form which saw the albiceleste drop points to Bolivia and then just scrape another draw with Colombia.

World No. 6 David Ferrer defeated 10th-ranked hometown hero Andy Roddick to give Spain a 2-0 lead on Friday after the opening day of their Davis Cup quarter-final tie.

The Spaniards, seeking their third trophy in four years, moved to the brink of victory in the best-of-five matchup when Ferrer downed Roddick 7-6 (11/9), 7-5, 6-3.

Sweden's Gunilla Lindberg returned to the International Olympic Committee executive board Saturday, becoming the second woman on the ruling 15-member body.

Lindberg was elected unopposed Saturday to the single opening on the board, filling a spot vacated by Norway's Gerhard Heiberg after the completion of his four-year mandate.