The Olympic flame lit up the Republic of Ireland on Wednesday on its only visit outside Britain en route to the 2012 London Games, in a symbolic gesture of reconciliation between the two states.

Wayne McCullough, from Belfast, passed the flame across the border to his fellow 1992 Olympic boxing medalist Michael Carruth, in a light-hearted ceremony in which McCullough kissed his Dubliner friend on the head.

Australian international Tim Cahill has not discounted the prospect of leaving the English Premier League to play in the Middle East, reports said Thursday.

Cahill, 32, has two years left on his contract with Everton but has been linked with a reported $Aus4 million ($4 million) deal for one season at the cash-rich United Arab Emirates club Al Nasr where compatriot Mark Bresciano currently plays.

Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova reached the semifinals for the third time in the past four Grand Slam tournaments, ending 142nd-ranked qualifier Yaroslava Shvedova's upset-filled run at the French Open 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 Wednesday.

She will play against Russia’s Maria Sharapova who knocked out Kaia Kanepi in straight sets earlier on Wednesday.

The chairman of Al-Wasl says the United Arab Emirates club has made a bid for Didier Drogba but that he expects the former Chelsea star to sign with a Chinese club.

Marwan bin Bayat would not say Wednesday how much Al-Wasl has offered Drogba, only that it was less than what has been offered from the Chinese team.

A trumpet fanfare and a sea of national flags greeted Spain's arrival in Poland on Tuesday, as they aimed to become the first side in the history of the European football championships to win back-to-back titles.

Vicente Del Bosque's side flew into the Baltic port city of Gdansk in northern Poland and made straight for the small town of Gniewino 70 kilometers (43.5 miles) away, where they will be based for the duration of the tournament.

Boston moved to within one victory of the NBA Finals as they beat Miami 94-90, with Kevin Garnett scoring 26 points and grabbing 11 rebounds.

The Celtics took a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference final and will advance with a home win in game six on Thursday.

Sometimes, when everything's on the line, it's easier to play like there's nothing to lose.

Novak Djokovic knows that drill.

Japan international Shinji Kagawa is set to become Manchester United's first summer signing after the Premier League club confirmed Tuesday they have "reached agreement" with his club Borussia Dortmund.

"Manchester United is delighted to announce that it has agreed terms with both Borussia Dortmund and Shinji Kagawa for his transfer to the club," said a United statement.

Key Italian central defender Andrea Barzagli is a major doubt for Euro 2012 after tearing his left calf muscle according to the team doctor.

The 31-year-old Juventus star - a member of Italy's 2006 World Cup winning squad - will definitely be out for around 20 days according to the doctor Enrico Castellacci.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are on the verge of reaching the NBA finals after beating San Antonio 108-103 with 27 points from Kevin Durant in game five of their Western Conference series.

Oklahoma City lost the first two games of the series but have stormed back to win three straight and now lead the Spurs in the best-of-seven series.