WORLD SPORTS DIARY DECEMBER 2004 December 01 Biathlon: World Cup starts, Beitostolen, Norway December 01 Cricket: Zimbabwe v England, 3rd ODI, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe December 01-02 Soccer: UEFA Cup group stage, matchday 4, Europe December 02-03 Swimming: FINA World Cup 3, Daejon, Korea December 02-03 Rugby Union: IRB Sevens 1, Dubai, UAE December 02-05 Golf: Nedbank Challenge, Sun City, South Africa December 02-05 Golf: Australian PGA Championship, Coolum, Queensland December 02-05 Golf: Hong Kong Open, Fanling, Hong Kong December 03-05 Tennis: Davis Cup Final; Spain v USA, Seville, Spain December 03-05 Skiing: Alpine World Cup, women, Lake Louise, Canada December 03-05 Luge: Viessmann World Cup, Lake Placid, New York December 03-05 Speed Skating: Short Track World Cup, Saguenay, Canada December 04 Rugby Union: Argentina v South Africa, Buenos Aires, Argentina December 04 Rugby Union: Barbarians v New Zealand XV, Twickenham, London, England December 04 Motorcycling: Supercross World Championship starts, Toronto, Canada December 04 Cricket: Zimbabwe v England, 4th ODI, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe December 04 Snowboarding: World Cup, Kronplatz, Italy December 04-05 Skiing: Cross Country World Cup, Bern, Switzerland December 04-05 Skiing: Nordic Combined World Cup, Trondheim, Norway December 04-05 Skiing: Ski Jumping World Cup, Trondheim, Norway December 04-05 Speed Skating: Essent ISU World Cup, Nagano, Japan December 04-11 Curling: European Championship, Sofia, Bulgaria December 05 Cricket: Australia v New Zealand, 1st ODI, Melbourne, Australia December 05 Cricket: Zimbabwe v England, 5th ODI, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe December 05 Athletics: Milan Marathon, Milan, Italy December 06-10 Squash: WomenÕs World Open, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia December 06-12 Bobsleigh: World Cup, Igls, Austria December 07-08 Soccer: UEFA ChampionsÕ League group stage, matchday 6, Europe December 08 Biathlon: World Cup 2, Holmenkollen, Norway December 08 Cricket: Australia v New Zealand, 2nd ODI, Sydney, Australia December 08 Rugby Union: 123rd Varsity Match, Oxford v Cambridge, Twickenham, England December 09-12 Golf: Target World Challenge, Thousand Oaks, California December 09-12 Golf: dunhill championship, Leopard Creek GC, Mpumalanga, South Africa December 09-12 Swimming: European Short-course Championships, Vienna, Austria December 09-13 Cricket: Bangladesh v India, 1st Test, Dhaka, Bangladesh December 10 Cricket: Australia v New Zealand, 3rd ODI, Brisbane, Australia December 10 Snowboarding: World Cup, Avoriaz/Morzine/Les Gets, France December 10-11 Rugby Union: IRB Sevens 2, George, South Africa December 10-12 Table tennis: Pro Tour Grand Finals, Beijing, China December 10-12 Luge: Viessmann World Cup, Calgary, Canada December 11 Boxing: WBC heavyweight belt, Vitali Klitschko v Danny Williams, Las Vegas, Nevada December 11 Horseracing: Tripleprint Gold Cup, Cheltenham, England December 11 Cycling: Track World Cup 2, Los Angeles, California December 11-12 Skiing: Alpine World Cup, women, Altenmarkt-Zauchensee, Austria December 11-12 Skiing: Alpine World Cup, men, Val dÕIsere, France December 11-12 Skiing: Cross Country World Cup, Val di Fiemme, Italy December 11-12 Skiing: Nordic Combined World Cup, Val di Fiemme, Italy December 11-12 Skiing: Ski Jumping World Cup, Harrachov, Czech Republic December 11-12 Speed Skating: Essent ISU World Cup, Harbin, China December 11-12 Athletics: European Cross Country Championships, Heringsdorf, Germany December 11-19 Bobsleigh: World Cup, Cortina dÕAmpezzo, Italy December 12 Horseracing: Hong Kong International Cup, Sha Tin, Hong Kong December 13 Skiing: Alpine World Cup, men, Sestriere, Italy December 13-17 Squash: World Doubles Championships, Chennai, India December 13-18 Bobsleigh: Skeleton World Cup, Sigulda, Latvia December 14-15 Skiing: Cross Country World Cup, Asiago, Italy December 15 Snowboarding: World Cup, Nassfeld-Hermagor, Austria December 15 Biathlon: World Cup 3, Oestersund, Sweden December 15-16 Soccer: UEFA Cup group stage, matchday 5, Europe December 15-19 Judo: World University Championships, Russia December 16 Skiing: Freestyle World Cup, Tignes, France December 16-19 Skating: Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final, Beijing, China December 16-20 Cricket: Australia v Pakistan, 1st Test, Perth, Australia December 16-20 Cricket: Bangladesh v India, 2nd Test, Chittagong, Bangladesh December 16-20 Equestrian: Olympia IntÕl Show Jumping Championships, London, England December 16-21 Racquetball: World Junior Championships, San Luis Potosi, Mexico December 17 Snowboarding: World Cup, Bad Gastein, Austria December 17-18 Skiing: Alpine World Cup, men, Val Gardena, Italy December 17-21 Cricket: South Africa v England, 1st Test, Port Elizabeth, South Africa December 18 Skiing: Freestyle World Cup, Madonna di Campiglio, Italy December 18 Snowboarding: World Cup, Klagenfurt, Austria December 18-19 Golf: WendyÕs Three Tour Challenge, Reflection Bay GC, Nevada December 18-19 Skiing: Cross Country World Cup, Ramsau, Austria December 18-19 Skiing: Alpine World Cup, women, Val dÕIsere, France December 18-19 Skiing: Ski Jumping World Cup, Engelberg, Switzerland December 19 Skiing: Alpine World Cup, men, Alta Badia, Italy December 21 Skiing: Freestyle World Cup, La Plagne, France December 21-22 Skiing: Alpine World Cup, women, St Moritz, Switzerland December 21-22 Skiing: Alpine World Cup, men, Flachau, Austria December 23 Cricket: Bangladesh v India, 1st ODI, Chittagong, Bangladesh December 25-January 04 Ice hockey: MenÕs U20 World championship, N. Dakota / Minnesota December 26 Cricket: New Zealand v Sri Lanka, 1st ODI, Auckland, New Zealand December 26 Cricket: Bangladesh v India, 2nd ODI, Dhaka, Bangladesh December 26 Horseracing: Pertemps King George VI Chase, Kempton, England December 26 Horseracing: New Zealand Derby, Ellerslie, Auckland, New Zealand December 26-29 Horseracing: Christmas National Hunt Festival, Leopardstown, Ireland December 26-30 Cricket: Australia v Pakistan, 2nd Test, Melbourne, Australia December 26-30 Cricket: South Africa v England, 2nd Test, Durban, South Africa December 26-30 Sailing: Christmas Race, Palamos, Girona, Spain December 26-January 02 Sailing: Rolex Sydney Hobart Race, Australia December 26-January 04 Darts: World Darts Championship, Purfleet, England December 27 Cricket: Bangladesh v India, 3rd ODI, Dhaka, Bangladesh December 27-January 02 Sailing: Hobie 17 and 18 World Championship, Melbourne, Australia December 28 Horseracing: Coral Eurobet Welsh National, Chepstow, Wales December 28-29 Skiing: Alpine World Cup, women, Semmering, Austria December 29 Cricket: New Zealand v Sri Lanka, 2nd ODI, Napier, New Zealand December 29 Skiing: Ski Jumping World Cup, Oberstdorf, Germany December 29 Skiing: Alpine World Cup, men, Bormio, Italy December 30 Skiing: Nordic Combined World Cup, Oberhof, Germany December 31-January 01 Luge: Viessmann World Cup, Oberhof, Germany