WORLD SPORTS DIARY APRIL 2006

April 01	Athletics: Grande Premio Internacional en Marcha Atletica, Rio Maior, Portugal
April 01	Soccer: Major League Opening Day, United States
April 01	Horseracing: Florida Derby, Gulfstream Park, Hallandale, Florida
April 01-02	Athletics: World Cross Country Championships, Fukuoka, Japan
April 01-02	Rugby Union: Heineken Cup quarter-finals, England, France, Ireland, Spain
April 01-09	Curling: MenÕs World Championship, Lowell, Massachusetts
April 02	Formula 1: Australian Grand Prix, Melbourne, Australia
April 02	Motorsport: A1 Grand Prix, Shanghai International Circuit, China
April 02	Motorsport: NASCAR Nextel Cup Virginia 500, Martinsville, Virginia
April 02	Rowing: Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race, River Thames, London, England
April 02	Baseball: Major League regular season starts, United States
April 02	Cycling: Tour of Flanders, Belgium
April 02-20	Sailing: Volvo Ocean Race Leg 5, Rio de Janeiro to Baltimore/Annapolis, Brazil-United States
April 03	Cricket: India v England, 3rd ODI, Goa, India
April 03-07	Cricket: Sri Lanka v Pakistan, 2nd Test, Kandy, Sri Lanka
April 03-08	Cycling: Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco, Spain
April 03-09	Tennis: WTA Bausch & Lomb Championships, Amelia Island, Florida
April 05	Soccer: Champions League quarter-finals, 2nd leg, Europe
April 05	Cycling: Gent-Wevelgem, Belgium
April 05-09	Swimming: World Short Course Championships, Shangai, China
April 06	Soccer: UEFA Cup quarter-finals, 2nd leg, Europe
April 06	Cricket: India v England, 4th ODI, Cochin, India
April 06-08	Horseracing: Grand National meeting, Aintree, Liverpool, England
April 06-08	Motorcycling: MotoGP rd 2; Qatar Grand Prix, Losail, Qatar
April 06-09	Golf: The Masters, Augusta National, Georgia
April 07-09	Tennis: Davis Cup quarter-finals, various venues
April 07-09	Motorsport: World Rally Championship rd 5; Rallye de France, Ajaccio, Corsica
April 07-09	Tennis: Davis Cup quarter-finals, Croatia v Argentina, Australia v Belarus, France v Russia, USA v Chile
April 07-28	Horseracing: Keeneland Spring Meeting, Lexington, Kentucky
April 08	Horseracing: Apple Blossom Handicap, Oaklawn Park, Hot Springs, Arkansas
April 08	Horseracing: Santa Anita Derby, Santa Anita Park, Arcadia, California
April 08	Horseracing: Wood Memorial / Carter Handicap, Ozone Park, New York
April 09	Motorsport: NASCAR Nextel Cup Samsung/Radio Shack 500, Fort Worth, Texas
April 09	Cycling: Paris-Roubaix, France
April 09	Cricket: India v England, 5th ODI, Guwahati, India
April 09	Athletics: Paris International Marathon, Paris, France
April 09	Athletics: Fortis Marathon Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
April 09	Rugby Union: Powergen Cup Final, Twickenham, London, England
April 09-13	Cricket: Bangladesh v Australia, 1st Test, venue tbc
April 09-16	Badminton: European Championships, Den Bosch, Holland
April 10-16	Tennis: ATP U.S. MenÕs Clay Court Championships, Houston, Texas
April 10-16	Tennis: ATP Open de Tenis Comunidad Valenciana, Valencia, Spain
April 10-16	Tennis: WTA Family Circle Cup, Charleston, South Carolina
April 12	Cricket: India v England, 6th ODI, Jamshedpur, India
April 13-15	Golf: LPGA Takefuji Classic, Las Vegas, Nevada
April 13-16	Cycling: Track World Championships, Bordeaux, France
April 13-16	Golf: MCI Heritage, Hilton Head, South Carolina
April 13-16	Golf: Volvo China Open, Beijing, China
April 15	Horseracing: Australian Derby, Royal Randwick, NSW, Australia
April 15	Cricket: India v England, 7th ODI, Indore, India
April 15-19	Cricket: South Africa v New Zealand, 1st Test, Centurion, South Africa
April 15-May 01	Snooker: World Championship, Sheffield, England
April 16	Cycling: Amstel Gold Race, Netherlands
April 16-18	Horseracing: Irish Grand National meeting, Fairyhouse, Ireland
April 16-20	Cricket: Bangladesh v Australia, 2nd Test, venue tbc
April 17	Athletics: 109th Boston Marathon, Boston, Massachusetts
April 17-23	Tennis: ATP Masters Series Monte-Carlo, Monaco
April 18	Soccer: Champions League semi-finals, 1st leg, Europe
April 18	Cricket: India v Pakistan, Abu Dhabi
April 18	Cricket: Start of County Championship season, Great Britain
April 18	Ice Hockey: NHL regular season ends, United States, Canada
April 18-20	Horseracing: Craven meeting, Newmarket, England
April 19	Cycling: La Fleche Wallonne, Belgium
April 19	Cricket: India v Pakistan, Abu Dhabi
April 19	Basketball: NBA regular season ends, United States
April 20	Soccer: UEFA Cup semi-finals, 1st leg, Europe
April 20-22	Motorsport: Indy Car Series rd 3: Indy Japan 300, Motegi, Japan
April 20-23	Golf: Shell Houston Open, Houston, Texas
April 20-23	Golf: BMW Asian Open, Shanghai, China
April 20-23	Golf: LPGA Atlanta Charity Championship, Stockbridge, Georgia
April 21-23	Motorcycling: World Superbike Championship rd 3, Valencia, Spain
April 22	Basketball: NBA playoffs begin, United States
April 22	Motorsport: NASCAR Nextel Cup Subway Fresh 500, Phoenix, Arizona
April 22	Soccer: FA Cup semi-finals, UK
April 22	Horseracing: Scottish Grand National, Ayr, Scotland
April 22	Athletics: Race Walking Challenge, Kunshan, China
April 22-23	Tennis: FED Cup World Group first round, France v Italy, Spain v Austria, Germany v USA, Belgium v Russia
April 22-23	Rugby Union: Heineken Cup semi-finals, venues tbc
April 23	Formula 1: San Marino Grand Prix, Imola, San Marino
April 23	Athletics: Flora London Marathon, London, England
April 23	Horseracing: Audemars Piquet Queen Elizabeth II Cup, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
April 23	Cycling: Liege-Bastogne-Liege, Belgium
April 23	Cricket: Bangladesh v Australia, 1st ODI, venue tbc
April 23	Cricket: Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy, first round matches, UK / Ireland
April 24-May 01	Tennis: ATP Open SEAT Godo 2006, Barcelona, Spain
April 24-May 01	Tennis: ATP Gran Prix Hassan II, Casablanca, Morocco
April 24-May 01	Table Tennis: World Team Championships, Bremen, Germany
April 25-28	Horseracing: Irish National Hunt Festival, Punchestown, Ireland
April 25-30	Cycling: Tour de Romandie, Switzerland
April 26	Soccer: Champions League semi-finals, 2nd leg, Europe
April 26	Cricket: Bangladesh v Australia, 2nd ODI, venue tbc
April 26-29	Squash: European Team Championships, Vienna, Austria
April 26-30	Equestrian: World Cup Finals, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
April 27	Soccer: UEFA Cup semi-finals, 2nd leg, Europe
April 27-30	Golf: Zurich Classic of New Orleans, TBC
April 27-30	Golf: Jazztel Open de Espana en Andalucia, Cadiz, Spain
April 27-30	Golf: LPGA Tour Ginn Clubs & Resorts Open, Orlando, Florida
April 27-30	Golf: Tenerife Ladies Open, Abama Golf, Tenerife, Spain
April 27-30	Gymnastics: European Artistic Championships, women, Volos, Greece
April 27-May 01	Cricket: South Africa v New Zealand, 2nd Test, Cape Town, South Africa
April 28	Cricket: Bangladesh v Australia, 3rd ODI, venue tbc
April 28-29	Horseracing: BetFred Gold Cup Celebration meeting, Sandown Park, England
April 28-30	Motorcycling: MotoGP rd 3; Turkish Grand Prix, Istanbul, Turkey
April 28-30	Motorsport: World Rally Championship rd 6; Rally Argentina, Cordoba, Argentina
April 28-May 07	Badminton: Thomas and Uber Cup Finals, Japan
April 29	Cricket: West Indies v Zimbabwe, 1st ODI, Guyana
April 30	Motorsport: NASCAR Nextel Cup AaronÕs 499, Talladega, Alabama
April 30	Cricket: West Indies v Zimbabwe, 2nd ODI, Guyana