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Russian President Vladimir Putin has taken part in a ceremony in Moscow to launch the torch relay for next year's Winter Olympics in Sochi. The torch will go on a 123-day journey covering some 65,000km (40,000 miles) before the Games start in the Black Sea resort on 7 February. The torch's journey will include a trip into space. But the relay got off to a rocky start when the flame briefly went out during the loop through the Kremlin. A security guard had to re-light it with a cigarette lighter. Mr Putin said the Games would show Russia's "respect for equality and diversity". The run-up to the Games has so far been marred by controversy over a new Russian law that restricts the spread of information about homosexuality, as well as allegations by rights groups that authorities have rounded up migrant workers who helped build the Games venues in Sochi. 'The way we love it' The Olympic flame had been flown in from Greece after being lit last Sunday at...

Dentists have found "striking" levels of bad teeth in athletes competing at the London 2012 Olympic Games. A fifth of athletes surveyed said their oral health actually damaged their training and performance. The study, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, suggested cavities, tooth erosion and gum disease were common. Researchers said athletes, as a group, had worse dental health than other people of a similar age. The beaming smiles of gold-medal winners Usain Bolt, Jessica Ennis-Hill and Mo Farah are some of the defining memories of London 2012. But a team at University College London says many competitors had dental problems. "Our data and other studies suggest that, for a similar age profile, the oral health of athletes is poor. It's quite striking," said lead researcher Prof Ian Needleman. He said eating large amounts of carbohydrates regularly, including sugary energy drinks, was damaging teeth. We know the differences at the high ...

During the world championships in Moscow last month, sprint king Usain Bolt was asked how long he intended to keep running. He kept reporters guessing and some thought he wouldn't last until the next Olympics. But on Wednesday Bolt said that he would call it quits after racing at the 2016 Summer Games in Brazil. "So far it's after the Olympics in Rio," the 27-year-old told reporters in Brussels, where he is competing Friday. "If I'm in great shape and I go there and do what I have to do, I think it would be a good time to retire on top and having dominated for so long." The Jamaican admitted he struggled with his motivation this year and it is little wonder given he has regularly coasted to 100- and 200-meter victories at the Olympics and world championships. "I couldn't find that goal, that drive to get going again," Bolt said. "I sat down and thought to myself -- what do I really want? And what can I do in this sport some more?...

Olympic heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis-Hill has refused to rule herself out of the event at Rio 2016 despite her Achilles problems. The 27-year-old struck gold at London 2012 but was ruled out of the World Championships in Moscow with the injury after trying to make a comeback at the Anniversary Games. She competed in the 100 metres hurdles and long jump at the London event in July but struggled to be competitive in either. The nature of the injury has cast doubts as to whether she will compete in the heptathlon again due to the physical demands placed on the Achilles doing events like the high jump and 100m hurdles, however, she has insisted that no decision has been made on what events she will compete in in the future. "It's (the Achilles tendon) progressing, it's feeling loads better than it was," she said. "It's just about taking its time and doing all my rehab and making sure I can get it fully healed and back to full fitness as soon as possible....

Tokyo has been chosen by the International Olympic Committee to host the 2020 Summer Games. In voting Saturday in Buenos Aires, the committee picked Tokyo over the two other contenders, Madrid and Istanbul. The announcement came at 5:20 a.m. Tokyo time, but a large crowd watching on an outdoor video screen burst into cheers. Tokyo previously hosted the Summer Games in 1964. Japan's bid for 2020 billed the city as the safe choice -- despite radiation leaking from the Fukushima nuclear plant. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe personally made a presentation to the committee and promised an effective cleanup. "I am so happy, I am overjoyed," Abe told reporters at the post-announcement press conference. "I would like to share this joy with the people back home. We've received so much support from the people of the IOC and I would also like to express my support to them. And to the people around the world. Read: 2020 Olympics - the contenders "A safe and secure Ol...