FORMER young footballer of the year, Tommy Walsh, will be a big hit with his new AFL club Sydney Swans, according to the outfit’s head coach John Longmire.

Officials at Racing Victoria have appealed to connections of prospective runners in the Melbourne Cup not to worry about the current outbreak of equine influenza in Australia.

The breakout of equine influenza in Australia could cost the racing industry as much as AUS$1bn (€604.2m), early estimates have predicted.

Winter olympic bosses were today working on last-minute changes to security after the US attorney general raised concerns about safety.

Security concerns have swiftly followed the bribery scandal and scarred the build-up to next month’s 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.