The Minister for Sport, Jim McDaid is expected to announce the restoration of funding to the new Irish swimming association, Swim Ireland, within the next week.

After a number of consultations between the minister and officials of Swim Ireland, McDaid has expressed his satisfaction that a number of recommendations of the Murphy report have been taken on board and the governing body are now in a position to move forward.

The Murphy Report into child sexual abuse in Irish sport was set up in February 1998 and the Minister simultaneously withdrew funding from the then governing body, the Irish Amateur Swimming Association (IASA). The conclusions of that study were presented to the Minister last month although he has been loath to restore any funding until he was completely satisfied that the new body were in a position to adopt the new recommendations.

Boxing: Denmark's world IBO heavyweight champion Brian Nielsen said yesterday that he was looking forward to fighting former world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, just days after being put on a life support machine.

The 34-year-old, who collapsed in the ring during his bout with American Dick Ryan last Friday, only left hospital on Monday but insisted that he felt well enough to get back into the ring within two weeks and take on Tyson on September 4th.

"I could box within two weeks. The reason I lost was my fault it wasn't because Ryan beat me, quite the contrary," Nielsen told Berlingske Tidende newspaper.

Nielsen looked groggy during the ninth round but was determined to continue in his bid to equal the record of 50 straight wins of all-time champion Rocky Marciano.

The fight was stopped by the referee in the 10th round after the Danish champion, who was leading on points, appeared on the point of collapse.

On Monday The Danish press expressed their outrage following the revelation that Nielsen hadn't drunk enough water before the bout, condemning the fight doctor, Leif Berner Hansen, for allowing the fight to continue.

Nielsen, however, laid the blame at the feet of his American trainers. "When I say that I am finished that is what I mean," he said.

"What's more I couldn't understand what they were saying because they were shouting at the same time. Next time I want a Dane in my corner," he added.

Olympic Games: Construction of venues for the Sydney 2000 Olympics is on track to be completed on time and within budget, New South Wales Treasurer Michael Egan said yesterday.

Presenting his state's budget, Egan told the NSW parliament building work was nearing completion and construction costs would drop to Aus$251 million (approximately £125m) in the 1999/2000 financial year (July-June) from Aus$485m (approximately £243m) in 1998/99.

The total construction programme for the Olympic Co-ordination Authority is Aus$2.241 billion (approximately £1.12 billion).

The showcase Olympic Stadium was officially opened on June 12th.

Egan said NSW taxpayers would not be left with any residual debt when the Games were over.

"The Olympics budget is essentially on track," he said. "It's been a mammoth task, a mammoth exercise and it's been delivered not only on budget but also ahead of time."

Cycling: A major sponsor and a sports marketing expert yesterday applauded Tour de France organisers for excluding riders and teams involved in doping cases that dogged last year's race.

"They are going to set off without a star but it's fantastic," Alain Cayzac, vice-chairman of Havas Advertising, told a conference on sport finance and marketing.

"It seems the right decisions have been taken . . . I have total confidence," said Nicolas Chaine, communications director at French bank Credit Lyonnais, the race's biggest sponsor together with Coca-Cola Co.

The Tour starts on July 3rd and sponsors are looking for signs that the damage inflicted last year is being repaired.

"The public is still fanatical about the competition, and new champions will be born. The 1999 Tour will be decisive," said Cayzac.