BERLIN, Jan 16 (Reuters) – Bayern Munich have underlined their desire for European dominance and hunger for the continent’s top prize by appointing Pep Guardiola as their coach for next season

Bayern announced on Wednesday they had signed Guardiola, who took a year off after winning 14 titles with Barcelona including two Champions League crowns, as their coach from next season with a contract to 2016.

BERLIN (Reuters) – The International Olympic Committee is planning to add a new sponsor in 2013 to replace computer manufacturer Acer, taking advantage of a favorable climate created by the London 2012 Olympics, the IOC’s marketing chief said.

“The London 2012 Games were an absolute great success both for organizers and for the sponsors and it makes it easier to talk to companies after London,” Heiberg, head of the IOC’s marketing commission, told Reuters in an interview on Wednesday.

BERLIN, Jan 16 (Reuters) – The International Olympic Committee is planning to add a new sponsor in 2013 to replace computer manufacturer Acer, taking advantage of a favourable climate created by the London 2012 Olympics, the IOC’s marketing chief said.

“The London 2012 Games were an absolute great success both for organisers and for the sponsors and it makes it easier to talk to companies after London,” Heiberg, head of the IOC’s marketing commission, told Reuters in an interview on Wednesday.

BERLIN (Reuters) – Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich declined to comment on speculation about a possible deal with successful former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola, who has confirmed he will return to football after a year off.

“Unfortunately we will not be commenting on these rumours,” a club official told Reuters when asked about reports that the Spanish coach, who has taken a sabbatical after a trophy-rich stint at Barca, was close to a deal with the Bavarians.

BERLIN, Jan 15 (Reuters) – Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich declined to comment on speculation about a possible deal with former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola.

“Unfortunately we will not be commenting on these rumours,” a club official told Reuters when asked about reports that the successful Spanish coach, who has taken a year out, was close to a deal with the Bavarians.

BERLIN (Reuters) – Playmaker and crowd favourite Nuri Sahin returned to Bundesliga champions Borussia Dortmund on a loan deal after unsuccessful spells at Real Madrid and Liverpool over the past 18 months.

Dortmund said in a hastily arranged news conference with the Turkish international that Sahin, who earlier passed a medical in the city, had signed a 1-1/2 season loan deal until 2014.

BERLIN, Jan 11 (Reuters) – Playmaker and crowd favourite Nuri Sahin returned to Bundesliga champions Borussia Dortmund on a loan deal after unsuccessful spells at Real Madrid and Liverpool over the past 18 months.

Dortmund said in a hastily arranged news conference with the Turkish international that Sahin, who earlier passed a medical in the city, had signed a 1-1/2 season loan deal until 2014.

By Karolos Grohmann

(Reuters) – Istanbul’s 2020 Olympic bid has no more obstacles in its way after a decision to stage the 2020 European soccer championship across the continent lifted a huge burden, bid leader Hasan Arat said on Monday.

Arat, handing in his city’s official bid book along with bid rivals Tokyo and Madrid to the International Olympic Committee in Lausanne, told Reuters: “Nothing can really stop us.”

Jan 7 (Reuters) – Istanbul’s 2020 Olympic bid has no more obstacles in its way after a decision to stage the 2020 European soccer championship across the continent lifted a huge burden, bid leader Hasan Arat said on Monday.

Arat, handing in his city’s official bid book along with bid rivals Tokyo and Madrid to the International Olympic Committee in Lausanne, told Reuters: “Nothing can really stop us.”

BERLIN (Reuters) – Bayern Munich’s Franck Ribery was sent off for slapping an opponent just after halftime but that did not stop his side moving into the German Cup quarter-finals with a 2-0 win at Augsburg on Tuesday.

Fellow Champions League competitors Schalke 04 slumped out of the competition in a 2-1 defeat by visiting Mainz 05, while Bundesliga side Fortuna Dusseldorf were stunned 2-0 by third-tier Kickers Offenbach.