U.S. Olympic officials concluded a two-day tour of the Los Angeles area Friday, poking around sports venues in Carson, Long Beach and downtown Los Angeles as they evaluated the region’s bid to host the 2016 Summer Games.

“The Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings will open the 2007-08 National Hockey League regular season with contests at The O2 in London, the first time the NHL has played a regular season game in Europe, the teams said Thursday. The O2, formerly known as the Millennium Dome, is owned by Los Angeles-based Anschutz Entertainment Group, which also owns the Kings.>

“The organizers of the Tour of California say that more than a million people turned out through Friday to watch the race. The number, while virtually impossible to verify, speaks to the popularity of an event that, in only in its second year, has become the biggest in American cycling”

“The Amgen Tour of California could become the first major cycling stage race to be held outside of Europe. Pat McQuaid, the International Cycling Union president, said Wednesday the California event is a contender to eventually become part of the ProTour, which includes events such as the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia. The ProTour is the highest level of cycling and would ensure the Tour of California attracts the world’s best teams and racers every year.”