Olympic pole vault champion and world record holder Yelena Isinbayeva will begin the new season in February, competing in the Birmingham Indoor Grand Prix. The Russian broke her own world indoor record at the same meeting, clearing 4.88 metres last February.
In July, she became the first woman pole vaulter to break the five metres barrier, in the London Grand Prix at Crystal Palace.
The 23-year-old has been almost unbeatable since 2003, winning every major competition.
"I'm capable of vaulting five metres at the moment and can go even higher in the near future. My indoor world record stands at 4.90 so I'm planning to break it in Birmingham," she said.
Isinbayeva split with her coach Yevgeny Trofimov last month and is now coached by Vitaly Petrov, the former trainer of Sergei Bubka. The Birmingham Indoor Grand Prix will be held on February 18.
Motor racing - Doornbos - Red Bull test driver
Dutchman Robert Doornbos will be Red Bull Racing's test and reserve driver next season, the Formula One team announced. American Scott Speed, who had been appointed to the test and reserve role for 2006, will now move to Red Bull's second team Scuderia Toro Rosso.
Red Bull said his exact role would be confirmed soon. Doornbos filled the test and reserve role for Jordan this year before moving to Minardi as a race driver for the last eight grands prix of the season.
Red Bull have Ferrari engines next year and have recruited top designer Adrian Newey from McLaren.
Athletics - Golden League to start on June 2
Next year's series of Golden League meetings will start in Oslo on June 2, the sport's ruling body (IAAF) said. Only one Golden League meeting will take place during soccer's World Cup in Germany - in Paris on July 7, two days before the cup final in Berlin.
Programme: June 2 - Oslo; July 7 - Paris; July 14 - Rome; August 18 - Zurich; August 25 - Brussels; September 3 - Berlin.
Meanwhile, world champion sprinters Justin Gatlin and Allyson Felix were named recipients of the USA Track & Field Jesse Owens Award as the outstanding US performers of the year.
Gatlin won the 100 and 200 metres at the 2005 World Championships in Helsinki. Felix highlighted her undefeated 200 metres season by winning the world title.
Sailing - Ericsson sustains damage
Mishap continues to dog the Volvo Ocean Race fleet with Ericsson Racing the latest to suffer during an incident-packed first leg.
A keel hydraulics problem will force Ericsson, in fourth place at the time, to continue to Cape Town under a reduced sail. Skipper Neal McDonald described hearing a "loud bang" and despite no visible damage to the mainsail, the keel was "flopping from side to side".
Of the seven boats that started the gruelling seven-month race in Vigo, northern Spain on Nov. 12, five remain on course to complete the 6,400-nautical mile leg. Leg leaders ABN AMRO ONE continue to set the pace after breaking the 24 hour monohull record, covering 546 nautical miles, more than 1,000km. This beat the previous best by 16 nautical miles.
Test Cricket - Lucky Yousuf lifts Pakistan
Mohammad Yousuf rode his luck to score an unbeaten 84 runs and guide Pakistan to 185 for four in reply to England's first innings of 288 at close of play on the second day of the third test yesterday.
Yousuf, who was dropped on 16 by Andrew Flintoff at second slip, held the innings together after the early loss of three wickets and the retirement of captain Inzamam-ul-Haq.
Inzamam retired on 35 in the first over after tea when he was hit on the right wrist by fast bowler Steve Harmison.