• Opening ceremony - approximately three and a half hours long - budget cut. Now estimated to be 10% of the cost of that of London 2012
• All promotional videos must now be made in-house
• Online lottery for tickets scrapped and all on open sale with the option to pay by instalments
• More tents and fewer structures at Olympic events
• Infrastructure at test events scaled back
• Volunteer programme, which includes English lessons for participants, likely to be cut from 70,000 to 60,000.

Next year's Olympics in Rio de Janeiro are making major financial cutbacks as organisers bid to avoid going over budget.

Image source, Getty Images

Protests surrounded last year's Fifa World Cup in Brazil as the country's public were angered by the cost of staging the event, and Rio 2016 officials are determined to avoid a repeat

"The days of lavish spending are over," said Rio 2016 communications director Mario Andrada. "We need to be creative in the way we find these savings."

The BBC understands a crisis meeting has been held in the last few days and organisers plan cutbacks of up to 30% to avoid going over the £2.38bn budget.

However, other comments made by Sir Alex during the documentary suggest that perhaps David Moyes was perhaps not the number one choice...

"Jose Mourinho was going back to Chelsea, Carlo Ancelotti was going to Real Madrid, Jurgen Klopp had signed a contract with Dortmund, Louis van Gaal was staying with Holland for the World Cup," says Ferguson.

Image source, Getty Images

Ferguson also reveals that he went for dinner with former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola in September 2012 - when he had "no idea" he was going to retire - and told the Spaniard: "Give me a call and tell me what you're going to do."

He adds: "I was just trying to think way ahead. But I didn't get any answer and then he goes to Bayern Munich."

Full story here.

Image source, Getty Images

Sir Alex Ferguson says Manchester United did not make a mistake hiring David Moyes.

Ferguson defends the appointment of former Everton boss Moyes - who was sacked after eight months - in Secrets of Success, a documentary to be screened on BBC One on Sunday.

"We did the best under the circumstances we were in," the 73-year-old insisted. "We picked the right man."

Ferguson ended his 26 years as United manager in 2013, recommending fellow Scot Moyes as his successor.

BBC Radio 5 Live

Mark Chapman is joined by Chris Sutton, Steve Claridge and journalist Neil Ashton to discuss Liverpool sacking Brendan Rodgers, and ask if Jurgen Klopp is the perfect replacement.

Download the podcast here.

So with Bale cleaning up, we want to know this...

What awards or competitions are one-sided?

It can be from the world of professional sport - or maybe that annoying bloke who's won the doubles tournament 17 years in a row at your local tennis club.

Let us know your nominations now at #onlyonewinner or post at the BBC Sport Facebook page., external

Image source, Getty Images

Real Madrid's Gareth Bale has done the treble at the Football Association of Wales (FAW) awards.

Bale was named Welsh player of the year for a record fifth time - and also won the players' player and fans' player of the year awards.

Wonder if the other Welsh lads ever get a bit sick of him?

Then again, he certainly deserves it. Bale's six goals in Euro 2016 qualifying have put Wales on the brink of their first major finals since 1958.

And Mr Bale's achievements leads us on to today's talking point...

Good stuff from England over in the United Arab Emirates...

Image source, Getty Images

If Arsenal are still after a striker in January, then they may be interested in comments made by Real Madrid's Karim Benzema.

The 27-year-old, who was monitored by the Gunners over the summer, says he is "fed up" of being continually substituted.

According to the Independent, external, the French striker has been taken off in five out of his six La Liga starts and said: "It's true that the electronic board always shows the No.9. Ask Benitez why that is."

In a fascinating interview with the BBC, Clarke Carlisle says that some sports are "failing to address" the issue of mental health.

Image source, Getty Images

He praised cricket and rugby league for "investing heavily" in support for players and staff but said sports such as boxing and American football have not given mental and physical health the same importance.

But talking to the Victoria Derbyshire programme, Carlisle, 35, did say that sport in general had progressed from "ignoring mental health to at least acknowledging it exists" - but added more needed to be done.

Former Burnley and QPR defender Carlisle tried to take his own life in December 2014 while severely depressed.

Full story here.

Stuart Lancaster isn't the only coach talking today.

Representatives from Scotland, Ireland, Wales, South Africa and Australia will also be holding news conference.

Again we'll have it covered and will bring you them as they happen.

Image source, Getty Images

It is fair to say that it hasn't been a great couple of weeks for England and Stuart Lancaster.

In fact, that's an understatement. It's been blinkin' awful.

Today - at 13:00 BST to be exact - the England coach will face the media as he names his team for the deadest of dead rubbers against Uruguay and gives his thoughts on the World Cup.

It should be interesting to say the least, we'll bring you the best of what is said.

Miss Monday night's BBC documentary in which England captain Wayne Rooney revealed he writes poetry ('Roses are red, violets are blue, Wayne loves Colleen, and Louis van Gaal too') and proposed to Mrs R at a petrol station?

Image source, BBC Sport

Don't fret, you can watch it here now.

It's good stuff and also features interviews with Rooney's parents, as well as David Beckham and Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo.

Wow, like buses...

Hang on, good news - there's been a wicket...

Some early cricket news as the second and final day of England's opening tour match in the United Arab Emirates has begun.

We'll bring you regular updates courtesy of our colleagues at Test Match Special.

Jonny Bairstow (66) was one of four men to pass 50 on the opening day - along with Yorkshire team-mates Joe Root (59) and Adil Rashid (51 not out), and captain Alastair Cook (53).- as England made 286-5.

 The two-day game in Sharjah is one of two warm-ups for the three-Test series with Pakistan, starting on 13 October.

Mark Lawrenson
BBC Radio 5 live and former Liverpool defender

Liverpool need a manager who is big enough to handle the pressure, without thinking he is bigger than the club.

Whoever it is will have to buy into the mindset of the American owners - they want success, but their model is to try to get that by signing younger players they can train up and, sometimes, sell on.

Jurgen Klopp is the favourite to get the job and he would fit the bill.

At Borussia Dortmund he built a team that were in your face, with good players that he was making better but he also knew he would have to sell one or even two every year.

Brendan Rodgers has issued a statement to say he is "incredibly disappointed" his three-and-a-half-year tenure at Anfield has come to an end. 

Image source, Getty Images

"It has been both an honour and a privilege to manage one of the game's great clubs," said the Northern Irishman, who was sacked an hour after Sunday's 1-1 Merseyside derby draw at Everton.

"I have worked every day to represent the club to the best of my ability, to develop both individual players and a team that the club's magnificent fans can be proud of.

"There have been some very memorable moments during my time at Liverpool and I would like to thank all of the players for their hard work and commitment."