Baseball: British Baseball.

The Great Britain baseball team has secured a sponsorship deal with The Times newspaper ahead of next month's bid to secure qualification for the Olympics.

The agreement guarantees essential funding for the squad as they prepare for the European Baseball Championships and the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Holland.

A top-two finish in the Olympic qualifying event will earn a place at next year's Games in Athens.

Britain are currently enjoying their longest run among Europe's elite, having been in the A-pool since 1997.

The squad for Holland is expected to be one of the strongest in history, featuring a number of players with professional experience including John Beaven, who recently pitched in the Tampa Bay Devil Rays' minor league organisation.

A number are also playing professionally throughout Europe and North America, including Gary Tongue (Canada), Glen Buckley (Germany), Bradley Marcelino and Ian Young (Holland) and Alex Smith and Josh Chetwynd (Sweden).