Briefs-ICC to make Champions Trophy venue decision on Thursday

July 22 (Reuters) - Sports news in brief from around the world.

Cricket - The International Cricket Council (ICC) will decide on Thursday whether or not to move the September Champions Trophy out of Pakistan over safety issues, a spokesman for the governing body said.

England, Australia and New Zealand have voiced concerns after some of their players raised the issue of travelling to Pakistan.

Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi are scheduled to stage the Champions Trophy games.

Soccer - Australian international Brett Emerton has signed a new long-term contract with Blackburn Rovers, the Premier League club said on their website (www.rovers.premiumtv.co.uk).

The versatile midfielder, who signed from Feyenoord in 2003, has made over 200 first team appearances for the club and will now stay at Ewood Park until June 2012.

Soccer - Egypt striker Amr Zaki has joined Wigan Athletic on a year-long loan from Zamalek, the Premier League club said.

"It's been a real tough deal to push through, but I'm delighted that Amr's finally a Wigan Athletic player," manager Steve Bruce told the club website (www.wiganlatics.premiumtv.co.uk).

Soccer - Switzerland defender Stephan Lichtsteiner and Brazilian midfielder Matuzalem have joined Lazio's pre-season retreat as they complete their moves from Lille and Real Zaragoza, the club said on their website (www.sslazio.it)

Lichtsteiner, 24, played all Switzerland's games at Euro 2008 and is expected to replace Luciano Zauri, who has joined Fiorentina on loan.

Olympics - Spain will win double their Athens gold medal haul and win six Olympic titles at Beijing, according to the head of the country's Olympic Committee.

"In Athens we won three golds and in Beijing will win six," Alejandro Blanco told reporters in Madrid. "We have never gone to an Olympic Games with such a strong team and so many possibilities."

Soccer - Real Mallorca president Vicenc Grande has reached an agreement with British businessman Paul Davidson to sell his majority shareholding in the Primera Liga club.

The agreement, which is reported to be worth around 40 million euros, is subject to approval by a judge as the club's parent company, Grande's real estate business Grupo Drac, filed for insolvency last month following the bursting of the Spanish construction bubble.

(Editing by Justin Palmer)