Australia

Sydney 2000 Olympic Games contracts worth $400 million are still available for small businesses in areas ranging from crowd control to laundering.

After all the hype, tickets for next year's Olympic Games in Sydney go on sale this week.

Australian airline Ansett says it has already achieved commercial returns of A$650 million in new and protected sales from its sponsorhip of next year's Sydney Olympic Games.

Nike have taken no immediate action against Lawrence Dallaglio, the England rubgy union captain, currently facing an RFU inquiry into press allegations of drug dealing and use.

The US shaving product giant Gillette is considering legal action against UK tabloid newspaper the News of the World after two of its undercover reporters claimed to be from the company during a drug expose of England rugby union captain Lawrence Dallaglio.

Ticket sales for Manchester United's tour of Australia in July have surged through the roof after the Red Devils won the European Cup.

Interest in the Sydney 2000 Olympics has fallen to its lowest level in the past year, according to a poll released just three days before tickets go on sale to the Australian public.

Australia will host three-test series against Pakistan and India over the summer but Melbourne could miss out as a venue because of a dispute involving the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Phil Hayes-Brown has been named the new managing director of the NBA in the UK.

The International Olympic Committee has summoned Australian IOC member Phil Coles to appear before an inquiry panel to explain allegations of misconduct.

A motor sport war threatens the future of V8 racing at some of Australia's major tracks.

United Airlines is to sponsor two leading British sailors in the build up to the Sydney 2000 Olympics.

NBC Sports president Dick Ebersol accused David D'Alessandro, the president of John Hancock insurance of damaging fund raising for American athletes through "cynical ... self-serving" attacks on the IOC.

Brisbane is in line to host a Davis cup tie on 24-26 September 1999.

Sydney Olympic organisers have said they are reinstating the cycling road race course to the city's oceanside eastern suburbs, but would re-route it to avoid cutting off Rupert Murdoch's Fox studios.

Rookie professional Geoff Ogilvy, inspired by a golf lesson over the Internet with his coach in Australia, fired an eight-under-par 64 to share the first round lead in the English Open.