Australia

Telecommunications giants Foxtel, Telstra and Optus have joined the battle for the AFL's next TV rights, ensuring football an unprecedented financial bonanza after 2001 reports the Melbourne Age.

The Sydney Cricket and Sports Ground Trust has reported a strong increase in its annual operating surplus.

Australian Rugby Union boss John O'Neill's $100 million plan to over-run rugby league was dismissed by members of both codes.

Dick Ebersol, NBC Sports and Olympics chairman, and Alan Ramadan, Quokka Sports co-founder and chief executive officer, have introduced NBC's expanded Olympic coverage at www.nbcolympics.com.

Dick Schultz, who resigned from the NCAA under pressure six years ago, is under fire at the US Olympic Committee and could be replaced as executive director, perhaps before the Sydney Olympics next year, USA Today reports.

ESPN International and the National Football League (NFL) have agreed to extend their existing worldwide distribution agreement through the 2002 season.

The Australian Professional Footballers Association (PFA) has urged FIFA to develop a stronger system of player agent accreditation.

Venator Group Inc., parent of the Foot Locker athletic shoe chain, said sales in the first month of the third quarter are running above expectations and the company expects to meet earnings estimates for the third quarter and the full year.

Community First Credit Union has confirmed a financial services partnership with iSport, the Sydney, Australia-based provider of technology solutions and direct marketing services to sporting bodies.

Soccer Australia has appointed the current chairman of Melbourne Water, Graeme Bowker, as an independent director to its board.

Octagon CSI, the television division of the Octagon Group, will unveil a number of new football programming opportunities at this year?s Sportel in Monaco.

Australia?s male swimmers land most of the big bucks in sponsorship deals but there is mounting evidence to suggest the girls are as popular.
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Cash-strapped Stadium Australia has confirmed after three months of negotiations that it will host three of the home games of Australian Football League (AFL) team Sydney Swans for the next seven years. The Swans? remaining ten matches a season will be played at their home stadium ? the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).

Goodwill Games chief executive Campbell Rose conceded that the event?s swimming format had failed.

A late change of heart by track and field officials means athletes at the Goodwill Games in Brisbane will be subject to the new drug testing regime for the in-demand endurance enhancer EPO.

Unilever is extending its sports sponsorship involvement by signed a naming rights deal with the Sydney Marathon.
How to Develop Effective Sponsorship Programmes: A new report from SportBusiness Group: Click here