Australia
Business

SAIL, the South African sports brands owner, has increased earnings by 48% to R14.86million ($1.89m) for the year ended 31 December 2000, and pushed up headline earnings by 56% to R16.46million ($2.10m) on revenues of R$188million ($23.95m). The company?s net asset value also increased by 205% to R188.6million ($24.02m).

Australia's horse racing industry was in mourning on Wednesday after leading trainer Peter Hayes was killed in a light plane crash.
Business

The 2001 Goodwill Games has forged a sponsorship alliance with energy supplier ENERGEX.

Perth in Western Australia has won the bid to host the ILF Lacrosse World Championships next year.

Basketball will be played at the Commonwealth Games for the first time in Melbourne in 2006 but cricket is likely to be ruled out, state officials have said.
Stadia

Melbourne's Colonial Stadium could have a complete surface facelift just days before the start of the 2001 home-and-away AFL season.
Business

Australian cricket authorities are again at loggerheads over one of the world?s most famous sporting grounds ? the MCG.
Stadia

Senior members of Australia?fs rugby union team will be consulted over whether the ARU should match incentive payments being offered to the British Lions squad to win the three-Test series against Australia this winter.
Events

Australia?s Brisbane City Council officially approved the $A280m (US$143m) upgrade for Lang Park stadium on Wednesday.

International Automobile Federation (FIA) president Max Mosley should resign after the tragic start to the Formula One season, former driver Clay Regazzoni said on Wednesday.
Stadia

US-based big screen manufacturers Daktronics will provide a multi-million dollar, mobile video display system for Racing Victoria of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Business

The Melbourne Cup, Australia's most famous horse race, will carry a purse of US$2.12 million this year, the Victoria Racing Club (VRC) has said.

Britain's Olympic chief Craig Reedie has accused his native Scotland of using national lottery money to "go shopping" for medals at next year's Commonwealth Games to the detriment of home-grown talent.
Stadia

Melbourne?fs Colonial Stadium will persist with its experiment of a happy hour this weekend to encourage fans to turn up early and lessen the possibility of queues.
Business

The relationship between Channel Seven and the Australian Football League appears to have turned nasty with the Seven Network signing a major sponsorship deal with brewery Lion Nathan.
Business

United Airlines has appointed Craigie Taylor International as sponsorship agency for its latest venture ? the British Sydney 40 entry in the Admirals Cup.
Business

World champion Michael Schumacher has said he would reluctantly wear a sponsor's helmet after a Belgian court issued an injunction to stop him appearing in a rival firm's helmet that he claims is safer.
Events

Formula One teams, car manufacturers and sponsors will resist any move by German media companies to shift their glamorous sport from free to pay television.