Brazil

NBA fans in more than 750 million households around the world will be able to tune into the NBA Finals 2000 featuring the Los Angeles Lakers and the Indiana Pacers.

Organisers of England's bid to host the 2006 World Cup have shrugged off a report claiming South America had offered its backing to rival bidders South Africa.

Kevin Roberts in Hanover

Fifa president Sepp Blatter has criticised Europe for fielding two competing World Cup 2006 bids and has offered encouraging words to the Brazilian bid team.

The Brazilian Government has put forward legislation against tobacco advertising and sponsorship of sports and cultural events.

The reconstruction of Wembley Stadium, the centrepiece of England's 2006 World Cup bid, has been given the green light, according to UK media reports.

Prince Alexandre de Merode offered to step down as head of the IOC's anti-doping campaign after 33 years on Wednesday because of criticism but was urged to stay on by Olympic leaders, an IOC spokesman said.

SportsYA!, the Spanish and Portuguese language internet sports portal, has announced a partnership with two of Brazil's most famous sports stars, Formula One World Champion Emerson Fittipaldi and soccer international Zico.

Brazil's President Fernando Henrique Cardoso has thrown his support behind a bid from Rio de Janeiro to host the Olympics and the Pan-American games.

The English Football Association has apologised to Denmark for violence involving Arsenal fans at the UEFA Cup final but said it would not affect England's bid to stage the 2006 World Cup.

Africa should host a soccer World Cup but not the 2006 tournament, said Franz Beckenbauer, who is leading Germany's bid to stage the event.

Brazil has told Asian nations that its bid for the 2006 World Cup combined passion and organisation and it deserved to host the tournament.

Brazil has told Asian nations that its bid for the 2006 World Cup combined passion and organisation and it deserved to host the tournament.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has said the 2006 Word Cup finals should go to Africa if one of the continent's two bidding countries can meet all the conditions required to stage the event.

Two soccer fans were shot and wounded on their way to a soccer game in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday after supporters of an opposing team besieged their bus, a local news service reported.

The campaign team behind South Africa's bid to host the 2006 World Cup will end its global charm offensive in the coming week with visits to Saudi Arabia and Turkey.