Canada

Venator Group Inc. will take another step toward building itself into just a sporting goods chain by selling or closing eight of its noncore businesses, totaling more than 500 stores.

Ben Johnson's agent Morris Chrobotek has confirmed that a lawsuit remains an option if Athletics Canada refuse to revive Johnson's reinstatement case with the International Amateur Athletics Federation.

Two years after announcing that the World Cup of golf would become the fourth World Championships event in 2000, U.S. PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem admitted recently that it was unlikely to happen.

World Cup Skateboarding (WCS), the world skateboarding sanctioning body and tour organiser, has appointed action-sport marketing agency IMS, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sportsworld Media Group plc to manage its commercial interests globally.

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.

The National Ice Hockey League (NHL) made history yesterday when the New York Islanders agreed to a highest-ever contract of $87.5million (?98.6m) for Alexei Yashin.

World Wrestling Federation Entertainment has picked the Toronto SkyDome as the venue for WrestleMania X-8, traditionally the highest profile WWFE event.

The Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL), by far the most successful indoor soccer league in North American sports history, has returned.

Canadian broadcaster CTV is to rebrand its flagship channel The Sports Network (TSN) at the request of its minority partner ESPN.

Greece and Cyprus have agreed to send two satellites into space to advance telecommunications in the region and assist in transmission of the 2004 Athens Olympics.

Canadian marketing company Galaxy Sports has acquired an exclusive license from Umbro Worldwide to sell, market and distribute Umbro branded products to retailers in the United States in a five years deal starting January 1 2002.

An NHL player agent has dismissed claims clubs are spending too much to attract the star names - despite mounting fears wage bills at some teams are spiralling out of control.

The World Anti-Doping Agency will locate its permanent headquarters in Montreal, with the aim of improving the credibility and effectiveness of its war on the use of drugs in sports.

Organisers of the Indianapolis Championships want to bump the men's tournament up to Masters Series level - just one below Grand Slam status.

Toronto could lose the $2.95million (?3.2m) Canadian Masters Series men's tennis tournament to Montreal unless it secures a $9.8m (?10.7m) grant to help build a new tennis centre.

Galaxy, the amalgamated company of Umbro Canada, Umbro Factory Outlet, and NNA Sports Marketing, has completed its reverse takeover of Galaxy Energy Corp and will trade on the Canadian Venture Exchange (CDNX).