France

UK satellite and digital broadcaster BSkyB is to show this fall?s England soccer internationals against France and Italy exclusively live on its Sky Sports service.

NTL has agreed to partner Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Private Equity to acquire France Telecom?s 49.9% stake in Noos, France?s leading broadband company. The move should create a powerful new player in competition for sports content in France.

FIFA will urge South Korea and Japan to co-host the 2001 Confederations' Cup as a test run for the 2002 World Cup.

All tests for banned substances carried out during the 2000 Tour de France proved negative, according to the International Cycling Union (UCI).

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) medical commission has decided on its stance with regard the banned drug EPO at this year?s Sydney Olympics.

There is only a 50-50 chance of obtaining a reliable test for the banned drug EPO ahead of the Sydney Olympics, according to International Olympic Committee (IOC) medical commission chief Patrick Schamasch.

Sportasia.com, the Asian internet sports content producer, syndicator and distributor, has appointed Ikuya Tanaka of Dentsu?s Sports Marketing Division as a board director.

Orad Hi-Tec Systems has signed an agreement to acquire Numeric Video S.A. of France.

Sports.com, the mobile and fixed internet provider of European sports content, community and commerce, has been designated as the Official Internet Sports Partner of The Open Championship (opengolf.com) by the Championship Committee of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club.

Eurosport, the European sports channel, is setting up a separate sales team to handle advertising and sponsorship sales of events and youth programming, under the YOZ (Youth Only Zone) banner.

Westwood One/CBS Radio Sports will present the exclusive radio broadcast of Showtime championship boxing?s doubleheader featuring Evander Holyfield vs. John Ruiz.

Goal Media Group, the digital media company that produces.goalnetwork.com and todogol.com, has signed an exclusive internet partnership with a Hong Kong and Chinese market online soccer publisher.

Tour de France organisers have said they had identified as Basque demonstrators three men on cycles who broke into the finish of Sunday's 15th stage in Courchevel.

Bernie Ecclestone?s Formula One Management group has extended its control of grand prix racing's commercial rights by purchasing them for a further 100 years beyond the current expiry date of 2011, according to UK press reports.

Two of France's leading rugby league teams are set to merge and create a "superclub" for the 2000-2001 season.

Euro 2000 proved a major hit with TV audiences across the continent, according to the latest figures released by Mediametrie.