Germany

Selling of the commercial hospitality programme for the FIFA World Cup 2006 in Germany begins this month.

The financial impact of staging soccer’s Euro 2004 may not be quite as great as originally hoped – according to a Portuguese government report.

Airline Emirates is to sponsor Team New Zealand in its challenge for the next edition of yachting’s top event, the America’s Cup.

The four biggest soccer markets in Europe could all be out of Euro 2004 this evening, after Germany joined Italy and Spain on an early flight home.

The financial and marketing boom delivered to nations and commercial programmes courtesy of a good run in a major soccer tournament will be deprived to at least two of the world’s biggest markets, after another shock exit during Euro 2004.

Soccer fans welcome the idea of companies signing naming rights deals for football stadia, according to research carried out for English Premier League club Arsenal - which just happens to be seeking such a deal itself.

Canadian Football League chiefs have secured US TV coverage courtesy of its deal with marketing company the Trajectory Sports & Media Group.

NFL Europe may live to fight another day after winning a vote of support from one of the NFL’s most senior executives.

German commercial broadcaster RTL has signed a deal with Infront, giving it live rights to up to eight matches of the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

European soccer should continue to attract major financial investors and sponsors over the coming years, despite some clubs struggling to currently stay afloat, claims a major new report.

Val d’Isere has won the right to host the FIS 2009 Alpine Skiing World Championship.

Volvo has restructured its sponsorship of golf – extending his long-term commitment to the sport, but ending its naming rights deal of the PGA Championship at Wentworth.

The five African nations looking to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup will today make their final presentations to world soccer’s governing body before tomorrow’s big vote.

FIFA has upheld its penalty against Cameroon for wearing the controversial all-in-one Puma kit during the African Nations Cup this year.

Canada is set to stroll to victory in the race to host ice hockey’s 2008 IIHF World Championships, after main rivals Germany and Sweden withdrew their bids.

South Africa has reconfirmed its position as favourite to host the FIFA 2010 World Cup, with the governing body’s technical report declaring it an ‘excellent’ potential host.