Germany
Sponsorship & Marketing

The organising committee for Leipzig's bid to host the 2012 Olympics has hired a PR agency to try and undo some of the damage of recent allegations against the campaign.
Business

It may still be two-and-a-half years away, but the countdown to the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany begins in earnest next week.
Business

Premiere, the former Kirch pay-television platform, is showing good signs of recovery under the ownership of the UK-based equity group Permira. Few expected the company to turn around its longstanding lacklustre performance so quickly and to report healthy half-year results.
Sponsorship & Marketing

Sports Marketing Surveys has launched a major new research programme focusing on the specialist tennis retail market.
Business

Four of the world’s biggest marathons have rejected plans for a new ranking system, amid fears it may jeopardise existing sponsorship deals.
Business

German soccer governing body the DFB has said it could fulfil its financial commitments for up to two years without earning an extra Euro – such is its financial security.

The NBA's growing international presence has again been proven after the league signed a raft of TV rights deals across the globe.
Events

Pay-TV operator Hong Kong Cable has bought up the exclusive TV rights in the region to the 2006 soccer World Cup after reaching a deal with marketing agency Infront Sports & Media.

The European Pro Beach Soccer League (EPBSL) is set to expand in 2004 after organisers agreed to take on more clubs.
Business

Octagon Marketing has been appointed by MasterCard Europe to manage the brand’s European sales promotion activity for the UEFA Champions League 2003/04.
Business

NFL Europe has awarded a new franchise to German city Cologne – just a week after it confirmed the Barcelona Dragons had been ditched.

Formula One’s efforts to pump up its global TV audience has produced results, according to Mediametrie.
Sponsorship & Marketing

Infront has renewed its deal with German soccer chiefs for marketing rights to Germany’s national soccer teams.
Business

Tumbling attendance figures have prompted NFL Europe chiefs to axe its Spanish franchise.
Events

Italian sports marketing firm Media Partners has revamped its winter sports portal just ahead of this weekend’s Ski World Cup.
Business

Communications firm T-Mobile has become the eighth firm to sign up as a major sponsor for the UEFA 2004 European Football Championship, which takes place in Portugal next summer.
Media

French soccer star Patrick Vieira has split from the Sport Entertainment & Media Group (SEM) and teamed up with Octagon.
Events

The Women's World Cup soccer final between Germany and Sweden set TV ratings records in both countries.