Germany

German media magnate Leo Kirch has acquired the televison rights for any future fights by former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson outside the United States, Sunday newspaper Bild am Sonntag reported.

Europe's leading professional soccer leagues have said they would boycott January's conference after a meeting of European leagues in Brussels.

In Germany football clubs are eager to float and London banks want to help, according to a Reuters report.

Soccer matches should be played in three periods instead of two halves to make them more attractive for television, Bayern Munich vice-president Karl-Heinz Rummenigge suggested on Friday.

The executive committee of German soccer federation Deutscher Fussball-Bund (DFB) will not be giving Germany's professional soccer clubs the go ahead to transform themselves into companies this weekend.

Europe's leading soccer leagues have taken on world governing body FIFA about releasing players for the controversial Confederations' Cup in January.

Franz Beckenbauer has been elected vice-president of the German Soccer Federation (DFB) and has immediately pressed for reforms.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has said that he expected England to present a strong, professional bid to host the 2006 World Cup finals - although Africa was still the logical choice to stage the tournament.

Australian golfer Greg Norman has called on the International Olympic Committee to restore the royal and ancient game to the Olympic programme.

Athletics chiefs have revamped their fixture list for next season in a bid to make Wednesday nights a focal point for top-class track and field.

Newly-merged marketer Advantage International is aiming at the top slot in sports and event management and wants to double its share of the lucrative global business in three years, its new international chief says.

The tiny South Pacific island republic of Nauru has been awarded the 2001 world weightlifting championships, beating some of the sport's giants, Nauru's Director of Sport has said.

Jahangir Khan, the record 10-times British Open Squash Champion from Pakistan,has been elected a Vice President of the World Squash Federation (WSF).

The ATP Tour has said it was "unconcerned" by talk of rival tours after a Germany weekly magazine said Boris Becker was working on plans to launch a breakaway tennis circuit from 2000.

The coordinator of Germany's bid to host the 2006 World Cup has asked the country's new government for its support.

With no end in sight to the NBA lockout, overall No. 1 draft pick Michael Olowokandi might go to Europe to play professionally.