Germany

Germany said there was nothing wrong with the vote which made them the hosts of the 2006 soccer Word Cup finals.

FIFA will not change the result of the vote that gave the 2006 World Cup finals to Germany despite an appeal being mounted by narrow losers South Africa, a FIFA official said on Thursday.

The South African Football Association (SAFA) has asked FIFA to set up an arbitration process aimed at challenging Germany's successful bid for the 2006 World Cup.

The Copyright Promotions Licensing Group PLC (CPLG) will launch its 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan licensing programme at this summer?s ISPO sports trade fair.

Fiji?s Sahu Khan has taken the place of Charles Dempsey on the FIFA executive committee.

The South African Football Association is to hold talks with FIFA tomorrow to discuss the aftermath of the controversial decision to award Germany the right to stage the 2006 World Cup.

Australian swimming star Ian Thorpe has outlined plans to halve the number of his personal sponsors after the Olympics, although each will be paying a premium for their association.

South African soccer officials have landed in Australia to meet Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) members in a quest to challenge the award of the 2006 World Cup to Germany.

Foreign security forces accompanying athletes to the Sydney Olympics will not be allowed to carry guns to protect their delegations, according to Australian attorney-general Daryl Williams.

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.

The German government has confirmed that it will offer financial support to Berlin and Leipzig for the facelifts of their soccer stadiums ahead of the 2006 World Cup finals.

South Africa?s 2006 bid leader Danny Jordaan will ask FIFA to award his country the 2010 World Cup, following the controversial vote to give Germany the tournament in 2006.

A proposal to abolish the FIFA executive committee vice-presidency traditionally held by Britain will be discussed at next month's Congress.

Franz Beckenbauer says he has no plans to become FIFA president.

East Germany's most powerful sports official, Manfred Ewald, was sentenced to a 22-month suspended jail term by a Berlin court on Tuesday for his role in the GDR's systematic doping policy.

Swiss bank UBS has launched a new sports and entertainment group within its private banking division.

Irvin Khoza, chairman of South Africa's World Cup 2006 Bid Committee, is to meet a top Belgian lawyer in Brussels over a possible legal challenge to the vote which handed the tournament to Germany.

FIBA, forced to revamp its new flagship SuproLeague basketball tournament after a mass breakaway by clubs, has made the draw for next season.