Greece
Business

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

Michael Payne, the IOC’s director of global broadcast and media is to quit after the Athens Games to join Formula 1 as special advisor to Bernie Ecclestone.

A total of 32 athletes are running for election to the IOC Athletes' Commission.
Events

As its national team celebrates qualification to the quarter-finals of Euro 2004, Greek soccer chiefs say they are considering a bid to host Euro 2012.

TWI has been re-appointed to distribute Manchester United Television (MUTV) worldwide for the next three seasons.
Events

IEC in Sports says it is expecting increased demand for its swimming properties following the Athens Olympic Games.
Business

Engineering consulting firms, Sinclair Knight Merz – which has worked on the new Wembley Stadium and Athens Olympic Stadium - and Anthony Hunt Associates are to merge parts of their European operation.
Business

NBC has signed a deal with ScheduALL Software to supply broadcast resource management software for its coverage of the Athens Olympic Games.
Events

Athens’ new Olympic Stadium has hosted its first events – with work still going on around the track to get it ready in time for August.
Events

Turin got a mixed report from the latest IOC inspectors, checking on the Italian city’s progress to host the 2006 Winter Games.
Events

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.

Organisers of the Athens Olympic Games this summer have come in for new criticism – this time for environmental groups.
Business

Organisers of the Athens Olympic Games face a new challenge as they begin a final round of ticket sales.
Business

An independent London production company has been appointed the official filmmaker of the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games.
Business

Another senior Greek government official has questioned the benefit to the country of staging the Olympic Games this summer.

Samsung has signed a personal endorsement deal with UK athlete Darren Campbell, to help boosts it campaign in the run-up to the Olympic Games in Athens.

IOC president Jacques Rogge has predicted the Athens Olympic Games will be the ‘best ever’, despite preparations being dogged by delays.
Sponsorship & Marketing

The Prime Minister of Greece has issued a warning to traders in the country not to whack up prices as the Olympic circus rolls into Athens.