Japan
Events

Japan has begun the official two-year countdown to the 2002 World Cup, unveiling a display indicating the number of days to go until the first match in the tournament it is co-hosting with South Korea.

Preparations for the Ordinary FIFA Congress in Zurich (4/5 August), which will discuss the implementation of the harmonised international calendar as well as the World Cups in 2002 and 2006, will dominate the agenda of the FIFA Executive Committee when it meets in Zurich on 6 June.
Events

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has urged caution over the possibility of a united Korean soccer team representing the divided peninsula at the finals of the Asian Cup in Lebanon later this year.
Events

Virtual imaging firm Orad Hi-Tec Systems has signed a deal for its CyberSport system to Japanese firm IMAGICA.
Events

South Korea's preparations for the co-hosting of the 2002 World Cup are well on track to be completed before the December 2001 deadline set by FIFA, according to event co-ordinator Peter Velappan.
Stadia

The soccer stadiums for the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea will set new standards in the history of the game, says FIFA executive committee member Abdullah Al Dabal.
Stadia

Internetsoccer.com is rapidly expanding its content offering in the Pacific Rim, Central America and Africa.
Business

Japan Airlines has decided to end its ten-year run as title sponsor of the LPGA?s Big Apple Classic following the conclusion of this year?s event. The current owner of the event, Golf Magazine, is now looking for a new title holder that would be willing to sign a long-term deal.
Events

A united North-South Korean soccer team for the 2002 World Cup finals is one proposal South Korea plans to make to the North at an unprecedented meeting of their leaders in June, a South Korean official has said.
Stadia

NBBJ, the second largest architecture firm in the US, has promoted a number of staff members involved in sports facility design.

The United Sates Professional Volleyball League (USPV) has signed Sport Court as the ?official floor? of the Royal Neighbors of America USPV Millennium Cup presented by ballgirl athletic.
Events

NHL International, in conjunction with ESPN International, will distribute the 2000 NHL
Events

Time differences between the host country of major sporting events and the major TV markets do not impact heavily on broadcaster values, according to panelists at the Sport Business 2000 Conference.
Business

Manchester United could be about to hit the big screen after it was revealed movie star Mel Gibson?s film company Icon Productions is to make a fly-on-the-wall documentary about the club.
Events

BSkyB has offered #250million for exclusive UK television rights to the World Cup 2002, according to The Observer newspaper.

A top US baseball official thinks a World Cup in the sport is a distinct possibility.

European soccer fans can prepare for some early-morning starts in the summer of 2002 when Japan and South Korea co-host the next World Cup.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has said it will continue to press the European Union for a special exemption to limit the affects of the Bosman ruling that opened up soccer to free agency.