Japan
Business

World Rally governing body, the FIA has stepped up its bid to revamp the World Rally Championship by announcing that Japan could stage an event for the first time next year.

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has renewed its TV rights agreement with international swimming federation FINA for a further two years.

FIFA is set to change the cycle of presidential elections in a bid to avoid the messy battle witnessed during the run-up to last summer's World Cup in Korea and Japan - in a move which is set to extend Sepp Blatter's mandate for a further year.
Business

Speaking at the FT Business of Sport conference, UEFA communications director Mike Lee revealed that the governing body's revenue from TV rights sales in Japan has risen considerably.

England soccer captain and Manchester United icon David Beckham is set to build on his massive Asian following with a promotional tour of the region next month.

Fran Rooney, formerly chief of Baltimore Technologies, is to take over as chief executive officer of the Football Association of Ireland.

The continued medical threat of the SARS virus has affected two more sports bodies in China.
Events

Soccer governing body UEFA and its marketing partner TEAM have announced a clutch of TV rights deals for the new Champions League contract.
Events

World soccer governing body FIFA has signed a new deal with Italian firm Delta Tre Informatica for the provision of sports data services.
Business

Basketball governing body FIBA has been boosted by the signing of two major sponsorship renewal agreements.
Business

English Premier League giant Manchester United has signed a five-year deal with Barclaycard to promote club-branded credit cards outside of the UK.
Sponsorship & Marketing

Aussie Rules club Richmond has appointed Ian Campbell - a well known industry figure - as its new CEO.

The International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) has extended its partnership with the IEC in Sports for the 2003 World Grand Prix season.
Events

Over 4 million baseball fans in Japan tuned into local broadcaster NHK's coverage of the New York Yankees' opening Major League Baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays.

International fans of Major League Baseball will have full access to more than 2,000 live and archived games this season the league continues to push its offering outside the US and Japan.
Events

World Wrestling Entertainment has increased its global reach after signing TV rights deals in Germany and Japan.
Events

The season-opening series for Major League Baseball (MLB) has been moved from Toyko in Japan back to the US in light of the impending war in the Middle East.
Sponsorship & Marketing

Inter Milan's push into the Asian marketplace has been boosted after it signed a five-year deal with Japanese sports retailer JSV.