MENA

FIFA has handed all ticket responsibility for the 2006 World Cup to the German organising committee.

MotoGP has unveiled its new calendar for 2004 - with Qatar the only new addition, following the signing earlier this summer of a new five-year hosting agreement.

Gatorade has pulled out of the race to sign an exclusive sponsorship deal with NBA sensation LeBron James in the soft drinks category.

Formula One team boss Eddie Jordan will today start to try and rebuild his reputation after it was given a roasting by a London High Court judge.

Formula One racing team Jordan has signed a multi-million dollar sponsorship deal with mobile systems developer Tiger Telematics.

London-based Interstate Creative Partners, has won the pitch to develop the brand communications for Formula One's new circuit in Bahrain.

The Copyright Promotions Licensing Group (CPLG) has launced a new SMS news service as part of its deal with Formula One team Jordan.

The Jordan Formula One racing team is launching a SMS news service ahead of this month's British Grand Prix.

Speaking to sportbusiness.com, a senior executive at English soccer sponsors Nationwide has slated suggestions by FIFA president Sepp Blatter to reduce the size of the top soccer leagues - claiming it will have major negative impacts on commercials deals.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter is to put forward proposals to reduce the number of teams in the major domestic soccer leagues.

Beer giant Budweiser is close to agreeing a deal to sponsor Formula One team BMW Williams in a five-and-a-half year contract, reportedly worth EUR14.5m ($16.6m) a year.

Jordan F1 Grand Prix team has concluded a sponsorship agreement with scooter firm Piaggio.

The ongoing legal case between Vodafone and F1 team owner Eddie Jordan has taken another twist after the High Court heard that the telecommunications firm did not inform Jordan that it had signed a deal to sponsor rival team Ferrari.

The agent at the centre of the negotiations between Eddie Jordan and Vodafone requested money from both parties, a court heard yesterday.

Formula One's world governing body has made a major u-turn and scrapped its plans for a ban on tobacco advertising in 2006.

Despite the war in Iraq impacting on most US network's TV viewing figures, Fox Sports' coverage of the first half of the NASCAR season maintained its television audience levels from last year.