Middle East

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.

The campaign team behind South Africa's bid to host the 2006 World Cup will end its global charm offensive in the coming week with visits to Saudi Arabia and Turkey.

Peter Velappan, the general secretary of the Asian Football Confederation, has attacked the decision by Saudi Arabian club Al Ahli to withdraw from the semifinals of this year's Asian Cup Winners' Cup.

Bernie Ecclestone has dropped plans to seek new investors for his Formula One Administration until the European Commission gives a final ruling on grand prix broadcasting rights.

International Cricket Council President Jagmohan Dalmiya will recommend that Kenya hosts the ICC knockout tournament next year.

Prize money for the millennium Dubai World Cup meeting - horse racing's richest event - will be $12 million, almost double this year's figure.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has said that grounds which fail to guarantee the safety of players and umpires could be stripped of their international status.

Middle Eastern Emirate Airlines has announced it has teamed up with the Australian Cricket Board to sponsor the Australian World Cup team this year.

The value of the Dubai World Cup has been increased by $1 million to $5 million - making it the world's richest horse race.

Dubai has increased the value of the World Cup by $1 million to $5 million, making it the world's richest horse race, a local newspaper has reported.

The United Nations investigator for children's rights has reported that professional soccer had joined the list of sectors shamed by child trafficking from underdeveloped countries.

European soccer has expanded its reach even further after the UEFA Champions League signed a joint TV rights deal with two Middle Eastern broadcasters to show simultaneous coverage of the competition in Arabic and English every Wednesday night.

Turkey wants to build a Formula One circuit in Istanbul within three years, the head of the Turkish Automobile Federation said on Thursday.

United Arab Emirates cricket authorities demanded yesterday that all of their team's matches in the ICC Trophy be replayed because two of their top players were refused entry into Canada.

The future of Go Racing, the UK broadcasting consortium run by BskyB, Arena Leisure and Channel 4, was still looking fragile today after Dubai horse breeding family the Maktoums voiced concerns over the group?s #307m ($435m) horseracing media deal.

Moscow may be on the Formula One Grand Prix map as soon as 2003, if the International Automobile Federation (FIA) gets its way.