North America

Four of the world’s biggest marathons have rejected plans for a new ranking system, amid fears it may jeopardise existing sponsorship deals.

NFL team the New York Jets have signed a lucrative sponsorship deal with electronics firm Toshiba.

The Canadian Football League has been hit by worrying attendance figures with a number of the top teams recording significant drops in crowd levels for the season just ended.

Pharmaceutical firms Eli Lilly & Co and Icos Corp have signed a four-year sponsorship deal with the PGA Tour to promote a new male impotence drug they are launching to compete with market leader Viagra.

Sportswear firm Lotto has signed a major new deal to become the technical sponsor of the WTA Tour Championships.

The Florida Marlins have further reason to celebrate following success in the World Series, after its new ballpark received a major financial boost.

Paris has unveiled its budget for its bid to host the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

As widely expected, CART’s decision to cancel its final race of the season in California last week is set to take to the courtroom.

The NFL’s most valuable franchise, the Washington Redskins, is set for a return to court in the on-going battle over the use of its name.

Oil giant Shell has appointed the Carlson Marketing Group as its event management agency for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.

Major League Baseball’s new media division has appointed a new senior executive.

As expected, Arizona has won the right to stage the NFL’s 2008 Super Bowl.

CART – as we know it – has raced for the final time, after it confirmed its season finale in California would not be rescheduled after fires forced its cancellation.

The fires in California have claimed two high profile sporting victims – the CART and NASCAR races scheduled for this weekend in the state.

NBA commissioner David Stern has dispelled fears that the WNBA was heading for financial ruin after confirming that the women's league will begin the 2004 season with at least 13 teams.

SportelAsia has been postponed for the second year running, amid a fear the SARS virus could reawaken over the winter months.

Despite the best-of-seven baseball series not going all the way, the Florida Marlins 4-2 victory over the New York Yankees in this year's World Series proved an overall ratings winner for host broadcaster Fox.

The University of Miami has filed a counter lawsuit over its controversial switch between college sports leagues the Big East Conference and the Atlantic Coast Conference.