North America

Quokka Sports has appointed three new regional sales directors with the aim of establishing a coast-to-coast force in the United States and complementing the company's global outreach.

The Walt Disney Company is to close its trio of ESPN Stores, thereby ending company's two-year-old venture into sports retailing.

Kim Jung Hoon, the son of a South Korean member of the International Olympic Committee, has been indicted on US federal fraud charges, becoming the second person to face criminal charges stemming from the Salt Lake City 2002 Winter Olympics bribery scandal according to a report in the New York Times.

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

NFL vice-president Roger Goodell has visited representatives of the four LA area bidders proposing to house the NFL's 32nd franchise.

A threatened Asian boycott of the 2002 World Cup looks likely to be averted after the Asian Football Confederation cancelled an emergency meeting and asked member countries to enter the Cup's qualifying competition.

The Times Mirror Co says it has decided to sell The Sporting News, the country's oldest sports magazine, as well as a professional training company, a health information unit and an interactive software firm.

Imola staged what will probably be its last motorcycling Grand Prix for the foreseeable future on Sunday after years as one of the world's most challenging circuits.

Former professional lacrosse player and current business executive George `Gabby? Roe has been selected as Major League Lacrosse's executive director.

The Los Angeles city council could increase city funding for an NFL expansion team. While council members rejected more public funds up front, they did agree to negotiate with the league and the state to see if future public funds could be used.

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

SportsLine Europe Limited, has launched its new rugby site, www.rugby.sports.com , as well as a strategic relationship to become the exclusive Internet sports media partner for the

Cook Sports, a subsidiary of Jacksonville-based Cook Marketing Communications, has named Sharon Higdon as director.

NBC Quokka Ventures, has announced that Randy Falco, the president of NBC Television Network and chief operating officer of NBC's Olympic broadcast group, has joined its board of directors.

The four big television networks are in a tight bidding race to win broadcast rights for stock-car racing, and appear willing to pay as much as $400 million annually, almost four times what Nascar races have brought in each year.

IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch has agreed to be quizzed by the US Justice Department as part of its probe into the Salt Lake City scandal.