North America

The French government is to be asked to approve a re-financing package for the $400 million Stade de France which will stage the soccer World Cup final.

One of the Sydney Games' major sponsors, Visa, has warned that it will vigorously campaign against moves to make sponsors provide substantial subsidies for low-priced tickets.

Three hundred and thirty three NFL players earned $1 million or more in salary and bonuses during 1997.

TONY George, president of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, is seeking a reply within days from F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone on a bid to revive the US Grand Prix in 2000 in the dramatic setting of the famous Indy 500 "Brickyard" stadium.

The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) is proposing an end to a ban on athlete interviews by non-rights holding media according to specialist Olympic news service 'Around the Rings'.

Advantage International has appointed Threshold Sports to help manage its recent cycling event acquisitions which include the First Union USPRO Championship in Philadelphia , The Atlanta Grand Prix and the `Tour of America.

NSGA and American Sportfishing Association (ASA) will hold their annual trade shows together at McCormick Place in Chicago in 1999.

Tony George, owner of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway says he will meet Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone in July to discuss staging an event.

A Nevada chapter of the National Organisation for Women has said it is organising a campaign to prevent former world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson from regaining his Nevada boxing license.

Washington and Baltimore are to announce an unprecedented joint bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games, according to the Washington Post.

THE News Corporation Ltd has cemented its position as the nation's biggest listed company after unveiling a $25 billion-plus spin-off of its American motion picture, television and sports divisions.

THE Australian Baseball League is on track for its sale to a United States business consortium based in Denver.

Bud Selig, acting baseball commissioner for nearly six years, has been officially given the job on a permanent basis after a unanimous vote by the 30 major league owners.

The United States athletic shoes industry is revising its marketing approach, reducing the list of players in various sports that it had contracted as spokesmodels according to newspaper The Australian.

Olympic Games organisers are confident of securing a deal on the Games' ticketing policy after offering a discount on top-level tickets for major sponsors.

Sports agent Joe Cubas is to meet Florida Marlins owner Wayne Huizenga this week to make an offer to buy the baseball team.

Spanish-language broadcaster Univision has turned out to be biggest U.S. beneficiary in this years World Cup.

Walt Disney-owned ESPN has abandoned its much-announced plan to get into the regional-sports-network business with ESPN West.