North America

Sales of athletic shoes are declining because sports are losing their appeal for many young people, according to the Zandl Group, a New York City-based trends research firm.

Univision, the leading Spanish-language television broadcast company in the United States, is to broadcast the "Copa Oro 2000" (Gold Cup) tournament, beginning on Sunday, February 13.

Bluetorch, the cross-media network for extreme sports, is to produce and take the title sponsorship of the largest surfing event in North America.

IOC Coordination Committee chairman, Jacques Rogee, has given SOCOG a glowing endorsement for their work in the lead up to the Sydney Olympic Games 2000.

IOC leader Jacques Rogge has tried to douse concern about organisational problems within the 2000 Olympics, by saying Sydney had no real worries compared to some predecessors as host city.

David Payne has been named to the new position of senior vice president and general manager of CNN/Sports Illustrated Interactive,. Payne will oversee all business activity of CNN/Sports Illustrated Interactive, which includes the 24-hour sports Web site CNNSI.com. Payne is based in Atlanta and reports to Jim Walton, president of CNN/Sports Illustrated.

SportsYa!, the Spanish and Portugese-language sports web site, has said it has raised $15m in a financing led by IMG/Chase Sports Capital.

Championship Auto Racing Teams, Inc.has reported record revenues for the year-ended December 31, 199.

Less than a week after the most exciting Super Bowl finale in years, the World Wrestling Federation has announced the formation of a competing professional football league.

The United States Olympic Committee is to sell merchandise on-line in a deal with NBC which will also include official SOCOG merchandise.

SFX Sports Group, a unit of SFX Entertainment, has acquired Speakers of Sport, one of the leading US baseball talent representation agencies.

International Olympic Committee (IOC) vice president Kevan Gosper has continued his defence of the alleged expenses incurred during his family?s stay in Salt Lake City.

The Prost Formula One team has announced they will be sponsored by internet giant Yahoo! in the 2000 season.

The Wall Street Journal has revealed the extent of sponsors' concerns in the wake of corruption investigations into the Olympic movement.

The team behind KOTV - the first international 30-minute weekly boxing highlights TV programme – says pre-sales have exceeded expectations as it prepares for the bell later this month.

US sports marketing firm, Envision Sports and Entertainment, is expanding into Europe, appointing former ISL chiefs Chris Renner and Mark Devenport in the process.

US broadcasters Fox Sports Net and Time Warner Cable have finally resolved their long-running dispute over subscriber fees for Los Angeles Dodgers baseball matches.

Canadian cable TV platform, Star Choice Communications is to offer its customers an 11-game pay-per-view package for the Vancouver Canucks ice hockey team.