North America

Beijing officials defended China's human rights record on Wednesday but conceded it faced a challenge persuading world opinion that the Chinese capital should stage the 2008 Olympic Games.

In recent years, the meteoric rise of technology, telecom and media (TMT) shares on the world's stock markets has changed the face of Formula One sponsorship. The recent downfall in the sector is now hurting the sport as it struggles keep sponsors.

Bob McClaren, the president of business operations at baseball club Houston Astros, will leave the franchise at the end of the season.

The NFL Quarterback Club has made a financial investment in Canadian artificial grass manufacturers FieldTurf as part of a larger investment in the company by AIG Horizon Partners, LLC

The family of baseball legend Roger Maris and brewing giant Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc. are both contesting a decision that awarded the family $50 million in a Florida lawsuit against the Budweiser brewer.

A letter Dick Pound wrote to key Olympic broadcasters and sponsors shortly after his loss in the IOC presidential election was not sour grapes, the Montreal lawyer said Tuesday.

Sports agent Leigh Steinberg, who was the inspiration behind the Hollywood film character Jerry Maguire, has accused his former partner David Dunn of stealing his clients through blackmail and fraud.

Tighter security is needed at "non-regular cricket venues", according to the chief investigator of the sport's Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU).

A record first prize of $936,000 will be handed to the winner of this week's PGA Championship at Atlanta Athletic Club.

Satellite channel British Eurosport scored its highest ever TV ratings for its coverage of the World Athletics Championships from Edmonton, Canada.

NBA team the Seattle Sonics is to unveil a new team logo and strip next week in a bid to reflect the change in management and whip up support in the team – and has just signed a new exclusive TV deal.

The Argentine domestic season will finally get under way at the weekend two weeks later than planned after the second players' strike of the year delayed the start.

Galaxy, the amalgamated company of Umbro Canada, Umbro Factory Outlet, and NNA Sports Marketing, has completed its reverse takeover of Galaxy Energy Corp and will trade on the Canadian Venture Exchange (CDNX).

Toronto could lose the $2.95million (B

The US women’s soccer league is heading into the end of season play-offs for its inaugural season having exceeded attendance expectations, but it has fallen short in the television ratings.

London stock market-listed entertainment company Wembley has said the sale of Wembley complex is progressing and a shortlist of bidders has been drawn up.

Anshutz Sports & Entertainment Group (AEG), the owners of the National Hockey League team the Los Angeles Kings and Major League Soccer club LA Galaxy, will invest in two Swedish clubs to expand its sporting assets outside the US.

A Chinese-led consortium has won the contract to build a new stadium in Hanoi, Vietnam, as the venue for the 2003 Southeast Asia Games.