Norway

Sweden and Norway have been forced to abandon plans to bid to host football’s Euro 2016 after governments in both countries denied $1.4 billion (€950 million) for stadia improvement.

Modern Times Group (MTG), acquired the exclusive media rights in Denmark, Norway and Sweden for the UEFA Champions League from UEFA.

The leading newspaper in Norway, Aftenposten, reports that 51 per cent of Norwegians are against giving state guarantees of between NOK 15 and 20 billion ($4-5 billion) to host the 2018 Winter Olympic Games.

Infront Sports & Media secured an exclusive, long-term media rights agreement for the EHF European Championship in handball with three leading Scandinavian broadcasters, TV2 Denmark, TV2 Norway and TV4 Sweden.

Henkel group agreed a deal to become Official Sponsor of the 2008 Men’s European Championship for the product categories of cosmetics, adhesives and detergents.

With more than 2 months to go before the opening of SPORTELMonaco 2006, exhibitors have committed to more than 85% of the expanded floor space in the Grimaldi Forum.

The FC)dC)ration Internationale de l’Automobile approved the calendar for the 2007 World Rally Championship, adding three new races in Ireland, Norway and Portugal. The new races replace those in Australia, Cyprus and Turkey. The FIA said in a statement that its World Motor Sport Council had approved a calendar which would continue to run on the existing January-November format instead of the proposed August-May switch. It said that it would decide whether to add further events to the calendar at its next World Motor Sport Council meeting.

TV audiences in Europe for the FIFA World Cup look set to beat expectations judging by the initial viewing figures.

The Ladies European Tour has confirmed seven countries have made bids to host the 2011 Solheim Cup.

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) says it is committed to providing additional content access to sports fans around Europe following record levels of new media coverage for the Winter Olympics.

Runaway English Premier League leaders Chelsea have denied allegations of misconduct made by Manchester United.

Deals have been signed with Scandinavian broadcasters for television rights to the men’s and women’s European Handball Championships in 2008 and 2010.

Next year's Golden League athletics meetings will start in Oslo on June 2, the sport's ruling body (the IAAF) said.

A survey has concluded that sports editors of daily newspapers allow the sports industry to set the agenda and the priorities for coverage of events.

The IAAF says it is pleased with preliminary ratings for Helsinki's World Championship in Athletics .

Rally Ireland has launched its bid to host a round of the World Rally Championship in the country from 2007.