Portugal

The official website of Euro 2004 had more than 40m visits according to official figures – and saw traffic increase by 285 percent compared to visits to the Euro 2000 site.

The IOC’s chief inspector of preparations for the Athens Olympic Games will once again visit the Greek city this week with the Games’ opening ceremony less than 40 days away.

The Stanford Financial Group has signed up as official sponsor of the rankings on tennis’ Delta Tour of Champions.

UEFA’s Executive Committee meets in Portugal today with a number of key commercial issues on the agenda.

Viewing figures in China for the on-going Euro 2004 soccer tournament are set to topple those for the previous tournament, with up to 50 million viewers expected to tune in for the big games.

The financial impact of staging soccer’s Euro 2004 may not be quite as great as originally hoped – according to a Portuguese government report.

The four biggest soccer markets in Europe could all be out of Euro 2004 this evening, after Germany joined Italy and Spain on an early flight home.

UEFA’s top brass will start its review process of Euro 2004 next week when its Executive Committee meets in Lisbon.

Real Madrid and England star David Beckham has more than 100 website domains devoted to him…while national team-mate Emile Heskey has none, according to a domain name specialist.

As its national team celebrates qualification to the quarter-finals of Euro 2004, Greek soccer chiefs say they are considering a bid to host Euro 2012.

The official website of Euro 2004 smashed the tournament’s previous best online audience figures – after just three days.

Portuguese government chiefs say staging Euro 2004 will provide a EUR260m tourism boost to the country.

Sportswear giant adidas has extended its sponsorship deal of the French national soccer team, just days before it begins its defence of the European Championship in Portugal.

A proposed strike by immigration officers in Portugal – set to coincide with soccer’s Euro 2004 – has been called off.

UEFA’s Executive Committee will tomorrow announce the winner of the marketing agency for the Champions League in what will be a straight fight between Sportfive and long-time partner TEAM Marketing.

The stadium naming rights deal in Europe is finally coming of age, according to major new research.

UEFA Executive Committee member Henri Roemer is to take up a new position as special advisor to the president and CEO of European soccer’s governing body, for EU and global affairs.

International TV data bank service Eurodata TV is to launch a service during this summer’s Euro 2004 to provide its clients with overnight TV audiences of all the tournament’s matches.