Sub-Saharan Africa

The fate of West Indies' tour of South Africa due to start this week hung in the balance on Sunday after negotiations between officials and players over pay and conditions failed to produce an agreement.

Events

The head of South Africa's 2006 World Cup bid has said they were confident of hosting the finals and shrugged off British claims to stage soccer's top event.

South African coach Nick Mallett has called for a shorter season as the world champions embarked on their seventh grand slam tour of Britain and Ireland.

Sponsorship & Marketing

Brian Lara was reinstated as West Indies captain for the delayed tour of South Africa on Monday after four days of talks ended a players' revolt over pay.

Events

FIFA president Sepp Blatter repeated his belief that Africa should stage the soccer World Cup finals in 2006, in an interview published on Monday.

Ex-South African wicketkeeper Dave Richardson has suggested the row which had threatend the West Indies tour could prompt the formation of an international body aimed at looking after players' interests.

Business

Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder has promised his government would do all it could to support Germany's bid for the 2006 World Cup.
Business

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has reaffirmed his support for an Africa bid to host the 2006 World Cup finals when he met South African president Nelson.
Business

Germany has entered the race to stage the 2006 World Cup finals after they officially handed in their initial bid document to FIFA president Sepp Blatter.
Stadia

South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) has party waded into a controversy over the racial make-up of the country's rugby and cricket national teams by labelling them "lily-white".
Business

English county cricket will split into two divisions in 2000 after administrators voted for the most radical change in the 110-year history of the championship.
Events

Olympic chief Juan Antonio Samaranch has gaven a clean bill of health to Chinese sport and said Beijing was now an example to the world of how to fight against drug cheats.
Business

A crisis sparked by Graham Kelly's resignation as chief executive of the English Football Association will not ruin England's bid for the 2006 World Cup, the F.A.'s executive director has said.
Business

England's chances of hosting the 2006 World Cup have not been damaged by the resignation of F.A. chief executive Graham Kelly, FIFA said on Wednesday.

Events

Germany has added weight to its bid to stage the 2006 World Cup finals by naming Franz Beckenbauer as head of their application.
Business

A formidable army of supporters lined up to back England's World Cup 2006 bid, are claiming that the resignation of F.A. chief executive Graham Kelly would not hurt the nation's chances.

Germany's bid chief Franz Beckenbauer believes the race to stage the 2006 World Cup finals is very close with Germany in with
Events

The president of the International Cricket Council (ICC), India's Jagmohan Dalmiya, will not attend a key meeting of the ICC's executive board in New Zealand this weekend.