United Kingdom

The Copyright Promotions Licensing Group PLC (CPLG) will launch its 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan licensing programme at this summer?s ISPO sports trade fair.

British Culture Secretary Chris Smith has asserted that government funding for sports will be doubled over three years to get the country's sport back on its feet.

The UK Government has earmarked a multi-million pound funding package to ease the cash crisis faced by organisers of the Manchester 2002 Commonwealth Games, according to UK press reports.

English football is to receive up to #200million in grassroots funding to try and restore the glory days to the national sport.

Sportsworld Media Group plc, the international sports media company, has formed a new company, SSM Sportsworld, to represent its European and Latin American interests.

Cable firm NTL is negotiating with the BBC to use its Match of the Day format for its range of pay-per-view English Premier League soccer games.

South African soccer officials have landed in Australia to meet Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) members in a quest to challenge the award of the 2006 World Cup to Germany.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has appointed Brian Havill as its new finance director.

Sports.com, the mobile and fixed internet provider of European sports content, community and commerce, has been designated as the Official Internet Sports Partner of The Open Championship (opengolf.com) by the Championship Committee of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club.

Australia?s National Rugby League finals series has secured a new sponsor.

UK basketball fans will be able to tune into exclusive footage of the Pro-Am 2000 tournament via the internet.

World Wrestling Federation Entertainment (WWFE) has appointed internet industry veteran Howard Meltzer to chief operating officer, New Media, which includes responsibility for the core web site wwf.com.

Eurosport, the European sports channel, is setting up a separate sales team to handle advertising and sponsorship sales of events and youth programming, under the YOZ (Youth Only Zone) banner.

Australian businessman, Al Constantinidis, has forwarded a proposal for a $A33 million sporting arena located to the west of New South Wales' capital, Sydney, in the satellite city of Liverpool.

A proposal to abolish the FIFA executive committee vice-presidency traditionally held by Britain will be discussed at next month's Congress.

The jury in the case of two former senior British policemen accused of the deaths of 96 Liverpool fans at Hillsborough soccer stadium 11 years ago has retired on to ponder its verdict, court officials said.

InterClubNet, a company that links football clubs electronically, announced on Tuesday it would float on London's Alternative Investment Market (AIM) with a market capitalisation of around #35 million ($52m).

The British government's emergency legislation to tackle soccer hooligans has been passed by the House of Commons but still faces a big hurdle in the House of Lords.