Events

There would be no backing down on the commitment to provide cheap tickets for the 2000 Sydney Games, New South Wales Olympics Minister Michael Knight has said.

Malaysia, despite an economic crisis back home, wants tothe 2006 Asian Games and have appealed to other nations not to bid, saying itwould be a waste of money.

Outbreaks of hooliganism by English and German fans in France should not affect those nations' bids to stage the 2006 World Cup finals, FIFA president Sepp Blatter said.

Sunday night's World Cup final between France and Brazil set a new television audience record in host country France with an average of 23.626 million people watching, a spokesman for audience measurement body Mediametrie said on Monday.

Canal+ has purchased the television rights to Premier League football in Scandinavia.

Juan Antonio Samaranch, president of the International Olympic Committee, has called a crisis meeting of the IOC Executive Board to discuss the use of drugs in sport.

Norway?s bid to stage this year?s ice hockey world championships could be scuppered by a new anti-alcohol sponsorship law.

Great Britain will stage the next rugby league World Cup in 2000, it was announced in Sydney. The newly-formed Rugby League International Federation (RLIF) has put in place a calendar of events covering the next three years.

A reassuring progress report on Euro 2000 has been issued by tournament director Alain Cortais.

Former German international defender Paul Breitner has renewed his criticism of the German Soccer Federation (DFB) and said that Franz Beckenbauer should be given a leading role.

Dale Earnhardt Jr., currently the hottest driver in NASCAR racing, has hit the jackpot with what his team called the biggest sponsorship deal in Winston Cup

Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram has denied charges of betting and match-fixing and accused Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief executive Majid Khan of trying to sabotage his reputation.

Several countries have withdrawn from events in December's Asian Games, officials of host country Thailand have reported.

Petersen Cos. and General Electric Co.'s NBC Sports have said they had formed a joint venture, Gravity Games, a series of new sports competitions, lifestyle and music events.

Cambodia has not paid subscriptions to two shooting federations and so can not take part in the event at the Asian Games in Bangkok next month, a sports official has said.

A joint four nation Nordic bid to host the European Championship finals of 2008 is to be considered, a spokesman for the Danish soccer federation has said.