Events

NBC is expected to announce that the XFL won't be returning to the network's lineup next year, according to US reports.

KirchMedia has taken `full and sole control? of HBS, the host broadcasting company for soccer?s 2002 World Cup in the light of the financial crisis at ISL.

The winner of golf?s oldest major, The Open Championship, will receive #600,000 ($863,000) on the final Sunday at Royal Lytham and St Annes this July. This is over #100,000 ($144,000) more than the sum received by Tiger Woods at St Andrews last year.

Clipper Ventures, the yacht racing and marine events company, has acquired the business, trademarks, goodwill and rights to the Around Alone single-handed yacht race. The amount paid for the deal has not yet been disclosed.

German media company Kirch has taken full and sole control of HBS, the host broadcasting company for the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

Head of Sky Sports Vic Wakeling says Kirch overpaid for the European rights to the 2002 soccer World Cup and revealed that Sky will not bid for them.

The playing surface at the Millennium Stadium may have to be re-laid for the FA Cup final between Arsenal and Liverpool.

The 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games received a boost with news that Australian Olympic champion Cathy Freeman is expected to return to full training in October in preparation for the event.

Eurosport is embroiled in a rights-row with the United States Tennis Association and its exclusive marketing agency SFX.

Craigie Taylor International (CTI), the public relations, sponsorship and consultancy company, has appointed Fred Scarlett, one of the members of the gold medal- winning British rowing team at the Sydney Olympics. Scarlett?s job role will include identifying and matching potential new clients and sponsors.

Italy has moved closer to selling Rome's Foro Italico sports complex, announcing it would auction one of the great projects of Fascist dictator Benito Mussolini "very shortly".

UK based bookmakers Ladbroke saw its profits rise by 30 per cent for the three months to March 31, compared with the equivalent period last year.

European high tech firms WIGE MIC and Swiss Timing will be the official timers at the Goodwill Games in Brisbane, Australia.

A leading sports industry advisor has told SportBusiness 2001 delegates that the sports sector success story is set to continue - despite the drop-off in advertising spend and threat of recession.

Gobarkingmad, the greyhound racing service owned by UK-based online betting and leisure group Gaming Internet, has signed an agreement with Australia?s Sky Channel ahead of its UK interactive digital television launch in June.

The European Union's executive Commission has cleared new UEFA broadcasting rules allowing national soccer associations to block televised live soccer matches during key weekend fixture periods.