Events

British leisure group Enic Plc is poised to join in the bidding for British soccer club Manchester United Plc, according to the Financial Times.

Australian Prime Minister John Howard has denied accusations that he chose October 3 as the date for a general election in order to cash in on a welter of sports events expected to divert the sports-mad nation's attention.

Australia is to phase out tobacco sponsorship of international sports events by 2006.

Twelve of Europe's top clubs have asked UEFA for closer co-operation in the organisation of the European Champions' League and insisted on having more input in financial matters.

A Chinese domestic soccer match is to be transmitted live on the internet for the first time, an official of Shanghai Webtv Co Ltd said on Wednesday.

A senior FIFA official has said that the decision to allow a co-hosting of the 2002 World Cup by Japan and South Korea should not be challenged.

Yankees majority owner George Steinbrenner has said that should he sell his stake in the team to media giant Cablevision Systems Corporation, he and his family would remain in control of the club.

The 2002 World Cup finals in Japan and South Korea may be three days shorter than this year's 33-day tournament in France, FIFA president Sepp Blatter has said.

Leading Olympic official Marc Hodler said he had gone public with his allegations that agents tried to rig votes on the hosting of Games because he did not want Salt Lake City to be seen as "villains".

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

Organisers of the 2002 Winter Olympics at Salt Lake City have seen the inevitable knock-on effect to sponsors following the scandal which has rocked the event.

Juan Antonio Samaranch has not yet got himself and his movement out of the worst storm to hit the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for decades.

Though the Super Bowl is traditionally a showcase for top advertisers, a number of lesser-known companies are wagering big bucks on this Sunday's game.

Sydney 2000 Games organisers announced a full, independent review of the city's Olympic bid, only to be upstaged by a Salt Lake City ethics report questioning the actions of an Australian IOC member.

Irish drink giant Guinness has signed a #4 million deal to sponsor British commercial network ITV?s coverage of this year?s Rugby World Cup.

U.S. lawmakers have told the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to stamp out corruption or face the possibility of losing lucrative IOC benefits ranging from corporate sponsorships to tax breaks.