Events

Telecom Italia shareholders gathering in Turin are likely to be disappointed if they expect to hear that a digital pay-TV deal with media baron Rupert Murdoch has been wrapped up, industry sources said.

An official involved in Manchester's two failed Olympic bids has said some International Olympic Committee (IOC) members tried to make money out of visits to the northern English city.

Franz Beckenbauer has hinted South Africa was still leading the race to stage the 2006 World Cup finals despite mounting opposition from England and Germany.

A growing scandal over cash payments made by Australian sports officials to snag the 2000 Olympics has stirred anger in Beijing, which lost the bidding war to Sydney by a razor-thin margin.

A FIFA delegation was reported to be satisfied with facilities in Lagos as it began a final inspection to decide if Nigeria should host the World Youth Cup.

An Australian IOC member alleged to have taken his family on four free holidays to Salt Lake City has angrily denied any wrongdoing and accused the city's Board of Ethics of defamation.

Eleven responses have been received by the International Olympic Committee to its request for evidence of corruption in the bidding process to host the Olympic Games since 1996.

With less than 100 days to go before the opening ceremony of the 1999 Pan American Games, lagging ticket sales have become the primary concern of Games organisers.

Rupert Murdoch's TM3 women's channel, fresh from its success in winning the rights to broadcast Champions' League soccer in Germany, is gearing up to go after its next conquest - the German Bundesliga.

The German government's media commission, the Landesmedienanstalten has decided to regulate on virtual advertising.

British motor racing tycoon Bernie Ecclestone has said a $1.4 billion asset-backed bond sold by his Formula One company was intended to pave the way for F1's stock market flotation.

South Africa's chances of hosting the 2006 World Cup has received a giant boost when First National Bank (FNB) bankrolled the Bid Committee with a sponsorship and threw its financial weight behind their attempt to bring the showcase event to Africa for the first time.

The New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority (NJSEA) has awarded Pepsi-Cola exclusive carbonated soft drink pouring rights and sponsorship at Meadowlands Sports Complex.

Terry Planell has been appointed senior vice-president, sales of GlobeCast America, a unit of France Telecom.

Lighthouse Holdings, investors in an international portfolio of marketing services companies, has acquired the Honolulu-based sports marketing company Sports Producers Hawaii (Sports Pro).

The lawyer of the ex-hockey star bidding to buy the Pittsburgh Penguins says a deal is imminent.