Events

South African promoters were "quietly confident" today of staging world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis's next fight in April.

The Indian government says it will ban smoking in public places and the sponsorship of sporting events by tobacco firms in a bid to lower cigarette-related deaths.

The BBC says it would consider pitching a rival bid against Rupert Murdoch?s Sky for the rights to heavyweight boxing?s greatest prize ? live coverage of Mike Tyson against Lennox Lewis.

The NBA has signed a multi year partnership with Real Networks which will provide live internet broadcasts of NBA.com TV and NBA.com Audio Pass.

Pan-american Sports Network (PSN), the 24 hour sports channel, has signed a multiyear partnership with soccer legend Pele.

UK-based sports marketing firm specialising in F1 motor racing, Inside Line Media, has reached an agreement with Formula One Administration Limited to produce a behind the scenes programme for the 2001 Formula 1 motor racing season.

Icon Display, the UK-based event signage company has appointed Chalkie White to the role of account director, starting in January 2001.

Insurance group, The St. Paul Companies will sponsor the PGA Tour?s 2001 West Coast Swing events.

The Salt Lake City bribery scandal is likely to haunt the next president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in his first year in charge, according to prospective candidate Jacques Rogge.

The British Internet Publishers Alliance (BIPA) has named Rob Hersov, CEO and founder of Sportal, as the organisations? new Chairman.

England?s Rugby Football Union has announced the appointment of Chris Spice as its performance director.

Quokka Sports is slashing its staff by 20 per cent ? and cannot rule out future job cuts.

CSS Stellar, the British-owned sports and entertainment management group, has issued a prospectus for its forthcoming flotation on the Alternative Investment Market.

The President-elect of Europe's public broadcasters has appealed to the United Nations for national governments and international bodies to guarantee that all major sporting events are shown on free-to-air television.

The Women's Tennis Association is taking advantage of the interest in the game generated by Venus and Serena Williams, and should give them a cut of the financial action, according to their father.

National Mobile Television (NMT), the provider of mobile television production equipment, has agreed to permanently install Sportvision?s video insertion technologies on NMT trucks in the U.S.