Events

The BBC has pulled its flagship Saturday sports show Grandstand from its schedules this weekend as a result of intense competition from its rival free-to-air channels.

The English Football Association has apologised to Denmark for violence involving Arsenal fans at the UEFA Cup final but said it would not affect England's bid to stage the 2006 World Cup.

The World Indoor Soccer League in the US is seeking a naming rights sponsor.

ISL Worldwide is to buy up all outdoor media sites surrounding the venues staging soccer?s Euro 2000 in a bid to thwart any plans of ambush marketing.

Laurie Landgrebe, director of marketing for Pro Player Stadium, home to the Miami Dolphins, has enlisted the help of the NFL in securing a new naming rights deal.

Africa should host a soccer World Cup but not the 2006 tournament, said Franz Beckenbauer, who is leading Germany's bid to stage the event.

An IOC member is being investigated over alleged irregularities in the bidding process for the 1996 Atlanta Games.

Joesp Lluis Nunez, president of Barcelona for the last 22 years, has announced his planned resignation in July. Nunez intends to initiate a major overhaul of the club before he departs, which will include the sale of Rivaldo, the World Player of the Year.

The England World Cup 2006 bidding team believes it has struck a decisive blow after a successful week in the Bahamas lobbying the CONCACAF congress. The votes in the region could be pivotal when the final decision is made in July.

FOX Sports World (English-language) and FOX Sports World Espanol (Spanish-language) have acquired the broadcast rights to the UEFA European Championships (EURO 2000).

South Korea's preparations for the co-hosting of the 2002 World Cup are well on track to be completed before the December 2001 deadline set by FIFA, according to event co-ordinator Peter Velappan.

The European Commission has exempted the European Broadcasting Union's (EBU) handling of broadcasting rights for sports events under the Eurovision system from normal EU competition rules.

The NBA and TSN, Canada?s most watched sports network, have extended their television agreement for another two years. The new contract will include 26 regular-season games - at least eight featuring Canadian teams - and 18 playoff games.

The British and Irish Lions Committee has appointed Octagon as its sponsorship, merchandising and licensing representatives for the Lions Tour to Australia in 2001.

Americans will see no live television coverage of the Sydney Olympics because of an 18 hour time difference between the two nations, NBC television officials were quoted as telling the Los Angeles Times.

Canadian Airlines has decided to pull out of its 20-year, C$20 million naming rights deal with the Saddledome, home to the NHL?s troubled Calgary Flames.