Events

The 10 cities hoping to host the 2008 Summer Games left International Olympic Committee headquarters this week confident they would all clear the first hurdle in the bidding process.

KMC Telecom is to sponsor Joe Falk's No. 91 LJ Racing Chevrolet driven by Indiana driver Andy Hillenberg. It is the telecommunications company?s first sponsorship of a Daytona 500 race car. KMC will sport its logo and company colors on national television as events get underway this week at Daytona International Speedway.

The Orlando Arena, home to the Orlando Magic (NBA), Orlando Miracle (WNBA), and Orlando Solar Bears (IHL), and other sporting and entertainment events, will become TD Waterhouse Centre. Under the naming rights agreement, the City of Orlando and RDV Sports will share revenues totaling $7.9 million over the five-year term of the agreement.

Yahoo! Sports has launched an enhanced site, emphasising more integrated audio and video broadcast streaming, expanded international and local event coverage, as well as sports shopping and auctions e-commerce capabilities.

EA Sports, the leading interactive entertainment software company, has joined forces with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority ( LVCVA) as the co- title sponsor of Las Vegas Bowl VIII, college football's first post-season bowl game of 1999. The sponsorship agreement will become effective immediately and run through December 31, 2000.

The four big television networks are in a tight bidding race to win broadcast rights for stock-car racing, and appear willing to pay as much as $400 million annually, almost four times what Nascar races have brought in each year.

SFX Entertainment, Inc. has acquired UK Midland Concert Promotions Group Limited (MCP), a leading U.K. concert promotion company and motor sports venue operator.

A new, independent study comparing the effect of virtual advertising and conventional arena advertising on viewers of televised sports reveals that TV audiences had better recall and greater brand recognition with virtual ads.

CART and Gold Coast Motor Events ? a partnership between the Queensland government in Australia and IMG ? have signed a deal to keep the FedEx Championship Series visiting the city through until 2003.

Yahoo! Inc, the leading global Internet media company, has signed a sponsorship agreement with the New York Yacht Club/Young America Challenge for America's Cup 2000, Young America.

Plans for the new #475million ($770 million) national stadium at Wembley in London has come under more fire after a hostile reception by leading sports officials.

Following press speculation earlier this week that telecommunications firm BT were in the frame for Premier League rights, today's proposed merger of UK media giants, Carlton and United News and Media, adds another twist to the plot of potential bidders.

The British government is to look at a compromise proposal by UK Athletics chief executive David Moorcroft aimed at solving the bitter dispute over plans for a new Wembley stadium.

Prize money for the Sanex WTA Tour will be increased by more than $3 million for the 2000 season, organisers have announced.

The European Broadcasting Union has secured rights to broadcast the World Athletics Series beyond 2001.

Uli Hoeness, commercial manager of Germany's richest football club, Bayern Munich, has backed a decision by the German Football Association to allow pay-per-view broadcasts of Bundesliga soccer matches.