Events

Ticket sales are causing concern for organisers of the Asian Games, opening December 6th.

Swedish construction company Skanska AB has said it has won a contract worth 560 million crowns ($69 million) to build a sports centre in St Petersburg for the ice hockey world championship in 2000.

Computer services company Sema Group Plc has said it had been chosen to run information techology for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for the years 2001 to 2008.

Billy Payne, who headed up Atlanta's bid for the 1996 Olympics and became chief of its organising committee, has rejected any suggestion that Atlanta paid for votes in its campaign to stage the Games.

Reinforcing its image as South Florida's pre-eminent sports carrier, Barry Diller's local programming station WAMI-TV has bought a six-year exclusive broadcast rights to baseball's Florida Marlins.

The head of marketing at the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has revealed allegations of bribery swirling around the organisation had not deterred sponsors of the world's top sporting event.

The bribery scandal now rocking the Olympic movement would scarcely have shocked its ancient Greek founders.

The England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced a major new contract with Sports and Outdoor Media International (SOMI).

Britain's broadcasting watchdog has urged the competition regulator to block BSkyB Plc's planned 623 million pound takeover of Manchester United soccer club, said a report in the Financial Times on Friday.

New Zealand Rugby League vice chairman and former prime minister David Lange has stood down after three years involvement at management level.

The on-going debate over the bidding countries for the 2006 soccer World Cup will spill over into a conference to take place at the home of English Premier League club Chelsea next month.

Nigeria withdrew their bid to host the World Cup Finals in 2006 to help South Africa win the right to stage the tournament, Nigerian sports minister Emeka Omeruah.

Pepsi-Cola International has launched the first TV commercial featuring English soccer giants Manchester United in Thailand - where there is a fanatical following for the Premiership winning team.

The successful launch of the Formula One bond issue did not receive wide-spread backing from City institutions, according to the UK's Sunday Business.

Soccer legend Pele has confirmed his support for South Africa's bid to stage the 2006 World Cup, saying he thought Brazil could be ready to stage the finals four years later.

Britain's BBC has beaten off stiff competition to retain the complete television and radio rights to the Wimbledon tennis Championships for the next five years, it said today.

The Polish soccer federation (PZPN), has elected Michal Listkiewicz, as their new president.

Italian fashion company Benetton has pledged 500,000 Bosnian marks ($260,000) to help rebuild a war-devastated ski resort on Mount Bjelansnica, which was used in the 14th Winter Olympics.