Events

ABC's "Monday Night Football" is off to what's apparently its worst ratings start ever - despite hype surrounding the new early start time.

The consortium that holds exclusive broadcasting rights to the 2002 and 2006 World Cup soccer tournaments will allow the events to be shown on non-subscription television stations, according to an official of consortium member ISL.

Korean car maker Daewoo have renewed their contract with the British Show Jumping Association at the Horse of the Year Show for the fourth year running.

Franz Beckenbauer has been elected vice-president of the German Soccer Federation (DFB) and has immediately pressed for reforms.

Britain's commercial television companies have said they are to launch the country's sixth terrestrial television channel, ITV2, on December 7 with the declared aim of capturing younger viewers.

British motor racing giant Formula One said it rejected allegations made by a BBC-TV documentary that it made misleading statements regarding the status of a European Commission competition investigation.

Malaysia has confirmed it will be bidding to host the 2008 Olympic Games.

Asia's financial crisis has cost the Asian Games $12 million in lost marketing revenue, the region's Olympic chief has said.

A German bank has offered to purchase all of motor racing tycoon Bernie Ecclestone's planned bond issue provided conditions including a reduction in the deal's size are met, bankers in London has said.

The extent of football?s booming popularity among Britains armchair fans is confirmed by the release of television ratings that show 29 of the top 30 sporting events in 1998 were football matches.

The 2000 Olympic Games will boost Australia's economy by A$6.5 billion (US$4.2 billion) over the 12 years to mid-2006, according to a new study.

1.DIRTY TRICKS SURFACE IN IOC SCANDAL

2.KENYA'S MUKORA QUITS IOC

3.SAMARANCH DEFIANT, TOO

4.2006 WINTER OLYMPIC BIDDERS FACE CONFUSION, NEW RULES

5.2012 BIDS

6.HOT FILE

The head of Salt Lake City's Olympic bid committee defended his role in the widening cash-for-votes scandal, saying that local organisers never questioned his actions.

South Korea's Samsung Electronics Co Ltd said the International Olympic Committee (IOC) corruption crisis has thrown doubt over its sponsorship of the Olympics.

A former leader of Atlanta's bid for the 1996 Olympics said his group violated the gift rules of the International Olympic Committee in its pursuit of the Summer Games.

New Zealand minister Murray McCully recently resigned his tourism portfolio amid a row over policy but will retain responsibility for sports, fitness and leisure.