Events
LAW SET TO SPEED UP ATHENS OLYMPIC PLANS
Greece's government plans to pass a new law next month aimed at speeding up preparations for the 2004 Olympic Games.
BECKER SLAMS NEW MASTERS SERIES
Boris Becker has criticised the new format of men's professional tennis and said that the game is heading for a crisis.
IOC MEMBER TO BE PROBED OVER ATLANTA BID
An IOC member is being investigated over alleged irregularities in the bidding process for the 1996 Atlanta Games.
EBU WELCOMES NEW SPORT RULING
The European Broadcasting Union, the association of Europe?s public service broadcasters, said it is satisfied at a decision by the European Commission authorising the joint acquisition and sharing of sports rights by EBU members in the framework of Eurovision.
BLATTER BACKS AFRICAN WORLD CUP BID
FIFA president Sepp Blatter has said the 2006 Word Cup finals should go to Africa if one of the continent's two bidding countries can meet all the conditions required to stage the event.
BRITTEN NAME NEW VP
Jim McManus has been appointed vice president, motorsports, at sports events signage and banner provider Britten Media.
ISL LAUNCHES NEW FIBA SUPROLEAGUE
Basketball?s international governing body, FIBA, and international sports marketing company, ISL Worldwide, have unveiled a new strategy for European basketball. The new concept for 2000 and beyond will give the FIBA Euroleague a completely different look, with a new competitive format, name and visual identity. The move follows the agreement made earlier this year, between FIBA and ISL.
OAU PLEA FOR AFRICA WORLD CUP HOST
The head of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) has appealed to world football's governing body to let Africa host the 2006 World Cup.
SA ACCUSES ENGLAND OF NEGATIVE CAMPAIGN
South Africa has again disputed the campaigning tactics of World Cup 2006 bidding rivals, England.
GERMAN MEDIA FIRM SEEKS CINEMA RELEASE FOR LIVE FOOTBALL
German media firm, Kinowelt, is seeking to broadcast football league games live in cinemas from August.
EU TO APPROVE BSKYB-KIRCH CONNECTION
The European Commission is today expected to approve the DM2.9bn tie-up between UK and German pay-TV groups, BSkyB and Premiere World, reports The Financial Times.
ANC BROADENS BASE WITH NEW DEPARTMENT
Rotational signage company ANC Sports Enterprises has launched a new division to broaden its business.
ESPN SERVES UP TENNIS DEAL
ESPN Star Sports has secured an exclusive cable and satellite deal with the ATP Tour for the new Tennis Masters Series, previously known as the Mercedes Super 9 Series and the Tennis Masters Cup for the 2000 though 2002 seasons.
STOKES JOINS SPORTCAL.COM
Christopher Stokes, formerly of the International Tennis Federation (ITF) has joined Sportcal.com as Marketing Director.
CSS STELLAR ACQUIRES RIGHTS TO ATP SENIORS EVENT
CSS Stellar, the largest British owned event marketing group, have acquired the rights of the first ATP Tour Seniors event to be staged in Ireland.
SWISS CYCLING HIT BY SPONSOR PULL OUT
Credit Suisse Group has said it would no longer sponsor the Tour of Switzerland or the Swiss team because of the sport's declining popularity following a spate of doping scandals.
RUSSIA SOCCER CHIEFS IN SECURITY CLAMPDOWN
Russian football bosses are demanding extremely tight security at all domestic league matches after two bomb blasts in Moscow killed more than 130 people in four days.
COST HIKE FOR SUPER BOWL AD-TIME
The price of a 30 second commercial spot for this season's Super Bowl telecast has risen by 25% to a record $2 million, according to advertising buyers quoted by Associated Press.