Events

Boris Becker has criticised the new format of men's professional tennis and said that the game is heading for a crisis.

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

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.

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.

Jim McManus has been appointed vice president, motorsports, at sports events signage and banner provider Britten Media.

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.

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.

South Africa has again disputed the campaigning tactics of World Cup 2006 bidding rivals, England.

German media firm, Kinowelt, is seeking to broadcast football league games live in cinemas from August.

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.

Rotational signage company ANC Sports Enterprises has launched a new division to broaden its business.

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.

Christopher Stokes, formerly of the International Tennis Federation (ITF) has joined Sportcal.com as Marketing Director.

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.

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.

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.