Media

The head of an International Olympic Committee (IOC) inspection team said he was optimistic about the troubled 2004 Athens Games and he would concentrate on ensuring venue construction was on schedule during his visit.

Bayern Munich's commercial manager Uli Hoeness has called for a cutback in the number of matches in the Champions League and said his club would be prepared to take less cash to play fewer games.

Asian soccer promoter ProEvents Management Ltd has formed a new joint venture company with Manchester-based sports management company World Sports Solutions Ltd (?WSS?), to represent top European clubs and players in Asia.

SportsYA! has signed a production and content partnership with StarMedia Network ? the internet media company for Spanish and Portugese-speaking audiences.

International Management Group have added to their portfolio of rugby union clients by entering into a five-year agreement with South African side Natal Sharks. IMG will represent the Super 12 club in future commercial deals.

The UK?s Sky Sports channel has signed a five-year deal with the British Speedway Promoters? Association for the broadcast rights to all British Speedway.

Brazilians have hit out at Sepp Blatter after the FIFA president threatened in a magazine interview to kick the country out of the 2002 World Cup.

Disney has prepared for the launch of its digital platform of ESPN channels early next year by booking expanded space on PanAmSat satellites for the next 15 years.

The capacity of Sydney Football Stadium may be increased to 50,000 with the expansion funded by the sale of naming rights, according to Australian press reports..

Sky Sports and CISCO Systems have joined forced for the sponsorship and development of Sky Sports? on-screen graphics.

Designercity, the UK new media agency, have launched a WAP service for English Premier League soccer club Arsenal.

The search begins in earnest this week for a new owner of Major League Baseball team the Boston Red Sox.

World Triathlon Corporation (WTC) and sports media technology company Sportvision will provide live webcast coverage of the 2000 Ironman Triathlon World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii October 14.

Doubts expressed by media buyers over Fox?s ability to recoup all of its $2.5 billion investment for its comprehensive six-year Major League Baseball TV and cable rights package have been answered by the company.

Bernie Ecclestone has said he will not sell his stake in Formula One, despite the interest of a number of Formula One motor manufacturers who want to buy into the business.

ESPN Internet Group (EIG) generated record traffic in August.