Sponsorship & Marketing

UK-based sports marketing consultancy, Fast Track, headed by Alan Pascoe, has launched a new company web site as it continues to expand beyond its core athletics business and into the international sports business market.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) will sign a $50 million marketing and television rights agreement with French company Groupe Jean-Claude Darmon in February, say CAF officials.

The Salt Lake City bribery scandal is likely to haunt the next president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in his first year in charge, according to prospective candidate Jacques Rogge.

Italian soccer team AS Roma's 2000-01 profit is seen improving and the club will bid for a stake in Rome's Olympic Stadium with SS Lazio, the soccer club's general manager said in an interview.

Wembley plc?s wholly owned subsidiary 24dogs.com, the greyhound racing information and betting site, has signed exclusive partnership agreements with greyhound tracks at Poole, Milton Keynes and Swindon.

Soccer-related sponsorship and merchandising revenues could generate up to $500m in Asia over the next five years, according to a Singapore-based sports marketing executive.

September's Sydney Olympics should be a financial success after being praised worldwide as the greatest Games in history, Olympic leaders said on Tuesday.

Rob Avis, former sales director of TheStreet.co.uk, has been snapped up by Rivals.net - the UK-based network of independent sports sites - to be its first commercial director.

The NFL could collect an estimated $10 million cash per year for the right to become producer of the NFL?s Web site. At least six companies are thought to be in the running for the rights, including ESPN.com, America Online Inc., SportsLine Inc., and Yahoo! Inc. The league has yet to decide if the deal will be awarded to one company or if it will split the contract among several companies.

English cricket?s governing body, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), is now confident it will find sponsors to back a raft of cricketing properties following England?s dramatic Test series win over Pakistan.

The NBA has appointed Arturo Nunez as new managing director for its Latin America office.

Mark Bingham, currently senior vice president of marketing and broadcasting at the New York Mets has been appointed as president of Octagon's US marketing division.

Tiger Woods has pledged $500,000 for construction of a pavilion at Target House, a temporary residence for families of patients treated at St Jude Children?s Research Hospital in Memphis.

Tennis Canada has appointed Anthony Alfred as regional director, media and public relations.

Double Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong has issued a stinging retort to recent allegations that his US Postal team have been using illegal drugs.

Premier Rugby, the marketing and commercial arm of English First Division Rugby, has signed a #1 million ($1.45m) three-year deal with Sportscard, the rewards-based credit card designed specifically for sports fans.