Sponsorship & Marketing

Strong winds have damaged the Goodyear Blimp, putting in doubt the airship's ability to provide key aerial television shots for next month's Sydney Olympics.

The new XFL football league, created by the World Wrestling Federation and the NBC television network has developed its new trade mark ball.

Cycling's world governing body has launched a fresh attack on a French anti-drugs agency for claiming that almost half the riders tested in this year's Tour de France showed signs of banned substances.

Fans will have to pay higher prices to help finance the soaring costs of the new Wembley Stadium, due for completion in three years.

Sport Supply Group, the US-based suppliers of sporting goods to sports organisations has launched the second phase of its development of BSNSports.com and US-Games.com

Global Sportnet, the Hamburg-based sports marketing agency, and Rayo Valleceno, the Spanish side with a place in this season?s UEFA Cup have closed a deal that covers the worldwide and exclusive marketing of the club?s television and advertising rights to European matches.

SportsYA! (www.sportsya.com), the Spanish-and Portuguese-language sports portal serving Latin American, Spain and U.S. Hispanic markets, has appointed Hugo Sanchez, the most widely recognized player in the history of Mexican soccer, as brand representative and e-columnist.

The Golf Channel is to revamp its web site during the PGA Championship next week to offer visitors more than just the latest news about the day?s golf.

E-photomail has signed a deal with sports group, Octagon Marketing, in order to extend its presence at major sporting events.

Brands Hatch is to host the final round of this season's world superbike championship on October 15 after the scheduled race was moved from Imola in Italy.

NASCAR has signed three new licensees in the collectibles category: The Danbury Mint, the Hamilton Collection and Dusterfield Corporation.

Callaway Golf Company is to consolidate its golf club and golf ball operations in sales, manufacturing and research and development.

Three-times Wimbledon tennis champion Boris Becker is to act as front man for a new internet sports platform venture being launched by Pixelpark AG, Germany's biggest web designer.

The United States Olympic Committee and the Salt Lake Organising Committee announced have named Korbel Champagne Cellars as an Official Supporter of the 2000, 2002 and 2004 U.S. Olympic Teams and the 2002 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

Three-times Wimbledon champion Boris Becker has been asked by the German tax administration to pay 10 million marks ($4.63 million), reports the German newspaper Bild am Sonntag.

A New York/New Jersey-based team will be one of eight scheduled teams to kick off the inaugural season-of the XFL, the new professional football league jointly owned by World Wrestling Federation Entertainment and NBC.