Sponsorship & Marketing

Sportasia.com, the Asian internet sports content producer, syndicator and distributor, has appointed Ikuya Tanaka of Dentsu?s Sports Marketing Division as a board director.

Orad Hi-Tec Systems has signed an agreement to acquire Numeric Video S.A. of France.

New Zealand Cricket has extended its sponsorship agreement with Clear Channel, the Texas-based media company.

The Copyright Promotions Licensing Group PLC (CPLG) will launch its 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan licensing programme at this summer?s ISPO sports trade fair.

Online sporting goods retailer MVP.com has created a new e-commerce venture with The Forzani Group focussed on the Canadian market, to be known as MVP.ca.

NHL Interactive CyberEnterprises (NHL ICE) has named Phase2Media, the online marketing and sales organisation, the exclusive advertising sales representative for NHL.com.

Sportsworld Media Group plc, the international sports media company, has formed a new company, SSM Sportsworld, to represent its European and Latin American interests.

US-based advertising and marketing agency Strategic Sports Group (SSG) has appointed a new account executive.

Golf Entertainment has launched GolfBZ.com, an internet business to business resource for golf course, golf range and related manufacturing, apparel, equipment and accessory companies within the golf industry.

Hussey Seating Company and Seiko Epsom Corp, the global technology company, are to co-develop `an interactive media seating solution? for the sports industry.

Sports marketing giant Octagon has landed in Greece, after aquiring leading Greek sports agency ACT ? the company behind Athens? successful bid to host the Olympic Games in 2004.

Sporting goods company Umbro is planning to launch a content and e-commerce website in September backed by a major advertising campaign.

The Prost Formula One team, run by the French four-times world champion Alain Prost, has appointed Credit Suisse First Boston to arrange its sale for about #45m. According to reports, potential buyers include Hidden Creek, a US private equity company, and Vector Motor Sports, a Canadian motor racing concern.

Golden Bear Golf, Inc. has completed its ?going private? merger with its wholly-owned subsidiary, G.B. Golf Corp.

Major Japanese Internet investor Softbank Corp has affirmed that its affiliate will start an online sports news service in a joint venture with Rivals.com Inc, a U.S. operator of Internet sports news.

SportsLine.com is to offer its entire suite of Commissioner.com fantasy products free of charge on its flagship CBS SportsLine.com site.

Sports.com, the mobile and fixed internet provider of European sports content, community and commerce, has been designated as the Official Internet Sports Partner of The Open Championship (opengolf.com) by the Championship Committee of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club.

Adidas America is to feature the full collection of official U.S. Olympic apparel online on their Olympic concept shop located at thestore.adidas.com.