Stadia

Ruvim Aronov, president of the Ukrainian premier division side Tavria Simferopol, has been charged with extortion, a police spokesman in the city in Ukraine's Crimean peninsula said.

Reuters Group Plc has signed a three-year agreement to sponsor the BMW Williams team in the Formula One world championships.

Italy's Espresso publishing group says that its Internet arm Kataweb SpA had bought 70 percent of Studio Vit Srl, owner of online fantasy football game Fantacalcio.

Eight banks have been short-listed as potential lead managers of a syndicated loan that will finance the Wembley National Stadium project, according to a report in London?s Financial Times.

Nike Inc.'s corporate Web site, www.nikebiz.com , has received the Brooks New Media national SITED Award for Best Corporate web Site.

A rescue package designed to save Scotland?s Hampden Park stadium has collapsed and owners Queen?s Park gone into interim administration, according to a report in London?s Financial Times.

Worldwide Entertainment & Sports Corp has completed a $6million private placement of its common stock.

Shareholders in English Premier League soccer club Newcastle United have approved its money-spinning partnership with cable company NTL.

Representatives from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) will visit Athens on January 26 and 27 to discuss preparations for the 2004 Summer Games, an Athens 2004 official has said.

The New York-New Jersey MetroStars have named Nick Sakiewicz general manager to replace Charlie Stillitano, who had an unsuccessful four-year reign in charge of the Major League Soccer club.

Speedway Motorsports (SMI) and Nationwide Insurance have signed a three-year comprehensive marketing agreement themed on race and fan safety.

Steve Wynne, president and CEO of adidas-Salomon America, has decided to leave the firm.

Sports.com Limited, the majority-owned European subsidiary of SportsLine.com, Inc., has completed its previously announced second round of funding.

Chaos has broken out in Brazil after tickets for FIFA?s inaugural World Club Championship final went on sale.

US soccer officials have refused to bow to Moslem sensibilities and remove Budweiser beer advertisements from the stadium and programmes for a groundbreaking Iranian-U.S. game.

A string of leading Internet firms have emerged as favourites to land a mutli-million dollar shirt sponsorship deal with European soccer champions Manchester United.

English Premier League soccer club Arsenal has been approached by three media giants, all battling to secure a stake in the London club.

Scorpion Minerals Inc has entered into a letter of intent with ACS Sports.com which will provide for a business combination of the two companies.