SportBusiness Staff

UK player agency First Artist and its Swiss-based subsidiary, FIMO Sport Promotion, have created a joint venture partnership with two European football management agencies.

London-based extreme sports television distribution channel Extreme Sports Group has teamed up with events promotion company Sports Vision to create a new sports marketing company, EX Events.

The rise of Australia as a nation of top sport stars has been reflected in a new boom in interest, according to the latest Sweeney Sports Report.

Discretely branded fashion wear is the key growth area for licensed merchandise - according to an online poll of industry experts.

Paul Stoddart (pictured), owner of the Minardi Formula One team has expressed his pleasure the controversial Phoenix team has failed - so far at least - in its bid to join the starting grid.

Australian Rugby Union (ARU) managing director John O'Neill (pictured) has expressed full confidence that Australia will be the sole hosts of the 2003 World Cup after its presentation to the Rugby World Cup Board (RWC) next week.

England football team manager Sven-GC6ran Eriksson has signed up IMG to represent the Swede's global commercial activities.

World Sports Solutions PLC (WSS) has been contracted to manage the commercial rights of the UK's most expensive defender Rio Ferdinand.

Governing body Soccer Australia has expressed its concerns that recent changes in the country's pay-TV industry will lead to a cut in its contracted television coverage.

The president of Italian second division soccer club Napoli has been arrested on suspicion of fraud.