Argentina

ESPN Internet Group has launched ESPNdeportes.com, a Spanish-language sports site serving the Latin American and U.S. Hispanic communities.

An Australian promoter plans to bring World Cup winners France, England, Italy and Argentina to Australia as part of a A$40 million (US$23.2 million) showcase of soccer next year.

International rugby union officials are to give countries the power to cancel tours if they feel their opponents are sending sub-standard teams following controversial trips to the southern hemisphere by British teams this year.

Hyper-inflation has returned to the European soccer transfer market when Internazionale of Milan announced it had signed star striker Christian Vieri from Lazio of Rome in a world record deal worth L80bn ($43m).

Television distributor Venevision International has been chosen by satellite broadcaster DirecTV to sub-license the rights to the 2002 soccer World Cup in a number of Latin American nations.

More than a dozen countries have declared an interest in hosting either of the next two editions of the World Club Championship, FIFA said on Thursday.

In New Zealand the upcoming All Black rugby tests against Argentina, Ireland and Scotland could struggle to find a decent sized television audience after it was revealed that the latest broadcasting rights had been sold to newcomer TelstraSaturn.

Brazilian soccer legend Pele has compared the international transfer of young players to the slave trade.

Argentina's soccer players union has voted unanimously, after the government met its demands for increased police protection from fans, to end a week-old anti-violence strike.

China has set up a 76-member committee to organise Beijing's bid for the 2008 Olympic Games.

Argentina are to host the 2001 World Cup Sevens, the International Rugby Board (IRB) has announced.

Lisbon is expected to launch its second bid this year to host a major sports event.

Argentine soccer players are planning to go on strike for the second time this year over unpaid wages and bonuses.

Argentine soccer players, who have been on strike for over a week in protest at unpaid wages and bonuses, want clubs to be relegated if they do not pay on time.

Soccer legend Diego Maradona was met on his arrival in Rome on Thursday by tax authorities and police who told him he owed about 50 billion lire ($24.6 million) to Italian tax authorities, police sources said.

ESPN is to broadcast live coverage of a major golf tournament in Argentina later this year.