Asia

A bruising three-month battle for the FIFA presidency reaches a climax on Monday when Sepp Blatter and Lennart Johansson contest the biggest job in soccer.

The United Nations investigator for children's rights has reported that professional soccer had joined the list of sectors shamed by child trafficking from underdeveloped countries.

Satellite providers NTL and Williams Vyvx Services have announced an alliance to deliver comprehensive occasional video services to the global broadcasting community.

A mad rush of applicants jammed the internet site selling tickets for football's 2002 World Cup finals, ahead of the deadline yesterday.

Ten cities have submitted bids to be the permanent headquarters of the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA).

The Thai capital Bangkok has been given cabinet approval to apply to host the 2008 Summer Olympics.

Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej is to use a magnifying glass to light the flame for next month's Asian Games and the prime minister will help run it to the opening ceremony.

A formidable army of supporters lined up to back England's World Cup 2006 bid, are claiming that the resignation of F.A. chief executive Graham Kelly would not hurt the nation's chances.

The Indian team for the Olympic Games 2000 will be sponsored by Samsung, the information technology and telecommunications company, which is spending about $200 million in 40 countries on its Sydney Games marketing programme.

Cola giant Pepsi has presented the Vietnam Football Federation with a cheque for VND500million.

Asian Games organisers has said the Olympic Council of Asia and the International Olympic Committee had withdrawn recognition from Afghanistan as two political parties claimed to represent the country.

Hong Kong police say they have smashed four bookmaking syndicates betting illegally on European soccer matches and arrested 11 people.

Organisers of the Indianapolis Championships want to bump the men's tournament up to Masters Series level - just one below Grand Slam status.

Australian cricket officials will meet Mark Waugh on Saturday to discuss allegations he took money from an Indian bookmaker in exchange for team information during a tournament in Hong Kong.

The ISMM Group (International Sports Media & Marketing) headquarters is on the move after 18 years in Lucerne.

Olympic leaders are to meet to discuss drug cheating in world sport.

Australian Olympics official Phil Coles said on Monday his resignation from the Sydney Olympics organising committee SOCOG was best for the 2000 Games.

The Salt Lake City bribery scandal is likely to haunt the next president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in his first year in charge, according to prospective candidate Jacques Rogge.