Europe

Greece's government plans to pass a new law next month aimed at speeding up preparations for the 2004 Olympic Games.

EM.TV & Merchandising AG has sold its 24.5 percent in the holding company that organises Formula One to its partner, the Kirch Group, for DM1.3bn ($590m).

Television rights for the next Rugby Union World Cup remain unsold with sole bidder BBC not rushing to meet rugby?s estimation of the worth of the event.

Representatives from large clubs in the Netherlands, Scotland, Belgium and Portugal met in Amsterdam this week to discuss the problems of being big fish in small soccer ponds.

Martina Hingis and Mary Pierce did not exactly blaze a trail for feminism when they played in the first women's tennis tournament in the Gulf region this week. But they were part of a quiet revolution taking place in the area.

Sports internet company Sportal has been forced to axe 10 percent of its global workforce after investors demanded cutbacks.

Soccer Australia (SA) chairman Basil Scarsella has won a vote 12-11 to succeed controversial New Zealander Charlie Dempsey as president of the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC).

Ken Livingstone, the outspoken mayor of London, will hold final approval for any London Olympic bid, the British Olympic Association (BOA) chairman has said.

Wembley's new sports stadium could cost as much as #660m ($956.9m), nearly three times the original estimate.

Britain?s only vegetarian-only cycling team, sponsored by the food company founded by Sir Paul McCartney?s late wife, have announced that they are likely to stop racing due to parting company with its management team.

Police are to mount a huge security operation for the final game to be played at London?s Wembley Stadium, amid fears souvenir hunting fans could rip it to pieces.

The labour relations policy of Nike, the US sportswear giant, has come under fresh scrutiny following sacking of employees in one of the company?s manufacturing plants in Mexico.

The International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) has announced the agreement of a $400 million 10-year TV and sponsorship deal..

Premier League sponsors Carling, who have retained the rights to the Premier League since its inaugural season in 1992, are battling with four rival companies for the rights to the next three-year deal.

Bavaria's Christian Social Union (CSU) party called on Thursday for the German government to help pay for the redevelopment of Munich's Olympic Stadium, which will host the opening game of the 2006 World Cup.

The legal firm that advised the sports, entertainment and leisure company Enic plc in its dispute with UEFA over multi-club ownership in European competitions also represented the company in its acquisition of 26.9% (#21.9million) of Tottenham Hotspur FC.