Europe

Bernie Ecclestone has agreed to sell half his Formula One empire to Deutsche Bank's Morgan Grenfell Private Equity in a $1.3 billion deal which puts the company's flotation back on track.

The English Rugby Football Union (RFU) will meet with top clubs next week to discuss the latest proposals for the professional game's future.

Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov has let slip one part of his long-awaited plan to tackle Russia's economic crisis, saying his government would help the national soccer team improve their image and performance.

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.

The All England Tennis Club, home to the Wimbledon tennis championship, plans to finance the enlargement and relocation of its Number Two court by offering up to 1,000 debentures for the Number One court.

Buick has agreed to become the presenting sponsor of the Tampa Bay Classic, the newest event on the PGA Tour

Italian club's prospectus will aim at investors rather than fans, according to Patrick Harverson of British newspaper The Financial Times.

London based licensing consultants Giraffe Entertainment have signed a deal with Italian soccer giants Juventus to license the club?s products in the Far East. The deal will be announced in Tokyo on Monday at a press conference, which will also be attended by Juve?s owner, and Fiat magnate Umberto Agnelli, and club vice president and former star Roberto Bettega.

Europe's leading national soccer coaches have said a Super League would act against the interests of international football.

The central England city of Birmingham has been awarded the 2003 world indoor athletics championships beating off the opposition of Budapest.

England Premiership soccer club Leeds United has launched LUTV, a behind the scenes insight into the club through their official website.

Future winners of the European Champions' League could collect up to 70 million Swiss francs ($52.0 million) in prize money, according to figures released by European soccer's ruling body UEFA on Friday.

Hosts Australia will push ahead with plans to stage some matches at the 2003 Rugby World Cup indoors despite continued opposition to the idea from the Northern Hemisphere.

Rupert Murdoch's News Corp is set to join forces with four top soccer clubs and media group Cecchi Gori to buy 65% of Telecom Italia's digital tv operation, Stream.

Bob Schwartz has been named vice president of marketing for Comcast-Spectacor Ventures and its affiliated companies.

Swedish internet TV provider Kamera has bought the UK internet protocol (IP) rights to a package of Serie A match highlights from MP Web, the new media company of the Milan-based Media Partners group.
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