Japan

The NFL's American Bowl will return to Japan next year - making Japan its favourite international destination.

Soccer's international governing body FIFA has unveiled a trio of computer-animated fantasy mascots for the next World Cup in what it said was a move to reflect the high-tech reputation of co-hosts Korea and Japan.

An IOC report says preliminary results indicate that the XVIII Olympic Winter Games in Nagano, Japan, were broadcast in more countries than ever before and that the global cumulative audience is likely to equal Lillehammer's record??.

Baseball could stage its first world cup as early as 2001.

Asia's economic crisis has begun to bite into Singapore's professional soccer league, with players being forced to take a pay cut, a source close to the island state's national team has said.

The provisional 17-race schedule for next season was released Thursday by the FIA, auto racing's world governing body, at a meeting of the World Motor Sport Council.

The Organising Committee for the Olympic Football Tournaments, Sydney 2000, has reaffirmed their ruling on age limits, and announced that the Men's Olympic final will be played in Sydney's new Olympic Stadium.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter put forward the biggest change in the history of world soccer Sunday, saying the World Cup should be held every two years instead of four.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has strongly denied corruption claims of a cash-for-votes scandal made in a sensational new book.

Japan will consult with co-hosts South Korea on how to solve the row between Asia and FIFA over the allocation of places for the 2002 World Cup, Japan's top soccer official has said.

ESPN International and the National Football League (NFL) have agreed to extend their existing worldwide distribution agreement through the 2002 season.

Olympic boss Jacques Rogge is confident swimming's governing body FINA will agree to start testing for erythropoietin (EPO), one of the most dangerous banned drugs in sport.

UEFA president Lennart Johansson has called on FIFA chief Sepp Blatter to explain the collapse of FIFA's marketing agent ISL and the cancellation of the World Club championship or face the consequences, which could lead to his removal as president of the game's ruling body.

Argentina's professional soccer players decided to start an indefinite strike on Monday because they claim the clubs owe them millions in unpaid wages and bonuses.

A U.S. congressional committee has approved a resolution urging Olympics organisers to reject China's bid to host the Games in 2008, citing concerns about Beijing's human rights record.

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.