Japan
Business

A trademark row between Nike and world soccer governing body FIFA has spilt over into the courts after the sports goods giant filed legal action this week.
Events

IEC in Sports has renewed its agreement with the Chinese Badminton Association to represent the IBF China Super Grand Prix Championships.

The Japan Football Association (JFA) has moved into its new fully-owned office building, JFA House.

Belgium is back and China and Bahrain join the fold - the FIA has finally confirmed next year's Formula One World Championship calendar.
Business

The World Rally Championship has unveiled its expanded calendar for next year including new races in Mexico and Japan.
Events

World Wrestling Entertainment's Asian Tour has been a resounding success in terms of ticket sales.
Media

The IAAF says TV ratings for its World Championships in Paris are 'encouraging' but some major markets were hit hard.
Media

ESPN International and the National Football League (NFL) have agreed to extend their existing worldwide TV rights distribution agreement through the 2005 season.
Sponsorship & Marketing

UK-based Icons.com has signed an exclusive marketing partnership agreement with ProEvents Management for all Icons products and services in Asia.
Sponsorship & Marketing

New research from Sport+Markt indicates that televised football is more popular in the Far East than Europe.
Events

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has signed off on a $155million TV rights deal in Japan for the Athens 2004 Games.
Media

Internet agency Kim Sports International has signed a deal with Major League Baseball Advanced Media to become the exclusive licence holder for MLB-related internet rights in Korea.
Events

UEFA and its partnering agency TEAM Marketing have concluded a number of TV rights negotiations for the next Champions League contract after announcing a raft of new deals.
Stadia

Internet firm Yahoo! has extended its relationship with soccer governing body FIFA to incorporate the Women's World Cup.
Business

World Rally governing body, the FIA has stepped up its bid to revamp the World Rally Championship by announcing that Japan could stage an event for the first time next year.

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has renewed its TV rights agreement with international swimming federation FINA for a further two years.

FIFA is set to change the cycle of presidential elections in a bid to avoid the messy battle witnessed during the run-up to last summer's World Cup in Korea and Japan - in a move which is set to extend Sepp Blatter's mandate for a further year.
Business

Speaking at the FT Business of Sport conference, UEFA communications director Mike Lee revealed that the governing body's revenue from TV rights sales in Japan has risen considerably.