Monaco

Venues hoping to host Golden League athletics meetings will now have to meet strict criteria for TV coverage and financial security, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) has said.

Disney-owned free-to-air US network ABC has agreed a TV rights deal for coverage of Formula One races in 2002.

German bank West LB is reportedly preparing to buy UK championship golf course Wentworth in a £100million ($143/EUR163.5m) deal.

UK-based motorsports marketing group Podia Group Plc has agreed to acquire Tony Jardine Communications for up to £1.5million ($2.1m/EUR2.4m) in shares.

German-based company UFA Sports which has made its name by snapping up TV rights to European soccer clubs, has secured deals with more than half of the clubs playing in the first round of this year's UEFA Cup competition.

The IAAF has received interest from eight cities to host the 2005 World Championships following the withdrawal of London at the end of last year.

Leading figures in the motorsport industry gather in Monaco this week amid one of the most crucial stages for leading disciplines around the globe.

UEFA's Executive Committee meet in Nyon with a full agenda including the announcment of venues for the 2003 Champions League and UEFA Cup finals and the agency contract for the Champions League, leading figures from motorsport will be in Monaco for the Motor SportBusiness conference and the FIA Motor Sports Council meeting on Friday and the IAAF Golden League working group assemble in Dakar.

Malaysian state oil firm Petronas is in talks to buy Sepang Formula One circuit, the track owner has confirmed.

Oil giant ChevronTexaco will end a five-year relationship with the Ford-owned Jaguar Formula One team at the end of 2001.

Next year's British Grand Prix could be scrubbed off the official 2002 Formula One calendar at a meeting in Monaco next week - leaving promoters Octagon Motorsports red-faced.

The cream of the motorsport industry is preparing to gather in Monaco next week for the Motor SportBusiness conference.

Octagon UK has been appointed by Vodafone to boost its sponsorship of the Ferrari Formula One team.

The Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) hold their AGM having called off strike action, the IAAF meet in Monaco after the traditional World Athletics Gala at the weekend, Bud Selig has called an urgent meeting on Tuesday to discuss the issue of contraction and the FIFA Executive Board meet in Busan, concluding with the 2002 FIFA World Cup draw.

A string of industry big-hitters have been confirmed to address the industry’s leading motorsport conference – Motor SportBusiness – in Monaco next month.

Podia Group plc has acquired the UK-based Formula One hospitality and event hosting companies Event Vision Marketing Services Limited (EVMS) and Event Vision Grand Prix Ball Limited (EVGP).