Scandinavia

Just when Norwegian football appears to be resolving its internal crisis over three national team players refusing to sign the Norwegian Football Association's sponsorship deal, the Norwegian Track and Field Association (NFIF) is facing the same ordeal.

The two clubs who reach the European Cup Final next May will each receive up to 25,000 tickets for the match at the Stade de France in Paris, UEFA has announced.

Organisers of soccer's Women's World Cup say they are on course to top 500,000 ticket sales before the event kicks-off in June.

Clubs who form a breakaway northern European League will not be able to take part in the lucrative Champions League, according to European soccer's ruling body UEFA.

The European Commission has backed a UK government pledge forcing broadcasters to screen the UK?s major sports events on free-to-air television.

Olympics boss Juan Antonio Samaranch has launched a scathing attack against media critics who have called for him to quit over the Salt Lake City corruption scandal.

Representatives from FIFA, UEFA, Europe's leading clubs and the players' union met on Tuesday to discuss proposed changes to soccer's transfer system but were unable to reach any agreement.

Universal McCann Event, McCann Erickson?s sports marketing department in Paris, has brokered a partnership agreement between Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI), the world governing body for air sports, and Discovery Wings Channel, the North American channel for air sports enthusiasts.

Mobile phone crazy Swedes will be able to follow the fortunes of their national team in the European soccer championships through their handsets, Swedish wireless services innovator Goyada said on Friday.

During 1997, the total turnover for Norweigan Premier League football clubs has grown 52% from 1996 to 500,000,000 Norweigan Krona (USD 64 million).

The second annual Oslo Racing Festival will not be held this year after a dispute between festival organisers and the Swedish Touring Car Championship (STCC) over costs failed to be resolved.

Denmark goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel has bought Copenhagen soccer club Hvidovre, where he made his debut in 1984. No price for the deal, announced on Wednesday, was given by the club but it confirmed Schmeichel had bought a 100 percent shareholding and that Swedish telecoms carrier Telia would act as Hvidovre's main sponsor.

The opening match in the Women's World Cup between the United States and Denmark attracted the largest crowd ever to attend a women's sports event.

Debt collecting agency Intrum Justitia has clinched a unique ice-hockey sponsorship agreement with four Nordic countries.

Sony?s Jumbotron large size video display system has made its debut in Denmark and Greece, following sales to major rental companies in both countries.

SportsLine, the US internet sports information service, which runs web-site such as CBS SportsLine, soccernet and Golfweb, is to develop a $50milion European subsidiary in partnership with Intel, MediaOne and Reuters.