Scandinavia

Extreme Sports Channel, the adventure and adrenaline sports service, has become available on the UPC Sweden network from May 1st. UPCtv has signed an agreement with UPC Sverige to distribute Extreme Sports Channel in the city of Stockholm.

Over 200,000 fake merchandising items were seized by French authorities before the World Cup and thousands were still on sale around the stadiums during Wednesday's first two matches, a government official said on Thursday.

The international careers of four of Norway's top players are still hanging in the balance following a last minute hitch over a compromise deal on marketing rights with the Norwegian Football Association.

A sell-out crowd and record viewing figures have all but been ensured by the presence of the US team in next Saturday's Women's World Cup Final at the Pasadena Rose Bowl.

Belgian champions Anderlecht has said they had been invited to join the so-called G14 lobby group that unites some of Europe's premier soccer clubs.

ESPN International has acquired a package of more than fifty 2002 World Cup qualifying matches from the European group, including matches involving England, Italy, Germany, Spain, The Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Norway, Croatia, Yugoslavia, Denmark and Portugal.

European athletics chiefs have agreed to stage a new indoor European Cup in 2001, an athletics source said recently.

There is still no date for a European summit involving the European Commission and the presidents of FIFA and UEFA aimed at helping break the deadlock over the player transfer system.

The ATP Tour will unveil the latest ad in its "New Balls Please" campaign in tomorrow's edition of USA Today.

S:COMM, the Stockholm-based market research compnay, has agreed a partnership with Lynne Anderson Consulting Group in Sydney, Australia. The group will add S:Comm?s Spindex monitoring service to its value-added services for brand exposure evaluation during spring 2000.

Canadian broadcaster TSN says first round World Cup matches have produced outstanding ratings.

Norwegian alpine skier, Lasse Kjuus has been fined 10,000 kroner ($1,140) by the Norwegian Ski Association for breaching Norway's rules against mixing sports and alcohol for commercial purposes.

European internet sports network Sportal has finalised a new round of funding for its operations, which the company envisages will see it through to profitability in early 2002.

World and European soccer champions France have launched a publicity campaign aimed at keeping the French public interested in the team.

Britain has urged the Belgian and Dutch hosts of Euro 2000 to get tough on English thugs and prevent an ugly new outbreak of violence at this summer's festival of football.

From next season, the top-skiers of Sweden will be forced to pay 10% of their prize-money to the Swedish Skiing Association.