Scandinavia

The Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) said on Wednesday it had summoned Amore Vita cycling team director Gianluigi Barsottelli to a hearing on January 7 over doping allegations. CONI said in a statement its anti-doping commission had summoned Barsottelli after studying documents from Bologna magistrates who have been conducting a wide-ranging investigation into alleged doping in cycling. A spokesman for the Italian Professional Cyclists' League said Barsottelli's team was affiliated to the English cycling federation this year.

Setanta.com, the Irish sports content provider, has signed two contracts worth #1million ($1.45m) with mobile phone companies in Norway.

The 11th European Sponsorship Consultants Association (ESCA) Congress will be held this year in Stockholm on November 15-16.

US sports marketing firm, Envision Sports and Entertainment, is expanding into Europe, appointing former ISL chiefs Chris Renner and Mark Devenport in the process.

Denis O’Brien, the millionaire Irish businessman, has raised his offer to buy PGA European Tour Courses PLC, a golf course operator, by three million pounds to £35m ($51m/B

Following the recent opening of their German office in Munich, SportBusiness Group has appointed Sponsorworld to be their official sales agent for Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland.

Sportsetail, the merchandising business owned as a joint venture by the UK’s Hay & Robertson and BSkyB, has reached a European product and distribution agreement with FIFA for the 2002 World Cup in Korea and Japan.

Lennart Johansson, president of European soccer’s ruling body UEFA said today he has “reason to believe that we will be satisfied” by an audit into the finances of world body FIFA, following the collapse of its marketing partner ISL/ISMM.

UEFA president Lennart Johansson is to stand for a fourth term as president of European soccer’s governing body, as the war of words between UEFA and FIFA seems to have reached a cease fire.

Anshutz Sports & Entertainment Group (AEG), the owners of the National Hockey League team the Los Angeles Kings and Major League Soccer club LA Galaxy, will invest in two Swedish clubs to expand its sporting assets outside the US.

A three-year agreement between the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) and the NHL over compensation payments for players leaving IIHF-federations to find their fortune in the big money US league, is on the verge of being ratified.

Former world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson will face Denmark's Brian Nielsen in a 10-round fight on September 8 at Parken Stadium in Copenhagen, cable television carrier Showtime has said.

Boxing fans will have to wait until October to see former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson in a boxing ring, despite a previous announcement this week stating that the renowned boxer would fight in September.

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.