South America

New Zealand has pulled out of an international soccer tournament scheduled for India in January, saying it had had difficulty confirming travel and competition details with organisers.
Business

British Prime Minister Tony Blair threw open his Downing Street doors to a delegation from world soccer's governing body FIFA yesterday, hoping to convince them to back England's bid to host the 2006 World Cup.
Events

Germany's campaign to host the 2006 Soccer World Cup moved to Central Africa this week when German soccer legend and bid leader Franz Beckenbauer arrived in Cameroon to drum up support.
Events

An IOC report says preliminary results indicate that the XVIII Olympic Winter Games in Nagano, Japan, were broadcast in more countries than ever before and that the global cumulative audience is likely to equal Lillehammer's record??.

Soccer's World Cup continues to pull major TV audiences, even in countries whose national teams are not involved in a particular match.
Business

Germany has entered the race to stage the 2006 World Cup finals after they officially handed in their initial bid document to FIFA president Sepp Blatter.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has strongly denied corruption claims of a cash-for-votes scandal made in a sensational new book.

Events

Soccer legend Pele has confirmed his support for South Africa's bid to stage the 2006 World Cup, saying he thought Brazil could be ready to stage the finals four years later.

France marked the first anniversary of its World Cup victory with an agreement to invest around $50 million of the profits from the tournament in club sport and soccer.
Business

Figures released by national industry organisation Asociacion Brasilena de Telecomunicaciones por Suscripcion (ABTA) have shown that the number of pay-TV subscribers in Brazil rose by 3 percent in this year?s first quarter.
Business

Brazilian drinks giant AmBev said it had taken over from Coca Cola as the sponsor of the Brazilian soccer team with an 18-year contract that would cost the firm $180m.

International Automobile Federation (FIA) president Max Mosley should resign after the tragic start to the Formula One season, former driver Clay Regazzoni said on Wednesday.
Business

Brazilian soccer officials have come under fire following a stadium accident which left around 100 people injured and forced the cancellation of the Joao Havelange Cup final midway through the first half.
Media

ESPN Inc., Globosat Programmadora Ltda., and Fox Sports International have reached an agreement to create a new 24-hour total sports network serving Brazil.
Business

The World Cup short-course swimming series has been cut from 12 meetings to 10 and will offer more prize money.
Events

Alec McGivan, the director of England's campaign to stage the 2006 World Cup, has questioned the motives behind UEFA's threat to expel England from Euro 2000 following incidents of hooliganism.
Business

Brazil has told Asian nations that its bid for the 2006 World Cup combined passion and organisation and it deserved to host the tournament.
Events

FIFA's technical inspection team has given South Africa's bid to host the 2006 World Cup finals an unequivocal thumbs-up on Tuesday after a five-day tour to check the country's readiness.