South America

Argentina are to host the 2001 World Cup Sevens, the International Rugby Board (IRB) has announced.

Lisbon is expected to launch its second bid this year to host a major sports event.

Argentine soccer players are planning to go on strike for the second time this year over unpaid wages and bonuses.

Argentine soccer players, who have been on strike for over a week in protest at unpaid wages and bonuses, want clubs to be relegated if they do not pay on time.

Soccer legend Diego Maradona was met on his arrival in Rome on Thursday by tax authorities and police who told him he owed about 50 billion lire ($24.6 million) to Italian tax authorities, police sources said.

ESPN is to broadcast live coverage of a major golf tournament in Argentina later this year.

Argentina's soccer players are to go on strike this weekend in protest at on-pitch violence after a third division player was beaten by fans of the opposing team.

The president of the Chilean Olympic Committee (COCh), Sergio Santander, has handed in a letter of resignation after he was accused of corruption in Salt Lake City's successful bid to host the 2002 Winter Games.

India will host an international soccer tournament next January.

Fogdog Sports has acquired Sports Universe, the action sports e-tailer, providing Fogdog with a new action sports specialty store on the Internet.

Brazil's soccer tour of Australia has became a financial disaster as superstar Ronaldo withdrew and the promoter took the extraordinary step of declaring free admission.

Brazil's low-key bid to stage the 2006 World Cup finals has been dealt a possibly fatal blow when the head of FIFA's inspection team said the country's infrastructure needed improving.

On the eve of the World Cup kick off, a strike by Air France pilots dragged into its ninth day on Tuesday and looked sure to disrupt the start of the soccer tournament.

Brazil has said it would bid to stage the 2006 World Cup, and immediately received the backing of the South American Football Confederation (CSF).

Last year's football World Cup finals in France made a pre-tax profit of 350 million francs ($60 million), it has been revealed.

Brazilian soccer legend Pele has confirmed he has been in discussions with Media Partners over the possibility of forming a Brazilian Super League.