South America

Formula One's ruling body has summoned the organisers of the Brazilian Grand Prix to a meeting next week after advertising hoardings fell on the circuit during qualifying for Sunday's race.

South African Sports Minister Ngconde Balfour has said his country would "comfortably earn" the right to stage the 2006 World Cup finals.

South American Football Confederation (CSF) president Nicolas Leoz has said that he wanted the Copa America to go ahead in Colombia despite recent violence there.

The World Cup of Golf will become the fourth World Golf Championship next year with a change in format, it has been announced.

Angry Bangladesh soccer fans in the coastal Cox's Bazar district ransacking the place when power failed during the opening match of the World Cup.

Olympic chief Juan Antonio Samaranch has gaven a clean bill of health to Chinese sport and said Beijing was now an example to the world of how to fight against drug cheats.

The Argentine domestic season will finally get under way at the weekend two weeks later than planned after the second players' strike of the year delayed the start.

Yet another South American soccer tournament is in danger of disappearing as doubts arise about the participation of Brazilian teams in the Copa Mercosur 2002.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter called on Friday for worldwide bans against players who are found guilty of using false passports.

Struggling first division club Los Andes abandoned a practice when a gang of armed men, claiming to be disgruntled supporters, invaded the training ground and threatened the team, players said Wednesday.

EventsCorp has won the international bid to stage the 2003 UCI BMX World Championships in Perth, Australia.

Argentinean club soccer has received a major financial boost after clubs voted to allow private investment and professional management as a means to allow the domestic league to compete with its global rivals.

Argentine officials admitted on Thursday that they were pessimistic about the chances of a quick end to the players' strike, the second to hit the domestic game this year.

Former FIFA president Joao Havelange has urged Brazil to pull out of the race to host the 2006 event.

Brazil will not be suspended from the next World Cup even if found guilty of fielding over-age players in a youth tournament, FIFA president Sepp Blatter has said.

Dealers say foreign exchange trade in London, the world's busiest currency market, will slow to a trickle next Monday when England makes its debut in the World Cup.