Sub-Saharan Africa

Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero has pledged his country’s support to Morocco as the race to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup enters the final straight.

English cricket chiefs are reconsidering plans to tour Zimbabwe later this year, after a presentation from the African nation.

Sportswear firm Puma is on a collision course with soccer’s governing body FIFA after the Cameroon national soccer side was hit with a big penalty after wearing the firm’s controversial kit during the recent African Cup of Nations.

FIFA’s TV partner Infront Sports & Media has reached an exclusive agreement with Australian network SBS for the broadcast rights for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany.

Sports marketing giant IMG is expanding into global tourism as it looks to increase its consultancy base.

MotoGP kick-starts its new season next weekend, with a full team of commercial sponsors.

England starts selling tickets for this summer’s ICC Champions Trophy today, despite earlier threats the tournament could be moved elsewhere.

A major new global motorsport series is to be launched next year – with nations rather than individuals battling it out for glory.

Senegal has come out in support of Morocco’s bid to land the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

The revival of Australian soccer’s commercial fortunes continue after sportswear giant Nike confirmed a major new deal with the sport’s governing body.

Dorna has confirmed a title sponsor of the opening round of the 2004 MotoGP World Championship season.

England’s cricket chiefs have been told failure to tour Zimbabwe will almost certainly lead to a call to have the Champions Trophy event withdrawn and handed to new hosts.

The Federation of Gay Games is facing one of the biggest challenges to its position after the European Gay and Lesbian Sports Federation (EGLSF) voted to pull out of the organisation.

The International Cricket Council has confirmed it will release more of the money it withheld from its members following last year’s Cricket World Cup.

Cricket nations which pull out of tours they have committed to will find themselves facing heavy fines, under new plans drawn up by the sport’s governing body, the ICC.

English cricket’s unease at touring Zimbabwe could back-fire financially, with some reports suggesting the ICC may shift its Champions Trophy tournament to another host nation as punishment.

World cricket’s governing body meets in New Zealand next week to discuss a number of key commercial issues – among them a proposal to move the ICC headquarters out of its traditional home of Lord’s in London.

Franz Beckenbauer has blasted FIFA’s rotation policy for future World Cups.