FIBA World Champs Ticket Sales Brisk

(ATR) Many tickets for the FIBA World Basketball Championships sold out minutes after they were available.

Event organizers report that tickets for Group D, which includes China, Puerto Rico and the United States, sold out 10 minutes after being available online on March 23. Other tickets for group games and some final round seats also sold out. Sales numbers refer to tickets that were sold in Japan, but organizers say that international sales have been good as well.

Fans in Japan will have a second chance to get tickets with a second wave of sales, starting on May 20. For international fans, tickets will remain on sale until April 30, with a second series of tickets available at a later date.

The FIBA World Basketball Championships will be held from August 19 - September 3 in Japan.

FIFA World Cup Referees Announced

The FIFA Referees Committee announced that 23 referees from 23 different countries will work the 2006 FIFA World Cup. The final list was selected from a pool of 44 referees.

The 2006 World Cup will be the first with refereeing trios from the same country or confederation. The remaining members of the trios will be determined at an assistant referee workshop, which will take place from April 18-21 in Frankfurt. It will also be the first with a "support and development group", which will have seven referees and 14 assistant referees who will only be used if another match official is unable to participate.

ITU Online Entries Now Official

The International Triathlon Union is now requiring all entries to sanctioned events to be completed online at the federation's website, triathlon.org.

The move comes as a result of the success of the online system, first used at world cup and world championship events. In addition, all national federations are required to all of their elite racers into the new online system.

FEI Communication Manager Departs

Muriel Faienza, Communications Manager of the International Equestrian Federation for the last 11 years, is departing the federation to join a Swiss jewel-manufacturing company. Faienza has helped FEI develop a communications policy, create an FEI website and establish a professional service to the FEI competition series.

Sweden Wins Women's Curling Championship

Olympic champion Sweden won the Ford World Women Curling Championship for the second consecutive year, defeating the United States in the final game 10-9. In addition to the World Curling Championship and the Olympics, Sweden also won the European Championship in December.

ICF Revamps Website

The International Canoe Federation has unveiled its new website. It can be seen at www.canoeicf.com.