Olympic Games: Reebok sues Sydney organisers

THE AMERICAN sportswear company Reebok International have dropped a multi-million dollar sponsorship deal with the Sydney Olympic organisers (SOCOG) and has launched legal action seeking damages for an alleged breach of contract.

Keith Forbes, the general manager of Reebok Australia, said the company had terminated a deal reportedly worth around A$15m (pounds 5.7m) because SOCOG had struck deals with competitors. Reebok was to be the official sports brand of the Sydney Olympics and the exclusive supplier of sports brand products to SOCOG.

Juan Antonio Samaranch, the International Olympic Committee president, is confident that he will not be interrogated by FBI investigators when he is in Washington next week testifying before Congress about the organisation's reform efforts. Samaranch, for the time being at least, will note be questioned about the Salt Lake City bribery scandal.

"If the FBI wants to meet with me, I am ready, but not on this occasion," he said.