Reuters is to launch a new World Cup multimedia section on www.reuters.com and www.reuters.co.uk in a bid to satisfy desk-bound football fans of the 2002 soccer tournament.
The announcement by Reuters may help to calm office tensions as banks fear that employees will desert their trading room desks en masse to watch high profile matches. This year's World Cup is being held in Japan and South Korea, which for European football fans, means key matches kick off in the early morning or at lunchtime.
The Reuters site will offer news on all the matches, with half time and full time reports, daily reviews, regular features, analysis, and player and coach interviews. A picture gallery of the best 30 photographs will be published and updated throughout the day.
Even the most devoted fans should be able to satisfy their appetite for World Cup facts, through profiles of over 950 players and the 32 coaches, which include career highlights as well as personal information. An interactive and animated guide includes fixture information, rules, guides to injuries and the tactics used by coaches and managers. A detailed World Cup history with statistics, memorable moments and the top 12 goals is also available.
Monique Villa, senior vice president, strategic partnerships, pictures, sports and graphics, says: "This will help all fans keep their eyes on the ball 24 hours a day during the World Cup. They will be able to play and repeat the goals on our magnificently illustrated interactive graphics and view the live results."