China

The Houston Rockets have secured a naming rights deal with car manfacturer Toyota for the NBA team's new $200million arena.

Internet agency Kim Sports International has signed a deal with Major League Baseball Advanced Media to become the exclusive licence holder for MLB-related internet rights in Korea.

The organising committee for the Beijing 2008 Olympics has reportedly upped the working budget for the Games citing security and health issues.

The organising committee for the Beijing 2008 Olympics is to reveal the agenda of its marketing programme at the beginning of September.

The British American Racing (BAR) Formula One team has signed a major sponsorship deal with Chinese internet portal SINA - furthering the roots between motorsport and the Asian region.

The organising committee for the Beijing 2008 Olympics has launched a new website, www.beijing-olympic.org.cn, providing information on the preparations for the Games.

Just weeks after IOC officials said they were seeking a Chinese TOP sponsor, reports claim a Beijing-based IT firm is on the verge of securing a multi-million dollar deal.

Former IMG and Fast Track executive, Matthew Argenti, has joined UK-based sports marketing firm Navigator as its new commercial director.

The official website of this year's FIFA Women's World Cup will be launched later this month.

Gerhard Heiberg, the chairman of the International Olympic Committee marketing commission, has stated that the governing body is looking for a top line sponsor from China to join the TOP programme.

Moves to reform the US Olympic Committee will be discussed next week when International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge meets with the Donald Fehr, co-chair of the congressionally appointed panel that studied the proposals.

US Champ Car motor racing team Walker Racing has signed a new business and development deal with Air China.

The 2008 Beijing Olympics will be held two weeks later than originally planned because of weather concerns.

A US Supreme Court has ruled that a lawsuit against sportswear giant Nike, alleging it lied about conditions in its overseas factories, can go ahead.

Adidas has signed a six-year deal with the China Football Association, extending its agreement to support football in the country until 2010.

Leading Japanese construction equipment manufacturer Komatsu says its sales in China are likely to more than treble in the next three years as the build-up to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing intensifies.

Formula One's world governing body has made a major u-turn and scrapped its plans for a ban on tobacco advertising in 2006.

The new 27,500-seater Home Depot Center in California has been confirmed as the host venue for the FIFA Women's World Cup soccer final later this year.