China

As widely anticipated, Paris has become the latest name to be added to the list of candidates to host the 2012 Olympic Games.

FIFA has confirmed it will be a straight shoot-out between the US and Sweden to host the rescheduled Women's World Cup finals.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has confirmed the commonly held belief that the US is hot favourite to host the rescheduled Women's World Cup, after the event was pulled out of China because of the SARS epidemic.

The US is firm favourite to land the short-notice right to host the FIFA Women's World Cup soccer tournament as the deadline looms later this week for bids to be submitted, following the decision to pull the event out of China because of the SARS epidemic.

A panel of experts at the SportAccord conference in Madrid have emphasised the need for stronger links between education and sport.

Cycling's world governing body the UCI has confirmed Germany will host this year's Track World Championships, initially due to take place in China.

Anglo-Sino soccer marketing consultancy FMMInternational has struck a strategic alliance deal with Titan Sports - China's largest sports specific publisher.

Canada has offered to help co-host the 2003 Women's World Cup should the soccer tournament be held in the US.

As predicted on sportbusiness.com last week, FIFA has pulled the Women's World Cup out of China - and sparked a fight between the US and Australia to host the event.

The Champ Car World Series says it is in 'serious and meaningful' discussions with government officials in Beijing and Seoul with a view to staging races in future seasons, sportbusiness.com can confirm.

London's hopes of bidding for the 2012 Olympic Games have received a timely boost after new research revealed seven out of 10 Londoners believed there would be long-term social benefits to hosting the event.

The FIFA Women's World Cup finals, due to take place in China in September, seem almost certain to be postponed or staged elsewhere, as concerns over the spread of the SARS virus continues to haunt sporting events in the region.

Cycling's World Track Championships look set to become the latest sport to be disrupted by the SARS epidemic, after Cycling Australia threatened to pull its team out of the event if it continues to go ahead in China.

The continued medical threat of the SARS virus has affected two more sports bodies in China.

Media reports suggest that French president Jacques Chirac has officially confirmed Paris' intention to bid for the 2012 Olympic Games.

English Premier League giant Manchester United has signed a five-year deal with Barclaycard to promote club-branded credit cards outside of the UK.