China
Business

Yao Ming, the Houston Rockets' Chinese basketball star, has signed his first individual sponsorship deal as an NBA player.

Pan-regional pay-TV network ESPN Star Sports (ESS) has pinpointed football coverage as the key to growing its business in China.

FIFA has promised a major cash boost to help women's soccer in 2003.
Sponsorship & Marketing

Mark Thomas, managing director of marketing agency S2M Group, has warned new entrants to the Chinese sports market to ensure they have a clear strategy in mind before investing in the region.

NBA.com broke its record for monthly traffic in November - the first month of the new season.
Events

Granada Sport and Interactive - the new media partner of English Premier League soccer sides Arsenal and Liverpool - has struck a deal to market the clubs' websites in China.
Business

A number of leading figures from China have been confirmed as attendees at the London launch of Sino-Navigator's first project following the signing of its 15-year agreement with the Chinese authorities.
Business

The IOC has praised organisers of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games following a two-day meeting in the Chinese capital.
Media

TNSSport is launching a sports research service in China from January.
Business

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) voted overwhelmingly to delay a decision on the future Olympic status of three sports meaning that the Games are likely to remain unchanged until at least 2012.
Events

IEC in Sports has signed a deal to represent the TV rights to badminton's IBF World Grand Prix event, the China Open.

The raft of opportunities available in China for all associated with the business of sport are being evaluated this afternoon courtesy of SportBusiness Seminars.
Business

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has confirmed that it will vote on the future Olympic status of baseball, softball and modern pentathlon at its meeting in Mexico City on Friday.

With less than 24 hours to go until SportBusiness’ ‘China: Opportunities in the Business of Sport’ seminar, in association with Norton Rose, a further luminary has been added to the panel of speakers.
Business

Istanbul has been awarded a Formula One race in 2005 according to Turkey's motor sports federation.
Business

Sino-Navigator Sports Business Ltd has secured a major long-term rights deal in China, becoming one of the first European marketing agencies to break into this rapidly emerging market.
Business

Electronics brand Philips will continue its long-term association with soccer after agreeing a sponsorship deal with FIFA for the 2006 World Cup.

The NBA has moved to cash in on the global appeal of its top draft player, Yao Ming, by launching a Chinese-language version of its website, NBA.com.