China

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.

The NBA has confirmed it has renewed a string of international television agreements with a number of long-time partners.

International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Jacques Rogge has indicated that the vote to drop three sports from the Games could be postponed.

The chief executive of the World Superbike Championships (WSBK) has told sportbusiness.com that negotiations to host a race in China are at an "advanced stage".

A new speaker for a major seminar on sport business opportunities in China has been confirmed.

Visa has extended its sponsorship of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in a new deal running through until 2012.

Hungary has denied its place on the Formula One calendar is at risk as motorsport chiefs look to make way for China and Bahrain.

A new speaker has been confirmed for the upcoming SportBusiness Seminar on China: Opportunities in the Business of Sport.

IOC president Jacques Rogge has insisted pressure from an unidentified TOP sponsor would not influence which sports get kicked off the Olympic programme.

Formula One's leading figures abstained from making radical changes to the structure of the sport, implementing only a few of the raft of proposals put forward at today's FIA Formula One Commission meeting.

Wireless communications giant Samsung has renewed its sponsorship of the Olympic Games.

As expected, China has won a seven-year deal to stage Formula One Grand Prix after a deal was signed with Bernie Ecclestone.

Bahrain is set to join China as a new venue for Formula One in 2004 after it was confirmed it has joined forces with Malaysia to build a new motorsport circuit.

Recent successes in its bid to host the 2008 Olympic Games and stage a Formula One race has left little doubt that China is emerging as a genuine force in the sports industry. A new SportBusiness seminar will lead the debate on the opportunities available in the country.

Formula One is to confirm this week it will be heading to China - at least according to the company building a major new circuit in Shanghai.

English Premier League side Chelsea are reportedly looking to secure a further securitised loan to solve their cash crisis.

The world's top professional golfers have indicated that they do not want golf to be included as an Olympic sport in time for the Beijing Games in 2008.

Italian sports marketing firm Media Partners is to open a new office in Asia, it will announce this week at Sportel.