China

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.

Marty Mankamyer, the president of the US Olympic Committee (USOC) has opposed a recommendation to drop freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling at future Olympic Games.

Bahrain is reportedly in line to host a Formula One race from the 2004 season but Moscow has been dropped as a potential venue, according to reports.

China's ongoing efforts to establish itself as a major sporting location have received a boost after the Asian PGA confirmed the country would host its first $1million (EUR1.01m) golf tournament later this year.