China
BEIJING BANKS ON BILLION DOLLAR GAMES BOOST
Beijing expects to receive revenues of $1.625bn from hosting the 2008 Olympic Games if its bid is successful, Jiang Xiaoyu, vice-chairman of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Committee has said.
CHINADOTCOM CUTS 400 STAFF
Asian Internet firm chinadotcom is to cut more than 400 staff by June and sell non-core operations.
ESPN STAR ACQUIRES PREMIER LEAGUE RIGHTS
Asian sports broadcaster ESPN STAR Sports (ESS) has acquired the exclusive terrestrial, cable and satellite television broadcast rights of the English Premier League for the next three seasons beginning August 2001.
GOLD MEDAL WINNER WARNS AGAINST BEIJING
Jan Zelezny, winner of three Olympic javelin gold medals and one of a dozen active athletes who are members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), has warned against awarding the 2008 Games to Beijing.
CHINA TOUTS INFRASTRUCTURE BUILD-UP FOR GAMES BID
China's capital Beijing has spent billions of dollars this year widening and extending roads to pave the way for its bid to host the 2008 Olympic Games, the Xinhua news agency has reported.
GLOBAL OLYMPIC TV RATINGS OFFSET NBC PERFORMANCE
The disappointing ratings for Olympic coverage on NBC in the US have been offset by more encouraging figures around the world.
BEIJING PLEDGES FAIR, FRIENDLY 2008 OLYMPICS FIGHT
Beijing has promised a fair and friendly contest to host the 2008 Olympics after China's capital was chosen as one of the five official candidates for the summer games.
CLUBS GAIN UPPER HAND IN CHINESE VOLLEYBALL LEAGUE
The Chinese national volleyball association has decided to loosen its grip on China?s volleyball clubs by offering them the opportunity to run their own league matches.
FRENCH SEIZE COUNTERFEIT SPORTS SHOES FROM CHINA
French customs officials have seized more than 77,800 pairs of counterfeit Adidas, Fila and Sprandi sports shoes in a shipment from China at the French port of Le Havre.
HONG KONG BETTING INDUSTRY SLUMPS
With Hong Kong's economy contracting, the territory's popular horseracing industry has found that fewer bettors are willing to try their luck.
MALAYSIA?S OLYMPICS FACILITIES `EXCELLENT CONDITION?
Malaysia's Deputy Sports Minister Datuk Loke Yuen Yow has said that Malaysia will bid to host subsequent Olympics even if it fails in its bid to hold the 2008 Games.
CHINESE BID GETS GREEN LIGHT
The Chinese Olympic Committee (COC) today approved an application by Beijing to bid for the 2008 Olympic Games.
SPONSOR ACCUSES SYDNEY OF BRIBERY
A U.S. insurance giant and major Olympic sponsor has said the committee responsible for Sydney's successful bid for the 2000 Games appeared to have been involved in bribery.
CHINA MAY STAGE MOSCOW?S KREMLIN CUP
Moscow's annual Kremlin Cup tournament could be leased to China, Russia's tennis chief has said.
BEIJING TO ACCEPT INTERNATIONAL CONTRACTORS
The Chinese government will welcome bids from international investors to take part in the design, construction and operation of competition venues for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing via a public bidding process.
INDIA RACE TO LAUNCH AFRO-ASIAN GAMES
India is racing against time to complete the preparations for the first Afro-Asian games in November, which has been hit by delays in getting facilities ready, poor financial returns and low-key competitions.
CHINA CENTRAL TELEVISION CONTESTS ESPN SOCCER RIGHTS
A broadcast war is developing in China between the country?s national broadcaster and ESPN over the right to televise China?s top soccer league.
CHINA JAILS ACTIVIST OVER OLYMPIC APPEAL
China has sentenced an activist to two years in a labour camp for urging the International Olympic Committee to use Beijing's bid for the 2008 Games to press Chinese authorities to free jailed democracy activists.