China

The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) recognised the Athletic Federation of Serbia and the Athletic Federation of Montenegro as two separate Members after Montenegro withdrew from the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro.

The Qianxhie Food Group has become the sixth company to become an exclusive supplier of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

One of the world’s leading sports marketers is to deliver an authoritative insight into the value and processes of event branding and the relationship between event managers and sponsors at the first International Sports Event Management Conference which takes place in London on November 22 and 23.

Proposed extensive changes to the scheduling of events at the 2008 Beijing Olympics to suit the television schedules of US network NBC could have a knock on effect on other events held in the lead up to the Olympics.

Motor racing series A1 Grand Prix unveiled a provisional calendar of 13 races for its second season, 2006-07. The season kicks off on October 1, 2006 at Circuit Park Zandvoort in the Netherlands and concludes at Brands Hatch in the UK, on April 29, 2007. A New Zealand race, although still to be confirmed, is new to the calendar, while races at the EuroSpeedway and Estoril have disappeared from the calendar.

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The adidas Group has agreed a deal to take control of the distribution and license rights for the Reebok brand in China.

IEC in Sports has been appointed by China Open Promotions Ltd to handle worldwide television distribution for the ATP China Open.

TV audiences for the FIFA World Cup in host country Germany have rocketed by 51 percent on the 2002 event, according to the latest research commissioned by Infront.

Australian TV chiefs have urged IOC president Jacque Rogge not to shift the timing of the swimming events at the 2008 Beijing Games to cater for the US audience.

A delegation of powerful Chinese sports government officials are flying into London next month to speak at a major conference aimed at identifying opportunities in the fast emerging market.

Financial giant Citigroup has extended its sponsorship of the Tennis Masters Cup in Shanghai.

Beijing 2008 Olympic Games chiefs have confirmed the dismissal of a senior city figure on alleged corruption charges are not related to the staging of the event.

UK marketing and sponsorship agency, brandRapport has appointed a new account director.

The IOC has completed its sixth visit of Beijing ahead of the 2008 Olympic Games and said it was ‘delighted’ at the progress being made.

The IOC has extended its Olympic sponsorship deal with official timekeeper Omega.