Hong Kong

Adidas, one of the World Cup's sponsors is cancelling all orders of footballs made in China after a report linked production with prison labour.

Asia basketball fans have been given a boost with the news that ESPN Star Sports will air 77 National Basketball Association (NBA) live games each season for the next four years from this November.

Asian soccer's governing body has said it would crack down on corruption and match-fixing.

China is considering rival bids by three of its largest cities - Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou - to host the 2008 Olympic Games, state media said on Monday.

International rugby union officials have decided to expand the Pacific Rim championship from four to seven teams.

Argentina are to host the 2001 World Cup Sevens, the International Rugby Board (IRB) has announced.

The Organising Committee for the Olympic Football Tournaments, Sydney 2000, has reaffirmed their ruling on age limits, and announced that the Men's Olympic final will be played in Sydney's new Olympic Stadium.

Asian Games officials have turned a blind eye to a reported call by Thai police for alcohol to be banned at sports venues after fans threw bottles onto the pitch during a preliminary soccer match.

Barcelona, Long Beach and Montreal have applied to stage the 2003 world long-course swimming championships, the International Amateur Swimming Federation (FINA) has said.

Sports marketing heavyweights ISL have launched a new Tennis Division to handle the ATP Tour?s Super 9 tournaments and the ITF?s Fed Cup.

Italian sportswear company FILA has signed a $12 million three year deal as technical sponsor/official supplier for the ATP Tour Super Nine series and world championship.

Manchester United will take another step towards global brand status by opening a chain of retail shops in the Middle East.

A decision on who should run Melbourne, Australia's 2006 Commonwealth Games, is set to be made next week.

DIRECTV, the leading US digital pay-TV entertainment service, has reached an affiliate agreement with FOX Sports World to offer the network on the DIRECTV programming line-up beginning September 1, 1999.

News Corp's latest financial results for the second quarter 2001 have shown that Asian joint venture ESPN Star Sports (ESS) is still $21million (?23.4m) in debt.

Australian and South African rugby union will benefit from extra broadcasting revenue if a plan for the two countries? teams to clash offshore in Asia goes ahead.