South-East Asia

Swedish international television agency IEC in Sports has acquired the worldwide TV rights for two IAAF Athletics meets in Japan ? the IAAF Grand Prix in Osaka on May 12 and the IAAF SuperMeet in Yokohama on September 15, 2001.

India's government has reacted sharply to a threat by the country's cricket board to boycott the World Cup until the government clarifies playing guidelines.

India's cricket board has threatened to boycott the World Cup and the ICC Knockout Cup until the Indian government clarifies its policy on playing in "non-regular" venues, a top board official has said.

India's government has told the country's cricket board it should not send a team to the forthcoming Sharjah tournament in which Pakistan are also competing.

Asian Internet firm chinadotcom is to cut more than 400 staff by June and sell non-core operations.

The London-based Quintus Group has concluded the acquisition of Bailey Carr Ltd, adding to the company?s recent acquisition of RHB Ventures USA .

Britain?s Liverpool Football Club is looking for an Asian affiliate for a television channel the club hopes to set up with Granada Television, a major Liverpool shareholder.

The Singapore Sports Ministry has unveiled a budget of S$500 million over five years for sports, and outlined plans for a new complex that aims to turn Singapore into a hub for world-class sporting events.

Singapore's multi-million dollar sports industry can double its market value to S$1.4 billion by 2010 according to a recent report.

SportsLine.com has discontinued its efforts to establish a joint venture in Asia with Asiacontent.com, according to a company press release.

NTUC Income has committed S$2.5-million ($1.43m)for Singapore?s S-League for the next two years, a move which will give it the title sponsorship.

Manchester United supporters have expressed concern at their club?s deal with the New York Yankees.

Sports, entertainment and events marketing and management firms Philadelphia-based RHB Ventures and Quintus Group in London, have merged to form Quintus, Incorporated.

Octagon has appointed Swee Sin Wu as vice president of business development for Octagon in Asia.

Singapore?s free-to-air sports channel SportsCity has won a hat-trick of prizes in their first year of broadcasting.

Tenpin bowling may become an internationally competitive sport for the blind by 2008 with the help of high-tech guidance systems, according to reports in Singapore.