Asia

International Cycling Union (UCI) president Brian Cookson has said the governing body is close to an agreement with Olympic organisers that will see cycling events for the 2020 Games in Tokyo staged outside of the Japanese capital.

China has given its approval for the development of a Y58.4bn (€8.5bn/$9.2bn) high-speed rail line that will connect the capital of Beijing to all outdoor venues that will be used during the city’s hosting of the 2022 winter Olympic Games.

Sundar Raman, a key architect in the development of the Indian Premier League as one of sport’s most lucrative competitions, has resigned as chief operating officer of the Twenty20 cricket league.

Tata Motors has agreed a multi-year partnership with Barcelona and Argentina football superstar Lionel Messi in a deal that represents the Indian automotive company’s first brand ambassador contract.

Chinese manufacturing business Rastar Group has announced the acquisition of a majority stake in LaLiga football club Espanyol in a move that is set to further increase Chinese investment in the Spanish top-tier competition.

After the damage of superstorm Yolanda last year, the Philippines is hoping to use basketball as a vehicle to get the country back up on its feet.

Bangladesh has been confirmed as the host nation of the 2016 Asia Cup, with the national team cricket tournament set to switch to Twenty20 format for the first time.

The International Ski Federation (FIS) remains confident that next year’s warm-up events in PyeongChang ahead of the 2018 winter Olympics in South Korea will go ahead as planned despite delays in construction projects.

Indonesia is closing in on a return to the MotoGP calendar after further talks were held regarding the country’s inclusion in the motorcycling series from the 2017 season.

International Surfing Association (ISA) president Fernando Aguerre has welcomed the news that Tokyo 2020 has recommended to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that surfing take place on natural ocean waves if it is included on the sports programme for the Tokyo 2020 Games, but has maintained the federation is committed to developing wave pool technology.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has confirmed that surfing will be staged on the ocean waves at the 2020 Olympics, should it be approved as an additional sport for Tokyo’s Games.

The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) has announced that the 2019 edition of its men's Softball World Championship will take place in the Czech Republic cities of Prague and Havlickuv Brod, with the women's event being staged in Chiba, Japan.

The Chinese capital of Beijing has been named host city for the 2017 World Women’s Curling Championship.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will open a tender process for two new Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises after upholding the suspensions handed out to the Twenty20 competition’s Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals teams.

A Chinese consortium has emerged as the leading investor in a proposed $8.5bn (€7.48bn) takeover bid for the Formula One motor racing championship, according to Sky News.

Asian Football Confederation (AFC) president Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa is seeking to stand for the top job in world football if he can gain enough support, according to multiple reports.