Asia
E-commerce giant Alibaba takes stake in Guangzhou Evergrande
Alibaba, China’s largest e-commerce company, has struck a deal to acquire 50 per cent of the country’s Guangzhou Evergrande football club.
Japanese PM to lead new Tokyo 2020 body
Tokyo 2020 has announced that Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will lead a new body designed to drive engagement around the city’s staging of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Asian Tour latest organisation to shelve Thai event
Organisers of the Asian Tour’s Chiangmai Golf Classic have announced the postponement of the $750,000 (€550,000) event amid on-going political upheaval in Thailand.
UAE submits bid for 2019 Asian Cup
The United Arab Emirates submitted an official bid to host the Asian Football Confederation’s 2019 Asian Cup national team competition ahead of the deadline today (Friday).
Virtual Reality?
Promised in Japan’s bid to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup, how far are we from recreating sports events virtually throughout stadia across the world using holograms? Elisha Chauhan finds out.
Moving the Goalposts
Elisha Chauhan looks at whether the AFC (Asian Football Confederation)’s decision to expand the number of teams in its Asian Cup will affect the event’s commercial attraction.
BWF awards key events to Kunshan and Lima
The Badminton World Federation (BWF) has announced that the Chinese city of Kunshan will host the 2016 Thomas & Uber Cup Finals, while the Peruvian capital of Lima has secured the rights to the 2015 World Junior Championships.
Japan Sport Council gives green light to Tokyo’s Olympic Stadium
The Japan Sport Council (JSC) has given the go-ahead for the construction of Tokyo’s new Olympic Stadium for the city’s hosting of the summer Games in 2020.
F1’s Caterham quashes sale rumours
Formula One motor racing outfit Caterham has distanced itself from suggestions that the team is up for sale.
Plan emerges for women’s Twenty20 league
New South Wales-based businessman Shaun Martyn has revealed plans to stage a franchise-based women’s Twenty20 cricket competition in Singapore within the next nine months.
Uefa teams up with Europol in new anti-corruption drive
European football’s governing body Uefa has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Europol, the European Union’s joint police body, in an effort to strengthen its campaign to combat match-fixing in the sport.
ARFU president dismisses talk of Asian Super Rugby franchise
Sanzar’s bid to establish a Super Rugby expansion franchise in the Asian market has suffered a blow with Asian Rugby Football Union (ARFU) president Trevor Gregory stating the continent is not ready to host a team.
Srinivasan fails in latest bid for BCCI reinstatement
N. Srinivasan has failed in a second appeal to India’s Supreme Court for reinstatement as president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for affairs not relating to the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Race of Champions ends bid to reinstate Bangkok event
Organisers of the Race of Champions have abandoned plans to reschedule the 2013 edition of the motorsport event after they were unable to find an alternate date.
Japan targets baseball as potential economic spur
The Japanese government has suggested that increasing the number of professional baseball teams in the country from 12 to 16 could boost the national economy.
Manchester City owners invest in J-League club
The ownership group of English Premier League champion Manchester City has expanded its global footprint by agreeing a deal to acquire a minority stake in Japanese J-League football club Yokohama F. Marinos.
ITTF serves up tournaments for Thailand and Dubai
The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) has allocated forthcoming editions of two of its leading events to Thailand and Dubai.
AIBA set to welcome Indian boxing back into the fold
The International Boxing Association (AIBA) is poised to end India’s exile as an officially recognised member of the world governing body after it announced it has approved the creation of a new national organisation.