Asia

ESPNsoccernet.com has launched five regional versions of its site to segment its millions of visitors and increase impact for sponsors.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has confirmed the commonly held belief that the US is hot favourite to host the rescheduled Women's World Cup, after the event was pulled out of China because of the SARS epidemic.

England soccer captain and Manchester United icon David Beckham is set to build on his massive Asian following with a promotional tour of the region next month.

The US is firm favourite to land the short-notice right to host the FIFA Women's World Cup soccer tournament as the deadline looms later this week for bids to be submitted, following the decision to pull the event out of China because of the SARS epidemic.

A panel of experts at the SportAccord conference in Madrid have emphasised the need for stronger links between education and sport.

Cycling's world governing body the UCI has confirmed Germany will host this year's Track World Championships, initially due to take place in China.

Anglo-Sino soccer marketing consultancy FMMInternational has struck a strategic alliance deal with Titan Sports - China's largest sports specific publisher.

Canada has offered to help co-host the 2003 Women's World Cup should the soccer tournament be held in the US.

The National Hockey League (NHL) has agreed a TV rights deal in Hong Kong for coverage of the end of season play-offs.

Following last week's release of the International Olympic Committee report on its bid to host the 2010 Winter Games, Salzburg has made significant adjustments to its proposed venues.

As predicted on sportbusiness.com last week, FIFA has pulled the Women's World Cup out of China - and sparked a fight between the US and Australia to host the event.

The IOC has launched the 'candidature acceptance procedure' for the 2012 Olympic Games.

The International Olympic Committee has released its evaluation report on the three cities bidding to host the 2012 Winter Games.

The Champ Car World Series says it is in 'serious and meaningful' discussions with government officials in Beijing and Seoul with a view to staging races in future seasons, sportbusiness.com can confirm.

London's hopes of bidding for the 2012 Olympic Games have received a timely boost after new research revealed seven out of 10 Londoners believed there would be long-term social benefits to hosting the event.

The FIFA Women's World Cup finals, due to take place in China in September, seem almost certain to be postponed or staged elsewhere, as concerns over the spread of the SARS virus continues to haunt sporting events in the region.

Squash is the latest sport to be impacted by the SARS virus after the Hong Kong Open was cancelled.

Fran Rooney, formerly chief of Baltimore Technologies, is to take over as chief executive officer of the Football Association of Ireland.