China

World Archery has announced that the Dutch city of s-Hertogenbosch – better known as Den Bosch – will host the 2019 edition of its World Archery Championships and World Archery Para Championships.

The Ladies Professional Golf Association has unveiled a new tournament near Green Bay, Wisconsin for its 2017 season and is targeting a second event in China for a 2016 calendar that is set to see prize money on the LPGA Tour rise to a new high of more than $63m (€58.5m).

The International Fencing Federation (FIE) has announced that the Chinese city of Wuxi will host the 2018 edition of its Senior World Championships.

Chinese conglomerate Dalian Wanda has closed a deal to acquire World Triathlon Corporation (WTC), the parent company of the Ironman triathlon series.

Chinese internet company LeTV, which operates the Le Sports service, has established a joint venture with the operator of China’s National Stadium in Beijing, better known as the Bird’s Nest.

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.

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.

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

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.

The International Aquatics Federation (Fina) has revealed that China, Japan and Qatar are the only three countries that remain in the running to stage its World Championships and World Masters Championships in 2021 and 2023.

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has launched an application process for sports to be included in the Beijing 2022 Paralympic winter Games.

Mailman Sport, SportBusiness International's partner on this report, outlines the social media landscape in China, with a summary of the top platforms and user behaviour patterns.

Understanding the local social media environment is no longer a luxury for companies operating in China – it is an imperative. By some measures, usage of Chinese social media is the most intense in the world. There are vital differences in the use of social media in China relative to the West which are vital to understand for any organisation or brand looking to penetrate the market.

Social networking has evolved differently in the middle kingdom than in Western societies. Forget the classic Western sites such as Facebook, Twitter or YouTube. These established networks have not been able to successfully expand in China due to strict state censorship. Being protected by this powerful barrier and without the influence of Western firms, localised networks have developed for the Chinese market.

The dominant social networking sites are Sina Weibo and WeChat. We look in detail at these and provide an inventory of other popular sites below. It is wise to remember that this guidance could soon change in such a dynamic market, with top dogs fading and young pups emerging seemingly overnight.