Taiwan

Asian Internet firm Chinadotcom Corp has formed an Internet sports content firm with news agency Agence France-Presse (AFP).

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

Macau Cable TV has concluded a deal to carry ESPN and STAR Sports.

Taiwan will stage Asian golf's first US$1.5m (S$2.7m) tournament in November, with German car giant BMW putting up the cash.

ESPN Star Sports has secured an exclusive cable and satellite deal with the ATP Tour for the new Tennis Masters Series, previously known as the Mercedes Super 9 Series and the Tennis Masters Cup for the 2000 though 2002 seasons.

The tiny South Pacific state of Guam has been chosen as the new venue for this year's weightlifting world championships after the neighbouring island of Nauru withdrew its offer to stage the event.

The 2000 NBA All-Star Game, taking place in the San Francisco Bay Area, February 11- 13, will be shown in 205 countries, with a potential audience of 750million households.

The NBA has called a planned series of exhibition games in the Far East next week in the wake of the terrorist attacks in the US.

The IOC cannot be expected to help China with any internal issues or foreign disputes during the build-up to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, IOC president Jacques Rogge has said.

A squad of top NBA players will visit China and Taiwan in September for two exhibition games, the National Basketball Association has announced.