Thailand

Asia has turned world soccer's favourite slogan back at governing body FIFA and asked for "Fair Play, Please."

The usually plentiful stocks of counterfeit shirts of English soccer club Manchester United are running low in Thailand, where thousands of fans are eagerly awaiting the English champions' arrival on Friday.

Thailand has said it would pursue its dream of hosting the Olympics despite rejection of its bid for the 2008 Summer Games.

Southeast Asian countries are debating whether it is wise to hold the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games next year.

Thai police have said they would take swift action against tour guides who tried to lure foreign visitors to the Asian Games into sex shows or to child prostitutes.

Chinese sports officials have waded into the Olympic bribery row, saying Beijing may have been a victim of IOC corruption when it lost to Sydney in the contest to host the 2000 Games.

Thai soccer fans are concerned about the possible failure of talks over rights to broadcast the English Premier League's 2001-2002 season after free-to-air TV broadcasters and cable TV operator United Broadcasting Corporation (UBC) all rejected an expensive license fee.

The race to host the Olympic Games in 2008 has now begun in earnest following the announcement of the shortlist by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The 13th Asian Games have currently earned a total of 5,022 million baht inrevenue.

The Bangkok Asian Games Organising Committee will decide tomorrow whether it will use the Muang Thong Thani sports complex of Bangkok Land Plc as a venue for the 13th Asian Games this December.

Saudi Arabia has withdrawn from next month's Asian Games in Bangkok because the event clashes with religious and national festivals at home, Thai officials have said.

A formidable army of supporters lined up to back England's World Cup 2006 bid, are claiming that the resignation of F.A. chief executive Graham Kelly would not hurt the nation's chances.

Sportswear manufacturer adidas will be the official footwear and apparel sponsor for the European X Games Qualifier, the European debut of ESPN's X Games franchise.

The Indian team for the Olympic Games 2000 will be sponsored by Samsung, the information technology and telecommunications company, which is spending about $200 million in 40 countries on its Sydney Games marketing programme.

Almost every National Olympic Committee secretary has expressed satisfaction with the progress made at the two major sports complexes for December's Asian Games, the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) secretary, Randhir Singh, reported.

Financial problems are causing difficulties for the Television Pool of Thailand (TV Pool) in its preparations for live telecasts of the Asian Games, according to TV Pool chairman Gen Pang Malakul Na Ayudhya.

Only 6,745 athletes from 42 nations have registered to take part in next month's Asian Games by the deadline this week, compared with the anticipated total of more than 8,700, the Games organising committee said.

U.S. agents have arrested three Taiwanese and a U.S. citizen on charges of smuggling millions of dollars worth of counterfeit golf equipment into the United States, the U.S. Customs Service has said.