Special supplement: Guangzhou warms up for Asian Games

GUANGZHOU: In a bid to get people revved up for next year's 16th Asian Games, the city will host several domestic and international sporting events this year that may feature overseas soccer and tennis stars.

Some items on the sports calendar include the Sudirman World Badminton Team Championships, the 2009 Asian Track and Field Championships and Guangzhou International Women's Tennis Open, according to Liu Jiangnan, director of the Guangzhou Municipal Sports Bureau.

In addition, officials in the provincial capital of Guangdong province plan to invite famous soccer teams from England's premier league and German group A to play exhibition matches with local teams.