The rivalry¹ between Beijing and Shanghai to become China's No 1 sports center heated up yesterday when the capital city announced a 500 million yuan ($62.5 million) budget for international events after the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

Beijing won the rights to host a nine-day elite² Women's Tennis Association (WTA) tournament last week, becoming one of four cities hosting elite events on a 20-tour top-level calendar in 2010.

"This is just a beginning for the city as the government will start a 500 million yuan sports foundation to support such top events right after the Olympic Games in 2008," said Sun Kanglin, director of Beijing Sports Bureau. "Winning the rights to the WTA event is a timely encouragement for us, as we beat cities like Dubai, Tokyo and Bangkok.

"I think it's a great idea to take advantage of the Beijing Games, when the city will become the center of the world's attention," Sun said, without specifying³ what other events the city will be attempting to attract.

"Now we are confident about continuing the effort to import international events in the post-Olympic period. The government is set to increase the support year by year."

Sun also said Beijing is negotiating with Shanghai to host the ATP Masters Series in alternate years starting 2009.

"It's still possible," said Sun. "We will have discussions with the ATP and Shanghai sports authority and we wouldn't rule out the possibility of the first ever combined event in Beijing. On the other hand, we will be happy to have a WTA tournament without the ATP Masters Series."

The organizers of the Masters in Shanghai reportedly paid the ATP $7.6 million in 2002 for the event, with that price rising to over $9 million last year. Sun refused to say how much Beijing paid for WTA Tier I event, but said it would be worth the money.

"For sure it's a big amount but we are OK with it," he said. "Money is not a problem for us as both sponsors and fans are showing great interest in the upcoming event."

Tennis Cardinal, a China Open promotion that opens to all the fans around the country, has raised its curtain last week