When Li Na lifted the French Open trophy in March she not only became the first Chinese tennis player to win a Grand Slam singles title, she also sent advertisers scurrying for the telephone.

Now, just two months later, Li has been rewarded for her efforts with long-term endorsement contracts worth a collected US$42 million.

It is a sign of her growing stature as a sportsperson but also a huge indicator of the growing clout advertisers give to the Chinese market.

During his visit to Nike headquarters last saturday, Ronaldo received a pair of golden Mercurial in honour of his winning football history and his help in developing the fastest boot on the planet.

Luxury hotel chain Fairmont is to roll out BMW bikes to all of its worldwide hotels, it confirmed this week.

The bikes program, which was introduced last year at some of the chain’s North American hotels, appears to have proved so popular that it will now be rolled out around the world in time for summer.

The BMW Cruise Bikes, which feature Suntour suspension and a brake routing system, retail at over €800 but are available for Fairmont’s guests to use on a complimentary basis, complete with locks and helmets.

Abu Dhabi is to construct a new sailing village to boost the Emirate’s appeal to watersports fans, the country’s tourism authorities announced June 13.

The new “Destination Village” will be completed in time for the abu dhabi Volvo Ocean Race’s stop in the Emirate, which is currently scheduled for January 1, 2012.

While the Volvo Ocean Race is in town, the 55,000 square meter village will be the home of the flotilla and a place for members of the public to visit and see the yachts, which will be taking a break on the third stop of their round-the-world competition.

In order to celebrate its 100th anniversary, the Italian brand created the very special FILA FX2 limited edition shoes, covered with 1,000 Swarovski crystals.

Available in two colors and eco-safe (with anti-fur design), the collection is limited to only 100 pairs worldwide.

Perfectly combining sportiness and elegance, the FILA FX2 sport shoes also boast the “100th anniversary” logo at the back of the shoe, covered with gold foil.

China seems to be caught in a conundrum. While the country has over the past decade actively encouraged the rapid rise of its middle class, it now seems quite unsure of how to handle the trappings that go with their newfound wealth.

First the hammer came down on billboards advertising luxury brands — from March they were banned in Beijing and Shanghai, as well more regional cities such as Chongqing, for promoting a lifestyle that was both “unhealthy” and “foreign.”

And now the authorities have again turned their attention to the pastime that was at one stage banned for being too “bourgeois” — golf.