Event Notes: Bangladesh To Set Up Special Courts To Stop Gambling

Bangladesh "will set up special courts at cricket stadiums in an attempt to stop gambling during the tri-nations series against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe." Those caught betting will be tried on the spot by judges in "mobile courts." Complex gambling laws in Bangladesh "saw nearly 80 spectators thrown out for betting on their phones" during the last Twenty20 Premier League tournament (BBC, 1/8).

The Badminton World Federation launched its remodeled World Tour and announced Guangzhou, China, as the home to the BWF World Tour Finals for the '18-21 tournament cycle. The BWF World Tour features five levels. The top level is the BWF World Tour Finals, which has a shared prize of $1.5M. The others are the BWF World Tour Super 1000, BWF World Tour Super 750, BWF World Tour Super 500 and BWF World Tour Super 300. BWF Secretary General Thomas Lund said that the potential to increase badminton's global presence was a "major catalyst" in the decision to merge and rebrand BWF tournaments (XINHUA, 1/8).