MUMBAI: Marketing agency IEC in Sports has been appointed by China Open Promotions to handle worldwide television distribution for the ATP China Open tenis event for the period 2006-2008.

The two-week tournament featuring both ATP and WTA events, now in it's third year, has prize money exceeding $1 million.

The event takes place from 11-17 September. The French Open champion Rafael Nadal, former Wimbledom runner up David Nalbandian and David Ferrer will be among the participants.

China Open tournament director Ekkehard Rathergeber says, “We intend to ensure ATP China Open generates massive global media exposure as befits the host city of the next Summer Olympics. IEC in Sports will play a key part, along with CCTV in producing a world class television production that is distributed globally.”

IEC in Sports CEO Jonas Persson says, “IEC intends to broaden the appeal of what is shaping up to be Asia’s greatest annual sporting event. Other enhancements include increasing the number of matches on the International Feed, sourcing World-class English language commentators and expanding live transmission across every continent.”