Badminton players are being served a foul deal, as shuttlecock prices shoot up. The reason for the price increase? H7N9. Outside of China, synthetic feathers are often used, but duck feathers are preferred in the Middle Kingdom. ‘The feather market is in total chaos,’ said Li Min, a supplier of feathers to shuttlecock producers. According to Li Min, the price of duck feathers increased around 40 percent within 20 days of the bird flu outbreak. Tian Yongyun, another feather dealer, said farmers were only supplying about 33 percent of their usual feather output. One shuttlecock factory manager said prices had already risen by 4 to 5 yuan, while another predicted further increases if H7N9 is not brought under control by July.

Top comedy is coming to the Kerry Hotel and Hacienda Zapatas this Thursday, Friday and Saturday.  ’Whose Line is It Anyway?’ is a classic of British comedy. The UK TV series ran for ten years and was so popular it crossed the channel to the US. Focusing on improvisational skits, the stars will have you laughing at jokes even they didn’t know they’d make. Four hilarious UK comedians will make up Punchline Comedy’s edition of ‘Whose Line is it Anyway?’. They’re described as ‘better than the TV show’ by The Times, and as ‘pure geniuses’ by the South China Morning Post. For booking details, times, and more, click here.

The Backstreet Boys are coming to town next Tuesday 28^th May, and Shanghai Expat has two  exclusive tickets to give away to the after party. If you’re excited that backstreet are back, this could be your chance to party backstage with the band! It’s the Backstreet Boys 20^th anniversary tour and the first time the band has been in Shanghai since 2004.  To win, all you have to do is re-write the lyrics to classic Backstreet Boys song, ‘Quit Playing Games with my Heart’. For your chance at winning, post your answers in this forum post. Please note that tickets are for the after party only: tickets to the show are not included.

The Diamond League came to Shanghai on Saturday. Li Jinzhe, from China, won gold in the men’s long jump. Jamaica sped to success in the sprints, with Warren Weir winning the men’s 200 metres and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce gaining victory in the women’s 100 metres. In the 400 metres, Kirani James of Granada eased himself to a comfortable victory. The men’s 1,500 metres was much closer; Kenyan Asbel Kisprop beat Ethiopian Gebremedhin by 0.4 seconds. American Jason Richardson took gold in the 110 hurdles , while Russian  Yelena Isinbayeva leaped to victory in the women’s pole vault. The Diamond League began on May 10th in Doha. The next stop is New York.