Kunshan in China and Lima, denture Peru, search have been announced as host venues for BWF Major Events.

While the South American capital will stage next year’s BWF World Junior Championships, the eastern Chinese city got the nod from the BWF Council for the BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals in 2016; just days after this year’s edition of the event concluded here in New Delhi, India.

The winning bids were announced by BWF President Poul-Erik Høyer this evening after delegations from the prospective hosts had rolled out their plans for the respective events.

Kunshan was up against Jakarta, Indonesia, and when the outcome was revealed, officials from Kunshan and the Chinese Badminton Association jumped to their feet in delight. In their presentation, the visitors outlined intentions to host the tournament at Kunshan Sports Centre with a seating capacity of more than 5,000. The representative from the Badminton Association of Indonesia unveiled plans for the Thomas & Uber Cup Finals to be held at the well-known Istora Senayan Stadium which seats 6,000 spectators.

“This is the second time we have bid for a Major Event in badminton and we have finally won, declared Kunshan Vice Mayor, Guan Fengliang; ironically alluding to his city’s loss in the race for the 2015 BWF World Championships to Jakarta late last year.

“We will make full use of this precious opportunity and we will contribute to the promotion of badminton worldwide. We will share the charm of Kunshan and we invite you all to Kunshan.”

Meanwhile, though Lima was the lone city vying for the World Juniors, the Council needed to ensure its bid met the relevant criteria, especially as the proposed venue – the National Sports Village – is currently under construction.

“We would like to thank the BWF for the confidence shown in us,” said President of thePeruvian Badminton Sports Federation, Zarko Cukic.

Noting that Peru has hosted various international conferences and meetings in recent years – including top sporting events – he called the World Juniors “an opportunity to promote badminton in the region and for officials to get more experience”.

“We will be able to consolidate the BWF brand in our region. We are awaiting all of you with open arms.”

Sandy Park, home to the Exeter Chiefs, has been announced as the host of the LV= Cup 2013 / 2014 Final.

The final takes place on March 16 and promises to not only showcase some of the best up and coming rugby talent in the country but provide a truly memorable experience for supporters.

The lucky competition winners gathered at the stadium today at the launch of the LV= Cup, donning their club colours to take over captaincy duties for a photo session, before putting their rugby skills to the test on the Sandy Park turf alongside players from the LV= Cup teams.

Chosen to host the LV= Cup Final, state-of-the-art Sandy Park became the home of the Exeter Chiefs in 2006 and has since gone on to become a favourite with rugby fans; staging the 2007 Churchill Cup fixtures, an international ‘A’ game between England Saxons and the Irish Wolfhounds last year, and most recently, the Greene King IPA Championship double headers. The stadium is also set to host three Rugby World Cup fixtures during the 2015 competition.

As well as staging this seasons LV= Cup Final, host Exeter Chiefs also counts the 2013 LV= Breakthrough Player and England U20 star, Jack Nowell in its ranks.

Speaking at the announcement today, Tony Rowe OBE, Chairman & Chief Executive of Exeter Rugby Club said: “As a club we are thrilled to have been selected as the venue for the LV= Cup Final. Over the years we have hosted a number of top games, not just in the Premiership and in Europe, but also a clutch of international fixtures including the Churchill Cup.

“As rugby supporters know Sandy Park is a great match-day experience and we’ve no doubt that will be evident when the LV= Cup Final is held here. We look forward to welcoming all fans to the West Country for what will be the first silverware of the season.”

Head of Sponsorship at LV=, Claire Jeromson also added: “It’s really exciting to have the LV= Cup Final at Sandy Park this season. Judging by the success of last year’s final and coupled with the rugby heartland of Exeter, we are looking forward to another strong cup campaign and something the whole rugby family can really enjoy.

“With the likes of Jack Nowell going onto achieve big things, it proves the good health of the domestic game but also highlights the young talent that the LV= Cup gives valuable game time to.”

IMG has confirmed they have bought The Great Ocean Road Marathon impressive portfolio of internationally recognized sporting events.

The marathon, cialis which is staged along the iconic Great Ocean Road with stunning views of the Southern Ocean, celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2014.

Martin Jolly, Senior Vice President and Managing Director IMG, said today at the launch, “We were attracted to the event because of its rich history, world-class location and the continuing growth of the running market in Australia. IMG is proud to support the Surf Coast Shire and The Colac Otway Shire to continue to grow the event so that it will provide a positive economic impact across the region, supporting the local community.”

Local Torquay resident Nicky Buckley joined Cr Frank Buchanan, Councilor Colac Otway Shire and Martin Jolly to cut the start tape, formally launching the 2014 event and declaring that registration is open.

In 2013, more than 5700 entrants competed from over 12 countries; organizers expect to increase participation to well over 6,000 runners for the 2014 competition.

The Great Ocean Road Marathon is a part of the two-day Festival of Distance, hosting a number of running events that caters to all ages and levels of fitness.

Starting at Lorne Hotel, Mount Joy Parade and finishing at Apollo Bay Hotel, Great Ocean Road, its natural beauty and panoramic views will be a key motivator for competitors as they take on the 45km marathon.

Over the years, the marathon has attracted local and international athletes such as Steve Moneghetti, Craig Mottram and Kenyan Joel Chepkopol.

ZOOM Motorsports has revealed plans for a three-year extension with INDYCAR to host the Indy Grand Prix of Alabama 2014 through 2016 at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, bronchi Ala.

“ZOOM Motorsports is very excited about the extension of our INDYCAR sanctioning agreement through 2016,” stated Gene Hallman, President and CEO of ZOOM Motorsports, the exclusive event promoter of Barber Motorsports Park. “INDYCAR has become very popular here in the heart of the Deep South and we look forward to continuing to grow the prominence of this race. We certainly feel that INDYCAR is the appropriate partner to assist us in showcasing what is considered to be the finest road course facility in the U.S.-the Barber Motorsports Park.”

“We are pleased to have agreed to terms to continue the tradition of our fast and versatile racing at Barber Motorsports Park,” said Belskus. “Not only is Barber a terrific facility to showcase our close and exciting on-track product, it also gives INDYCAR a strong presence in key southeastern markets to further help us grow our sport.”

Since the inaugural event in 2010, the Indy Grand Prix of Alabama continues to bring more than 80,000 fans each year from all over the world to the 2.38-mile road course. The Birmingham Convention and Visitors’ Bureau estimates the event has an economic impact of more than $28 million on Birmingham.

The Australian PGA Championship is set to move to a new location after Royal Pines Resort on the Gold Coast agreed a new five year deal following the golf tournament’s controversy-marred split from billionaire Clive Palmer’s Coolum resort.

Royal Pines is already the long-term host of the Australian Ladies Masters and is keen to continue in that role.

Announcing the new deal for the Australian PGA Championship, Royal Pines’ owners promised to invest $5 million strengthening the championship course over the five years and to work closely with the men’s and women’s tours to make it the ‘home of championship golf in Queensland’.

The tournament was played at the former Hyatt resort at Coolum for the past 11 years and the move away followed a public falling out with owner Clive Palmer.

There were disagreements over issues including a number of painted signs on fairways.

Chief executive of the PGA of Australia Brian Thorburn said the venue shift had the backing of the Queensland Government, Tourism and Events and Gold Coast Council and Tourism.

He said the tournament’s tradition from Coolum of being a fun and relaxed tournament would continue on the Gold Coast.

He was confident the move would not only attract many of Australia’s best players but also some of the world’s biggest stars.

Dates for the 2013 tournament will be announced in the next few weeks.

Basketball Australia (BA) chief Kristina Keneally is looking for the Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) to follow on the footsteps of the men’s competition and complete a similar type of online broadcast deal.

The chief executive will make her first visit to Townsville today to attend tonight’s Townsville Fire season launch.

Keneally signalled Basketball Australia’s (BA) intent to raise the profile of the women’s competition.

The former New South Wales Premier – who took over the role at BA in August – said she was confident a deal securing an improved ABC viewing timeslot for the WNBL was only weeks away.

The goal was to seek more opportunities in digital media, similar to NBL, including a TV online broadcast deal for live and on-demand games on mobile and tablet devices.

“There are slightly more challenges in that … some of our WNBL teams are often more regionally based, but nonetheless we’ve made clear to our broadcast partners, Perform Media, that’s the next step we see in this relationship,” she said.

Keneally said the creation of the WNBL Commission – of which Townsville Fire chairwoman Jayne Arlett is a member – and the combined NBL/WNBL launch and pre-season tournament next week showed BA was committed to creating an equal focus on the two leagues and to promote them as strongly as possible.

“Right across the spectrum – whether you’re talking basketball or any other sport – it is always a challenge to secure the same profile for the men’s and women’s competitions,” Keneally said.

“I think we’re seeing that change in Australia with the success of the Opals at the Olympics and the recognition that some of the best female basketball players in the world play in the WNBL.”

Keneally said the work done by the Fire with attendance numbers, and other factors, set a great example for the rest of the competition to follow.