Brazil has fallen behind schedule with its preparations for the 2014 soccer World Cup, says FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke.

He is concerned that a new stadium in Sao Paolo will not be ready for the 2013 Confederations Cup, a competition which is seen as a World Cup dress rehearsal.

Airports and transport links are also reportedly behind schedule and Valcke said: “I won’t say Brazil started too late but we are not advanced in Brazil.

“We don’t have stadiums, airports, or a national transportation system.”

The country has been much-criticised for its planning since winning the rights to host its first tournament since 1950.

Valcke added: “To deliver stadiums is the most important part… it’s a lot of work. The Sao Paulo stadium is definitely not a World Cup stadium and that is why it is closed.”

Valcke was addressing Russian officials in Moscow who will host the 2018 World Cup tournament, and informed them they should aim to have everything in place two years before the start of the event.

Alexei Sorokin, chief executive of Russia’s World Cup organising committee, told the forum the 2016 deadline was “absolutely realistic,” despite having to build or renovate every stadium.

He said: “We have to build a lot. We have never hid the fact that we do not have a single stadium that is up to FIFA standards.”

Russia has nominated 13 host cities for the event, a figure that will eventually be reduced, while estimating the total bill for new infrastructure at US$10bn.

A wide range of ticket products have been made available for disabled people hoping to attend the London 2012 Games by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) – with tickets available for every venue, in every session, and across all price categories.

LOCOG’s ticketing process will allow disabled people to apply for tickets in the same way as non-disabled people, either online or using the paper application form.

Spectators who need wheelchair space will be able to apply for one online – if their application is successful, they will be provided with a space wide enough to accommodate a wheelchair or mobility scooter and an adjacent seat for a companion.

When applying for a ticket, spectators will be able to indicate an additional accessibility requirement, such as a seat down fewest steps for those who find stairs difficult; a seat on the end of a row for those who need extra room; a seat with a direct view of video information screens for people who are deaf or hearing impaired; or a seat close to the action for visually impaired people.

They can also use their application form to apply for tickets for accompanying family or friends, all of whom will be seated next to or as close as possible to the wheelchair space and companion seat.

LOCOG today also announced ‘Ticketcare’, a scheme only available for those disabled people who do not need a wheelchair space but cannot come to the Games without a carer or personal assistant (PA). 

Through the scheme, they apply for tickets through the normal application process and if their application is successful, they can then apply for a free additional carer or PA ticket by contacting the Ticketing Customer Services team.

Seb Coe, Chair of LOCOG stated: “Our aim has always been to provide a wide range of services and ticket products for disabled people tailored to their needs, rather than a ‘one size fits all’ approach’. 

“We want to ensure that disabled spectators have as great a Games experience as anyone else and we are committed to providing services and facilities that meet all accessibility requirements.”

The International Triathlon Union (ITU) has announced that Auckland, New Zealand will host the 2012 ITU World Championship Series Grand Final.

Auckland was awarded the bid over cities from Asia, the Middle-East and Europe. The Grand Final is the biggest event in the ITU calendar each year and Auckland will be the final race to decide the 2012 World Champions.

Triathlon New Zealand CEO Dave Beeche said: “Hosting this World Championship Series Grand Final will be a huge boost for the profile of Auckland and New Zealand, with an estimated global audience in excess of 13 million watching on TV.

“But just as important is what this event will do for the sport and the profile here in New Zealand.This is like the Olympics coming to town for our sport – the very best in the world will race the likes of Bevan Docherty, Kris Gemmell, Andrea Hewitt and Debbie Tanner in our own backyard.”

This year’s ITU World Championship Series Grand Final will take place in Budapest, Hungary, while the 2011 race will be held in Beijing, China.

Bradley University has agreed a partnership HotelPlanner.com for Bradley Athletics to use the platform to secure lodging whenever the Braves and their fans are on the road.

“We are excited to add HotelPlanner.com to our growing number of corporate partners with Bradley Athletics, vcialis 40mg ” said Dr. Brett Burchette, apoplectic Bradley Associate Athletic Director for External Affairs. “Our partnership agreement reduces travel expenses for our teams and will provide our fans the benefit of securing valuable hotel and meeting space while on the road following the Braves throughout the season.”

“HotelPlanner believes in collegiate sports travel and our service is the perfect fit for colleges and universities to find faster ways to source the best value for team travel,” said Tim Hentschel, HotelPlanner.com CEO.

“The combination of personalized account management, teamed with our industry-leading technology, drives the best values for team travel. Bradley University Fans will now have a top notch hotel booking engine at their disposal when they travel to support the Braves. HotelPlanner will provide cost effective hotel options to help fans support their favorite Bradley University team on the road.”

Rugby League World Cup 2013 has stepped up their marketing for the tournament by launching a new television advertisement promoting the Opening Ceremony and double header at the Millennium Stadium on October 26.

Fans at Saturday evening’s Super League Grand Final were given an exclusive first look at the video, patient which features England players Gareth Widdop, doctor Sam Burgess, Tom Briscoe, Kevin Sinfield and Sam Tomkins.

The release of the video coincides with the shift of focus for fans to RLWC2013. Following the culmination of the Super League and NRL seasons, attention now turns to the international game and the spectacle of the Opening Ceremony event and the rest of the tournament.

Called ‘Get Closer’, the advert provides an insight into the players’ physical preparations for the challenges ahead, and in particular England’s huge clash with Australia under the closed roof in Cardiff in less than three weeks.

There are two versions of the advert. A 55-second video will be circulated online in the coming weeks, while a 30-second version will air to more than 15 million people during the football match between England and Poland, televised by ITV on October 15.

RLWC2013 Tournament Manager Sally Bolton said: “The development and broadcast of this advert represents the next step in our marketing of Rugby League World Cup 2013.

“With less than three weeks to go until the Opening Ceremony, the video will raise awareness even further following the comprehensive campaign mounted during the last two years.

“It will thrust Rugby League World Cup 2013 into the consciousness of the British public, be they sports fans or general event-goers. Our ticket sales data suggests that more new fans than ever before will attend matches, and the broadcast of this advert should help us appeal to an even wider audience.”

The Ceremony is followed by the biggest game in international Rugby League as England take on Australia and co-hosts Wales face Italy.

Asian Le Mans has been hit with a major blow following news the series has been reduced from six to four races and the start will be delayed which is due to kick off next month in China.

The announcement came Tuesday by series organizers, along with the Automobile Club de l’Ouest, which confirmed the elimination of the Chinese rounds in Shanghai and Ordos, with the original season-opening race at Zhuhai now being moved to the third round in October.

The season will now begin at the new Autopia circuit in Inje, South Korea on Aug. 4, followed by rounds at Fuji Speedway (Sept. 22), Zhuhai (Oct. 13) and the season-ending race in Sentul, Indonesia (Dec. 8), as originally scheduled.

“After consultation with all stakeholders including teams and partners, the organizers of the Asian Le Mans Series, with the full support of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest, feel that due the current economic climate there is a strong demand from all parties to streamline the 2013 series in terms of both overall cost and number of races,” an official statement read.

Organizers have also decided to eliminate the GTE category in favor of a single GT class, GTC, which will be eligible for GT3-spec and Super GT300 cars, as well as various one-make Cup Series cars. The top two finishers in the GTC championship will now receive automatic invitations to the 2014 Le Mans 24 Hours, eligible in GTE. 

The GTC category will be joined by LMP2 and LMPC as the other classes in the championship, which will also receive auto-invites.

The entry deadline for the series has been extended to June 20th. 

Golf management operator, KemperSports has announced that it has been selected by the board of directors at Rockford Country Club to provide turnkey management of the private, member-owned club in Rockford, Ill.

With this partnership, Rockford Country Club joins KemperCollection, KemperSports’ growing portfolio of private clubs.

“At this time in our club’s history, we must increase the value of membership and elevate the quality of service,” said Tom Valiulis, president of Rockford Country Club. “We look to the KemperSports team to deliver a first-class experience for our members and guests and expand our presence in and around Rockford.”

KemperSports will engage with local and regional organizations to strengthen relationships in the Rockford area and position Rockford Country Club as an integral part of the community.

“Rockford Country Club has a long and rich history in the Rockford area,” said Steve Skinner, chief executive officer of KemperSports. “Working with the membership, our team will put a plan in place to expand the club’s reputation throughout the community, grow the membership and ensure that all members find unmatched value in the club’s services and amenities.”

Rockford Country Club features an 18-hole, par-71 golf course overlooking the Rock River. The club was originally designed as a 9-hole course by Herbert James (H.J.) Tweedie in 1899. Today, more than 100 years later, Rockford Country Club includes an expansive clubhouse with a member grill, outdoor dining, banquet facilities, an Olympic-sized swimming pool and skeet house for skeet and trap shooting.