Commissioner Roger Goodell has speculated that if the NFL puts a team in Los Angeles, it will probably lead to the league expanding to 34 franchises.

Appearing Thursday night on “Costas Live” on NBC Sports Network, Goodell said the league “doesn’t want to move any of our teams.”

“We probably don’t want to go to 33” teams by adding just one new club if a suitable stadium is built in the Los Angeles area, Goodell said.

Instead, the league would consider adding two. An odd number of teams would pose scheduling problems, including at least one club being off each week, and would create one division with five teams.

On Friday, speaking during his annual pre-Super Bowl news conference, Goodell said the NFL has not considered expansion, nor did it have immediate plans to.

“We would like to be back in Los Angeles if we can do it correctly,” Goodell said.

There has been speculation a Los Angeles stadium could house two NFL franchises, although Goodell did not address that with show host Bob Costas on Thursday.

Goodell says there are several issues that must be solved in the city, particularly which of two current stadium proposals is best. He didn’t suggest any timetable for returning to Southern California.

Beyond Sport, a global initiative that seeks to celebrate and support any organisation or individual with the goal to drive positive social change through sport, has announced that the Beyond Sport Summit and Awards 2011, the third annual gathering of its kind, will take place in Cape Town, South Africa from 5th-8th December.

Cape Town will takeover the event, partnered with Barclays Spaces for Sports, TIME International and UNICEF, fresh from the success of last year’s Summit in Chicago, becoming the focus of the continuing evolution of the Beyond Sport network and its mission to celebrate and support the use of sport as a vehicle for positive social change.

The Summit 2011 will again use a unique combination of networking opportunities, insightful panels, and action-led working sessions to collide those who use sport as a vehicle to create social impact, with influences from the world of business, government and federations whose attitudes and decisions can have substantial impact.

Throughout the four days of the Summit, all attendees will have the opportunity to interact with Beyond Sport’s extensive network of international sports federations and rights holders, corporate companies, global aid organisations, influential political figures, and world leaders.

Once again representatives from all of the shortlisted Beyond Sport Awards 2011 projects across the world will be brought to the Summit in Cape Town to share their insights and best practices from the front line of the sport and development.

Having celebrated the best sport and development projects from across the world in 2009 and 2010, the Beyond Sport Awards 2011 opened for entries once again in January this year with the winners to be announced at the Summit in December. Entries close on May 1 with the Awards Shortlist to be unveiled in early June.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) have launched online ticket sales for the Cricket World Cup semi-finals and final today, impotent February 21, via the ICC’s official ticketing partner Kyazoonga.com

With the demand for tickets for the finale of the ICC’s flagship tournament expected to reach record levels, there is sure to be great demand for the proportion of online tickets which will go on sale today at 1pm Indian time (0730 GMT).

Haroon Lorgat, the ICC Chief Executive, said: “From the outset it was always going to be near impossible to satisfy the enormous demand for tickets. But the Central Organising Committee always wanted to provide as many cricket lovers as possible with an opportunity to experience the World Cup. That is why some tickets are now being made available online.

“With the tournament kicking off amidst extraordinary scenes in Dhaka, it was quite amazing to see tens of thousands of passionate supporters in the streets around the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium soaking up the remarkable atmosphere during the opening ceremony and the first match. All this excitement is causing an unbelievable demand for tickets which clearly outstrips the available supply.

“I am sure that the passion and support for the ICC’s flagship event will grow even further by the time we reach the semi-finals in Colombo and Mohali on 29 and 30 March, respectively and the final at Wankhede Stadium on 2 April. The on-line sales will be followed by a second phase where tickets will be made available to the general public through the stadium box offices.”

Ghana’s 2-1 defeat of the United States was watched by more than 19 million US television viewers, making it the most-watched football match ever in the United States, ratings service Nielsen has revealed.

The USA crashed out in the last 16 of this year’s FIFA World Cup, however, 19.4 million viewers tuned in to the US-Ghana match on ABC and Spanish-language channel Univision, a total which beat the 18.1 million people who viewed the 1994 Italy-Brazil World Cup final.

Vice President of Sports at Nielsen, Stephen Master, said: “This record viewership proves that soccer is as popular as it has ever been in the United States.”

In 1999 the US-China women’s final of the World Cup drew an audience of 18 million, while the England-US match from this World Cup attracted 17.1 million viewers.

FIBA’s Central Board have made key appointments to complete the composition of the Board.

The appointments included Yvan Mainini being elected President of the International Basketball Foundation (IBF).

Here is a list of the members appointed to the Board:
– Mr Richard Carrion (PUR), CEO and Chairman of the Board of Popular, Inc., and a Member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC);
– Mr Mark Tatum (USA), the Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer of the NBA, as NBA representative;
– Mr Vlade Divac (SRB), President of the National Olympic Committee of Serbia, as Players representative;
– Ms Yulia Anikeeva (RUS), President of the Russian Basketball Federation;
– Mr Manuel V Pangilinan (PHI), President of the Philippines Basketball Federation;
– Mr Erick Thohir (INA), President of the Southeast Asian Basketball Association (SEABA).

The Central Board also appointed members to the newly-established Executive Committee. In addition to the ex officio members FIBA President Mr Horacio Muratore (ARG), FIBA Secretary General Mr Patrick Baumann (SUI) and FIBA Treasurer Mr Ingo Weiss (GER), the following Central Board members were invited to join them: Mr Richard Carrion (PUR); Mr Turgay Demirel (TUR), President of FIBA Europe; Mr Hamane Niang (MLI), President of FIBA Africa; Mr Jose Luis Saez (ESP), President of the Spanish Basketball Federation (FEB); Mr Burton Shipley (NZL), President of FIBA Oceania.

The Central Board then proceeded with the appointment of three Vice-Presidents. Mr Niang (MLI), former Minister of Sport of Mali, was appointed First Vice-President of FIBA. He is accompanied by Vice-Presidents Mr Demirel (TUR) and Mr Tian Xiao (CHN), China’s Vice Minister of Sport (in charge of basketball).

Williams Advanced Engineering, apoplectic | the engineering services and technology business of the Williams Group, treatment has announced a partnership agreement with XALT Energy, supplier of the lithium ion cells for the Williams’ battery in the Formula E racing series.

As part of this new partnership agreement XALT Energy will become an Official Partner of Williams Advanced Engineering, with the company’s logo featuring on the Williams Advanced Engineering website and other marketing materials.

Williams Advanced Engineering and XALT Energy have worked closely together since June 2013 after Williams was awarded the contract to produce the batteries that will power all 40 cars competing in Formula E, the world’s first fully electric racing series.

XALT Energy have supplied the lithium ion cells for each battery and have been integrated into the Williams team to ensure that the batteries meet stringent performance, reliability and safety criteria.

Speaking about the partnership with Williams Advanced Engineering, Subhash Dhar, CEO of XALT Energy outlined; “This alliance is a testimony to XALT Energy’s high performance lithium ion battery technology and the state-of-the-art high volume manufacturing operations in Midland, USA. We are honoured to be working with Williams Advanced Engineering on this important programme and look forward to developing a long term relationship with them.”

Craig Wilson, Managing Director of Williams Advanced Engineering, added; “We are delighted to welcome XALT Energy on board as an Official Partner of Williams Advanced Engineering. The Formula E battery developed by Williams is truly groundbreaking and is pushing the boundaries of existing energy storage technology. We have been careful to source the very best suppliers and XALT are one of the world’s leading battery cell manufacturers. This partnership sets the scene for our two companies to collaborate on future innovations for applications that demand high performance battery technology across a range of industries.”

Badminton England has today launched the National Badminton League (NBL) which they hope will attract new fans to the sport.

As the first ever national league in the UK, the NBL will be shown live on Sky Sports, and gives fans a chance to get behind their favourite national players and brand new teams. All matches from every matchnight will also be available via digital streaming in the UK and across the world taking the NBL to a global audience.

The NBL will feature new rules that present a fast, exciting and attacking format that’s thrilling to watch live and on TV.

The NBL will consist of six franchised teams featuring GB’s best players and new, emerging talent. 

The NBL kicks off on 6 October 2014 with monthly matchnights through to April 2015. This will then be followed by a one day knockout competition featuring the top four teams in June 2015.

The first season will consist of the following successful franchise teams: Birmingham Lions (University of Birmingham), Team Derby (University of Derby), Loughborough Sport (University of Loughborough), UoN Badminton (University of Nottingham), Surrey Smashers (University of Surrey) and Milton Keynes.

The teams will play against each other once, in a mixture of home and away matches.

Badminton England Chief Executive Adrian Christy said: “I am incredibly excited to announce the launch of the first ever professional badminton league in the UK. Badminton is booming in this country right now and the NBL gives fans a chance to get behind a team and support their favourite players.

“This amazing new project will present our sport in such an exciting way – the fastest racket sport just got even faster. It will not only showcase our current players but provide a real inspiration for younger players to want to be part of in the future.

“I am delighted that we have the support of Sky Sports, a brand who has led the way in sport innovation for many years now. Key to the NBL is taking badminton to new audiences, and Sky is brilliant at doing that.”

Sky Sports Commercial Director Richard Verow said: “We’re looking forward to working with BADMINTON England in this innovative new format.

“Sky Sports is pleased to be a partner in this move, helping to create more fans of badminton and bringing the best of the action to Sky Sports viewers.”