This weekend’s WTCC races will benefit from a record domestic and international TV coverage through fourteen channels in Macau and the Asia Pacific Region.

TDM, ampoule  Macau’s terrestrial channel, and Macau Cable TV will broadcast both races live at 11:00 and 12:00 local time respectively. The same live coverage is granted for Mainland China by Guangdong TV and the CSPN Network (Shandong TV, Hubei TV, Xinjiang TV and Jiangxi TV).

Highlights of the races will be shown next week during the “Auto Times” magazine, aired by CCTV 5, China’s national state broadcaster, and in a 30-minute programme produced by TVB in Honk Kong.

The WTCC races will also receive live coverage in twenty-four countries through Asia Pacific Pan-regional broadcasters Eurosport Asia and ESPN Star Sports, and in Japan through Gaora Sports.

Speed Channel in Australia and Sky Sports in New Zealand will broadcast the races on a delay basis, on the week following the event. In the Americas, Speed 2 in USA and Televisa Deportes in Central America will air both races live.

Including Eurosport, that broadcasts in 59 countries and twenty different languages, the WTCC Guia Race of Macau will benefit from an extensive coverage through 93 broadcasters over 180 countries worldwide.

Spa Francorchamps has secured a deal with Formula One to continue to host the Belgian Formula One Grand Prix for at least the next three years.

Jean-Claude Marcourt, economics minister for the local Wallonia region, told public broadcaster RTBF that the “agreement in principle” for the 2013, 2014 and 2015 seasons was reached with Formula 1 Chief Executive Bernie Ecclestone.

“We were able to negotiate a contract extension for the years 2013, 2014 and 2015, where there will be the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa Francorchamps in Wallonia,” he said.

The current contract expires after this September’s race at the hugely popular circuit.

“What I wanted to do was to reduce the size of the expenditure budget for the Walloon region,” Marcourt continued, “and I would say we have accomplished the mission.

“There was no way we could continue to lose as much money as we have been.”

The minister said earlier plans to annually alternate the event with France ended along with Nicolas Sarkozy’s administration.

Marcourt said that plan “was considered at the request of our French friends. Unfortunately or fortunately, they did not give practical effect to those proposals, and so we decided to sign for a further three years”.

Sports equipment brand Li Ning has praised the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) after renewing its partnership with the federation for five years.

Li Ning released a statement saying basketball still has a rapid growth trend and “massive market capacity” in China that allows the CBA to have a strong influence on young consumers.

The statement said he CBA has built substantial commercial value as well as brand value and has grown to become one of the most popular sports leagues with the highest fan loyalty in China.

According to the statement the CBA also has mautre commercial operations and its media coverage, TV viewership, attendance figures and the scale of sponsorships demonstrate the organisation’s strong commercial value.

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Edgbaston Stadium in Birmingham has won the right to host the final of one of world cricket’s biggest tournaments, stuff the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Champions Trophy in 2013.

The world’s top eight One Day International teams participate in The ICC Champions Trophy – including England, Australia and India amongst others – and Edgbaston will become the first venue outside of London to host the final of an official ICC event on Sunday 23 June 2013.

Colin Povey, Chief Executive of Edgbaston Stadium, said: “Staging the final of such a prestigious tournament as the ICC Champions Trophy is not just fantastic news for Edgbaston, but for the City of Birmingham, which will host many of the world’s greatest players and their supporters during the course of the competition.

“The £32 million redevelopment of Edgbaston was designed to bring great tournaments and the world’s biggest cricket matches like to the City, so we are delighted to be chosen for the final.”

Edgbaston hosted five matches in the ICC Champions Trophy in 2004, including a semi-final where England famously beat Australia by six wickets and ended their run of 14 consecutive ODI defeats by their Ashes rivals. In 1999 the venue also staged the legendary tied World Cup semi-final between Australia and South Africa.

Sir Albert Bore, Leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “It is fantastic to hear that Edgbaston Stadium will be hosting the final of the ICC Champions Trophy in 2013, underlining its status as one of the world’s premier cricket grounds.

“Birmingham is proud of its sporting heritage, earned because it attracts world-class events like this. Clearly, it is a major coup for the city, and I am delighted for everyone at Edgbaston.”

Edgbaston’s £32 million redevelopment programme completed last summer and was opened by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh ahead of England’s Test Match against India.

This summer England will play at Edgbaston in all three forms of the game, starting with the Investec Test Match against the West Indies (7 to 11 June), a NatWest Series ODI against Australia (4 July) and a NatWest t20 International against South Africa (12 September).

Neil Rami, Chief Executive, Marketing Birmingham said: “Sport is one of the greatest means of promoting a city’s name and image across the world, so the decision to award Edgbaston Stadium with five matches of the prestigious ICC Champions Trophy, including the final, will provide invaluable global exposure for Birmingham.

“Edgbaston’s recent £32 million redevelopment cemented Birmingham as the home of sport in this country, with the city boasting an unrivalled sporting heritage and playing host to more national, European and world sporting championships than anywhere else in the UK.

“We look forward to welcoming fans to a number of exciting and diverse sporting events in the region in the coming months, including Diamond League athletics and international tennis at the Edgbaston Priory Club.”

Brian J. Barker has become a minority owner of NFL team, Atlanta Falcons, after agreeing a transaction with Falcons owner Arthur Blank.

“We are very pleased to include Brian among our limited partners,” Blank said. “Brian’s business acumen and his passion for our sport complement those of our other limited partners. We look forward to his partnership in the years to come.”

Blank will continue to hold over 90 percent of the ownership interests in the team. Barker is owner and CEO of AFS, a freight forwarding company in Shreveport, La.

“As I looked closer at this opportunity, I realized it was not solely about the investment but about family, friends and winning,” Barker said. “As an entrepreneur for 30 years, I was drawn to the Falcons’ business model, as well as to Arthur’s desire to put the very best on and off the field.”

It was confirmed yesterday, July 5, that the Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) had launched an independent investigation into its “internal stadium procedures” following the suspension of its director of services, Dionne Knight. 

Knight received sanctions after it emerged that she had carried out consultancy work on behalf of West Ham United – the club that won the bid to take over the Olympic stadium after next year’s London games over then Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

In February, the OPLC board voted uinanimously in favour of West Ham’s bid (14-0) to move into the Stratford site to the detriment of their rival bidders Tottenham, who later launched a judicial review against the decision making process.

In what has become a bitter public row between the two London clubs, West Ham has confirmed that Knight carried out consultancy work for them but vehemently denied any wrongdoing.

However, it has since been revealed that Knight is in a relationship with West Ham director Ian Tompkins, who spearheaded the club’s bid to move to the Stratford ground.

An OPLC statement said: “The Olympic Park Legacy Company has launched an independent investigation into its internal stadium procedures as a result of the allegations made concerning employee Dionne Knight.

“The auditors Moore Stephens have been appointed to carry out this investigation into our procedures.

“They have put together a team led by their specialist forensic unit.

“We are also investigating the nature of the consultancy work that Dionne Knight undertook without our knowledge or permission.

“An independent barrister will be instructed to conduct the employment elements of this investigation.

“We will communicate the outcome of both investigations when the work is complete.

“We remain confident that the integrity of our processes has not been compromised.”

Mayor of London Boris Johnson, one of those who ratified the OPLCs decision to award West Ham preferred bidder status, insists there was “no reason” why the case should be re-examined.

“The woman concerned made her relationship known to the OPLC and was immediately excluded from having anything to do with the bid process,” he said.

“Obviously they took steps, quite rightly, to exclude her of any involvement with the bid process and it now transpires there was a financial relationship – that is a matter that is currently under investigation.

“I have no reason to believe that this in any way will blow the decision off course.”

Delegate places for the upcoming 2011 SportAccord Convention in London have been sold out, the event organisers have announced.

The sell-out is not the first in the event’s history but is the earliest, coming one month ahead of the ninth annual edition. The 2011 SportAccord Convention will take place from April 3-8 at the Park Plaza Westminster Bride Hotel in London.

Anna Hellman, executive director of the SportAccord Convention, stated: “We are of course delighted to be sold out again, especially so early, although it’s unfortunate that we will not be able to accommodate everyone who wants to attend.

“We are very concerned with preserving the exclusive networking environment we provide and therefore we put a ceiling of 1,500 delegates on attendance,” added Hellman.

China has turned to the public to find a slogan for the country’s bid to host the 2022 Winter Olympics.

Members of the public have been invited to submit ideas that reflect the Olympic spirit, the character of the Games, and public enthusiasm for the joint bid by Beijing and Zhangjiakou, Hebei province.

“The slogan should be simple and catchy, and should connect with the vision of the application,” said a spokesman for the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games Bid Committee.

Residents in Beijing and Hebei are being encouraged to suggest slogans, though individuals and groups elsewhere in the country and abroad can also submit ideas. However, companies, institutions and schools may not take part.

Almaty in Kazakhstan is also bidding to host the Games, and the winner will be announced on July 31 next year.

Bob Staddon has been announced as the new President of Exeter Rugby Club.

The long-serving club stalwart, who first represented Exeter’s first team during the 1964-65, has taken on the role from another former player, Dick Manley, who has decided to step down following a 15-year tenure in the post.

Bob is no stranger to supporters of the club as not only did he represent the club playing wise until 1981, but since then he has occupied various roles such as Director of Rugby, Coach and Trustee.

“I was somewhat shocked when I first got asked,” said Bob. “For me, accepting this role is a huge honour and something that I am very proud of.

“The way the club has moved on over the years, especially since the old days at the County Ground, is nothing short of phenomenal. To be part and parcel of not only the elite clubs in England, but European rugby as well, is a fantastic achievement and long may it continue.

“As everyone knows, the Chiefs and Sandy Park are continuing to grow by the year and the investment put into the team and the stadium itself shows that we are moving forward at a great pace.”

Exeter Rugby Club chairman and chief executive, Tony Rowe OBE, said: “I’d like to go on record in thanking Dick for all the duties he has carried out during his tenure as club president. In Bob, though, we have the ideal man to step into the role and we look forward to him continuing in the same vein for many years to come.”