Spanish driver Fernando Alonso is by far the highest paid driver in Formula One, health according to figures published by the Business Book GP 2012.

The French publication estimates the Ferrari driver to be earning €30 million ($37.1m) per annum, excluding sponsorship deals, almost twice as much as his nearest rival Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button €16 million ($19.7m).

At Red Bull, both drivers are also paid equally on €10million ($12.3m) a year, the same as Felipe Massa. That means the Brazilian is paid some €20million ($24.7m) less than his team-mate, indicating that Alonso enjoys superiority at Ferrari.

Another reported notable disparity between driver salaries is at Force India, with Nico Hulkenberg ($618,177), earning more than double that of Paul di Resta ($247,270).

India’s largest real estate developer, DLF, is unlikey to renew it’s title sponsorship of the Indian Premier League (IPL) folllowing an economic downturn in the real estate market and poor television ratings.

The industry executives and the officials from the Board of Control for Cricket in India said the contract expires at the end of the fifth season of the IPL in May.

DLF had won bids for Rs 40 crore ($7,625,583) per annum for 5 years at the time of inaugural edition of the IPL. The deal was worth Rs 200 crore ($38,127,917). “Although DLF will be getting the first right of refusal at higher sponsorship rate, it will be difficult for the company to manage an increase in the contract in the current scenario,” said a source close to the development.

Meanwhile, DLF’s executive director Rajeev Talwar said, “It depends on how they perceive the value. After the current season ends, we will get six months to decide. When the offers come in January, we will take a call.”

DLF is facing challenges on the debt and sales front like other real-estate companies. The real-estate company is also intending to sell various assets that include the Mumbai mill land and Aman Hotels to raise as much as Rs 7,500 crore ($1.5bn) by March 2013 to reduce the debt of Rs 22,750 crore ($4.30bn).

Meanwhile in the December quarter, the company saw a 45% fall in its net profit due to rising interest rates, commodity prices and slower home sales.

“With the macro environment continuing to remain unfavourable with high interest rates, commodity and labour cost inflation, it may take a few more quarters for the company to regain full momentum,” DLF said in a statement post Q3 earnings announcement.

After the 5th edition of the tournament ends, the Board of Control for Cricket will be excited to invite new sponsors and partnership proposals for the Twenty20 league. The agreements signed in 2008, has guaranteed revenue in excess of Rs 500 crore ($95,319,794). BCCI has also chosen ITC as a hotel partner and Kingfisher as the airline partner.

Touted as a money spinner, the world’s richest cricket league is finding the going tough in its fifth season. The advertisers are feeling that Indian Premier League will become an expensive property.

Meanwhile, some big sponsors like LG and Godrej preferred to stay away while Samsung, Micromax and Canon had to cut ad spends.

DLF or Delhi Lease & Finance is the largest commercial real estate developer in India. The company was founded by Raghuvendra Singh in 1946 and is based in New Delhi. DLF has residential colonies in Delhi such as Shivaji Park, Rajouri Garden, Krishna Nagar, Greater Kailash, Kailash Colony and Hauz Khas.

American football in Britain today received official recognition as they gained a seat on the British government with the launch of an All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for the sport.

The APPG was formally kicked off at a reception in the House of Commons attended by the Deputy Leader of the House, hospital David Heath MP; members of the APPG and other MPs; officials of the British American Football Association and the National Football League; and former Super Bowl-winning NFL players. Also present were representatives of the Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, erectile who meet in the NFL’s International Series game at Wembley Stadium on Sunday (October 23).

Introducing the aims of the APPG, chairman Richard Fuller, MP for Bedford, said: “There is strong support for American football within Westminster and a group of us felt that we should get more involved in developing the sport here at both the amateur and professional levels.

“We will be working closely with BAFA, the NFL and other organisations to promote and increase official recognition of American football within the UK sporting landscape. We hope to be able to develop participation in the sport at grassroots level, create opportunities for British players to reach their full potential in the sport and support the pathway to having eventually a UK-based NFL team.”

British American Football Association Chairman Gary Marshall added: “This is a fantastic initiative and for those of us involved in developing the sport here it is great to know that we now have a voice in Parliament. Everyone with an interest in developing American football in the UK will now have the opportunity to work closely with the Parliamentary Group to try to achieve our collective goals.”

Dr John York, owner of the San Francisco 49ers and chairman of the NFL owners’ International Committee, commented: “This is a great sign of the continued growth of the sport. Having been here this time last year with my team I saw how excited people in the UK were about American football at all levels, whether watching the NFL or playing for or supporting their local team.’

NFL owners last week voted to continue playing games in the UK until at least 2016. “That shows how committed my colleagues among the ownership are to the continued development of the sport,” said Dr York. “We are excited about playing our role in supporting the aims of the APPG.”

Other elected officers of the APPG are George Hollingbery, MP for Meon Valley; Peter Bone, MP forWellingborough and Rushden; and Gregg McClymont, MP for Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and KirkintillochEast.

Two of the candidates which FIFA seeks to ban from next week’s federation (PSSI) presidential elections have challenged soccer’s governing body over its decision, as FIFA renews its threat to suspend Indonesia from the international game.

According to World Football Insider, Arifin Panigoro and George Toisutta have hired former Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) judge Patrick Mbaya to question FIFA over their exclusion from the PSSI presidential candidacy.

Mbaya has sent a letter to the FIFA president Sepp Blatter, questioning the decision and requesting the Swiss to give an answer within 24 hours as the PSSI’s Electoral Appeal Committee has to make a decision on eligible candidates by Friday.

The news comes as FIFA restated its threat to ban Indonesia from international soccer, claiming it will be excluded if it includes any of four banned candidates in its federation’s (PSSI) presidential elections next week.

FIFA deputy secretary general, Markus Kattner sent a letter to Agum Gumelar, chairman of the committee, reminding him that four candidates – Nurdin Halid, Nirwan Bakrie, Toisutta and Panigoro – are not allowed to stand. 

The cost of including any of the four candidates would be hefty, Kattner warns, and FIFA may invoke “severe sanctions, including the possibility of suspension”.

He added that should a suspension be confirmed by the FIFA Congress on June 1 it could only be lifted at the subsequent FIFA Congress in June 2012 meaning Indonesia would miss out on the qualifying tournament for the 2014 World Cup.

Bath Rugby have announced that Tarquin McDonald, the Club’s Finance and Strategy Director, has been promoted to the role of Managing Director of Bath Rugby effective immediately. 

The new role coincides with owner Bruce Craig’s recently announced title change to Executive Chairman and will follow the departure of CEO Nick Blofeld, who is stepping up to a wider group role.

Tarquin McDonald said, “It is an honour to take on this new position within Bath Rugby. The Club has a fantastic heritage, passionate and loyal supporters, and is an important part of the local community. The Club remains focused on both becoming one of the best rugby Clubs in Europe and keeping Bath Rugby playing at its spiritual home, the Rec. I am excited about continuing to build a business which supports success on the pitch, and which will enable the Club to remain in the heart of the City.”

Bruce Craig, Executive Chairman, said, “I’m delighted that Tarquin has stepped up to become the Managing Director of Bath Rugby. In his previous position he made significant progress in moving forward our ambitions for re-developing the Rec, and worked closely with Nick and myself in developing the business. We are all incredibly excited about the season ahead and I would like to thank all our supporters for their continued support both on and off the pitch”.

Tarquin McDonald has been Finance and Strategy Director at Bath Rugby since December 2012. The rugby side of the business will continue to be managed by Head Coach, Mike Ford and his team, together with Performance Director, David Thompson.

Sports data specialists Sportradar have renewed their partnership with the Confederation of North, health Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF).

As part of the deal, viagra sale Sportradar will monitor betting on a range of CONCACAF and regional competitions for the 2014-2015 competition period. 

Sportradar will use its unique Fraud Detection System (FDS) to scrutinise worldwide betting on these competitions, cialis and will alert CONCACAF of any suspicious events or patterns. Dr. Laila Mintas was appointed last year by CONCACAF as Director of Sports Integrity, to lead the fight against match-fixing in the region. “Protecting our competitions from every negative impact is very important for us. The Fraud Detection System is a powerful tool in our arsenal in the fight against match manipulation“, she said. 

“Sportradar have been working closely with CONCACAF since 2012 and we are delighted that they have placed their trust in us and in our Fraud Detection System yet again,” said Sportradar’s Managing Director Strategy and Integrity Andreas Krannich.

“CONCACAF is a vibrant and progressive confederation, and a key stakeholder in the global football landscape. They have shown an ongoing commitment to achieving and promoting sporting integrity in all its guises. It is a badge of honour for Sportradar that they continue to see us as one of their key allies.” 

Houston Sports Authority has extended their partnership with the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) becoming the first of the Community Partner Program to do so.

As part of the program, pharmacy Houston will promote the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic movements by hosting national and international events, promoting USOC sport outreach initiatives, and supporting sanctioned programs, clubs and training sites in the community.

“This is a tremendous honor,” said Houston CEO Janis Schmees Burke. “Houston has amazing respect for the Olympic Movement and the work done by the USOC. We will be a true partner and do everything we can to foster the Olympic spirit in our community year-round.”

The region has been part of the Olympic and Paralympic movements since 1986 when it hosted the U.S. Olympic Festival. Since that time, Houston has hosted numerous events – including the 2000 U.S. Judo Championships; 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Boxing; 2008 U.S. Men’s Gymnastics Championships; 2010 U.S. Handball Championships; and 2011 Junior National Weightlifting Championships.

Additionally, the area has hosted numerous national half marathon championships and the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Marathon. Over the last three years, USA Rugby has hosted record-setting international test matches at BBVA Compass Stadium against Italy, Ireland and Scotland. As of 2010, the Karolyi Ranch – located just north of Houston – has been a designated U.S. Olympic Training Site for the U.S. Women’s National Gymnastics Team.

“We are pleased to renew our partnership with Houston Sports Authority,” said Alicia McConnell, USOC director of training sites and community partnerships. “Houston’s dedication to Team USA and youth outreach is exactly what we look for when developing partnerships to enhance the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic movements.”

To meet the designation requirements, Houston will continue to host at least one National Governing Body, U.S. Olympic or Paralympic event per year. The area will also work with local community organizations and schools to annually host three events that promote the USOC’s FLAME (Finding Leaders Among Minorities Everywhere) Program, the Olympic and Paralympic movements, and Olympic Day.

European soccer body UEFA and the European Union law enforcement agency Europol have formally joined forces in the campaign to stop match-fixing by signing a memorandum of understanding at the House of European Football in Nyon.

After signing the memorandum, which steps up mutual cooperation and exchanges between the two bodies, both UEFA President Michel Platini and Europol director Rob Wainwright sent out a firm message of total commitment to safeguarding football’s essential integrity and punishing those found guilty of match-fixing offences.

“Today is a very important and even decisive step with the signing of an official agreement between UEFA and EUROPOL,” said Mr Platini.

“This fight is a priority for UEFA and it is also a personal fight,” he added. “I am a former player and I know that match-fixing is the worst scourge that can exist in football, because the soul of our sport is affected. Now we are going to work hand in hand with EUROPOL – we are united by our common will to fight as efficiently as possible against this menace.

“If tomorrow you attend football matches where you already know the final result, then the game is dead,” Mr Platini told UEFA.com. “If you go to games knowing the final result, there’s no interest any more. So it’s our role to protect [the] game … I am warning the players, I am warning the referees, I am warning the officials … the first one who doesn’t follow the guidelines to protect football, it will then be zero tolerance for me, he will have to leave [the world of] football.”

“I’m very pleased to be here alongside the President of UEFA to send the same common message that we are determined to fight football match-fixing wherever it arises, to make sure that we can protect this beautiful game,” said Mr Wainwright. “Unfortunately there have been signs in recent years that organised crime syndicates are trying to manipulate football matches to generate illegal income. Europol is determined to crack down on this problem to make sure that we can protect the game.

“We are sending a clear message to the organised crime syndicates that they will be investigated, that they will be stopped, from affecting the integrity of this game,” he added. “That is why this agreement today between Europol and UEFA is so important, because it makes sure that the two organisations can combine forces, share expertise and share information to ensure that we have the best possible response to the threat of football match-fixing.”

ESPN and Aspen Skiing Company announced Wednesday a five-year extension that will keep the X Games in Aspen through 2019.

This weekend will be the 13th straight year Winter X has staged snowboard, anesthetist ski and snowmobile events in the ritzy city.

Snowboarder Shaun White was excited by the news.

“It’s probably the best facility in world right now. The X Games does pull out all stops, decease ” said White, erectile who’s won more than a dozen gold medals at Winter X.

There was a time when the winter action sports event roamed from venue to venue every two years, staging events in Big Bear Lake, Calif., Crested Butte and Mount Snow, Vt., before arriving in Aspen in 2002, where it’s remained ever since.

With the deal involving Aspen set to expire after this weekend, ESPN explored other options, just to see what else was out there. The company made a similar move a few months ago with Summer X, eventually leaving Los Angeles for Austin, Texas, after an 11-year run.

In the end, the company decided a return to Aspen simply made “a lot of sense,” said Scott Guglielmino, senior vice-president of ESPN programming and X Games.

“It seemed like a natural fit,” Guglielmino said in a phone interview. “One of the things, from an Aspen perspective, was it really works for us. With the Winter X Games, it’s a little bit of a different animal than Summer X. We have a big footprint. When we show up, we take up quite a bit of resources, in terms of different hills we use, the personnel, the hotel rooms and all that.

“You put all that together and Aspen is a terrific fit for X Games.”

Aspen’s identity has been intertwined with Winter X since its arrival. It’s one of the high points of the season for the resort, a week when the lodges around town quickly sell out. To keep it in town was a coup for the city, said John Rigney, the vice-president of sales and events for Aspen Skiing Company.

“It’s hard to imagine Winter X not being here in Aspen,” Rigney said.