Eindhoven in the Netherlands has been announced as the host of the 2014 IPC Swimming European Championships held from 4-10 August.

It is expected to draw 500 athletes from nearly 40 countries looking to put in strong performances ahead of the 2015 World Championships in Glasgow, unhealthy Scotland, asthma | and two years into their preparations for Rio 2016.

The competition at the Pieter van den Hoogenband stadium will be held in the same venue as the 2010 World Championships.

Xavier Gonzalez, International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Chief Executive Officer said: “We are delighted that Eindhoven will be the venue for the prestigious 2014 European Championships and are pleased to be working with them again to organise a major championships.

“The pool has long been a top-quality destination for elite-level swimming competitions and we are glad to be able to continue that legacy.

“We expect competition to be fierce ahead of the 2015 IPC Swimming World Championships in Glasgow and following on from the last Euros in Berlin, where 31 out of the 36 participating countries took home at least one medal.”

Erik van Heijningen, President of the Royal Dutch Swimming Federation said: “We are happy to welcome the athletes, staff and fans from all over Europe in Eindhoven this summer. Dutch Paralympic swimmers have been very successful and it is wonderful for them to compete on an international level in their own country. We expect a lot of ‘Orange fans’ to support them.’’

Andrew Glover, chairman of English Rugby League club Wakefield Wildcats, has reiterated the club will not go out of business despite a new winding-up order.

The petition was issued by HMRC on Friday in the wake of a legal battle between Wakefield and a supplier.

But Glover, who also revealed the Super League club have been the subject of nine County Court Judgments, says that debt will be settled before any further action is taken.

“We had hoped they would accept our payment terms without advertising the information,” Glover told the club’s official website.

“There have also been a number of CCJs against the company. Some of these are through disagreements with suppliers and others are through straightforward mistakes on our behalf.

“There have been nine in total, of which eight are now settled and cleared. We are still waiting for the final paperwork to come through for the last one and then it will be cleared off.

“It’s been a particularly tough six months, but we’re getting there.”

Viggle, pilule a free, cutting-edge mobile app that operates an intelligent “second screen” for television, today announced it is teaming with the National Basketball Association (NBA) to provide rewards and discounts to fans watching the 2013 NBA Playoffs and The Finals.

Beginning with the Nets v. Bulls on Friday, May 3, Viggle members who check in while watching select NBA games throughout the postseason will be eligible for Viggle bonus points and discounts at NBAStore.com.

“Viggle is taking the NBA playoffs to a whole new level,” said Greg Consiglio, Viggle President and COO. “NBA fans will be rewarded for checking in with Viggle and watching the games and can earn points redeemable in our rewards catalog or discounts on official NBA gear.”

The select NBA games with rewards and discounts will not be revealed until the day of the game.

Fans can also further engage during the NBA Playoffs through a Viggle social campaign and share their favorite NBA team for a chance at receiving additional Viggle bonus points.

Fry/Straka Global Golf Course Design, discount a partnership with worldwide reach in award-winning golf-course design, and will create Batu Bay Golf Club in Inner Mongolia, medicine China.

Dana Fry, a Fry/Straka principal, will oversee the project from start to finish. The resort golf course, perched on a bluff overlooking the Batu Bay reservoir, will be an 18-hole layout built on sand dunes, with a Banyan Tree Hotel located on site; the course will be open to guests staying at the hotel. The owner is Oriental Holding Group based in Ordos, Inner Mongolia.

“Batu Bay has the chance to become one of the world’s great courses due to the excellent soil conditions, natural sand scrub vegetation and awesome views of the reservoir,” Fry says. “It has a Sand Hills (Nebraska) or Bandon Dunes (Oregon) feel to it.”

The layout is on an isolated site, a three-hour drive from Ordos, with hundreds of acres of sand dunes on a hill above the large reservoir. Native scrub vegetation covers the entire site now; there are virtually no trees anywhere on the property. The project is now in the planning stage, with construction scheduled to begin in May 2013 and the course slated to open in late summer 2014. The closest airport is Yulin Airport in Yulin City, Shanxi Province, about a one-hour drive away.

The Batuwan Tourism Region is located in Wudinghe Town, Wushen Banner, where two bays are formed by the course of the Salawusu River, flowing from the north west. Legend has it that a long time ago, there lived a Mongolian family named Batu; thus the name “Batuwan” was derived. Batuwan, a national AAAA-class tourism area, is known for its natural beauty. By taking the “Bright Pearl” painted boat, visitors can enjoy the exquisite scenery on the two banks of the reservoir.

Award-winning golf-course architects Dana Fry and Jason Straka announced in 2012 the formation of their golf-course design partnership, Fry/Straka Global Golf Course Design.

After having worked together for nearly 20 years, they now bring their collective design experience, talent and renowned client dedication to their new venture.

Although the pair collaborates on all projects, Fry resides in Hong Kong, China, while Straka remains in the United States, so that they can have worldwide reach and serve their global clients.

In addition, the new company has associates based in Lisbon, Portugal; Milan, Italy; Beijing, China; and Porto Alegre, Brazil.

Die DTM geht ab 2014 neue Wege: Die populärste internationale Tourenwagenserie öffnet sich durch einen am Dienstag in Tokio unterschriebenen Kooperationsvertrag nicht nur für japanische Automobilkonzerne, anabolics sondern ermöglicht ihren drei Premium-Herstellern Audi, BMW und Mercedes-Benz im Gegenzug auch die Teilnahme an der Super GT in Japan. Die Vereinbarung über die Nutzung des neuen Reglements der DTM durch die japanische Super GT beginnt mit der Saison 2014 und läuft vorerst über vier Jahre.

„Dies ist ein besonderer Tag für alle Beteiligten, aber er hat darüber hinaus auch eine herausragende Bedeutung für den Motorsport. Möglich geworden ist diese einzigartige Zusammenarbeit, weil sich die richtigen Parteien zur rechten Zeit zusammengefunden haben“, sagte Hans Werner Aufrecht, Vorsitzender des DTM-Rechteinhabers und –vermarkters ITR e.V., anlässlich der Vertragsunterzeichnung mit dem japanischen Serienbetreiber GT Association (GTA) in Tokio.

„Durch die Kooperation zwischen der GTA und der ITR auf Basis des neuen Technischen Reglements ist ein Traum wahr geworden. Wir sind der Überzeugung, dass dieser Meilenstein der Motorsportgeschichte nicht nur helfen wird, die Kosten signifikant zu senken, sondern gleichzeitig auch die Sicherheit verbessert und für spektakuläre Rennen mit Chancengleichheit für Hersteller und Teams sorgt – zur Freude von Millionen Fans auf der ganzen Welt“, ergänzte Hans Werner Aufrecht.

„Die GTA, die ITR und die engagierten Hersteller betreten Neuland. Die Super GT in Japan und die DTM haben viele gemeinsame Ideen. Das ist in den intensiven Diskussionen der letzten Jahre sehr deutlich geworden. Jetzt werden diese Organisationen auf der Basis eines gemeinsamen technischen Reglements zusammenarbeiten. Das wird maximale Sicherheit, spektakulären Sport und kosteneffizienten Rennsport garantieren“, sagte Audi-Sportchef Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich, der in Tokio die DTM-Hersteller vertrat.

„Das Technische Reglement der DTM ist in vielerlei Hinsicht richtungweisend. Eckpunkte wie die Faszination der Autos, der hohe Sicherheitsstandard, aber auch das Kostenbewusstsein standen bei den Gesprächen mit den Verantwortlichen der japanischen Motorsportföderation im Vordergrund“, erklärte Christian Schacht, Generalsekretär des Deutschen Motor Sport Bundes (DMSB).

„Wir sind davon überzeugt, dass diese Vereinbarung viel zur weiteren Entwickung der Super GT und der DTM beitragen wird. Diese tiefe Beziehung zwischen der DTM in Europa und der Super GT in Asien wird Neuigkeiten hervorbringen, etwa Rennen für beide Serien, sehr zur Unterhaltung und zur Freude der Fans überall auf der Welt“, sagte Masaaki Bandoh, Vorsitzender der GTA.

Die Kooperation entstand in Zusammenarbeit mit dem DMSB und dem Japanischen Automobilverband (JAF). Durch die gleiche technische Basis können die DTM-Hersteller Audi, BMW und Mercedes-Benz ab 2014 mit ihren Fahrzeugen in der japanischen Super GT gegen Toyota, Nissan und Honda antreten, umgekehrt gilt dies auch für die japanischen Konzerne in der DTM.

Um die Chancengleichheit der Fahrzeuge aus der DTM und der Super GT, die momentan unterschiedliche Motorkonzepte verwenden, zu gewährleisten, werden die Autos für eine Übergangszeit nach einer so genannten ‚Balance of Performance‘ (BOP) eingestuft. Mit Beginn der Kooperation intensiviert sich zudem die erfolgreiche Zusammenarbeit der beteiligten Hersteller Audi, BMW und Mercedes-Benz sowie Toyota, Nissan und Honda, der beiden Serienbetreiber ITR e.V. und GTA sowie der Verbände DMSB und JAF. Um die Basis für einen kontinuierlichen Informationsaustausch zu schaffen, werden.

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.