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.

AEG and MGM Resorts International have announced an agreement formalizing the details of the previously announced joint venture to build a new arena project, between New York-New York and Monte Carlo resorts, extending from Las Vegas Blvd. to Frank Sinatra Drive. 

They have selected Populous, designers of many of the world’s most memorable sports, concert and entertainment venues as the Architect of Record and designer for the new approximately 20,000-seat indoor arena.

The arena is expected to break ground in summer 2014, with the grand opening projected for spring 2016.  The project is anticipated to cost approximately $350 million and be financed with equity contributions from each of the partners as well as privately funded third-party financing.

“Finalizing our agreement with AEG and selecting Populous, a world-class design firm, as the architect of this project are both important milestones in this process,” said Jim Murren, MGM Resorts International Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.  “The combination of MGM and AEG, along with the excellent Las Vegas Strip location, is already driving interest from potential investors in this exciting new development.”

Populous is underway creating designs for the state-of-the-art arena set to become Las Vegas’ premier destination for sporting events, major headline entertainment and special events that will drive significant visitation and revenue to Las Vegas. The venue will feature a variety of unique premium seating offerings as well as other hospitality areas for entertaining and private events.

Dan Beckerman, President & Chief Executive Officer, AEG, said, “After spending many years exploring a variety of arena opportunities in Las Vegas, we are excited to have consummated a partnership with MGM Resorts International, the leading gaming and hospitality company, to begin designing and building a state-of-the-art arena on such an ideally located site. Bringing together the knowledge, experience and assets of our respective organizations, we will create an arena that offers fans the best live entertainment experience.”

AEG Global Partnerships, an affiliate of AEG that collaborates with more than 100 venues and other AEG assets worldwide to create sales and marketing platforms, will undertake the sales of sponsorships, premium seating and luxury suite sales as well as seeking a naming rights partner for the new Las Vegas showplace.

Chris Carver, Senior Principal at Populous, said, “The new MGM-AEG arena in Las Vegas will provide the nation’s preeminent entertainment destination with a world-class venue that will redefine amenities and premium offerings tailored to the demanding Las Vegas market. We very much look forward to working with MGM and AEG to fulfill their progressive aspirations and quality standards for the entire development.”

World leaders in the design and development of iconic arena projects, Populous’ portfolio of sports facilities includes more than 20 projects in association with AEG or ICON Venue Group (serving as project managers for the project) including London’s O2 arena, Berlin’s O2 World arena and Kansas City’s Sprint Center.

Crumbs Bake Shop, anesthetist Inc. today announced its partnership with NBC Sports Group and the NHL to create a unique campaign to promote the start of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs on NBC Sports.

As part of NBC Sports Group’s “Because It’s The Cup” marketing campaign, Crumbs has designed and created a limited edition of custom sets of “Stanley Cup(cakes) that will be delivered to local sports radio stations, to affiliate and RSN television networks, and to media and key business partners.

Additionally, Crumbs will be selling, in each of its 69 retail locations throughout the country, Stanley Cup(cakes) designed with either the Stanley Cup or team specific logos. In a collaborative effort, NBC Sports Network, the NHL and Crumbs Bake Shop will co-brand a mobile vehicle touring key playoff cities distributing the specialty “iced” cupcakes.

“We are excited to partner with Crumbs Bake Shop on this unique element of our “Because It’s The Cup” Stanley Cup Playoffs campaign with the NHL” said John Miller, Chief Marketing Officer, NBC Sports Group. “Working with Crumbs on this promotion is important to our overall efforts to connect with fans in fun and unique ways.”

Julian R. Geiger, President and CEO of Crumbs Bake Shop, said “We are thrilled to partner with NBC Sports Group and the NHL on this exciting opportunity. Priding ourselves on our creativity, exclusivity, and design expertise, this chance to innovate while celebrating the Stanley Cup Playoffs is as exciting as scoring a shorthanded goal for us.”

Trump National Golf Club in Washington, D.C., in Potomac Falls, Va., has been named the site of the 38th Junior PGA Championship, to be conducted July 30 – Aug. 2, 2013.

One of the nation’s premier events in junior golf, the Junior PGA Championship has been a stepping stone to both collegiate and professional careers for many of golf’s past and current performers.

“The Junior PGA Championship has a proud tradition in providing one of the best golf experiences possible for the next generation of golfers,” said PGA of America President Ted Bishop. “To bring this Championship to a facility like Trump National Golf Club in the shadow of our nation’s capital reflects our Association’s commitment to offer an outstanding venue to identify the finest young golfers in our country.”

Donald J. Trump, Chairman & President of The Trump Organization, welcomed the Junior PGA Championship to Trump National Golf Club Washington D.C., just one of his 14 golf world class golf properties throughout North America and Europe.

“I am extremely pleased that The PGA has recognized our course as the perfect location for their 2013 Junior Championship. It is an honor to welcome such young talented individuals to Trump National and I look forward to continuing to support their success and the Junior PGA for many years,” said Mr. Trump.

The 18-hole Championship Tournament Course at Trump National Golf Club was designed by Tom Fazio and fronts entirely on the majestic Potomac River.

“We are thrilled to have this opportunity and are determined to provide an unforgettable venue for the best young golfers in the Country. The course is in amazing shape and I look forward to a fantastic tournament this summer,” said John Valder, PGA head professional at Trump National Golf Club – Washington, D.C.

The Junior PGA Championship is where the best in the world get their start. Begun in 1976, the Championship has been a popular stop on the national junior circuit for many of today’s PGA and LPGA touring professionals. Past competitors who have gone on to successful professional careers include Stewart Cink, Trevor Immelman, Cristie Kerr, Anthony Kim, Justin Leonard, Michelle McGann, Phil Mickelson, In-Bee Park, Dottie Pepper, Alexis Thompson, Michelle Wie, and Tiger Woods.

In 2012, Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand became the first girls’ division champion since In-Bee Park of South Korea to claim back-to-back titles, while Robby Shelton of Wilmer, Ala., claimed the boys’ title at Sycamore Hills Golf Club in Fort Wayne, Ind.

Askari H. Zaidi, cialis Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications of the Jaypee Group is not optimistic of a full house for this year’s Indian Grand Prix. 

Inklings that Formula One and India would be incompatible were initially proved wrong when a 95, bronchi 000 capacity crowd packed into the Bhudd International Circuit for the event, doctor but numbers for this week’s race are not expected to hit such high numbers. 

Speaking exclusively to iSportconnect, Zaidi said: “The attendance will not be 95,000 this year. 

“Last year, many people were very curious as it was the first time F1 was being held in India, but we are confident that a good number of people will come. 

“The exact number would be difficult to predict right now because people don’t really plan in advance. Last year, more than 45% of tickets were sold in the last ten days.” 

Despite a predicted lull, Zaidi is assured that motorsport will eventually become a success in Indian the subcontinent. 

“It will take time because in this part of the world, motorsport is not very popular,” added Zaidi. 

“In some pockets in South India, like Bangalore or Chennai, motorsport facilities are up to international standard. But, some circuits are of the required standard and that has encouraged many people to take up motorsport. 

“The Indian government remains positive and we are very hopeful that in coming years, we will improve a lot in terms of public support.” 

Stay tuned in to iSportconnect to read the interview, coming soon.