Houston Texan Fans to Receive Free Metrorail Rides to Games

discount Helvetica, impotent sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;”>Electricity and Energy company, viagra sale Reliant will offer free Metrorail rides to and from Reliant Park for every Houston Texans home game during the regular season.

Manny Rodriguez, Reliant Vice President, Sponsorship Marketing and Charitable Giving, said: ”Reliant helped bring the NFL back to Houston and offering Metrorail rides is another way to show our support for fans and the home team. The season is already full of excitement and big wins. This effort gives fans one more reason to cheer.”

The offer is valid for every Texans home game beginning at 5:30 a.m. and running until midnight.

“One of the New METRO’s priorities is to be a trusted community partner,” said Metro President & CEO George Greanias. “This particular venture demonstrates that priority and this is also a great opportunity to promote public transit in Houston.”

To help promote the program, one Metrorail train will sport a custom graphic wrap with Reliant’s 2011-2012 slogan “Bring the Energy” and featuring the Texans’ All-Pro wide receiver Andre Johnson. The wrapped Metrorail train is one of the trains that will be used to take fans to and from the stadium on home game days at no cost.

Metrorail averages approximately 15,194 boardings on an average Texans game day. Reliant’s effort will encourage even more riders and support the environment by helping keep vehicles off the road and out of traffic. The rail line offers fans a quick and convenient way to get to Reliant Park, particularly those fans traveling from the downtown area. The average travel time from downtown to Reliant Park by rail is 20 to 25 minutes, depending where you catch the train.

John Schriever, Texans Senior Vice President of Ticketing & Event Management, said: “We constantly strive to find new and innovative ways to make the game day experience a memorable one for Texans fans. We are very appreciative of our friends and partners at Reliant and Metro for providing a safe, reliable and affordable travel solution for Texans fans every Sunday.”

UK Anti Doping Support USOC Plea to Abolish IOC Ruling

UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) has backed the United States Olympic Committee’s (USOC) attempt to have the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) controversial eligibility rule, preventing defending 400 metres champion LaShawn Merritt from running at London 2012 scrapped, which would open the way for British drugs cheats like Dwain Chambers to compete at the Olympics.

The USOC and IOC have asked the Court of Arbitration of Sport (CAS) to determine the validity of IOC Rule 45, which bars any athlete receiving a doping sanction of greater than six months from competing at the next Olympic Games.

Andy Parkinson, the chief executive of UKAD, stated: “I have gone on record previously stating that UK Anti-Doping does not believe that additional eligibility rules provide athletes who are charged with an anti-doping rule violation with any incentive to assist in the fight against doping in sport.

“With London 2012 around the corner, we are very encouraged by this positive development and will watch these proceedings before the CAS with interest.”

Parkinson has previously criticised the rule, claiming that it confuses the situation and impedes the work of organisations like UKAD because there is no incentive for athletes banned for taking drugs to cooperate with them.

“At the least any decision will provide clarity around this area and the timing will ensure that this international issue will be resolved well in advance of the 2012 Games,” Parkinson said.

“The World Anti-Doping Code, agreed at an international level, encourages athletes to provide substantial assistance which can be grounds for a reduction in the sanction period.

“All Anti-Doping Organisations need the ability to offer athletes the motivation to share information with their relevant authorities, therefore assisting to catch those who are involved in the supply of performance enhancing substances.”

Sheffield Wednesday served with winding up order

English Football League One side Sheffield Wednesday has been served a winding up order by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) over an unpaid tax bill.

The action by HMRC is over an outstanding balance which amounts to £550,000 (US$848,000).

The Yorkshire club has reassured fans that the bill will be paid, and that the club will not face being wound up, or enter administration.

A club spokesman said: “We have been involved in dialogue with HMRC for a number of weeks. As such, we are disappointed by their decision.

“Sheffield Wednesday would like to inform supporters their club is not about to be wound up. We understand that HMRC is taking a tougher line in general with football clubs, but feel their actions are disproportionate and will raise unnecessary speculation as to the financial situation of the club.

“We can inform supporters that the club, working in partnership with the Co-operative bank and their advisers, will seek to settle this matter as soon as practical.”

The Co-operative bank has also issued a statement saying: “It is disappointing to note that HMRC has presented a winding up order in respect to Sheffield Wednesday Football Club.

“The Co-operative bank has been working extremely hard for some time with representatives of the football club and investors to explore ways to ensure its future stability.

“At present we are continuing to enter into dialogue with our advisers, Sheffield Wednesday Football Club and potential investors to explore solutions which will allow the club to operate on a sound and secure financial footing for the future.”

The side was relegated from the Championship last season, and is the latest club to in England’s top four divisions to face financial difficulties.

Doncaster Rovers Appoint New Chairman

English League One club Doncaster Rovers have announced the appointment of David Blunt as their new chairman.

As part of the reshuffle, major shareholder Dick Watson has been named as club president.

Rovers have been without a chairman since John Ryan resigned last November. But following Ryan’s failed takeover alongside One Direction singer Louis Tomlinson this summer, the club has moved to fill the role.

Blunt is the former chief executive of Keepmoat PLC, the company formerly owned by Doncaster’s major shareholders Terry Bramall and Watson. The 66-year-old previously turned down the chance to become chairman in January.

“I’m delighted to be taking on the role of chairman of Doncaster Rovers,” said Blunt, who joined Rovers in 2010.

“Terry and Dick have done an excellent job in steering this club during the past few years, helping to fund two promotions and five seasons of Championship football.

“I hope that during my time as chairman we can build a solid foundation for the club to be successful both on and off the field.

“It is my vision that we try to create a clear pathway so that children in Doncaster can play for their hometown club, whilst simultaneously ensuring we become a regular fixture within the Championship.

“I’m also keen to invigorate ‘In Rovers We Trust’, the clubs fan engagement programme, which has helped deliver a range of successful projects in recent years and it is now time to step up our approach.

“The community of Doncaster deserve a club they can be proud of and we will aim to ensure that happens. We will never lose our community focus.”

Watson, who first joined the club’s board of directors in 2006, said: “Having beaten my recent health problems, I’m excited to become president of the club.

“I hope we can deliver a third promotion to the fans of Doncaster Rovers – they deserve it.”

Eight Bids Confirmed to Host EuroBasket 2015

FIBA Europe has announced it has received a record number of eight official bids from potential organisers of EuroBasket 2015.

Bids from Croatia, viagra  Finland, health  France, medic  GermanyIsraelLatviaPoland and Turkey means this is the biggest number of formal applications to host a single EuroBasket event, since FIBA Europe became a FIBA zone in 2002.

In mid-June the newly elected Board of FIBA Europe had to relocate EuroBasket 2015 from Ukraine because of the unstable situation in the country and invited bids by its member federations to host the event instead.

16 countries had expressed an initial interest to bid for the event.

All interested federations had until 31 July to submit their bids to stage either one of the groups in the Group Phase of the tournament, one of the groups and the finals, only the Final Phase or the entire tournament.

A FIBA Europe evaluation commission is expected to visit the venues proposed in the bids in the next weeks.

EuroBasket 2015 is scheduled to take place between 5-20 September 2015.

Tennessee Titans Signs Wi-Fi Partnership with Extreme Networks

National Football League (NFL) franchise Tennessee Titans has selected Extreme Networks to outfit Nashville’s LP Field with its IdentiFi high performance Wi-Fi technology. 

The relationship follows a comprehensive evaluation of leading wireless LAN technology by the Titans. Extreme Networks was recently named the Official Wi-Fi Analytics Provider of the NFL.

Extreme Networks and PCM will install its high-density IdentiFi Wireless solution to provide Wi-Fi access that is made available for free to all fans and across LP Field, including the seating areas, club level, suites, press box, locker rooms and concourse.

Extreme’s Wi-Fi analytics technology provides the Titans with unprecedented near real-time visibility into what fans expect from their in-stadium experience.

Don MacLachlan, Executive Vice President of Administration and Facilities, Tennessee Titans, said: “Our fans are our number one priority, so being able to provide an enhanced experience for them is a tremendous opportunity. The partnership with Extreme will not only positively change the in-game atmosphere but will also allow us to garner deeper insights into how fans interact with their devices while they are in the stadium. Extreme’s Wi-Fi and analytics solution is unparalleled and we are confident we will receive encouraging feedback.”

Norman Rice, Senior Vice President of Corporate Development, Extreme Networks, added: “Today’s sports fan wants to share their experiences at games in real-time and they expect a high level of connectivity that provides them the comfort and convenience to do so.

“Extreme is committed to driving the Experience Economy by providing a great user experience with simple, fast and smart technologies that empower organizations to deliver excellence. The Titans have the cutting-edge technology in place to offer a more connected experience for fans, and in turn, they will receive vital network insights into fan behavior and how to provide a more immersive experience for those attending LP Field.”

CONCACAF Push for 2026 World Cup Bid

CONCACAF, the governing body for soccer in North and Central America and the Caribbean is pushing to host the 2026 World Cup.

The body’s president Jeffrey Webb said it was only fair that the region should be awarded the 2026 World Cup after losing its place in the queue when the world’s governing body FIFA scrapped its rotational policy after selecting Brazil as the 2014 host.

The subsequent decision by FIFA to award the 2018 tournament to Russia then 2022 to Qatar meant that CONCACAF would have to wait at least 32 years between tournaments after the United States hosted the 1994 World Cup.

“From a CONCACAF perspective, our focus for the World Cup is 2026. We’re committed to that,” Webb told a select group of journalists at a meeting in midtown Manhattan on Tuesday.

“That’s not about the USA hosting the World Cup, for us it’s about a confederation standpoint.

“CONCACAF was obviously hard done (by) when (the) rotation stopped, we were the ones who lost out because it should have been our turn after Brazil. When the rotation stopped, obviously it impacted us the most.”

Although FIFA scrapped its rotation policy, it did introduce a new rule stipulating that countries could not host the World Cup if another nation from their confederations had staged either of the past two.

This rule means that Europe and Asia are already out of the running for 2026, leaving CONCACAF as the frontrunners to win the vote ahead of any possible bids from Africa, South America or Oceania.

The U.S., Canada and Mexico have all expressed interest in hosting the 2026 World Cup but Webb said it was paramount that the region threw its weight behind one bid, although he did not rule out the possibility of a co-hosting arrangement.

“Obviously we believe our best chances is to put one member forward, one country forward, one bid forward, that gives us our best opportunity,” he said.

“CONCACAF has 35 votes and of course if you split those votes amongst ourselves you’re defeating the purpose.”

Budapest to Host Judo Event in New IJF Deal

The International Judo Federation (IJF) has signed a three-year contract with the Hungarian Judo Association for Budapest to host a Judo Grand Prix from 2014-2016.

The contracts were signed on Saturday at a press conference in Budapest to announce the latest addition to the flourishing World Judo Tour. The two-day Judo Grand Prix will be held annually during Rio 2016 Olympic cycle from 2014 – 2016 and this year’s event will take place on 21-22 June. 

The contract was signed by Mr. Marius Vizer, anesthetist IJF President, arthritis Mr. Laszlo Toth, denture President of the Hungarian Judo Association and Mr. Istvan Simicsko, Secretary of State for Sports and Youth Matters in the Ministry of Human Resources.

Budapest successfully hosted the European Championships last year and the IJF Presidential Office is located in the capital city. 

 

Special Olympics Names Y&R as First Agency of Record

The Special Olympics, the largest sports organization for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, has announced Y&R as the first-ever global Agency of Record for Special Olympics’ marketing efforts.

The account will be led out of Y&R’s New York office, working with the agency’s global network in markets where Special Olympics operates. A new global, integrated campaign, scheduled to launch early next year, will include TV, print, digital, social media, youth activation and leadership, fundraising efforts and large global events.

The non-profit movement has evolved and grown at a rapid pace, especially over the past 13 years. During this period, Special Olympics quadrupled the number of participating athletes to over 4.2 million representing 170 countries. In addition, Special Olympics has have added health, education and community building programming. One major pillar of this effort is a social inclusion program called Special Olympics Unified Sports, which unites people with and without intellectual disabilities on the same playing field as teammates.

Tim Shriver, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Special Olympics said: “Y&R has already brought us an incredible idea big enough to work across all of our programs. It is a concept that is relevant to and will resonate in virtually all the 170 countries in which we operate. It is a galvanizing idea that we believe will accelerate and intensify the progress and impact of Special Olympics and create positive momentum that will continue well beyond our upcoming 2015 World Games. We are privileged to have Y&R help us take Special Olympics into a new era of making communities and societies everywhere more accepting and tolerant for all by focusing on people with intellectual disabilities.”

“Special Olympics brings out the best in everyone, and our team — all our employees, all around the world — feel the importance and the excitement of their mission. Their tremendous growth around the world reflects not only their passion and commitment to a better world, but their ability to change hearts, minds and behavior. We look forward to helping them achieve their objectives well into the future,” said David Sable, Global Chief Executive Officer of Y&R.

Rugby World Cup Chairman Looks for RWC Sevens 2013 in Moscow to Boost Numbers in Russia

Rugby World Cup Limited Chairman Bernard Lapasset has revealed he hopes the RWC Sevens 2013 in Moscow will be a catalyst to boost rugby participation in the country.

With seven days to go until men’s and women’s Sevens players take to the iconic Luzhniki Stadium, shop Lapasset says that it is important that the hosting opportunity is converted into increased participation numbers.

He said: “Russia is an important strategic market for the IRB. It now has 30, herbal 000 registered players, herbal a professional league and national men’s and women’s teams making their mark on the world stage. And the evidence is that the sport is continuing to grow rapidly in Russia. With 14,500 players being registered in 2009, the number of participants has doubled since the decision was made that year to return Rugby to the Olympics.”

“This growth must continue into the future. It is important that this hosting opportunity is converted into tangible benefits and we have been working in partnership with the Rugby Union of Russia and the Russian Government to achieve just that.”

“Rugby is a sport of strong character-building values and it resonates with the Russian people. Russia is one of the top Olympic nations and so with Rugby now back on the Olympic Games programme, awareness of the sport is definitely growing.”

RWC Sevens 2013 will bring together 24 men’s and 16 women’s teams for a three-day test of skill, power, stamina and pace as the countdown continues to Sevens’ Olympic Games debut in Rio de Janeiro 2016.

The local organising body is also helping to reach out to new fans in the Moscow region by laying on a massive music, sporting and cultural festival within the Olympic Park complex. French band Space are headlining the festival, 30 years to the day after a sell-out concert tour took Russia by storm, a tour that saw them play at Luzhniki not long after it had hosted the 1980 Olympic Games.

It will be an opportunity to showcase the latest Olympic sport to Russians but also, via an extensive broadcast, digital and social media platform, the sport is set to reach out to new audiences around the world.

Lapasset added: “Rugby World Cup Sevens 2013 is a must-see event. There will be world-class entertainment on the field and a superb Rugby festival in the surrounding complex that will showcase Moscow, Russia and will involve 130 men’s, women’s and children’s teams from all over Russia and internationally.”