The organisers of the PGA Grand Slam of Golf have announced the next two editions of the event will continue to be staged at the Port Royal Golf Course in Bermuda.

The official hosts of the event include Bermuda Department of Tourism, Port Royal Golf Course and the Fairmont Southampton Hotel.

Next year, the 36-hole stroke-play event, which is also lauded as ‘the most exclusive tournament in golf’, will be played from October 15 to 16.

Every year, the tournament brings together the reigning major champions to compete against each other for the US$1.35 million prize fund, with the winner receiving US$600,000.

Starting from 1979, the prestigious four-man tournament used to be held at different courses each year. However, the event remained at the Poipu Bay Golf Course in Koloa, Hawaii, from 1994 to 2006.

In 2007, the organisers decided to stage the event at the Mid Ocean Club in Bermuda for two years, prior to moving to the Port Royal Golf Course in 2009.

According to the tournament officials, the tournament achieved huge success in Bermuda and the local golf fans always show their support by visiting the golf course every year.

That was the major reason behind the plan of staging the event at the same venue course for the upcoming two years.

“The PGA of America is honored to continue the PGA Grand Slam of Golf tradition on the island of Bermuda through 2014 at the Port Royal Golf Course,” said PGA of America President Ted Bishop.

He added, “Bermuda has embraced the PGA Grand Slam of Golf, serving as an exemplary host the past six years and delivering unmatched hospitality and community support for the game’s elite foursome”.

“We are excited to once again join the Bermuda Department of Tourism in showcasing Bermuda as a premier golf and tourism destination by presenting the PGA Grand Slam of Golf to the world,” he concluded.

Citroën announced that they are seriously evaluating a possible participation in the World Touring Car Championship from 2014 or 2015.

Citroën Racing team principal Yves Matton said: “WTCC would enable Citroën to showcase ‘Creative Technology’ inmajor markets, such as China and Brazil. The final decision regarding this programme is depending on the evolution of the FIA regulations and the determination of our current and future partners to support us in this project.”

Matton also admitted that eight-time World Rally champion Sébastien Loeb would be in the frame: “The role of brand ambassador for Citroën cannot be a passive one for someone as driven as Sébastien. This project would give him the opportunity to pursue his career in track racing with the support of the manufacturer with which he has worked since his debut.”

“We would be extremely pleased to welcome in WTCC a top car manufacturer like Citroën and a superstar like Loeb that boast impressive winning records in motorsports. While waiting for their decision, I can say now that we areflattered by their interest in the WTCC that is the recognition of the joint efforts put in by the FIA and Eurosport Events to grow and promote the championship,” said Olivier Fisch, Eurosport Events Managing Director.

The newly-appointed Chief Executive Officer of Cricket Holdings America LLC (CHALLC) Keith Wyness believes the organisation’s foundations will help turn the dream of bringing world-class cricket to the United States of America (USA) into a reality.

The dream has remained just that for many years despite the country being able to boast substantial interest in the sport.

But Mr Wyness said the framework CHALLC has put in place will help ensure the venture will succeed where past efforts have failed.

“We have been able to look properly at getting the correct permissions, mind ” he said. “We have involved the ICC (International Cricket Council) right from the start, ed we have got the Full Member involvement of New Zealand and we are working with USACA (the United States of America Cricket Association).

“So we have got it right in terms of the right pyramid of cricket authorities and that makes a fundamental difference to everything that has gone before.

“With that, we are able to sit back and plan properly and strategically to make sure we get everything in the right place.”

CHALLC is a joint venture between New Zealand Cricket (NZC) and the USACA for the development of cricket within the USA.

Mr Wyness, formerly the Chief Executive Officer of two Premier League football clubs, Everton in England and Aberdeen in Scotland, worked on the Sydney Olympic Games of 2000 and has more than a decade living and working in the USA.

He will be responsible for the delivery of a business plan which will include the sale of Twenty20 franchises for a professional league set to begin next year.

“At present we are looking at a target date of starting games in the summer of 2013,” said Mr Wyness.

“We will certainly have lead-up events through 2012 and that will give us (the chance) to introduce the game and give people (the opportunity to get) more understanding of what we are trying to achieve.

“There are two goals here: firstly, we are looking to make sure the cricket opportunity is fully exploited in America in terms of bringing it to the general population and from that there will be development at the grass roots to eventually get more kids playing.

“Without a doubt Twenty20 is the format that is going to achieve most visibility and penetration in the USA – that is what we expect to happen.

“However, we will also be supporting other forms of the game if there is a need and desire (for them) as we move forward.”

Mr Wyness played down suggestions that governance issues within the administration of the game within the USA could potentially hamper CHALLC’s attempts to develop the sport.

“There are always going to be debates and different points of view and I do not see anything unusual in that at this time of the lifecycle of a sport,” he said.

“As we move forward with Cricket Holdings America and we can show there can be major penetration (of the game within the USA), those differing opinions will become things of the past and everyone is going to move forward towards getting the best interests of cricket promoted in the best possible way.”

by Ismail Uddin

Arena Football League (AFL) franchise Cleveland Gladiators have been taken over by Cleveland Cavaliers and Quicken Loans Arena organization.

The announcement was made by Cavaliers and Quicken Loans Arena President Len Komoroski.

The Gladiators now join Dan Gilbert’s sports and entertainment family of companies based in Ohio.  That portfolio includes the Cleveland Cavaliers of the NBA, buy the Canton Charge of the NBA Development League, the Lake Erie Monsters of the American Hockey League (AHL), Quicken Loans Arena, Veritix, Horseshoe Casino Cleveland, opening this spring and Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati, slated to open in 2013.

“We’re very excited about adding the Gladiators to our family of teams here at The Q. The AFL offers a high-energy, action-packed product that fits very well with our own approach to sports and entertainment. We will operate the Gladiators in a new, expanded way that will result in an even better value and fun, super-charged experience for our fans, while also creating a great platform for the team’s future success on and off the field,” said Komoroski.

The Gladiators were acquired from former Gladiators majority owner and CEO, Jim Ferraro. Ferraro originally purchased the New Jersey AFL franchise in 2000 and relocated the team to Las Vegas as the Gladiators in late 2002. Following the 2007 season, the Gladiators relocated to Cleveland and began play at The Q for the 2008 season.  Cleveland Browns legend Bernie Kosar became part of the franchise with the move to Cleveland for the 2008 season and has remained a special advisor to the team. Kosar will continue in his role with the new organization as special advisor to the Gladiators.

Veteran Gladiators executive Phil Tesar will lead the team’s business transition to the Cavaliers and Quicken Loans Arena organization working closely with its executive leadership team. The Gladiators will also immediately begin a transition process to relocate their team offices to The Q.

The franchise will begin their 17th season on March 12th, 2012 on the road against the Georgia Force. To start their nine-game regular season home slate at The Q, they return to Cleveland on March 26th to take on the Kansas City Command.  The 2012 season also marks the 25th Anniversary Season of the AFL.

AFL Commissioner Jerry B. Kurz, said: “It is a historic year for the Arena Football League. As we enter the League’s 25th Anniversary, it speaks volumes to partner with Dan Gilbert and the Cavaliers organization. Already having a major footprint in the Cleveland sports arena, with the Cavaliers, Monsters hockey and Quicken Loans Arena, this partnership is far reaching. It is a tremendous honor to welcome Mr. Gilbert, Mr. Komoroski and the Cavaliers organization to the Arena Football League as they have always shown such commitment to their fans.”

Renewed optimism that a new labour accord can be reached by the National Football League (NFL) and its players has risen after meetings between the two sides could end a three-month-old shutdown of the sport in time to avoid missing part of the season.

Owners of the league’s 32 teams are scheduled to meet June 21, stuff with clubs being told to prepare to stay late or overnight, according to NFL spokesman Greg Aiello. The news comes after three weeks of labour talks have produced progress that may prevent a delay of the regular season, according to two people with knowledge of the situation who asked not to be identified because of the sensitivity of negotiations and a media blackout imposed by a U.S. judge.

The approach of the season is thought to be encouraging efforts to reach a deal on how to divide about US$9bn in revenue, according to Bob Bruno, who teaches labour and employment relations at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

In a telephone interview with Bloomberg, Bruno stated: “They’re getting there. I wouldn’t put a time frame on it but I would expect that there’s going to be football and going to be training camp and going to be something positive for both sides to talk about.”

Aiello declined to comment on the progress of talks though spokesman for the NFL Players Association, George Atallah said on the social networking site Twitter that “We’re focusing all our efforts on a long-term settlement, agreement and resolution.”

The NFL locked out players in March, who then sued the league for antitrust violations and wage-fixing in federal court, led by Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Drew Brees.

The British Olympic Association (BOA) is determined to take its dispute over running costs of the London 2012 Olympics with its organising committee to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) ruled in favour of the Games body (LOCOG) on Friday, March 18.

The BOA claims that the running costs of the Paralympics should not be taken into account when calculating the surplus Games revenues to be awarded to the national body. Irregardless of the IOC’s decision to support the side of LOCOG in the row, the BOA had already lodged a submission with the CAS prior to Friday’s ruling.

A statement from the IOC read: “The IOC was asked to reach a final and binding decision on how the surplus of the Games should be defined. Having studied the documents and the past recent history of the Games bidding process we have decided that the word ‘surplus’ clearly represents the financial results from the staging of the Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games combined.”

A London 2012 spokesperson responded to the IOC’s judgement by saying: “We are pleased that the IOC has ruled on this technical point confirming we should continue to determine any surplus on the basis of combined costs and revenues from both the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Now this is settled we look forward to moving ahead together with the BOA to realise our shared vision of hosting a spectacular Olympic and Paralympic Games.”

However, the BOA insisted it would continue with its CAS appeal, adding: “Decisions made by CAS are final and binding, and CAS is the agreed forum for resolution as specified by the Olympic Charter and the key contractual agreements between the various Olympic stakeholders.”

Drinks brand Powerade has taken advantage of its link with the Great Britain Olympic team by launching Powerade Zero – the official drink of Team GB.

The drink has been scientifically produced to provide hydration to athletes with hardly any calories and will form part of the British Olympic Association’s (BOA)hydration regime in the build up to the London 2012 Games.

Trade communications manager at Coca-Cola Enterprises, which owns Powerade, Selena Taylor, said: “The launch of Powerade Zero represents a huge opportunity to drive profits for retailers in the Sports & Energy sector. There are 1.8bn active sporting occasions among Powerade’s core audience each year.”

British athlete Jessica Ennis is a Powerade ambassador and would most likely front any marketing campaign that is rolled out surrounding the product.