Rio 2016 Olympics organisers have revealed venue construction for the games is 38% completed just shy of two years from the commencement of the first Olympic Games on the South American continent.

Eleven of the 29 permanent venues scheduled for the Games are already operational, click while eight still need renovations. There will also be eight temporary venues constructed.

The Olympic Golf Course is being irrigated for the planting of grass to begin and the foundations of Olympic Halls 1, and 2, discount and 3 in the Barra Olympic Park continue. Depth studies at the rowing and canoe sprint venue of Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas have begun, and the design of the integrated route for athletics, road cycling, and paracycling courses in Flamengo Park have also started.

“We are advancing in the construction of competition venues for the Rio 2016 Games, with all of the basic and executive projects concluded or in the conclusion phase, and with foundation works in full flow,” Rio 2016 Infrastructure Integration Director Alexandre Techima said. “Even though they may not be highly visible, the preparative groundwork and foundation construction, that occurs underground, are extremely important for the final structure and often account for 20 percent of the total volume of construction.”

A tender process in Deodoro for Rio 2016’s second-largest venue cluster has now started. The renovation of the National Shooting Centre, National Equestrian Centre, and Modern Pentathlon Aquatics Centre will begin later this year, four new venues will be constructed, and two temporary venues will be installed. The Maracana Stadium, which will host the Opening Ceremony and Closing Ceremony at the Olympic Summer Games, is prepared to host the FIFA World Cup next month.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) have looked to protect its future events from issues such as match-fixing and corruption by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Interpol, medicine the International Criminal Police Organisation.

Interpol will work with the IOC to identify and address issues which could affect the security and integrity of matches and competitions, such as doping, match-fixing and illegal or irregular sports betting activities, and attempted corruption of match officials and players, particularly during the Olympic Games and Youth Olympic Games.

IOC President Thomas Bach said: “Interpol has the ability and the necessary instruments to instigate cross-border investigations, coordinate different law enforcement bodies, and gather intelligence. In our determined fight to protect the integrity of sport on behalf of clean athletes, Interpol’s involvement is absolutely crucial. The MoU has further cemented the close relationship we already enjoy.”

The agreement also provides for the world police body to give additional support to the IOC in ensuring the security of international matches and competitions.

“As the world’s largest law enforcement organization, it is natural for Interpol to team up with the International Olympic Committee to secure and protect such universal events as the Olympic Games and Youth Olympic Games,” said Interpol Secretary General Ronald K. Noble.

“It is by providing the widest possible law enforcement support to global sports events that fans, competitors and officials can enjoy them as safely and securely as possible. Without our collective commitment and action against threats such as illegal and irregular betting, the confidence in fair play by the public and our youth will erode and eventually vanish.

“Interpol’s agreement with the International Olympic Committee therefore represents a significant step forward in protecting the integrity of sport,” concluded the Head of Interpol.

English Rugby Championship team, Nottingham RFC have revealed they are looking for fresh investment as promotion to the Aviva Premiership could be a possibility.

The Meadow Lane club have already secured their place in the end-of-season shootout for a place in the top-flight – with Nottingham set to face one of Bedford, Bristol, or Leeds in the two-legged RFU Championship semi-final.

However Nottingham, who have guaranteed second spot in the table behind runaway leaders Newcastle, are seeking £250,000 of new investment to complete this season and build for next year after existing owners and investors Luke Jones and Jason Brewer announced they can no longer provide the necessary funding.

“We’ve had an excellent season, better than we expected when we set out our objectives this time last year,” said Nottingham chairman Alistair Bow.

“But achieving this success comes at a high cost and due to a change in their circumstances our owners can no longer meet the current financial demands of the club.

“Luke and Jason would both like to stay involved, but in order for us to carry on playing at the top of the RFU Championship challenging for promotion, we need to bring additional funding in.

“We have already identified one or two new investors, but we still need more funds to bridge the gap this season.”

The NRL’s Manly Warringah Sea Eagles will now be known as the Kaspersky Sea Eagles in recognition of the strength of the relationship between the club and its principal partner.

Kaspersky Lab have been a loyal and valued partner since joining the club in 2011, with the world-leading IT security software company this year affirming their passion for the Sea Eagles by signing on as long-term principal partner.

The extended corporate relationship will see Kaspersky Lab featured on the front of Sea Eagles home and away jerseys until at least 2015 and now the team will also be referred to as the Kaspersky Sea Eagles.

Sea Eagles General Manager David Perry said the club is pleased to have the opportunity to recognise the invaluable support and faith of its principal partner.

“We are proud to be so closely associated with such an internationally respected brand,” Perry said.

“Having the support of Kaspersky in the long-term is a huge boost for the club. They are an integral part of the Manly team and having their name in the team’s title gives them well-deserved acknowledgement.”

Managing Director of Kaspersky Lab Australia and New Zealand, Andrew Mamonitis says the move signals their strong affiliation with the club.

“We are very excited about expanding our relationship with the Sea Eagles. We are strong Manly supporters and are passionate about the game.”

Donnafugata Golf Resort & Spa’s growing status in the game has been recognised after becoming the first Italian course to join IMG Prestige, impotent an exclusive collection of some of the world’s most celebrated golfing venues.

The deluxe five-star resort, anabolics which features 36 holes and hosted the 2011 Sicilian Open, joins an illustrious portfolio of courses including Kingsbarns, Scotland; Carton House, Ireland; Cape Kidnappers, New Zealand; Legend Golf & Safari Resort, South Africa; Spain’s La Manga Club and Yas Links in Abu Dhabi.

Donnafugata was recently named as the top golf resort in Italy in 2012 by prestigious magazine Condé Nast Traveller while it was also included in Rolex World’s latest list of top 1,000 courses.

IMG Prestige’s global reciprocal programme brings together a collection of the finest golfing facilities in the world in recognition of the exceptional experience they provide members and guests both on and off the course.

Pablo Rey Rodriguez, general manager at Donnafugata Golf Resort & Spa, said: “To join such a select and exclusive group of courses is a great honour.

“Being the first Italian venue to join IMG Prestige makes the new partnership extra special and we are looking forward to developing many new relationships with fellow members in the months and years to come.”

The venue boasts two 18-hole championship golf courses – the Links Course – designed by Franco Piras, a well knowned Italian member of the European Institute of Golf Course Architects (EIGCA) and the Gary Player-designed Parkland Course – with the latter being used to stage last year’s Sicilian Open, won by Frenchman Rafael Jacquelin.

Donnafugata is located near to the historic town of Ragusa, the cradle of Sicilian Baroque architecture, with its neighbouring towns listed among the pearls of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Modica, Scicli and Noto.

As well as its golf courses, Donnafugata offers a 202-room five-star hotel, spa and wellness centre, swimming pools and fine-dining in three restaurants.

Dodge have announced that the manufacturer will not be returning to the NASCAR organization in 2013.

This news may not be entirely unexpected and the announcement may not be entirely voluntary. The only team using a Dodge Penske Racings, for sale has already announced that the team will be switching to Ford for 2013. This left Dodge out in the cold for 2013.

Though there had been speculation that Dodge may try to find another team, it now appears that this is not the case. 

Dodge has a long history with NASCAR racing. In the 1950s through the 1970s, the Dodge Charger was a track regular and was driven by some of the legends. Richard Petty snagged a few wins in a Dodge during his stellar career. His father Lee Petty also got a couple of wins in a Dodge. Junior Johnson loved the new Hemi engine when it came out in the 1960s. Buddy Baker and Charlie Glotzbach broke records in the Dodge Daytona. From 1977 until 2001, Dodge was not involved with the NASCAR organization. When the manufacturer returned to the organization, Dodge racked up 29 wins.

Argentina is close to bringing back Formula 1 to the country according to national president Cristina Fernandez.

Fernandez said the country has agreed a three-year deal that will see grand prix racing return to the South American nation from 2013.

She said the race will be hosted at a circuit in seaside resort Mar del Plata, 400 km from Argentina’s capital Buenos Aires. There is currently no circuit in Mar del Plata.

The race, Fernandez said, will take place at the end of November from the 2013 season.

“We are closing [the deal],” Fernandez said. “For three years, in 2013, 2014 and 2015 in the city of Mar del Plata.

“For us it will be very important because after football, racing is the second favourite sport for Argentineans. Getting Formula 1 back to Argentina is something we deserve in order to be able to show the things we have.”

The Argentine President said that bringing F1 back to Argentina “is an accomplishment Argentina deserves, so we can show the world what we have”.

The Argentina Grand Prix was hosted by the South American country in an intermittent way from 1953 to 1998. Due to the organisers’ financial problems, the Grand Prix was suspended after 1998.

by Ismail Uddin

Should Argentina be back on the calendar? Tell us your view here >>

Warwickshire County Cricket Club have announced a 50 per cent increase in turnover last year and a dramatic return to profit following the completion of the £32million ($49.5m) redevelopment at Edgbaston, advice

The club made a profit of £326, look 828 ($505, order 867) in the year ending September 2011, compared to a loss of more than £2m ($3.1m) in 2010.

Craig Flindall, Bears’ finance director, said: “The redevelopment is an essential part of creating a more rounded and robust business model and has already shown to be paying dividends for the club after it was opened on schedule for the India Test Match in August.

“The main contract was also delivered under budget, which represents a significant achievement for the club.

“It has made the last 12 months one of the most exciting periods in the club’s history and these results are certainly a step in the right direction following the disappointment of 2010.”

NBA Commissioner David Stern has given the NBA players until Wednesday to consider his latest offer to end the lockout otherwise the situation will get worse.

“Right now, we’ve been given the ultimatum, and our answer is that’s not acceptable to us,” union president Derek Fisher said.

But the next proposal promises to be worse, surely moving players and owners even further apart and threatening to destroy the 2011-12 season.

Early Sunday morning, the league said it offered players up to 51 percent of basketball-related income, a figure the union insists is fiction. Regardless, it will drop to 47 percent Wednesday if players don’t accept the current offer by the league-imposed deadline.

No agreement by the deadline likely will trigger more calls to disband the union and take on the league in court, a battle that would take months.

Players don’t seem too perturbed by Stern’s latest warning.

“These are professional basketball players, the finest athletes in the world. How do you think they feel about threats? How do you think they feel about efforts at intimidation?” attorney Jeffrey Kessler said.

Fisher and Kessler said the league’s time-sensitive deal — Stern refused to call it an ultimatum — came near the conclusion of Saturday’s talks.

The sides had hoped they could complete a deal this weekend with the help of federal mediator George Cohen’s. He released a statement Sunday commending the parties for “their willingness to examine solutions to their current dispute” and offering to assist in the future. Although the revenue gap has narrowed, the sides are at a standstill on the system issues players insist are just as important.

National Football League (NFL) Commissioner Roger Goodell has not given up hope that collective bargaining negotiations could begin before next month’s Draft, something that is only likely, however, if the NFLPA faced significant setbacks.

The outside counsel to the NFLPA and class counsel to the players who launched a lawsuit against the league’s lockout have offered to talk to the league about settling the lawsuit. However, as the NFLPA has professed not to be a union, it cannot engage in collective bargaining. 

Goodell stated: “There will hopefully be negotiations before the Draft. It would be terrific if we could sit down and work towards an agreement before the Draft. We’ll have to wait and see on the litigation steps and see what the courts determine.” 

The commissioner ruled out using replacement players if games are lost, and strongly suggested the last offer to the players might not ever come back because of mounting economic losses caused by the lockout.