Global direct selling company, QNET, has pledged its support for the inclusion of Squash as a sport to be competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics, with help from World No 1 player, Nicol David.

The World Squash Federation’s (WSF) campaign to ensure the IOC inclusion of Squash at the 2020 Olympics, has received global support. It rocketed to new heights recently with the pledge by Hong Kong-based QNET.

QNET is one of the world’s fastest-growing online shopping and business communities, with upwards of six million customers and independent distributors around the world.

As part of the global campaign, every spectator at the recent Hong Kong Open Squash tournament was given a ‘Back The 2020 Squash Olympics Bid’ t-shirt sponsored by QNET. The tournament also served as a WSF showcase event for the Olympics Organising Committee judges.

It was spearheaded by World No 1 women’s player, Malaysian Nicol David, who also defended her Hong Kong title, winning the 2012 tournament for the eighth successive time, after beating her French opponent Camille Serme in the women’s final.

Nicol, who has topped the world rankings since 2006, took the time during this competition to reiterate the importance of Squash as a key element of the 2020 Games. Helping to lead the way, as one of the sport’s top supporters for the WSF’s bid for squash to be included in the 2020 Olympics, Nicol said, “I’d gladly give up my 6 world titles for one Olympic Gold.”

The Finals of the HK Open were covered by sports channels globally and attended by members of the Olympic Organising Committee (OOC) to help them determine whether squash will be included as a new sport in the 2020 Olympics.

World Squash Federation Vice President, Heather Deayton said of the showcase event and the WSF’s campaign, backed by QNET, “World Squash was delighted when they learnt that the women’s world number one, Nicol David, had agreed to wear the very attractive QNET World Squash 2020 Back the Bid T-shirt during the event, we couldn’t have picked a better role model.”

“Also having the IOC Programme Commission present, seeing players and spectators wearing the generously donated QNET T-shirts throughout the week provided great continuity,” added Deayton.

The decision on whether this fast paced, dynamic, highly skilled sport will be included in the 2020 Games is yet to be decided, however QNET will continue to back this worthy cause to ensure Squash is presented on the world platform at the Olympics, in one of three Candidate Cities, Istanbul, Tokyo, or Madrid, of which the location will be announced next September.

QNET Director of International Operations, Mr Richard Zinkiewicz, is thrilled QNET has backed the bid, further highlighting his enthusiasm for the sport and the cause.

“Sport and endeavouring to achieve is an integral part of QNET’s ethos. As a company, we are delighted to support this campaign to get Squash included in the 2020 Olympics as we feel it is a worthy and important campaign for a sport that mirrors so many of our own values. We think Squash would be a vital addition to the Olympic repertoire and we’re glad we have been able to lend our support to the effort.”

Other recent activities in the campaign have included a massive worldwide competition on World Squash Day when approximately 40,000 players competed to raise awareness of the bid. In a further attempt to raise the profile of Squash, the WSF also organised a Squash Flash Mob, to dance in the streets of Hong Kong, wearing their 2020 Back the Bid t-shirts.

Along with other WSF stars, Nicol will be competing at the WSA Cayman Islands World Open, from the 14-21st December. There she will continue to highlight the Olympics awareness effort, with QNET’s support.

By Ismail Uddin

Giles Morgan, Head of Sponsorship at HSBC, is hoping the LPGA’s HSBC Women’s Champions in Singapore will help grow the game in the continent.

HSBC renewed their title sponsorship of HSBC Champions on Monday and a big part of the organisation’s decision to partner with the golf tournament was to help nurture Asian player into the game.

“As a global financial services organisation, we pride ourselves on opening up a world of opportunities for people and the HSBC Women’s Champions has proved to be the perfect stage for young Asian golfers to take their place amongst the world’s elite,” Morgan said.

“One of the key reasons the HSBC Women’s Champions came to Singapore was because we saw the stars rising in the East and it’s been truly inspiring to see this wonderful generation of Asian players emerging. 

“Our ambition is to grow the game at all levels so it makes absolute sense for us to support women’s golf which has been on an upwards trajectory for a number of years, particularly in Asia. However, it’s important to remember that elite level golf simply wouldn’t exist without supporting youth development and this is exactly why we invest heavily in grassroots golf programmes across Asia. 

“The latest evidence of this came just weeks ago when sixteen-year-old amateur Jing Yan took part in the Ricoh Women’s British Open at Royal Liverpool, becoming the youngest Chinese female golfer to ever play in a major tournament. Yan was one of only four amateurs to make the cut and shot a stunning second round score of 69.  She has been a member of the China national team since she was 12 and is a graduate of the HSBC China Junior Golf Program – she also won the HSBC Youth Golf Challenge in Singapore in 2008. “

 

(SID) – Der Hockenheimring ist angesichts der wirtschaftlichen Krise des Nürburgrings für die dauerhafte Ausrichtung des deutschen Formel-1-Rennens bereit, cough hofft aber weiter auf den jährlichen Wechsel. “Wir stünden bereit, wenn alle Voraussetzungen passen”, sagte Georg Seiler, Geschäftsführer der Hockenheim-Ring GmbH, dem SID: “Aber ich glaube, dass sich die Dinge am Nürburgring noch glätten werden, dass dort weiter gefahren wird und wir das alternierende Modell fortsetzen können.” Dieses betrachtet Seiler ohnehin als das ideale.

Seit 2008 wechseln sich die beiden Traditionsstrecken als Ausrichter des Großen Preises von Deutschland ab, am Wochenende fährt die Königsklasse in Hockenheim. Der rheinland-pfälzische Ministerpräsident Kurt Beck hatte am Mittwoch jedoch erklärt, dass die Nürburgring GmbH in die “geordnete Insolvenz” gehen müsse. “Der Nürburgring ist mit uns zusammen die führende Rennstrecke in Deutschland. Deshalb bedaure ich sehr, was dort passiert – ohne die Dinge bewerten zu wollen”, sagte Seiler.

Das in der Eifel am Mittwoch vorgestellte Modell, nach dem Formel-1-Promoter Bernie Ecclestone als alleiniger Ausrichter des Nürburgring-Rennens auftreten könne, ist in Seilers Augen “sicherlich eine Lösung. Es würde dem Land Rheinland-Pfalz wahrscheinlich Defizite ersparen. Aber ich kenne keine Details.”

Der Vertrag des Hockenheimrings läuft noch bis 2018. “Wir haben vor zwei Jahren eine schwarze Null geschrieben, und wir werden sie auch dieses Jahr wieder schreiben”, sagte Seiler. Rund 56.000 Tickets waren am Donnerstagmittag verkauft, der Wert von 2010 (62.000) könnte damit durchaus wieder erreicht werden.

Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone has cast a major doubt over the future of the Australian Grand Prix by suggesting he will axe the race from the calendar unless it becomes a night race.

Ecclestone is prepared to honour the current contract with the organisers at Melbourne’s Albert Park that runs through to 2015, but beyond that the stakes will likely be raised.

The 81-year-old claims the race is “probably the least viable of all the races we have” given the time difference to the European market, and with other venues waiting in the wings.

“We have a contract which we will respect, so up until 2015 we are in good shape,” Ecclestone said.

“After then, we really don’t know. If we were to have a divorce from our friends in Melbourne we would probably be walking away from Australia.

“Because I can’t see how Adelaide could make it (a night race) happen, or anywhere else, if Melbourne can’t.

“We have other races ready to take the place of Australia, which we don’t want to happen.

“But it would be wrong of me to have to report to our board, ‘Terribly sorry about this but we have to walk away from wherever to retain Australia’.”

Ecclestone’s posturing could be the final straw for Melbourne in particular as city officials have long complained about the financial losses incurred in recent years.

Given the additional costs required to install lighting, such as that currently used in Singapore, it is likely that would be too much for taxpayers to absorb.

by Ismail Uddin

The ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board) has responded to the Westfield case by offering an amnesty to players to report match-fixing approaches.

Witholding evidence and not coming forward to report an approach is an offence according to ECB regulations but the “reporting window”, which will run until 30 April, will give players a second chance to come clean without the threat of censure.

The information manager to the ECB’s ACCESS (Anti-Corruption Commission for Education, Standards and Security) campaign Chris Watts explained, “Information is critical in addressing the threat posed by corruption in sport.

“The decision of the board to provide a window for retrospective reporting of alleged approaches will greatly assist the ACCESS unit in compiling a more complete picture of the source and focus of approaches which may have taken place in the past.

“Individuals may not have thought these approaches were worthy of reporting at the time and, prior to the decision of the board, may have been concerned that the fact that they did not report such activity may have put them at risk of disciplinary action”.

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Join the lively iSportConnect debate on the impact of the Westfield case on cricket right here

The National Basketball Association (NBA) and players’ association are scheduled to meet Wednesday, almost a week after three days of talks with a federal mediator couldn’t produce a deal to end the lockout.

Talks broke down last Thursday after players said owners insisted they agree to a 50-50 split of revenues before they would further discuss the salary cap system.

There was a far nastier tone than usual to the breakdown, with union president Derek Fisher of the Lakers accusing deputy commissioner Adam Silver and Spurs owner Peter Holt, chairman of the league’s labor relations committee, of lying during their press conference.

But just as they have multiple times this month when they walked away from the table without another meeting scheduled, the sides are getting back at it relatively quickly.

The meeting, first reported by the New York Daily News, will be small groups from each side, the person told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because details of the negotiations were to remain private. Commissioner David Stern will take part after he was forced to miss the session last Thursday because of an illness.

Stern said without a deal last week, he feared games could be lost right through Christmas. The sides tried, spending 30 hours together while meeting for three straight days for the first time since the lockout began July 1. They made some progress on minor issues, but continue to be stuck on the two main ones.

Players proposed lowering their guarantee of basketball-related income to 52.5 percent, leaving the sides about $100 million apart annually based on last season’s revenues. They are also sparring over the length of contracts and the raises attached to them, along with the penalties teams would face for exceeding the luxury tax level.

This comes after the NBA cancelled a further two more weeks of games which iSportconnect reported yesterday (25 October).

Roger Goodell, commissioner of the National Football League (NFL), has urged players to return to the bargaining table, saying each day there’s a work stoppage “puts our game and shared economics further at risk.”

The league enforced a lockout of its players a week ago after failing to agree on how to divide US$9bn in annual revenue with its players’ union, who subsequently decertified. Players began a class-action lawsuit against owners to block a lockout after the union announced it no longer would represent players at labor talks.

Goodell outlined the league’s last proposal yesterday in an e-mail to players, a copy of which was sent to Bloomberg News by the NFL and stated: “The offer presented a strong and fair basis for continuing negotiations, allowing the new league year and free agency to begin, and growing our game in the years to come.”

The letter said the league proposed a salary cap of $141m per club in 2011, rising to $161m by 2014; allowing free agency for players with four or more accrued seasons; reducing the offseason by five weeks, and retaining the 16-game regular season for the next two years.

NFL’s Seattle Seahawks player Chester Pitts message, “I’ve told my guys to take the letter and set it on fire. We’re not that stupid,” was relayed to ESPN by NFLPA assistant executive director George Atallah.

Other elements mentioned in Goodell’s letter included guaranteeing as much as $1 million of salary in the second year of a contract for any injured player who cannot return to action. Players and their families were also offered the right to purchase medical coverage after retirement and pension benefits would increase by 60 percent for more than 2,000 retired players, the letter said.

Goodell added: “We are prepared to negotiate a full agreement that would incorporate these features and other progressive changes that would benefit players, clubs and fans. Only through collective bargaining will we reach that kind of agreement.”

Super Bowl seating issues took another turn recently after a group of fans revealed that they are suing the National Football League (NFL) and the Dallas Cowboys due to being denied seats to last weekend’s ‘Greatest Show on Turf’ despite having paid thousands of dollars for tickets.

The lawsuit was filed after the league admitted to mistakes that left about 400 paying supporters unable to watch Super Bowl XLV in person, and other Cowboys’ season ticket-holders watching from temporary metal chairs with obstructed views.

Fans filed the lawsuit late on Tuesday (February 8) in federal court in Dallas, accusing the league and team of breach of contract, fraud and deceptive trade practices and are seeking class-action status, more than US$5m of damages and unspecified punitive damages.

The league had invited the 400 affected fans who paid for tickets but did not get a seat at the game to a future Super Bowl of their choice and also offered the choice of a cash payment of $2,400 – three times the face value of the ticket – or round-trip airfare and a hotel. 

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell stated: “We are ultimately responsible for the fan experience and we want it to be the best it can possibly be.” 

The lawsuit contended that the NFL knew of seating problems before the game, but failed to tell fans in advance. It also accused Cowboys owner Jerry Jones of causing the problems with the hope of setting a Super Bowl attendance record. He fell short by 766, after some temporary seats were deemed unusable. In his attempts to break records, Jones efforts saw many fans ending up watching the game in standing-only positions.

The lawsuit also accused Jones of deceiving Cowboys season ticket-holders known as ‘founders’ into paying $1,200 a seat for Super Bowl tickets, only to be offered temporary metal fold-out chairs, many with obstructed views of the field and the stadium’s giant overhead video board.

Lead attorney Michael Avenatti told Reuters: “Frankly, it is astounding to us that the Cowboys and the NFL would treat its fans like this. What is perhaps even more amazing is that they still haven’t done the right thing.”

Memphis Grizzlies have announced that Chris Wallace has been named General Manager of the NBA franchise in a multi-year contract.

Wallace had acted as interim general manager since May 19, anesthetist 2014.

“We are very pleased to announce Chris Wallace as our general manager, buy ” said owner Robert Pera said. “Chris has been at the forefront and a stable presence throughout some of the Grizzlies’ greatest successes. His strong bonds and experience, impotent not only within the organization and NBA but also within the Memphis and Mid-South communities, make him the ideal fit to lead our basketball operations. We believe Chris’ skills and expertise to be vital in our continued success of our franchise.”

Wallace joined the Grizzlies as general manager and vice president of basketball operations on June 18, 2007 and assembled much of the talent that has helped guide the franchise to a club-record four consecutive playoff appearances. 

“I am honored to remain in Memphis. I love the city and the community,” Wallace said. “Robert Pera is strongly committed to the success of the Grizzlies, and I am excited to continue working in tandem with Robert, our front office and our coaching staff in helping realize his vision for the franchise.”