The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) have confirmed the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have submitted a bid to host the expanded 2019 Asian Cup.

The are expected to see competition from Saudi Arabia and Iran. 

Friday is the deadline for countries to submit their proposals to host the tournament for Asia’s best 24 international sides, which expands from 16 after next year’s event in Australia. 

The UAE, Saudi Arabia and Iran had all previously stated their intentions to host the Asian showpiece, which was previously held in Qatar in 2011. 

“We are honoured to have this opportunity to personally come to AFC House to hand over our bid book for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup on behalf of the UAE Football Association,” UAE FA Acting General Secretary Mohammed Hazzam Al Dhaheri said in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday. 

“Our nation has been hosting many international sporting events and also football competitions and we are looking forward to being the venue for this high-profile tournament.” 

Eleven nations, including China, Bahrain and Kuwait, had originally shown interest in staging the event, a marked improvement on the bidding process for the 2015 tournament where Australia were the sole applicants and then allowed extensions to get their proposal together. 

The host is expected to be announced by the AFC later this year.

The Badminton Europe Council have allocated Poland four top badminton events, order including the European Mixed Team Championships in 2017.

It will also host the 2015 European Junior Championships, ampoule | the 2016 European U17 Championships and the 2018 European Club Championships.

The Polish Badminton Association (Polski Zwiazek Badmintona) has turned into reliable and professional organizers of international badminton events in the past few years, with its traditional Polish Open in Warsaw. Since 2012 Poland has also successfully organized another International Circuit tournament, the Polish International in Lubin and furthermore hosted the 2010 European Men’s and Women’s Team Championships in Warsaw.

All four events will take place in the city of Lubin in south-western part of Poland. The new arena, where all events will take place, is foreseen to be finished in March 2014. The first badminton event in this new arena will be the 2014 Polish International in September 2014.

“After seeing a great organization of the Polish International the last two seasons, we are convinced that the organizers in Lubin can engage into a perfect cooperation with us towards these four important events. We definitely look forward to working with them and to make these events successful”, said Badminton Europe General Secretary Brian Agerbak.

Havas Sports & Entertainment (HS&E) have acquired local sport and entertainment company, viagra order Maverick Experience Exhilarator extending their South African operations into the existing HS&E South Africa team. 

Maverick specialises in sports marketing, sponsorship activation, events and brand experiences, and boasts an impressive client roster including brands such as Cell C, M-Net, MTN, Old Mutual, FNB, the T20 ICC Cricket World Cup, SuperSport, Standard Bank, EA Sports, FIFA, Cricket South Africa, the Pepsi IPL and the International Cricket Council.

Maverick has an extensive track record in major events, particularly in the cricket world through the International T20 Cricket and the Cricket World Cup, as most notably, for their work in creating the Standard Bank Pro 20 cricket series competition. 

Lynn Madeley, CEO of Havas Southern Africa said: “As a fast growing sports and entertainment network present worldwide, it was appropriate for us to be looking to expand in South Africa. Maverick’s positioning in the market and culture made it the logical choice.” 

Andrew Ross, MD of Maverick, will assume the role of Managing Director of HS&E South Africa as of 1 July 2013, taking over from Brad Jansen who, after four years leading the South African team, will assume a global position within the HS&E network based in Atlanta, USA, focusing on global clients including The Coca-Cola Company. Brad leaves behind a strong legacy in terms of the existing client roster and talent recruitment, leaving strong foundations for Andrew and his team. 

“Andrew is a charismatic, creative thinker who started Maverick over 15 years ago. We were looking for someone who would continue providing the strategic and creative solutions that HS&E is known for,” says Madeley. “It was equally important for us to bring someone on board who could add value to existing clients in the other Havas businesses, which we feel Andrew can do.” 

Andrew views this change as a new challenge for himself, as well as for his team. “We created unique opportunities for ourselves in the global sporting scene for over a decade. For us to grow, we needed access to a global strategy and footprint, which HS&E is well positioned to provide us and in turn, help us deliver against our collective ambition,” he added. 

Lucien Boyer, President & Global CEO of HS&E commented: “We are delighted to welcome Andrew and the rest of the Maverick team who bring local expertise, insight, and a great attitude that will help develop our offer. Andrew will have the full support and backing of our global network to build on the excellent work already achieved by HS&E in South Africa. It is important for us to keep the momentum going in this key market and continue to deliver innovative and strategic solutions that bring value to our clients.”

The International Rugby Board (IRB) has announced that Canada will host this year’s Americas Rugby Championship from October 11-19.

The 2013 edition will again feature representative teams from Canada, Argentina, USA and one other South American team which will be determined based on rankings from the South American Championship, that takes place later this month in Chile and Uruguay.

ARC 2013 matches will be played at the Westhill Stadium, which is home to the Canadian Rugby Centre of Excellence in Langford, British Columbia, with Argentina Jaguars the defending champions after an unbeaten record in 2012.

“Hosting international Rugby at the Canadian Rugby Centre of Excellence is always an exciting opportunity and the local community support for the ARC is incredible,” said Graham Brown, CEO of Rugby Canada.

“This year, we hope to make the tournament an even better experience for fans in attendance and those watching our live stream online.”

The tournament will be a round robin event with six matches played over three days.

“We know this tournament is going to be a great success for Canadian rugby and for the local community. Canada faces stiff competition, but we’re certain to compete hard and are looking to secure a championship on home soil,” said Canada coach Kieran Crowley.

The Championship is significantly supported by the International Rugby Board, which sees it as a key strategic development opportunity for Rugby in the region.

“The Americas Rugby Championship represents a great opportunity for the Game across North and South America, providing a competition format that will generate exciting and competitive matches,” said IRB Head of Competition and Performance Mark Egan.

“It will also allow the participating Unions to take a closer look at the development of their elite players as we look towards Rugby World Cup 2015.”

The University of Illinois has selected Learfield Sports as the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics (DIA) exclusive athletics marketing partner and multimedia rights holder for the next 10 years.

This move signifies the first time DIA has outsourced its multimedia rights in a comprehensive package. The formal agreement was finalized on Nov. 29 and the partnership is already underway.

“Learfield Sports is a leader in the collegiate space, drugs and a dominant presence in the Big Ten landscape,” said Director of Athletics Mike Thomas Thomas. “The partnership will allow the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics to improve our fiscal standing steadily over the next decade, and allow greater corporate involvement in our programs. This move will continue to make us even more competitive in our pursuit for championships.”

The new partnership will have immediate impact on the DIA. In this current year, DIA will realize a 50 percent increase in net sponsorship value, with significant annual increases each of the following years. The increases are due to a financial guarantee, ticket and hospitality purchases, in-kind support, and direct cost savings. In 2012-13, DIA will realize more than $1 million net increase in value compared to a year ago. Much of this gain can be attributed to Learfield assuming the department’s radio and television production costs.

Over the 10-year time span of the agreement, DIA estimates it will generate more than $60 million from all external sponsorship and multimedia rights activities, including those managed by Learfield Sports. On average, these strategic partnerships will help the department recognize an additional $2 million annually. In addition, DIA has the opportunity to benefit from added revenue sharing should Learfield reach a defined annual sales threshold.

On top of the other revenue, Learfield Sports has committed funding to help defray some expenses associated with the future video board and scoreboard enhancements at Memorial Stadium and the Assembly Hall. These boards will be used to improve the fan experience and offer more inventory for corporate partners in each venue.

For Learfield Sports, Illinois becomes the eighth Big Ten Conference member institution in its collegiate portfolio joining Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Northwestern, Penn State, Purdue and Wisconsin. Aside from the campus-level rights relationships Learfield Sports has with these schools, the company also manages the sponsorship rights of the Big Ten Conference and develops its corporate partnerships.

Learfield Sports has established “Fighting Illini Sports Properties” in Champaign to directly oversee the majority of Illinois Athletics’ comprehensive rights including signage, sponsorship, corporate hospitality, event marketing, radio production and sales, and television coaches’ shows and official athletic website advertising.

“We appreciate the opportunity to work more closely with the University of Illinois in this new relationship,” said Learfield President and CEO Greg Brown. “Our company has handled the distribution of the Illini Sports Network for years and to have a broader role is terrific. This new partnership is also a wonderful addition to our portfolio of Big Ten schools and further enhances our relationship with the conference.”

Greenway Golf Associates (Greenway), a boutique golf course management and maintenance operator, has been selected by the City of Alameda, CA. from a national RFP to operate the city’s 45-hole golf complex.

The Alameda City Council unanimously approved a 25-year lease agreement with Greenway to operate and manage the golf operations of the Chuck Corica Golf Complex, which consists of two 18-hole courses, a nine-hole, par-3 course and a lighted practice range.

Greenway will operate and manage all golf related operations including staffing, sales, marketing, course maintenance, project management plus entertainment and community relations for the property.

“The City Council selected Greenway for their creative design and environmentally sound course management, which reflect the values of the Alameda community,” said Mayor Marie Gilmore.

Greenway’s agreement with the City includes restoration improvement plans for the historic public golf complex valued at over 6 million dollars, which will feature a signature redesign of the South course by international acclaimed architect, Rees Jones. Included in Greenway’s plans is the company’s proprietary “Greenway Method” for establishing environmental sustainable turf practices, which are further reaching than the industry standard Audubon program.

“We are truly honored and flattered that our company was selected,” stated Greenway principal founder George Kelley. “During the selection process I was impressed to learn more about the great history and tradition with golf in Alameda. Our company’s mission to love, serve and deliver fun for all combined with our track record in providing superior playing surfaces will serve us well as we continue to enhance and celebrate this tradition with the residents of Alameda.”

In transitioning the property, Greenway will immediately go to work on changing the culture of the club. “We are not in the golf business, we are in the entertainment business,” says Greenway principal Ken Campbell. “As such, we don’t have “employees”, we have “Ambassadors of Fun” lead by Greenway’s full-time Director of Fun who promote the company’s proprietary “Constitution of Fun”, which encourages guests to play often and laugh more.”

The FIA GT1 promoter Stephane Ratel’s SRO Motorsport Group has stepped down from it’s role putting the Championship in doubt.

Ratel informed the FIA of his decision not to continue as the promoter of the world championship and the FIA GT3 European Championship at this week’s meeting of the GT Commission. He stressed that his organization would bid to bring this year’s series to a “successful finish” and will announce a revised calendar next week. 

The decision was made against the backdrop of falling car counts and the cancellation of two races on this year’s schedule. Just 15 cars have been present at each of the past two FIA GT1 events and both events in China, Beijing Goldenport and Ordos, have been canceled. 

Ratel blamed his decision on the worsening economic situation in Europe. 

“When we started the FIA GT1 World Championship in 2010, the economic situation was difficult,” he said. “Now it is impossible. Even if we are a world championship, the majority of the money is coming from Europe, and that money is not there any more.” 

He explained that the costs associated with running a world championship, including the fee demanded by the FIA from promoters, had been a factor in the decision. 

Ratel said that he would announce his plans for the future at next week’s traditional SRO press conference ahead of the 24 Hours of Spa, a round of his Blancpain Endurance Series. He stressed that he was not ending his relationship with the FIA. 

The plan is that there will be three or four races yet this season in the GT1 series. 

Ratel is in Russia this week finalizing details for the event at Moscow Raceway, which is likely to move from its end-of-September date. There is likely to be an event at the Nürburgring in September, and the series is scheduled to conclude at the Buddh International Circuit in India in December. 

It is highly unlikely that any other organization would step in to take over the running of the world championship for next season. 

Ratel’s world championship grew out of the FIA GT Championship in 2010, with a new rulebook and a new format of two one-hour, pit-stop sprint races without refueling. A lack of cars built to the new regulations resulted in the adoption of the GT3 rules for the 2012 season.

The long standing relationship that has seen Qantas as the Formula One’s Australian Grand Prix race’s title sponsor will continue after a one-year extension was agreed. The grand prix has enjoyed the support of the Australian airline group ever since its first event in 1985. Australian Grand Prix Corporation chairman,

Ronald J Walker said: “Qantas has been associated with the Australian Grand Prix for over 25 years and we are pleased that this important partnership is continuing “Formula One is the world’s most popular annual sporting series, with each season attracting a television audience of 520 million fans around the world. Last year in Australia, 4.23 million watched the 2011 Formula One Qantas Australian Grand Prix on television – you just cannot put a value to that level of branding. We look forward to building on the success of the 2011 Albert Park race that beamed images of Melbourne to 187 countries around the world.”

The Australian Grand Prix will kick off the upcoming Formula One season on March 15-28, where Sebestain Vettel is largely expected to repeat his triumph at Albert Park last season. 

Qantas CEO Alan Joyce added: “Qantas has been associated with the grand prix since its inception in Australia and we are pleased to continue our support for this year’s event. We wish Qantas ambassador Mark Webber the best of luck for the race next month.”