Volvo today announced their new golf strategy, bringing the Championship to geographical areas of interest for Volvo’s businesses.

The strategic move will see the Championship rotate between a few host destinations, acknowledging the true global nature and growing global appeal of golf. Volvo and IMG also announced that the 2013 Volvo World Match Play Championship will be played at the breathtaking Thracian Cliffs Course in Bulgaria from the 16th to the 19th May.

For the 48th edition of the event Volvo and IMG will work closely with the Bulgarian Government in conjunction with the national Golf Association.

The last three editions of the Volvo World Match Play Championships were held at Finca Cortesín in Spain and this move to the much-lauded Gary Player designed signature course marks the first time a full European Tour event will be played in Bulgaria. Framed by rugged coastal cliffs and the vast blue of the Black Sea, which can be viewed from each and every hole, Thracian Cliffs is arguably one of the most dramatic golf courses on earth. Gary Player once commented, “You will not find a golf course like this anywhere else on the planet.” Underlining the unique features of this new venue, the Thracian Cliffs has also been called the ‘Pebble Beach of Europe’.

The Championship has evolved considerably since moving from Wentworth in 2009, successfully securing a world-class field by qualification on merit, increasing the field to 24 players and revising the format.  The qualified players are divided into eight groups of three players to be played out on Thursday and Friday with 16 players progressing to Saturday’s knock-out stage with the semi-finals and final played on Sunday.

Per Ericsson, President of Volvo Event Management explained, “Volvo was the first company to bring a European Tour event to China and we are the first to take a full European Tour event to Bulgaria, as Eastern Europe is an important business area for us.  We are very proud to still be delivering ground-breaking innovations as we mark our 130th professional golf tournament. Everyone at Volvo looks forward to welcoming Bulgaria to the ‘family’ of exclusive host destination partners.”

He continued, “We are delighted to be working with the Bulgarian Government and the Bulgarian Golf Association and are thrilled that they have committed their support to this prestigious and historic Championship. We will announce future venues in due course and while our focus is firmly on delivering a magnificent 2013 Championship as our inaugural event at Thracian Cliffs, we then plan to rotate the Volvo World Match Play Championship between a few very special venues around the world of which Thracian Cliffs is the first.” 
Bulgaria’s Prime Minister, Mr Boyko Borissov, in announcing his Government’s support commented, “This is a real coup for Bulgaria being chosen to host such a prestigious international tournament with a rich heritage and sporting traditions. The vast media coverage will deliver a reputable boost for Bulgaria and our tourism industry. The recent growth of golf in our country will have the opportunity to be showcased around the world.”

He added, “Volvo is setting a wonderful example to other international companies, as this shows they view Eastern Europe and Bulgaria as an area of interest for their future business development. I am looking forward to welcoming the world’s best golfers and the successful staging of the tournament will only enhance Bulgaria in becoming recognized as one of the established golfing destinations around the world.”

Guy Kinnings, Global Co-Managing Director IMG added, “We are very grateful to the Bulgarian Government for their support and all the work the Bulgarian Golf Association has done to make this possible. The Volvo World Match Play Championship was founded in the same year as IMG and now, more than 50 years on, we are delighted that, with the help of our partners, Volvo, this historic Championship continues to ‘trail-blaze,’ going to new venues as was McCormack’s vision back in 1964.”

Kinnings continued, “In the last decade, IMG’s business interests in Eastern Europe, and Bulgaria in particular, have really developed and bringing such a globally significant tournament to the region was always our ambition. The decision to rotate the Championship around different countries in the future is another innovative move which allows the event to remain fresh annually. While these future venues are yet to be announced, it is no secret that we are considering Northern Europe, including the UK, as a possible future destination.”

George O’Grady CBE, Chief Executive of The European Tour, said: “On behalf of everyone at The European Tour, and particularly our Members, we thank Volvo and IMG for their continued support of this Championship and The European Tour. I would also like to thank the Bulgarian Golf Association who has worked hard to secure the Volvo World Match Play Championship and I know their support will be rewarded when the world’s best players travel to their country in May.”

Krassimir Guergov, Chairman of the Bulgarian Golf Association, commented: “This is just the most amazing news and I am delighted that Bulgaria has been able to demonstrate its credentials to Volvo, IMG and the European Tour in order to make this happen. We will now concentrate on helping IMG and Volvo deliver a world-class Championship that will showcase Thracian Cliffs and Bulgaria.”

Die erfolgreichste deutschsprachige Rockband Die Toten Hosen ist ab sofort Ehrenmitglied von Fortuna Düsseldorf. Der Bundesligist würdigt damit die bis in die 1980er Jahre zurückgehenden Verdienste der Musiker für den Club aus der nordrhein-westfälischen Landeshauptstadt.

Die Toten Hosen haben zweifelsfrei großartige Musikgeschichte geschrieben – dies macht sich nicht nur an mehr als 12 Millionen verkaufter Alben allein in Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz bemerkbar. Von “Hier kommt Alex” bis zum jüngsten Smashhit “An Tagen wie diesen” weiß die Band seit 1982 immer wieder mit Songs aufzuwarten, die den Geschmack eines sehr breiten Publikums treffen.

Neben der Musik wussten Die Toten Hosen aber auch immer wieder mit der Unterstützung sozialer Projekte Akzente zu setzen. So erschien 1992 der Song “Sascha… ein aufrechter Deutscher”, der sich gegen Rechtsradikalismus richtet und mit dessen sechsstelligem Erlös die Band den “Düsseldorfer Appell gegen Fremdenfeindlichkeit und Rassismus” unterstützte. Die Band unterstützt darüber hinaus seit vielen Jahren die Entwicklungshilfsorganisation Oxfam und Pro Asyl, einer Menschenrechtsgruppe. Daneben bestritt die Band zahlreiche Auftritte in sozialen Einrichtungen, bei denen sie allesamt auf Gage verzichtete.

Großes Augenmerk legte die Gruppe jedoch immer wieder auf ihre Heimatstadt Düsseldorf und dabei besonders auf die Fortuna, deren bekennende Fans sie vor allem auch in schlechteren Jahren waren. Die Verpflichtung von Spieler Anthony Baffoe zur Saison 1989/1990 wurde beispielsweise durch finanzielle Beteiligung der “Toten Hosen” möglich. Im Jahr 1993 konnte durch erhebliche Spendenzuwendung der Band das “Fanprojekt Düsseldorf” ins Leben gerufen werden, dessen Träger der Düsseldorfer Jugendring und Teil der Jugendarbeit im Umfeld der Fortuna ist.

Höhepunkt der Unterstützung für den rot-weißen Traditionsclub war indes das Trikotsponsoring in den Jahren 2001 bis 2003. Obwohl die Fortuna in die Viertklassigkeit abgerutscht war, konnte der Verein nicht nur die Einnahmen aus dem Sponsoring einstreichen, sondern wusste die Bandmitglieder immer wieder auf ihrer Seite – vor allem bei Konzerten und anderen öffentlichen Auftritten, bei denen “Die Toten Hosen” im besten Sinne Botschafter für den Verein waren. In der Folgezeit unterstützten “Die Toten Hosen” über viele Jahre auch die Jugendabteilung der Flingeraner.

Peter Frymuth, Vorstandsvorsitzender von Fortuna Düsseldorf: “In den vergangenen Jahren war es für mich immer wieder beeindruckend, wie ‘Die Toten Hosen’ an den verschiedensten Orten der Welt ihre Verbundenheit mit der Fortuna deutlich gemacht haben. Ihre Unterstützung in mannigfaltiger Form – gerade in den Zeiten, in denen der Fortuna-Stern noch nicht so leuchtete wie heute – war herausragend. Daher ist es jetzt an der Zeit, zurückzublicken und diese Leistungen zu würdigen.”

Die Band selbst meint zu der Auszeichnung: “Die Ehrenmitgliedschaft ist für uns eine große Auszeichnung. Als Fans von Fortuna haben wir über die Jahre immer wieder versucht, den Verein im Rahmen unserer Möglichkeiten zu unterstützen. Wir freuen uns, wenn uns das hier und da gelungen sein sollte. Die Wiederauferstehung des Vereins und die Rückkehr in die erste Liga sind das Ergebnis vieler gemeinsamer Bemühungen von Spielern, Mitarbeitern, Sponsoren und den unermüdlichen Fans. Insofern empfangen wir die Ehrenmitgliedschaft auch stellvertretend für viele andere, die in den vergangenen Jahren die Fortuna unterstützt haben und nicht im Licht der Öffentlichkeit stehen.”

UPS has renewed its sponsorship of Japanese touring car team, health Team TAISAN.

UPS has only been a major sponsor of the successful team for one year and the deal is through UPS Japan.

UPS will continue to have branding on the team’s Porsche and on the driver and team member uniforms.

UPS has leveraged the sponsorship through its community program, specifically its support of children from foster homes.

UPS Japan President, Masato Umeno said the company is pleased to continue the sponsorship and support the team with its global network and services.{jcomments on}

 

Lotus team principal Eric Boullier is convinced that the Formula One Teams’ Association (FOTA) has a strong future, despite the departure of several members.

Ferrari, Red Bull Racing, Scuderia Toro Rosso and Sauber all decided to quit FOTA at the end of 2011 as a legacy of the ongoing row over the Resource Restriction Agreement (RRA).

The move prompted doubts over the future of FOTA, but Boullier, who remains as vice-chairman for 2012, is confident that the body can not only survive but also thrive because co-operation with the non-member teams is still ongoing.

“FOTA was created in 2008 by car manufacturers to fight against some people and to maybe go for a breakaway series – that story we know,” he said at a Lotus launch event at Jerez on Monday.

“FOTA today faces a different challenge, and to understand if FOTA is relevant, that is the first question. The second question is, what do we want to achieve with FOTA? I think this question has been asked, and we have got a proper answer now.

“Even the teams who have resigned from FOTA are still working with FOTA, in terms of factory shutdown, testing agreement, and RRA. So, from that perspective, there will be no change.

“So at least if we can still work on making F1 better, more sustainable and help F1 to be better, that is what FOTA should be.”

Sauber CEO Monisha Kaltenborn said that despite leaving FOTA, her outfit would remain keen to work with the other teams on future plans.

“Our FOTA membership has now come to an end and, because of that, definitely we will be on our own like others are,” she explained at Jerez.

“I would not exclude that we will still be talking about points like this because, in other areas, we are definitely continuing our talks with FOTA.

“We are respecting the agreements that were signed under FOTA, even though legally they are not depending on us being a member of FOTA or not – like the RRA. We also agreed on the factory shutdown this year which is again done under FOTA originally.

“So getting out of FOTA does not mean that we have just broken all contacts over there. We had our reasons [for leaving] which we explained to FOTA, but that does not stop us cooperating with other teams.”

Former English county cricketer Mervyn Westfield has pleaded guilty on Thursday to a corruption charge linked to his bowling in a 40-over one-day game.

Westfield, ed 23, who played for Essex, admitted accepting or obtaining a corrupt £6,000 payment to bowl in a way that would allow the scoring of runs when Essex played Durham in a Pro40 match in 2009, during a hearing at the Old Bailey in London.

The court heard he had agreed to bowl his first over in a way that would let Durham score a set number of runs in the game in September 2009.

Westfield will be sentenced on February 10 and was warned he will face a jail sentence.

Judge Anthony Morris told Westfield: “I hold out no promises to you as to the eventual outcome of this case. It’s open to the court in this case to pass an immediate custodial sentence.”

Morris added the name of the other party involved in the deal would be known to cricket fans, but it was not revealed in court.

This continues to hurt the reputation of the sport after Pakistan players Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir were jailed in Britain last year for their role in a ‘spot-fixing’ scandal in a Test match against England.

Huge sums are bet on cricket matches, especially in the Indian sub-continent — the sport’s financial powerhouse but an area where gambling on cricket is generally illegal — because of the way incidents in matches, and results, can be manipulated.

The court heard the seamer, who was released by Essex in 2010 “on cricketing grounds,” agreed to bowl the first over so that 12 runs could be scored, but only 10 were achieved.

Westfield conceded 60 runs from seven overs as Durham scored 276 for six, a target surpassed by Essex, who won by seven wickets with 19 balls to spare in the Pro40 game played in Chester-le-Street.

His admission of guilt came just two days after former England captain Mike Brearley, now the chairman of MCC’s world cricket committee, urged players to “take ownership” of the issue of corruption in cricket.

The England and Wales Cricket Board’s anti-corruption chief Chris Watts, formerly a detective with London’s Metropolitan Police, recently suggested the domestic game may be more vulnerable to malpractice because of its lower profile and the fact players involved are generally earning less than their international counterparts.

But Angus Porter, the chief executive of England’s Professional Cricketers’ Association, told the Press Association: “Our view on it is that the world has moved on quite a long way since he (Westfield) committed those offences.

“We’ve invested a huge amount in educating players as to their responsibilities, but I think that none of us can be complacent.”

As for suggestions the county game was particularly vulnerable, Porter added: “I’m not convinced that we know who the high-risk groups are.

“There is no doubt that where there are threats of corruption they will be linked to gambling and that gambling will predominantly be on televised games.

“International cricket certainly is a risk and I think domestic cricket is also a risk because some games are televised on the Indian sub-continent so I suppose those specific matches are the ones we need to worry about.”

Porter added the PCA had advised Westfield.

“We did offer him advice in the early days and one thing that was important, given that that case involved a number of people in the Essex dressing room, was to make sure he had independent legal advice and we helped him to source that,” he said.

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National Basketball Association (NBA) team the Philadelphia 76ers have been bought from Comcast-Spectacor by a group led by Joshua Harris after having been approved by the NBA’s Board of Governors.

“My partners and I are thrilled to have become owners of the Sixers,” said Harris. “It is an honor to be a part of this storied franchise – we have a lot of work to do but we have a rich history, a strong foundation and a bright future. My partners and I want to thank Ed Snider and the Comcast-Spectacor team for all their efforts to make this outcome possible. As we move forward, we want to build on the team’s momentum and be world class and cutting edge in everything we do.”

The new owners have named Adam Aron, a native Philadelphian and the former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Vail Resorts, Chief Executive Officer of the Philadelphia 76ers.

Harris said: “Adam is a superb executive with deep and broad experience, and we are very pleased he will be returning to Philadelphia as CEO of the Sixers and a member of our ownership group. Adam and I both have strong ties to the Delaware Valley, and we are committed to providing an exciting, high-quality experience to the great fans in Philadelphia in the years ahead.”

Aron added: “Being named CEO of the Philadelphia 76ers is truly a dream come true. Having grown up in Abington, I have always been a fan of this team. I’m excited about celebrating and building on the extraordinary heritage of the 76ers, the third winningest team in NBA history. We will work tirelessly to make Philadelphia sports fans proud.”

The investor group is led by Harris, who will serve as Managing Owner of the 76ers and as the team’s Governor on the NBA Board of Governors. Other investors include David Blitzer, who will serve as Co-Managing Owner and an Alternate Governor of the NBA, CEO Adam Aron who will also serve as an Alternate Governor of the NBA, Martin Geller, David Heller, Travis Hennings, James Lassiter, Marc Leder, Jason Levien, Michael Rubin, Will Smith & Jada Pinkett Smith, Handy Soetedjo, Erick Thohir and Art Wrubel, all of whom have made personal investments in the team.

dosage pills helvetica, therapy sans-serif;”>A national poll conducted by Bloomberg last week has revealed that 43 per cent of those surveyed side with the players union and 20 per cent with the National Football League (NFL) owners with regards to the labour dispute in the game. The remaining 37 per cent either don’t follow football or aren’t sure which side they favor.

allergist helvetica, sans-serif;”>David Carter, executive director of the Sports Business Institute at the University of Southern California, said in an interview“Fans live vicariously through the players, and are more sympathetic to player causes.”

Among the issues are what share of the league’s US$9 billion in revenue players should get and whether to expand the season to 18 from 16 games and impose a rookie wage scale.

The NFL Players Association has rejected owners’ demands and say the teams should open their accounting books. The union is also seeking improved health care for retirees, some of whom suffer from nerve damage, joint deterioration and the effects of repeated head trauma.

While the NFL has offered to reveal some financial data, it has refused to show everything the union sought. The NFL said the data offered is more than has ever made available to the union, including some information that it doesn’t disclose to its own clubs.

Organisers of the Delhi Commonwealth Games are to hand out free tickets to tackle the problem of empty seats.

Many of the competitions have been poorly attended at the Games, asthma which began this week.

Now organisers are hoping to solve this problem with a ticket giveaway scheme to childen adn teh underprivileged.

Chairman of the Delhi organising committee Suresh Kalmadi said: “We are working on the children from schools – already steps have been taken in that direction.

“And also from the low level of society, ed we have been distributing a lot of tickets.”

Kalmadi also said that ticket booths have now been opened at all the venues to make it easier to purchase them.

He added: “There were problems – some of the ticket stalls were not put up, but all the stalls are up now at all the stadiums.”

Thomson Sport has been appointed as the Official Travel Partner to the Scottish Football Association and the Scottish Supporters’ Club.

The four-year deal will see Thomson Sport become the preferred provider of Match Breaks for Scotland supporters, including matches in Scotland and overseas.

Managing director of Thomson Sport, Nathan Wilson, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded this partnership with the Scottish Football Association and are excited at the opportunity to work with the Scottish national team.

“Scottish fans are some of the most passionate in the world of football and the Scotland Supporters’ Club has a record membership of 35,000 fans. We look forward to playing our part in ensuring they fully enjoy the football experience both at Hampden Park and internationally.”

Scottish FA acting chief executive, George Peat, added: “This partnership ensures the national team and its magnificent support enjoy the best possible travel experience for all our games during the Uefa Euro 2012 and 2014 Fifa World Cup Qualifiers.”

Thomson Sport will also be the preferred of travel and accommodation to the Scottish national teams, as well as for key executives linked to the Scottish FA travelling to matches.