A decision was made at the end of last week by the Sri Lankan government to dissolve the country’s cricket board and appoint an entirely new one amid claims of corruption and mismanagement.

According to the government a new board will be elected in January after new rules set by world cricket’s governing body (ICC) ordered that national cricket boards must be elected, free of political interference, within two years.

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has been run by political appointees on a temporary basis for years and is heavily criticised and in debt with the board owing more than US$15m after co-hosting this year’s World Cup with India and Bangladesh.

Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage told BBC Sinhala that the interim committee announced on Friday, July 1, would serve until January when elections would be held, stating: “As per ICC recommendation we could have run an interim committee until 2013, but we will hold elections in January 2012.”

The new committee contains one former national player, Sidath Wettimuny, and three businessmen, headed by Upali Dharmadasa who was also part of the sport’s governing body in the 1990s.

The changes come as cricket in Sri Lanka is going through rough times after former national captain Hashan Tillekaratne claimed in April that match fixing had been a widespread practice in Sri Lankan cricket since 1992.

Shortly after the country co-hosted the World Cup this year, the captain, vice-captain and panel of selectors all resigned following defeat in the final to co-hosts India.

There is a widespread feeling that cricket is corruptly and badly run in Sri Lanka, though the sports minister denied this, saying accounts of mismanagement in cricket were exaggerated, and adding: “There is no financial crisis in the SLC.”

Members of both committees would face a parliamentary committee on 6 July to “clear their name from certain wrong media reports”, he added.

Roger Goodell commissioner for the National Football League (NFL) written a column in a syndicated newspaper, warning the players’ union it will have to compromise if it wants to reach a deal on a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) and avoid a lockout.

Goodell’s column was entitled ‘The time has come to make a deal’ after talks between the parties broke down last week. With the current agreement due to expire on March 4 and no sign of a deal being reached, Goodell said time was running out and it was imperative the two sides returned to the negotiating table.

Goodell wrote: “We need an agreement that both sides can live with and obtain what they need, not simply what they want.

“Today’s collective bargain agreement does not work as it should from the standpoint of the teams.

“If needed adjustments are made, the NFL will be better for everyone. The first step is making sure a new collective bargaining agreement is more balanced and supports innovation and growth.”

The disagreements over a new CBA came due to the NFL’s opinion that the current agreement, in which the players keep 60 per cent of available revenue is too high, with the NFL and owners wanting to invest in other areas, including new stadiums.

They are also at odds over rookie wage scales, drug testing and how many games should be played in the regular season.

“The current deal does not secure the best possible future for the game, players, clubs and fans,” Goodell continued.

“The next few weeks must be used to negotiate with intensity and purpose so we can reach a fair agreement by March 4. If both sides compromise and give a little, everyone will get a lot, especially the fans.”

The National Hockey League’s (NHL) Minnesota Wild today named Jamie Spencer to the newly-created executive position of Vice President, buy New Business Development and Assistant to the Chairman. 

Spencer’s primary responsibility will be developing new business opportunities for the organisation. In addition, erectile he will oversee the team’s Ticket Sales and Fan Relations departments. He re-joins the organization after spending three years as the Executive Vice President of Sales for the Tampa Bay Lightning. During his time in Tampa, he led efforts to more than triple the Lightning season ticket holder base, while overall ticket revenues and retail sales more than doubled.

“My family and I are thrilled to have this opportunity to return to the State of Hockey,” said Spencer. “I got my start with the Wild organization and look forward to re-joining many of my colleagues there.” 

Spencer was one of the original staff members of the Wild, joining the organization in 1997, and served in many roles including Vice President, Customer Sales and Service before joining the Lightning in 2011. Prior to joining the Wild, Spencer played four seasons at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (1991-95), where he served as captain his senior year. He then played two seasons of professional hockey before joining Minnesota’s business operations.

“Jamie knows our market and our customers well,” said Wild Chief Operating Officer Matt Majka. “We’re excited to welcome him back as our organization invests for future success both on and off the ice.”

World Tour cycling team, impotent Omega Pharma – Quick-Step (OPQS) has announced a new partnership today with IMG, pills the global sports, fashion and media agency.

IMG has been appointed to advise on commercial rights strategy and provide sales support for the team, focused around creating new opportunities for fans and businesses to engage with the Belgium-based team.

IMG Consulting will lead the initial phase in terms of developing the commercial vision, with collaboration from other areas of IMG planned as the partnership progresses.  This will include assisting the team in creating greater value for sponsors around their existing sponsorship inventory, but also create new commercial offerings in the areas of internal engagement, rewards and incentives, engagement platforms for fans, events, and social responsibility programmes.

Rob Mason, SVP, Managing Director International, IMG Consulting, said: “We are delighted to be working with Omega Pharma – Quick-Step. The team has a long history of success and, having recruited Mark Cavendish alongside Tony Martin and Tom Boonen, future prospects look bright. We therefore look forward to playing our part in growing the partnership alongside those colleagues at IMG who will also be involved going forwards.”

Bessel Kok, Executive Chairman of the OPQS board, commented: “IMG is a world leader in the business of sport and understands the commercial space as well as anyone with insights on all sides of the fence. They were able to demonstrate a depth of experience and understanding in cycling, as well as a passionate approach to working with us. We are looking forward to working with them on the development of our commercial offering and implementing new initiatives.”

England Rugby 2015, medicine Organising Committee for Rugby World Cup 2015, have confirmed today that Sandy Park, home of Aviva Premiership Rugby side Exeter Chiefs, has been added to the long list of match venues for Rugby World Cup 2015.

The addition of Sandy Park follows the recent announcement by Bristol City Football Club of a proposed redevelopment of Ashton Gate. After discussion with the club, it was agreed that the redevelopment timetable will prove challenging for the staging of matches in autumn 2015. In order to ensure the Tournament utilises venues all over the country, an additional stadium in the South West of England has been identified.

Sandy Park meets all of the Rugby World Cup 2015 minimum standards criteria, including playing facilities, pitch size, commercial considerations and the support of the local authority. In addition, the stadium will have an increased capacity by 2015.

Debbie Jevans, England Rugby 2015 Chief Executive, said, “We are very pleased to add Sandy Park to the long list of potential match venues for Rugby World Cup 2015. We want to ensure that Rugby World Cup 2015 is a truly national event, and Sandy Park, located in the rugby heartland of the South West, gives us the option to take the Tournament as far and wide as possible. I would like to thank Tony Rowe, Chairman and Chief Executive of Exeter Chiefs, and Exeter City Council for their support over the last few weeks as we went through the process of adding Sandy Park to the long list. We are finalising venues and the match schedule in conjunction with Rugby World Cup Limited and will publish the final list in the next few weeks.”

Tony Rowe OBE, Chairman and Chief Executive of Exeter Rugby, said: “We are delighted to have been confirmed as one of the possible match venues on the long list for Rugby World Cup 2015. This announcement is exciting news not just for rugby followers, but for everyone living within the region. We have been working incredibly closely with Exeter City Council in submitting a bid we hope will bring so much to so many people. Our hope now is that we will be among the venues that will be selected for what I know will be a superb Rugby World Cup here in England in 2015.”

Pete Edwards, Exeter City Council Leader, said: “This is another great opportunity for Exeter to play its part at the heart of the South West in contributing to this exciting world event and to provide a great welcome to UK and international visitors. We are working particularly with Exeter Chiefs to try and secure the final selection of Exeter as one of the host cities for Rugby World Cup 2015 so that millions of people can get at least a glimpse of what the city and its surrounding area can offer.”

Europe’s unbelievable comeback in the Ryder Cup drew in a peak audience of more than 2.2m for Sky Sports 1.

Live coverage of a dramatic final day at the Medinah Country Club in Illinois saw Europe’s golfers rally from a 10-6 deficit to beat the USA 14½-13½.

The action got underway at 4pm with 436k (3.04%) viewers, ailment but the audience did not climb above a million until 5.50pm when the opening rounds got underway.

The ratings continued to climb as the momentum swung Europe’s way with the likes of Luke Donald and Rory McIlroy claiming US scalps.

Once Europe were back in contention and the stage was set for a dramatic finale, erectile the ratings crept above 2m and eventually hit a high of 2.23m (18.4%) over the five-minute period from 11.10pm.

This was exactly the time when German Martin Kaymer calmly swept home a five foot putt to beat Steve Stricker and ensure Europe retained the Ryder Cup.

Overall, Sky Sports 1’s average of 1.27m viewers was easily the biggest ratings for the competition of the weekend, according to overnight Barb figures supplied by Attentional.

It also topped the final day of the 2010 competition from Celtic Manor in Newport, which attracted an audience of 799k (9.83%) on 4 October and was nearly three times Sky Sports 1’s slot average of 442k (2.31%) for the past 12 months.

Elsewhere, the BBC1 highlights of Sunday’s action pulled in 1.31m (17.56%) from 11.05pm to 1.05am.

Am vergangenen Donnerstag, drug 6. September, gaben der siebenfache Formel-1-Weltmeister Michael Schumacher und die Präsidentin des chinesischen Navigationsgeräte-Herstellers erlinyou Co. Ltd., Frau Jianglin Zhang, ihre neue Partnerschaft über die Entwicklung und den Vertrieb innovativer GPS -Produkte im Fahrerlager zum italienischen Formel-1-Grand Prix in Monza bekannt. Erlinyou und Michael Schumacher werden gemeinsam die innovativste Navigationslösung entwickeln.

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Michael Schumacher wird als der beste Rennfahrer in der Geschichte der Formel 1 gesehen. Er hält alle relevanten Rekorde dieses Sports, inklusive sieben WM-Titel, 91 Grand-Prix-Siege und 68 Pole Positions. Sein weltweites Ansehen ist unerreicht.

Erlinyou ist ein international operierendes Unternehmen, das auf Navigationslösungen und Tabletcomputer spezialisiert ist, mit Hauptsitz in Peking, China und Niederlassungen in New York, Berlin, Paris, London, Milan, Barcelona, Mexico Stadt und Sao Paulo. Erlinyou (http://www.erlinyou.com) wurde 2006 gegründet und liefert innovative, erstklassige Navigationsprodukte nach Europa, USA, China und Latein Amerika. Erlinyou verbindet RDS TMC und 3D-Navigation mit cleverer Wegführung und intuitiver Eingabe. Weitere Merkmale sind: umfassendes und neuestes Kartenmaterial, Beste Sprachsteuerung und Sprachausgabe, hochauflösendes 5-Zoll Display, Sirf V GPS-Chip inkl. Bluetooth(TM) Freisprechanlage für sicheres Telefonieren während der Fahrt.