Infostrada Sports will deliver all Biographies and Historical Data to its third consecutive Asian Games after signing a contract for the 17th Asian Games Incheon 2014. 

Following delivery of similar content to the Doha (2006) and Guangzhou (2010) Asian Games, leading full service sport and media company Infostrada Sports was selected by Ssangyong Information & Communications Corp (SICC) to provide all background content for the Games Information System (GIS) for Incheon.

Infostrada Sports worked closely with SICC at the Doha Asian Games and are proud to have been selected to again work with one of the world’s premium technology providers.

GIS will follow in the tradition of other Info systems and be the main source of background and reference information for the 10,000 broadcast and print media who will cover the Games. National Olympic Committees, International Federations, the Olympic Council of Asia and the Organising Committee itself are expected to make use of the extensive information to inform their stakeholders. 

Infostrada Sports has significant experience in delivering such content for major sporting events, having done so for every Olympic Games since Athens 2004, the Manchester, Delhi and Glasgow (in progress) Commonwealth Games, as well as the Rio Pan American Games 2007, the Muscat Asian Beach Games 2010, and the Asian Winter Games Astana and Almaty 2011. A deal with the IOC will see Infostrada Sports provide content through to Tokyo 2020.

“For high quality media content, Infostrada Sports is the choice of champions,” said Danny Menken, CEO of Infostrada Sports. “We have set a standard which is hard to match or to beat, with a state of the art database that collects, collates and publishes data across a wide range of sports. We deliver to the premium events on the sporting calendar, and consistently show that we have the skills, expertise and experience to deliver first class content.”

“Over the last 15 years we have developed a significant results and common data platform for nearly 300 sports. We have been collating and validating results and athlete biographical information, which has then been made available to more than 60 major event organisers,” said Menken. Infostrada Sports’ Media Services has also provided professional editorial assistance to event organisers, to overwhelming acclaim from international media.”

SICC Project Manager for 2014 Incheon Asian Games Project, Mr Hyeon Cheol Park: “We are delighted to work with Infostrada Sports once again for the 2014 Incheon Asian Games Project. As the project’s GIS (Games Information System) integrators we are confident that Infostrada Sports will provide excellent service as always. Their dedication and expertise will no doubt contribute in making this Asian Games one of the best Asian Games ever.”

The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) have announced hosting rights for the 2016 ITTF World Junior Table Tennis Championships (WJTTC) are now available for bidding.

Introduced in 2003 in Santiago, denture Chile, the WJTTC is the most prestigious World Title Event for junior players (aged 18 years and younger) sanctioned by the International Table Tennis Federation.

ITTF Events and Olympic Games Expert Raul Calin stated: “The ITTF World Junior Championships is now an integral part of the international calendar; it provides an opportunity to participate in a special global gathering that involves players from different, social and ethnic backgrounds. “

“It is not only a sporting occasion; also it is an educational experience and an investment for the future. An eight day action packed event; over some 50 countries is anticipated involving 500 players, coaches and officials.”

The deadline for bid submission is 20 March 2014.

Derbyshire Cricket’s County Ground is set to undertake a £2.5million redevelopment  as part of a six-point plan set out to promote and strengthen the county.

The club have ambitions to play a part in hosting the 2019 World Cup and the stadium improvements will play a major part in their efforts.

The changes are yet to be granted planning permission but Derbyshire hope work will be completed by 2014.

“The aim of this six-point strategy is to deliver cricketing success supported by long-term business sustainability and financial security,” said chief executive Simon Storey. “It builds on the nine-point cricket strategy announced by chairman Chris Grant in July 2011.

“Our primary objective as an off-the-field team is to engage effectively with sponsors, members, supporters, conference customers and the wider community of Derbyshire. The more effectively we achieve this objective, the greater our position will be to support and sustain a successful team on the field.

“Every successful team in professional sport needs a strong business model to support it. This six-point plan ensures that we now have a similarly robust blueprint to follow off the field and the two strategies will work hand in hand to create a successful future for cricket in Derbyshire.”

The plan focuses on an array of other areas and comes on the back of a 101% membership surge. 

The Ninth annual KPMG Golf Business Forum delivered a double whammy for Troon Golf’s founder, cheap CEO and Chairman Dana Garmany who received two major awards at the event.

He was named the ‘Most Powerful Man in Golf Business’ for the second successive year by GolfInc and also the the illustrious ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ in recognition of his significant contributions to the golf industry across the last 30 years.

Garmany fended off competition from the likes of Jack Nicklaus, price buy Donald Trump Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy.

“I accept this award on behalf of all the Troon associates, check whose commitment and passion to the golf business are the very reason I am stood here today,” said Garmany, who founded Troon Golf in 1990.

“It’s been a good run and it’s truly an honour to be among friends and recognised industry leaders to accept this award.”

The company now operates in more than 25 countries and manages more than 200 venues across the world.

Andrea Sartori, Partner, KPMG Golf Advisory Practice, said: “Dana’s contribution to the golf industry is undeniable. The respect that KPMG has for Troon is acknowledged with this award and sees Dana join an esteemed list of winners.The Troon concept is admirable in its simplicity and has been delivered and integrated to its impressive portfolio of international managed properties impeccably. Congratulations from everyone at the KPMG Golf Business Forum to Dana and everyone at Troon on receiving such an accolade.”

American Express is building on its sponsorship of the United States Tennis Association’s U.S. Open with a new round of digital tools that help fans stay connected both at the match and from home.

American Express’ sponsorship includes new features in the official U.S. Open mobile application and a partnership with ESPN on a second-screen mobile Web initiative. The U.S. Open runs through Sept. 9.

“The US Open is a world-class event, therapy and we want to make that experience even better for our cardmembers and all tennis fans, unhealthy whether they’re coming to the tournament or watching from home. This year, pilule we have created new ways for tennis fans to join the action on the courts, both on-site at the U.S. Open and at home through new digital innovations,” said Alexander Chang, vice president of sports and entertainment marketing at American Express, New York.

“We continue to introduce digital services to enhance the spectator experience for cardmembers and fans, at the Open and across the country,” he said.

Tom Gores, chairman and CEO of California-based Platinum Equity, will complete his takeover of the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) Detroit Pistons after being unanimously approved by the league’s board of governors.

Gores placed joint 153rd in Forbes’ 2010 list of the 400 richest people in the United States with a net worth of US$2.4bn.

The Pistons announced in April that Gores had agreed to buy the team from owner Karen Davidson and the new owner stated: “We appreciate the approval of the board of governors and the support of (NBA) commissioner (David) Stern.

“I understand the importance of the trust that has been placed in us, and we’re very excited to be a part of something as special as the NBA. We can’t wait to make a difference in Detroit. We look forward to getting to work right away.”

On Tuesday, Stern told The Associated Press: “We think Tom will bring renewed vigour and energy to that great franchise, and he’s really very anxious to get going.”

It has been revealed that there is set to be a new push to get Twenty20 cricket into the Commonwealth Games with the sport having featured at the event just once, in a 50 over format.

Cricket was part of the 1998 event in Malaysia where a strong Australian side led by Steve Waugh were beaten in the final by South Africa, whose hero was Shaun Pollock with four wickets.

There were plans to include a Twenty20 tournament in New Delhi last year but the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) opposed the idea, although it did make its debut at the Asian Games in Guangzhou, China.

The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) have now backed plans for it to be included in their event, possibly starting in 2018 when the event will be held in either the Gold Coast or Hambantota. 

Prince Tunku Imran, the vice-president of the CGF and chairman of the organisation’s Sports Review Committee, stated: “It is fundamental that our sports programme continues to evolve in such a way as to sustain the Commonwealth Games as one of the world’s leading multi-sport events.

“Given cricket’s strong association with the Commonwealth, the CGF will have further dialogue with the ICC (International Cricket Council) as to the possibility of Twenty20 cricket being included as an option for future editions of the Games.”

The Sports Review Committee have also recommended that beach volleyball be upgraded to a category two sport for future Games, meaning the host city in 2018 and those beyond will have the opportunity to include it on their programmes.

Rugby league also made a push for inclusion, and while the sport will not join beach volleyball as a category two sport at this stage, it has won support from the CGF’s Executive Board for inclusion as a category three sport, the first step toward its presence at future Games.

Tunku added: “Category three sports are those that we recognise as working towards future inclusion.

“We are very pleased to see the high level of commitment by the Rugby League International Federation to further develop the sport across the Commonwealth. 

“It is a key criteria that any sport on our programme is played widely across as many of our member nations as possible.”

The final decision on the future of the sports programme will be made by the 71 members of the CGF when they meet at their Assembly in St Kitts and Nevis in November.

One of the International Olympic Committee’s most senior officials said soccer’s rulers must act quickly and decisively to avoid being tainted by corruption allegations surrounding the World Cup.

Craig Reedie, anabolics who last year became the first Briton on the IOC’s 15-member board in more than 60 years, said FIFA could learn from the way the Olympics organizer dealt with the Salt Lake City bribery scandal.

Two of the 24 men due to vote on where the World Cup, the most-watched sports event, will be staged in 2018 and 2022 have been suspended pending an inquiry after they allegedly told undercover reporters their votes could be bought.

The IOC, which has about 100 members, forced out 10 officials accused of accepting bribes during Salt Lake’s successful bid for the 2002 Winter Games. Ten others received reprimands.

“FIFA have to deal with it and deal with it quickly,” Reedie, who was on the IOC during the bribery probe, said in an interview yesterday.

He added: “It was without doubt the worst day I ever had in sport to actually go through the business of disciplining and expelling members. It was a hugely unpopular and difficult thing to do.”

IOC President Jacques Rogge said October 26 that FIFA President Sepp Blatter has asked for advice since the Sunday Times of London on October 17 accused FIFA board members Amos Adamu of Nigeria and Reynald Temarii of Tahiti of offering to trade their votes for cash.

An investigation has also been opened into allegations of collusion between Qatar’s 2022 bid committee and a joint offer from Spain and Portugal for 2018.

FIFA’s ethics committee will announce its findings November 17. England, Russia and a joint bid from the Netherlands and Belgium are also in the running for 2018.

As well as expelling members, the IOC introduced reforms including a ban on member visits to bid cities, and tighter rules on potential conflicts of interest. It also created an ethics commission, which has a majority of officials who aren’t affiliated to the IOC.

Members include former United Nations Secretary General Javier Perez de Cuellar and Thomas Buergenthal, an American judge who until September served on the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

Reedie said: “I think if you’re going to have an ethics commission it’s proper that you should have an outside body looking at your affairs.”

FIFA’s ethics panel is led by former Swiss soccer player turned lawyer Claudio Sulser and includes officials from 13 other soccer federations.

Reedie said an undercover investigation by the British Broadcasting Corp in 2004 into IOC executives ahead of their vote was an “uncomfortable experience” for the team that won the right to stage the 2012 Summer Games in London.

He added he was “not comfortable” with entrapment by newspapers, “but it is not illegal in Britain and if there are accusations then FIFA have to deal with it, and deal with it firmly.”

Reedie, who’s also on the board of the 2012 organizing committee said: “One of the challenges we had in the London bidding situation was the international perception of the British media.”

Reedie, from Scotland, isn’t in England’s bid team.