Cristiano Ronaldo wins libel case

Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo has accepted substantial undisclosed libel damages from the Daily Telegraph at London’s High Court.

It claimed in July 2008 that he put an injured ankle at risk by “living it up” at a Hollywood nightclub while a Manchester United player.

The report that he put down crutches to dance with four models caused offence and embarrassment, the court heard.

The paper has accepted the allegations were false and apologised.

In a statement, Ronaldo said he was “delighted” with the outcome.

“I take enormous pride in my professionalism. I treat my training and recovery from injury very seriously and would never have drunk and danced in a nightclub without my crutches,” he said.

Jean-Christophe Rolland Takes Over from Denis Oswald as FISA President

Jean-Christophe Rolland has taken over as the President of FISA from long-time leader Denis Oswald.

Rolland received the symbolic key to the FISA headquarters from predecessor Oswald (pictured) at a gala dinner held during the World Rowing Cup in Lucerne, Switzerland on Saturday night.

The evening was a celebration of Oswalds’ time with FISA and the Olympic movement as well as a welcome to Rolland’s presidency in the presence of guests from the wider sporting world including honorary President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Jacques Rogge, International Paralympic Committee President Philip Craven, IOC Vice President John Coates and past president of Sportaccord Hein Verbruggen. Also in attendance were National Olympic Committee presidents from around the world, several IOC members and sport dignitaries.

Rolland addressed Oswald’s remarkable career and the contribution he made to the development of rowing. “I would like to say that we are very lucky in FISA.” said Rolland. “If we do have debates and discussions, it is never linked with any personal interests, manipulations or financial embezzlements, but always for the good of rowing and the rowers. You always put the interests of the athletes first and at the heart of discussions.”

Olympic Champion in 2000 for France, Rolland is in his 21st year as part of FISA. He became involved as an athlete when he joined the FISA Athletes’ Commission in 1994. He was then elected chair of the Athletes’ Commission in 2002 and thus became part of the FISA Council. In 2004 Rolland was elected to the Executive Committee.

Rolland holds a master’s degree in electrical, electronics and communications engineering. He has worked for EDF, one of the world’s leading electric utility companies, since 1993. Recently, Rolland managed EDF’s sponsorship programme with the London 2012 Olympic Games Organising Committee. Since moving to Lausanne, Switzerland as part of his role  with EDF, Rolland is able to work voluntarily as FISA President.

Elected as FISA President-Elect in September 2013 at the FISA Congress, Rolland has spent the last nine months working with Oswald in transferring knowledge of the presidential role.

Oswald had been president since 1989.

The Whistle Inks Digital Partnership with Major League Ultimate

The Whistle, doctor the first sports-focused multichannel network, sale added Major League Ultimate (MLU), pills North America’s premier professional ultimate Frisbee league, to its catalog of pro league partners this week.

Per the partnership, The Whistle will work with MLU to develop and promote content on its YouTube channels such as behind the scenes and cross-channel programming on its digital platforms, including its website, mobile apps and YouTube through its multi-channel sports network (The Whistle Network).

Additionally, The Whistle will provide MLU experienced advice, audience insights, studio space and production facilities in New York and Dallas, access to The Whistle’s other pro league partners and sports-specific community tools to help expand their digital presence.

“Combining one of the fastest growing sports in the world with one of the fastest growing platforms for sports entertainment makes perfect sense,” said Dev Sethi, the Whistle’s Head of Content Partnerships. “Digital audiences move quickly and so does the sport of ultimate. Our subscribers are eager to see more and the league’s teams and athletes are eager to share more tips, tricks and compelling content.”

“Connecting with new fans and athletes is a core value of Major League Ultimate, and The Whistle’s focus on programming tailored to a digital generation fits perfectly with the goals of our organization,” said Jeff Snader, MLU Commissioner. “We can’t wait to see what we can do together to produce quality content on all of the platforms where those fans are looking for sports.”

In addition to MLU, The Whistle’s professional league content and equity partners include Major League Baseball’s Advanced Media, the NFL, PGA Tour, NASCAR, Major League Lacrosse, and the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association.

“Having a partner with the kind of digital expertise The Whistle offers is beyond exciting,” said Nic Darling, MLU Executive Vice President. “Major League Ultimate had over 2.5 million views on our YouTube channel in our inaugural year. We hope to grow that number exponentially in our second year and believe the innovative thinking The Whistle Network provides can help us reach that goal.”

FIFA Opens Up Bidding Process for Eight Events

FIFA have today opened up the bidding process for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019 as well as seven more competitions.

The seven other competitions include FIFA Club World Cups from 2015 to 2018, medic the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2017, cough the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2018 and the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 2018. The 209 member associations have been invited to submit their interest.

The FIFA Women’s World Cup has grown significantly in stature and significance over the last few editions. Now with 24 teams, it enjoys the second-biggest profile of all FIFA’s flagship events.

FIFA said they would prefer the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019 (24 teams) and the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 2018 (16 teams) to be hosted and organised by the same member association.

Th deadline to submit a declaration of interest is 15 April 2014. 

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IOC President Confident in Sochi 2014 Olympics Security

International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach has again reiterated his confidence in the security arrangements for the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics

The build-up to the event at the Black Sea Resort has been dominated by the threat of a terrorist attack.

But Bach in confident the Russian organisers are taking every precaution to ensure a safe Games.

“Every big event nowadays is under threat and we have to address this, allergist ” Bach said. “The alternative would be to surrender to the terrorists and that is the last thing we want to do.

“Every organiser of Olympic Games has to make sure they are as safe as possible. Here we have every confidence in the Russian authorities who are co-operating closely with other international organisations.

“I have been assured (about security) before I came here and I am still assured now that I am here.”

Bach pointed out that Sochi is not the only winter Games to face a security threat and does not think that heightened security in Sochi will overshadow the event.

“This is not new,” he said. “We had a high security threat at the Winter Games in Salt Lake City, just after 9/11.

“There was really heavy security then and yet, in all the Olympic venues, you could enjoy a very good Olympic atmosphere and I think that will also happen here.”

Boston to Host 2014 Major League Lacrosse All-Star Game

Harvard Stadium in Boston will host the 2014 Major League Lacrosse (MLL) All-Star Game on Thursday, cough June 26, remedy MLL has announced today.

This marks the fifth time the All-Star Game is held in Boston and fourth at Harvard Stadium.

Next year, the MLL All Stars will host US Lacrosse and Team USA as they prepare for the 2014 Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL) World Championships, hosted by US Lacrosse in Denver, Colo., starting July 10.

“We are delighted to host Team USA for the 2014 MLL All-Star Game,” said MLL Commissioner David Gross. “The last two times we used this format we had some amazing games featuring some of the top players in the World.”

US Lacrosse recently announced the 52-man training roster that will be trimmed down to the 23 players participating in the World Championships. Of the 52 athletes, 50 are MLL players including the 2010 All-Star Game MVP Brendan Mundorf, three time World Championship participant Matt Striebel and 2013 MLL Rookie of the Year Rob Pannell. With the talent pool available, the 2014 All-Star Game will truly be the battle of the best lacrosse players in the world today.

“It’s the last thing we’re going to do before the World Championships, so we are really looking forward to playing the best players in the MLL,” said Team USA Head Coach Richie Meade. “The All-Star Game is going to be a very exciting event, and will really help us prepare for Denver.”

Harvard Stadium is the centerpiece of Harvard’s athletic facilities and has stood as a Boston landmark for more than a century. The stadium was constructed in 1903 and hosted its first game on November 14 of that year.

FIFA President Supports Winter World Cup for 2022

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has added fuel to the debate about the scheduling of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar by suggesting ‘It’s not rational or reasonable to play in June-July”.

With summer temperatures soaring into the 40°Cs, a number of high-profile football figures, such as UEFA president Michel Platini, have stated their opposition to hosting the 2022 World Cup in its habitual summer time slot. 

Blatter, 77, believes the scorching weather in the Gulf state is not as much a problem for the World Cup as a football tournament, but rather a threat to its status as a multicultural event. 

He told L’Equipe: “We can have air-conditioned stadiums. But the World Cup is more than stadiums, it’s all the social and cultural activities around the competition. It’s not rational or reasonable to play in June-July. Our technical report, which was available to all members of the executive committee before the vote in 2010, showed up those problems.” 

With FIFA rejecting calls for the bidding process to be restarted, Platini has suggested the tournament should be held in winter when temperatures average around the mid-20°Cs. Such a move would require a radical logistical overhaul of the European season, though that can only be put into motion if the tournament organisers themselves request a switch. 

Blatter added: “For the moment, they haven’t done that. It’s a matter which we’re following. My friend and colleague Michel Platini has said that we couldn’t play in Qatar in summer. But to play in winter, we have to change the whole international calendar. Should we do it just for a season? In any case, I’m in favour of the World Cup playing its sporting, social and cultural role. In 2022, in Qatar, we cannot play in summer.” 

Qatar was a surprising choice for the 2022 World Cup but Blatter insisted there had been no foul play during the voting process by members of FIFA’s Executive Committee. 

“There were interventions at different levels for it to go to an Arabian country. Geopolitics did its work. But no one has proved that there was any malpractice so that Qatar was chosen. The Ethics Commission can open an enquiry. It would be good to prove that it was done properly,” the Swiss said, adding English complaints the 2018 World Cup was attributed to Russia should not be directed at him. 

“Before a World Cup or Olympics is given to a host, there is a meeting of politicians. We had one here in Zurich. They influence the voters. England didn’t get the 2018 World Cup, and since there’s a cold war with FIFA.”

Carl Harris Joins IMG’s Action Sports Division, Brings Stable of Clients

IMG Worldwide has announced that Carl Harris, no rx former President of Ookii Co Athlete Management & Marketing has joined the Action Sports division of the company. 

Harris will be based in Los Angeles and brings his current stable of clients including, Japanese snowboarding phenom  Ayumu Hirano and Two-time U.S. Open of Snowboarding Champion, Kazu Kokubo.

Ayumu Hirano splits his time between the U.S. and Japan. Hirano started the 2013 season winning the Burton High Five in New Zealand and has been increasingly dominating events.   In March 2013, the 14-year-old earned second place at the Burton U.S. Open of Snowboarding Championships and became the youngest snowboarder ever to claim the prestigious “TTR Halfpipe World Champion” title at the event.  This victory follows Hirano’s silver medal win at the Aspen X Games in February, and first place finish at the 2013 Burton European Open Halfpipe Finals in Laax, Switzerland.

A fixture at the WX Final and competitions around the world, Kazu Kokubo was the 2010 WX SuperPipe bronze medalist and competed at both the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics and Torino 2006 Winter Olympics. In competition he focuses on style and always incorporates the latest tricks. Kokubo also appeared in the opening sequence of the Burton movie, “Standing Sideways” in 2011.  Additionally, Eiju Hirano (Ayumu’s Brother), Teddy Koo, Kohei Kudo and Kotaro Kamimura join the IMG family with Harris.

Harris joins IMG from Ookii Co Athlete Management and Marketing where he served as President for the past three years.  Previously, Harris spent three years as Vice President of Business Development at VAS Entertainment.  Prior to that, Harris spent five years at Viacom’s MTV Network. Harris has also held positions at Swatch Group, Burton Snowboards, and as Supervising Producer and Director for Tony Hawk’s Boom Boom HuckJam.

“We are excited to welcome Carl to IMG, he’s done an amazing job assembling a tremendously talented group of snowboarders,” said Mark Ervin, Vice President, IMG Action Sports.  “Kazu has driven the progression of snowboarding for over a decade, and at 14-years-old Ayumu is poised to be the future of the sport.”

“The opportunity to join IMG was an easy decision to make.  IMG’s vast global network and worldwide presence offers tremendous access to incredible resources to develop Ayumu’s and Kazu’s professional careers well into the future,” said Carl Harris.

Koya Kikuchi, Managing Director, IMG Japan, said, “As we continue to solidify our position as a leader in the actions sports business landscape, the ability to work with world-class talent such as Ayumu Hirano and Kazu Kokubo provides the opportunity to truly leverage IMG’s global capabilities in the marketplace.”

IMG represents some of the most influential and well-known athletes and event properties within the Action Sports world. IMG represents Olympic Gold medalist, Lindsey Vonn, surfing sensation, Kolohe Andino and Motocross rider Ryan Dungey among many others.

Mansfield Town’s One Call Stadium Capacity to be Further Increased

English Conference club, Mansfield Town have announced their One Call Stadium capacity has increased for the second time in three months.

Safety chiefs have raised capacity from 7,888 to 8,186 after praising Stags’ officials for their professional approach of managing a full stadium when the club hosted Liverpool in the FA Cup last month. 

Joint Operations Director Tina Broughton said:  “SAG (Safety Advisory Group) were very pleased with the way we handled a full house during a massive tie for the club. 

“We are pleased that SAG have recognised this and to have our capacity increased again is a positive step forward for the club.”

Prize Money for Hong Kong Open Cut

Prize money for the Hong Kong Open has been cut by US$750, ailment 000 to US$2m, capsule organisers said yesterday.

It comes despite the tournament retaining sponsor UBS. This year’s Hong Kong Open will take place November 15 to 18.

“It’s one of these things that have happened because of the downturn of the world economy, capsule ” Hong Kong Golf Association Chief Executive, Iain Valentine said.

Valentine said he was hopeful that stars such as Rory McIlroy would play.

“The Hong Kong Open has a very unique place in the European Tour schedule of events and people like to play Hong Kong because of the golf course and because of Hong Kong in general, they just like coming here.”

Organisers are reportedly seeking HK$16m (US$2m) from a Hong Kong government fund to assist the showpiece event, double what it received last year. {jcomments on}