Stockholm have ended their bid to host the 2022 Winter Olympics with the Swedish city’s ruling Moderate party saying on Friday that investing in the Games was not attractive enough.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said in November that six cities, including former summer Games hosts Beijing and Stockholm, had launched bids to stage the 2022 event.

“Arranging a Winter Olympics would mean a big investment in new sports facilities, for example for the bobsleigh and luge,” the Moderate party said in a statement.

“There isn’t any need for that type of that kind of facility after an Olympics.”

Norway capital Oslo, which hosted the 1952 Winter Olympics, is also among those in the running, along with Krakow in Poland, Kazakhstan’s Almaty and Ukraine’s Lviv.

“Although the calculations are well worked out, we estimate that revenues will likely be lower and costs higher than the investigation indicates,” said Stockholm city council chairman and finance commissioner Sten Nordin.

“With more time to the date of application, it is possible that finding other solutions might have been possible. Stockholm is a winter sports town and I am open to staging the Winter Olympics in the future,” he said.

“Unfortunately we are of the opinion that it’s not realistic to make a bid for the 2022 Olympics,” he later told Sveriges Radio.

Stockholm’s refusal to back an Olympic bid is reminiscent of the Italian government pulling out of a bid by Rome for the 2020 Olympics two years ago over similar financial fears.

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has revealed today their online coverage of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics will be most comprehensive ever with over 300 hours of live sport. 

In addition to covering both the Opening and Closing Ceremonies live from Sochi in HD, the IPC website will feature four HD channels showing live and uninterrupted daily coverage of alpine skiing, Nordic skiing, ice sledge hockey and wheelchair curling. A fifth HD channel will broadcast a mixture of all sports and all five channels will feature English commentary. 

Following the conclusion of competition each day, all the sporting action including individual matches from ice sledge hockey and wheelchair curling, will be made available as video on demand via the IPC’s YouTube channel ParalympicSport.TV. Highlights packages from each sport will also be made available. 

Supporting the live and on-demand video streams will be live results, whilst a team of writers will produce daily in-depth previews and reviews of all five sports, together with interviews with leading athletes. It is estimated around 150 stories will be uploaded to the IPC’s website during the Games. 

Craig Spence, the IPC’s Director of Communications, said: “Our aim at Sochi 2014 is to cover the Games and all sports from every single angle with a mixture of live action, live results and in-depth previews and reports. It will be our most comprehensive coverage of a Paralympic Winter Games to date. 

“We are determined to build on the success of London 2012 when the IPC website received a record number of visitors and #paralympics was Twitter’s number one trending sporting event of the year. 

“To achieve this goal, visitors to our various online platforms will also be taken behind the scenes at the Games and given an exclusive flavour of the day-to-day activities of competing athletes.”

IMG Worldwide, ed the global sports, decease fashion and media company, store announced they have acquired the IGP Sports & Entertainment Group, strengthening its resources both in the American market and globally.

The acquisition will see IGP’s properties, including management of the Honda Classic, and its experienced staff led by 27-year industry veteran Kenneth R. Kennerly, join IMG’s Golf division immediately.

Having transformed the Honda Classic into one of the premier events on the PGA TOUR, Kennerly will head up IMG Golf’s North American events division as the company continues to bolster its event business in North America and around the world. The acquisition also marks the opening of a new IMG Golf office in North Palm Beach, Florida. A number of key staff will relocate from other IMG offices to work in this new IMG Golf office, providing a strong presence in this important golf market.

“IMG has had great respect over the years for Ken Kennerly and the business he built,” said Guy Kinnings, Senior Vice President and Global Head of IMG Golf. “His staff at IGP brings over 100 years of combined management and production experience to our existing global talents, and just as importantly, allows us to create an instant presence in South Florida, a market that has always been very important in the professional golf industry and where a number of our clients are based.  We look forward to integrating a number of our key staff with Ken and his staff to create an office in South Florida that will be of great benefit to IMG Golf’s clients and business partners.”

After experience early in his career working for two sports marketing agencies in Washington, Kennerly moved to South Florida in 1993 to work for Jack Nicklaus’ Golden Bear International. He started IGP in 1996, and acquired Executive Sports, a company that ran tournaments on the PGA, LPGA and Champions Tours. In 2006, Kennerly and his team began running The Honda Classic, and not only re-established it as one of the top tournaments on the PGA TOUR, but generated record charitable donations and more than $40 Million in economic impact for the local community each year. The acquisition will also see IMG take over management of the Web.com Tour’s Mid-Atlantic Championship in Washington, D.C.

Last month, the Palm Beach County Sports Hall of Fame honored Kennerly and his team as its Sports Contributor of the Year for their success operating the Honda Classic each year, and recognizing the tournament’s impact on the South Florida community.  In June, the Honda Classic will be awarded the 2013 Bing Crosby Tournament Sponsor Award by the Metropolitan Golf Writers Association. The award is presented to an individual or organization that promotes and supports the game of golf through commercial sponsorship of quality events.

“As someone who built his own business in golf, I have always marvelled at IMG and their impact in all areas of the industry around the globe,” said Kennerly. “Anyone who works in the sports management and marketing business recognizes that IMG was the founder of this industry and working for IMG has been a goal of mine from the earliest days of my career. I’m especially excited about the chance to continue having an impact in the local Palm BeachCounty community but now also on the national and international stage, thanks to IMG’s global presence.”

Miami Dolphins owner Stephen M. Ross announced today that he is prepared to fund the majority of costs for proposed improvements to Sun Life Stadium that will make the facility competitive for hosting future Super Bowls, college championship games, the Pan Am Games, professional soccer, and other premier sports and entertainment events.

Ross stated that private funds would cover the majority of construction costs, which would create more than 4,000 local jobs for South Florida across various industries.  The modernization plan would position Sun Life Stadium to continue competing for elite events without proposing any tax increases on Miami-Dade residents. 

“I bought this team because I love this town. I went to high school here and built much of my business here,” said Ross.  “Like most Miamians, I believe no other community in America represents a better destination for blockbuster events. My goal is to secure the future of Miami-Dade and theDolphins so we can remain a global competitor for sports and entertainment for at least another 25 years.  That’s why I’m willing to make the initial and most substantial investment in this project.”

Ross was joined at the announcement by Dolphins CEO Mike Dee, University of Miami Interim Athletic Director Blake James, Orange Bowl President & Chairman Andrew Hertz, CEO Eric Poms, and Board Member Al Dotson, Jr., Super Bowl Host Committee Chairman Rodney Barreto and Pan American Games Bid Committee Chairman Ralph Garcia-Toledo.   

“A world-class community deserves world-class facilities,” said Barreto.  “We are fortunate to have a person like Steve Ross who is willing to invest to help ensure the future of big events for Miami.”

The Orange Bowl Committee, who will spearhead South Florida’s efforts to bid on future championship games, also expressed support for the efforts.  “There will be a lot of competition as we bid to host future college football championship games,” said Hertz. “We’re ready to compete, and we need to put South Florida’s best foot forward in all areas, including the facility, which we anticipate will be a key component of any bid package.  If this proposed modernization were to move forward, we believe South Florida will have a better total package to offer than any community in the country.”

The proposed modernizations for Sun Life Stadium will also return the stadium to the original configurations that were compromised to accommodate baseball, giving fans a much improved football experience with better sightlines from every seat in the house.

Other major upgrades include: More comfortable seats, New seating closer to the field, State-of-the art HD video screens, An open-air canopy that shields fans from elements while preserving the natural grass playing surface, HD sports lighting, Modern escalators and elevators for fan transportation and Updated kitchens for better concession options.

“Our intention is to make Sun Life Stadium a world-class facility that is competition-ready for Super Bowls, college football championships, and global soccer events, as well as providing a much better environment to watch the Dolphins, Hurricanes and Orange Bowl every year,” Ross said.  “I think our planned modernization will maintain the special outdoor flavor of Miami, while giving us the look of the best stadiums around the world.”

English Super League team, Salford City Reds were today granted a stay of execution as talks were set to get under way to rescue the ailing Super League club.

A winding-up petition brought before the Manchester District Registry of The High Court Of Justice by former players Luke Patten and Vinnie Anderson and HM Revenue and Customs was adjourned for a second time, this time by a month until February 4.

That is three days after the City Reds are due to play their opening match of Super League XVIII against Wigan at the Salford City Stadium.

A Salford spokesman said the hearing was adjourned after the court heard that talks with a potential investor were due to take place today.

Chairman John Wilkinson, who is ready to step aside after almost 30 years at the helm, welcomed today’s adjournment.

He said: “Everyone is working every available hour to ensure that the ongoing negotiations progress forward into an outcome that secures the future success of the Salford Rugby League Club.

“We appreciate what a stressful time this is for staff, players and supporters and thank you all for your patience and understanding. What today’s ruling provides is the time needed to secure the investment and we are grateful for the opportunity to do so.

“One thing is foremost in our minds – Salford’s rugby club must continue for the fans of today to enjoy and for the generations of fans to come.”

The winding-up petition was originally brought by management consultants Steuer Greggson over an unpaid bill but taken over by Patten and supported by HMRC when the club settled with the Cheshire-based company.

The petition was heard on October 29 and adjourned until today when HMRC took over as the main creditor with a debt thought to be close to £300,000. The two former players are owed around £70,000.

“HMRC are now in the driving seat,” Patten’s manager Richard Cramer told Press Association Sport.

Wilkinson estimates the club need £600,000 to survive the new season but a rescue plan collapsed in December when local councillors voted against a proposed £750,000 loan.

Development company Peel Holdings, who with the local authority are joint owners of the Salford City Stadium, were prepared to match the council loan and are due to take part in talks today with a potential buyer.

The Rugby Football League, led by chief executive Nigel Wood, are also heavily involved in the rescue plan, featuring an unnamed businessman who is thought to be interested in investing in the Super League club.

Organisers of the Hong Kong Open golf tournament hope to secure additional government funding to help fill a sponsorship shortfall of about $2.75 million.

The event is run by the Hong Kong Golf Association and has been without a naming rights or title sponsor since its deal with USB ended in 2010.

The Association’s head, Iain Valentine, said the organisation will approach the Government’s Mega Events Fund to seek funding.

It is understood the event secured $1.03 million in funding from the Mega Events Fund to help run last year’s tournament.

Other reports say that watch company Omega had considered the sponsorship but was more interested in other sponsorship opportunities in China.

China also hosts the increasingly-popular BMW Masters and the HSBC Championships.

Major sponsorship of The Singapore Open will soon be available after financial services company Barclays announced it would end its sponsorship this year.{jcomments on}

The American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity (ACCCE) today announced the launch of a new ad featuring NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt, ampoule Jr.

The new campaign will air TV and radio ads nationally.

“In my company, no rx the cars run on gas, but the business runs on electricity. That’s why I have been learning about how coal keeps electricity prices down, and that keeps the lights on and people working, which keeps companies like mine out in front,” says Dale Earnhardt, Jr. in the ad.

The American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity announced its first-ever sponsorship of a NASCAR team, JR Motorsports, the management company and racing operation for Dale Earnhardt, Jr. this Spring. Under the sponsorship, JR Motorsports cars feature ACCCE logos, and members of the race team, including Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and Cole Whitt are working with ACCCE to inform and educate Americans about the importance of coal and clean coal technology.

“America’s families and business rely on affordable and reliable coal,” said Evan Tracey, senior vice president of communications for the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity. “These new ads will draw America’s attention to coal’s importance as a domestic energy source to power our economy – from manufacturing to motorsports and everything in between.”

MotoGP commercial rights holder Dorna Sports has suggested the sport must target lower running costs from 2013 onwards.

For Dorna, the main aim is to reduce running costs while maintaining the competitive nature of the sport. For 2012, this includes 1,000cc bikes and an initial entry list of 21 runners – 12 factory-entered machines and nine in the new CRT category.

“We must immediately do two things,” said Carmelo Ezpeleta, head of Dorna. “The first is to keep the grid is as compact as possible; this is not to say that there will be no differences, but to make sure that the CRT bikes are as close as possible to the factory bikes. Secondly, that factory bikes don’t technologically advance to performance levels that could be dangerous, with costs that can’t be assumed.

“The problem is not just how to reduce costs – it’s that if someone invests a significant amount, wins the championship and then leaves…it leaves you with nothing. We have three manufacturers – Ducati, Yamaha and Honda. I’m talking with them and I have ideas for making the championship more competitive.

“The basics of motorsport are the combination of entertainment and technology. In times of crisis, if we cut back on something it must be in technology, not the entertainment, which both television and circuits pay for. Again, I’m talking to the manufacturers and I think we will come to a conclusion in May as to how the championship will look from 2013.”

The upcoming 2012 MotoGP season begins in Qatar on 8 April.

Virgin Racing has joined fellow Formula One team Force India in announcing a technical tie-up with McLaren in a bid to help it improve its form in the Championship.

The team revealed today, July 4, just weeks after the team parted company with its technical director Nick Wirth, that it had concluded a deal that will see it receive assistance from McLaren.

Under the terms of the deal, Virgin Racing will have access to McLaren’s facilities – such a test rigs, simulators and computer technology – plus its wind tunnel. Furthermore staff from McLaren will be placed within the Virgin Racing group.

In addition, Virgin Racing has also purchased the business of Wirth Racing Technologies and its facilities in Banbury to provide a technical base for its future.

Andy Webb, CEO of Virgin Racing, said: “When we undertook our detailed review of the team in the first half of 2011, it was clear that our bold ambitions for the future would need to be matched with some equally bold steps towards achieving them.

“I am delighted that in a relatively short space of time we are now in the fantastic position of being able to make these two very important announcements, which will enable us to make some dramatic strides forward with immediate effect.

“Our technical partnership with McLaren is very exciting indeed. McLaren is one of the most prestigious and successful marques in grand prix racing history, with an enviable record of success over many years.

“We can benefit enormously from McLaren’s far-reaching techniques and capabilities and I have no doubt that this partnership will see us take the technical steps necessary to make a significant leap forwards.

“In addition, our acquisition of the WRT Formula 1 business ensures continuity of technical infrastructure for the period ahead, which means that the transition to working with our new technical partner can begin immediately and is not frustrated by logistical considerations.

“Our three-centre operation has served us well in our formative years but our ambitions for the future will rely on the full might of the team coming together under one roof.”

Speaking about the tie-up with Virgin Racing, McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh added: “Under the terms of this technical partnership, Marussia Virgin Racing will be able to access McLaren’s wind tunnel, simulator, rigs, and fitness and well being programmes.

“These properties are state-of-the-art, and we confidently therefore expect Marussia Virgin Racing to derive significant benefits from them.

“During the period in which we were agreeing this deal, our experience of dealing with Andy and his team was extremely positive and we recognise that he and his colleagues are very serious about making developments that will lift the competitiveness of their cars over the coming months and years.”

As expected, the International Cricket Council (ICC) came to a decision at yesterday’s, April 4, executive board meeting in Mumbai, to reduce the number of team’s competing in the 2015 and 2019 Cricket World Cups from 14 to 10.

An ICC press release read: “The Executive Board confirmed their decision made in October 2010 that the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 in Australia and New Zealand and the ICC Cricket World Cup in England in 2019 will be a 10-team event.

“The Board agreed that the 2015 World Cup will comprise the existing 10 Full Members, however, they gave notice to all Full Members that participation in the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup will be determined on the basis of qualification.”

The ruling means that associate nations – such as Kenya, Canada, Ireland and the Netherlands will not be permitted to partake in the next edition of the tournament in Australia and New Zealand in 2015.

Full members Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, West Indies and Zimbabwe will be the only teams competing at the event.

The decision left Irish Cricket chief Warren Deutrom outraged, claiming the the ruling was ‘disgraceful’ and adding: “I have already been in contact with my other Associate chief executives and it is not a question of if we are going to do something but what we are going to do.”

Ireland reached the Super 8 of the competition in 2007 and in this year’s event defeated England in a memorable victory which saw batsman Kevin O’Brien smash the record of the fastest 100 ever made at the quadrennial tournament, reaching the landmark in just 50 balls.

In other news, the statement from the ICC revealed the world governing body’s strategic plan which “seeks to lead world cricket by providing a world class environment for international cricket; delivering major events across all three formats (Test, 50 over and T20); providing targeted support to members and promoting the global game.”

ICC chief Haroon Lorgat stated: “The strategy is the product of wide ranging and constructive engagement held with the world’s leading cricket administrators and stakeholders. The plan covers a range of strategic topics from the role of the ICC, governance, promotion and protection of the three forms of the game, competition and meritocratic pathways as well as targeted investment.

“The targeted funding for Members will be used to protect the game and its integrity; provide a platform for success and also focus on growth and improvement of playing standards.”

ICC President Sharad Pawar spoke of this year’s tournament, stating: “The tournament reinforced the attraction of 50 over cricket and showed the enthusiasm and excitement generated by nation v nation cricket. There is no doubt that this event has been a great advertisement for ODI cricket.”