It has been formally ratified by the International Motorsport Federation (FIA) that the Bahrain Grand Prix has been cancelled from the Formula One calendar this year after giving its backing to a revised calendar on Wednesday, ampoule June 15.

The FIA’s World Motor Sport Council voted on the new schedule, denture which will see the season finish in Brazil on November 27 as originally planned, while the new Indian Grand Prix, which had been shifted to a season-ending December 11 to accommodate the Bahrain race, will revert to its initial October 30 slot.

Bahrain’s season-opening race was postponed due to civil unrest and although Bahrain was briefly reinstated to the calendar, opposition from the competing teams forced organisers to scrap plans to stage the race this year. Although logistical concerns were cited as the reason for the opposition, doubts about the country’s security situation remain.

An FIA statement read: “Following a fax vote of the FIA World Motor Sport Council and, by unanimous decision, the FIA Formula One World Championship calendar has been ratified as originally proposed.”

FIA president Jean Todt last week insisted in a letter to the Formula One Teams Association that it was F1 rights-holder Bernie Ecclestone’s responsibility to carry out due diligence on all race hosts.

Beer brand Carling has agreed a seven-figure two-year deal to sponsor coverage of 60 games from the Scottish Football Premier League (SPL) on ESPN and Sky Sports.

The deal, shop which was brokered by agency ZenithOptimedia, will run from August 2010 until the end of the 2010/11 season.

Carling branding will appear in the opening and closing sequences of match programmes, on either side of commercial breaks, during matches as well as around online coverage of the SPL on ESPNsoccernet.com and the Sky Sports network.

Director of sales at Molson Coors Scotland (owner of Carling), Paul Miller, said: “As a brand which is as passionate about football as the fans are, there is no better platform than the Scottish Premier League for sharing the highs and the lows of the beautiful game.”

Sky Media handles all the advertising sales for all the ESPN channels, and head of business development at Sky Media, David Shore, added: “Working on behalf of both Sky and ESPN, Sky Media are in the enviable position of being able to offer brands such as Carling a valuable presence across both channel.

“This enables Carling to really own multiplatform coverage of the SPL, and we look forward to working with them over the next two seasons.”

Eurosport has revealed their audience reach has tripled for the opening six days of the Winter Universiade compared to the same period for the previous Winter Universiade in Erzurum in 2011.

Eurosport and Eurosport 2 have already attracted 13.9m different European viewers during Trentino 2013 for 31 hours of broadcast versus 4m viewers during Erzurum 2011 for 15 hours of broadcast. 

This audience record continues the popularity of the FISU events on Eurosport after 27m Europeans enjoyed the 12 days of competition of the 2013 Summer Universiade in Kazan, illness the largest ever TV audience to a Summer Universiade. 

Arnaud Simon, the Eurosport Group’s TV Content Director for broadcast & programmes said:  “The audience figures achieved by Eurosport and Eurosport 2 for the 2013 Summer and Winter Universiades confirm the success of the multi-sport live programming strategy on our channels. We give viewers live access to up to ten sports on all devices – TV, PC, tablet, mobile, connected TV – and significantly help the event to grow in awareness amongst sports fans.” 

Fans can watch over 80 hours of live action from Trentino on Eurosport and Eurosport 2. Ice hockey is leading the coverage of a list of nine sports also featuring alpine skiing, biathlon, cross-country skiing and ski jumping. 

The 26th Winter Universiade from Trentino is the second in a series of Summer and Winter Universiade events Eurosport will be broadcasting through a six-year agreement with FISU. 

The Summer and Winter Universiades, held every two years, gather student athletes aged 17-28 and are second only to the Olympic Games in terms of number of participating athletes and countries represented and are a proven stepping stone for future stars who have gone on to perform at World Championship and Olympic level.

Ticketek have been appointed ticketing provider for the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) flagship tournament, ailment Cricket World Cup 2015 set to be held i Australia and New Zealand in February and March 2015.

John Harnden, viagra price Chief Executive of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, order said the Ticketek partnership was an important step in creating a fan-friendly tournament.

“Ticketek will enable us to give fans a seamless solution across the two countries and worldwide,” said Mr Harnden.

Ticketek CEO, Mr Geoff Jones said the company was proud to provide ticketing services for such a prestigious international tournament.

“Ticketek is the leading ticketing provider in Australia and New Zealand for major events and sports. We will be using the latest innovations for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 to ensure fans in both countries – and around the world – have the very best experience,” said Mr Jones.

Australia and New Zealand last jointly hosted the ICC Cricket World Cup in 1992. The pools, venues and schedule for the tournament are expected to be announced later this year.

Manchester City have revealed they will back controversial measures to bring back safe standing.

The Football Supporters’ Federation (FSF) has become increasingly vocal in wanting to bring back elements of terracing with the Premier League champions, West Ham and Aston Villa all behind the move.

A club spokesman said: “Manchester City Football Club is supportive of initiatives to enhance – safely – our fans’ match-day experience, if supported by the appropriate football authorities.”

The FSF’s Safe Standing Campaign is supported by clubs of all divisions including Brentford, Bristol City, Burnley, Cardiff City,Crystal Palace, Derby County, Doncaster Rovers, Hull City, Peterborough United, Watford, AFC Wimbledon, the Scottish Premier League, the Safe Standing Roadshow and Stand Up Sit Down.

They are calling for the introduction of a pilot of ‘railed seats’ – new standing technology which are used in Germany. They are metal seats that can be folded up to create wider clearways.

Aston Villa and Peterborough United have already given the nod to a small scale trial of the technology.

However, the call for terracing was recently lambasted by the Hillsborough Family Support Group set up after the death of 96 people at Sheffield Wednesday’s Hillsborough Stadium in April 1989.

Chairwoman Margaret Aspinall said: “There are 96 reasons why it should not be allowed. Standing should never, ever come back. I do not think there is anything safe about standing.

“I feel insulted that while people are trying to fight for justice for Hillsborough, that this campaign is growing now.”

Leicester Tigers’ home at Welford Road has been named Rugby Venue of the Year.

The club scooped a win double at the Rugby Expo awards in London with the ‘Tigers Family’ campaign also selected as Marketing Innovation of 2012.

Rugby Expo is the leading global conference and exhibition for both rugby codes and brings together representatives of unions, clubs, rights holders, brands, broadcasters, suppliers and innovators.

Leicester Tigers chief executive Simon Cohen said: “We’re delighted that Leicester Tigers topped the judging panel’s decisions in two categories.

“Welford Road is an iconic home of rugby. It is the biggest dedicated club rugby stadium in the country, with the biggest home crowds in the country, and we take huge pride in the number of world-class players who have played here either for Tigers or with visiting teams from across the UK, Europe and beyond.

“Our supporters were bitterly disappointed to learn that Welford Road would not host matches at the Rugby World Cup in England in three years’ time, not just because it means they miss an historic opportunity to witness Test match rugby at their own home ground, but also because they all appreciate that this is a superb rugby stadium and a great place to watch a game.

“The IRB chose to set its Rugby World Cup criteria based primarily on pitch size and facilities for players and media, whereas the supporters who attend games here prefer to focus on the entire package of matchday.

“From the judging panel’s decision to present us with the award as Rugby Venue of the Year, it seems a lot of people outside the club agree with that standpoint.

“Welford Road is a stadium built exclusively for rugby, the players reach the pitch through the crowd, the crowd are close to the action on all four sides, they generate great noise from the stands and it all helps to produce a top-class rugby venue and occasion here.

“We’ve hosted matches against international teams five times in the last seven seasons as well as welcoming England Saxons and age-group sides in that time, and of course host big crowds in the Aviva Premiership and in Europe week in week out.

“It is entirely appropriate that the award as Rugby Venue of the Year has been presented in the same week that we welcomed an international touring side to play here and enjoyed a top-class fixture with the Maori All Blacks which will live long in the memory of the supporters.”

The Marketing Innovation award recognises the club’s ‘Tigers Family’ campaign, especially in social media.
Tigers head of brand development Chris Rose, who accepted both awards on the club’s behalf at the Rugby Expo dinner in London, said: “There are huge levels of support for Leicester Tigers and we enjoy amazing loyalty from our supporters.

“There is support for Tigers all over the world as well as from our 14,000 season ticket holders and matchday crowds at Welford Road.

“The size of that following continues to grow, with our supporters welcoming new members of the Tigers Family at every home match. With more than 12,000 members in the Junior Tigers Club, we are also in a good place to continue to grow in the future.”

Two more South Africa events have been added to the 2012-2013 European Tour golf schedule making a total of six South African tournaments on the tour.

The Nelson Mandela Championship and the Tshwane Open have been been added to four existing events — the Alfred Dunhill Championship, nurse South African Open, pill Africa Open and Joburg Open.

Hosting six Sunshine Tour co-sanctioned events means South Africa will put on more tournaments than any other country on the European Tour circuit.

The one-million-euro Nelson Mandela Championship between December 6-9 tees off the European Tour Road to Dubai and is likely to be staged at Royal Durban Country Club or Humewood Golf Club in Port Elizabeth.

A course between Johannesburg and Pretoria designed by 2012 British Open champion Ernie Els hosts the Tshwane Open between February 28-March 3 and offers the biggest Sunshine Tour purse of 1.5 million euro.

Sunshine Tour official Selwyn Nathan said: “I am particularly excited that we have another (two) European Tour co-sanctioned events as it shows the confidence one of the two major tours in the world has in us.”

Thanks to the shotmaking skills of the world’s top golfers, health Chevron Corporation’s Eagles for Education program will receive $650, ed 000 in combined financial contributions from Chevron and the United States Golf Association (USGA).

As part of a new, health multi-year partnership announced in June, the USGA and Chevron agreed to contribute a combined $10,000 for every eagle scored during this year’s U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open and U.S. Senior Open championships to help fund programs that apply the fundamentals of golf to demonstrate the importance of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) in a young person’s educational experience and potential career path. In all, a total of 63 eagles and one double eagle were recorded across the three USGA championships.

“Our USGA Open championships are a celebration of golf, and they present truly unique opportunities to invest in our young people through this great game,” said USGA Executive Director Mike Davis. “Thanks to our new partnership with Chevron and the exciting shotmaking from some of the best golfers in the world, we are helping to inspire young students in considering science, technology, engineering and math as a more appealing part of their educational experience and career pursuits.”

The newly formed Chevron-USGA partnership seeks to encourage students in the academic disciplines that make up STEM. Together, the partners are creating content and unique experiences that showcase the science behind many of the USGA’s core functions, including course setup, equipment testing and soil management/plant sciences research.

“In partnering with the USGA, we have created an opportunity to connect STEM learning to a game that is fun and full of compelling personalities,” said Glenn Weckerlin, director, programs (integration) & partner marketing for Chevron. “The Eagles program has received a big boost from these three world-class championships and we feel it will help carry the program forward in new and more visible ways.”

China will host their first-ever IZOD IndyCar Series race as IndyCar announced four new international destinations for the 2012 season.

The IZOD IndyCar Series will race on a 3.87-mile street circuit in Qingdao, China – the Yellow Sea coastal city of 8.7 million between Beijing and Shanghai that played host to the 2008 Summer Olympics Sailing competition. IndyCar also will sanction 2012 events in Toronto, Ontario, São Paulo, Brazil, and Edmonton, Alberta.

Randy Bernard, CEO of IndyCar, said: “As the world global economy continues to grow and evolve, China, the world’s second-largest economy, has become a top priority with most American businesses and the sponsors that are committed to INDYCAR. Last year, at our sponsorship summit, China was the No. 1 place our sponsors wanted to go outside of the United States.

“We are very excited and truly grateful for the full support of the Chinese Government, Qingdao City Government and related Government Bureaus in providing the opportunity to bring the IZOD IndyCar Series to China. We are committed to doing our part in making this a fantastic race event weekend to be seen on the world stage.”

The race will be contested on a temporary street circuit, with the long-term objective of constructing a permanent racing and entertainment venue. Known for its German and French heritage, Qingdao boasts an almost European atmosphere, with the city often referred to as “China’s Switzerland.” The race is scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 19, which coincides with the popular Qingdao International Beer Festival.

Terry Angstadt, Commercial Division President, IndyCar, added: “The China automotive industry is experiencing explosive growth and it is just smart to begin establishing our brand and business roots in the China marketplace. Over the last three years – with full support of the Chinese Government, Qingdao City Government and related Government Bureaus – U.S.-based IndyCar representative ARD, China race promoter Yinxin Investment, as well as major sponsor Qingdao City Construction Investment Group have worked with our team in the realization of this historic race event. We couldn’t be happier for the future Chinese race fans and the extended IndyCar family.”

The event in Qingdao complements two other venues that return to the IZOD IndyCar Series calendar for 2012: the Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix on Sunday, June 3, and the Auto Club Speedway oval in Fontana, Calif., for a race under the lights Saturday, Sept. 15.

The 2012 season, which will feature the return of engine manufacturer competition and a new, stylish car, kicks off Sunday, March 25, with the eighth Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. The Indianapolis 500 is scheduled for Sunday, May 27, with Pole Day on Saturday, May 19.