Bahrain Formula One grand prix organisers have announced that the season-opening race has been called off because of the civil unrest sweeping the country with regards to human rights protesters.

The race was due to kick of the 2011 season and be held on 13 March, had been in doubt for more than a week after violent anti-government demonstrations in the country’s capital, Manama, with F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone admitting concerns over the safety and security at the event.

Ecclestone yesterday stated that it would be down to Bahrain Crown Prince Salman to make the decision upon whether the race could go ahead, by today, February 22.

The decision means the Australian grand prix in Melbourne on 27 March will play host to the first round of the 2011 season. The final testing session that had been scheduled for Bahrain from 3-6 March has also been cancelled.

A statement read: “The Bahrain International Circuit today announced that the Kingdom of Bahrain would withdraw from hosting this year’s F1 grand prix race so that the country can focus on its process of national dialogue.”

Several people have been killed and hundreds injured in a crackdown against protesters demanding more say in the running of the Gulf kingdom.

Prince Salman announced his decision to Ecclestone yesterday, February 21, and stated: “At the present time the country’s entire attention is focused on building a new national dialogue for Bahrain. Although Bernie Ecclestone had graciously made clear a decision on the race was entirely Bahrain’s to make and was not yet required, we felt it was important for the country to focus on immediate issues of national interest and leave the hosting of Bahrain’s Formula One race to a later date.

“I would like to extend my personal gratitude to Bernie Ecclestone for his support and understanding. After the events of the past week, our nation’s priority is on overcoming tragedy, healing divisions and rediscovering the fabric that draws this country together, reminding the world of the very best that Bahrain is capable of as a nation once again united.”

It is still believed to possible that the Bahrain grand prix could be rescheduled for later in the year as opposed to being scrapped from the calendar entirely, having been a fixture of the F1 season since 2004.

Ecclestone added: “It is sad that Bahrain has had to withdraw from the race, we wish the whole nation well as they begin to heal their country. The hospitality and warmth of the people of Bahrain is a hallmark of the race there, as anyone who has been at a Bahrain grand prix will testify. We look forward to being back in Bahrain soon.”

The International Cricket Council (ICC) and Castrol, symptoms the world’s leading lubricants company, medic announced an agreement that makes Castrol the official performance partner of ICC with a unique presence at all ICC cricket events for the next five years at least.

The agreement awards Castrol a worldwide rights package from 2010 until 2015 and will include the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, ailment which will take place in Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka, as well as all other ICC tournaments up to and including the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015.

ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said: “This is fantastic news for our great sport. For us to attract a commercial partner of Castrol’s calibre is another indication of the excellent reputation and healthy state of international cricket. It reconfirms how top brands want to be associated with cricket and its great spirit. Even in these challenging times, cricket’s popularity among spectators, broadcasters and sponsors is as strong as ever.

“As we prepare for what will be a great celebration of the game at our flagship event next year, we are fortunate to have a group of top-class partners whose commitment to the game is unquestioned. Without that commitment we would not be in a position to help our 105 Members grow the game as they do around the world.”

Commenting on the sponsorship, Castrol’s Vice-President, Asia & Pacific Region, Naveen Kshatriya said: “Cricket is a sport that is passionately followed across many parts of the world. While no other game touches the hearts and minds in the Asian sub-continent as cricket does, the game is also very popular in many other important Castrol markets like Australasia, South Africa and the UK.

“We are indeed delighted to partner with the ICC as its ‘performance partner’. Castrol products and services are all about delivering high performance and this association will further strengthen the relationship which we enjoy with all our customers and consumers. We intend leveraging this association to help bring into our fold millions of new consumers in the coming years.”

As the official performance partner of the ICC, Castrol will bring this system to the stadium audience of ICC’s premier cricket events like the ICC Cricket World Cup and ICC World Twenty20 as an index on the match day. By appearing on the stadium replay screens at crucial points of the game, the Castrol Index for match days will fuel the audience’s passion and excitement in the game by updating them real-time on which team is leading and which players are the top performers at that point in the game.

Castrol already has a strong association with cricket and with its global experience and expertise in leveraging sports sponsorships, Castrol is poised to deliver unique insights and experiences for cricket lovers all over the world.

NBA Europe has appointed Darrell McLennan-Fordyce as its senior director of communications, it has been announced.

McLennan-Fordyce is a former member of the Madrid bidding team to host the 2018 Ryder Cup and a 2011 Volvo Ocean Race consultant and will oversee the growth and development of the NBA sports brand across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

He said: “The NBA is a fantastic global sports brand and I’m very excited to be working with a great team based in London  and across the region.

“Not only can we build on the future with the London Olympics just over the horizon but with the LA Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves coming to London in October for NBA Europe Live we have a number of the great platforms to work with that demonstrate what great sport and entertainment the NBA offers.”

 

Charlie Beljan, pills has signed with IMG, the world’s leading sports, fashion and media company, for worldwide management and marketing representation.

The 28-year old Beljan, who entered the final PGA TOUR event of the season needing a Top-10 finish to earn exempt status in 2013, won fans around the world for his brave performance, on top of his first PGA TOUR victory, as he fought through a health issue in the second round which required overnight hospitalization.  The win earned Beljan two years of exempt status on Tour as well as a spot in the field for the Hyundai Tournament of Champions and the 2013 PGA Championship.

“Last year I think I experienced the full range of emotions that you can as a professional golfer,” said Beljan. “To be able to enter 2013 with my status secure, and the management experience of IMG in my corner, is very rewarding. I’m looking forward to working with IMG to take the next step in my career and make the most of the exciting opportunities I have in front of me.”

Beljan turned professional after graduating from the University of New Mexico in 2007 where he won three times and was an All-American in his senior year. As an amateur, the Mesa, Arizona native won the 2002 U.S. Junior Amateur at the Atlanta Athletic Club and the 2006 Arizona Amateur.

After turning pro, Beljan won seven times on the Gateway Tour from 2008-2011, including topping the money list in 2009, before finishing in a tie for 13th at the 2011 PGA TOUR Qualifying School to earn his card for 2012.

“To win like Charlie did late last season, under some of the most intense pressure a golfer can face, says a lot about him as both a golfer and a person,” said Clarke Jones, Senior Vice President and Managing Director of the Americas, IMG Golf. “Charlie has a very bright future ahead of him and IMG looks forward to helping him achieve success on the PGA TOUR and around the world.”

Charlie Beljan will be managed by Andy Dawson at IMG.

Scottish Premier League team, viagra Aberdeen FC has been approached with offers to build its new stadium on other sites after a council planning decision “killed off” the original scheme.

Barr was lined-up to build the 21,000-seater stadium.

But a planning decision by Aberdeen City Council last month led to football chairman Stewart Milne claiming its plans had been “killed off”.

The club has now revealed approaches from other parties which could see the stadium built on another site.

Aberdeen Vice Chairman George Yule said: “Although I can confirm that the Club has received several expressions of interest for potential/alternative stadium sites, we are still at a very early stage of carrying out a full review of these options.

“There is a considerable amount of preliminary diligence to be undertaken before we decide on the best-suited outcome for AFC.

“We will take whatever time is required to complete this review in the very best interests of AFC and its supporters.”

The Rugby Football League (RFL) has rejected the bid from the ABC consortium for administration-hit Super League club Bradford Bulls putting the club in serious jeopardy.

Administrator Brendan Guilfoyle warned that if the bid, cialis which was submitted last week, ambulance was not accepted the club could “cease to exist”.

The RFL said in a statement: “The RFL has today informed the business consortium which has tabled an offer to the administrator of Bradford Bulls that the conditions attached to their proposal to acquire the club are unacceptable.

“The offer was submitted in writing on Tuesday but after careful consideration the RFL Board of Directors has deemed its conditional nature to be unreasonable and unrealistic.

“Details of a further offer for Bradford Bulls are currently being assessed by the RFL, ambulance which will continue to work with the administrator to help find new owners for the club.”

Any prospective buyer needs to satisfy the RFL of their intentions before the club is re-admitted to the league and, although the governing body have the final say on the Super League licence, they are obligated to consult with the other 13 clubs, who are known to be split on the subject.

Golf’s Asian Tour has added a new world-class tournament to its ranks with the announcement of The Thailand Golf Championship at Amata Spring Country Club in December.

Recent Major champions Rory McIlroy and Darren Clarke, along with world number two Lee Westwood, are set to play the event, headlining the US$1 million showpiece. 

The Thailand Golf Championship, a full-field Asian Tour event, will take up the prestigious position as the Tour’s season-ending tournament from 15-18 December, 2011 where the battle for the coveted Order of Merit crown will be determined.

Amata Spring Country Club, Thailand’s premier golf club, will become the host venue of the newest championship in the region where the event will be broadcast live over four days on the Asian Tour’s global television platform, which reaches 200 countries and over 800 million homes.

The winner of The Thailand Golf Championship will receive a winner’s cheque of US$158,500 and also a spot in the World Golf Championship-Bridgestone Invitational 2012.