WWE has announced today it has become a Founding Partner for the 2014 Special Olympics USA Games, shop order a national sporting event taking place in New Jersey June 14-21, doctor 2014.

The announcement was made on stage during WrestleMania 29 at MetLife Stadium with New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, 2014 USA Games Chairman & CEO TJ Nelligan, President of Special Olympics, North America Bob Gobrecht, President of Special Olympics New Jersey Marc Edenzon, WWE Executive Vice President, Creative Stephanie McMahon and Special Olympics athletes Ashley Weber of New Jersey and David Dennin of Connecticut.

“New Jersey is honored to have been selected to host the 2014 Special Olympics USA Games. We are excited for these games to not only bring participants and spectators to our state, but we are thrilled at the opportunity to show others from around the nation, the true spirit of New Jersey,” said Governor Chris Christie. “These Games expand the reach of inclusion and acceptance and allows a wider audience to recognize and applaud the talents of the athletes who are participating in the 2014 Special Olympics USA Games.”

WWE will utilize all of its platforms, including TV broadcasts, live events, digital and social media to generate awareness and raise funds in support of the USA Games. WWE will serve as the Official Production Partner of the Games, filming the Opening Ceremonies as well as producing daily recaps of the sporting competitions and special events throughout the Games. WWE will also produce an hour-long television show highlighting the Games. WWE Superstars and Divas will participate in various events in conjunction with the promotion of the 2014 USA Games, and WWE employees will serve as volunteers at the Games. Additionally, WWE will make a financial contribution to support the Games.

“As evidenced by WWE’s Be a STAR anti-bullying alliance, which aims to build a positive and equitable environment through education and awareness, we knew we found a perfect partner in the WWE for the 2014 Special Olympics USA Games,” said TJ Nelligan, Chairman & CEO of the 2014 USA Games. “The drive behind Special Olympics is to build communities of inclusion and acceptance for individuals with intellectual disabilities through sport. The 2014 USA Games is a celebration of these efforts on a national scale. We are proud to partner with the WWE so that we can expand our reach and showcase how remarkable our athletes truly are.”

“WWE is proud to serve as a Founding Partner of the 2014 Special Olympics USA Games and utilize our global platforms to bring more attention to the accomplishments of so many determined and extraordinary athletes,” said WWE Chairman and CEO, Vince McMahon. “WWE, its Superstars and employees look forward to being a part of these important events.”

Nearly 3,500 athletes will travel to New Jersey for the 2014 Special Olympics USA Games to compete in 16 Olympic-style team and individual sports, with the support of 1,000 coaches, 10,000 volunteers and an anticipated 70,000 spectators. 

UK Sport has today unveiled plans of a campaign which aims to bring 36 world and European championships to Britain.

Over the next six years, the Gold Series Event will use £27m of Lottery money to attract top sporting events to the country. 

The Government will work in partnership with UK Sport to support national governing bodies through the Gold Event Series. The Series, which is funded by £27 million of National Lottery good cause money, will create ‘A Stage to Inspire’ many of the legacy objectives of London 2012

The campaign objective is to bring more than 70 sporting events in total to the UK, including the 36 world and European championships.

UK Sport chief executive Liz Nicholl said: “In developing the Gold Event Series, UK Sport is building on the success of London 2012 and supporting the UK’s on-going legacy goals.

“The continued hosting of world class events supports our athletes’ performance ambitions, provides a unique platform to inspire participation, and allows sport to contribute towards the economic growth agenda.”

Minister for Sport Hugh Robertson said: “One of the most important sports legacies of London 2012 is our ability to attract major events in the future – which boost the economy, increase tourism and encourage participation. We already have a fantastic eight years of great sport events planned and I want to attract more events in the years ahead.”

This follows the announcement that London will bid for the 2017 IPC Athletics World Championships.

“If you look at what UK Sport announced today there have a clear list of targets. The IPC Athletic World Championships will be one of them and they would have chosen them carefully,” Ed Warner, UK Athletics Chairman, told iSportconnect.

An historic deal has been concluded between Rose Bowl PLC, herbal | parent company of The Ageas Bowl, and Eastleigh Borough Council (EBC) allowing the final stage in the development of the internationally renowned venue, which will include the construction of a 4-star Hilton hotel, additional conferencing and hospitality facilities and a state-of-the-art media centre.

The club expects to be able to make an announcement in the coming days confirming the start date but timescales are in place to have all work completed in time for England’s next Test Match at The Ageas Bowl against India in 2014. Certain elements such as the media centre are expected to be available for use in the 2013 cricket season.

Ageas Bowl Chairman, Rod Bransgrove said, “We are absolutely delighted to have completed this this deal with Eastleigh Borough Council. Building this hotel and transforming The Ageas Bowl into a Model Test Match ground will have an overwhelmingly positive effect on the local economy through creating and protecting jobs as well as boosting tourism to the region.

“I should like to thank the Council for having the foresight to see that completing the Ageas Bowl transformation will have a positive impact on the Borough, and for their drive in completing this complex transaction. I would also like to thank all our other partners, both locally and nationally, who have worked together to deliver an outcome that delivers a brighter future for The Ageas Bowl.

“The deal will create a lasting legacy for the South Coast area as a whole, not only by preserving county cricket in Hampshire nor, indeed, solely through encouraging regular top-level International cricket in the region. This fantastic venue and its excellent facilities and staff, in combination with the great work done by the Hampshire Cricket Board, will ensure aspiring young cricketers in the area have every opportunity possible to fulfil their sporting potential for years to come.”

“This has been an historic year. Our flourishing partnership with Ageas has demonstrated the belief of a major company in the future of this wonderful venue and now, with the completion of this deal, we can all look forward to creating a truly unique sports and entertainment destination to the benefit of all.”

Council Leader Keith House welcoming the signing saying, “This is fantastic news. It’s a very important project for the whole Borough and I’m very pleased to see work will soon be starting.  As well as creating jobs for local people and opportunities for local business it gives the Council significant new rental income to help protect vital local services and keep council tax down.

“We’re also committed to making sure that people across the Borough benefit from this partnership through the chance both to watch and take part in sport.  The prestigious world class venue will also help to keep Eastleigh on the international sporting map.”

The 175-bedroom hotel marks the final stage of an ambitious £48m development programme which has also seen the Colin Ingleby-Mackenzie and Shane Warne stands erected, increasing the venue’s total capacity to 25,000 for major matches. Once complete, the ground will become Britain’s only Model Test Match venue as defined by the England and Wales Cricket Board as well as one of the leading destinations for sport, leisure and entertainment in the UK

The hotel will contain a state-of-the-art Media Centre, bars, restaurants and a function room facing onto the pitch as well as a Spa and Leisure Club with gym, jacuzzi pool, sauna, steam room and six individual rooms for beauty treatment and relaxation.

Plans for the new hotel include a bespoke viewing and hospitality area which will be utilised for Major Matches such as the 2014 Test against India and ODI against Australia in 2015.

It will also accommodate the club house for The Ageas Bowl’s new 18-hole par-71 golf course including changing facilities, club shop, bar, golf restaurant, club lounge and terrace with views across the 18th green. Adjacent to the hotel bar, a main restaurant will offer high-quality cuisine for 150 diners with views over the cricket ground and a further landscaped terrace with views across the countryside.

Brendan Guilfoyle, viagra 40mg administrator at Bradford Bulls rugby league club, pills has agreed an extension to the Club administration until Friday 27 July. 

The extension is subject to the RFL providing funds to pay wages by end of play this Thursday 12 July.

Guilfoyle said: “We have approached the RFL to ask if they would advance payments to the Club to enable us to pay July’s wages for retained staff and players, ed on Friday.

“They have agreed in principle subject to due diligence. We are very grateful for all their support – they have seconded a finance team to help us respond to all the requests for information.”

Guilfoyle said that the extension is because they have serious interest from a consortium of Bradford business people: “This consortium has not yet made a formal offer. They want to see the full extent of losses expected over the next 18 months and ensure they have sufficient funds in place before making a formal offer.”

A statement from the RFL said: “The RFL has agreed in principle to an advance of funds to help the club meet its payroll commitments to players on Friday, subject to the administrator providing additional information.”

Key sponsors of the Indian Premier League (IPL), including the Godrej group, Videocon Industries Ltd and Emirates, are renegotiating contracts at lower spot advertising rates and even threatening to drop their sponsorship if their demands aren’t met.

Videocon, for instance, is negotiating with broadcaster Multi Screen Media Pvt. Ltd (MSM)—which telecasts matches on its channel Set Max—for 35-40% lower spot advertisement rates during prime time, but could settle for 25-30% less.

“We will take a call on whether we would remain a sponsor during prime time on matches where KKR (Kolkata Knight Riders) is not playing,” said Anirudh Dhoot, director, Videocon, who has a three-year sponsorship contract with KKR. “Additionally, we will spend another Rs1-2 crore on corporate stadium boxes for tickets for the main matches,”

An IPL insider, who did not want to be identified, said Emirates had terminated its sponsorship of Kings XI Punjab. Emirates didn’t say whether this had happened.

“This year we are still under discussions and our plans are yet to be finalized,” said an executive at Emirates who did not want to be identified.

Emirates was one of the main sponsors of Kings XI Punjab last year. It has been associated with the team for two years and also advertised during prime time in the third edition of IPL.

“A lot of the advertisers are looking for lower cost of sponsorship or lower rates per 10-second spot. We have to wait and watch who blinks first,” said Punitha Arumugam, chief executive officer, Madison Media Group, a media buying company.

For the Godrej group, IPL has been an important platform, including a corporate rebranding in the first edition in 2008. Its social media exercise Gojiyo.com was showcased in 2009, reality show Godrej Khelo Jeeto Jiyo in 2010 and consumer connect initiative Godrej Power Play in 2011.

In 2010 alone, the firm spent more than Rs50 crore ($1million) on IPL. But this year, the group is undecided about its participation.

“We are currently evaluating our media plans for the year and haven’t yet taken a decision on the IPL sponsorship,” said a Godrej spokesperson.

Rohit Gupta, president, network sales, at MSM, denied that his company was renegotiating advertisement rates. He said they have gone up marginally to Rs5-5.25 lakh for a 10-second slot and insisted that rates would not be cut.

“The IPL rating had gone down last year because of the World Cup, with some months of intense cricket, but we expect it to go up this year. The buzz will return,” said Gupta.

IPL teams also said they weren’t too perturbed as their sponsorship deals were all long-term ones.

“Wariness among advertisers always seems to happen at the beginning of every season,” said Raghu Iyer, chief executive officer of the Rajasthan Royals. “A couple of weeks closer (to the tournament), everyone wants in. There is concern to some extent, but once Sachin (Tendulkar) gets his 100th hundred, all these will go out of the window.”

Dhunji Wadia, president of advertising agency Everest Brand Solutions, agrees. “IPL is arguably the biggest sports event in the country. It has the power to bring the entire country to a standstill,” he said. “I expect all the cynicism to vanish the moment the tournament begins.”

Chennai Super Kings has only one slot to be sold, according to Rakesh Singh, joint president, marketing. “We don’t want to sell our spots at a lower price, (we sell) only to people who are paying top dollar,” he said.

by Ismail Uddin

United States Golf Association (USGA) Chief Business Officer Pete Bevacqua has resigned, effective immediately.

The move, confirmed today by USGA Director of Communications Rand Jerris, comes 19 days after Mike Davis was named the organization’s Exec Director.

Bevacqua served as Chief Business Officer since July 2007, and helped usher in the era of USGA corporate partnerships.

The International cricket Council (ICC) has officially launched its Global Cricket Academy based at Dubai Sports City.

Present at the launch was ICC President Sharad Pawar, ICC Vice-President Alan Isaac and several members of the ICC Board as well as ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat. There on behalf of Dubai Sports City were its founding partners while Dubailand was represented by its Chief Executive Mohammed Al Habbai.

Pawar said: “This outstanding academy will provide a pathway for the world’s current and emerging international players to excel. It will also become the centre of excellence for cricket’s best and brightest administrators, coaches, umpires and curators.

“With its state-of-the-art programmes, facilities and coaches, the ICC GCA will provide a home for a wide range of our stakeholders from both the traditional Full Members and the developing Associate and Affiliate Members. We believe the ICC GCA is key in making our great sport, even greater.”

Abdul Rahman Bukhatir, Managing Director of Dubai Sports City said: “This is indeed a historic and momentous occasion for world cricket and another significant milestone in the evolution of Dubai Sports City. This academy project has come about through our excellent partnership with the ICC.

“It is the philosophy of Dubai Sports City to create partnerships and be associated with the best of breeds in all sports. Pivotal to this philosophy is the development of sportsmen and women at all levels – from amateur to professional. We firmly believe that we are creating an environment in which this ambition can be fulfilled. Dubai Sports City is delighted to have the ICC Global Cricket Academy as part of our offering.”

Technology solutions provider Tickets.com have announced a long-term ticketing services partnership with Niagara IceDogs of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).

Starting with the 2014-15 season, the IceDogs will utilize the ProVenue platform for all ticket sales at the new 5,300 seat Meridian Centre, in St. Catharines, Ontario.

The agreement expands upon Tickets.com’s presence and support of the Canadian Major Junior market, where it already serves the Sudbury Wolves (OHL), Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL) and Erie Otters (OHL) as well as their host facilities. ProVenue’s roots in professional sports provide these franchises with a best-in-class feature set to manage complex inventory and fan relationships.

“We could not be happier to partner with the Burke family and the IceDogs,” said Dan Archabal, Tickets.com Vice President of Business Development. “Moving from the Gatorade Complex to the Meridian Centre next year, the franchise wanted to upgrade all components of the fan experience. ProVenue will allow the team to offer fans significantly expanded online self-service options; including an automated kiosk and online account management tools. We understand that OHL franchises need to stay lean. Our tools and services will let the IceDogs focus more on fan contact and less on the transactions.”

IceDogs Owner and Governor Bill Burke emphasized the importance of the services and marketing relationships that Tickets.com will bring to the partnership. “Tickets.com has such a strong base of operations just like ours in the Niagara Region and we hope to take advantage of the facilities and franchises in this network. They have proven themselves in the OHL and we are excited to move forward with them in our new home at the Meridian Centre.”