The PGA TOUR and InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), the world’s largest hotel group by number of rooms have announced a deal to enter into a five-year integrated marketing partnership. Beginning in 2011 the agreement will make IHG an official partner of the PGA TOUR, Champions Tour and Nationwide Tour in the hotel and resort category.

In addition, Crowne Plaza^® Hotels & Resorts will extend its title sponsorship of the PGA TOUR’s Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial through until 2015.  Crowne Plaza has served as title sponsor of the historic event since 2007.

Jim Abrahamson, President, The Americas, IHG stated: “We are extremely pleased to announce this new long-term relationship with the PGA TOUR, which includes extending our sponsorship of the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial. This partnership provides a terrific opportunity for IHG to showcase all its eight brands and bring to life our award winning loyalty program for fans as well as the PGA TOUR’s membership base of players from around the world.”

PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem added: “We are delighted to extend our tournament sponsorship with Crowne Plaza and to expand our relationship with InterContinental Hotels Group. The Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial is one of the most storied tournaments on the PGA TOUR, as well as one of the leading tournaments in terms of charitable giving, and Crowne Plaza’s sponsorship is important to continuing this legacy. Also, by welcoming IHG as an Official Marketing Partner, our players – as well as their families and caddies – will receive valuable benefits and room options throughout the year.”

As an Official Marketing Partner of the PGA TOUR, IHG will provide a variety of benefits to players, including:

• * A designated number of room nights for players across all three Tours
• * Platinum status in the Priority Club® Rewards program for all members
• * Preferred rates for all players, caddies, media partners and PGA TOUR staff across all of IHG’s brands
• * For several players who participate in a special program that includes personal appearances with IHG guests at tournaments and/or use of their name and likeness, additional benefits will include an increased number of complimentary room nights per year

IHG also will invest in PGA TOUR assets including media, special events, TPCs and charitable activities. PGATOUR.COM will feature a “hotel finder” on the tournament pages that will allow fans to easily book hotel rooms at one of IHG’s 4,500 properties when traveling to these events.

Tim Gavin has been re-elected as President of the New South Wales Rugby Union.

The NSW legend, therapy who represented the Waratahs on 83 occasions including 30 as captain, unhealthy | was elected for a further 12-month term at the NSW Rugby Union Annual General Meeting held at Moore Park on Monday.

Under the Union’s constitution, rx he will now spend a third and final year in the position, with fellow former NSW captain Mick Mathers continuing as Vice President.

In his report to the AGM, Gavin acknowledged the support of the Honorary Life Members and congratulated all affiliates on another successful year of community rugby in New South Wales. A moment was taken to remember two great men of New South Wales Rugby who passed away during 2013. Vale outstanding halfback and captain John Hipwell and NSW Schools administrator Ewart Robson.

NSWRU recorded a financial loss of $82,506 for the year ended December 31, 2013, attributed to a decrease in funding from Australian Rugby Union and increased property costs.

The International Judo Federation (IJF) have signed a contract with the organization of the World Judo Masters, viagra buy | Tyumen 2013, which will be held in Russia on May 25th and 26th.

The ceremony took place in the presence of the IJF President, Marius Vizer, the Governor of Tyumen, Vladimir Vladimirovich Yakushev, the President of the Russian Judo Federation, Vasily Anisimov, and the President of the European Judo Union, Sergey Soloveychik.

Yakushev declared how happy he was to have such an important event coming to his region: “We are very proud to welcome the international judo family in Tyumen and the best judo players in the world. We have already organized the Open World Championship, last year in our city and it was a great success. Chelyabinsk organized the European Championship and every year, Moscow welcomes the Grand Slam. The Masters will once again put the focus on judo in Russia and it is a great honor for us.”

Vizer underlined the fantastic results obtained by Russia during the last Olympic games in London: “It shows the dynamism of Russian Judo. It shows that judo, as a sport, has a lot of success, but it also shows that judo is an incredible educational tool and this is something that is really crucial for the development of judo in Russia and throughout the world. In 2014, we will also be present in Russia, in Chelyabinsk for the World Judo Championships.”

Anisimov added that he was also really proud of his team and of all the work that is done in his country, by his federation to support the IJF and the development of judo. “Judo is the best sport and Tyumen will be the capital of the best sport in May”, said Mr. Anisimov.

beIN SPORT, ed the new independent 24-hour global network dedicated to live and exclusive coverage of the world’s best international sports, recipe announced it has selected Bob Gold & Associates, a full-service public relations agency, to lead its North American communications program.

“Bob Gold & Associates is widely recognized in the cable TV and telecommunications industry for its award-winning work for programmers, distributors and suppliers,” said Yousef Al Obaidly, managing director of beIN SPORT. “Bob Gold & Associates will serve as an invaluable partner.”

Following one of the most successful network launches in recent history, beIN SPORT is currently available to over 55 million subscribers of the nation’s largest satellite and cable TV companies – including DIRECTV, DISH, Comcast, and others.

Among the programming that can only be seen on beIN SPORT is coverage of the top soccer leagues and tournaments from Europe and South America, including Spain’s La Liga, Italy’s Serie A, France’s Ligue Un, South American World Cup Qualifiers and Copa America 2015, as well as the away games for the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team in the qualifying rounds of the 2014 World Cup.

“beIN SPORT is everything that an international sports fan ever wanted in a channel,” said Bob Gold, president and owner of Bob Gold & Associates. “We are excited and honored to be working for such a world-class organization.”

Jonathan Ford, bronchi the Chief Executive of the Football Association of Wales (FAW), health is in favour of Michel Platini’s proposal to spread the 2020 European Championship across the entire continent, remedy claiming that the horrible state of the economy would make it difficult for a sole nation to host the event. 

He said: “In this economic climate, it is very difficult for an individual country to justify or quantify the fact that they’re going to have to invest in so much on infrastructure that sometimes wouldn’t be used. 

“Let’s not forget, Portugal Euro 2004 was a great success, but three of their stadiums have since been demolished.” 

Despite the destruction of a few white elephants in Portugal, Ford did admit that UEFA need to be cautious with a multi-country tournament, pointing towards the societal benefits that hosting an international event can generate.

He added: “The power of these events is more than just what happens on the field of play, it’s a societal thing and we have got to be careful that we don’t take that best element of what these events represent.”

The former Head of Sponsorship at Coca Cola, concluded that Wales would be “interested” in playing host, whatever format UEFA decide upon. 

Check out the entire interview here: http://bit.ly/T0RhH4

Smith and Fong Plyboo bamboo flooring has been selected as the product of choice in the $152 million historic Rose Bowl renovation project.

PlybooPure Strand Bamboo flooring uses NAUF (no added urea formaldehyde) adhesives and 100% FSC Certified Bamboo, ed which will help the renovation project meet LEED certification qualifications.

17, adiposity 550 sq.ft. of Havana and Sahara Strand Bamboo flooring will be installed in the Press Box and VIP suites. The project architect specified Plyboo Pure Strand as the basis of design because of its superior strength, doctor manufacturing quality, and appearance. Plyboo Strand Bamboo flooring has a 3,500 psi hardness rating making it twice as durable as red oak as well as visually beautiful.

“All of our Strand Bamboo flooring products use 100% FSC Certified Bamboo, are FloorScore Certified, and pass the CA Section 01350 certification, the most stringent test available” says Plyboo Vice President of Sales, Angus Stocks, “I believe our commitment to creating superior products the cleanest way possible is a real advantage.”

The Rose Bowl is an outdoor athletic stadium in Pasadena, California, U.S., in Los Angeles County.

The project is being built by Clark Construction.

English Rugby League team Bradford Bulls could be forced to enter administration, having been served a winding-up order by HM Revenue & Customs.

The rugby league club is struggling to meet the taxman’s bill and claims it needs about £1m to fulfil its remaining fixtures this season, despite supporters already raising £500,000.

The club’s board of directors said the appointment of administrators would buy the club vital time in keeping HMRC at bay while they attempt to garner new funds.

An independent review of the club’s finances was conducted by Brendan Guilfoyle of insolvency firm The P&A Partnership at the request of a newly formed board of directors.

The review found the Bulls are a “loss-making business”, requiring £1m to survive the rest of the season.

Stephen Coulby, one of the club’s new directors, said that more than £1.2m was required to meet the four-time Super League champions’ current liabilities.

He told the Telegraph & Argus: “Unfortunately, developments last Friday and pressure from HMRC has meant that we have had to seek protection while positive talks with investors continue now that we have ascertained the full extent of the club’s debts.

“Had the actual position been, as we were initially led to believe, a requirement for a £1m investment into the business, half of which having already been raised through the sterling efforts of supporters, the present uncertainty would have been resolved by now.

“Regrettably, other matters have recently been brought to our attention which have widened the funding gap, but we are still intent on avoiding administration and its consequences if at all possible.”

It is understood that players and staff will be paid as normal this month, with wages due to hit their bank accounts today.

Europe’s governing body UEFA has introduced a new marketing strategy through Facebook to get more fans engaged with the Europa League before the knockout stages start in February.

The competition already has a following of 150,000 fans on the social networking site and Europe’s governing body will be hoping to attract far more with the launch of a series of initiatives between now and the final in May.

Ahead of the round of 32 a fans’ social mosaic will be launched which will create a picture of the Europa League trophy using users’ profile pictures.

In the next round of games fans will be encouraged to share their location and state which game they are watching as UEFA look to “light-up Europe”.

At the quarter-final stage supporters will be asked to upload pictures of their favourite Europa League memories which will then be voted on by other fans.

The completed social mosaic will return ahead of the semi-finals and users will be able to win prizes by finding special tiles among the profile pictures.

For the final, which is being played in Bucharest on May 9, fans will be asked for vote for their favourite Europa League player from a pre-selected list with the winners receiving a match ball.