A Canadia Bank Overseas Cambodian Investment Corp.(OCIC) official said, despite rumors, Phnom Penh’s “iconic Olympic Stadium would not be lost to the city’s rapid development.”

The official was responding to questions about an online campaign launched to oppose the rumored construction plan. 

OCIC site engineer Meng Chamroeun said his company “would not cause any damage to Cambodian sporting heritage.”Meng said the OCIC was interested only in enhancing the “beauty of the stadium.”

Meng also said he couldn’t promise other companies would attempt to develop the site in the future. 

The National Olympic Committee of Cambodia building will have a state-of-the-art sports medicine and science centre as well as offices for the Paralympics Committee.{jcomments on}

Bernard Lapasset, IRB Chairman, today outlined the organisation’s ongoing commitment to growing the sport of Rugby globally. 

Speaking at the International Herald Tribune Sports Business Summit in Istanbul, Turkey he suggested four key factors that have led to an 18 per cent increase in global participation since 2007, including the success and strength of Rugby World Cup, the IRB’s Strategic Investment Programme, the organisation’s event hosting strategy and the effect of Olympic re-inclusion. 

Lapasset said: “These are exciting times for Rugby. We are experiencing unprecedented growth across all continents. There are now more than 5.5 million men, women and children playing the sport in all its disciplines within 117 countries affiliated to the IRB. We are growing in major markets such as China, Russia, Brazil, Mexico and the USA.”

He highlighted the importance of Rugby World Cup in driving the growth of the sport on and off the field: “The commercial success of Rugby World Cup has enabled the IRB to invest more than GBP 150 million in our national federations, regional associations, competitions, development, training, education, anti-doping and player welfare between 2009-2012. It is important that our top federations, who generate the major share of revenue, remain strong and that emerging and new federations can grow.”

Talking about the significance of Olympic Sevens inclusion he added: “It is the key that has unlocked the door to participation in emerging and new Rugby markets, thanks to National Olympic Committee and government support, our development strategies and renewed commercial and broadcast interest. Rugby is now on the agenda in these countries, in schools and growth is being accelerated.”

by Ismail Uddin

Britain’s leading independent specialist sports communications agency, Macesport have been awarded the role of lead agency to develop and deliver the content strategy for Vauxhall’s new Football social media platforms.

Vauxhall are known for becoming the first organisation to be the lead sponsor of the England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales national football teams.

Macesport, who already manage the PR activation for the sponsorships, have been tasked with creating a Vauxhall football Facebook and Twitter digital activation for each country.

Bespoke English, Northern Irish, Scottish and Welsh sites on Facebook and Twitter were created for an October launch.

Macesport Managing Director Paul Mace said: “Vauxhall enjoy a unique set of football properties and this requires a unique approach. Our emphasis will be on delivering a truly interactive experience for followers of each country.

“Our content will take followers behind the scenes and provide a unique insight into international football. Our aim is to bring supporters closer to the action, the players, coaches and management.”

Comprehensive matchday services, Twitter player ambassadors, unique video and imagery and unique competition prizes will all be provided.

Vauxhall Sponsorship Marketing Manager for Home Nations Football, Simon Culley, said: ”Engagement with the fans is vital to our sponsorship and we are delighted to have launched our social media platforms. We want to bring fans closer to the game and help them get them behind the scenes of international football.”

Macesport has successfully created digital strategies for many of Britain’s leading sports athletes – including Robbie Savage who enjoys nearly 500,000 Twitter followers.

This deal only expands the companies portfolio with names like the NFL, Precision Training, St George’s Park National Football Centre, Pukka Pies, ACA Sports, Leaders in Football, the Grass Roots Football Show and Mantis already securing their services.

The future of the Australian Formula One Grand Prix is under threat due to a fee dispute.

Grand Prix chairman Ron Walker has accused race organisers CAMS (the Confederation of Australian Motorsport) of holding the event to ransom.

The 2011 event could be deleted from the F1 calendar unless a solution is found by November 19.

Walker claims CAMS is demanding $800,000 to run the four-day event and says it is acting as a monopoly.

The dispute is due to go before the ruling world body, the FIA, and the World Motorsport Council.

But Walker has threatened to sack CAMS and hire organisers from another grand prix to run the Australian race.

“We call tenders to all the services to the Grand Prix and CAMS were unwilling to comply with our request,” said Walker, who is in Abu Dhabi for talks with F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone.

“Then the (Victorian) Government decided that as CAMS was a monopoly, they wanted competitive tendering in all pricing, which is what the ACCC demands.

“But CAMS have resisted and have said to the World Motorsport Council that if the Australian Grand Prix do not comply then we will apply to have them removed from the calendar.

“We will not sign a new contract with CAMS unless they modernise their management and reduce their prices,” Walker said.

“They are charging us too much. All the officials are voluntary and we provide all the uniforms and food.”

Walker said the AGP Corporation was unhappy with the layers of managers and officials CAMS felt they needed to organise motorsport in Australia.

He said that Ecclestone has told him CAMS can remain the overriding national sporting authority but it was possible to appoint another organiser, such as the organiser of the British Grand Prix.

“It is the downright threat that has got the ire of the government and everybody else,” Walker said.

“We have been arguing with CAMS ever since we started.

“Now they have said you re-hire us on our terms or we will apply to the FIA to have you removed from the calendar.”

Walker said the AGP was “sensibly communicating” with CAMS in order to try to settle it,” he said.

“But they are threatening the Government and you can’t get away with that too often – but that’s how imperious CAMS is.”

Richard Childress Racing has named Matt Shearer as Director, Business Development for their 15-time championship organisation, effective immediately.

Shearer joins RCR from Churchill Downs, Inc. where he spent the past five years in their partnership development and sales departments. The graduate of the School of Management from Purdue University also has three years of sales experience in the National Football League working with the Oakland Raiders.

He will work under the guidance of Rick Penn, Vice President of Business Development for RCR.

“First and foremost, Matt is a great person and RCR is happy to have him join our team,” Penn said. “He has experienced success at every step during his career and demonstrated he can adapt and create long-term, winning partnerships. We look forward to Matt’s contributions in bringing new partners into the RCR family.”

This will be Shearer’s first foray into motorsports, making the transition from one kind of horsepower to another.

“Richard Childress Racing is one of the most well-known and highly respected organizations in motorsports and I am honored to be part of the team,” Shearer said. “NASCAR is a powerful marketing and business development platform and RCR’s focus on performance, its roster of blue-chip partners and a strong front office team make this a compelling opportunity. I look forward to getting started in my new role.”

ONE Fighting Championship (ONE FC) has agreed a partnership with Yahoo! with the internet company becoming the official digital partner.

The South East Asia-wide partnership, which will cover Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Vietnam, will see Yahoo hosting exclusive ONE FC editorial and video content on a dedicated MMA section on the Yahoo! Sports website. This will include regular content on fighter profiles, interviews, videos and match highlights.

“This partnership is a game changer that will redefine online content for Yahoo! and ONE FC, ” said Victor Cui, CEO of Asia’s largest MMA organisation.

“ONE FC has a 90% market share in Asia while Yahoo! is one of the most recognized digital brands in the world and this monumental partnership will elevate mixed martial arts content to another stratosphere,” he added.

Yahoo’s partnership with a mixed martial arts organization is the first of its kind in Asia and will make Yahoo! Sports the home for MMA fans across the region.

“Yahoo has always been dedicated to providing the best sports coverage and this partnership takes us to a whole new level,” said Alan Soon, Managing Editor of Yahoo! South East Asia.

“Thanks to our partnership with ONE FC, we’ll be closer to the action. We’ll have more exclusives and the best online experience for MMA fans in the region.”

Tampa, viagra 40mg Florida, arthritis has been selected to host a unique inaugural soccer tournament following a global search for the perfect host community for the 2013 Cuju Cup.

“We’re pleased to learn that officials from the Cuju Cup site selection committee have recognized our sports community’s incredible soccer tradition with this announcement, cheap ” said Rob Higgins, Executive Director of the Tampa Bay Sports Commission. “The selection as the host site for this inaugural event could not be more exciting.”

“Few cities in the world can claim a more passionate commitment to soccer than Tampa Bay,so we are very pleased to be coming to this beautiful, passionate soccer city by the bay, for our first-ever tournament,” says Cuju Cup CEO Jeff Bauer.

Pronounced “soo-jou”, Cuju means “kick the ball with foot” and was a popular sport first played by the ancient Chinese. Cuju Cup teams will be nominated over the next three months to play at the seven-day tournament, to be held August 9th to August 18th .

Officials from the Tampa Bay Sports Commission responded to a worldwide request for proposals seeking a one-time host site for the tournament, which is expected to have at least 100 teams participating.

Tournament fields and host hotels will be designated in early 2013.

Paul Chua’s 35-year association with the Singapore Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation (SBBF) ended  after the body’s executive committee (exco)  removed Chua as honorary life president and adviser.

SBBF general secretary Shawn Sugendran said the resolution was passed by five of seven exco members.

The SBBF has faced a great deal of controversy since its president, Rano Izhar, was exposed as an undischarged bankrupt.

Chua reportedly said  Rano, who did not disclose insolvency status before his election, would be “kicked out” if he “didn’t resign gracefully”.

After the report, Rano offered to resign from his post. However, his exco asked him to remain until after the SBBF National Championships on July 1.

Sugendran said: “It was never true that Rano would be officially removed.As I’ve said before, Paul is not an official spokesman for SBBF. So I don’t know in what capacity he was speaking. As for the honorary life presidency, it’s an appointed position, not an elected one. The exco members reserve the right to remove anyone from that position if the reasons are valid.”

Rano said the decision to remove Chua from his position was because of the SBBF’s desire to restructure the sport.

Rano said: “We have no agenda against Paul. Our focus is to rejuvenate the sport of bodybuilding and take it forward. We feel that Paul is a hindrance towards that aim.

“This has nothing to do with power. We have to remind ourselves that, in the future, another team will have to take over the SBBF, and we have to trust and let them do that.

“As for my position as president, I will leave if the industry and its athletes want me to, but not because Paul Chua wants me to.”

Sugendran said the SBBF would invite former president, Dr Chiam Tut Fu, to act as an official adviser to replace Chua.

“Dr Chiam is someone who is of high value to us,” he said.

“In a short time, he has contributed a lot, especially with enhancing our relationships with government authorities such as the Singapore Sports Council. But, as of now, nothing is confirmed yet.”

The SBBF plans to reaffliate itself with the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB) on July 1.