Adrian Tranter, salve President of British Taekwondo, medic is delighted with the increase in membership and participation that the sport has enjoyed off the back of London 2012. 

British Taekwondo has reported a 20% increase in membership and a near 50% increase in participation. 

Speaking exclusively to iSportconnect, Tranter enthused: “It’s everything I wished for. It’s like having Christmas, your birthday and everything at once. It’s just been an amazing summer culminating in more people doing more sport more often! 

“The Olympics exceeded not only my expectations, but my wildest dreams in terms of enjoyment, tension and utter joy – every emotion you could possibly consider really. 

“We had fantastic Games with great results, but what’s more important is that our sport demonstrated what a wonderful and dynamic Olympic sport it is. This gives us a great platform for us to build up a solid case for us continuing to be an Olympic sport in 2020 and we in Great Britain are looking forward to working with Dr Choue Chung-won, the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) Council and WTF family in securing that position.” 

To carry on the momentum generated by the Olympics, the governing body has designed a plan of action and conjured up various initiatives, including the development of a coach education programme and a club development programme. 

In addition, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed with Doncaster college, who will be responsible for managing media operations and producing cutting-edge teaching aids on federation’s website, in order to not only teach members the discipline, but also enable the coaches and the clubs to pass on essential techniques and skills. 

With plans to further increase participation levels, the federation have now logically set their sights on improving the governance of the sport by appointing two Non- Executive Directors (NED) to their Executive Board to project the sport to a greater audience at a faster pace and secure a sustainable future. 

Tranter added: “We see the potential for attracting sponsors, but we need to do it properly and professionally, which is why we need some high-level professional input, which is why we need to appoint a high-level NED.” 

For British Taekwondo, the legacy of the Games naturally concerns getting more people practicing the sport at a young age and helping them transition into a top-level athlete, with the hope that they too can someday follow in the footsteps of Olympic gold medallist Jade Jones. 

Tranter concluded: “Firstly, it’s getting more people to do more Taekwondo more often, which means that we have to make sure our coaches can deliver our product in a cohesive and professional manner. We’re also making the clubs welcoming and safe, as well as a pillar of good work within their local communities. 

“Linking into that, it’s also to open up pathways to our local team through the cadets and juniors so that we’ve got a better pipeline of athletes coming through the system and that what they’ve been taught at a very early age is the right and proper delivery of our sport to a high level by an additional system of coach education for sport.”

Sports Solutions and Management (SSM) have announced single seat racers Kat Impey and Natalia Kowalska as their latest recruits to their client list.

The pair will benefit from the SSM’s full range of management services, view including contract negotiation, cialis sponsorship sourcing and PR, as the firm helps them progress their careers and secure the best drives.

Through the deal, Kat and Natalia have already secured partnerships with leading online gaming professionals YouWin, who have launched a dedicated site in recognition of their sponsorship, www.YouWin.GP, where everyone who signs up receives a free £25 or 25 euro bet.

In addition, BodyHelix Europe, a leading provider of Compression Sports support technology to leading international athletes, is sponsoring Natalia and Kat, and offering fans 10% off all products through the drivers’ websites.

SSM is an associated company of Spirit Motorsport and is working to secure further financial backing to allow the team and these racers to enter GP3 with an existing GP3 outfit, the prestigious championship which supports Formula One Grand Prix meetings.

“Kat and Natalia are talented and committed drivers whose skills deserve to see them progress to the next level in their careers,” said Brendan Beeken the Principle of SSM. “Securing the best drive and vital financial backing to take any step forward in motorsport is extremely competitive, but combining our professional and experienced services with their drive and ability will give Kat and Natalia the best chance of achieving their ultimate goal – racing in Formula One.”

In 2012, Kat, from Woking in the UK, has continued the F3 Cup campaign she began last year. The 25-year-old marked herself as a star of the future with her drive at the daunting Spa circuit in Belgium in 2011, taking third and fourth despite being a novice at the legendary track. She ended the season with four top 4 finishes to her credit.

Natalia, from Poland, raced in the FIA Formula 2 championship in 2010. She took points in her debut season, but was forced to miss much of the year due to a serious and injury. She returned with a limited programme in 2011, and has spent this year working on her fitness and putting in place for a full time return to the sport in 2013.

“There was a time when being a woman in motorsport was often a bar to reaching the very top,” added Mr Beeken. “However, today, with women competing at the highest levels and Formula One teams selecting female test drivers, that is no longer the case.”

“Today, for anyone to succeed in motorsport, they need skill, talent and committed determination, with Kat and Natalia have plenty of, combined with effective management and financial backing. The role of SSM is to help our clients, like Natalia and Kat, secure the backing and seats which will allow them to truly showcase their talents and progress their careers further up the motorsport ladder.”

“We now have a team of people with the experience to ensure the professional drivers we represent have the required support and expertise to ensure they are funded to achieve their goals in motorsport,” he explained. “The involvement of SSM will allow us to bring out expertise to areas such as sponsorship sourcing, contract negotiation and public relations, leaving Natalia and Kat to fully focus on doing what they do best – racing.”

Mr Beeken concluded: “The partnerships with BodyHelix Europe and YouWin.GP are the first step, and we will now work with Natalia and Kat to help them to secure places in GP3, where, under the watchful eye of Formula One teams and the world’s motorsport media, they can show just how truly they deserve to be on the world stage.”

SSM already manages world class represents names, such as MotoGP rider James Ellison, and Mr Beeken has worked with the likes of IndyCar Race Alex Lloyd and is in negotiations with drivers in India, UK and Poland regarding plans for 2013.

FIFA has continued punishments worldwide including 13 people involved in match- fixing in South Korea and Croatia.

The action follows domestic investigations by those countries’ soccer associations and is in accordance with FIFA’s disciplinary code, the governing body said in a statement. The bans range from five years to life.

The number of sanctions extended in South Korea will increase, pending a review of additional cases, FIFA added. Some of the people implicated in Croatia still face criminal investigation.

“These cases prove once more that the threat of illegal betting and match-fixing is not only confined to one part of the world,” FIFA director of security Ralf Mutschke said in the statement. “The integrity of sport, and especially football, is hugely at risk and FIFA is firmly determined to combat this threat.”

FIFA’s latest action follows the extension of 45 domestic sanctions in Turkey and Finland to have global effect in February and April.

Chelsea have received a boost in their plans to upgrade their Stamford Bridge stadium with the news that the Hammersmith and Fulham Council are prepared for talks following the Premier League team’s rejected Battersea Power station bid.

Chelsea had wanted to build a 60,000 seater ground on the disused site in south west London, just over three miles from their current home, but this week a proposal from two Malysian companies was granted preferred bidder status.

The club have been keen to find a new site in order to expand on their current 42,000 capacity at Stamford Bridge, which lacks the sufficient space in the surrounding area for a major redevelopment.

But the new leader of Chelsea’s local council, Nicholas Botterill, has attempted to instigate fresh discussions with the club, owned by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, in a bid to get the European champions to stay put.

“It now looks highly unlikely that CFC will be moving away from their historic home,” he said. “The council remains committed to working with the club to explore all possible avenues for keeping the Blues here at their original home.

“The door is open and the council is again ready to sit down and discuss how Stamford Bridge can be appropriately upgraded so that it is fit for one of Europe’s leading football clubs.”

Fans who bare all for publicity at the London Olympic Games in 2012 could face a large fine and even a jail sentence under strict rules being discussed in parliament.

The severe sanctions proposed by the Department for Culture, doctor Media and Sport are part of a clampdown on the choreographed marketing stunts that have become a feature of high-profile sporting events in recent years.

Under the rules, tadalafil “advertising on the human body could lead to a fine of £20,000 ($31,700),” a ministry spokesman said.

“It is about potential ambush marketing and trying to crack down on that. Sponsors pay a large amount of money to be the official sponsors of the Games.”

Companies including British Airways and BP are among sponsors who have paid £700 million ($1.1 billion ) to become official partners of the 2012 Games.

However, the insides of all Olympic venues must be clean of any advertising.

“These advertising and street trading regulations protect their investment and association with the Games,” the spokesman said.

The rules have passed through the House of Commons and are waiting to be approved by the unelected upper House of Lords. If passed, trading standards officers will be responsible for ensuring the rules are upheld.

At the Beijing Games in 2008, a male spectator interrupted an equestrian event dressed only in a tutu with the name of a website emblazoned across his bare chest.

In the World Cup in 2010, 36 orange-clad Dutch woman were ejected from a stadium when it was discovered that they were part of a guerilla marketing effort coordinated by a Dutch brewery.

Virgin team boss John Booth has hit back at suggestions from F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone that only Lotus deserves to remain on the grid from this season’s new teams.

Ecclestone said earlier in the week that F1 needs ‘to get rid of a few of those cripples’, referring to some of the new teams and that Richard Branson should put some money into his team.

“I cannot understand his motives for saying that,” Booth told the Yorkshire Post. “Is it to embarrass Sir Richard Branson, one of the country’s leading entrepreneurs?

“He’s said so many things over the course of the year that it no longer has any affect on us.”

With speculation surrounding Virgin’s driver line-up for 2011, Booth added that the second seat alongside Timo Glock is still very much up for grabs.

“We’re evaluating options at the minute. Only one driver is set in stone and that’s Timo [Glock]. He’s contracted to us and absolutely he is staying.

“We are still looking at Lucas [di Grassi] but it will be a couple of months before a decision is made. We have four or five options at the moment and it’s a case of who is the best to take us forward.”

A-League team Sydney Football Club have announced Han Berger has joined the board as a director.

Sydney Football Club Scott Barlow said: “Han and I have developed a very good relationship over the last few years and I am delighted that he will now join our board,” said Mr Barlow.

“Han brings decades of global football coaching, technical and management experience that is without parallel in Australia.

“As Sydney FC enters a new phase of strategic growth, we will be harnessing all of that experience to help grow the club and we will welcome his contribution to the board,” said Mr Barlow.

Mr Berger said he will be passionate about helping Sydney FC grow in his new role as a director.

“From my time here in Australia, I understand the huge potential that club football has in front of it,” said Mr Berger.

“I will be very keen to help grow youth development and technical strategies at Sydney FC, especially given my passion for bringing players from the grassroots into the professional game.

“I am privileged to join the board of Sydney FC and look forward to working closely with Scott and the other directors in the best interests of the club,” Mr Berger said.

Mr Berger will join Sydney FC’s board in August following the conclusion of his role at Football Federation Australia after the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Mr Berger will join existing board members Mr Scott Barlow (Chairman), Mr Mark Arbib, Mr Michael Crismale, Mr Jamie Samaha and Mr Peter Paradise (Advisor).

The Organising Committee for the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games and Sebrae (Brazilian Micro and Small Enterprises Support Service) signed an agreement on the technical cooperation for the development of micro and small enterprises all over Brazil.

The “Sebrae on the podium” project is aimed at qualifying potential Rio 2016 suppliers to meet the event’s demands while contributing to boosting Brazilian supply chains in a sustainable way.

A unique growth opportunity for companies of all sizes, sale the Rio 2016 Games require a vast range of products and services, from various domains, creating business opportunities before, during and after the event. In order to help Brazilian enterprises qualify and achieve new levels of competitiveness, while maximising the Committee’s contract possibilities in the market, Rio 2016 structured a series of actions, such as the partnership with Sebrae, which will be developed over the coming years.

“We are committed to helping Brazilian enterprises on their path to meet the high standards of the Olympic and Paralympic demands. Technical excellence and transparency, together with concern for sustainability in all the stages of our project, are the basic principles that guide our planning for the procurement of goods and services. The partnership with Sebrae is fundamental in order to ensure we all follow the same path”, said Sidney Levy, Rio 2016 Chief Executive Officer.

Sebrae will work with potential suppliers to develop micro and small businesses to supply goods and services directly to the Organising Committee or to companies appointed by Rio 2016 for major contracts. The latter will be done via rounds of meetings between Sebrae, the Organising Committee, the leading contractor and potential subcontractors.

The initial categories will be printing services, laundry, uniforms and housing modules, among others that will be prioritised according to the Rio 2016purchases schedule and sustainability requirements.

“The technical cooperation agreement between Rio 2016 and Sebrae will be an important tool to leverage micro and small enterprises all over Brazil in order to meet the high-standard sustainability criteria and to actively participate in the Olympic and Paralympic Games supply chain”, says Fernando Cotrim, Rio 2016 Procurement Director. “We believe the Games are an excellent opportunity to boost less developed markets in Brazil. This way, through the partnership, we intend to encourage entrepreneurship, which we see as an important growth lever for the country”.

“Through ‘Sebrae on the podium’, micro and small enterprises all over Brazil will have the opportunity of becoming potential products and goods suppliers for Rio 2016. Sebrae sees the partnership as the beginning of a legacy to encourage MSEs’ competitiveness, which will be left by the Olympic and Paralympic Games”, said Francisco Marins, “Sebrae on the podium” project coordinator.