Japan’s budget plans for the 2019 Rugby World Cup have been approved by the International Rugby Board (IRB) after receiving financial guarantees from the country’s government.

The Japanese government has pledged US$43.9m in operating costs to the Japan Rugby Football Union (JRFU), a sum that will cover any financial shortfall for the event, reportedly costing approximately $219.4m to stage.

JRFU chairman Tatsuzo Yabe told Reuters: “I am relieved that final approval for the financial guarantee for the World Cup in 2019 was met. We are firmly committed at the JRFU and the 2019 organising committee to firmly prepare and produce a strong and exciting tournament.”

The JRFU also stated that it has the full backing of the IRB to host the tournament in the wake of concerns following the devastating effects of March’s earthquake and tsunami, with president Yoshiro Mori adding: “Some countries were saying the 2019 tournament should be held elsewhere. But I believe we have managed to forge a closer understanding on the matter with the IRB.”

Officially launching a new era for Atlanta Braves baseball, clinic the organization will host a groundbreaking for its new ballpark on Sept. 16, doctor 2014 at 11 a.m. The ceremony begins the construction phase of the project, putting it on schedule to host fans for Opening Day, 2017.

“This new ballpark will be a world-class venue that will give Braves Country the ultimate fan experience, both inside the park and out,” said Terry McGuirk, Chairman and CEO of the Braves. “We look forward to continuing to build great memories for our fans at this wonderful new location.”

Designed by Populous, the new home of the Braves will bring together a classic ballpark feel, modern amenities, and southern hospitality, creating a fan experience unlike any other. An intimate setting of 41,500 seats will be designed to maximize sightlines. The ballpark will feature a three “deck” design with the middle and upper decks cantilevered over each lower deck to ensure all seats are closer to the action.  An extensive canopy – approximately three times larger than most ballparks – along with several indoor spaces and clubs will ensure the most comfortable environment during any type of weather.  Wider concourses, most with direct views to the field, will allow easy access around the ballpark to specialty food and beverage areas.

The venue’s architecture will pay tribute to the natural environment while integrating into the existing topography of the site, which features a gently sloping terrain, allowing the home plate side of the park to nestle into the hillside.

The project will be the first of its kind – a lifestyle destination that will seamlessly integrate a state-of-the-art baseball stadium with an engaging multi-use community. This will create a vibrant atmosphere with unique shops, restaurants and entertainment venues that is accessible 365 days a year.

Located at the intersection of I-75 and I-285, the new ballpark will feature greater accessibility, with 14 access points to the site and ample parking evenly distributed throughout the destination.

The National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) Board of Directors have elected Eric Winston President of the NFLPA. 

A third-round pick in the 2006 Draft, the University of Miami alum has started 112 consecutive games for the Texans, Chiefs and Cardinals. Winston, a free agent, has been active with the NFLPA since being elected as a Co-Alternate by the Houston Texans in 2010, including being a voice for players during the 2011 lockout and serving on the union’s committees for finance and agent discipline. Winston does community work on behalf of Shriners Hospital for Children and local charities in his hometown and team cities.

Winston takes over for outgoing NFLPA President Domonique Foxworth. Foxworth was unanimously elected to the post in 2012 following four years of service on the executive committee. In 2007, he was elected by the Broncos as a Player Representative and was named the Broncos’ Walter Payton Man of the Year. In 2008, he ran and was elected as the youngest Vice President of the NFLPA Executive Committee.

Additionally, Lorenzo Alexander (Arizona Cardinals), Ryan Clark (Free Agent), Zak DeOssie (New York Giants), Jay Feely (Arizona Cardinals), Mark Herzlich (New York Giants), Adam Vinatieri (Indianapolis Colts) and Scott Wells (St. Louis Rams) have been elected to the NFLPA Executive Committee by the Board of Representatives during the annual meetings in Orlando.

They join current Executive Committee members Matt Hasselbeck (Indianapolis Colts), Brian Waters (Free Agent) and Benjamin Watson (New Orleans Saints), who were re-elected by unanimous affirmation.

With the 2014 election, Charlie Batch, Brian Dawkins, Domonique Foxworth, Scott Fujita, Matt Light, Brandon Moore and Jeff Saturday cycle off the NFLPA Executive Committee.

The 2014 NFLPA Board of Player Representatives Meeting continues through March 21.

The European Handball Federation (EHF) has announced it will test out a new goal line technology system at the EHF Cup Finals in Nantes, story France on 18 / 19 May 2013.

The system developed by the Handvision Association, troche in collaboration with the French Handball Federation (FFHB), health uses a special wide-angle camera fixed to the crossbar to give a complete picture of the goal line.

At the request of the referees it will now be possible for decisions on the awarding of goal to be checked on a video replay – and to answer the question as to whether the whole of the ball has crossed the line.

Fans following the game in the arena will not have to wait long for the decision, if the referees ask for assistance from the goal line technology, the game will be halted and the referees will watch the video reply provided to them by technicians next to the timekeepers table.

The system is designed to provide the referees with more complete information in certain goal line situations, the final decision on the awarding of the goal remains with the referees.

Video replays will not be used for any other match situation by the referees.

The system has been successfully tested at international matches in France, including the women’s cup final in France and will also at the Coupe de France in Bercy, Paris on 25 May 2013.

NASCAR have selected Ogilvy & Mather as Agency of Record (AOR) to handle the sport’s evolving advertising and marketing needs.

The agency will help NASCAR and the industry to execute a five-year industry action plan to engage and excite existing fans, while creating new ones.

NASCAR embarked on a review to secure a class-leading, full-service advertising agency in early 2012 in order to expand the sport’s marketing efforts and provide an integrated solution to help NASCAR grow its audience in Youth, Gen Y and Hispanic. As AOR, Ogilvy & Mather’s responsibilities also will include target segmentation, brand vision/storytelling, media strategy, promotions and support for the growing NASCAR Digital team.

NASCAR received 110 inquiries and 75 sets of credentials from a host of agencies of all sizes and expertise. The list was carefully analyzed and narrowed to a field of fewer than 10 firms, each of which were visited by a cross-functional team of executives from key business areas across NASCAR. In June, a trio of finalists — Leo Burnett, Ogilvy & Mather and McCann Erickson North America — presented to a group of senior leaders, including NASCAR chairman and CEO Brian France.

“Significant changes in our ecosystem impacted how we deliver our message and position our brand to existing fans while increasing the appeal of NASCAR to new audiences,” said Kim Brink, NASCAR managing director of brand, consumer and series marketing. “We were thoroughly impressed with the caliber of all three finalists; but Ogilvy’s consistency, creativity and dynamic leadership were the key differentiators. We’re delighted to join the agency’s roster of big consumer brands.”

“We view NASCAR as a lighthouse brand,” said John Seifert, chairman and CEO of Ogilvy & Mather North America. “The sport blends marquee stars, jewel events, and some of the fiercest competition on the planet with an intricate ecosystem comprised of historic tracks and compelling personalities. From the beginning of the agency review process, it was clear to us that NASCAR was looking for a true business partner. We firmly believe that NASCAR is a valuable tool in the marketing mix and a place where big brands get high return on investment. We couldn’t be more proud to add the sport to our portfolio of global brands.”

Ogilvy & Mather will complete a comprehensive on-boarding process in 2012, as the agency prepares to help NASCAR launch a new brand platform at the 55th running of the Daytona 500 in February 2013.

The Women’s EHF European Championship will be held in Serbia from 4 to 16 December 2012 following the withdrawal from Netherlands.

The Netherlands withdrew from the organisation of the flagship national team event on 4 June and the EHF opened up the possibility of the organisation of the event to its national federations.

Eleven nations expressed their interest in holding the EHF EURO including: Croatia, online Denmark, FYR Macedonia, Iceland, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia and Sweden.The championship will be held in Belgrade, Nis, Vrsac and Novi Sad, the venues that successfully hosted the Men’s EHF EURO 2012 in January 2012. The final weekend will also be held in the Serbian capital.

Commenting on the decision, EHF President, Tor Lian, said: “I am delighted that we are to return to Serbia in December 2012, the Serbian Federation did an exceptional job of organising the men’s event and I am confident that the Women’s EHF EURO in December will be just as successful.“The huge interest from our national federations around Europe in the organisation of the event made the choice of host a difficult decision for the EHF Executive, but this underlines just how important and valuable this event has become.”

NFL’s Minnesota Vikings said Friday that team owners didn’t like a new proposal to fund a $1 billion stadium in the Twin Cities suburbs using ticket fees and other game-related charges.

The latest proposal floated by several Ramsey County commissioners was meant to replace a previous stadium financing plan that relied on a county food and liquor sales tax. Instead, it would draw $20.6 million annually from stadium user fees, an admissions surcharge, a stadium sales tax and parking lot naming rights.

The county board said the plan would generate $618 million over 30 years.

Lester Bagley, the Vikings vice president for stadium development, called the plan problematic. While Vikings owners have favored the Ramsey County site in the community of Arden Hills over options in downtown Minneapolis, Bagley said a prior agreement between the Vikings and Ramsey County hinged on the team receiving parking revenue and naming rights — and on the condition of no admissions taxes.

“When you change those things you change the underlying agreement between the team and the county,” Bagley said. “We need to refine it because of those reasons.”

Ramsey County Commissioner Tony Bennett had called the new plan a “game changer” after meeting with Gov. Mark Dayton on Friday. He later acknowledged the Vikings may not like elements of the new plan.

Dayton did not comment specifically on details of the new plan, but praised Ramsey County leaders for remaining consistent in their stadium efforts. He contrasted that with city council members in Minneapolis, who have been reluctant to throw full support behind a new stadium there.

“They all sit on the sidelines and carp about everything,” Dayton said. Later, he added: “They don’t have … the proper perspective on what’s best for all of Minneapolis.”

Earlier this week, Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission Chairman Ted Mondale and stadium negotiators unveiled a new plan to quickly build a new stadium on a parking lot just east of the Metrodome. So far, stadium supporters in the Legislature have not put their weight behind any of the numerous stadium proposals batted around in recent weeks.

Bagley said a decision is far from made.

“The Minneapolis proposal has its share of issues as well,” Bagley said.

The Vikings have wanted out of the Metrodome for years, calling the 30-year-old stadium no longer sufficiently profitable compared to other NFL venues. The team’s lease at the Metrodome expired Feb. 1, and hanging over their new stadium push has been the fear among fans that the team will leave Minnesota.

Team owner Zygi Wilf has said the Vikings want a new stadium in the Twin Cities, even if it means building on the current site of the Metrodome.

by Ismail Uddin

NCAA, health president Mark Emmert has decided that he will appoint a working committee to examine if and how Division 1 athletics need to be restructured, allergy according to an interview and report from the USA Today.

Emmert’s committee, prescription set to meet this summer, will look at “the way in which Division I is organized for the purposes of making decisions” in an effort to have non-football schools, as well as those in the Football Championship Subdivision, represented as well as possible within the NCAA’s Board of Directors.

It is not, according to Emmert’s comments, an evaluation of further splitting the competitive format of Division 1-A, such as the split between 1-A and 1-AA.

But there’s no doubt that the gap between the richest and biggest programs in college athletics and the smaller ones is widening.

Proposed legislation, such as the $2,000 stipend added to the value of athletic scholarships, has faced difficulty passing in the wake of concerns from certain schools that it will further divide the “haves” and “have-nots.”

“There’s no doubt that these initiatives and these reforms have exacerbated some of those tensions,” Emmert said, but added that it would be a “complete mischaracterization” to imply that those initiatives would be grounds for further separation in Division 1.

However, sources with direct knowledge of Emmert’s thinking told USA Todaythat Emmert has indicated behind closed doors that he wants to “examine the merits and mechanics of further subdivision if not explicitly push for it.”

The US Olympic Commitee (USOC) announced today that it has signed an agreement with Brand Acceleration (BA) to create marketing programs utilizing their patented in-lid and packaging technologies. Through the terms of this agreement, BA will create several integrated marketing and promotional rograms in an effort to drive awareness and partner activation in support of U.S. Olympic and Paralympic athletes.

“Brand Acceleration’s technology and strategy will further the development of innovative corporate sponsorship and licensing programs that can deliver more options for activation to the USOC’s family of corporate partners,” said Lisa Baird, USOC chief marketing officer. “As we mark the one-year out milestone to the London 2012 Olympic Games we are continually looking to expand consumer engagement while driving reach and awareness among supporters of Team USA.”

“The USOC has mapped out an ambitious marketing program for Team USA highlighted by plans to activate at U.S. Olympic Team events and to develop the organization’s social and mobile presence,” said David Schreff, president of BA’s sports division. “BA’s programs will help take advantage of these growing social media platforms in driving awareness and support of the USOC leading up to the London 2012 Olympic Games.”