Comcast Business, a unit of Comcast Cable, the nation’s largest video, high-speed Internet and phone provider to business and residential customers, today announced that the Washington Nationals selected Comcast Business Ethernet services for a multi-year contract that connects its staff, members of the media, and fans to the Internet.

Already equipped with the latest state-of-the-art video and audio technology, Nationals Park has now added a fiber-based Ethernet connection from Comcast capable of delivering up to 1 Gigabit per second of speed to support more people and devices within the ballpark. Comcast is able to deliver these speeds due to decades of investment in building infrastructure to make its fiber network broadly available to meet the high-speed, high-capacity needs of business customers.

“When we first opened the ballpark in March 2008, our fans were not utilizing our WiFi network to the extent that they do now during an average game, which is why we needed to increase the bandwidth supporting our Internet service,” said Jason Zachariah, chief technical officer for the Washington Nationals. “We are always looking for ways to enhance the ballpark experience for our guests, and we look forward to working with Comcast in the coming years to help us keep pace as our technology demands evolve.”

In addition to supporting fans and media by allowing them to connect to the Internet via WiFi at the ballpark, the organization needed more bandwidth for transferring data, photos and videos for its high-definition (HD) video board and FTP access for sending and receiving large files between offices. To improve the fan experience, the Nationals organization also wanted to offer in-seat concession ordering via handheld devices from anywhere within the ballpark, but needed a new system to help facilitate this service.

With an Ethernet Dedicated Internet (EDI) line from Comcast that provides up to 1 Gigabit per second of speed, Nationals Park now has enough capacity to allow thousands of fans to order food and beverages via a website from their wireless devices. The Ethernet line is also used as the backbone for all Internet traffic originating from the ballpark’s WiFi network and supports the press box, as well as video and information feeds for its 4,811 square-foot HD video board in right field.

“Today’s ballparks rely on technology much more than they did years ago, not only to accommodate the needs of their increasingly tech-savvy guests, but also to ensure the successful operation of the park,” said Bill Stemper, president of Comcast Business. “By delivering an advanced infrastructure that not only provides high amounts of bandwidth, but also offers the scalability to grow with the business as its needs change, Comcast is helping a number of baseball franchises like the Nationals achieve their goals, both on and off the field.”

JJB Sports has accounted it’s poor financial performance on a combination of poor sales of replica football kit during Euro 2012 and the appalling weather in the UK recently, which has hit sales of seasonal products

The retailer experienced an eight per cent fall in like for like sales during the 22 weeks to July 1, meaning group sales fell significantly short of expectations.

In its full year results to January 29, JJB reported losses of £101 million ($156m) as revenue fell 21.7 per cent to £284 million ($440m).

April to June was the wettest recorded for the UK, according to the Met Office, with many areas of the country hit by flooding.

IMG Worldwide, cialis the world’s leading sports, entertainment and media company, in partnership with the Fengtai Sports Bureau of Beijing announced the formation of the Inaugural Beijing International Triathlon, set to take place Sunday, September 16, 2012, at Qing Long Lake Park, in the Fengtai District of Beijing, China.

Triathletes from around the globe will take part in this all-new Olympic distance triathlon and enjoy the unique culture, tradition and hospitality of China. The race will also draw top professional triathletes who will compete for $100,000 in prize money.

This all-new triathlon will be part of the Escape to Alcatraz Triathlon Series, as the first qualifying event in Asia for the iconic Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon. Coveted race slots for the infamous and grueling 2013 Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon will be awarded to the top 50 men and women across each group and division of this new race.

The course will showcase the eco-friendly environment and cultural attractions in Fengtai including a 1.5 km swim at the heart of Qing Long Lake Park; a challenging 40 km bike race through quaint villages of Fengtai to Qian Ling Mountain, the highest peak in Southwest Beijing; and a final 10 km run along stone paths, wooded trails and beautiful bridges showcasing the unique architecture of Qing Long Lake Park. This race will be part of an intimate three-day, lifestyle sports event that will showcase all the tradition and warmth China has to offer locals and visitors alike.

“IMG Worldwide is thrilled to support this inaugural event that solidifies Beijing as a racing destination and international sporting hub,” said James Leitz, Senior Vice President of IMG. “We have been working closely with the Fengtai Sports Bureau of Beijing and the Fengtai government to ensure that this race is successful in its first year and becomes an important annual event on the international triathlon calendar.”

The Beijing International Triathlon will also feature a Corporate Challenge Division to introduce the thriving corporate community in China to the sport of Triathlon. Companies will compete in a relay team format for the coveted Corporate Cup and the chance to return to the 2013 Beijing International Triathlon and defend their title.

In addition to the triathlon on Sunday, September 16, the weekend will include a welcome reception and dinner for all participants on Friday, September 14, as well as an all-day Fitness Expo showcasing products and services for health conscious consumers on Saturday, September 15. Participants and their families will also have the opportunity to enjoy pre-race city tours and course tours throughout Beijing and Fengtai.

Additionally, IMG will partner with Beijing Television (BTV) to produce a one hour program featuring the Beijing International Triathlon that will broadcast throughout Beijing as well as Austral-Asia, Americas, United Kingdom, Europe, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa.

“We are thrilled to host triathletes from around the world for the Beijing International Triathlon,” said Fengtai District Vice-Governor Li Junhui. “Our goal is to develop the Fengtai District into an international sports, convention and leisure tourism destination that takes advantage of the area’s eco-friendly environment and showcases the hot-springs resorts and cultural attraction.”

NFL owners approved a $200 million loan Thursday to help the San Francisco 49ers build a stadium south of Santa Clara.

The team plans to bid for future Super Bowls for the 68,000-seat stadium, which will be built adjacent to the 49ers’ facility.

“It’s huge,” 49ers CEO Jed York said of the league’s approval. “We’ve been at this since 1997. We’ll have shovels in the ground soon.”

In addition, Gideon Yu, the former chief financial officer of Facebook who joined the 49ers last April, will join York as a co-owner of the team, both Yu and York told ESPN.com’s Mike Sando.

The San Jose Mercury News reported that Yu’s ownership stake is 1 percent of the team.

“I’m an enormous football fan,” Yu said. “We’re doing some transformational things for the 49ers right now with the new stadium, with the new coaching staff, with the new front office. To be a part of this generational transformation that is going on here, I couldn’t think of anything I’d rather do than this.”

Owners approved another part of the funding package two months after the team and Santa Clara announced they’d received an $850 million loan to cover most of the estimated $1 billion cost.

The rest of the cost will be covered by the league’s loan, a hotel tax and Santa Clara’s redevelopment funds.

“We will definitely be in by 2015,” York said, “with hopes of 2014.”

Asked about hosting a Super Bowl the next one available would be the 50th game in 2016 York said, “This will definitely be a fitting setting for a Super Bowl game and we will bid.”

The 49ers have to address their current Candlestick Park lease with the city of San Francisco that runs through 2014.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said: “Today’s vote is an important milestone for the 49ers and their fans. It is a solid endorsement that adds to the strong support of the South Bay community. This step will allow the 49ers to move forward toward making the dream of a new stadium a reality.”

San Francisco is the first franchise approved for funding under the NFL’s G-4 loan policy initiated after the new collective bargaining agreement was reached last summer. It replaces a plan that allowed a maximum of $150,000 per team in loans.

FIFA have put to bed a controversial issue in Brazil after they clarified that beer will be sold at the 12 venues of the 2014 World Cup finals, according to FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke.

Voting on the bill for the World Cup Law has been held up over differences between the tournament hosts and world soccer’s governing body, notably on the sale of alcoholic drinks at sports venues which is banned in Brazil.

The bill was scheduled to have been voted on by the chamber of deputies at the end of last year but it has been delayed by several issues including the sale of beer, with FIFA demanding protection of sponsors’ trademarks.

“Alcoholic drinks are part of the FIFA World Cup, so we’re going to have them. Excuse me if I sound a bit arrogant but that’s something we won’t negotiate,” Valcke said.

“The fact that we have the right to sell beer has to be a part of the Law,” he told the foreign press corps in an interview in Rio de Janeiro, where on Thursday he will hold a meeting with the World Cup local organizing committee (LOC).

Alcoholic drinks have been banned in Brazil’s stadiums since 2003 as part of the Supporters’ Statutes, aimed at preventing violence among hardcore fans at football matches.

Alexandre Padilha, health Minister in President Dilma Rousseff’s government, and other members of parliament linked to health matters have put pressure on Congress to maintain the ban in the World Cup Law.

One of FIFA’s longest-standings sponsors is the U.S. brewer Budweiser, which belongs to the world’s biggest beer-selling group Anheuser-Busch InBev.

“Our partner here is in fact a Brazilian company,” said Valcke referring to the local AmBev which is part of AB InBev.

Another point of discord between the government and FIFA is half-price tickets for students and senior citizens which is the rule in Brazil.

Valcke said this issue would be resolved by creating a special category of tickets worth $25 each with 300,000 available for the group phase to several groups of people including students and the elderly.

He said, however, there needed to be strict controls of the people who qualified for these tickets.

“It’s unfair if a person who can afford a category one ticket buys a category four ticket. We must guarantee this won’t happen because apparently it’s very easy to obtain a student card here,” Valcke said.

UFA Sports has signed an agreement to become exclusive marketing partner of German Handball Bundesliga team Füchse Berlin.

The deal follows a successful 2010/2011 season in which the team finished the season in third place and qualified for the Champions League for the first time in the team’s history.

Füchse Berlin managing director Bob Hanning said: “The marketing agreement was the next logical step in the team’s development. We were impressed with UFA Sports’ network and marketing expertise.”

The deal includes all of the team’s marketing and hospitality rights, whilst UFA Sports will have a three-man team on the ground in Berlin.

“The German Handball Bundesliga is the best handball league in the world, and is really starting to catch the eye of the advertising industry,” said Robert Müller von Vultejus, managing director of UFA Sports. “We look forward to being part of the Füchse Berlin success story and strengthen our business activities in Berlin.”

Neither handball nor Berlin are uncharted territory for UFA Sport. The company recently marketed the global media rights for the 2011 Men’s Handball World Championship, and has a marketing agreement with FC Union Berlin.

The Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU) has been restored to full International Rugby Board (IRB) Member Union status with immediate effect after an announcement was made yesterday, April 13, by the sport’s world governing body.

The decision, taken by the IRB Council, after a comprehensive review of membership status of the SLRFU, follows the successful completion of the Union’s Annual General Meeting and Board elections in accordance with its constitution.

The IRB had banned the Sri Lankan union over a month ago following the failure of the SLRFU to conduct appropriate board elections in accordance with IRB Bye Laws.

SLRFU representative sides will participate in Asian Rugby Football Union competitions during 2011.

Sri Lanka has one of the fastest growth rates of Rugby participation in Asia, representing a 250 per cent increase since 2007.