The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) has officially opened the bidding process for the 2014 ITTF World Tour, and 2014 ITTF Global Junior Circuit.

The ITTF World Tour has been in place since 1996 and attracts the world’s best table tennis players fighting it out for lucrative prize money and points to qualify for the $1 million World Tour Finals which offers $1 million prize money since the 2012 Finals.

ITTF World Tour events for 2014 are already scheduled in Qatar, Germany, Japan and Czech Republic. The Qatar Open, German Open and Japan Open are on the Super Series calendar this year, while the Czech Open is a Major Series tournament for 2013.

The 2014 Global Junior Circuit is split into 2 tiers: the Global Junior Circuit Premium events and the standard Global Junior Circuit events which have less requirements for organisers.

Under the Global Junior Circuit banner, there is also the special “Road to Nanjing 2014 Series”. There are 6 events available (one in each continent), to be held between 1st February 2014 and 31st May 2014, and will act as qualification events for the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games. These events are only open to players born between 1 January 1996 and 31 December 1999.

Bidding period last until 15th July for ITTF Global Junior Circuit and 22nd July for the ITTF World Tour.

For further details or interested in bidding for these events please click here>>  

The Manchester Eastlands regeneration Framework Manchester is looking at the potential development of a new regional sports hub or house of sport concept and has appointed TSE Consulting to assist with the market research and concept development.

The City of Manchester has a vision to establish itself as the world-leading sport city with Eastlands at the centre of the sports city

Manchester City Council, New East Manchester Ltd and Manchester City Football Club partnered in 2010 to create a transformational plan for the Eastlands area around the Manchester City Stadium that would further drive forward the regeneration of East Manchester. Together they have developed the ‘Eastlands Regeneration Framework’ that highlights the importance of sporting, education and community facilities within the area and sets out aspirations relating to education, sport, recreation and employment.

As one of the key focus areas of this framework, Manchester is considering plans for a new regional house of sport. The new sports hub would add to the current sports environment already existing in Manchester that has positioned it among the best sporting cities within the UK, Europe and the world. Manchester has appointed TSE Consulting to assist them in market research and concept development.

Neil Fairlamb, Head of Sport – Manchester City Council, said: “Manchester is a truly unique city when it comes to sport. We have already accomplished a lot for our communities through sport and will continue to keep this at the centre of our plans moving forward. A potential regional sports hub would further add to the economic development of the region. We are happy to be working with TSE Consulting as they have a unique understanding of the sports market, both national and international. This provides an educated perspective and an efficient way of working, allowing the project to move quickly.“

Lars Haue-Pedersen, TSE Consulting Managing Director, added: “Manchester is a great example of a city that has clearly planned for how sport facilities and events can help to push forward their regeneration plans while at the same time showcase their city on an international scale. We are honoured to be working with them as they continue to build on an already impressive sporting landscape.“

Aston Villa are looking into the possibility of a safe-standing area at Villa Park in a bid to boost attendances and improve the atmosphere.

Chief executive Paul Faulkner broached the subject with fans at a supporters’ consultation group before their 1-1 home draw with Everton on Saturday and was encouraged by the reaction.

Villa’s interest comes after the Scottish Premier League confirmed after a general meeting of the league’s 12 clubs at end of last year that they will consider requests for pilot safe-standing schemes.

Scotland is not bound by the legislation that banned standing areas in top-flight football in England, sales which came in to force after the Taylor Report into the Hillsborough disaster in 1989.

Based on similar models in Germany, the Football Supporters’ Federation has reasoned for the introduction of safe-standing areas and Safe Standing Campaign co-ordinator, Peter Daykin, believes it could be a possibility for Villa and other English clubs.

“We’re delighted that the SPL has engaged with its supporters and reacted to fan demand for standing in this way. The setting up of pilot schemes is the next logical step in the debate and we will keenly watch developments in Scotland,” said Daykin.

“We can only expect to see the clamour for safe standing in England to grow yet further.

“If the Scottish experiment proves to be successful, the Premier League and Football League could join our call for the legislation to be reviewed.”

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The FIA has terminated North One Sport’s (NOS) contract as promoter of the World Rally Championship, after the firm could give no assurances that it would receive the investment required to continue in its role.

The agreement was torn up on Friday evening, despite NOS believing it had an investor ready to buy the company and safeguard its future. The FIA insists no such offer to purchase NOS was presented to it.

An FIA statement said: “The FIA sought urgent unequivocal assurances from NOS that it could fulfil its contractual obligations and deliver the promotion of the upcoming Rally Monte Carlo and the Championship for 2012 and for the future. It is with regret and disappointment that no such assurance has been given to the FIA, and therefore today the FIA has been driven to terminate its contract with NOS. NOS has conspicuously failed to deliver its contractual obligations and is in fundamental breach of contract.

“The FIA has fully supported and co-operated with both NOS and the administrators of the parent company CSI [Convers Sports Initiatives, now in administration] in their efforts to secure a purchaser. Contrary to press speculation however, no firm offer to purchase NOS has been presented to the FIA during this period but only numerous non-binding expressions of interest subject to due diligence. The FIA has been notified of at least seven expressions of interest, but none have come to fruition.”

The statement adds that the FIA is confident of delivering the opening round of the WRC, Rally Monte-Carlo, which begins in 10 days.

“The FIA has given time and support to all the parties concerned to find the right solutions,” it said. “Regrettably however, not only has NOS failed to perform in accordance with its contract, it has also been unable to secure the essential investment required to enable it to deliver the Championship.

“This has placed the FIA in an unprecedented situation just 10 days before Rally Monte Carlo in that the FIA will now have to take urgent action to secure the staging of the Championship. The Federation is now working tirelessly to ensure the WRC goes ahead as fully as planned to mitigate the consequences of the breach of NOS.

“The FIA has now launched urgent top level discussions with several partners and suppliers to guarantee the key organisational and promotional components of the Championships, including timing and tracking, TV production and distribution, as well as sponsorship servicing are put in place.”

North One Sport staff members will attend a redundancy meeting in London tomorrow morning. Eurosport is expected to step in to the WRC promoter role in North One’s place.

Partners of the Rugby World Cup 2011 to be held in New Zealand have confirmed today, March 16, that a decision has been made, reluctantly stating that Christchurch will be unable to host the seven matches scheduled to be played at Stadium Christchurch.

A press statement revealed that the quarter finals set to be played in the nation’s second largest city will be relocated to Eden Park, while all other group matches will be rescheduled to be played at other venues in New Zealand.

The conclusion was a unanimous decision supported by Tournament owners the International Rugby Board (IRB), the New Zealand Government, the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) and Tournament organiser Rugby New Zealand 2011 (RNZ 2011).

This follows a detailed review of reports assessing damage to key Tournament facilities and infrastructure caused by the devastating 6.3 magnitude earthquake that struck the city on February 22 and advice from the stadium operator, Vbase, that it could not be certain that all necessary remedial work could be completed in time for RWC 2011.

IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset travelled to Christchurch for the announcement and stated: “Yesterday we were informed by Stadium Christchurch operator Vbase that it could not guarantee that the extensive repairs required could be completed in time. That information, coupled with a thorough review of every aspect of hosting RWC 2011 in the city, means that Tournament partners have been left with no choice but to make the difficult decision to reallocate the seven matches due to be played in Christchurch.

“This has been a hard decision for all involved, given the place of Canterbury in New Zealand Rugby and the tremendous enthusiasm and support that the people of Christchurch have displayed for RWC 2011. The thoughts of the global Rugby family continue to be with the people of Christchurch and everyone affected as they focus on the city’s rebuilding process and repair of key public services and facilities.”

Ticket holders for all Christchurch matches will be offered the option of a refund or the opportunity to secure tickets to the reallocated matches. RNZ 2011 has confirmed there will be sufficient availability of tickets for those wanting to take up that option.

Stadium operator Vbase confirmed that repair time-frames were so tight, there would be no leeway for work delays or for any risks that would impact time-lines. The company also identified a number of risks including;

• Ongoing investigation required that might reveal the need for further work in relation to structures and playing surface
• Complexity of a work programme that includes superficial and structural repairs and full replacement of the playing surface
• Availability of resources (labour, material and equipment) and timeliness of securing consents
• Aftershocks that might impact on the work programme

RNZ 2011 Chairman Brian Roche said: “We know Cantabrians are passionate about Rugby and we know that many wanted the matches to remain as a way to unite and heal their shattered city.

“However, we needed to weigh up the risks of continuing with matches in Christchurch with just 25 weeks until the world’s third largest sporting event kicks off. Sadly, we collectively agreed the risks were too great. The time-frames for repairs were too tight, the uncertainty too much.”

NZRU CEO and RNZ 2011 director Steve Tew added: “Our hearts go out to Canterbury fans today given the inevitable disappointment this decision will cause for many.”

“Tournament partners are looking into a number of initiatives that will give Cantabrians a chance to be part of our Stadium of Four Million. We still want them to play a part in hosting a successful Tournament and to share in the excitement of this event.”

Eden Park was confirmed as the venue for the quarter finals of October 8 and 9 and a decision regarding where the five Pool matches will now be played will be taken jointly by the Tournament’s partners as soon as feasibly possible, likely before the end of March.

RNZ 2011 CEO Martin Snedden stated: “Eden Park was the only logical alternative to stage two of the Tournament’s premier matches given the ground capacity and visitor accommodation demands associated with these quarter final matches.

“We are working hard to ensure as many pool matches as reasonably possible remain in the South Island. A key consideration in all of this is to reschedule matches in a way that minimises the impact on other matches and therefore causes the least disruption to existing arrangements for teams and travelling.”

Snedden added: “We appreciate this is a time of great uncertainty for fans which is why we are trying to resolve all issues as quickly as possible. We expect to be in a position to announce where the five matches will be played within two weeks.

“We are enormously grateful for the support of all our partners in New Zealand during this difficult process and the cooperation that has been shown as we work together to resolve this situation.”