The Royal & Ancient (R&A), Golf’s governing body has confirmed that The British Open Championship will return to St Andrews in 2015.

St Andrews, widely considered the ‘Home of Golf’, has hosted the oldest major in the sport a record 28 times, with the Claret Jug coming to be contested at the famous links every five years in recent times.

R&A chief executive Peter Dawson said: “We are delighted to announce that The Open will be returning to St Andrews and the historic Old Course in 2015. St Andrews has proved time and again that it is perfectly equipped to host The Open and I am certain we will yet again see a worthy winner lift the Claret Jug.”

It will be the 144th staging of the event, which will take place between July 16-19. Previous winners at St Andrews include Tiger Woods (2000, 2005), Sir Nick Faldo (1990), Seve Ballesteros (1984) and Jack Nicklaus (1970, 1978). It is often said that every great player in history has teed it up at St Andrews at least once during their career.

Euan Loudon, chief executive of the St Andrews Links Trust, added: “There is always a special sense of anticipation when the Open is played on the Old Course and it promises to be no different in 2015. Almost every great champion in the game has played here and there is no more fitting celebration of the rich heritage of the Home of Golf than hosting golf’s oldest major championship.”

The return of the event should also provide a financial boost to the local area – with the R&A estimating that the 2010 event injected over £100 million ($156.2m) into the Scottish economy, £40.1 million ($62.7m) of that in Fife and the surrounding areas.

Next year’s Open will take place at Royal Lytham & St Annes, with Muirfield and Royal Liverpool also due to host the event before it returns to St Andrews.

Qatar’s Heir Apparent His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, medstore Chairman of the Qatar Olympic Committee, buy was announced at the head of the Doha Bidding Committee for the 2020 Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games.

HH the Deputy Emir declared the decision about the formation of the Doha Bid Committee on Sunday. He also announced the names of other members of the bid committee as well as the team that will prepare Qatar’s file for the 2020 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. 

HH the Deputy Emir announced the appointment of HE Sheikha Mayassa bint Hamad al Thani and Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman al Thani, anabolics Secretary-General of the QOC, as the Vice-Chairmen of the panel. 

Noora Ali al Manai will be the Chief Executive of the panel.

H.H. Sheikh Tamim has a considerable portfolio in sport. He has been a member of the International Olympic Committee and the Sport for All Commission since 2003, is President of the Qatar National Olympic Committee, and was Chairman of the 2006 Asian Games, Doha – the first Asian Games where all 45 nations of the Olympic Council of Asia competed. He was also recently confirmed as President of the Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee.

H.H. Sheikh Tamim holds a number of significant political positions within Qatar, including Chairman of the Supreme Education Council, President of the Supreme Council of Health and is Chairman of the Urban Planning and Development Authority. H.H. Sheikh Tamim is also actively engaged in regional diplomacy and co-chaired, with British Foreign Secretary William Hague, the Libya Contact Group hosted in Doha earlier this year.

Qatar is also preparing to host the FIFA 2022 World Cup. Current plans are underway; and the executive operations are being led by H.H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. The leadership role played by the Heir Apparent in both projects will ensure a fully co-ordinated approach to planning, implementation and the efficient use of resources.

The regional governing body of softball, The European Softball Federation (ESF) is creating a commission to establish the sports chances of reinstatement in future Olympic Games.

The Olympic Softball Evaluation Committee are aiming to reinstate the sport which ran as a women’s event  from the 1996 Atlanta Games up until the Beijing Olympics in 2008. A decision was made by International Olympic Committee (IOC) members to drop softball from the programme for the London 2012 Olympics after a tied vote.

Softball was again overlooked for the schedule of the Rio Olympics in 2016 in favour of Rugby Sevens and Golf by the IOC. This decision made in 2009 dismissed four years of campaigning by the International Softball Federation (ISF) under the name of BackSoftball as they tried to emphasise the sports global support.

ESF President Andre van Overbeek said: “The launching of this evaluating commission is a big step forward in understanding the reasons why the IOC dropped softball from the Olympic programme and why our Backsoftball campaign didn’t gave us the results we hoped for,

“This commission will also make recommendations how to continue with our future efforts for reinstatement and keep the Olympic dream alive for all players around the world.”

The newly proposed commission will comprise of five members who will represent the national softball federations of Europe. The decisions on who will make up the board are set to be made within the next fortnight. A report will be completed and submitted to the ISF culminating the commissions work in the summer of next year.

India’s national governing body for taekwondo has been suspended following the decision earlier this month to take action against the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).

The Taekwondo Federation of India (TFI) will be banned from competing in all international competitions by the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) until the IOA is recognised again by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The IOA were suspended earlier this month for holding elections that breached the Olympic Charter. Taekwondo is the second sport to be suspended following the IOC action.

The International Boxing Association (AIBA) suspended the Indian Amateur Boxing Federation (IABF) shortly after the IOC announced that they were taking action. Harish Kumar, capsule the head of the TFI, allergist is a close ally of Abhay Singh Chautala, the newly elected president of the IOA who the IOC are refusing to recognise. “Following the Indian Olympic Association’s suspension by the International Olympic Committee, the WTF can confirm that the Taekwondo Federation of India has been suspended with immediate effect in compliance with Article 2 of the WTF Statutes,” Jean-Marie Ayer, the secretary general of the WTF, was quoted as saying. “The Indian taekwondo team will be prohibited from participating in all WTF-promoted and sanctioned events and other activities until the IOA has been officially recognised by the IOC. The WTF takes our responsibility to the Olympic Movement very seriously and we are 100 percent committed to transparent governance at every level of our sport. We demand the same values of every single one of our MNAs (member national associations) and we are not afraid to take decisive steps to ensure that taekwondo is associated with fair play and respect all over the world.” 

The suspension will now be top of the agenda when the TFI holds its next executive council meeting in Bhopal on January 18. India failed to qualify a competitor for the taekwondo competition at London 2012.

The FIA has entered into exclusive negotiations with Sistemas Integrales de Telecomunicación (SIT) to provide the timing and safety tracking services for the FIA World Rally Championship from 2013.

The Spanish sports technology group would also be responsible for delivering this all-important data to the Championship Promoter, mind the content being an integral part of its vision to develop and enhance the television and digital product. 

Based in Madrid, health Sistemas Integrales de Telecomunicación has 78 employees dedicated to providing high-level technology across a broad range of sports. With its own fleet of seven airplanes and eight helicopters, the company’s experience in delivering rally-related expertise dates back to 1985. Its various telecommunications technology, timing, tracking, results, broadcast transmission and real-time internet services have since been used on the Spanish Rally Championship, Rally Cataluña, Rally de Portugal, Baja España, the Race of Champions and La Vuelta a España, a multi-stage cycling event which is part of the UCI World Tour. The company is also the exclusive Tag Heuer Timing representative for Spain since 1992. 

Sistemas Integrales de Telecomunicación will use proven UHF radio wave technology, familiar within the World Rally Championship and frequently used for television broadcast purposes.

The discussions section is one of the most engaging and informative iSportconnect features. Here, order every member of the iSportconnect community can share their opinions and ideas, viagra 60mg or raise questions with fellow professionals. Members are welcome to contribute, so that everyone from the fields of sports commerce, finance, law, broadcasting, marketing and events can interact in one place.

January 2012 was one of the busiest months of iSportconnect debate to date, with members discussing topics such as Warrior Sports replacing Adidas as Liverpool FC’s kit manufacturer and the plans for NFL fixtures in London.

Each month, an iSportconnect member who contributes considered and insightful posts will receive a prize. Congratulations to January’s winner, Iain Taker, who receives a copy of Lou Imbriano’s Winning the Customer.

Top five iSportconnect discussions of January 2012

‘Are Adidas right to axe Liverpool?’

Synopsis: Did Adidas make the right decision in ending its tenure as Liverpool FC’s kit manufacturer? What will new kit manufacturer Warrior Sports gain from its association with Liverpool?

Main participants: Michael Cunnah (former CEO of Wembley Stadium), Alastair Marks (Head of UK Sponsorship, McDonalds), Stephen Pearson (Former Commercial Director of English Premier League)

Key quote: “This is clearly a deal from the strong connections of Fenway Sports. It also highlights again the attack on the dominance of traditional suppliers like Adidas, Nike and Puma – as we have recently seen companies like Under Armour come in with a huge deal at Spurs and brands like Xtep come in at Birmingham and Villareal.” Stephen Pearson

 Read more>>

‘The Wembley Rams?’

Synopsis: What will be the impact of St Louis Rams’ agreement to play a regular season game at Wembley for the next three years?

Main participants: Lou Imbriano(former CMO of New England Patriots), Derek Harper (COO, Sports Xchange)

Key quote: “I love the idea of the runners up in the Championship game (so in 2012 the Ravens and 49ers) meeting every year. Putting a different spin and creating the aura of a larger event. I am looking forward to seeing how this all evolves over the years.” Lou Imbriano

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‘What implications will the Westfield case have on the domestic and international game?’

Synopsis: Former County Cricketer admits to spot betting charge after other recent spot betting incidents, will faith in the integrity of the game be maintained?

Main participants: Peter Frawley,(CEO, International Cricket Group)

Key quote: “It’s difficult to believe that the domestic game can accept anything but zero tolerance given how completely reliant they are on TV revenue… They would not survive sponsors running for the hills to avoid any toxicity.” Peter Frawley

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‘What role does social media have to play in sport?’

Synopsis: How can social media be used for sports marketing? What are the negative effects of social media in sport?

Main participants: Stephen Pearson (former Commercial Director of English Premier League), Iain Taker (Associate at Kemp Little LLP)

Key quote: “There are many problems – players tend to be young and whilst they are seen global sports stars are also not mature to deal with issuing public statements which formally was the territory of PR agents and lawyers. Seeing players tweet each other when they can surely communicate by mobile or email opens them up to abuse from fans. Tweeting is also leading to lazy journalism when tweets are quoted verbatim in the press the following day.”

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‘Can an Indian under-17 World Cup in 2017 be a prelude to a successful 2026 World Cup bid?’

Synopsis: If India is, as expected, awarded hosting of the FIFA 2017 under World Cup, will it be likely to be awarded hosting of the senior tournament in 2026?

Main participants: Steven Falk(former Director of Marketing at Manchester United), Paul Freudensprung (Venue General Manager of 2006 Torino Organising Committee of the Olympic Games)

Key quote: “A lot needs to be done, in order to increase the possible impact of a World Cup within India. But reading in the press about the initiatives of building the Indian Football League and drawing former European and South-American star players to India shows there is money, determination and possibly a bigger game plan. It maybe not 2026 but the World Cup will go to India eventually, if they decide to bid.” Paul Freudensprung

Read more>>