National Football League (NFL) side, the Atlanta Falcons have seemingly moved a step closer towards approval to build a new home stadium after the Georgia World Congress Center Authority (GWCCA) signaled it is ready to move into detailed talks on the matter.

The GWCCA agreed to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Falcons on the club’s proposals for a new US$700m open-air stadium downtown. However, the authority emphasised that the memorandum does not constitute a done deal, but rather allows them to begin negotiations over details of the project, including financing.

Officials said that a new stadium “could open as soon as 2017,” and would be “built on a site just over a half-mile north of the Georgia Dome.”

The GWCCA approved the agreement on Tuesday, February 22, after architecture firm Populous delivered its look at the viability of an open-air stadium.

The stadium plans mean that the venue would have 65,000 permanent seats, 10,000 temporary seats, 7,500 club seats and 110 suites.

English Premier League outfit Aston Villa have posted losses of £42.6m in their latest financial accounts for the year ending May 31, 2013.

The Premier League club’s operating loss before exceptional items fell by £9.5m to £42.6m with turnover for the year up £3.3m to £83.7m and expenses before exceptional items down £6.2m.

Also noted in the accounts was the waiving of £90.1m of loans from its parent company as the club’s owner, Randy Lerner seeks to reduce their debt load.

The loans were converted to equity in December 2013, a bid to strengthen the club’s capital base.

Robin Russell, Chief Financial Officer of Villa, said: “The 2012-13 accounts effectively close a chapter on a period of heavy losses.

“As we near the end of the 2013-14 season, the club is financially self-sufficient, compliant with both UEFA’s and the Premier League’s Financial Fair Play requirements and we look forward to a period of continued growth and progress on and off the pitch.”

Increase in turnover in 2012-13 was driven largely by improved on-pitch performance and a higher finish in the Barclays Premier League. Higher average league attendance and a semi-final place in the Capital One Cup also contributed.

SportAccord Convention announced today that Friedrich Stickler, see President of The European Lotteries, Ne?e Gündo?an, Turkish National Olympic Committee Secretary General, and Nenad Lalovic, President of FILA, the world governing body of wrestling, will be among the speakers during SportAccord Convention 2014 taking place 6-11 April 2014, in Belek/Antalya, Turkey.

Mr. Stickler will join other leaders in a hard-hitting plenary session on “The Integrity Issue” dealing with/addressing cheating and sports-related criminality, including doping and match-fixing. Participants will debate the challenges sports and sponsors are facing in protecting ethical standards in the face of threats that sometimes appear harder than ever to control.

Ms. Gündo?an will join the panel on “A Woman’s World – The Journey Towards Sporting Equality.”  Other new participants enlisted for that session are England U20 Rugby Coach Amanda Bennett, and Marzena Bogdanawicz, founder of BFocused.

The provocative session on “Rule-Breakers and Game-Changers” will feature Mr. Lalovic, whose sport of wrestling adopted important changes to win its place back on the programme of the Olympic Summer Games.  Sarah Lewis, Secretary General of the International Ski Federation, is also newly added as a speaker in that session.

In his first SportAccord Convention as General Director of SportAccord, Vlad Marinescu will be among the featured speakers in a session on “The New Face of Leadership.”  A changing of the guard has been taking place around the world of sport and the panel will bring together influential new leaders to talk about their goals and the common challenges and opportunities shared by their organisations.

More details about speakers and sessions will be announced in the coming weeks. As in past years, the conference moderator will be BBC World news anchor and journalist David Eades.

Delegates may book their places via the website at www.sportaccordconvention.com.

The 12^th annual SportAccord Convention will be the first time the world sport summit is held in Turkey.

Held in a different city every year, SportAccord Convention is a unique opportunity for international sporting leaders to engage with business, and features a dynamic exhibition as well as the annual general meetings of governing bodies of world sport.

Belek/Antalya is a developing sports hub which recently hosted the 2013 World Archery Championships. In addition, the area will welcome in May the 2014 Turkish Airlines Ladies Golf Open which is part of the Ladies European Tour.

For more conference information, including a full list of confirmed speakers, visit www.sportaccordconvention.com.

Contact alex.ross@sportaccordconvention.com to learn about promotional opportunities at SportAccord Convention 2014.

David Sweetman has been named the new Chief Executive officer of Scottish Hockey.

Sweetman, 32, will join the organisation in January 2014 from Diageo, who employed him as a Graduate Trainee in 2005. He has since progressed rapidly within the company’s business functions to his current role of Business Leader.

He is also currently a International Hockey Federation (FIH) Grade One umpire and part of the FIH’s ‘Road to Rio’ Olympic umpire programme. He recently took charge of the Youth Olympics Hockey Final in Singapore.

Commenting on his appointment, Sweetman said: “I am delighted to be appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer of Scottish Hockey at such an important and exciting time for the sport.

“I have been part of the hockey community in Scotland for many years as a player, coach, umpire and North District President. I am very much looking forward to the challenge of leading the organisation from 2014, when we will have the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, and beyond.”

Scott Baird, Chair of Scottish Hockey, added: “On behalf of the board and staff, I am delighted to welcome David to the Scottish Hockey family as the new CEO.

“We are excited about this appointment and we look forward to him leading the organisation from 2014. This is a fantastic time to be involved in hockey with Glasgow 2014 on the horizon and ensuring as an organisation we are fit for purpose and developing the sport beyond 2014.  We are sure David will bring great value, business skills and acumen to the role.

“His knowledge and experience of hockey at a national, European and World level will also be great assets to utilise.”

Scottish Premier League (SPL) soccer club Aberdeen are moving closer to being given the go-ahead for a new home stadium after their plans were approved by councillors, subject to approval by Scottish ministers.

Permission has been awarded to Aberdeen to build the £40m stadium, capable of holding about 21,000 fans, at Loirston Loch in the south of the City.

The stadium plans include a gym, a club shop, museum and cafe, and the whole facility would be lit at night by a red glow.

Local communities and groups concerned about the environmental impact of the stadium added up to 140 objections but councillors rejected them all.

The club’s current home, Pittodrie, is subject to plans from Aberdeen FC to be sold near the beach for housing.