The International Confederation of Softball and Baseball, the recent merger between Softball and Baseball is to meet with senior International Olympic Committee (IOC) members Wednesday regarding a joint bid for inclusion in the 2020 Summer Olympic Games.

The Associated Press reports International Softball Federation President Don Porter says the meeting will help prepare a presentation to the IOC’s program commission December 18-19.

Baseball federation president Riccardo Fraccari says further talks are planned with Major League Baseball about releasing players for the Olympic.

The IOC is to vote in September to add one sport, either Karate, roller sports, squash, sport climbing, wakeboard or wushu, to the Olympic program.

Tokyo 2020 sport experts, senior government officials, and private sector leaders are ready to jet off for London to learn from the preparations for the Opening Ceremony and the London 2012 Summer Olympic Games.

Tsunekazu Takeda, President of Tokyo 2020 and the Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC) said,:”Our delegation’s goal is to interact with organizing officials and soak up as much information as possible to enhance Tokyo 2020’s Candidature File. Our visit to London is a key step in helping us fine-tune the best Games plan possible for Tokyo 2020, and to eventually stage Games of excellence and excitement that will delight Japanese people and the world.”

Takeda added: “Tokyo 2020 is fully behind Japan’s Olympic and Paralympics Teams, and I hope that our athletes’ performances at these Games further ignites the Japanese passion for the Olympic Movement and helps promote our bid.

“The Games, the pinnacle of sport, have the power to unite and inspire, and I know that I, along with the rest of the nation, will be proudly watching our athletes striving for gold in London and inspiring a new generation of athletes in the process.”

Masato Mizuno, JOC Vice President and CEO of Tokyo 2020 and a member of the delegation, said: “It is a marvellous opportunity to watch the Games in London, but we will be watching it as more than just enthusiastic spectators. In addition to enjoying what promises to be a celebration of the Olympic Movement, we will be paying close attention to the precision and detail that goes into organizing the world’s greatest sporting event.”

Soccer’s World Governing body has announced Nine goal-line technology systems will undergo tests in a bid to be approved for match-day use next season.

FIFA did not disclose the identities of the nine Europe-based candidates. They will be examined by the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology. After the tests the results will be studied and analysed and the best systems will be invited for a second round of trials.

FIFA stated “Each company’s respective technology will be scrutinised across a broad range of criteria, malady in both daylight and floodlit conditions,” They continued by saying “Using a pass or fail assessment system, the testing period will measure the technology’s recognition of free shots on goal, with 100% accuracy required, as well as static and dynamic accuracy tests, to 90 per cent accuracy in the first phase.”

FIFA also said: “Also under examination will be the individual goal-line technology systems’ transmissions to officials in the result of a goal, with both a vibration and visual signal required to be sent to the referee’s watch. This indication must be received wherever the referee is positioned on the field of play, or within the technical areas.”

Premier League CEO Richard Scudamore stated earlier this week that he is hoping that goal-line technology will be introduced in time for the 2012-13 season.

FIFA Presidential candidate Mohamed Bin Hammam, challenger to current incumbent Sepp Blatter, believes he is “well placed” in the contest and has denied he is trying to buy votes by offering increased financial help for the 208 national associations.

Bin Hammam, in London to meet leaders of the Football Association ahead of the election at Congress in Zurich on June 1, said he has been encouraged by promises of support. The FA will decide at its board meeting on May 19 whom to support; many senior figures favour Bin Hammam, largely because they are against the notion of Blatter reigning over a fourth term.

The 61-year-old Qatari promised to double FIFA’s annual financial support to each member association to US$500,000, prompting Blatter to respond with an overall development pledge of $1bn over the next four years.

Bin Hammam said: “I have had a lot of support since declaring my manifesto and I think I am well placed. I said when I announced my candidacy that my chances were 50-50 and although I would not change that figure I am feeling confident.”

He denied that his promises were disguised financial incentives, saying: “People want to hear what the candidate is going to help them with. The need for the funds is essential for national associations – they need to have development projects, national teams, youth teams, facilities and it all costs money. This is not an improper act – people should know what I’m planning.”

Chairman of English nPower League One soccer side Leyton Orient, the club closest to the newly constructed Olympic Stadium, Barry Hearn has written to the UK Prime Minister David Cameron to appeal against the expected decision to award West Ham with the venue rights.

Hearn has consistently voiced his concern that if the Premier League side to inherit the stadium, they would adversely affect the revenue and indeed threaten the future of his London club.

Hearn has reportedly requested that Cameron and mayor of London Boris Johnson, not to rubber-stamp the move, so that they can have time to put their case forward. 

Media reports indicate that Hearn is consulting with lawyers about a possible judicial review, which could significantly delay the process of confirming West Ham’s tenancy at the new stadium.

Hearn said: “How on earth has nobody even considered us and how on earth has the government or Premier League, or anybody else, not even had the respect to discuss it with us?

“It’s a question of due process and whether the Olympic Park Legacy Committee, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and even the Prime Minister have given consideration to Leyton Orient in these discussions.”

The Oreint chairman feels that West Ham’s likelihood to heavily discount tickets in order to fill the potential 60,000-seat capacity of the ground would impact on attendances at their Matchroom Stadium, and that this goes against FA and Football League rulings.

Kenya has been announced as the new host of the Orange African Nations Championship (CHAN) in 2018.

The new development comes just weeks after Kenya missed out in the Afcon 2019 bid presentation.

According to a statement on the Confederation of African Football (CAF)
website, viagra sale Kenya’s bid was successful following receipt of the necessary Government guarantees.

“The CAF executive committee has designated Kenya as host of the 2018 Chan following receipt of necessary Government guarantees and complete dossier including the required infrastructure and security, remedy ” a statement on the CAF website said.

Kenya pulled out of hosting the African cup of Nations in 1996 that was later moved to South Africa who won it in the same year. 

Research released today by sponsorship experts Havas Sports & Entertainment (HS&E) shows sponsorship of the London 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Games has already led to substantially stronger brand image and purchase intent across a wide range of official sponsors’ brands. 

Perceptions of brand image are on average 25-50% more positive across a representative selection of Tier One and Tier Two London 2012 sponsors included in the study.  Those aware of a brand’s Olympic sponsorship are on average 50% more likely to find a sponsor brand ‘inspiring’ and ‘trustworthy’ and 25% more likely to view a sponsor as ‘world-class’ or ‘admired.’

This enhanced brand image  then successfully translates into a significantly higher purchase consideration, generic | with those aware of a brand’s sponsorship being on average 50% more likely to consider purchasing a sponsor’s product. 

The study was commissioned by HS&E, pills to identify the effects of Olympic Games’ sponsorship on sponsor brands, and to track interest in and attitudes towards the Games over a period of two and a half years. 

Alastair Macdonald, Sponsorship Insights Director, HS&E, commented: “Our findings demonstrate London 2012 sponsorship is already providing sponsors with tangible image and business benefits.  These patterns apply specifically to the Olympic sponsors – the same effect does not apply to competitor brands, which indicates this is a genuine sponsorship effect. 

English Premier League soccer club Manchester City has linked up with global sports video game producer Electronic Arts (EA) in an innovative move into the virtual content market.

The last International Olympic Committee (IOC) member to be expelled over corruption, see Ivan Slavkov has died, cheap aged 70, shop after a bout with pneumonia.

After he was secretly videotaped by the BBC offering to deliver the votes of his colleagues in exchange for money, Slavkov was suspended from the IOC in 2004, before being expelled from the IOC a year later at the Session in Singapore. 

Slavkov was elected to the IOC in 1987 having served as president of the Bulgarian Football Association and the Bulgarian NOC.

In 2000, Slavkov came under the watch of the newly-formed IOC Ethics Commission for dealings involving the 2004 Olympic bid from Capetown, South Africa. But no sanctions were issued when the case was closed by the commission.

At the 2005 IOC Session, Slavkov delivered a 20-minute plea for mercy, a plea that failed to win much sympathy from members who had seen the BBC program in a private viewing just hours before the vote . 

Slavkov tried to convince his colleagues that he was trying to expose the phony agent, not take a US$25,000 bribe. 

The vote to expel was 82 for, 12 against and 5 abstaining. No IOC members have been expelled since Slavkov.