London’s world-renowned Lord’s Cricket Ground will be renovated by Almacantar after the company were selected as the preferred property developer for the job.

The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) has confirmed that it will enter into a period of exclusive talks with Almacantar over the planned building of apartments on Wellington Road at the ground’s Nursery End. The two failing bis to be awarded the contract were from Capital & Counties and Native Land.

The MCC’s ‘Vision for Lord’s’ will see the capacity of England’s most famous Test cricket ground increased from 29,500 to 37,000, while an indoor cricket school and enhanced conference facilities have also been planned.

MCC secretary and CEO Keith Bradshaw stated:“We have been impressed with the quality of Almacantar’s submission, which demonstrates a high degree of inventive thinking; something entirely appropriate for such an iconic venue as Lord’s.

“We will now work with them through the exclusivity period to shape the emerging proposals for the Nursery Ground, Indoor School and residential opportunities so that we can refine the financial model before presenting back to committees,” he added.

Qatar’s Olympic Committee will continue to bid for Summer Olympics despite losing out in bids for the 2016 and 2020 games, according to reports. 

Qatar Olympic Committee’s general secretary Saoud bin Adulrahman told a sports business conference Thursday, “We will continue on that path and we will continue to bid. Every time we bid, we are listening and learning to see how we can make our bid stronger.

“Our 2020 bid was stronger than our 2016 bid because the IOC (International Olympic Committee) executive board accepted our plan to host the Games in the October window, which didn’t happen the first time”.

Qatar is hosting the 2022 soccer World Cup which it plans to stage in October inside air-conditioned stadiums to cope with the heat, reports Reuters.

Abdulrahman al-Thani said, “we think our next bid (for the Olympics) will be even stronger because of what we have learned from 2020 and we think that each time we bid, we can get closer. We think that if we can keep doing that, one day the dream will happen to host the Olympics in the Middle East”.

He added that the focus was on legacy and avoiding the creation of “white elephants”.

“We have watched countries build large venues and struggle later with what to do with them. Our team has worked backwards, thinking first about how these venues can be of use in the future before planning their use during major sporting events”.

With just over a week until the Olympic Games, drug a giant set of Olympic Rings have been placed in Box Hill, recipe Surrey which is to host the Cycling Road Race competition.

The Rings are set to provide a spectacular backdrop to the Road Race competition and Surrey’s London 2012 celebrations.

The Rings have been installed on the side of the National Trust’s Box Hill. Made of aluminium they are approximately 15m wide by 7m high and will be an exciting feature in the county for the duration of the Olympic Games.  

The Road Race competition will begin on the 28 July and 29 July and spectators at Box Hill are set to get a fantastic view of the events. Labelled the most gruelling stretch of the course – the men’s race will loop Box Hill nine times and the women’s twice.

Seb Coe, therapy LOCOG Chair, said: “The Olympic Rings are an iconic symbol, inspiring athletes and uniting people around the world. To athletes they represent the culmination of thousands of hours of training and reaching the highest level in sport.

“These Rings will excite and inspire local people and visitors to Box Hill.”

Helyn Clack, Surrey County Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Services and the 2012 Games, said: “This proves the Games aren’t just about London. Surrey’s giant Olympic Rings will become one of the most memorable icons of the Games with television cameras sending pictures of it around the world. It will encourage people to visit our beautiful county not just now, but for years to come.”

Andy Wright, National Trust Countryside Manager for the Surrey Hills, added: “We’re so proud to showcase this special place to the world. For us the Rings are a symbol of what an amazing place Box Hill is, what an amazing journey it has been on over the past few years and what a fantastic legacy the Olympics will leave here, particularly for wildlife.”

Surrey is also hosting the Olympic Road Cycling Time Trial event on 1 August.

Nike and The England Rugby Team has unveiled the playing kits for the 2011-12 season.

The two designs which have created talking points with controversy. For the first time the home kit will be 100% white. The change kit will be 100% black design the same as the famous ‘all black’ kits for New Zealand..

Both kits feature Nike technology to give players every advantage on the field, with the playing kit tailored and improved to reflect player feedback from past seasons.

Rugby Football Union chief commercial officer Sophie Goldschmidt said: ‘We are delighted with the new kits which will keep England at the forefront of rugby design and innovation thanks to our long-standing relationship with Nike’.

Marc Van Pappelendam, general manager Nike UK & Ireland added: ‘The classic new white home kit and the contrasting black change kit are our most innovative and bold playing kits created for the England squad’.

‘As the world’s leading sports brand we wanted to inspire the team with our bold designs, whilst ensuring that our innovation in apparel gives players added performance benefits on the pitch to give them the advantage’.

After FIFA presidential candidate Mohamed Bin Hammam, challenger to current incumbent Sepp Blatter, was denied access to attend its congress in Miami yesterday, May 3, the 35-strong CONCACAF Confederation delayed its decision on who to back in the June 1 election.

Bin Hammam’s absence was believed to be a major blow for the Qatari with most feeling that Blatter would be successful as he lobbied for votes. However, CONCACAF President Jack Warner said it would be unfair to state an official position without also hearing from the challenger.

Bin Hammam will meet with CONCACAF’s Caribbean representatives in Trinidad on May 10 having failed to secure a visa in time to travel to the USA, in a hastily arranged alternative summit.

Warner has been a key supporter of Blatter in the past but told a news conference immediately after the congress: “It is about fair play.”

He did however, confirm that CONCACAF would stick with its practice of voting as a block at the election and it is now likely that the decision will be made at the FIFA Congress itself just before the vote.

Blatter remained extremely confident of securing the support of the Confederation despite the deferral and described the Americas as his “base”, adding he was “absolutely sure” that CONCACAF would give him their usual strong backing.

However, the election for President is by secret ballot and it is known that a number of CONCACAF members are still frustrated at the decision to award the 2022 World Cup to Qatar instead of the United States. 

The Confederation were made more angry when FIFA’s Executive Committee failed to grant them another berth at the 2014 World Cup finals in Brazil with general secretary Chuck Blazer publicly expressed his personal disappointment.

Meanwhile, there was still no official explanation as to why bin Hammam was denied a visa especially when it was assumed he travels on a diplomatic passport.

According to a report by the National Audit Office (NAO), Britain’s spending watchdog, construction of all the main London 2012 Olympic venues is on track, but the deadlines for the Aquatics Centre and part of the Athletes’ Village are becoming tight.

The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) is currently on track to meet its budget and construction targets, with all 24 main infrastructure and venue projects due to be handed over to London 2012 for testing on or ahead of schedule.

5 of the 24 have already been finished, though construction on the Zaha Hadid-designed aquatics centre has slipped by two months to June 2011 because of complications with its wave-shaped roof. Additionally, two of the 11 residential blocks in the athletes’ village have taken 15 weeks longer than planned.

Despite the construction progress being on track, the NAO continued to express concern about London 2012 finances with question marks still surround funding for some projects.

The overall cost to the public purse of security during the Games has increased well over US$1bn from $967.85m to $1.22bn. 

This is mainly because the Government has now agreed to provide $454.9m from the $15bn Public Sector Funding Package for work to secure the perimeter of the Olympic Park and venues during the Games, offset by expenditure on wider security and policing which is now forecast to be $201.6m less than it was in March 2007, the report said.

Amyas Morse, head of the NAO, stated: “Good progress is being made in the preparations for the 2012 London Games which will begin in 17 months.

“All construction and infrastructure projects are forecast to be completed on time, albeit in two cases with little room to spare before the deadline for handover to LOCOG, the Games organiser, and operational planning has improved.

“However, the final cost of the Games to the taxpayer is inherently uncertain and as the Games near there will be less flexibility to make savings in response to any unforeseen financial pressures.”

Michael Wilde has revealed he failed in his takeover of English League club Tranmere Rovers.

Wirral native Michael Wilde, vcialis 40mg now based in Jersey, was hoping to broker a deal with current Rovers owner Peter Johnson, but it has fallen through.

A statement from Wilde said: “Following recent speculation in the media that I was interested in acquiring Tranmere Rovers, I feel that now is the right time to clarify the situation.

“Alongside my excellent bid team, which included Jeremy Butler and Albert Ferrer, I have worked extremely hard over the past six months trying to negotiate a deal with the Tranmere Rovers board.

“I had exciting plans in place, including the appointment of Albert as head coach, aimed at creating a new and successful culture at Prenton Park.

“Unfortunately, however, following long and protracted talks with Peter Johnson, and despite agreement in respect of many areas, we have been unable to conclude a final agreement.

“Having committed substantial time and resources to the project I am deeply disappointed that I will not now have the opportunity to become the custodian of the club I have supported since my childhood on the Wirral.

“As a Tranmere supporter since attending my first league game at the age of 11, it is extremely saddening that a transaction could not be concluded, particularly at this difficult time for the club.

“Consequently, and after much consideration, I have now decided to withdraw from the process and I wish Tranmere Rovers every success in the future.”

Tranmere currently sit in 18th spot in the League One table, three points above the relegation zone.