The economic impact study, conducted by Oxford Economics for official Games sponsor Lloyds Banking Group, surveyed the economic climate in the UK for 12 years since 2005 when London was selected to host the Summer Olympic Games in 2012.

The study estimates that this year’s London Games put Scotland in a vantage point as there could be a £1 billion ($1.56) economic benefit for several Scottish firms that are handling orders from the Olympic authorities. Tourism in the southern parts of the country that share a common border with England may also witness a surge in the number of foreign visitors, the report noted.

At the outset it was projected that the UK economy could receive a whopping £16.5 billion boost because of the Olympics. Approximately 77.4% of Scotland’s share of the gain could be sourced from construction, equipment and supplies industries, analysts at Oxford Economics forecast.

The main Olympic Stadium, along with the aquatics centre, has been built by Scottish firms, whereas outdoor gear and bags for the Olympics have been manufactured by West Lothian-based company Highlander.

Figures also suggest that the upcoming Games can significantly boost revenues for Scotland’s transport sector with about 300 bus drivers saying they would operate primarily in the south to provide public transport services till mid-August.

Staging the Summer Olympic Games in London involves an incredible amount of capital investment “the ripples (of which) are being felt not just in London, but across the UK, including Scotland”, said Lloyds’ Gareth Oakley.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced on Monday, recipe March 28, ampoule that Director General Urs Lacotte would be resigning from his post, effective Thursday, for health reasons.

IOC President Jacques Rogger released a statement, saying: “Urs Lacotte has performed his functions with competence, integrity and loyalty, and the IOC looks forward to benefiting from his commitment and experience in the future. The IOC thanks Urs Lacotte and extends its best wishes for his health.”

However, the statement did add that Lacotte will continue to serve, with the IOC saying the position would be called “assignments adviser.”

Having joined the IOC in 2003, taking over from François Carrard, Lacotte stated: “I have tried to manage the organization from the backstage.”

“I didn’t imagine to step down,” but in the end, he said, “I had no choice.”

An L.A. City Council committee “moved to launch a formal working group and trigger an independent financial analysis to review AEG’s plans to construct” a downtown National Football League (NFL) stadium yesterday, 19 January.

AEG President & CEO Tim Leiweke was “well received in his first presentation” before the council’s committee on Trade, Commerce & Tourism. During the meeting, he said: “There are one or two teams ready to move… At least one team will come if we build it”

However, committee Chair Janice Hahn stated after the meeting that there is “reason to move on the massive project expeditiously.”

 

The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) has appointed Ryan Sandilands as the regional CEO, Asia Pacific.

Sandilands, who will be based out of a new WTA office in Singapore set to open in January 2014, will be responsible for driving the WTA’s growth strategy throughout Asia-Pacific, including business development, government relations, marketing, operations and media distribution. 

With the year-end WTA Championships to be staged in Singapore from 2014-2018 and a record number of tournaments in China and Asia-Pacific, the naming of Sandilands represents a significant strategic investment to drive the growth of the world’s leading sport for women in some of the fastest growing markets in the world.  Sandilands will begin in his new role in the coming months and report to WTA Chairman & CEO Stacey Allaster.

“I am thrilled to welcome Ryan to our team and know that with his entrepreneurial experience across sports, entertainment and brand development in Asia he will build upon our success and take women’s tennis to new heights throughout Asia-Pacific,” said Stacey Allaster, Chairman & CEO of the WTA.  “Since 2008 we have invested heavily in China, and with our crown jewel WTA Championships coming to Singapore, today’s announcement is another defining moment in the WTA’s history to build our fan base, our brand and business in China, South East Asia and key markets across the region.”

“The WTA is one of the fastest growing sports entertainment properties in Asia-Pacific, and I am honored to join Stacey and her team to achieve the WTA’s vision to be the most inspirational and exciting sport entertainment experience in Asia,” said Sandilands.  “I look forward to building upon the strength of WTA players and tournaments in the region to grow and engage our fan base across multiple platforms and further extend the popularity of women’s tennis.” 

In the newly created role, Sandilands will be responsible for developing and executing a commercial strategy to drive revenues across all markets in the region; and strengthening key relationships across China and Singapore, including with the Singapore Tourism Board, Singapore Sports Council, and World Sport Group to ensure the staging of the best Championships in the history of the WTA. 

He will also work with the governing bodies throughout the region and specifically with the Beijing Municipal Sports Bureau, China Open and the Chinese Tennis Association to continue growth in China. 

Sandilands will also be responsible for marketing, media distribution across multiple platforms, sponsorship partnerships as well as operations to support the WTA’s  tournament and player members.

The FIFA 2026 World Cup may be be staged in Mexico after Mexican Football Federation (FMF) President Justino Compeán revealed they are planning to bid for the prestigious tournament.

The country has staged the event twice before in 1970 and 1986 and hope to add a third to that list.

“Mexico was a great host in ’70 and ’86, so we are indeed going to fight, we want to have a World Cup (again),” said Compeán.

“There will be a strong competition with the United States [but] Mexico’s football infrastructure keeps growing and that World Cup can be feasible for Mexico.”

Mexico is one of four countries to have hosted the World Cup on two occasions, along with Italy in 1934 and 1990, France in 1938 and 1998, and West Germany in 1974 and as Germany in 2006.

“FIFA is always more demanding with all the structures that are needed,” said Compeán.

“The great competitor [for 2026] is the United States, which has great resources, great stadiums, triple the population we have and all that counts.”

Compeán also suggested that even if they lost out to the United States, who last hosted the competition in 1994, they will still reap the benefits.

“Assuming the United States were to get the [2026] World Cup, we would still win because on a sporting level we wouldn’t have to face each other in the qualifiers,” he added.

“We’re three hours from the border and we have millions of nationals living on the other side so we’d be playing as a home team.”

Following the exploits of track cycling and BMX at the London 2012 Olympic Games, denture the Velodrome  will form the centerpiece of the Velopark, viagra 100mg standing as both a world-class cycling facility and a lasting legacy to the sport.

Cyclists of all abilities will be able to enjoy the track and with taster courses on offer even novices will be able to have a go.

The outdoor BMX track will be reconfigured so that all riders will be able to sample the jumps, bumps and tightly banked corners. There will also be expert coaching on hand and floodlighting so beginners through to experts will be able to practise their skills from early in the morning to late at night.

A 1.6km road circuit and 6km mountain bike trail will also be added, and with bike hire and cycle workshop facilities on site, the Velopark will become the epicentre of cycling in the capital.

Sport England’s Chair, Richard Lewis, said Sport England were delighted to be helping “to ensure a mass participation legacy for all those inspired by the Games to get back on a bike – from budding track cyclists and BMX riders to families who want a day out on their bikes.”

The Park will also support the continued development of competitive cycling with the British Cycling Federation using the venue to train UK athletes with international potential. It will also have the capacity to host the full range of cycling events, including a World Championships.

“This is a stunning venue built for champions, and designed for legacy,” said London 2012 Chairman Sebastian Coe. The Olympic Delivery Authority Chairman John Armitt added: “The venue will become one of the defining images from the Games, and a landmark new building for future generations to enjoy.” The Velopark will be open to the public from the end of 2013.

The president of world soccer’s governing body FIFA, Sepp Blatter has admitted Brazil’s preparations ahead of hosting the 2014 World Cup are “not progressing very quickly”, as well as being the subject of a jibe from competing presidential candidate Mohamed bin Hammam.

Blatter said that Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo could be omitted from the 2013 Confederations Cup programme, the test event ahead of the World Cup a year later, due to the slow progress being made in preparations at the two major cities.

Blatter told the Associated Press: “The World Cup stadiums are still in the process of being discussed between the city mayors and the state governors. I must say that in comparison with the state of play between South Africa and Brazil three years before the World Cup, Brazil is behind South Africa. It’s a fact.”

Referring to how little time remained before the World Cup, Blatter said: “It is tomorrow, but the Brazilians think it’s just the day after tomorrow. What they shall do is to give a little bit more speed now in the organisation.”

Meanwhile Blatter’s opposition to what would be a record fourth term as FIFA president, Mohamed bin Hammam has stated that people’s perception of FIFA has been tarnished by the ‘unpopularity’ of the current presidential incumbent.

The Qatari national, president of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), blogged on his personal website: “The trip to Paris has given me a growing sense that more and more people within the game are eager to see change in FIFA.

“Unfortunately, from what I can see, people have been judging the entire organisation by the unpopularity of its president.

“Hopefully we will be able to change that and turn FIFA into an organisation we can all be proud of once again.”

Football Federation Australia has extended its ties with Asia with the Hyundai A-League contemplating the implementation of a designated Asian only visa position.

Speaking to Fairfax Media, capsule FFA CEO David Gallop, ed cheap has said the time is right to capitalise on Shinji Ono’s impact in the competition.

“By 2020, it’s estimated there will be 400 million people playing football in Asia. We are part of that. Football can help the nation build political and economic ties with Asia. The A-League would benefit from fostering opportunities for Asian players,” he told Fairfax Media.

“The details would need fine tuning and discussing with the clubs, but having a spot for an Asian player definitely fits with our strategic direction.”

“Our links with Asia are important, and when Shinji goes it will be disappointing to have lost our only star player from Asia,” he said.

Any change is unlikely to be implemented for next season though, as clubs will have foreign players already contracted.

“It might take some time given the existing rules for visa places, which are for five foreign players, but it is definitely worth exploring,” he said.