The Sports Car Club of America (SCCA), medic  a club and sanctioning body supporting road racing, rallying, and autocross in the United States, has announced today that, effective October 14, Jeff Dahnert has resigned as its president and CEO.

Dahnert joined the staff of SCCA in 2004 and has served as president since 2009.

“I appreciate the great opportunities that SCCA has given me and I will truly miss the wonderful people I have worked with, both at the national office and in the Regions,” Dahnert said. “My goal was always to have the Club in a stronger position upon my departure than when I started, and I believe that is the case.”

“As Jeff moves on to new endeavors, he will be missed and we wish him well,” Lisa Noble, chairman of the SCCA Board of Directors, said.

Dahnert will continue to serve as a consultant to SCCA through the end of the year.

The Board of Directors also announced the appointment of Lisa Noble, who will resign as current board chairman to serve as interim president and CEO. She has been active in the SCCA since 1971 and a member of the board since 2008.

To fill out Noble’s term, John Walsh, director from the Northeast Division of the SCCA, was appointed as new chairman of the Board. Walsh, from New York, has been a member of the Board since 2011.

Additionally, a search committee has been appointed and a national search for a new president and CEO will soon be underway.

Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympic Games bid committee have revealed public support for the Games’ bid is increasing once again.

Following an International Olympic Committee (IOC) survey announced last May that showed 47 per cent supported the bid, support for the bid has increased and the latest figures as of October 2012 show that more than 8.5 million Tokyo residents are now in favour of the bid.

A poll was conducted by Tokyo 2020 with 400 phone calls between October 10 and October 22 that revealed sixty-seven per cent of Tokyo’s residents are supporting the bid’s effort to host the Games in the city, and a variety of opinion polls indicate that more than 80 million people in Japan back the bid.

Tokyo are competing with Istanbul and Madrid to hold the 2020 Summer Games The decision will be made in September 2013. 

The London 2012 Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG) today opened the doors to the UK’s latest official London 2012 Shop.

The Hyde Park shop was officially opened by Sir Steve Redgrave, bronchi five times gold medal winning Olympian.

At 12,000 sq ft, the shop will be London’s largest ever ‘pop up’ shop.

Located on Rotten Row in the south of Hyde Park, the single storey temporary structure shop is expected to attract thousands of visitors a day.

The shop is the only location outside the Olympic Park where fans can buy London 2012 Official Olympic Venue Collection merchandise; Coca-Cola Olympic merchandise including highly coveted Coca-Cola Olympic and Paralympic Games pin badges; one-of-a-kind signed memorabilia and a collection of giftware produced by The Royal Parks.

Later this month, customers will get the chance to have their photo taken with the Olympic Torch in the Coca-Cola Official Pin Trading Centre and create a personalised pin badge. There will also be special athlete visits throughout the course of the Games.

adidas, official sportswear partner of the London 2012 Games, will share their passion for sports by providing three sport specific challenges for visitors to prove their skills with rewards and prizes to be won.

LOCOG chief executive, Paul Deighton said: “With just over two weeks to go until the Games, now is the time to show your support for London 2012 and for Team GB and ParalympicsGB.

“Our latest shop, London’s largest ever pop up shop, offers something for everybody at every price point – from one off excusive collectables to children’s toys.

“As well as giving people the opportunity to show their support, merchandise is also an important revenue source for funding the Games.”

The Royal Parks’ Chief Executive, Linda Lennon CBE said: “In addition to hosting the Olympic Triathlon and Marathon Swim Events in Hyde Park, we are also proud to play host to the largest London 2012 Shop in the capital.”

“The shop is a superb accompaniment to the array of events and activities happening this summer and we look forward to welcoming the world to Hyde Park.”

The store is open until 16 September.

UEFA President Michel Platini revealed yesterday, April 20, that it will decide at the beginning of May which candidate to back in the forthcoming FIFA election campaign.

Platini insisted that European soccer’s governing body had not yet decided whether to support the present incumbent or his challenger, Asian Football Confederation (AFC) chief Mohamed Bin Hammam.

Platini is expected to lobby European federations to support Blatter as the 75-year-old revealed that, if elected for a fourth term, it would be his last. The Frenchman is thought to be keen on the FIFA Presidency himself and would undoubtedly have longer to wait in his pursuit, were Bin Hammam to takeover the helm.

Platini did not say whether he had read either manifesto of the candidates after Blatter released his statement yesterday, but said UEFA would make public its decision a month before the June 1 vote in Zurich.

Platini, speaking after the official hand-over of the Champions League trophy to London ahead of next month’s final at Wembley, stated: “I will make a statement at the beginning of May about the position of UEFA.”

Football Federation Australia (FFA) has revealed today the appointment of Sam Chadwick as FFA Cup General Manager.

The appointment of Chadwick is another step towards the integration of the grassroots with the elite end of the game. The FFA Cup is due to launch in 2014.

Chadwick, find who has been a member of the FFA Cup Major Project Group, symptoms will report to Head of Hyundai A-League Damien de Bohun and will be responsible for the launch and ongoing operations of the FFA Cup.

Chadwick has spent the last two years at FFA as Legal Counsel (Regulatory) and moves into the FFA Cup General Manager role on the back of strong relationships with the State and Territory Member Federations and Hyundai A-League clubs, who are central to the success of the FFA Cup.

“This is an exciting appointment as we move towards launching the FFA Cup,” said Head of Hyundai A-League Damien de Bohun. “The FFA Cup is an important component of our long term strategy of integrating the different tiers of football in Australia, and converting the growing legion of 1.7million participants into fans.

“Sam has extensive experience in the business of sport, sports law, sports regulation, project management and strategic planning. In addition to his relevant legal and business management experience and qualifications, his leadership will be invaluable to the ultimate success of the FFA Cup.”