Switzerland’s Hansjorg Wirz was re-elected as President of European Athletics after he beat Norway’s Sven Arne Hansen by 28 votes to 22.

Hirz stated: “Our member federations have shown their appreciation for what I have done in the last four years and have shown confidence that the future of our sport on the continent is going in the right direction. We now look ahead towards more hard work so we can live up to the expectations of our members.”

Meanwhile, Niels de Vos, chief executive of UK Athletics, claims that Britain will retain its influence on the sport despite its humiliating snub in the European Athletics elections on Saturday, April 16.

With UK Athletics chairman Ed Warner failing in his attempt to succeed former triple jump champion Jonathan Edwards, who stepped down after a four-year term, Britain were left without representation on European Athletics’ ruling Council for the first time since the organisation was formed in 1932.

De Vos was also overlooked for the Development Committee while Cherry Alexander failed to gain election to the Competitions Committee, while all of three of the officials that Ireland put forward were elected, including Liam Hennessy to the Council.

He was joined by 2000 Sydney Olympic champions, Estonian decathlete Eriki Nool and Romanian 5,000 metres runner Gabriela Szabo.

De Vos claimed that the decision to overlook all of Britain’s candidates, despite the fact they were asked to stand, did not mean anything – even though the snub comes just a year before London is due to host the Olympics. 

He stated: “I don’t feel any great sense of frustration or anything else.

“All the feedback we’ve had is very positive about what we’ve done and what we are doing and, where it really matters is at competition level, and we are very much still at the heart of that.

“We are still very much at the centre of the big issues. 

“I’m very confident that our voice will not be any quieter or any less well received as a result of today.”

De Vos revealed that UK Athletics’ priority at this Congress had been to promote its bid to host the 2013 European Team Championships at Gateshead and the 2017 World Championships at the Olympic Stadium in London, adding: “The feedback from that everybody has been outstanding.

“The important thing has been to get support behind those two bids and that’s been pretty comprehensive from everybody.

“I think the quality of the event we have put on here has certainly helped that.

“We know where we need to influence and we are confident that we still can.”

In other news, Jose Luis de Carlos of Spain, Karel Pilny of the Czech Republic and Jean Gracia of France were also voted in as vice-presidents of European Athletics.

English Premier League soccer club Everton has become the first of team in the division to launch an Ovi application for fans with Nokia handsets.

The new application means fans can now access official news, information and live match updates direct to their Nokia device, additional to those who have club apps which are available on the iPhone, Blackberry and via Android.

Everton’s range of mobile products is now unparalleled by any other Premier League team and the club’s Head of Media and Communications, Mark Rowan stated: “Through our digital platforms the Club’s communications strategy is to engage with as many Evertonians as possible. Launching in the Ovi Store means we are able to stretch our services even further.

“The new app now gives our fans an opportunity to interact with the Club whether they are on the traditional internet or the vast majority of the mobile internet devices.

“Our aim is to be platform agnostic and ultimately converge all digital services. This we see as a step in the right direction.”

Developed in association with InfoMedia Services, the new app will allow even more fans to interact with the Club, helping to achieve key business objectives.

Tim Satchell, Commercial Director at InfoMedia Services, added: “We are excited to partner with Everton and Nokia to deliver the first official Premier League club app on Ovi.

“We have partnered with Everton for several years now on mobile internet, alerts and downloads, so we’re delighted to expand our partnership to Ovi where we’re looking forward to building on Everton’s mobile audience worldwide.”

The British Racing Drivers’ Club have elected John Grant as their new chairman replacing Stuart Rolt it was revealed at the Club’s Annual General Meeting (AGM).

Having served the maximum nine-year term for a director, impotent including two three-year stints as Chairman, sale viagra Stuart Rolt has stepped down from his role on the board.

John is known within motor sport for his previous role as Chairman of the MSA, medstore which led to him becoming the UK member of the FIA World Motor Sports Council. He was also a board member of the RAC.

His professional background includes 25 years with Ford, where he became head of corporate strategy in the US, and then No. 2 at Jaguar after it was purchased by Ford in 1990. John later joined Lucas as CFO, before becoming CEO of a £300m quoted conglomerate. This gradually evolved into a portfolio of non-executive directorships in a wide range of businesses.

Derek Warwick, President of the BRDC, said: “I am delighted that John has been elected as BRDC Chairman. He has considerable experience and enthusiasm for our sport, which will be key as the BRDC reverts to being the most prestigious racing drivers’ Club in the world, nurturing future British motor racing talent.”

Derek also paid tribute to Stuart Rolt and the support that both he and the BRDC board received at the Club’s AGM: “I cannot speak highly enough of Stuart and his commitment to the Club during his time as BRDC Chairman. The focus during his second term has been the search for investment, to help realise the full potential of Silverstone. We owe him an immense debt of gratitude for the time and energy he has put into this.

“It is a shame that his nine years as a director ends before we are able to announce details of a second investor in Silverstone. We have, however, asked Stuart to remain involved in the investment process, acting as an advisor to the board while the second deal is completed. He should feel proud of everything that he and the BRDC board have achieved over the last three years. The overwhelming support for both Stuart and the board at the recent AGM is testament to how united the Club is and how pleased we are with what he and the board have achieved.”

Existing director, Jonathan Baker, was re-elected to the BRDC board at the AGM.

Lviv, Ukraine may be the next destination of the 2022 Winter Olympic Games after Deputy Prime Minister and Infrastructure Minister Borys Kolesnikov endorsed a bid for the competition.

Kolesnikov said he is confident of the city’s chances. Interfax quotes Kolesnikov as saying that it would be “advantageous for Lviv to compete for the right to host the 2022 Winter Olympics” at a meeting with cabinet ministers earlier this week.

He added, “It’s necessary for us to get the Olympics…A number of countries that have a good winter climate are fighting, and so must we. If we win the right to host the Olympics we’ll secure hundreds of jobs in the Carpathians forever.”

Following the European Football Championship last summer in Lviv, Ukrainian Olympic head Sergei Bubka said that Ukraine was eager to develop its winter sports infrastructure, commenting: “This can bring development to the region. Ukraine was designated as a summer sports region under the Soviet Union. Now we want to develop the mountains there, the infrastructure, resorts.”

Lviv has passed a feasibility study and officials say the city is capable of being an excellent Olympic host.

Bids must be submitted to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) ahead of the autumn 2013 application deadline.

Other cities interested in bidding for the 2022 Games include Barcelona, Oslo, Nice, Munich, Brasov and Prahova Valley (Romania), St. Moritz/Davos and Krakow (Poland).

Following IOC President, Jacques Rogge’s comments questioning McDonald’s and Coca-Cola’s Olympic sponsorship, both major brands have defended their deals as Worldwide Partners of IOC.

Jacques Rogge earlier this week told the Financial Times that growing levels of obesity had led to a “question mark” over the two brands’ sponsorship of the Games. He added that the choice to renew McDonald’s sponsorship deal in particular was “not an easy decision”.

A McDonald’s spokeswoman rebutted today by suggesting the company recognises public health issues like obesity are complex matters that cannot be solved by businesses or governments alone.

“Ultimately it’s up to individuals to make the right food, drink, and activity choices for themselves and our broad range of menu options in a variety of sizes, together with the nutrition information, means that customers can make more informed choices,” she added.

The Games is set to be the “biggest catering operation in the world”. McDonald’s claims that not many businesses could rise to such a challenge and provide “high quality British good quickly and safely”.

James Eadie, Olympic portfolio director at Coca-Cola Great Britain, also added values of Coca-Cola and the Olympics are “extremely intertwined”. Coca-Cola is the longest continual sponsor of Olympic Games since 1928.

“The Olympics gives us an opportunity to demonstrate what the modern business is all about and allows us to accelerate and showcase sustainability.”

The company is also offering the “widest portfolio” of products at any Games, 75% of which will be water, juice or reduced sugar varieties.

Coca-Cola is looking to drive a recycling message around the Olympic Park. It aims to turn every soft drink pack recycled within the venue into a new bottle, which will be back on shelf within six weeks of consumption.

The multi-billion dollar companies also will leave a lasting social legacy after the Games.

FIFA have announced that its new Task Force Football 2014 will start its mission on 10 May 2011 when the working group convenes at the Home of FIFA in Zurich for the first time.

The 22-member group consisting of high-profile experts from the world of soccer is to be chaired by Franz Beckenbauer who stepped down from his role on the FIFA Executive Committee this year. The former German international legend will be supported in the performance of his duties by his deputy chairman Pelé, order thought of by many as the greatest player who ever lived.

The Task Force’s objective is to look at proposals to improve both the attractiveness of football and match control in elite competitions in areas such as the Laws of the Game, clinic refereeing, salve competition regulations, women’s football, medical matters and fair play. The Task Force will provide a first report to the FIFA Congress in Zurich on 1 June 2011.

“We’re very proud to have on board some of the highest-profile names in football for this committee. Under the chairmanship of Franz Beckenbauer, this vastly experienced team will address every facet of the game, tackling any challenges related to the game and coming up with appropriate solutions,” said FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter.

Beckenbauer added: “I’ve enjoyed carrying out my role as chairman of the Football Committee since 2007. Since then, my colleagues from around the world and I have achieved a great deal, but important matters such as goal-line technology, additional referees, the so-called ‘triple-punishment’, behaviour on and off the field, as well as various other topics still need to be discussed and positively resolved. As such, I am happy to take on the chairmanship of the Task Force Football 2014 at the invitation of Sepp Blatter. Football remains an important part of my life.”

FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke claims that only two companies have come close to meeting world soccer governing body’s demands on goal-line technology,.

An agreement was reched by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) on Saturday, March 5, that tests on various systems will continue for another year, with the possibility of using such technology at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

However, FIFA was unconvinced by 10 systems tested last month in Zurich, with the governing body calling for 100 per cent accuracy.

In an interview with Sky Sports News, Valcke stated: “I don’t think the idea is to extend (tests) beyond 2012. IFAB has to make a decision. This deadline gives us, and the companies, another 12 months to work on tests.”

He added: “Even as an empty goal, just throwing the ball through to the goal, only two companies reached 98 per cent and 94 per cent. There’s not one company who has reached 100 per cent. It means that either it’s a technical problem, or it’s not good enough to be used for a 90-minute game. That’s where we have to be very careful.”

At the IFAB meeting in Newport at the weekend it was agreed that UEFA should be allowed to use its system of five match officials at Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine. The two extra officials will be behind the goal-line and on the side of the goal next to the assistant referee.

In other news IFAB did address the official rules with regards to the wearing of ‘snoods’, banning them from the game with concerns over health and safety issues.

Celtic Park has been announced as the host of the 2014 Scottish League Cup final between Aberdeen and Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

The home of the champions was in the running for the showpiece event on Sunday, March 16 along with Rangers’ Ibrox Stadium.

Commenting on his choice of venue, SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster said: “Glasgow is blessed with having three stadia with over 50,000 capacity, the only European city with three such grounds.

“Hampden Park is out of action due to the Commonwealth Games this summer so we had to find an alternative venue for the final.

“We had two great venues to choose from, both of which have huge experience of hosting big European games, but Ibrox, we believe, has a game on the Saturday which is likely to be televised.

“So with a televised game at lunchtime on the Saturday there simply wasn’t enough time to de-rig Ibrox in time for the Sunday game so that’s the key reason we have gone with Celtic Park.

“And we are delighted to have a venue of over 60,000 with great experience of hosting really big games.

“We are very hopeful of a big crowd on the day. It has been some years since Aberdeen were last in a major final and I’m sure we will have many, many buses coming down as it’s also the first ever final for Inverness.

“So I think it’s a big game for both teams. I’m sure we’ll get a great support on the day and we’ll need a big stadium for the match. Detailed discussions over ticket allocation and prices will now be held with both teams and officials at Celtic Park.

“We have a couple of weeks now and it’s all hands to the pumps to make sure we have a great final and that we have an appropriate allocation of tickets for both sets of fans.”