Former LPGA director Mike Scanlan has joined IMG Golf North America as Director of Public Relations and Communications.

Mike joins IMG following a seven-year stint at the LPGA, where he most recently held the role of Director, Media Communications. Between 2007 and 2013, he traveled to more than 140 LPGA tournaments in 13 countries, organizing media efforts at 15 major championships and three Solheim Cup tournaments.

“We are very pleased to have attracted a professional of Mike’s caliber,” said Clarke Jones, Senior Vice President of IMG and Managing Director, The Americas, IMG Golf, to whom Scanlan will report. “Mike has great skills and a terrific reputation with the golf media and we are confident he will contribute greatly to the continued success of IMG Golf.”

Throughout his career, he has been instrumental in building relationships with key media members, players and tournament personnel. Recently, he orchestrated the media launch of the International Crown, organized global media availability surrounding Inbee Park’s major championship run and handled crisis communications situations including significant weather issues at the LPGA’s Bahamas event.

Mike served as a primary contact for Golf Channel production staff and talent at more than 100 LPGA events. He also oversaw the LPGA’s press release schedule and publications and served as a spokesman on behalf of the Tour.

Mike began his career in sports as a graduate assistant in the Buffalo Bills Communications Department during the 2006 NFL season. He graduated from John Carroll University with a B.A. in Communications.

Wales are contemplating a bid to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games, pills BBC Wales have reported.

Welsh government are said to be working with Cardiff council and “key stakeholders”, and a feasibility study into the cost of hosting such an event is underway.

“We have made a commitment to work with Cardiff City Council to look at the feasibility of bidding to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games,” the Welsh government has said.

Adding: “We are working with the council and other key stakeholders, such as the Commonwealth Games Council for Wales, to meet that commitment.”

Volodymyr Gerashchenko, a senior Ukrainian Olympic official offering the tickets of London 2012 Olympics in exchange for cash has been expelled by his country’s National Olympic Committee.

Volodymyr Gerashchenko, General Secretary of the Ukrainian NOC, claimed that he would have as many as 100 tickets to sell.

According to the BBC, a statement on the NOC website said Gerashchenko would be excluded from the organisation for “violation of membership obligations”.

A commission established by the NOC found he had “grossly violated the basic principles of Olympism”, following which Gerashchenko resigned last month

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) have released a press statement, anesthetist announcing that it will hold a Working Meeting on irregular and illegal sports betting on Tuesday 1 March 2011 at their Headquarters in Lausanne.

The meeting, which will be chaired by IOC President Jacques Rogge, will comprise members of the Olympic Movement, including representatives from International Federations and National Olympic Committees.

Ministers from Australia, France, Switzerland and the UK, international organisations such as Interpol, the European Union, the United Nations, and sports betting operators will also be in attendance.

The statement stressed that the meeting will be closed to the media but working facilities will be provided, and the IOC President will hold a press conference at 3 p.m. (CET) on the same day at the IOC Headquarters.

Nigeria will push to go to the United States for their pre-World Cup training base, according to coach Stephen Keshi.

Football officials had previously floated the idea of training in Argentina, Colombia or the United States.

But Keshi says he has refined the list to two American cities, Miami or Houston, because they are likely to have similar weather as Sao Paulo, the Brazilian city where the Super Eagles will be based for the tournament.

Nigeria are scheduled to begin their World Cup training on May 25.

“I have proposed that we camp in the United States because by the time we would be opening our camping the US would have the same weather as Brazil,” Keshi said.

“There are several US cities that would be hot like Brazil and would have the same temperature (as) Sao Paolo.”

He specifically identified Miami and Houston, which has a large Nigerian community.

Japan will most likely be one of Nigeria’s pre-tournament friendly opponents after they expressed a desire to test their readiness against the Eagles.

“While in Brazil for the draw, I was told Japan were interested in playing us, but I would also like to play countries like Peru,” Keshi said.

“Considering the countries we have in our group, I would love the Eagles to play countries from the region that have the same playing style,” he added.

“But it would also depend on the availability of such countries because some of them may have concluded their friendly arrangement already.”

Nigeria will face Argentina, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Iran in the first round of next year’s World Cup.

Following on from last year’s success, there iSportconnect are delighted to announce an event partnership with the Annual Conference on International Sports Law 2014.

iSportconnect, doctor the world’s leading sports business platform, will become the official social media partners for the event taking place at the home of Chelsea Football Club in London on the 27th February 2014. 

Following a presentation on the important developments from the preceding 12 months, a panel of experts from the sports industry will consider the key legal and business issues in four separate panel sessions on the Challenges of Promoting and Staging International Events, the Impact of Digital/Social Media in Sport, Managing Disputes in Sport, and Controlling Spending in Sport. 

Management Forum’s Marketing Manager Nick Pycraft said: “The International Sports Law Conference goes from strength to strength, with another great panel of sports industry experts ready to share their opinions and insights. We are delighted to be working once again with iSportconnect, who provide delegates with a platform to discuss the issues pre- and post-conference in our Annual Sports Law Conference group on the iSportconnect website, adding to their conference experience. 

iSportconnect’s CEO, Sree Varma, added: “We are delighted to once again partner with Annual Conference on International Sports Law and Business for the 2014 event. This is a good opportunity for iSportconnect to be partner of a great event, and we look forward to working with them before and during the event.”

Newly formed Major League Soccer club New York City FC have announced Time Pernetti will become their Chief Business Officer.

The appointment follows the announcement in May of this year that Manchester City Football Club, viagra 60mg together with the New York Yankees, apoplectic had acquired Major League Soccer’s 20th expansion club.

Pernetti, vcialis 40mg who brings more than 18 years of Business and Media experience to the role, will report directly to Chief Executive Officer Ferran Soriano.  He will oversee all business operations for the Club, which is set to commence competition in the MLS in March of 2015.

Tim becomes New York City FC’s second major appointment and joins Claudio Reyna, the Club’s Director of Football, who is responsible for all football operations.

Prior to his appointment at NYCFC, Pernetti served most recently as Director of Athletics at Rutgers University. During his four-year tenure he directed and oversaw record business revenue and fundraising growth totalling more than $120M. He also designed and executed the agreement for Rutgers to join the prestigious Big Ten Conference in all sports- an historic agreement to maximize access, resources and media exposure.

Speaking of the appointment, Chief Executive Officer Ferran Soriano said: “The post of Chief Business Officer attracted a significant number of high caliber candidates but Tim’s extensive experience in New York sports business was particularly compelling. He fits perfectly within our organisation, adding different skills and talent to our existing international management group. He is the ideal person for this role and we very much look forward to the contribution that he will make.”

Speaking of the appointment, Tim Pernetti said: “I feel truly privileged to have been appointed to this position and to play a key role in building this Club from its infancy.  I relish the opportunity to be part of a global organisation, and also to use my experience  to create a first class Club for New Yorkers and one in which they will always have a voice.  This is a tremendously exciting time for all involved and interested in soccer in New York and beyond.”

Tim will begin his role with immediate effect and will be based in New York City’s recently opened Manhattan office.

Tokyo 2020 head Tsunekzu Takeda said that Tokyo’s bid for the 2020 Summer Olympic Games has a better chance now than when it bid for the 2016 Games.

Tokyo was competing against four cities when it bid for the 2016 Summer Games, but this time it faces only two cities – Madrid and Istanbul. Istanbul is divided into a European and an Asian side, making Tokyo the only wholly Asian bid. Takeda, an IOC member and head of Japan’s Olympic Committee, told Reuters “I think it is a big difference this time.

“Last time it was spread out around four continents. This time it is two from Europe and one from Asia. I think this is better for us.”

Takeda said despite a growing Asian presence on the Olympic map, it was not a drawback. He said, “(IOC President) Jacques Rogge said the Winter and Summer Games are a totally different thing and Tokyo is not in a disadvantage. There are different dynamics.

“Asia is becoming stronger. The economy is coming up and sports is increasing”, he said.

Tokyo wants to use the Games as a way to recover from last year’s earthquake and tsunami leaving up to 20,000 people dead or missing.

Takeda added, “The 2016 bid has been enhanced as part of the recovery effort. Many IOC members and sports people have understood that our young people need this hope for the future.”

London 2012 organisers announced today that authentic London 2012 Torches will be available from an official online auction during the Olympic Torch Relay.

Torches will be released in special limited editions marking significant moments along the Relay and featuring signed metallic shards by athletes and celebrities. Packaged in an Olympic Torch Relay collectors box, they come with a certificate of authenticity.

The auctions will take place at the official London 2012 auction site and the proceeds will help subsidise the costs of Torches to Torchbearers and contribute towards the staging of the Games.

The auction site will also allow Olympic fans to bid for rare and remarkable pieces of sporting equipment used in the Olympic competitions. Items up for grabs will include a baton from the Men’s 4 x 100 Relay, a beach volleyball from the Horse Guard’s Parade competition site and tennis balls from Wimbledon,

LOCOG commercial director Chris Townsend said: “The London 2012 auction not only offers fans the chance to own a piece of history but helps subsidise the cost of Torches for Torchbearers.”