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100 Russian volunteers will be selected to work at the London 2012 games with an intention to learn the techniques of taking care of people with disabilities.

Among those who will go to Britain will be Russian citizens, who speak English fluently and can communicate freely to resolve any difficult situations and conflicts.

26 centres are supervising the selection of volunteers in Russia, who will work at first in London and then – at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics.

Yelena Krutitskaya, Russia Director of the Volunteer Centre under the Sholokhov University, said: “We’ve selected a 6-member team to represent our centre at the Paralympic Games in London. All these are students of the faculty of foreign languages, who have been engaged in volunteer activities for more than a year now. The main thing here is the ability to work with people with disabilities, which demands special effort. Young people from all volunteer centres will undergo the selection process in a Sochi camp, and on its results they will be chosen to work in London.”

The experience of working at the Paralympic Games in London will be of great help for the work in Sochi, where a non-barrier environment will be created for people with disabilities.

“Now the future volunteers are being taught to find a positive way out of various conflicts. Our task is to teach the volunteers to work with guests. Any person coming from abroad should feel comfortable in an alien city, and volunteers should learn to create comfortable conditions for everyone. And the main thing at Paralympic Games is the ability to work with people with disabilities. Very often a person in a wheel chair needs not only help but also communication,” Krutitskaya added.

The organizers of the London 2012 Paralympic Games said that they needed 70,000 volunteers to ensure its success. According to the current quota, 6,000 out of them must be foreigners. A delegation led by the head of the volunteer system of the London 2012 Paralympic Games Andrew Newman will arrive in Sochi in early October to supervise the selection of the Russian volunteers there.

Sudan could be banned from international competition by football’s governing body FIFA after a row between the government and the country’s football association.

The government’s Sport Commission had said that current Sudan FA president Kamal Shaddad and several other candidates could not run for election this month.

The decision to bar Shaddad from running for re-election is because he has already held the position for two terms, the limit to holding an international  football job recognised by the Commission.

Under strict FIFA rules, government interference in football is strictly prohibited and has said Sudan now faces a global suspension.

A FIFA statement read: “Any election without respecting the SFA (Sudanese Football Association) statutes and/or under governmental interference will not be recognised by FIFA. IN addition, such interference may lead to sanctions such as a suspension or expulsion.”

Shaddad has said: “They decided to stop me running for re-election as President. That is against FIFA’s fundamental rules.

“FIFA says they do not approve of this situation, and the Sports Commission must reserve its decision or face suspension.”

 

British Eurosport has secured rights to show the British Cycling National Road Championships, generic | with highlights of the women’s road race and the last two hours of the men’s road race being broadcast live on Sunday 29 June, generic British Cycling confirmed today.

The championships also incorporate the British Cycling National Time Trial Championships which take place on Thursday 26 June.

A full highlights programme featuring both the men’s and women’s time trials and road races will be shown on ITV4 on Sunday 29 June and will be available in full on the British Cycling Events YouTube Channel from Wednesday 1 July.

Jonny Clay, for sale British Cycling’s cycle sport and membership director commented: “British Cycling is delighted to be working with both British Eurosport and ITV to bring live and same day highlights coverage of its national road championships to fans of British cycling.  These channels are the home of cycling on TV in this country and as such we will be seeing these prestigious championships broadcast alongside some of the biggest bike races in the world.

“The courses that await Britain’s top riders in Monmouthshire next week are challenging and fans can expect to tune in to some world class racin

Australian captain Lucas Neill has been named Captain Ambassador for the AFC Asian Cup Australia 2015.

Neill’s appointment was announced in Sydney by AFC Asian Cup Australia 2015 Local Organising Committee Chairman Frank Lowy AC as the 500-day countdown began to the biggest football tournament ever held in Australia.

“I have long dreamed of a football event this big coming to Australian shores, bronchi ” Neill said.

“I am passionate about growing the game in Australia and the Asian Cup is a great opportunity for fans to see world-class football right in their backyard. To actually be part of it in the capacity of Captain Ambassador makes it doubly special for me.

“I feel very proud and deeply honoured. It’s like wearing the captain’s armband, but never having to take it off,” said Neill, fresh from signing a contract to play club football in Japan, the reigning Asian champion.

Mr Lowy said Neill was one of the most recognisable faces in Australian football. He had played in both of Australia’s previous Asian Cup campaigns and led the Socceroos in their last attempt.

“It is fitting that Lucas should be the face of the Asian Cup as it comes to Australia for the first time,” Mr Lowy said.

“I am pleased that Lucas has accepted this honour and I know as ambassador he will do his utmost to promote the AFC Asian Cup both in Australia and throughout Asia.”

Local Organising Committee Chief Executive Officer Michael Brown said the tournament was the biggest sporting event in Asia, and represented a key opportunity for Australian governments, business, tourism and sporting interests to engage with the region early in the Asian century.

“It is exciting today to unveil the countdown clock to mark 500 Days to Go until the Asian Cup kicks off in Melbourne on 9 January, 2015,” Mr Brown said.

“Today we are also releasing a promotional reel to boost excitement in the Asian Cup, highlighting our beautiful host cities.

“With Lucas Neill as our Captain Ambassador we are confident that we can spread the word about the Asian Cup to both traditional football fans and the wider community.”

AFC Asian Cup Australia 2015 will take place from January 9-31 in five host cities – Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra and Newcastle.

Paralympics Ireland have re-elected James Gradwell as President for a second four-year term.

Gradwell, pills who headed the organisation for its most successful period of growth, which included the London 2012 Paralympic Games, was delighted with his reappointment by the delegates of the 20 member sports at Irish Sport’s headquarters.

Addressing the members, Gradell stated: “I’m honoured to be re-elected to head this wonderful organisation and am committed to supporting our members and staff drive on from the success of London and sustain our place amongst the leading nations in world para-sport.”

Liam Moggan and John Fulham were also re-elected to as Vice Presidents. Former Triathlon Ireland President Mark Risely was elected as Finance Officer, further enhancing cooperation with one of Paralympics Ireland’s newest member in advance of triathlons debut at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

The new Board also includes Honorary Life member Anne Ebbs, founder of the Paralympic Movement in Ireland, and will have further additions independent member and the Chair of the Athletes Commission.

The elections took place following a special open evening to officially open Paralympics Ireland’s new permanent home at Irish Sport headquarters at the National Sports Campus in Dublin.

Deloitte and BP have partnered up to launch “arc”, a campaign to create 1,000 jobs for local people in the London Olympic Host Boroughs.

Social enterprise will play a key role in providing much needed growth in the months and years ahead research has shown, and so arc has been launched to create a social legacy post Olympics which is financially sustainable.

Olympic Host Boroughs, including Hackney and Newham, are among the most deprived in the country, and their high levels of unemployment make them particularly good areas for arc to focus upon.

Arc combines the expertise and resources of BP and Deloitte along with Business in the Community, who have 30 years of experience campaigning to make business more responsible socially.

Peter Mather, BP Europe region head said: “BP is delighted to be a founding partner of arc. We believe in supporting the development of communities in which we operate and, as an official partner of London 2012, we are working hard to deliver a sustainable legacy from the Games. Through arc we will be helping to support the creation of 1,000 new jobs in the Olympic boroughs, including practical support from BP employees to the social enterprises involved.”

Deloitte’s chief executive, John Connolly, said: “As a leading business we believe it is our responsibility to ensure Deloitte contributes to a sustainable and prosperous society. I would say that most innovation that is good for society is also good for business. The pioneering spirit of entrepreneurs and innovators has a direct ability to help build a better society, enhancing the quality of human lives.”

Social Enterprise UK are the lead strategic partner of the project, and their chief executive Peter Holbrook commented, “arc will help raise awareness of social enterprise across the capital. It’ll be terrific to see social enterprises start-up and grow in some of London’s most deprived Boroughs.

“Not only will jobs be provided at a time when youth unemployment is at an all time high, but whole communities will benefit because social enterprises are a force for good – they exist to tackle social issues and environmental problems.”

The initial couple of social enterprises will be Bikeworks, which seeks to offer a range of public cycle services and whose co-founder David Miller is pictured with Edwards, whilst also reducing landfill, and Blue Sky Development and Regeneration, which provides paid work for ex prisoners, and who have a success rate in reducing re-offending by 75 per cent.

Business in the Community chief executive Stephen Howard added: “Small businesses are the lifeblood of our economy and the backbone of strong prosperous communities. It is crucially important that responsible businesses collaborate to stimulate and support enterprise growth, particularly in area of greatest need such as the Olympic host boroughs.

“Arc will create a lasting social legacy in historically deprived communities and we stand with our partner companies to ensure that it delivers what these communities need.”

sale helvetica, bronchi sans-serif;”>The Special Olympics World Summer Games have been awarded to Los Angeles for the 2015 event the first time in 16 years the Games will return to the US.

therapy helvetica, sans-serif;”>The announcement was made at a press conferences attended by the city’s Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Special Olympics chairman and CEO Timothy Shriver and about 20 legendary Olympic athletes and 20 Special Olympics athletes.

Special Olympics board member, Donna DeVarona, who is a sports broadcaster and double gold medal swimmer, co- hosted the event together with Dustin Plunkett, Special Olympics athlete, International Global Messenger and member of the Los Angeles bid committee.

In a rallying speech at the Staples Center in downtown LA, Shriver said he was “thrilled” to be bringing the Games to Los Angeles.

Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the Special Olympics is the largest sport and humanitarian event in the world, having grown from a few hundred athletes to more than 3.7 million athletes in over 170 countries in all regions of the world.

Alternating between Summer and Winter Games, Special Olympics World Games hosts the sporting talents of people with intellectual disabilities around the world.

Announcing LA as the host city for the next Summer edition, Shriver and Patrick McClenahan, chairman of the Los Angeles Bid Committee signed an agreement that will see McClenahan now become the president and CEO of the 2015 Special Olympics World Games Organizing Committee.

“Bringing our World Games to a city as powerful and prominent on the world stage as Los Angeles will allow our Special Olympics athletes to showcase their talents and demonstrate to the world the best in sports,” said Shriver.

McClenahan added: “In a city full of movie stars and all-stars, our Special Olympics athletes will be the stars of this show as they demonstrate their skills, courage and joy.  Los Angeles will provide the world stage necessary to create the awareness that leads to increased acceptance and inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities throughout Southern California, the nation and the world.”

The next major event on the Special Olympic calendar will be the 2013 Special Olympics World Winter Games, which will take place in PyeongChang. The Games will form a nice warm-up for the South Korean city, that was recently selected by the IOC to host the 2018 Winter Olympic Games.

The 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games took place in Athens, Greece where around 7,000 athletes from 170 countries participated – similar numbers are expected in LA in 2015. 
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Football’s governing body, FIFA, has cleared Football Federation Australia (FFA) of any wrongdoing in its bid for the 2022 World Cup as the country prepares to welcome a team of inspectors.

Newspaper reports had claimed FFA had used various financial incentives to gain favour with FIFA committee members, but FIFA has written to FFA to say there are no grounds to open a case, and the matter is now closed.

FFA chief executive Ben Buckley said: “We stated all along that those damaging allegations were false. Subsequently we have been cleared by the Federal Government, independent auditors and now by FIFA.

“With this behind us we can now concentrate on our bid to bring the biggest sporting event in teh world to Australia in 2022.”

FFA chairman Frank Lowy added: “We are totally focused on bringing the FIFA World Cup to Australia in 2022. The inspection tour of Australia provides an opportunity to showcase our first-class infrastructure and share details of our proposal for a uniquely  Australian 2022 FIFA World Cup with FIFA directly.”

Asian sports channel Ten Sports has extended the broadcast rights for the premium football competitions: UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League for the next cycle of three seasons starting 2015-16.

Ten Sports has been airing these premier football competitions since 2006-07.

“UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League rights had become the most key football property up for acquisition and Ten Sports Network reaffirms its commitment to promoting quality football through this major acquisition after beating other rival broadcasters to secure these rights, stomach ” the channel said through a statement.

The new deal between UEFA and Ten Sports beginning from the 2015-16 season covers exclusive broadcast rights for the Indian subcontinent which includes India, Pakistan, Sri-Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives and Afghanistan. Ten Sports will broadcast these properties across all its platforms including premium HD offerings and live streaming of matches on tensports.com.

The channel will broadcast 145 matches of UEFA Champions League and 205 matches of UEFA Europa League every season. Apart from these matches, it will also broadcast the annual UEFA Super Cup, the curtain raiser at the beginning of the European season played between the winners of the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League.  

Ten Sports CEO Rajesh Sethi: “We are delighted to extend our partnership with UEFA and have the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League on the Ten Sports Network. Over the last decade, the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League have found a home in the Indian subcontinent at Ten Sports. We thank UEFA and team for all their support and hope to continue and build on the strong and mutually beneficial relationship we have with them. Over the next four seasons we will continue to build on the quality programming we offer around these marquee properties and strive to innovate to increase viewership and audience interest and engagement around these properties.”