London have been awarded the 2017 World Championships by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).

They beat rivals Doha by polling 16 votes to their rivals 10, a bigger margin than most experts had predicted.

This is another success for Sebastian Coe, who had led the bid, coming six years after he had led London’s campaign to host the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics.

The 2017 World Championships will mark the first time Britain has ever hosted the Championships, the third largest international sporting event in terms of athlete numbers after the Olympics and the FIFA World Cup.

London were awarded the 2005 World Championships but was forced to pull out after then Prime Minister Tony Blair broke a promise to build a new stadium at Picketts Lock.

The English capital, which failed with bids to host the 2001 and 2015 Worlds, will use the 2012 Olympic Stadium.

Sebastian Coe said: “This bid has been developed by athletes and athletics, for athletes and athletics.

“We believe 2017 will cement the clear, unambiguous vision we offered the world in 2005 [when London was awarded the 2012 Olympics], a vision that promised a real legacy through unprecedented levels of investment in our new national stadium. This is the natural continuation of the work being done on 2022”

The Northern Ireland Football League has announced today that they have signed a long-term contract with TRACKCHAMP, a joint venture between bwin.party digital entertainment and Chyronhego, to be their Official Streaming and Data Partner.

In a deal that is the first of its kind in Northern Ireland, TRACKCHAMP produces real-time streaming video with graphics and will collect performance data for every Danske Bank Premiership game from the start of next season. Such data will include player speed and distance covered, ball speed, the percentage of possession of each team, and many other statistics. TRACKCHAMP will also offer NIFL clubs its video and data analytics tool – TCoach – which will help football coaches analyse the performance of teams and players in a unique way.

Throughout the season over 250 games will be streamed live over the internet, providing global reach, brand awareness and visibility for the League, clubs and its players.

This partnership will also provide up to 20 part-time jobs through the recruitment of independent ‘Match Operators’ who will attend each Premiership and League Cup match throughout the season.

Andrew Johnston, Managing Director NIFL, said:  “TRACKCHAMP is the most innovative project in the area of sports data collection and the fact that we have been able to sign a long-term agreement with them is brilliant news for football in Northern Ireland.

“Sports data collection and analysis has become vitally important not only for coaches and players, but also for fans who like to know the key statistics relating to their team and players. The NI Football League’s mission is to create a vibrant brand and provide a platform for our clubs to improve their quality and image, enhancing the commercial value of the game to achieve a sound and sustainable financial future. This partnership with TRACKCHAMP goes a long way to helping us achieve this goal.”

Martin Füreder, who heads up business-to-business for TRACKCHAMP, said: “We are proud to be working as a team with the second-oldest football league in the world which can now use TRACKCHAMP to help raise the visibility and performance of its clubs.

“The NI Football league clubs can take advantage of and benefit from TRACKCHAMP’s many unique features including live-streaming, data collection and video analysis. ‘He runs, he shoots, he scores’ will now be embellished with all kinds of data to give a very different view of the great game of football.”

Peter Lawell, CEO of Celtic, has joined the board for the Scottish Football Association.

The 54-year-old has been nominated as the representative of the Professional Game Board, which contributes to the running of football in Scotland.

Lawwell joins the Scottish FA’s chief Executive Stewart Regan, president Campbell Ogilvie, Alan McRae, Rod Petrie and Barrie Jackson on the board.

“Clearly I am pleased to accept this nomination,” Lawwell said of his appointment. “Whilst there are certain challenges facing the game in Scotland, there is also a great deal to be positive about and much to look forward to.

“We must build on these positives and along with other board members I look forward to playing my part in working to improve and develop various aspects of the game, for the benefit of Scottish football as a whole.”

A representative from the Non-Professional Game Board is to be appointed at a later date.

South Africa will replace Libya as host of the 2013 African Cup of Nations, the Conferation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed.

The news is a boost to the South African Football Association (SAFA), which came under fire from CAF General Secretary Hicham El Amrani after recently announcing it would host the tournament.

SAFA recently revealed it had agreed with the Libyan Football Association to switch hosting rights for the 2013 and 2017 tournaments.

Concern about the security situation in Libya caused African football officials to reconsider the country’s status as the 2013 competition host. However, Libya is now scheduled to host the 2017 edition of the tournament.

South Africa was awarded hosting of the 2013 Cup of Nations ahead of rivals bids from Algeria and Nigeria. South Africa, host of the 2010 World Cup, has also been awarded Libya’s hosting of the 2014 African Nations Championship- a tournament for locally-based footballers.

A CAF statement said: “The Executive Committee…decided on the swapping between Libya and South Africa for 2013 and 2017 respectively, considering the current political situation prevailing in Libya.”

“This means that South Africa will host 2013 Africa Cup of Nations and Libya, 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.”

South Africa’s hosting of the 2013 ACON will help dispel the view that some of the South Africa 2010 World Cup stadiums have become ‘White Elephants’

SAFA President Kirsten Nematandani said: “The Nations Cup presents them with a great opportunity. They will be better utilised for the better use of the game itself and [illustrate] that taxpayers’ money has been well-invested.”

Royal couple Kate Middleton and Prince William along with Prince Harry are to be official ambassadors for the London 2012 Olympics.

William, Kate and Harry said they were “honoured” to become ambassadors for Team GB and ParalympicsGB, and will play an active role encouraging the public to support the sportsmen and women.

It is likely the trio will visit the teams over the coming months before the Olympics begin next July and the Paralympics a month later, and also have some involvement in the global competitions.

They began their ambassadorial role with a message of support for the Team GB Ambition Programme, announced today, which offers aspiring athletes and coaches a first-hand understanding of the Olympic environment during the Games.

William said: “Catherine, Harry and I are honoured to be ambassadors for Team GB and ParalympicsGB.

“London hosting the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games will inspire so many people – particularly the young – to be the best they can be.

“We are hugely looking forward to this incredible sporting competition, but are also looking beyond next summer’s Games to the springboard it will provide for future success and excellence.

“The athletes and coaches taking part in the Team GB Ambition Programme are part of that future success – potential medal-winners and sources of inspiration to come.

“We hope they enjoy the experience of London 2012 to the full, and learn from it how to become successful British Olympians of the future.”