Respected longtime motorsports executive Derrick Walker will become President, Operations & Competition of IndyCar, effective May 27, Hulman & Company chief executive officer Mark Miles announced today.

Walker will be responsible for all technical and competition aspects of the racing operations at the open-wheel sanctioning body.

“We’re pleased to welcome Derrick Walker to this vital role,” said Mark Miles, chief executive officer, Hulman & Company, the parent company of IndyCar. “We spoke with many of our constituents about an ideal person for this job, and Derrick’s name emerged early and often.

“After speaking with many talented candidates, Derrick stood out because his decades of experience in North American open-wheel racing blend ownership and management for his own race teams and other teams. He understands how to balance the technical and financial operations of our sport, and his confident leadership will provide a firm, clear direction for long-term IndyCar operations and competition.”

“I have had the opportunity to participate in the business of professional racing my entire life, and I have gained valuable experience from many different angles,” Walker said. “Leading the operations and competition aspects of IndyCar is a perfect place to leverage my experiences and relationships to help ensure that IndyCar racing is exciting and engaging for our fans, that our drivers and owners are able to showcase their talents through our events, and that our technical partners are able to use our racing platform for innovation and development.”

Reporting directly to Walker will be Brian Barnhart, who will serve as senior vice president of operations; race director Beaux Barfield; vice president of technology Will Phillips; vice president of technology, timing and scoring Jon Koskey; director of grassroots initiatives Jason Penix; and Firestone Indy Lights director Anton “Tony” George Jr.

Walker, 68, comes to IndyCar after serving as general manager for Ed Carpenter Racing in the IZOD IndyCar Series, leading the team to a victory last September at Auto Club Speedway in the team’s first season.

A native of Scotland, Walker brings more than 40 years of experience in many forms of racing to IndyCar, beginning as a mechanic and culminating in the creation and ownership of a successful racing team, Walker Motorsports, Ltd., since 1990. Over his career, Walker has worked with teams like Ferrari in sports car racing, Brabham and Penske Racing in Formula One, and Porsche and Penske Racing in Indy car. Walker spent 13 years with legendary Indianapolis 500 team owner Roger Penske as part of Penske Cars Ltd., which designed and manufactured race-winning Penske Indy cars in the United Kingdom, and also served as vice president of racing for Penske Racing.

The finish line for the race to host the 2018 Winter Olympics and Paralympics edges closer as the three bidding cities visit Lome, in Togo, to attend the Assembly of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA).

Annecy, Munich and Pyeongchang are each sending high-level delegations to the event, where there are expected to be up to six International Olympic Committee (IOC) members attending.

The cities are due to make their final presentations on Tuesday 28 June before they travel to Durban, where the IOC will be choosing the winner on July 6 at its Session.

Charles Beigbeder, the President of Annecy 2018, will be accompanied by the 2002 Olympic slalom champion Jean-Pierre Vidal, who is a bid vice-president, and Denis Masseglia, President of the French National Olympic and Sports Committee.

He said: “This will be the last lap of our international tour promoting our bid, before 6 July and the verdict in Durban. I would like to give heartfelt thanks to ANOCA for giving us this final opportunity to present the bid in which we believe so strongly.

“This is a bid we believe we can win and the team will be doing all they can to show the IOC Annecy would be the best and most nurturing home possible for the Winter Games in 2018.”

Munich will be led by Katarina Witt, the 1984 and 1988 Olympic skating champion who is the chair of the campaign, and also include Thomas Bach, the President of the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) and the vice-president of the IOC, and Bernhard Schwank, the chief executive of the bid.

Their message centres on its outreach programme which plans to give developing nations the opportunity to train in Germany and utilise their facilities, including trying out winter sports for the first time.

Witt said: “It is great to have the opportunity to share Munich 2018’s vision with the Olympic family this week, especially as I’m sure many of the people here may already have experienced the benefits of the DOSB’s outreach programme.

“We will offer opportunities to athletes and coaches from every sport and every nation; Munich 2018 is committed to using our excellent resources to help strengthen the Olympic Movement.

“The DOSB has been running a groundbreaking NOC (National Olympic Committee) outreach programme for 50 years. A total of 1,300 projects spanning five continents have touched the lives of over 100,000 athletes.”

Pyeongchang, meanwhile, are hoping that taking Olympic skating champion Kim Yu-Na to the event will impress the Africans.

She will be joined by Yang Ho Cho, the Pyeongchang 2018 chairman and chief executive, and Park Yong-sung, President of the Korean Olympic Committee (KOC).

Tickets have gone on sale to the general public hoping to attend the 2012 London Olympics, today, March 15.

6.6 million tickets are available via the London 2012 website and will remain so for a period of six-weeks, within which organisers have gained that all applications will be treated equally.

Prices to the general public range from £20.12 to £2,012 and oversubscribed events will be decided by a ballot.

Additional to online applications, interested fans can apply using a paper form obtainable from branches of Lloyds TSB in England, Bank of Scotland in Scotland or libraries in Northern Ireland between now and the April 25 deadline.

Although several events will be free to attend, such as the marathon, and 2.5 million tickets will be available for £20 and under, half a billion pounds is forecast to be raised from the sales.

The remaining 2.2 million tickets from the overall allocation of 8.8 million will be split, with roughly half issued to National Olympic Committees (NOC) of each country, and the other half split between sponsors, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), guests and hospitality partners.

The event organisers are widening access to corporate hospitality tickets for the first time to tap into the market for companies and wealthy individuals as, the only way for individuals and non-sponsors to get guaranteed tickets is through the official hospitality programs.

Bloomberg have reported that London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG), is counting on selling packages worth as much as £4,500 (US$7,280) a person to companies in London’s financial district and the wealthy at the same time the U.K. government is implementing the deepest spending cuts since World War II.

The committee is breaking with Olympic tradition because the market for corporate hospitality is “enormous,” Paul Deighton, chief executive officer of the London organizing committee said in an interview. “That’s why we decided it was better to make it an official program,” Deighton added. “It’s better than corporate hospitality cropping up unofficially.”

In other news, On Monday night, March 14, a giant clock counting down the days until the start of the Games was unveiled in Trafalgar Square.

Lord Coe, the chairman of London 2012, said: “If you look at the way we have put the price points together I think we’ve done that in a really smart way. I think those prices are affordable.

“Yes, the big ticket events are always going to be the big ticket events, but there are plenty of opportunities to see the big stars at the lower price points.”

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have announced a new commercial partnership with News UK which will enable the company to show near live video clips of England’s international matches across all digital platforms. 

Starting next month, the two year agreement will enable online subscribers to The Sun, The Times and Sunday Times to catch all the key moments from England’s games including falls of wickets, fours and sixes.

Highlights will be available via PC, smartphone or tablet for all England’s home international fixtures over the next two years including tours by Sri Lanka and India this summer and next year’s tours by Australia and New Zealand.

The deal will also encompass Sky’s coverage of televised county matches with near live clips of match action being made available to online subscribers to The Sun, The Times and Sunday Times as well.

ECB CEO David Collier said: “We are delighted to be entering into partnership with one of the UK’s biggest media companies and a major provider of high quality sporting content. Achieving increased digital exposure for the sport is a key priority for ECB and this agreement will enable England supporters to follow the team online across all three formats of the international game. “

Mike Darcey, CEO of News UK, said: “This new deal further strengthens our great sporting offer built around our world-class journalism. Thrilling football and rugby action is now joined by exciting England international cricket clashes so a subscription to one of our titles is a must for sports fans who want to keep up with the game in the digital era.”

Annecy, Munich and Pyeongchang all delivered their final international presentations on their bids for the 2018 Winter Olympics and Paralympics to the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) in Lome, the capital of Togo, before heading for Durban where they will find out which city has been chosen to host the Games.

Each bid tried to concentrate on what they could offer to Africa, a continent not traditionally associated with winter sports if they are awarded the Games when the International Olympic Committee (IOC) members vote at their Session on July 6. 

Charles Beigbeder, the President of Annecy 2018, said: “Annecy wants to share its spectacular mountains, its hospitality and its passion for sport so that the 2018 Winter Games inspire the whole world, especially young people. Annecy is a bid which is open to the world and all of its peoples.

“It is because of these very principles that France was one of the first countries in the world to implement an international sporting cooperation policy, particularly in Africa. A long-term policy focusing on human development because we believe that sport is a key factor of economic development, a creator of social links and a way of bringing people together.”

Denis Masseglia, the President of the French National Olympic and Sports Committee, endorsed this message, promising that they would try to help athletes from African countries get as many opportunities as possible to compete in winter sports but also promising to extend that offer to summer sports. 

“Sport and development actions, which are closely linked, are a constant preoccupation for France and its sporting movement. They go hand in hand with education and youth and are part of a global international cooperation strategy.”

Munich, meanwhile, chose to focus on the fact that their development programme in Africa had begun long before the bidding process for the 2018 Games.

Munich 2018’s high-profile delegation, comprising chair Katarina Witt, German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) President Thomas Bach, and bid chief executive Bernhard Schwank were joined on stage by two guest presenters who have first hand experience of the DOSB’s outreach programme.

Bach promised that by choosing Munich to host the Olympics and Paralympics it would strengthen the bond between Germany and Africa.

He said: “I am deeply convinced that Munich 2018 will deliver great benefits to each of your NOCs (National Olympic Committees). Let us renew our historic sports and cultural partnership through Munich 2018. 

“Let us build an even stronger future together, for the benefit of millions of young Africans across the next generations. 

“With your support, we are looking forward to welcoming you to our Festival of Friendship in 2018: a genuine and true celebration of the magic of the Olympic Winter Games, in an atmosphere that we will all cherish together and never, ever forget.”

Pyeongchang 2018 also highlighted how its bid would help African NOCs develop more winter sports athletes and fans, and expand the overall winter sports industry in new markets.

But  the chairman and chief executive of Pyeongchang 2018, Yang Ho Cho, did not make any specific promises. 

He outlined their vision by saying: “Our vision, called ‘New Horizons’, is simple. We want to help promote the Olympic Movement, and grow winter sport to new regions and connect with new audiences. 

“We think that this is unique in this race for 2018, and it is something that only Pyeongchang 2018 can provide.”

Iran have announced that they will compete in next year’s London Olympics despite protesting over the event’s logo, which they claim is racist. However, they do intend to complain to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) after British Prime Minister David Cameron called them “paranoid” after the nation threatened to boycott next year’s Games.

Cameron has incensed the head of the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mohammad Aliabadi after hitting out at their criticism of the logo. The nation’s NOC had alleged that the jagged, multi-coloured emblem featuring four bold numerals representing 2012, with the Olympic Rings emblazoned within the digit zero, spelt out the world “Zion”.

In an interview with London based Jewish News, Cameron had stated: “It’s completely paranoid.

“If the Iranians don’t want to come, don’t come; we won’t miss you. 

“It would be a crazy reason for not coming.”

Aliabadi has revealed that they have written to the IOC President Jacques Rogge and the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) to protest about Cameron’s remarks, though that would not prevent them competing in the Games.

“British politicians mustn’t comment on the matter,” Aliabadi said.

“We are going to take part gloriously in the 2012 Olympic Games.”

Cameron’s remarks have, predictably, been widely condemned in Iran and there have been calls for them to boycott the Games over them, including the spokesman on foreign affairs for the Majlis, the Iranian Parliament, Kazem Jalai. 

Jalai stated: “An Islamic campaign to boycott London 2012 Olympics Games would be an appropriate response to David Cameron’s insolent remarks about Iran’s criticism of the 2012 logo, which it said spells out the word ‘Zion’.”

Ismaeel Kosari, the vice chairman of the Majlis Foreign Policy Commission, has also hit out at Cameron, adding: “The British Premier has forgotten that the British bullying era is over and the world’s free nations have strongly slapped the bullies including Americans, British and the Zionists in the face.”

British broadcaster Sky Sports have secured a five-year agreement to show France’s Top 14 exclusively live.

From August 2014, Sky Sports will have rights to 55 live matches a season from French rugby’s leading competition, featuring stars from 28 different nations including Jonny Sexton, Jamie Roberts, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Matt Giteau and Bryan Habana.

Sky Sports will show at least two live Top 14 matches and a highlights programme a week through to the Play-Offs and Final in June. The top six teams at the end of the regular season will qualify to join the following season’s European Rugby Champions Cup which is also live on Sky Sports.

The deal is the latest in a series of long-term rights announcements by Sky Sports this year, including British & Irish Lions Tour 2017, PGA Tour Golf, IPL cricket, Scottish Football and Super League rugby.

Sky Sports Managing Director Barney Francis said: “This agreement brings even more top class rugby union to Sky Sports. Top 14 rugby features some of the best international players and best teams and this deal strengthens our unrivalled rugby schedule even further.”

LNR President Paul Goze added: “We’re pleased to announce this partnership with Sky and to secure such a strong partner on a long-term deal. Sky will provide an extensive coverage of the competition, and we expect to enlarge our UK fan base further in the next five seasons.”

Australia’s Gold Coast’s plans for the 2018 event have been described as “exciting” by Commonwealth Games officials, after completing an inspection visit to Australia on Thursday.

Gold Coast are competing with the Sri Lankan city of Hambantota for the games. The host to be named at the Federation’s General Assembly in St. Kitts and Nevis on November 11 later this year.

The Commonwealth Games Federation Evaluation Commission met with the Queensland state Premier Anna Bligh, Gold Coast Mayor and former athletics great Ron Clark, the bid team and the Australian Commonwealth Games Association.

Louise Martin, who was chair of Glasgow’s successful campaign to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games, leads the Evaluation Commission. She said: “Overall, we can tell you that the proposition of staging the Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast is an exciting one and appears, based on our initial analysis, to be sound.

“The international audience and focus that the Commonwealth Games will further enhance the international standing and image of the Gold Coast and assist to promote it as one of the world’s great destinations.”

The evaluation commission is due to travel to Hambantota for a visit next week and will release its report on the two bid cities by October 11.