Inas, the International Federation for sport for athletes with an intellectual disability within the Paralympic Movement, have announced Brazil’s Jose Amaury Russo has been elected their new President replacing Dr Bob Price OBE.

He becomes Inas’ first President to be elected from outside of Europe in its 26 year history and will lead the organisation as it builds towards the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. 

Russo, 59, was declared the winner in a close election contest with UK nominee Dr Geoff Smedley. He has more than 30 years experience in disability sport, including holding positions with the Brazilian Paralympic Committee and ABDEM (the Brazilian member organisation of Inas) and is a Director of ‘Piquesporte’ – a health and fitness facility in Sao Paolo. 

As the results were announced he led a number of emotional tributes to former President Dr Bob Price OBE, who steps down after six years at the organisation’s helm. 

“You have led Inas through some difficult times and achieved so much. I will work hard to build on that success and behalf of all Inas athletes, I wish you well in your retirement,” said Russo. 

Further tributes were paid to Bengt Lindstedt (Sweden) and Michel Chopinaud (France) who also stepped down at the election. 

Further appointments included Robyn Smith (Australia) who becomes Vice President, Karon Nicol (UK) and Barry Holman (USA) become Treasurer and Secretary General respectively and Prof. Jan Burns (UK) and Marc Truffaut (France) were re-elected to the posts of Head of Eligibility and Technical Officer.

Annecy’s bid President Charles Beigbeder has claimed that the 2018 Winter Olympics and Paralympics bid is not being hampered by lack of money, after reports suggested that they are US$3.6m short of their budget and struggling with only 30 days until the final decision.

The French national media reported that the figure is missing from the $42.4m previously announced by the Annecy 2018.

Gwendal Peizerat, managing director of Sports in the Rhone-Alpes, claimed they had decided to abstain from a vote on the budget since there were too many uncertainties on the revenue if Annecy were awarded the Games. 

But Beigbeder insisted there is no problem ahead of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session in Durban on July 6 to decide who will host the Games, between themselves, Munich and PyeongChang.

Beigbeder released a statement, reading: “I would like to make it 100 per cent clear that Annecy 2018 has a balanced budget approved by stakeholders.

“We have all of the funds necessary to compete in this race between now and the final decision in Durban.

“We fully believe this is a bid that can win and are proud of our vision of authentic Games in the heart of the mountains for the benefit the entire Olympic Movement and Winter Sports worldwide.”

Much of the talk regarding the soccer tournament involved with the London 2012 Olympics has surrounded the potential involvement of a Great Britain side. Football Associations of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland protested against allowing their players to compete amid fears of losing their independence from FIFA.

However, the competition has taken somewhat of a blow in attracting the world’s greatest players after two-time defending champions Argentina, and in turn back-to-back World Footballer of the Year, Lionel Messi, failed to qualify.

Messi had reportedly hoped to take part in the Games in London as one of three over-age players each country is allowed to pick but the news will come as a relief to his club side Barcelona, who are among several leading European sides trying to prevent their top players taking part in the Olympics.

Argentina missed out despite beating Colombia 2-0 in their final match of the South American Under-20 Championships.

Earlier results, however, meant that Argentina needed its great rivals, Brazil to lose by five clear goals to Uruguay in their final match but they went on to dominate the game and clinch the Championships after winning 6-0.

UK broadcaster BBC has signed a contract extension with the Boat Race Company Ltd (BRCL) that will see both The BNY Mellon Boat Race and The Newton Women’s Boat Race broadcast on the BBC from 2015 until 2021.

In 2015, for the first time in history, the Women’s Boat Race moves to the Tideway, where crews will compete on the same day and on the same course as the Men’s Race.

Barbara Slater, Director of BBC Sport described the Boat Race as an “important part of (the BBC’s) sport portfolio” and that she was delighted to announce that the BBC would be “bringing full coverage of the Women’s Boat Race to our audiences, from 2015, as it joins the men’s event on the Tideway.”

BRCL’s David Searle said: “This relationship highlights the global reach that both the BNY Mellon Boat Race and Newton Women’s Boat Race have and the desire to watch the race unfold worldwide. Last year saw in excess of seven million UK TV viewers and many millions more around the world. We are very grateful for all the work the BBC do surrounding the event and are delighted at their continued commitment to Boat Race Day.”

The 2014 Boat Race takes place on Sunday 6 April at 18:00.

Richard Petty Motorsports (RPM) has announced it has recently hired two new additions to its marketing staff.

The company is proud to welcome Rob Keith to serve as Vice President of Business Development and Hannah Moody as a Communications Coordinator. The additions are driven to make the company a leader in sponsor procurement and to be a continued leader in exceptional partner services.

Keith joins RPM with a diverse history of sports marketing, strategic brand business growth and activation. He was the senior partner at Ignition Branding, a national marketing agency whose clients included Ferrari, Bacardi, Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company, BuzzMe and RevolutionWear. Prior to Ignition Branding, Keith served as the Vice President, Corporate Marketing for the Tampa Bay Lightning and Tampa Bay Times Forum overseeing corporate partnerships and activation. Before that, Keith held executive marketing and management positions with the Los Angeles Lakers, the Los Angeles Kings and the Seattle SuperSonics.

Proven to be a leader in business growth, Keith helped lead both the Lightning and the Sonics to record sponsorship revenues. He also held senior-level positions with Turner Broadcasting and Action Sports Media, a Paul Allen media company dedicated to Division One collegiate sports, and helped secure naming rights for a major college bowl game.

Moody comes to RPM most recently from Earnhardt Ganassi Racing where she served as a marketing associate for the team. Moody worked with world-class drivers and motorsports sponsors including Juan Pablo Montoya, Dario Franchitti, Scott Dixon, Jamie McMurray and Target, Bass Pro Shops, McDonalds and more.

Moody will serve as a partnership and media relations contact for Richard Petty Motorsports and specifically the No. 43 Pilot/Flying J Nationwide Series team and driver Michael Annett. The addition of both Keith and Moody continue to strengthen partner services and business growth for the organization.

“We strive to ensure that Richard Petty Motorsports provides our partners with the assets and staff to be successful in their motorsports program, said Mike Hargrave, Executive Vice President of Marketing and Sales for Richard Petty Motorsports. “The addition of Rob and Hannah ensure that not only will RPM continue to look for optimal marketing opportunities for new and current partners, but also provide best in class service with a talented group of business professionals.”

Keith and Moody are currently working in their new roles at RPM.

The Munich 2018 Winter Games bid has received a further boost after a national poll in Germany voted the city as the nation’s sports capital.

German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) conducted the poll, which has some 27 million members and more 90,000 sports clubs, making it the world’s largest sports organisation. 

Munich picked up 38 per cent of the vote, a long way ahead of the second-placed city, the capital Berlin, with 14.7 per cent.

The Bavarian capital is probably best known internationally for Bayern Munich, Germany’s most successful soccer club, but it also hosted the 1972 Summer Olympics and is a regular venue for a number of top-class events. 

Katarina Witt, the chair of Munich 2018, stated: “That buzzing, full-stadium atmosphere is such an important part of a successful Winter Games.

“It’s what the athletes have been dreaming of since they were young, and what they deserve after years of preparation. 

“It’s what fans travel all over the world to experience. And it’s what makes the television spectacle such an irresistible draw for audiences and sponsors. 

“Munich 2018 doesn’t just promise full stadia; we guarantee full stadia, filled with knowledgeable, ardent fans who live and breathe winter sports.”

Bernhard Schwank, the chief executive of Munich 2018, claimed it underlined the city’s message that if the IOC picks Munich ahead of rivals Annecy and Pyeongchang at its Session in Durban on July 6 then they will be able to guarantee a successful Games, both in terms of atmosphere and financially.

“We’re very pleased at this result because it cements one of Munich 2018’s unique strengths: in Bavaria, sport is in our DNA,” he said. 

“The FIS Alpine World Ski Championships was an excellent example, with 130,000 spectators celebrating the world’s finest athletes in a warm and friendly atmosphere. 

“It was a great experience for the fans, but it also meant it was a huge sporting and commercial success. 

“The athletes all said they felt inspired by the atmosphere, and the event made a €5 million (US$7.2 million) surplus.”

The London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) has unveiled the route for the London 2012 Olympic cycling road race, with Buckingham Palace providing the starting and finishing point.

The event will take place from, and conclude at the landmark after travelling through central London before crossing the Putney bridge in Fulham, followed by a loop of Surrey county.

The man’s race takes place on the 28th July and span over 250 kilometres, with 145 cyclists competing. The women’s event will go ahead on the following day, consisting of 67 riders over a course of 140 kilometres.

The route has been altered to the one offered in the original proposal for the London Olympic bid, which would be more concentrated around north London, and a test event has been planned in August.

The Austrian Ski Association (SV) have extended their partnership with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) for the media rights to the FIS World Cups taking place in Austria.

The agreement secures for the EBU and its participating Members the exclusive exploitation of the rights until the end of the season 2017/2018.

The Austrian rights package includes the crown jewels of Alpine skiing in Kitzb hel and Schladming, ampoule along with the last two events, arthritis in Innsbruck and Bischofshofen, adiposity of the most prestigious Ski Jumping competition, the Four Hills Tournament, taking place around New Year with the other two events in Germany. In all there are more than 30 World Cup races of various FIS disciplines in Austria every season.

SV President Peter Schrcksnadel said: “Our agreement with the EBU ensures the widest possible distribution of our events on different platforms to a worldwide audience. We always try to organise professional quality events in Austria, which can be flagship events of each World Cup season, and we truly appreciate sharing with the EBU and their Winter Sports Members our deeply rooted passion for Skiing.”

Stefan K rten, Director Sports & Business at the EBU added: “When the EBU joins forces with a top professional federation such as the SV, the outcome is bound to be a resounding success. The EBU leads the way with regard to free-to-air coverage for all sports organisations. The SV World Cups are benchmark events as a result of close and trustful professional partnership between the parties. This long-term commitment to the SV, a key player on the market, paves the way to a similar approach towards other federations.”