The Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) has announced that Karen O’Neill will lead the organization as Chief Executive Officer from June 3, 2013.

A highly-respected senior executive in Canada’s sports community, O’Neill has extensive experience in multiple leadership roles. Currently CEO of Field Hockey Canada – a position she has held since 2009 – O’Neill was Chief Operating Officer of the Rick Hansen Foundation from 2004 to 2009, where she oversaw a period of rapid growth and innovation. As CEO of Commonwealth Games Canada from 1997 to 2004, O’Neill led Games strategy and sport technical for the 1998 Games in Kuala Lumpur and the 2002 Games in Manchester, along with the International Development through Sport program.

O’Neill also worked as Director General of the Canadian Wheelchair Sports Association from 1989 to 1992, was Chef de Mission for the Atlanta 1996 Canadian Paralympic Team and is a founding member of the Sport Matters Group. Originally from Halifax, N.S., she holds a master’s degree in education from McGill University and a bachelor of arts in psychology from Concordia University.

“I am thrilled that Karen O’Neill has accepted the challenge of guiding Canada to become the world’s leading Paralympic nation,” said David Legg, President of the Canadian Paralympic Committee. “She has the requisite passion, knowledge and emotional intelligence that will enable us to take that important next step. Her strong leadership skills, strategic thinking and reputation within the Canadian sport system will propel the Canadian Paralympic Committee in to a new and exciting era. Karen is a great champion of parasport and an outstanding choice to build on the success of the CPC.”

The Honourable Bal Gosal, Minister of State (Sport), applauded O’Neill’s appointment.

“Our Government applauds the appointment of Karen O’Neill as CEO of the Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC). Her long history and proven leadership in all aspects of Canadian and international sport, as well as her first-hand knowledge of parasport make her well qualified to guide the CPC in its efforts to grow the Paralympic movement inCanada.”

Anne Merklinger, Chief Executive Officer of Own The Podium, added: “Karen is an extraordinary Canadian talent who is a natural choice to ensure Canada’s high-performance Paralympic community remains focused on excellence and winning medals. I look forward to working together with Karen and her team at the Canadian Paralympic Committee on our joint mission of positioning Canada as a world-leader in Paralympic sport.”

Soccerex has announced that Alexey Sorokin, abortion CEO of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Local Organising Committee (LOC), will speak at the Soccerex European Forum in Manchester, 10-11 April.

Alexey Sorokin will take part in an exclusive one-to-one session and share his thoughts on the LOC’s preparations for 2018. Commenting on his upcoming trip to Manchester, he said: “I am honoured to have the opportunity to personally update the football world on our progress as we enter the next important and exciting development phase. The forum is a coming together of football’s premier business minds and gives Russia 2018 Local Organising Committee a chance to meet old friends and make new ones against the backdrop of one of football’s most successful cities.

“By 2015 the eyes of football fans across the world will begin to turn to Russia 2018. Before then, our focus will be on nurturing Russia’s support of a FIFA World Cup held throughout our diverse country. This means building on the enthusiasm and passion Russian people have for football and world-class sport and involving them in our vision of delivering a FIFA World Cup from the Whole Heart.”

With a significant presence from Brazil, Russia’s 2018 LOC and senior stakeholders around the world, the Forum’s conference programme and exhibition will provide a fulcrum for world football.

Soccerex Chairman Tony Martin, commented “Simply wonderful to be welcoming Russia and their LOC to Manchester. I’m certain our delegates will be fascinated to listen to Mr Sorokin’s insights into Russia’s preparations ahead of 2018; this is a session not to be missed.

Held in the club capital of the world, home to two of the most successful and influential clubs in England, who will both be heavily represented alongside a huge presence of world and European clubs, the Forum will once again confirm itself as Europe’s premier football business event, offering unparalleled networking and business opportunities to all delegates in attendance.

For further information about this event please call +44 (0)208 987 5522 or visit www.soccerex.com/europe.

The 2018 Olympic Winter Games’ three Candidate Cities – Munich (Germany), Annecy (France) and PyeongChang (South Korea) [1] – presented their candidatures to members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) at The Olympic Museum in Lausanne yesterday, May 18.

The 2018 Candidate Cities’ Briefing for IOC Members concludes today, May 19, with each city meeting separately with the members. The cities will have the opportunity to answer follow-up questions about their projects from the members in the morning, followed by the media in the afternoon.

IOC President Jacques Rogge said: “Today all three cities made impressive presentations. For the past decade, a tremendous amount of dedication and hard work has been invested by the IOC to improve the evaluation process. We believe that we now have in place a sophisticated procedure, and the technical briefings provide an excellent opportunity for IOC members and Candidate Cities alike. This meeting gives the IOC members greater clarity concerning each city’s bid, which is crucial for them when making their evaluations and ultimately, the most informed decision possible in July.”

This week’s Briefing follows last week’s release of the 2018 Evaluation Commission Report, which was drafted following four-day visits by the Evaluation Commission to the Candidate Cities in February and March. This is the second time that the Candidate Cities have had the opportunity to brief the members in such a manner and all three will have one final opportunity to do so prior to the IOC members casting their votes in July 6 election in Durban, South Africa.

Munich bid CEO Berhnard Schwank stated: “We did our best today. It went really well. We were a team. I think we were able to present the real strengths and message of the Munich bid and why Munich. The IOC is facing different challenges at the moment. It’s time now to meet these challenges concerning environmental sustainability and reaching young people. We think can cover these with the Munich bid.”

After Annecy had been seen as an underdog for much of the bidding process, IOC member and supporter of the French city’s bid, Jean-Claude Killy looked to refute such assumptions, saying: “We are on a par with the others [Munich and PyeongChang]. We are a good team with a good proposition. We think we have nothing to envy in the propositions of the other bids.”

Yang Ho Cho, bid chairman of PyeongChang, the candidate who many feel is a real frontrunner in the race, also expressed his satisfaction at the success of their presentation, adding: “I am not in a position to judge whether we improved our position, but we have full confidence. I am not in a position to say we are better or worse – but we did our best. We stuck to our message, New Horizons.”

Related Discussions: Predict 2018 Olympic Winter Games Host and win a prize! – Sree Varma

The Amateur Softball Association (ASA) and USA Softball Board of Directors announced today that Craig Cress has been promoted as the next Executive Director for the National Governing Body (NGB) of Softball in the United States.

Cress, who currently serves as the association’s Director of Membership Services since May 2002, will begin duties as Executive Director effective November 15, 2013 at the ASA/USA Annual Council Meeting in Oklahoma City.

“I am very humbled, honored and excited for this tremendous opportunity,” said Cress.  “ASA/USA Softball has a storied history and there are many individuals who helped build and maintain this outstanding association. It has definitely been my privilege to have served ASA/USA Softball for over 35 years in many different roles and I look forward to being part of the future by serving as its next Executive Director. I appreciate the support and confidence of the ASA Board of Directors, the Membership and the National Office Staff – we will need everyone as we create the next chapter of this historic organization!”

Cress has been involved with the ASA for over 35 years serving in several roles as a player, umpire, district commissioner, Umpire-In-Chief, league administrator, as a council member, and National Office staff member.

“ASA is honored and proud to name one of its own as the next Executive Director of ASA/USA Softball,” said current ASA/USA Softball President ET Colvin (Mississippi ASA Commissioner).  “Craig has come from the local ranks as a district commissioner, local umpire-in-chief to one of the best umpires in the nation.  He came to the ASA National Office as Director of Membership services and has led that department and the ASA umpire program.  He has the experience and knowledge at all levels to be a very successful Executive Director.  Over the past few years Craig has been involved in the grass root programs of all 76 local associations and worked closely with all of ASA’s local Commissioners.  He will provide the leadership and guidance that will continue to move ASA forward and keep us as the leader in the sport of softball.”

In the interim, Cress will continue his duties as Director of Membership Services and will work alongside current Executive Director Ron Radigonda who announced his retirement in December of 2012 after 14 years leading the organization.

“Craig will bring a wealth of knowledge and softball expertise to his new role in ASA,” said Radigonda.  “He has progressed through various levels and roles within our association and has excelled in all of his endeavors. He has gained valuable experience in his most recent role as our Director of Membership Services and has had direct contact with our 76 local associations for the past decade. He is well versed in all aspects of softball and our association and will provide outstanding leadership to ASA for many years to come.”

The Annecy bid team hoping to be named as host of the 2018 Winter Games has signed a new partnership with the LVMH/Moët-Hennessy – Louis Vuitton Group.

Marc-Antoine Jamet, Secretary General of the LVMH, Eric Marechalle, CEO of Kenzo and Charles Beigbeder, President of Annecy 2018 were all present in reaching an agreement consolidating LVMH’s decision to become an Annecy 2018 Supporter.

Through the partnership, Kenzo, an LVMH brand, will offer its expertise to the bid committee by tailoring the delegation’s look to further strengthen Annecy 2018’s identity.

Bernard Arnault, President of the LVMH Group, stated: “The creative passion and spirit of enterprise that drive the men and women of the LVMH Group are the essential to our success. These are values that we share with Annecy 2018. I am happy that with the same qualities and the same desire for excellence, the Annecy bid committee is claiming a success it is sure to achieve.”

Beigbeder said: “It’s a great reflection on the bid that a high-profile, global brand like LVMH has chosen to partner with us. It’s an example of the platform Annecy can provide for the Winter Games to help raise its profile worldwide. They believe in our vision of an authentic Winter Games in the heart of the mountains, with the athletes and for the future.

“Through this partnership, LVMH is bringing us both financial support and value in kind assistance. It is a great honour for the entire Annecy 2018 delegation to be able to wear suits by KENZO, reputed for its savoir-faire and the great quality of its products.”

Marc-Antoine Jamet added: “As an ambassador of the European and worldwide art de vivre, it was natural that we should support the bid of a major French region which combines the culture of sport and performance with the quality of the local environment to form a venue second to none.”

The Sri Lankan city of Hambantota’s bid book handover to host the 2018 Commonwealth Games overshadowed their rival bidders from Gold Coast in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia today, May 11.

The bid team were accompanied by a choir, ethnic dancers, elephants and drummers as they handed in their bid book while Gold Coast used a 10-year schoolgirl as the spearhead of their campaign.

Each city were able to give 20 minutes presentations at the official ceremony which was attended by senior officials from the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), including vice-president Prince Tunku Imran and chief executive Mike Hooper. 

Anna Bligh, the Premier of Queensalnd, Australia, spoke of 10-year old Eve Lutze, stating: “Eve has got Gold Coast written all over her – she embodies the youthful energy, freshness and enthusiasm of the Gold Coast.”

“The weather would be perfect for athletes and spectators alike, and these dates would include two weekends and coincide with school holidays,” she said in a statement.

But the Gold Coast’s presentation was eclipsed by Hambantota, who started off the campaign as rank outsiders but whose bid is increasingly beginning to gain creditability.

In contrast to the Gold Coast bid, who claim that 80 per cent of their facilities are already in place, Hambantota are promising to create a new park to stage the Games, which have been held in Sri Lanka before. 

“Given the opportunity to host the Games will make such a difference to Commonwealth sport, to its athletes and to the young people in Sri Lanka, South Asia and around the Commonwealth who aspire to excite and thrill us with their performances in 2018,” said Ajith Nivard Cabraal, the chairman of Hambantota 2018 and the Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.