The English Cricket Board (ECB) have announced  Surrey chairman Richard Thompson and Somerset chairman have joined the Management Board for a three-year term of office until 2016.

Mr Nash was elected unopposed as the Non-Category A first-class county clubs’ appointee to the Management Board. This position was previously held by Essex chairman Nigel Hilliard who chose not to stand for re-election at the end of his three-year term of office.

Mr Thompson was elected as the Category A first-class county clubs’ appointee after defeating Warwickshire chairman Norman Gascoigne by 10 votes to seven in a ballot which was conducted by the Electoral Reform Society. This position was previously held by Yorkshire chairman Colin Graves who was recently elected as the ECB’s new Deputy Chairman in succession to Dennis Amiss.

Mr John Pickup will also continue to serve on the ECB Management Board for a further three year-term after his nomination as the Recreational Assembly’s appointee to the Board was unopposed.

Abdullah al-Zaini, President of the Qatar Association of Athletics Federation (QAAF), has claimed that the Samsung Diamond League meeting to be held in Doha on May 6 will provide the perfect opportunity for the city to make a strong case to host the 2017 World Athletics Championships.

Al-Zaini, who is also chairman of the Organising Committee for the event, hopes the competition will showcase the Qatari capital’s ability to host the World Championships, where they face opposition from London, Budapest and an unnamed Spanish city. 

He stated: “Barring some late pull-outs due to injuries and national commitments, 60 per cent of international athletes in all major events will be competing here.

“Preparations are going well and according to plan.

“We have witnessed considerable rise in public demand for tickets over the past.

“The ticket sales have been brisk both online and at points of sale at various locations across Doha.

“We are expecting a full house at the Hamad Bin Suhaim Stadium on May 6.

“That will in turn spell out a clear a message that we are ready to host the World Championship in 2017.”

The International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) are due to announce the list of official candidates on September 1, with the host city to be announced in November this year at the Council meeting in Monaco.

A number of high profile dignitaries, including IAAF President Lamine Diack are due to attend the Diamond League meeting with around 200 international journalists expected to cover the event.

The New York Red Bulls have renewed their multi-year extension with MSG Networks and will continue to be the regional television home of the Red Bulls.

MSG Networks, troche which has held the telecast rights to the team since 1996, stuff will produce 22 of the Red Bulls’ 34 regular season games this season, including pregame and postgame coverage. 

“The Red Bulls organization has been a great partner for 18 years and we are proud to continue that relationship,” said Daniel Ronayne, executive vice president and general manager, MSG Networks. “We look forward to providing New York soccer fans with exclusive local coverage of the Red Bulls.”

“We are delighted to have come to an agreement with MSG Networks,” said Red Bulls Chief Financial Officer Luis Miguel Garcia. “MSG’s brand is synonymous with New York sports and they have been a terrific partner for our club and the sport of soccer since the beginning of MLS. We believe the quality of their coverage is among the best in the League.”

Neale Coleman, one of the architects of the successful campaign to host the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics, has admitted that London will have to increase the amount of money it spends on bidding for the 2017 World Athletics Championships to compete against its closest rival, Doha.

The director of the London 2012 coordination at the Greater London Authority (GLA) and the Mayor of London’s advisor on London 2012, conceded that the entry of oil and gas-rich Qatar into the race had upped the ante.

Coleman claimed that England had spent too much money on its disastrous bid to host the 2018 FIFA World Cup and costs needed to be monitored more closely in the future, stating: “The cost of bids is something we certainly have to take into account in the future when we are bidding for major competitions like the 2017 World Athletics Championships which London has just tabled a bid for.

“It does depend on the bid rivals though. For example, Qatar is also bidding for the 2017 World Athletics Championships and we know the financial strength they have so that could mean that we need to increase the cost of our bid to compete.”

It is estimated that Qatar spent US$43m on communications alone during its successful bid to host the 2022 World Cup and there are fears that they will possess too much financial muscle for London to compete against.

London has already had failed in three embarrassing bids for the World Athletics Championships and senior vice-president of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Sergey Bubka says he thinks this will have a detrimental effect on the bid’s chances.

Coleman added: “We are discussing the situation thoroughly with the Government, UK Sport, UK Athletics and the Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) so we do not spend more than is necessary like we did with the 2018 World Cup bid or have a situation like we did with the 2015 World Athletics Championships where we pulled out of the race due to uncertainty over the future of the Olympic Stadium.”

The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) is due to choose the host city for 2017 at a meeting in November. Budapest and an unnamed city in Spain – probably Barcelona or Seville – are also bidding.

The London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) has confirmed that its Ticketshare scheme has been extended and that London 2012 will be working with the organisation ‘Tickets For Troops’ to provide up to 10,000 tickets for servicemen and women and their families.

The London 2012 Ticketshare scheme was launched last month and will see proceeds from the Prestige ticketing programme used to donate tickets to worthy causes.

The confirmation of the link-up with ‘Tickets for Troops’ follows the news that school children across the UK will receive tickets via the London 2012 Get Set education programme. Full details of how the tickets are to be distributed will be issued in due course.

Samantha Cameron, wife of the Prime Minister and a Tickets For Troops patron, welcomed the news: ‘It is fantastic that so many of our heroic troops will be able to cheer on our sporting heroes at the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in 2012. I am thrilled that 10,000 troops and their families will be able to enjoy this important national event.’

LOCOG Chair Sebastian Coe commented: ‘At this time of year it is especially apt that we take time to think of our servicemen and women so I am delighted that the Ticketshare scheme will include them – and their families. The Games are rightly a source of great national pride – as are those who serve in the forces and I look forward to seeing some of them at the Games in the summer of 2012.’

Hugh Robertson, Minister for Sport and Olympics and a former Army Major, said: ‘London 2012 will be a time for national celebration and pride and I am delighted that some of our Forces will be able to attend the Games, given their dedication and commitment to our country. As a former serviceman myself, I know that our troops and their families will really appreciate this opportunity to enjoy the sporting spectacle of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games first hand.’

Tickets for the London 2012 Olympic Games go on sale in March 2011.

FOX Sports have signed a new multi-year partnership with the Street League Skateboarding (SLS) to broadcast the world’s premier skateboarding contest series on FOX Sports 1 and global distribution through the FOX family of networks.

Street League, founded by 20-year professional skateboarder, entrepreneur and TV personality Rob Dyrdek in 2010, features only the sport’s elite and biggest stars as they compete in an easy-to-follow contest format for street skateboarding. The 2014 SLS season includes nationwide stops with dates and locations to be announced soon.

“I’m thrilled to bring Street League to FOX Sports,” said SLS founder Rob Dyrdek. “Not only am I a fan of what they are doing with other key properties on the FOX Sports 1 network, but to have a media partner that truly believes in skateboarding as a stand-alone sport poised for long-term growth means the world to our business and the ability to grow the Street League audience moving forward.”

Michael Bloom, SVP, Original Programming at FOX Sports said, “Rob is a force of nature. His dedication to growing the sport is clearly evident in Street League. He delivers exciting contests, events and television that captivate both core skateboarders and casual viewers from beginning to end. Thanks to the innovative, easy-to-follow format and instant scoring, these contests and this programming delivers great athletic performances and thrilling finishes that have become instant classics — whether you skateboard or not. We’re excited to be partners with Rob and Street League Skateboarding and have them featured on Fox Sports 1.”

“I’m psyched on this new partnership with FOX Sports,” said Chris Cole, 2013 SLS Champion. “Not only is it an awesome opportunity for Street League and all the pros, but it brings the best skateboard series to a new network with a huge platform. FOX Sports believes in the long-term growth for the sport and that is our biggest goal. It’s a win for everyone involved.”

According to Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, the country’s hopes of bidding to host the 2022 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games rely on the successful delivery of UEFA Euro 2012.

A statement released on the Ukrainian Government’s website revealed that Yanukovych has said that preparations to co-host Euro 2012 alongside neighbouring Poland were back on track after numerous difficulties.

However, he added that the dream of bidding for the 2022 Olympics, labelled ‘Olympic Hope 2022’, would have no chance of being realised unless visitors are impressed by their experience at the soccer tournament in just over a year’s time.

Yanukovych said at a meeting of the Regional Committee on Economic Reforms: “If we pass this exam, keep our word, build the infrastructure, host Euro 2012, show the world that Ukraine meets the standard of ‘five stars of quality’ and hospitality, ‘Olympic Hope 2022’ will become a reality.”

Referring to preparations for the European Championships next year, he added: “Clearly the picture of early 2011 was sad and shameful, arousing the feeling that we would disrupt this European holiday. This would be very bad for Ukraine’s image.”

He continued to claim that the situation has improved greatly since the early months of this year, saying: “I would like to thank the builders and managers involved in the construction, leadership of the city and the region, UEFA and (UEFA president) Mr (Michel) Platini.”