The International Olympic Committee is looking to set up the equivalent of the World Anti-doping Agency (WADA) dedicated to eradicating illegal betting on sports.

The IOC already has a system in place that monitors sports betting and so far the Beijing and Vancouver Games have come through unscathed without any incidents.

IOC President Jacques Rogge says that it will take time to establish a viable agency and it took seven years to create WADA so he doesn’t expect a short term solution. Working with all the governments to coordinate harmonization is challenging and will take research and study.

Rogge affirmed that the IOC is going ahead with the plans and has already drafted regulations penalizing athletes, sale coaches and officials involved in illegal betting.

The IOC plans to meet with government leaders in the beginning of next year to hammer out a universal policy against illegal betting along the same lines as the same model used to set up WADA.

Rights agency Learfield Sports has announced that it will represent the Temple University Owls for the next 10 years.

Beginning with the upcoming 2014-’15 athletic season, Learfield will assume the Owls’ comprehensive multimedia rights and establish a local entity, Temple Sports Properties, to work with the university’s athletics administration and corporate sponsors of the Owl program.

Learfield Sports has already begun vetting staff for its Temple Sports Properties team, which will manage every aspect of the Owls’ rights including signage, sponsorships, corporate hospitality, event marketing, play-by-play radio, television and radio coaches’ shows, and official athletic website advertising.

“Temple University Athletics is excited to have a prestigious company such as Learfield Sports representing our media rights for the next decade,” said Temple University Vice President and Director of Athletics Kevin Clark.  “We went through an exhaustive evaluation process, examining proposals from different firms, and Learfield Sports distinguished itself with a comprehensive plan to help continue to grow the Temple brand on a local, regional and national stage.  We liked their approach to the business and the support systems they provide their sales staffs. This is a critical step in the overall growth of Temple Athletics.”

“Kevin has done a terrific job leading Temple Athletics, and we are fortunate to have an opportunity to work with him and his team,” said Learfield Sports President/CEO Greg Brown whose company also represents other American Athletic Conference members SMU, Memphis and Tulsa.  “When we had a chance to sit down and discuss the future of Temple Athletics, Kevin’s vision was one that excited us and one that we felt fit with our properties. We’re honored to now represent the Temple program.”

Soccerex has announced that David Bernstein will be leading a senior delegation as The FA marks its 150th anniversary at this year’s Soccerex European Forum on 10-11 April in Manchester.

As part of its year-long celebration of a century and a half of organised football, healing The FA will be playing a major role in every aspect of the Forum. It will see The FA host the VIP Lounge, tadalafil provide a number of high-profile speakers for the conference programme, bronchi exhibit the newly-opened St. George’s Park and detail Wembley Stadium’s packed calendar of events in its 90^th birthday year.

The exclusive FA150-branded VIP Lounge will feature the 1863 Minute Book – the original and historic transcript of The Football Association’s first-ever rules and regulations – and The FA Cup trophy. 

The FA has a significant involvement across this year’s conference programme, after playing a major part in last November’s global conference in Rio.

In what will be one of his final public addresses before standing down in the summer, FA Chairman David Bernstein will take part in a special 1-2-1 session with David Davies. 

Having been at the centre of English football for the last two years, which included Roy Hodgson’s appointment, the 2012 UEFA European Championship, the launch of St. George’s Park and The FA’s 150th anniversary to name a few, Mr Bernstein will look back over his time as chairman and share his thoughts on the future.

As previously announced, Roy Hodgson will be speaking on ‘The Three Lions’ panel alongside Bryan Robson and Kevin Keegan in a session moderated by Sky Sports’ Hayley McQueen. The FA representation will also include General Secretary Alex Horne, Club England Managing Director and Communications Director Adrian Bevington, as well as a number of FA150 ambassadors. 

The exhibition will also feature The FA’s new national football centre St. George’s Park, officially opened by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge last October, which will be  exhibiting for the second year in a row. Senior representatives will be on hand to provide an update on the first six months since St. George’s Park opened and the programmes that have already been put in place. 

The Soccerex European Forum is a two-day event which attracts more than 1,500 delegates from the elite of Europe’s football industry to come together to debate, network and do business. 

This year’s agenda setting conference programme will tackle the key issues shaping European football, including fan engagement, media rights, match fixing, discrimination and addiction, life after football, social media and a selection of special 1-2-1 sessions with the game’s biggest names.

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

Russia is hoping for more success in bidding to host major sports championships having tabled a bid through the city of Kazan for the International Swimming Federation (FINA) World Championships 2015/2017.

The ministry of Sport, doctor Tourism and Youth policy of the Russian Federation together with the All Russian Swimming Federation with support of the Government of the Russian Federation and Government of the Republic of Tatarstan have agreed to the campaign.

The official handover ceremony of Kazan Bid Book took place in London, doctor April 5, denture within the SportAccord International Convention 2011.

The official ceremony was attended by the FINA (the International Swimming Federation) President Dr. Julio C. Maglione, FINA Executive Director Cornel Marculescu, Executive Director of the Russian Olympic Committee Marat Bariev, Director of  “Kazan 2015/2017” bid, Director General of the Executive Committee of XXVII World Summer Universiade 2013 in Kazan Vladimir Leonov.

According to the last data, alongside Kazan, the representatives of the 4 metropolises are interested in hosting the 2015/2017 World Aquatics Championships, which are Seoul, Budapest, Hong Kong, Marrakech.

However, the short list of cities-candidates (bidders) will be generated after April 8. The vote by the Bureau on the host of the competition will take place on July15, 2011 with the occasion of the 14th FINA World Championships in Shanghai (CHN).

Australian Ladies Professional Golf, view President Shani Waugh has announced CEO Warren Sevil will step down from his role.

“Warren tendered his resignation to the Board last Friday and, and with regret, patient we accepted it,” Waugh said.

“We certainly wouldn’t be in the position that we are in today without Warren and on behalf of our members want to thank him for his sustained efforts in the role.”

“Through his passion and hard work for the women’s professional game in this country and around the world, the ALPG is recognized as one of the five major women’s golf tours in the world. He was also an integral part in the development of the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings and sits on the Rolex Rankings Governing Board”.

“The ALPG Tour Schedule has well and truly held its own on the Australian sporting landscape in the last 15 years thru the coordination skills of Warren Sevil. He has worked diligently to create strong and lasting relationships with our key stakeholders both here and abroad.”

“His influence on Australian women’s golf was highlighted when he was recently named in the top 25 most influential people in Australian Golf over the past 40 years. “ Waugh added.

“I have known Warren all my professional career and have witnessed first-hand the dedication and hard work that he has put into our organization. He will be missed by many.“

In his letter to the board, Warren spoke warmly of his long tenure at ALPG:

“The fifteenth anniversary of my role with ALPG is approaching and I feel the time is right to disengage. Fifteen years is a long time in any position, so for the benefit of my own personal development and for that of the ALPG, I believe new directions and fresh perspectives are healthy and necessary for both parties.” he said.

“The ALPG has been a huge part of my life. My time with this exclusive organisation has been demanding, but rewarding in so many ways. I have been proud of my position, proud of my achievements and passionate about my responsibility to the organisation and its members. I have met and learned from hundreds of wonderful people across the broad spectrum of ALPG and international women’s golf, many of whom are now close personal friends.”

Waugh said that Sevil will work with the Board and staff of ALPG to ensure a smooth transition to the next stage of management, and will finish on Friday 31 May.

As Munich’s bid to host the 2018 Winter Olympics and Paralympics enters a critical phase at SportAccord this week, Corporate Germany is set to throw its full weight in support of the campaign.

Presentations are scheduled tomorrow, April 7, for Munich and its rivals, Annecy and Pyeongchang to lobby for support with only three months left to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session in Durba on July 6, where the host city will be chosen. 

Munich is trying to entice voters by claiming that it will be a financial boost for the future of winter sports with chair Katarina Witt revealing that companies including BMW and Audi pay a total of US$3.7bn a year in sports sponsorship in Germany.

According to Witt, half of the sponsorship revenues of the seven Olympic international winter sports federations comes from German companies, stating: “This shows how much German companies are behind winter sports,”

Germany’s leading role in sports sponsorship is expected to figure prominently in Munich’s official presentation and Witt said Ian Robertson, BMW’s head of sales and marketing, will be part of the presentation focusing on the “business side.”

“German companies bring in about 50 per cent of the sponsorships for the winter sports international federations. This is why we have Ian Robertson here to join our delegation.”