Lord Sebastian Coe, store chairman of the London 2012 Olympic Games, has said he is “thrilled” that over 100,000 people have already applied to become volunteers for the Games.

At the halfway point in the six-week application window, thousands have already signed up to become Games Makers, as the roles are being called.

Research into the applications has revealed that 52 per cent of Londoners have said they were inspred by the 2012 Games to volunteer.

Coe said: “We are thrilled with the response so far from people and would like to thank everyone who has already filled in their application form and pledged to lend their time to the greatest show on earth.

“The London 2012 Games simply could not happen without volunteers.

“Whenever I have spoken to previous volunteers, they’ve all said what a fantastic experience it was.

“So don’t miss out on this opportunity of a lifetime. You’ve got three weeks left to fill-in your application form – don’t miss the deadline of October 27.”

Games organisers are looking for up to 70,000 dedicated volunteers to help at the 2012 event.

Major League Soccer (MLS) side FC Dallas has renewed its television deals with both Time Warner Cable Sports and TXA21 for the 2014 season.

Time Warner Cable SportsChannel will air 24 FC Dallas regular-season games.

Time Warner Cable SportsChannel will also re-air FC Dallas games and televise other FC Dallas and Major League Soccer programming throughout the season. Check local listings or visit www.twcsportschannel.com for more channel information. Meanwhile, TXA21 will air six regular-season matches. The remaining four games will be nationally televised on either UniMas, ESPN2, or NBC Sports Network.

“We have two television partners in Time Warner Cable SportsChannel and TXA21 who believe in soccer and share our passion for the game,” said FC Dallas President Dan Hunt. “We believe we have also found a winning broadcast team and we’re excited to see what 2014 will bring to this organization as we take our game day production to the next level.”

Troon Golf has announced two important new appointments ahead of the opening later this year of the highly-anticipated Azerbaijan Golf Club, drugs Quba near the capital city, allergy Baku.

Philip Henderson has accepted the sought after role of General Manager, clinic following a successful tenure covering the opening of the ground breaking floodlit nine hole course, The Track at Meydan in Dubai and earlier spells at Troon properties in the UK and Egypt and Simon Douglas has assumed the position of Course Superintendent. Both bring a wealth of Troon experience to their respective roles and work closely alongside the ownership group and The Azerbaijan Golf Federation in preparing for the opening of the country’s first 18-hole championship golf course, designed by John Hunt.

“I have no doubt that both Phil and Simon have all the attributes to bring a lot to the table in their new roles,” commented Bruce Glasco, Vice-President and Managing Director, Troon International Operations. “Azerbaijan is an ambitious destination, with developers committed to delivering a truly world-class product. We have worked closely on the plans for The Azerbaijan Golf Club since its inception and Phil and Simon will ensure our industry-leading standards of pristine course conditioning, first-class service, hospitality and best business practices resonate throughout what will be an exceptional golf resort.”

Henderson has eight years’ experience in the field with Troon. A fully qualified PGA Professional, Philip has worked all over the world with Troon at some of the world’s leading golf resorts, including WGC World Golf Championship host venue The Grove, London, Oceânico Golf, Portugal, The Els Club, Dubai, and The Allegria Golf Club, Egypt. With a broad knowledge of the golfing landscape, he will draw on his vast experience, implementing key strategies to establish The Azerbaijan Golf Club as one of the game’s most intriguing new destinations.

“I am extremely excited at the prospect of playing such a pivotal role in what will be a ground-breaking opening, not just for everyone involved with the Golf Club, but for the entire nation of Azerbaijan,” noted Henderson. “The project is progressing as planned and I look forward to bringing the owners’ vision to life. I am striving for excellence and believe that the quality experiences provided by Troon will ensure the satisfaction of our guests whilst also promoting the growth of the game in the country.”

Douglas brings with him 13 years’ experience in the golf industry and a passion for travel that has enabled him to gain invaluable experience working at high-profile golf courses all over the world. 

All three cities bidding for the 2018 Winter Olympics and Paralympics travelled to Nouméa in New Caledonia to lobby for support from the Oceania National Olympic Committees (ONOC), who were holding their general assembly.

Yang Ho Cho, the chairman and chief executive of Pyeongchang 2018, said: “It would be a great honour for Pyeongchang to host the Winter Games in 2018, and we believe we can revitalise winter sport into a powerful driving force for Olympism. We are committed to creating Asia’s first long-term and sustainable winter sport legacy that offers a world of ‘New Horizons’ for winter sports and the Olympic Movement.”

Munich sent a high-level delegation headed by Thomas Bach, the President of the German Olympic Sports Confederation and vice-president of the International Olympic Committee, and Katarina Witt, the chair of Munich 2018 and a double Olympic ice skating champion.

Bach said: “It is a special pleasure for us to be here at ONOC because Germany has a very unique historic connection to this continental association. It was at the Baden-Baden Olympic Congress in Germany in 1981 that Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and New Guinea actually founded ONOC.”

Witt added: “It is great to have the opportunity to share Munich 2018’s vision with the Olympic family in Oceania this week and, as an athlete by heart, to reach out to athlete: on a different continent. Munich 2018 will offer opportunities to athletes, coaches and federations from every sport and every nation through various training activities within the ‘Olympic Winter Friendship Programme.’ What’s more, it will seek for the first time to bring together athletes from winter and summer sports in the framework of Germany’s long-time development programme.”

Annecy’s delegation was led by bid President Charles Beigbeder and Denis Masseglia, the President of the French National Olympic Committee (CNOSF).

Masseglia said: “We want to use the tremendous power of the Olympic Games to forge a path towards the mountains of the 21st century. The Games will make Annecy a hub of sporting excellence for training and coaching athletes from all seven continents.”

Beigbeder thanked the ONOC for “giving Annecy the opportunity to spend time with its members in this wonderful part of the world” expressed his joy at being able to “meet them and learn from them.”

He added: “Annecy is full of surprises. And we aim to make the most of them in order to host memorable Games. Our city is known as the Venice of the Alps. We are blessed with a unique setting which has attracted millions of international visitors for more than a century. Annecy 2018 will use the region’s natural beauty and rich mountain legacy to organise exceptional Games.”

The bidders will continue their international tour next week by taking part in Sport Accord from April 3-8 in London, then in the IOC presentation summit in Lausanne in May.

Canada’s Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium has appointed Nathalie Cook as its new vice-president of marketing and partnerships, it has been announced.

Cook was previously director of partnerships for the organisation, which delivered multi-platform coverage and consumer choice of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games.

Adam Ashton, president of the consortium, said: “Nathalie’s experience and passion for the Olympic Games shines through in all that she does.

“She is both a team player and born leader, whose ideas and foresight push limits to achieve maximum results in the best interest of her clients and partners.”

Cook added: “Having worked in amateur sports for the majority of my career, I truly believe in the spirit and goodwill of the Olympic Games on a global level and am proud to contribute to its legacy.

“Vancouver 2010 was a watershed moment in the media industry and I look forward to working with much of the same team and continuing the momentum for London 2012.”

FIFA have revealed their disapointment as the Under-20 World Cup continues to average low attendances.

The Professional Squash Association (PSA) has announced today that Mark Phillips and Chris Hornbuckle will join the organisation as directors.

Phillips was with adidas for eight years and was integral in the execution of the pivotal Impossible is Nothing campaign, featuring Muhammad Ali and David Beckham. After heading up the brand’s 2012 Olympic Marketing Campaign, Phillips left to form his own consulting company, The Captaincy, providing solutions to sporting companies.

Hornbuckle is the Head of Sponsorship for Vauxhall Motors, managing the company’s sponsorship of the Home Nations’ (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) Football teams – and brings a wealth of sports brand marketing expertise to the board.

“I’m very excited about the appointment of Chris and Mark to the PSA Board,” said PSA Chairman Ziad Al-Turki. “After spending the past few years working on restructuring each element of the tour, the PSA feels that we have done all the groundwork to attract major sponsorship for the tour.

“I’m certain that both Chris and Mark, with their extensive experience in marketing and sponsorship, will help drive the PSA to achieve its goals.”

The Russian capital of Moscow stepped in as a replacement host, denture this time for the 2011 Modern Pentathlon Senior World Championships after the event was withdrawn from Cairo following the recent political instability in Egypt.

The Championships use laser pistols for the first time in the events history for the pistol shooting and the event will also include fencing, herbal 200m swimming, medicine show jumping and a 3km run between September 1-7 event.

International Modern Pentathlon Federation (UIPM) president Dr. H.C. Klaus Schormann said: “UIPM is very thankful to the Russian Modern Pentathlon federation and to Russian sport in general with whom we have always had a good relationship.”

Russian Modern Pentathlon president Vyacheslav Aminov said: “It is a great honour and joy for Russia to welcome the UIPM family, one year before the Olympic Games.”

UIPM secretary Joel Bouzou added: “This World Championship will be the first conducted in Modern Pentathlon history using laser pistols which will provide a higher level of enjoyment for spectators and fans watching the action in the stadium and on TV around the world.”

Kerri-Anne Kennerley has joined the Board of Golf Australia as an Appointed Director.

Mrs Kennerley is a familiar face to many Australians with more than 30 years’ experience in television, ed entertainment and business where she became famous for hosting her daytime TV programs Good Morning Australia, Mornings with Kerri-Anne and Midday with Kerri-Anne.

A member of The Australian and Macquarie Links Golf Clubs, Mrs Kennerley is a keen golfer with a handicap of 17.

Triple Gold Logie nominated Mrs Kennerley has also served on the Council for the Order of Australia which oversees the distribution of the highest honours to great Australians and is currently working with the Seven Network’s top rating Sunday Night current affairs program.

Golf Australia Chairman John Hopkins said Mrs Kennerley would bring valuable experience from the television and entertainment industries to Golf Australia.

“On behalf of the Board, I’m pleased to welcome Kerri-Anne to Golf Australia,” Mr Hopkins said.

“Kerri-Anne will be a real asset to the Board with her long-term knowledge of the Australian television and media industry and her enormous passion for golf,” Mr Hopkins said.

Mrs Kennerley commented on her new role: “I am very glad to accept the appointment to the Board of Golf Australia and I do hope I can contribute and create a better golf future for all players, especially women.”

“I applaud the efforts of Jan Stephenson who pioneered Australian women’s golf in America and Karrie Webb whose record speaks for itself,” Mrs Kennerley said.