The Quarterly Economic Report by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) was published yesterday, February 14, with the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) revealing costs for the London 2012 Olympic Games have increased by US$110m since the last quarter. However, they claim that despite this, the Games are still on course to be delivered on time and on budget.

Figures from the Government’s Annual Report on London 2012 show that the overall funding package for the Games remains at $14.870bn while the Anticipated Final Cost (AFC) of the ODA programme is $11.676bn.

This includes a like for like increase in the ODA’s spend of $19m, plus additional funding for park operations – which has been included in the AFC for the first time – of $91m, making the overall increase in the quarter $110m.

The UK’s Minister for Sport and the Olympics, Hugh Robertson stated: “The construction phase is progressing on time and to budget putting the London 2012 programme in the best possible shape.

“This is the year when tickets will go on sale, test events start, volunteers are recruited, the torch relay route is announced and venues start being prepared for competition. Now is the time for everybody to start planning their Games.”

In other news, the schedule of events for the London 2012 Olympic Games has been released with the first action represented by women’s soccer in Cardiff, Glasgow and Coventry on 25 July, two days before the official opening of the Games.

The middle weekend of the flagship international athletics meet promises much for British fans, with trio Jessica Ennis (heptathlon champion), Christine Ohuruogu (sprint hopeful) and Paula Radcliffe (marathon and long-distance running icon) set to be going for gold.

Perhaps the most anticipated event of any Olympic Games is the men’s 100m final, with Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt likely to be centre stage, taking place on Sunday, 5 August.

London 2012 chairman and double Olympic champion Sebastien Coe described the tickets as the “greatest tickets on earth for the greatest show on earth”, stating: “This is a really big moment, a huge moment. In my own experience as a competitor this is the point that it suddenly becomes very real.

The Swedish Hockey League (SHL) will be broadcasted by the Kontinental Hockey League after KHl agreed a deal with IEC in Sports, ed viagra the international sports media agency owned by Lagardère Unlimited. 

The KHL HD TV channel will showcase the event from  April 14^th to 27^th on TV, unhealthy mobile and internet rights. 

Thanks to this groundbreaking agreement, viagra ed KHL HD TV channel will exclusively showcase the world-class SHL in Russia and CIS countries for the very first time. From April 14^th onward, KHL will broadcast every single game of the finals, a best-of-seven contest. For Erik Strandmark, SHL media rights Director “this new agreement is great for SHL. We are truly looking forward to let the Russian and CIS hockey fans experience the speed and skill of the Swedish Hockey League.” 

Commenting on the partnership, Viktor Johansson, IEC’s Sales Executive in charge of Russia and CIS:  “I confirm that the agency is privileged to continue representing this major league. IEC in Sports is very excited to take this top tier product outside of Scandinavia. We are also happy to connect the two biggest hockey-leagues in Europe with each other. We look forward to continuing to develop new opportunities.”

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.