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.”

Building work on a 115m-tall (377ft) spiralling tower in the Olympic Park, unhealthy designed by artist Anish Kapoor, has begun.

The ArcelorMittal Orbit, costing £22m, will be located between the Olympic Stadium and and the Aquatics Centre.

Visitors will be able to climb on the structure to get panoramic views across the Stratford site in east London.

The artwork incorporating the five Olympic rings in a lattice of steel is expected to be built by March 2012.

London Mayor Boris Johnson, Lakshmi Mittal, chairman of the steel company ArcelorMittal, artist Anish Kapoor and Andrew Altman, chief executive of the Olympic Park Legacy Company, attended the ceremony.

Anish Kapoor said: “I am delighted that construction work has started.

“I would like to thank everyone who has shown their support for the project.”

Mr Johnson said: “Recognised the world over, the Orbit will not only be an amazing piece of art, but it will draw visitors from every corner of the globe to East London.”

The projected cost of the structure has gone up from £19.1m to £22.3m.

ArcelorMittal will provide £19.2m, with the remaining £3.1m being funded by London Development Agency.

The Turner Prize-winning artist will work with structural designer Cecil Balmond of engineering firm Arup for the project.

The International Rugby Board (IRB) has announced that Sky Sports will be the UK rights-holding broadcaster for this year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup and IRB Junior World Championship. 

The announcement extends Sky Sports’ partnership with two of the most exciting properties in world Rugby, having inspired and engaged global audiences with its host broadcasting of the record-breaking Women’s Rugby World Cup 2010.

Sky Sports will again broadcast the pinnacle of the Women’s Game, which will be held in Paris from August 1-17.

It will also broadcast matches live from New Zealand in June, as Auckland hosts the IRB Junior World Championship from June 2-20, the final of which will be held at the iconic Eden Park.

With levels of participation in the Women’s Game at an all time high, and just days before International Women’s Day, it’s further good news for one of the fastest growing sports in the World.

IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset said: “Sky Sports are renowned for their passion and support for Rugby and we are delighted to be extending our partnership with a broadcaster who shares our vision for women’s and age grade Rugby.”

“It’s also further proof of the great leaps made by the Women’s Game. In a Women’s Rugby World Cup year and with the growth of the IRB Women’s Sevens World Series, it’s good to see the Game reaching out to new audiences.”

Sky Sport managing director Barney Francis said: “It’s fantastic that this summer we will have the best women’s Rugby on Sky, adding to our strong year-round portfolio of women’s sport.”

“It’s also great news that we’ll get to showcase the future stars of world Rugby in the Junior World Championship across our channels. Both tournaments are going to be excellent additions to our unrivalled coverage of the Game and our summer of live sport.”

Sky Sports will show pool stage matches plus the semi-finals and final of both tournaments.

English Rugby League team, Castleford Tigers have announced Managing Director of long-term Tigers sponsor CBR Engineering, Steve Vause will join its board as a director.

Vause joins the Board as part of the Club’s restructuring plan that will recruit a number of new and experienced business people to help drive the club forward.

Steve Vause said: “Tigers CEO, Steve Gill is trying to build a team around him that will make the club successful off the field as well as on it and I want to be a part of that.

“I have been a Cas fan for over 50 years and CBR Engineering have sponsored the Club for the last six. This is the next step for me in helping the Club – we want to do a lot more at Cas.

“Mr Gill asked me to join the Board and I will help him and the Club and give advice when required.

“It doesn’t matter how many hours that need to be put in, I want to see Castleford Tigers be successful and I am determined to help in any way that I can to do that.

Castleford Tigers Chief Executive, Steve Gill said: “I am delighted that Steve Vause has agreed to join the Club’s Board of Directors.

“His skill, advice, work ethic and commitment are invaluable assets to Castleford Tigers.

“He brings with him an undoubted business acumen that is proven through his success with his own business, CBR Engineering.

“Fans need to know that the people who are working for this Club have Cas at heart and Steve fits into that category.

“One of the key aspects that will make this club successful on and off the field is restructuring the Board of Directors. We’re speaking to business people who share our passion for the Club and selling them the vision of where we want to be.

“We need more fresh faces to bring a new added dimension and we’re still working on bringing more quality to the Board – we’re not finished yet.”

European football legends Edwin van der Sar and Gaizka Mendieta will both be speaking on the ‘Life after the final whistle’ panel at the Soccerex European Forum, pill on 10-11 April, Manchester.

After experiencing successful careers in Europe’s top leagues, Edwin and Gaizka will discuss the various options available to them once they retired, and the different paths players can follow including coaching, media work and senior management roles within clubs.

Van der Sar is regarded as one of the greatest keepers of all time, playing for Ajax, Juventus, Fulham and Manchester United, winning multiple titles including four Eredivisie championships, four Premier League titles and two Champions Leagues. In 2011, he joined the Ajax board as Marketing Director alongside a number of former Ajax and Dutch legends, aiming at expanding the Ajax brand both nationally and internationally.

Mendieta enjoyed a glittering career at some of Europe’s top clubs including Valencia, Lazio, Barcelona and Middlesbrough, as well as gaining 40 caps for Spain. He was one of the most sought-after players at the turn of the millennium, winning UEFA Club Midfielder of the year two years running in 2000 and 2001. Since his retirement, Mendieta has taken a step into the media working for Sky Sports as a pundit for Spanish football and a regular guest on Revista De La Liga.

Van der Sar commented “I’m excited about returning to Manchester, and to be speaking at Soccerex. I hope my experiences can provide an interesting debate on a subject which is very relevant and affects thousands of professionals every year.”

The Soccerex European Forum is a two-day event which attracts over 1,600 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.

According to the Foreign Ministers of Malaysia and Singapore, the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF), which represents the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, is preparing to table a bid for the 2030 FIFA World Cup.

The AFF is hoping that the tournament could be spread across a number of countries to ease the financial burden on any individual territory and although FIFA is thought to favour bids from individual countries, Argentina and Uruguay have already registered an interest in linking up to stage the centenary World Cup in 2030.

Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman claims that the AFF’s 11 nations have agreed to create a committee to research and promote their bid, stating: “It will be a unifying factor for the ASEAN community if we could host the World Cup.”

Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo told the Today newspaper: “We thought if we made a joint bid, if we share facilities, then it’s a bearable cost. ASEAN, as a whole, will be a big country like Brazil or the United States and if they can host it so can we.”

The IOC has issued a warning to Pyeongchang over the South Korean city’s conduct in the bidding for the 2018 Winter Olympics.

The IOC ethics commission examined alleged conflict-of-interest violations after two South Korean companies signed sponsorship agreements with international sports federations.

The IOC says Korean Air and the International Skating Union have agreed to postpone their sponsorship deal until after the 2018 host-city vote next July. The IOC says a separate deal between Samsung and the international rowing federation did not break the rules.

The IOC says warned Pyeongchang and urged the bid “to fully respect the rules of conduct.”