Cape Town’s mayoral committee member for economic development, Felicity Purchase, has said the city is not ready to make a bid for the 2020 Olympic Games.

South Africa’s Olympic governing body last week said it would formally oversee a bid for the 2020 Games after the country’s successful hosting of this summer’s FIFA World Cup.

However, Purchase does not believe Cape Town would be ready to host an Olympics. She said: “I do not want to be negative, but I don’t think in the short term we are ready yet to make an Olympic bid.

“We will be looking at that, and have a committee that will [consider the issue] shortly. But to be quite honest with you, I think it is premature.

“The Olympic Games would be fantastic. The reality of it is that we are not there yet.

“People that have hosted these big events say that the return on the investment is far greater for small events [held] in a regular sustainable way than for a mega-event. Yes, you achieve a lot, and there’s a lot of legacy that comes with it.

“And that is the benefit of the [FIFA] World Cup for us. But realistically, can we afford it, having to deliver all those things that are required for an Olympics, now? I can honestly say, I don’t think so.”

Golf course operators, no rx Braemar Golf, viagra has announced the appointment of Ken Cooper as a new Chairman following the retirement from the company of their founder David Dean.

Cooper will take up the position of Chairman for a period of 2 years, it was announced after a recent Braemar Golf Board meeting.

Ken was previously a silent partner in the business has a long track record in the corporate sector having successfully run several companies through acquisition and growth. He has previously held Board level positions as M.D, Chairman, and Non Executive Director for a diverse number of national and regional SME’s.

Commenting on his appointment Ken said “I am delighted to take on the role of Chairman for the next two years. My Board room experience will greatly assist Braemar Golf as it continues to grow despite the challenging economic climate. As an investor in the company for the previous 6 years it has been pleasing to see the company grow in stature and reputation whilst gaining a foothold in some very strategic markets, most notably North Africa and Russia”.

Coinciding with Ken Cooper’s appointment will see company finance director Andrew McIntyre take on a more strategic role as he heads up the newly formed Advisory division, Operations Director Michael Braidwood has been appointed a full Director and Phil Jones former Director of Golf at the Royal Golf Club in Bahrain will assume the role of regional director covering both the Middle East and Russia.

These changes within the management team are on the back of Jonathan Pendry leaving the company on a full time basis to pursue a more focused career in Turf grass management. Braemar Golf will continue to utilise Jonathan’s agronomic services on an adhoc basis.

The hotly tipped Munich bid to host the 2018 Winter Games has received further backing from two new partnerships with Turner Broadcasting System (TBS) and Getty Images. The deals will see Time Warner-owned TBS become the bid’s media partner and Getty Images sign up as a national supplier.

The bid team revealed that the partnership with TBS will allow the Munich bid to air promotional adverts on international channels TNT Film and TNT Serie from January. The partnership was agreed in an attempt to maximise the bid’s digital campaign in the New Year.

Munich 2018 chief executive Bernhard Schwank said: “These two deals are pivotal to Munich 2018’s delivery of compelling messages to the Olympic family over the critical months ahead. TBS will allow us to share the excitement we have…on an international stage, and connect with an important audience.”

He added: “Getty will help bring alive the Festival of Friendship – Munich’s 2018’s uniquely compelling offer to the Olympic Movement.” The International Olympic Committee will decide on July 6, 2011, whether the German city of Munich, Annecy in France or PyeongChang in South Korea should stage the 2018 Games.

USL PRO have announced that every USL PRO regular season and playoff game will be streamed live on YouTube starting in 2014 via team channels.

The largest global video sharing site, case YouTube will allow fans worldwide to follow every moment of action during the USL PRO season.

Being a part of the YouTube Partner Program will allow USL PRO greater flexibility in content management while YouTube’s visibility and comprehensive structure will present USL PRO fans with a set of interactive features like never before. Live games and on-demand content will be available for free on each team’s YouTube channel, with archived games available shortly after each game’s completion.

“Online streaming is a vital component of the growth of the league,” USL President Tim Holt said. “YouTube eliminates barriers that previously stood between fans and the action on the field. We want fans worldwide to take notice of the high quality of play in USL PRO and see the importance of the league in the North American soccer landscape. YouTube makes this process much easier and we’re thrilled to have this relationship.”

The USL PRO YouTube channel will showcase all of the archived and on-demand content produced by each team, including the USL PRO Goal of the Week as well as USL PRO Weekly, an audio podcast that will uncover the personalities behind the league.

The Korean Olympic Committee (KOC) has announced Kim Jung Haeng will become their new president.

He will become the 38th person to take up the mantle while also leading the national sports movement right up into the PyeongChang 2018 Olympics.

The former judoka also became the first athlete to ever lead the organization narrowing out Elisa Lee for the nation’s top position in sports. Kim won by a mere 3 votes with 28 to 25 and emerged winner in this third attempt to become president after running in the campaign in 2002 and 2008 against outgoing leader Park Yong Sung (Y.S).

“I will lead the organization in harmony with Lee’s supporters,” Kim said as he met the press. “I will lead the organization with all my strength.”

“I would like to thank the people who maintained political neutrality,” he added.

YS Park, who was a passionate campaigner for the PyeongChang 2018 bid, has been appointed as Honorary President of the KOC.

A proposed bid to host the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics in Budapest has fallen at the first hurdle after the plans were rejected by Bucharest City Hall Councillors. A vote was cast narrowly against the proposal by the Mayor Sorin Oprescu. A majority of 28 votes were needed in order for the plans to be progressed but the bid only received the support of 22 Councillors.

After a half hour debate on the topic and despite only 8 Councillor’s voting against the idea, crucially 20 members abstained from voting which proved the bid’s downfall. Oprescu had come out saying that the hosting of the Games would act as a catalyst for development, including improving the city’s infrastructure and boosting the Romanian economy.

South African TV channel SuperSport International have secured a broadcast agreement with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to air the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics and Rio 2016 Summer Olympics.

Supersport has acquired broadcast rights on pay satellite television and internet and mobile broadcast rights.

IOC President Thomas Bach said: “We are delighted to have reached this agreement to continue to work with SuperSport to bring fantastic Olympic Games coverage to fans across the region.”

IOC member Richard Carrión, erectile who led the negotiations, anesthetist said: “SuperSport has a wealth of knowledge in broadcasting the Olympic Games, and this agreement will ensure a first class broadcast experience of both the Sochi and Rio Olympic Games.”

Brandon Foot, Acting CEO of SuperSport, said: “This agreement continues a long and proud tradition of SuperSport broadcasting the Olympic Games, which we have done since 1996. I’m delighted with this acquisition as the Olympic Games is one of SuperSport’s crown jewels with each edition proving enormously popular with viewers. For the next Games in Sochi, we will have a dedicated 24-hour High Definition channel, while the 2016 Games will enjoy multi-channel coverage, including magazine shows, highlights and much more.”

Rugby League club, Castleford Tigers have named Steve Gill as chief executive on an interim basis following the resignation of Steve Ferres.

Ferres stepped down on Monday after he could not introduce a number of changes at the club and his role will be temporarily filled by Gill, who is a former assistant coach.

Gill has been head of the club’s youth development department since 2008 and is honoured to take on the new job.

“Jack Fulton asked me if I would stand in as CEO for an interim period which could be 2-6 weeks depending on finding the right person,” he said.

“I have full support from Ian Millward (head coach), Richard Turner (general manager) and Nick Fozzard (commercial manager). I have also spoken to Steve Ferres and he has offered his support if required. There’s a lot to do and I know I will be busy in the weeks to come.

“I’ve been a Cas fan all of my life from doing the scoreboard and ball boy duties as a youngster to being assistant first team coach to now head of youth.

“Though I have no designs on the CEO role permanently, it is a privilege and I will give it my best shot so that when a new CEO comes in there’s not too much of a gap.”

Chairman Jack Fulton said: “I would like to thank Steve for stepping forward to the breach at short notice, albeit on a temporary basis.

“His dedication and devotion to the club is without question and I ask that the fans unite behind Steve and the club during this time.”

Financial guarantees have been assured by Germany’s federal government and regional authorities to back the Munich 2018 Winter Olympics bid. The guarantees will form part of the official bid book which is required to submitted to the president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) by January 11.

A total of 47 guarantees includes infrastructure projects as well as special marketing rights for the IOC. The Munich bid team is one of the favourites to win the vote on the host city in July of 2011 ahead of rivals Annecy, who received a major blow after the departure of chief executive Edgar Grospiron last week, and South Korea’s bid in PyeongChang.

Germany’s President, Christian Wulff, stated: “Sport possesses an enormous capacity for integration. Sport connects people and transcends cultural boundaries. Hosting the Winter Games would be a great honour and an opportunity for our country to welcome guests from all over the world.”