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.”

Sunil Manocha, an experienced sports industry professional with over 20 years of experience across sales, business development, television production, rights distribution and sponsor servicing, has taken charge as Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Nimbus Sport.

Manocha replaces Yannick Colaco completing a smooth leadership transition at Nimbus Sport. Colaco has joined NBA as its India Managing Director.

Manocha started his career with Nimbus and has worked on over two dozen major international sports projects over the last two decades, in a variety of management roles. These include the Cricket World Cups 1992 and 2003; the ICC Champions Trophies of 2000, 2002 and 2004, the Asian Games 1998, Hero Indian Open Golf 2012.

He also headed the advertising revenue function at Nimbus associate company Neo Sports with distinction through 2006-2008 before a brief stint away as an entrepreneur. He returned to Nimbus Sport in 2012 to continue his long running relationship with the company.

Speaking of Manocha’s appointment to the new role, Nimbus Communications chairman Harish Thawani said, “It is with pride, affection and respect that I welcome Sunil to his new role. The little master has in the past proved his tremendous capabilities in all areas of our operations. As much a man of relationships, as he is of strategic thinking and attention to detail, his love for sports, passion to excel and excellent interpersonal skills make him the ideal person to grow the business further.”

On his new role, Manocha said, “With established expertise across all verticals of the sports value chain-from origination to intermediation to delivery, Nimbus Sport is fully equipped for growth in an exciting new era for sports business in India and Asia. It’s been a journey of great learning and excitement with Nimbus so far, and in this new role, I look forward to working with the team in leading the organisation to new heights.”

The Palace of Monaco have refuted claims of corruption and wrong-doing on the part of Prince Albert II after he was accused of accepting bribes in exchange for his backing of Sochi’s successful bid for the 2014 Winter Games.

One of the Prince’s former advisors, Robert Eringer, has consistently accused Albert and last week launched an official complaint with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) of which Prince Albert is a member of the board.

Eringer stated that lavished gifts were awarded to the Prince to ensure his vote from President, at the time, Vladimir Putin and Kremlin banker Sergei Pugachev. The American is suing his former employer in a California court, claiming a breach of contract and seeking back pay in the amount of US$476,000.

In an email sent via the Palace of Monaco to the Associated Press, the Palace stated: “The Royal Palace of Monaco categorically denies the false allegations of Mr. Eringer against His Royal Highness Prince Albert II,”

“An IOC member for more than 25 years, the monarch has worked tirelessly to promote sport around the world and to defend its values.”

Eurosport have partnered with SNTV that will see the sports video news agency supply both digital and television broadcast content for Eurosport’s international channels.

The deal will see SNTV provide Eurosport with material for its daily sports news bulletins and regular magazine shows. SNTV leads the sports video news market on planned coverage of forthcoming major international events, symptoms including the Sochi Winter Olympics and the FIFA World Cup, viagra buy as well as regionally popular sports which appeal to Eurosport’s unrivalled Pan-European audiences.

The agreement also includes SNTV digital content for online platforms, delivered to meet Eurosport’s extensive digital portfolio of websites and apps. SNTV provides its clients with well over 6,000 digital video clips per year.

SNTV’s high definition offering will further strengthen Eurosport’s depth of coverage on both its Eurosport and Eurosport 2 channels. SNTV’s delivery of premium video content will feature prominently on the Eurosportnewschannel, broadcast in nearly 50 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

Martin Kay, Managing Director, SNTV commented: “Eurosport has long been synonymous with offering a world-class schedule of sporting events. SNTV is therefore ideally placed to deliver on their breadth of programming needs, with excellent journalism credentials to get them the story first and in a consistently high quality package.”

“Signing with Eurosport is of key importance to us. With Eurosport having a Pan-European footprint as a major sports broadcaster, it will bring a fantastic exposure to the content produced by SNTV, ensuring the satisfaction required by Eurosport viewers for the latest sport news.”, added Beatrice Saunier, Head of IMG France, who led the negotiations with Eurosport.

Triathlon Ireland has announced the appointment of Chris Kitchen as the new Chief Executive Officer.

Chris has experience in both business and sport, sale sale running a number of companies as well as being heavily involved in triathlon as a competitor, technical official, coach and Board member.

He was one of the key players in the British Triathlon’s modernisation programme and in January 2007 was appointed as Director with the Performance Portfolio to the British Triathlon Board. He was a part of the Board which oversaw a transition to a company with substantial reserves, significant growth and medal success in London 2012. Heavily involved in the High Performance Programme, Chris led the strategic direction, chaired the elite selection panels across all disciplines and reported to the Board on Performance matters.

The ITU Congress in Auckland saw him re-elected onto the ITU Multisport Committee where he now acts as Chair in the strategic development of Duathlon, Long Distance Triathlon, Cross Triathlon, Winter Triathlon and Aquathlon worldwide.

With a business background in Document Management Systems, Software Development, IT Solutions and Website Development he has substantial management experience and commercial knowledge and understanding.

Commenting on his appointment Chris said. “I am absolutely delighted to have been appointed as CEO. Triathlon in Ireland is really buoyant and exciting with a growing membership supported by coaches and technical officials and of course some great events.  I have a great team behind me, both staff and volunteers, a supportive board and I am really looking forward to seeing what I can do to help develop Triathlon Ireland for triathletes in Ireland.”

Alexey Sorokin, Russia’s World Cup bid chief, says England’s reaction to his country winning 2018 hosting rights was regrettable and that the team didn’t know ‘how to lose’. He claims the bid team ran a clean race and that Russia is now ready for scrutiny to intensify as preparations begin.

England’s shock elimination in the first round of the FIFA vote on Dec. 2 prompted bid leaders to criticize FIFA’s bidding process after securing just two votes in what reports revealed to be the best technical bid.

“They [England] had a good bid in general. We regret that it turned out this way. But you have to know how to lose too,” Sorokin said in an interview with Russia Today.

“We think our bid is totally within FIFA’s philosophy, that is to move the World Cup to new regions, to open up new horizons to expand the power of football.”