NBC Sports Network have announced a broadcast deal to air four ARCA Racing Series races in August, giving the national stock car racing series an even greater television presence.

Officials from the Automobile Racing Club of America made the announcement today during the Scott 160 race event weekend at Road America in Elkhart Lake.

“We couldn’t be more excited than to have the opportunity to secure additional exposure of the ARCA Racing Series on NBC Sports Network,” said Mark Gundrum, ARCA Vice President for Business Development and Corporate Partnerships. “This opportunity is great for the teams, sponsors and fans of the series.”

Three of the four NBC Sports Network events are scheduled to air on Thursday nights, with one event slated for Friday night. NBC Sports Network’s ARCA racing coverage premieres Thursday, August 1, with the Winchester Speedway race. The race from Berlin Raceway will air on Thursday, August 15 and the Madison International Speedway event will air on Thursday night, August 29. The event from the one-mile dirt oval at the Illinois State Fairgrounds will air on Friday, August 23.

“We look forward to presenting the excitement of the ARCA Racing Series to motorsports fans on NBC Sports Network for the first time,” said Mike Perman, Vice President, Programming, NBC Sports Group.

Arsenal have announced another healthy pre-tax profit and CEO Ivan Gazidis believes this will help sustain the club through the Financial Fair Play Scheme.

Arsenal’s operating profits fell to £32.3m in the year to the end of May from £45.8m last time as revenue gains were outweighed by wage costs.

The operating profit is before exceptional costs, depreciation and player trading.

Arsenal reports a profit from player trading of £26.0m against a loss of £14.6m last time with gains from a number of significant player sales, including Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri, partially offset by higher amortisation charges.

Group turnover was £243.0m (2011: £255.7m). The fall was due to the expected lower level of property sales activity.

Revenues from football increased to £235.3m (2011: £225.4m) with commercial activities contributing £5.6 million of this growth.

Non-executive chairman Peter Hill-Wood said: “We have invested in the team and in the club’s infrastructure as a whole and this will continue. 

“UEFA’s new financial regulations have added a further emphasis to the need for a sound financial model. 

“That is why our activities to increase revenue are important. 

“Increased revenues allow us to continue to be competitive and to keep pace with the ever present cost pressures in the game.”

Gazidis believes Arsenal are in a good position to fulfil UEFA’s Financial Fair Play guidelines for clubs to live within their means.

He said in a statement: “Clubs, fans and other stakeholders in the game are demanding a more rational financial approach and this reinforces our conviction that our club is strongly placed to succeed over the long term.

“We have qualified for the Champions League for the 15th season in a row whilst off the pitch we have a business strategy and infrastructure that is helping us to grow our revenues.

“This revenue growth will provide sustainable funds for future investment in the team whilst keeping within the UEFA Financial Fair Play requirements. We can and will forge our own path to success.”

Former Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) chief executive, Tim Darby has become the general manager of the Exeter Racecourse.

Darby moves from Epsom Downs, where he helped to deliver the 2012 Investec Derby after rejoining the famous Surrey venue as marketing manager in October last year. He takes over his new role on 25th June from Alice Everitt, who has run Exeter Racecourse since February 2011 and worked at the course for more than five years.

For more than six years previously, Darby ran the PDC, which is the world’s leading promoter of professional darts. Prior to that he was marketing manager for The Jockey Club’s three racecourses near London – Epsom Downs, Kempton Park and Sandown Park – which then were grouped under the banner of United Racecourses.

Darby said: “I’m delighted to have been appointed as general manager at Exeter Racecourse. Alice and her team have done a fantastic job and I look forward to working with my new colleagues to continue this and to further develop the racecourse. Exeter is a wonderful venue that has a very bright future and I look forward to help shape that, both on the racing and the non-racing side.”

Paul Fisher, group managing director of Jockey Club Racecourses, added: “I’m very pleased Tim will run Exeter Racecourse for us. He has excellent senior experience working both inside and outside racing, and is well placed to take up his first racecourse management role. I’ve known Tim for more than 12 years and have every confidence he and the Exeter team will go from strength to strength together.

“I’d also like to thank Alice Everitt for the superb job she has done as general manager at Exeter and in her previous roles within Jockey Club Racecourses. She sees her future in a marketing-focused role and our door is always open should the right opportunity arise.”

Asian Football Awards Shortlist Announced for Wembley Stadium extravaganza.

The first ever Asian Football Awards (AFA) will take place at Wembley Stadium on 24th January 2012 where outstanding UK Asians will be honoured. This inaugaral event is expected to attract a premier list of guests to gather, support and celebrate outstanding Asians in football.

The AFA has been launched to recognise the great contribution to both the professional game and grassroots initiatives by individuals and groups across the UK with South Asian heritage. The FA and Kick It Out are supporting this landmark initiative. 

The events primary objective is to create an awareness of the positive efforts made by Asians within the UK football industry. It also aims to engage with organisations and individuals to help increase Asian participation levels in the UK.

The AFA are proud to announce that Sporting Equals are to be the Legacy Partner for the 2012 event. There has been tremendous support since the announcement of the awards last November that the organisers have decided that all profits will be used for legacy projects and future bursary disbursements for young elite Asian players.

Some of the AFA nominations include: Michael Chopra (Ipswich Town), Danny Batth (Wolves FC/Sheff Wed), Dr Zaf Iqbal (Liverpool FC), Manish Bhasin (BBC), The Zesh Rehman Foundation, Anwar Uddin (Barnet FC), Permi Jhooti (FIFA Ambassador), Chelsea Asian Soccer Star, Javed Khan (Premier League),Tony Fernandes and Lakshmi Mittal (QPR FC).

David Bernstein, FA Chairman: “The FA is committed to diversity and inclusion across all areas of the game and I’m delighted that the Asian football community are celebrating their achievements at Wembley Stadium.”

Baljit Rihal, Co-Founder Asian Football Awards: “We have received hundreds of inspiring nominations from across the country. It is such a pleasure to know that so many Asians are involved and passionate about the game of football. We hope that the Asian Football Awards can play a part by recognising great individuals, organisations and initiatives.”

“Our vision has always been to support the growth of Asians in UK football. Since we announced the event last year, the media attention and support from all across the industry has been phenomenal. I can proudly say that the Asian Football Awards will most definitely encourage more Asians to get involved in every aspect of the game.”

Arun Kang, CEO Sporting Equals: “Sporting Equals are delighted to be the legacy partner of the Asian Football Awards and believe that our Talent ID Programme, will provide real opportunities for talented young people to be exposed to high performance coaching, developing their skills and encourage more diversity in professional football.

We believe our partnership with the AFA can both deliver a meaningful legacy and continue to support our wider work.

Sporting Equals welcomes and recognises the importance of celebrating the achievements of Asians in football, looks forward to the AFA becoming a key annual event for the future, and working with them and other partners to facilitate change.”

Shalin Patel, Head of UK Marketing, Sony Entertainment Network “As an organisation, we have always had a close association with raising the profile of sport in the British Asian community and the Asian Football Awards are an exciting initiative which we are proud to associate with and help build support for. Good luck to everyone involved.”

For further information or tickets please contact Initiate Sports

Email: afa@initiatesports.com Call: +44(0) 8456 805 325

Zum 125. Geburtstag des Hamburger Sport-Vereins startet am Samstag, ailment 29. September 2012, store um 9.00 Uhr der Verkauf der HSV Jubiläums-Anleihe.

Der Hamburger Sport-Verein wird am 29. September 125 Jahre alt und stellt am selben Tag mit der Emission der Jubiläums-Anleihe die Weichen für die Zukunft. Über die Einnahmen aus der Anleihe wird das Nachwuchsprojekt “HSV-Campus” realisiert.

Die Zeichnungsfrist beginnt am Samstag um 09.00 Uhr. Ab diesem Zeitpunkt sind die drei Schmuckurkunden in Nennbeträgen von EUR 125,00, EUR 404,00 und EUR 1.887,00 sowie die global verbrieften Schuldverschreibungen in Nennbeträgen von 500 Euro bestellbar. Die Bestellung kann im Internet unter www.hsv-anleihe.de oder auch durch Abgabe eines schriftlichen Kaufantrages per Telefax oder im Service-Center des HSV erfolgen. Erhältlich ist der Kaufantrag auf der Website www.hsv-anleihe.de, im Service-Center des HSV in der Imtech Arena und in den Fanshops.

Die Angebotsfrist endet am 31.12.2012 oder mit vollständiger Platzierung der Schuldverschreibungen. Der HSV kann die Angebotsfrist zudem verlängern oder verkürzen.

Als Wertpapier für das Depot sind die global verbrieften Schuldverschreibungen in einer Stückelung von EUR 500,– konzipiert, im Mittelpunkt des Angebots stehen jedoch die attraktiv gestalteten Schmuckurkunden. Die Schmuckurkunden werden einzeln oder als 3er-Set mit allen drei Nennwerten ausschließlich gerahmt erhältlich sein. Seit dem 19. September sind alle Informationen rund um die Anleihe auf der Website www.hsv-anleihe.de nachzulesen

The head of ANOC Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah has been named the Olympic Solidarity President. 

His predecessor, order Mario Vázquez Raña, allergist resigned the post in March of this year and in 1981 together with former IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch set up the Olympic Solidarity Commission.

Sheikh Ahmad, anabolics 48, told insidethegames: “We have much work to do. My election in Moscow [in April] was only the beginning.

“There are lots of changes that are needed in the constitution. Lots of articles that need to be changed. We have to work under the Olympic Charter and ensure better cooperation.”

Hockey Canada have announced they have secured a new 10-year broadcast agreement, with TSN and RDS that extends their long-standing partnership dating back to 1991.

The new deal, negotiated exclusively with TSN and RDS, gives Canada’s #1 English and French speciality networks multi-platform media rights to all Hockey Canada events including the IIHF WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP (World Juniors). Hockey Canada also confirmed today that the 2015 and 2017 IIHF WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP will both be co-hosted by Toronto and Montreal – with TSN and RDS holding all broadcast rights.

As the official broadcast partner of Hockey Canada, TSN and RDS will deliver more than 30 games from key Hockey Canada events each year.

“It is rare to find a partnership so rewarding as the one between TSN, RDS, and Hockey Canada. Together, we have grown the profile of amateur hockey in Canada to remarkable heights and have helped to make the World Juniors one of the most-anticipated and most-watched events on Canadian television every year,” said Phil King, President of CTV Programming and Sports. “Extending this wonderful partnership with Hockey Canada ensures our subscribers will continue to have exceptional coverage of some of the biggest domestic and international events in Canadian hockey.”

“Hockey Canada is very excited to be able to continue its long-time and successful association with TSN and RDS as our media partners,” said Hockey Canada president and CEO Bob Nicholson.  “TSN and RDS have helped grow many of our properties into Canadian traditions, and achieved record viewership numbers along the way. We look forward to working with TSN and RDS to continue to build our properties, from national championships through to new grassroots initiatives.”

“Nothing galvanizes Canada like watching our hockey players proudly wear the Maple Leaf as they take on the world’s best,” said Stewart Johnston, President of TSN. “Hosting the World Juniors in Toronto and Montreal will help to further establish this tournament as one of the all-time marquee events in Canadian sports. We are thrilled to be a part of the magic and look forward to delivering Canada’s holiday hockey tradition to fans for years to come.”

Hockey Canada is the third major partner to extend its exclusive partnership with TSN and RDS in the past 20 months, joining the CFL and the Canadian Curling Association in signing a long-term rights agreement with the networks.

Bahrain’s Gulf Finance House has confirmed media reports it has agreed a deal to takeover English football club Leeds United.

“GFH would like to confirm that GFH Capital Limited, a 100 percent subsidiary of Gulf House, has signed an exclusive agreement to lead and arrage the acquisition of Leeds City Holdings, the parent company of LUFC (Leeds United Football Club),” the Bahrain-based firm said in filing to the Dubai bourse.

While GFH did not confirm who they were working on behalf of, club officials said at the weekend negotiations are ongoing with a Middle East-based consortium and an outcome likely in the next two weeks.

Leeds United owner Ken Bates said talks to sell the club were “progressing slowly” with a final agreement still to be reached, UK regional newspaper Yorkshire Evening Post reported.

The Leeds chairman said in programme notes published earlier this month that negotiations with a Middle Eastern consortium were continuing but claimed the “appropriate documents have not been finalised between the lawyers”.

Neil Warnock, the club manager, added on Thursday that he hoped there would be “good news” in the next couple of weeks.

In comments published by UK news channel ITN, he said: “Everyone is working hard behind the scenes to change all that now. Hopefully, we will have some good news in the next 10 days, couple of weeks.”

Fans have become increasingly frustrated as the deal remains unsigned almost four months after talks with the group from the Middle East first began.

A demonstration against United’s owner was staged by supporters on Tuesday night prior to the defeat to Hull City.

The identity of United’s would-be buyers has never been confirmed although previous reports suggest that a member of Bahrain’s ruling family, Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Mubarak Al-Khalifa, is one of the individuals behind the approach.

Last month, it was reported that the proposed takeover of Leeds had collapsed.

In a statement posted on its official website, Leeds United said: “Leeds United announces that the exclusivity period granted to a potential investor as mentioned in the statement of 26 June has ended.

“The club remain happy to continue discussions, but not on an exclusive basis, so as not to prevent other options passing.”

The English Championship football club previously said on June 26 that an unnamed group of investors had been granted due diligence.

It added that the club would continue to be receptive to approaches from potential new partners.