The National Football League (NFL) and its players’ union have given little indication with regards to the progression over collective bargaining agreement (CBA) talks after a 15th day of mediated discussions with a third ‘deadline’ approaching at midnight ET tonight, March 11.

Owners did not meet with players in yesterday’s talks, instead meeting with union representatives and league officials in Washington, while owners convened with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and attorneys for their own discussions.

The NFL and its union are struggling to agree on how to split up US$9 billion in annual revenue with the expiration of the current CBA occurring last Thursday, March 3. Since then the deadline for an agreement to be made was pushed back 24 hours before delaying the talks for another week meaning that, assuming no further adjustments to the deadline are made, the league could face a lock out of its player’s next season. In turn the union may stop representing its members, allowing individual players to sue the league, citing antitrust violations.

Jeff Pash, the NFL’s lead negotiator, told reporters as he left talks yesterday: “If both sides have an equal commitment to getting this done, it will get done. Things can come together quickly and they can fall apart quickly.”

The sides return today to the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service for more talks under the supervision of mediator George H. Cohen, head of the government agency.

Numerous NFL writer’s have been speculating as to whether an agreement is imminent with social media network Twitter hosting a barrage of opinions. NFL Network’s Albert Beet posted: “So the 9 labor committee members are here, which means lunch is about to end. Heard things should heat up late afternoon.”

ESPN’s Andrew Brandt revealed what he believed to be the details of the discussions as they stand, tweeting: “On 9B (US$9bn) revenue split, players still asking for 50/50: 4.5B. ($4.5bn) Owners offering roughly 43%: 3.9B ($3.9bn). Gap of approx. $600m and shrinking.”

Sportfive have brokered a sponsorship deal for apparel brand Jako AG to become official supplier and partner of Bundesliga soccer club Hannover 96, effectively ending the club’s agreement with Under Armour as of next season.

Jako will now provide the Hannover first team, as well as youth ranks, with playing and training kits for the 2011/12 season.

In addition, JAKO will gain stadium advertising inside the club’s AWD Arena for hospitality areas for the sides home games.

Rudi Sprügel, CEO and founder of JAKO AG, stated: “We are very pleased to be able to equip Hannover 96 in such a distinguished national league. The successful performances from this friendly team have shown great potential in this traditional club. Hanover is an absolute brand in German football. A brand that fits clearly with our corporate philosophy. Ambitious, ambitious and with real sporting spirit exactly do with this motto, we work with the club, the fans and the players and follow the path to a successful future.”

Martin Child, President and CEO of Hannover 96, added: “With JAKO we could win another strong partner, a long-term commitment from us -. We are very happy I’m sure our players will be very happy with the known quality of JAKO products.”

Ron Wiegand, SPORTFIVE team leader in Hanover also commented: “We are very pleased that JAKO will be making its products at Hannover 96. No doubt this is a very important co-operation for the club, which shows that a very interesting communication platform has emerged.”

An agreement has been reached between Dorna Sports and Dutch broadcaster Sport1 for the 2011 MotoGP season which will see the channel broadcast the World Championship in the Netherlands this year.

Sport1 already has a strong soccer, pharmacy tennis and golf schedule, and will now offer full live coverage of the MotoGP World Championship to its viewers via the Sport1 LIVE and Sport1 Extra channels from each of the 18 rounds of the 2011 season.

Included will be special coverage of the eighth round of the campaign, the TT Assen, which takes place from June 23rd-25th.

Manel Arroyo, Dorna Sports S.L Media Managing Director, stated: “It’s extremely satisfying to have signed this new contract with Sport1, a channel with vast experience in sports broadcasting and one which will allow the passion of MotoGP and its races to be brought to Dutch fans, who have always demonstrated a great affinity to our sport.”

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) have announced that the second edition of the International Forum on Sport, mind Peace and Development will take place at the United Nations (UN) headquarters in Geneva from 10 to 11 May 2011.

The event, troche jointly organised by the IIOC and the Office of the Special Advisor to the UN Secretary General on Sport for Development and Peace, medical will review policies and practices, strengthen co-operation, assess the successes and challenges of using sport as a tool for human development and peace promotion, and pave the way for future action in this field.

The themes will address issues such as:

• * How is sport used as a catalyst for achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
• * Is sport delivering on legacy?
• * Developing a culture of peace: sporting diplomacy
• * Conflict prevention and resolution: giving peace a sporting chance
• * Next steps

A strong focus will be placed on how sport is contributing to the goals that have been identified by the UN as some of the world’s most pressing issues and require the support of everyone.

IOC President Jacques Rogge and Wilfried Lemke, the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Sport for Development and Peace, will chair the Forum, which will include participants from the Olympic family, governments, the UN system, NGOs and the academic world.

With exactly one month until the 2011 Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series kicks off, the ITU has released a new promotional video showcasing the electrifying action that embodies ITU triathlon.

CLICK HERE to see the 2011 promo video and get a sneak peak at what’s to come this season.

Now in its third year, the Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series will see the world’s fastest triathletes race head-to-head in seven events around the globe.

With $1.65-million USD up for grabs, plus valuable Olympic qualifying points, a lot is on the line in the heated battle to become ITU’s 2011 World Champion.

The 2011 Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series kicks off in Sydney on April 10 and continues in Yokohama, Madrid, Kitzbühel, Hamburg, London and Beijing.

This season’s ITU World Champions will be crowned at the Grand Final when ITU returns to the 2008 Olympic Games venue in Beijing on September 10-11.

English League One soccer club Leyton Orient have confirmed that they will move to the courts next week asking for a judicial review of the Government’s decision to house Premier League club West Ham United in the Olympic stadium after the Games.

If successful, the club’s chairman Barry Hearn’s decision to go to the law could mean months of discussion are still to come, on an issue the Government thought it had finally settled last month.

Speaking at an International Sports Security Conference, Hearn confirmed: “Our lawyers, Mischon de Reya have been instructed to proceed with all haste to a full application of a judicial review. 

“We will make a written application next week. 

“We want the whole West Ham rubber stamping to be put on hold, whilst the parties have an opportunity to do something they haven’t done properly. 

“This is to consider the effect on Leyton Orient Football club and to consider whether the plans they have for West Ham’s occupancy of the Olympic stadium is a proper resolve of government application of funds.”

Hearn sees the judicial review as “part of his battle plan” to force the Government to change its mind, adding: “We hope the judicial review will be granted which gives all the parties, Government, Minister of Sport, Minister of Culture, West Ham United, an opportunity to judge whether this system was fundamentally flawed. 

“Or whether it was in breach of European law or British law. 

“It will also give an opportunity for Leyton Orient to put their case that West Ham moving into the Olympics stadium, under their current pricing arrangements, is a fundamental breach of law.”

The Orient case will be that by allowing West Ham to move into the Olympic stadium, “it puts the future of Leyton Orient football club seriously in doubt. 

“It is certainly a breach of competition law and predatory pricing law.”

Orient, says Hearn, will argue “West Ham are going to give tickets away, or make thousands of rickets available on a hugely discounted basis which gives them an unfair advantage under European competition law. 

“That is predatory pricing, a case of a large commercial entity moving into an area with a pricing policy aimed at putting other people out of business.”

Hearn admitted his growing fears for the club if their legal battle is unsuccessful, saying: “We will go out of business if West Ham, under their current rules operate out of the Olympic stadium and we are left where we are left.”

Hearn hinted that one way out of this potential impasse could be compensation, adding: “What is the way forward? Is it a compensation issue? Or should we be part of the Olympic Park itself rather than be the forgotten tribe of East London? 

“We are open to suggestions but we can’t get the dialogue started unless everything else is put on hold. The whole point of judicial review is everything stops.

“We are still holding fire on any future action against either the Premier League or Football League. 

“We have sent letters to them and we are waiting a reply from the Premier League on our case against them. 

“We believe the Premier League are fundamentally flawed as well in their decision making process under their own rules. 

“The Football League have been deafening in their silence. 

“I am sure common sense will tell them they have an obligation to represent and support a member club of their company. 

“Leyton Orient are one of the founder members of the Football League and we have rights within that membership of the Football League.”

Hearn feels it is the Coalition Government that is responsible for what he calls ‘the present mess’, stating: “I have to say I blame the incumbent Government. 

“They preach the big society, community values, family values. 

“They have totally ignored a community, family club with a history dating back to 130 years. 

“I blame people that have ignored us and tried to hide behind, ‘Oh the Premier League have sanctioned it’ without considering the Premier League rules themselves and have taken that as black and white as a job done. 

“I blame bullies in society, people who think they can ride rough shod over the little man.”

According to UK Home Secretary Theresa May, arthritis an increase in the maximum penalty for ticket touting at the 2012 London Olympics is set to be enforced from £5,000 (US$8,000) to £20,000 ($32,000).

With around 6.6 million tickets set to go on sale to the public next week, May released a statement saying: “The change will ensure that there is a more substantial deterrent to serious and organised criminal groups.”

The Home Office said an amendment to the London Olympic and Paralympic Games Act would be put to Parliament shortly while Assistant Commissioner Chris Allison, national Olympic security co-ordinator, said letters had been sent to people who might try to illegally sell Olympic tickets, warning them they were being watched.

Allison stated: “Touts are part of organised criminal networks, often involved in other crimes, and we are committed to dismantling them layer by layer.”

May added: “The 2012 Games will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the Games on home soil.

“By increasing the fines for touting, we are sending a clear message to criminals and prospective criminals that it is not worth their while and they are not welcome.

“The focus of the government and everyone involved is to deliver a safe and secure Olympic and Paralympic Games that London, the UK and the world can enjoy. It will not be spoiled by ticket touts.”

London 2012 chairman Lord Coe also commented: “We want to get London 2012 tickets into the hands of enthusiastic sports fans so that our venues are packed to the rafters at Games-time and provide a fantastic atmosphere for the athletes.

“The message is loud and clear that ticket touts are not welcome and will face large fines.”

With a money row between the British Olympic Association (BOA) and London 2012 stealing the headlines, a new issue is threatening to engulf the BOA after complaints from Nelson McCausland, Northern Ireland’s (NI) Sports Minister, that “Team GB” is discriminatory and should be changed to “Team UK”.

The BOA have, in recent Games, established “Team GB” as a powerful marketing brand, even though its official title is “Team GB and Northern Ireland” which McCausland claims is unfair to athletes from NI as their contribution is being overlooked.

McCausland stated: “The current naming and branding of the team has the potential to create the perception that Northern Ireland is not part of the British Olympic team.

“However as we are all aware, Northern Ireland athletes have contributed significantly to the Olympic team’s success, particularly in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, and this should be recognised in the name and branding.

“Indeed, a change in branding, such as to ‘Team UK’, would be entirely consistent with the current title for our UK-wide sports body, UK Sport.”

McCausland has has promised that the Government will write to the BOA to ask them to consider changing the name, lobbying Britain’s Sport and Olympics Minister Hugh Robertson on the affair.

The topic of Northern Ireland’s role in the Olympic Movement has always been clouded in confusion and controversy since athletes have been able to opt to compete for either Britain or the Republic of Ireland.

Jacques Rogge, IOC President, stated earlier this month that sports bodies should receive a cut of betting revenues and also insisted that governments should impose tighter controls on gambling in sport, speaking ahead of a summit with government ministers, Interpol, UN representatives and betting operators.

The PFSC, chaired by UEFA president Michel Platini and comprising representatives from the European Club Association, European Professional Football Leagues, FIFPro and UEFA, released a statement via the official website of European football’s governing body yesterday, March 10, to confirm its members had “agreed a united position regarding the issue of betting”.

The statement added: “Financial solidarity depends on redistribution of revenue from the commercial exploitation of top professional football to the grassroots…(and the PFSC) expresses concern at the growing unauthorised commercial use of football competitions for betting purposes.

“(The PFSC) considers that competition organisers/clubs should have the right, including intellectual property right, to consent to their events being used by betting companies and that such companies should pay fair financial compensation,” added the statement on UEFA.com. “Such financial compensation is also essential for funding grassroots football as well as fighting match-fixing and sports fraud.”

The PFSC also stated it would urge “political authorities to adopt a concrete national and/or European-wide legislation to address these matters and to ensure a fair financial return to football”.