The thoughts and deepest sympathies of the global Rugby family continue to be with the people of Christchurch, anabolics all New Zealanders and everyone affected by last week’s tragedy. The response of the global Rugby family has been overwhelming and we know is greatly appreciated by those affected.

It is appropriate that the focus must remain on the extensive recovery and response operation in Christchurch and it would not be right for Rugby World Cup Limited (RWCL) to speculate or comment on Christchurch’s ability to host Rugby World Cup 2011 matches as planned until an extensive review and assessment has been completed, which could take several weeks.

RWCL, in partnership with tournament organisers RNZ 2011, the New Zealand Rugby Union and the New Zealand Government, continues to assess the damage to critical tournament facilities and services. These include Stadium Christchurch itself, accommodation, training facilities, the transport network and key tournament infrastructure.

It is clear there has been damage to Stadium Christchurch, accommodation and other infrastructure. However no decision will be taken about the RWC 2011 matches scheduled to be held in Christchurch until accurate and confirmed information has been received and analysed following the completion of the currently ongoing full assessment. Consideration must be given to all aspects of hosting RWC matches.

Whatever the outcome of the detailed assessment, all 48 matches will be hosted in New Zealand and the tournament will kick off on September 9.

RWCL and RNZ 2011 continue to regularly update all tournament stakeholders who have been extremely supportive throughout the process. All Rugby stakeholders recognise that the people of Christchurch are the paramount consideration at this difficult time.

South African Tourism and the country’s Ministry of Tourism has revealed figures of a report, buy claiming that the country’s economy received a US$523m boost due to the hosting the FIFA World Cup last year.

South Africa has benefited from a 9 per cent increase in its image as a secure travel destination in comparison with the overall perception before the start of the event, buy after more than 309, prostate 000 foreign tourists entered the country for the tournament.

Of the 309,000 tourists, 38 per cent were from Africa, 24 per cent from Europe, 13 per cent from Central and South America and an impressive 11 per cent from North America.

United States fans topped the charts with 30,175 travelling fans, while 24,483 arrived from Mozambique, even though the country’s national team did not qualify for the World Cup.

Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk told African Business Review: “More than half of the tourists who had attended other World Cup events in the past also felt that South Africa was a better host than other countries they had experienced.”

The government-commissioned report did not include tournament “pre-spending” in the country.

Mike Davis has been chosen as executive director of the U.S. Golf Association, abortion succeeding David Fay, generic who retired in December.

Davis becomes the seventh executive director in the organization’s 116-year history, discount having served as the USGA’s director of rules and competition since 2005.

Fay, 60, held the position for 21 years before ending his 32-year tenure with the Far Hills, New Jersey-based USGA, which oversees the rules of golf in the U.S. and Mexico and stages 17 annual national championships, including the U.S. Open.

Davis, 46, joined the USGA in April 1990 and has held roles including championship director of the U.S. Open from 1997 through 2004.

The Australian soccer A-League will be reduced to just 10 teams next season after debt-ridden North Queensland Fury was dropped from the competition.

The former owner of the club withdrew his support after the side lost millions of dollars, leaving the club under league administration for the past year.

Football Federation Australia (FFA) supported Fury for the A-League’s 2010-11 season, but insisted that the club had to raise enough capital to justify its continued participation in the tournament.

A statement from the FFA chief executive Ben Buckley, read: “The decision was determined after considering the financial position of the club for season 2011-12 as too big of a financial risk for FFA to undertake. Despite the hard work put in, the target of US$1.52m of capital from the Retain the Fury campaign was not met, with less than $304,000 being pledged.”

He added: “Whilst the club and the advisory board had attracted some very encouraging sponsorship commitments, the projected loss to run the club next season is still in our assessment in excess of $2.03m.”

According to local media reports, the FFA invested between $7-9.12m into Fury during its turbulent two seasons in the A-League. Administrators had planned to expand the league to 12 teams next season with the addition of a second Sydney side, but the plan was scrapped due to financial concerns.

The Munich bid to host the 2018 Winter Olympics has received a boost ahead of the arrival of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Evaluation Commission after signing up Metro Group as its latest corporate partner.

The IOC delegation will begin its four-day inspection of the Bavarian city’s plans for the 2018 Winter Olympics later today, March 1, having arrived in Germany on Sunday. With officials having already visited rival bidders from Annecy in France and PyeongChang in South Korea, Munich is the final stop on the IOC’s inspection tour.

International retail network Metro Group has been recruited as Munich 2018’s 11th national sponsor, and Munich 2018 CEO Bernhard Schwank said: “It is great to be able to unveil this latest asset for Munich 2018 on the eve of the Evaluation Commission visit. Metro Group’s show of commitment at this crucial time confirms that German business has faith in Munich’s chances of winning this bid.”

Meanwhile the second instalment of the ‘Living Bid Book’ series has illustrated the bid committee’s vision for CO2 compensation and the first ever climate-neutral Winter Games in Olympic history, with environmental expert to the bid, Boris Schwartz stating: “We would like to take this opportunity to set new standards in sustainability. It is very important that we make the most of Bavaria’s outstanding natural treasures whilst putting the least possible strain on the environment.”

Meanwhile Munich Olympic bid officials have indicated they will resume talks with a land owner unwilling to cede his property for the 2018 Winter Games, according to the Associated Press. Some farmers in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, the planned site of the Alpine skiing events, have refused to give up their landed needed for the sports facilities.

A new joint venture has been created to combine the marketing and media skills of two leading Swiss organisations – Infront Sports & Media AG and die Ringier AG.

The companies have announced a new 50:50 joint venture to exploit the growing Swiss sports market through an effective collaboration, unhealthy which will be known as Infront Ringier Sports & Entertainment Switzerland AG, medical abbreviated to InfrontRingier.

The venture will support organisers of Swiss sports events and top Swiss athletes by providing sophisticated marketing and consulting services.

In what the two parties feel is an ideal partnership, Infront will contribute its expertise in the commercialisation of sport (including sponsorship, production and distribution) and its highly specialised services to sport. In turn Ringier will integrate its newly-created Marketing and Sponsorship division set up last year which includes Pool Position Switzerland AG, which supports Switzerland’s big names in sports, the arts and culture.

Philippe Blatter, President & CEO of Infront Sports & Media AG, said: “The experience and resources of Ringier and Infront Sports & Media complement each other ideally in this partnership. Infront already has a large network of rights owners and sponsors based in Switzerland, but with the focus on international events. Now, we will be offering high-level services to national events too through InfrontRingier. We can help set the tone of the future for the Swiss sports market and provide an innovative and reliable partner on the doorstep.”

Marc Walder, CEO Ringier Switzerland and Germany, added: “The activities of Infront and Ringier in Switzerland are highly complementary. In addition to its core business, Ringier will be diversifying its existing product and brand portfolio through this involvement in an ideal way. As both companies are market leaders in their respective fields, we feel this is a relationship on an equal footing.”

Rugby New Zealand 2011 chief executive Martin Snedden added to the debate, denying speculation that the country could lose some games to Australia. However, Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee revealed at the weekend that Christchurch’s involvement in the tournament was far from certain, even though only minor damage was sustained at the city’s AMI Stadium.

In an interview with TVNZ, Brownlee stated: “To lose the Rugby World Cup from Christchurch would be a massive blow. I don’t want to see it happen, but we’ve got to be realistic about the prospect. This place recovered amazingly well after the September 4 earthquake (last year), but let’s not rush too far ahead of things.”

While the World Cup games remain in doubt, the management at AMI Stadium have ruled out Super 15 matches taking place at the venue until at least March 15.

Lawyers for two of the Pakistan cricketers banned by the International Cricket Council (ICC) last month after being found guilty of corruption, Salman Butt and Mohammad Amir, have filed appeals to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against the sanctions placed against them in the spot-fixing scandal.

Butt was banned for ten years – five of them suspended, while Amir was banned for five. Mohammad Asif, banned for seven years, two of which are suspended, is yet to appeal against the tribunal’s decision despite denying any wrongdoing in last summer’s Test Match versus England..

The players were all banned after UK newspaper – the News of the World reported no balls were bowled at specific points in England’s innings after a payment was made to a businessman.

Former captain Butt said in a statement: “This is to confirm that today my legal team served a statement of appeal.”

Amir’s lawyer Shahid Karim said he filed his client’s appeal on Friday, stating: “The process is now to set to motion, we have challenged the judgment of the tribunal on various grounds.”

In a separate development, the players are due to appear at City of Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 17 March to face charges of conspiracy to obtain and accept corrupt payments and conspiracy to cheat.

The NASCAR Sprint Cup fall race at Kansas Speedway will be titled the Hollywood Casino 400 for the next 10 years.

In 2012 the US$386m “Hollywood-themed entertainment destination and casino” is set to open at the track with the race named after the new venture.

The speedway and Penn National Gaming will partner to operate the casino with the new title taking effect with this year’s race on October 9.

Price Chopper formerly served as title sponsor, but the casino wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to publicise,

A five-year renewal has been agreed between the National Basketball Association (NBA) and security firm Contemporary Services Corporation (CSC).

The partnership will see the firm continue as security partner and CSC’s special events sector handle all ticket taking services whilst providing security and ushering at the forthcoming 2011 NBA Jam Session, erectile under the terms of a deal which will last until 2015.

The three-day Jam session is part of the NBA’s All-Star weekend, drugs which culminates with the annual NBA All-Star Game which will take place on Sunday 20th February.

NBA fans will have the chance to meet and collect autographs from star players whilst competing against friends in challenges such as the NBA All-Star Skills Challenge, which is title-sponsored by Taco Bell, whilst getting tips from the NBA professionals.