The Mayor of London Boris Johnson will be joined by local schoolchildren on a specially designed and installed, symptoms travelling basketball court to tip off National Basketball Association (NBA)  Basketball Week.

The initiative, unhealthy which was announced earlier this year, is a week of free youth-oriented basketball events, which starts in London before travelling to five UK cities and returning to London next week in order to promote the sport in the nation.

The week’s events lead up to the NBA Games – London 2011 presented by Thomson Sport on March 4 and 5 at The O2 Arena, when the New Jersey Nets and the Toronto Raptors will play in the NBA’s first-ever regular-season games in Europe.

Basketball Week is being organised by the National Basketball Association (NBA), British Basketball (representing Team GB), the British Basketball League and England Basketball and aims to increase participation in the sport, giving young people up and down the country the opportunity to try their hand at basketball.

The Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) has warned the competitors of the upcoming Mexican Open in the troubled Pacific resort of Acapulco, over security issues, advising players against travelling outside hotels.

Players were advised to leave the city immediately after being eliminated from the tournament despite the Mexican government assuring the ATP that appropriate security measures have been put in place.

The Associated Press news agency quotes local police as saying that, several arrests have been made following a recent spate of drug-related violence in the city and a weekend of attacks on taxis in the city left 12 drivers or passengers dead.

In January, the bodies of 15 headless men were found outside a shopping centre in the resort but despite this, defending men’s singles champion, Spaniard David Ferrer, has said he has no fears about being there.

But David Nalbandian of Argentina said on Saturday he was thinking about withdrawing, adding that he also had a groin injury: “It’s a great and enjoyable tournament to play,” he said.

“But for right now it’s a little more difficult because of the security situation. We [players] are a bit scared about this and we’re trying to decide what to do.”

Paul Barber, Chief Executive of MLS’ Vancouver Whitecaps FC, has taken part in an exclusive Featured Profile interview with iSportconnect news editor Martin Laurence.

Paul spoke of his decision to leave his boyhood club Tottenham Hotspur where he served as Executive Director, a position which he claimed was “a dream come true”, in order to become the Chief Executive Officer with the MLS franchise. Barber felt that the opportunity to lead the Whitecaps was one that doesn’t come around too often, stating that “moving to North America was just one of those opportunities that I didn’t feel I could turn down, either professionally or personally.”

He stated how he believes and admitted that football is still an emerging sport in the US and added that one of the main challenges in his role at Vancouver was “selling the game, as well as the club.” Barber added that he feels that the sport can compete with the major American sports and added that “in Vancouver, more people play our sport than play Canada’s favourite pastime, ice hockey, across the whole of British Columbia.” The Spurs man admitted that, “although it will take a little bit more time than the next couple of years”, he has “no doubt that football will become the biggest sport in North America too.”

Paul also spoke of his disappointment in losing out on the possibility of England and USA winning the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bids respectively, stating: “As someone who supported England’s bid, nothing would have given me more pleasure than seeing FIFA award England the 2018 World Cup and the United States the 2022 World Cup.”

Among one of a number of major sponsorship deals to have been agreed by the club, Barber spoke of the significance of the Whitecaps kit sponsorship with Bell. MLS commissioner Don Garber recently lauded the club as being ahead of their league counterparts, including David Beckham’s LA Galaxy, in terms of sponsorship revenue, and Paul has had a large part to play in the sides recent successes off the field. Paul revealed that the process of signing a shirt sponsor in Europe with a club like Tottenham is “actually a very similar process” to that in the MLS. He added that the deal with Bell Canada was a “fantastic fit” and that, “To date, they’ve been a first-class partner in every respect. They are a world-class organization.”

Having also worked for the Football Association (FA) before moving to Canada, Mr Barber spoke of the difference between working for a federation and a club, saying: Football federations are, by definition, very political…They’ve got a lot of important governance work to do and a huge number of issues to deal with daily. Inevitably, they are slow moving and can seem to be ponderous.” He added that the nature of working for a club is same in North America as it is in the UK, stating: “Clubs, on the other hand, tend to be faster moving and less hierarchical, therefore quicker to make decisions.”

Paul also spent time as a non-executive director for Hampshire County Cricket Club and spoke of his surprise that the sport was already played in Vancouver. Barber quipped: “I think North Americans would find it hard to believe that it’s possible for followers of cricket to sit through five days’ worth of action and still not have a result!” As his second favourite sport Barber stated that “if you can understand the sport of cricket, then you can very easily become a fan,” but when asked as to whether the game could establish itself as soccer has in Vancouver, he added: “Whether cricket can truly compete with the big North American sports in the way football is at present, is certainly more debatable. I doubt it, to be honest”.

Mr Barber concluded on his interest in iSportconnect and the services it provides, saying: “iSportconnect is an extremely useful way of keeping up to date with the latest news from across the sports business world. The short, sharp electronic headline format makes it an easy, quick and valuable read.”

To read the full interview click here – http://tinyurl.com/65l9qfz

EDITORS NOTE:

Paul Barber was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of MLS’ Vancouver Whitecaps FC in March 2010 after serving as executive director at Tottenham Hotspur for five years. In his time with the Premier League club, Barber reported to chairman Daniel Levy and was responsible for all of the club’s key operational divisions, including commercial areas, hospitality and ticketing as well as international tours and friendly matches. Before then he worked as commercial and marketing director at the Football Association (FA), where he was tasked with developing programs for marketing, communications and commercial affairs, including broadcasting rights of the England national team and FA Cup. Barber’s sporting allegiances do not simply revolve around football and he is a fond cricket supporter having served as a non-executive director for Hampshire County Cricket Club.

Major League Baseball (MLB) side the New York Mets’ owners, the Wilpon family, aren’t willing to sell a controlling interest in the franchise accoridng Chief Operating Officer Jeff Wilpon who reiterated their stance after several ownership candidates surfaced in recent days.

Along with chairman Fred Wilpon, Jeff’s father, the owners announced that they may seel as much as 25 per cent of the franchise on Januray 28, because of a lawsuit tied to the Ponzi scheme created by Bernard L. Madoff.

Jeff Wilpon told reporters that his family won’t be forced to give up control of the franchise, stating: “We’re not selling controlling interest in the team. It’s not on the table.”

Trustee Irving Picard wants to recover US$300m in alleged phony profits from Madoff’s scheme made by Sterling Equities Inc., which owns the Mets, and as much as $700m in principal, his lawyer, David Sheehan, said on Feb. 11.

The comments came the day after executives from the investment bank and brokerage firm Tritaurian Capital Inc. created BuyTheMets.com, which would sell $999 shares in an ownership group that would give fans a voice in running the team.

Other reported interests have surfaced from the likes of Martin Luther King III, billionaire Donald Trump and life-long Mets fan and co-founder of Glaceau Vitaminwater sports drink, Michael Repole.

Infront Sports & Media are to deliver all key aspects of this year’s Fédération Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing (FIBT) World Championships, from media production, implementing new technologies and providing the highest standards of delivery.

As Official Media and Marketing Partner of the FIBT, Infront has secured title sponsor BAUHAUS alongside a wide range of broadcasters that will ensure live and/or delayed coverage to more than 20 countries and territories.

Infront produces the programming in full HD quality, whilst ensuring the highest standards and technical controls to meet the key criteriaof broadcasters, sponsors and fans across all markets. Approximately 40 staff members deliver the production with up to 27 cameras shootingthe action on and around the tracks.

Bruno Marty, Infront’s Executive Director Winter Sports, says: “Once again we have been able to grow a successful ongoing client partnership organically through adding a new service from our broad range of solutions. Like the previous four FIBT World Cup races, the BAUHAUS FIBT World Championships will now also benefit from our wide experience of handling the media production for other major sports events, such as the FIFA World Cup, Serie A, Ligue 1, the FIM Superbike World Championship, the IIHF World Championship and FIS World Cups.”

Rugby Football League (RFL) club Wakefield Wildcats have survived after being rescued by administration following the sale of the club to private investment company Spirit of 1873.

The sale of the Super League team is not yet rubber-stamped and is subject to written confirmation from the RFL that the owner of Spirit of 1873, ampoule Andrew Glover, ambulance passes the governing body’s ‘fit and proper person’ test.

Spirit of 1873 will now take full ownership of the club and allow the Wildcats to continue to play their matches at their historic ground, Belle Vue for the 2011 Engage Super League season.

A club statement confirmed the news, stating: “Spirit of 1873 Ltd is delighted to announce that it has today reached an agreement with O’Hara’s, the administrators of Wakefield Trinity Rugby League Football Club Limited, to acquire the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats. At the core of our plans is securing the financial stability which will allow us to support the team on the field and give our fans the experience and success they deserve.

“We are looking forward to working closely with our Club’s famously loyal fans, the wider Wakefield community and all our sponsors and supporters to build a stable, commercially viable and successful future for this great Club.”

A four-year renewal of a marketing partnership between the PGA Tour and Beringer Vineyards was announced by the parties yesterday, cheap January 31. The agreement secures Beringer’s designation as the “Official Wine of the PGA TOUR, adiposity Champions Tour and Nationwide Tour” through 2014 in the United States and Canada.

The renowned Napa Valley winery was the first wine brand to become an Official Marketing Partner of the PGA Tour.

Francesca Schuler, medicine | Chief Marketing Officer of Beringer Vineyards, stated: “We knew from the outset of our partnership that the PGA TOUR and Beringer Vineyards would be a great fit, and we are very pleased with what we accomplished in our first year. The TOUR presents exceptional opportunities and environments in which to showcase our acclaimed portfolio of wines. We look forward to building on the relationship we’ve developed with the loyal TOUR fans, and offering more unique wine experiences over the next four years.”

Throughout the 2011 season, Beringer will be executing retail promotions in conjunction with the PGA TOUR schedule, which will include discount ticket offers to tournaments as well as opportunities for fans to win VIP golf experiences. Beringer will be showcasing its luxury wines at several tournaments, providing fans with an upgraded wine experience while they watch tournament play.

Tom Wade, Chief Marketing Officer for the PGA TOUR, added: “We are very happy that our fans and partners have been able to enjoy the wonderful Beringer products at our events. We are particularly pleased that Beringer will be expanding its activation and even more of our fans can enjoy Beringer over the next four years.”

The Boxing Federation of Russia have brokered a deal which sees the country’s top sports club, Dynamo, takeover the Moscow franchise of the World Series of Boxing (WSB). The new agreement was announced after the current Moscow franchise was terminated due to a breach of financial obligations and will begin with immediate effect.

A statement from the WSB read: “The current Moscow franchise has been in breach of its agreement with the WSB since before the start of the season, notably with respect to non-payment of financial obligations towards the WSB. Despite numerous reminders there has been no attempt by the franchise owner to remedy the situation. The agreement with the current franchise owner has therefore been terminated with immediate effect.”

The team will now be named Dynamo Moscow upon entering its first match against the Istanbulls away on 28 January before the first home match on 5 February in a new home venue.

Dr C. K. Wu, AIBA President and WSB Chairman, welcomed the new agreement: “I am delighted that we have been able to resolve this issue with the help of the Boxing Federation of Russia and Dynamo,” he said. “The WSB will not tolerate any impropriety in any of its franchises and will not hesitate to take action to protect its interests if agreements it has in place are not respected. We have had an excellent start to the inaugural season with universal acclaim from boxers and fans alike. We will not let this be jeopardized.”

Don Fehr has become the National Hockey League Player’s Association’s (NHLPA) new executive director after players voted “overwhelmingly” in his favour over the weekend. A search committee had recommended Fehr for the post to the executive board in September.

Fehr, 62, was the long-standing executive director of the Major League Baseball Player’s Association (MLBPA) for 26 years between 1983 and 2009 and switched sports to work as an advisor to the NHLPA in recent months.

“This process took a while and it took a while because from the players’ standpoint they wanted to be sure,” said Fehr.

“From my standpoint I wanted them to be sure they had made a decision they were comfortable with, that all the players had an opportunity to have their say and that this judgement represented a consensus view of the entire membership. It has and that’s both quite an honour to me and is also quite humbling.”

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement: “We are pleased that the leadership position at the Players’ Association has been filled, and we look forward to working with Don in his new role.”

The NHLPA has had four different leaders since the end of the 2004-05 NHL lockout, and the League’s current collective bargaining agreement with the union is scheduled to expire in September 2012.