The national security coordinator for the 2012 London Olympics has insisted that armed agents from other countries besides Britain will not be permitted at the London games.

Assistant Commissioner Chris Allison dismissed a Guardian newspaper report suggesting that the United States would send dozens of armed FBI agents to protect U.S. interests.

Though he has denied the report before, bronchi the issue has continued to fester, drug suggesting tensions between Britain and the United States, which sends a huge contingent of athletes to the Olympics.

He says that while some American liaison officers would be involved, the notion that agents would come en masse was “rubbish.”

“There will be no foreign armed personnel here,” Allison said.

Allison also says police officers will provide the vanguard of forces protecting the tens of thousands of athletes, spectators and others attending the games.

Allison and Olympic officials say the military will help the police, but won’t guard the streets.

allergist helvetica, buy sans-serif;”>The inaugural QIPCO British Champions Series have already enjoyed increased annual attendances and television audiences – according to figures released this week with the richest day in British racing history, anesthetist QIPCO British Champions Day on the horizon.

This takes place at Ascot this Saturday, but racecourse attendances at the 27 days that have made up the new Series prior to the Ascot climax are up 7% on 2010 – 688,279 people from 644,609 people. 

By comparison, attendances across the full British racing programme in 2011 are up by an average of 3.9%.? ?

Average terrestrial viewing figures on UK Channels BBC and Channel 4, which have broadcast the racedays between them, have seen a 33% increase on last year (18.0 million viewers from 13.6 million viewers). 

The total number of viewers watching the flat races rose to 23.8 million people when peak viewing figures are used.? ?

Figures compared to 2009 also jump in their favour, with 2011 attendances up by 8% in comparison, while terrestrial television viewing figures are up by 7% compared to two years ago after a decrease in 2010 predominantly due to the FIFA World Cup.

Rod Street, chief executive of British Champions Series Ltd, said: “We take these figures as affirmation that interest in Britain’s biggest races is on the up, while many other sports are in decline. We’d never claim that is all down to the creation of QIPCO British Champions Series, but this is an encouraging trend and testament to the fantastic horses we’ve see race in Britain this year and all those making an effort to promote our sport.

“We are also keen to attract greater international coverage of our sport, so we are delighted that BBC Worldwide has already secured sales for QIPCO British Champions Day to 75 countries around the world, with more expected to be added during Sportel in Monaco this week.”

Also the event has attracted more than 30 million pounds ($47 million) in bets, rivaled only by the final day at Royal Ascot in U.K. flat racing, organizers said.

Kate Miller, head of racing at U.K. bookmaker William Hill, added: “The Champions Day will rival a Royal Ascot day for turnover across the betting industry. The new series creates a huge event to round off the season. That in itself will create interest throughout the flat racing season, which runs from April to October.”

British Prime Minister David Cameron has launched a new campaign that specifically will look into maximising the economic potential of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, promoting Britain abroad as a place to visit and do business, with plans to generate a boost of at least £1 billion ($1.6 billion). 

As part of Britain’s Olympic legacy, the Government is planning to seize the opportunities presented by hosting the Games and the new ‘GREAT’ drive is being implemented to deliver long-term growth, while boosting investment and employment for the whole country.

Cameron said: “In 2012 there will be only one place to be. With the Olympic and Paralympic Games coming to London next summer, the greatest show on earth is about to arrive in one of the world’s greatest cities. We are determined to make the most of this unprecedented opportunity to ensure we deliver a lasting economic legacy that will benefit the whole country. This campaign is simple. There are so many great things about Britain and we want to send out the message loud and proud that this is a great place to do business, to invest, to study and to visit.”

As well as the anticipated business boost, tourism will also feature heavily as part of the ‘GREAT’ campaign.

The sector already contributes £115 billion ($180 billion) each year to the UK economy and has the potential to be one of the fastest growing sectors in the years ahead, with the Government aiming to attract an extra four million visitors to the country over the next four years.

Jeremy Hunt, Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, said: “With the eyes of the world on Britain in 2012, we have a fantastic opportunity to showcase everything that the country has to offer. The GREAT campaign will ensure that we make the most of London 2012 to boost tourism and business, leaving a lasting economic legacy from London’s Games.”

The initiative, which is being developed by communications agency Mother after it was appointed to promote the economic benefits of hosting the Olympics in 2012, is also being backed by a number of Britain’s most eminent organisations and brands, including the likes of Marks & Spencer, Deutsche Bank, National Grid, Sainsbury’s, Old Mutual, Burberry and Rio Tinto.

Burberry’s Angela Ahrendts, said: “We applaud the vision of the new GREAT campaign. As a global brand with a proud British heritage, we fully support its aim of raising international awareness of the country’s unique assets and tremendous opportunities for inward investment.”

Meanwhile, Tom Albanese of Rio Tinto, who are also a domestic Tier Three sponsor of the London 2012 Games as the Official Mining and Metals Provider, added: “We are delighted to be associated with this exciting campaign and look forward to engaging with the Government on it going forward.”

The Prime Minister also announced plans today for a global investment conference for investors and business leaders to be held in London on the eve of the Games, in addition to an online British Business Club.

Delivered by UK Trade & Investment, this programme of business summits will include a British Business Embassy at Lancaster House and will highlight key sectors for global growth during the Games.

Vince Cable, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, said: “The Olympics is a tremendous opportunity to showcase the best of British. We want to demonstrate the great products we already offer the world, from Formula One racing cars to innovative aerospace technology and cutting edge fashion brands and we want to highlight the opportunities for world-leading businesses with global ambition to invest and grow in Britain.”

The Government will be hoping that the gains to be had from this latest campaign can help to offset a degree of the costs incurred by the actual hosting of the Games, which is currently projected as being some £7.2 billion ($11.2 billion).

Nimbus Sport, search the marketing agency for the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF), help has announced its plans to invest US$56.5 million in the inaugural World Series Hockey competition set to take place in India.

However, link the competition is yet to be officially sanctioned by the International Hockey Federation (HIF).

The announcement comes after the two parties confirmed that eight franchises and a number of players have agreed to participate in the event, scheduled to start on 15 December 2011.

Nimbus Sports are expected to spend the money on signing new players, infrastructure, event operations, and marketing and promotion.

However, a statement by the sport’s world governing body explained its reasons for not sanctioning the event: “The IHF has not been recognised by the FIH since 2000. Instead the FIH recognises Hockey India (HI) as the sole national governing body for hockey in India.”

It continued: “The FIH would like to restate that it has not changed its position on World Series Hockey. It remains an unsanctioned event as per the FIH statutes and bye-laws.”

While many of the players and captains say they will not participate in the event unless the IHF is recognised by the FIH, the IHF claims that, “regarding player participation in the WSH, players who signed contracts before 31st March, 2011 could, subject to them having no other contractual or national obligations with their respective national associations, play in the league.”

As the dispute continues over which body runs hockey in India, Harish Thawani, executive chairman of Nimbus Communications, said: “The undertaking is that the FIH will not interfere with the contracts signed with the nearly 176 international and Indian players before March 31, 2011. We will run the event with the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF), which is the controlling body for hockey in India.”

The inaugural World Series Hockey will consist of 61 matches, with each of the eight teams playing 14 league matches across venues in Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai, New Delhi, Punjab (Chandigarh, Jalandhar, Amritsar) and two of the short-listed cities in Kolkata, Rourkela, Bhopal, Ranchi, Pune, Manipur and Lucknow. The tournament offers US$2 million in prize money and will involve around 40 overseas players, with all of the players, captains and coaches distributed among the franchises via a draft system.

Powerade has become the official sports drink and sideline beverage of the Major League Lacrosse (MLL).

The company will receive significant branding throughout the league season and also becomes the exclusive sports drink and sideline beverage of the MLL teams, salve the MLL All-Star game and championship weekend.

The new partnership will commence with the 2011 MLL season which runs from May to August.

MLL commissioner David Gross said of the deal: “We are thrilled to be aligned with such a quality brand. Powerade is the rising brand in the sports drink category. We believe in the science of their product for MLL athletes and all lacrosse players. Major League Lacrosse is excited about collaborating with Powerade.”

CCNA vice president marketing assets, ed integrated marketing, symptoms  Sharon J. Byers added: “Lacrosse is one of the country’s fastest growing sports and MLL is the beacon of inspiration for many of the young participants. Powerade is thrilled to join forces with MLL and help hydrate its great athletes. Our team can’t wait to dig in and build around this partnership.”

In their role as the exclusive commercial partner of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) for the annual IIHF World Championship, viagra 60mg Infront Sports & Media has signed a comprehensive media rights agreement with the television network TV4 for coverage of the 2012-2017 IIHF World Championship.

The Scandinavian broadcaster has acquired the exclusive rights for its home  of Sweden as well as for Denmark and Norway, medstore which will ensure long-term coverage of the tournament in one of the biggest ice hockey markets worldwide.

The agreement will see TV4 cover all television outlets, including terrestrial, cable, satellite, and broadband platforms, radio and internet as well as mobile rights on a FREE and/or PAY basis.

Johan Kleberg, Head of Sports Rights Acquisitions for the TV4-Group, stated: “We look forward to providing the TV4 audience with comprehensive coverage of one of the biggest sports events of the year. Furthermore we are significantly strengthening our position within ice hockey in the region. The 2012 and 2013 tournaments are of particular interest as they are co-hosted by Finland and Sweden and will attract significant levels of public interest and in-depth coverage across the whole of Scandinavia.”

Bruno Marty, Infront’s Executive Director Winter Sports, added: “This agreement between Infront and TV4 is remarkable as it ensures the long-term coverage of the IIHF World Championship in one of the world’s major ice hockey markets. The Final of the 1970 IIHF World Championship reached one of the highest TV-audience levels in Swedish broadcast history and figures have remained high ever since. This is clear proof of the popularity and unparalleled status of ice hockey in the country. We are convinced that the high-quality host broadcast production supervised by Infront will provide a base from which TV4 – over the course of the next six years – will be able to supply some of the best and most successful ice hockey programming to date.”

The official representative body for all English athletics clubs, England Athletics, has attacked the endorsement of Tottenham Hotspur’s bid for the Olympic Stadium by the Association of British Athletics Clubs (ABAC), claiming the body has “no legitimacy”.

The latter organisation has claimed that retaining a running track at the stadium, as proposed by West Ham United, would not provide a useful legacy for the sport, instead backing Spurs plans to redevelop the Crystal Palace athletics stadium.

UK Athletics, however, strongly favours West Ham’s bid, maintaining that London 2012’s promise to the International Olympic Committee to maintain athletics at the stadium should be honoured.

Chairman of England Athletics, John Graves rejected the ABAC position, adding: “ABAC have no legitimacy – they are a self appointed lobby group whose views cannot be claimed to represent athletics clubs. 

“Across Britain there are some 1,500 athletics clubs, only a few percent of whom have any association whatsoever with ABAC.”

Graves added: “The Board of England Athletics is elected by our club members and we are unanimous in our support for the need to retain the Olympic track within the Olympic stadium post 2012.

“The ability to inspire a generation of youngsters with the prospect of competing in the Olympic Stadium in England Schools Championships and in England age group championships is an incredibly powerful recruiter for our sport and it is our duty to protect that opportunity for future generations.”

John Bicourt, an ABAC officer stated: “Saying that there would be a proper athletics legacy merely by keeping the track at the Olympic Stadium is a myth.

“The true reason for those touting the legacy myth is to save face over the wholly unrealistic promises made in Singapore by the Olympic bid team.

“West Ham, should they win the bid, would almost certainly demand the right to remove the track after a few years on the basis that the stadium is barely used for athletics enough to justify keeping it.”

Tottenham have proposed to rebuild the home of British athletics at Crystal Palace and transform the Olympic Stadium into a soccer-only venue which Bicourt said the ABAC viewed as a “realistic alternative”.

In an attempt to make the sport more efficient and exciting, Formula One cars could undergo further dramatic redesigns ahead of the 2013 season.

The changes will include:

* Downsizing of the cars wings;

* Specially-designed underfloors to generate downward force differently (the underfloor of the cars will be shaped along its length to generate downforce for the first time since the 1982 season – currently cars have bottoms that are flat between the wheels);

* A major reduction in the total amount of downward force;

* The average proportion of a lap that a driver is able to spend on full throttle to be cut from 70% in 2010 to 50% in 2013;

* Tyres will remain large and chunky to ensure cornering speeds remain high.

The adaptations will make the cars slightly slower meaning passing may be easier though the general driving should be more challenging. The cars are set to use 35 per cent less fuel in a bid to promote environmentally friendly changes.

Patrick Head and Rory Byrne have produced the redesign plans which, if implemented, would highlight the biggest design changes since 1983. The draft regulations requested by the FIA will be submitted to the F1 teams this week ahead of the Technical Working Group’s (TWG) meeting in January which scopes out rule changes.

The fundamental philosophy of the changes is set to remain intact though the design heads of each team represented by the TWG will suggest any necessary changes to the proposal.

Head, director of engineering for Williams, and Byrne, a former chief designer for Ferrari, have been partly responsible for the design of 17 constructors’ title winning cars for Williams, Benetton and Ferrari.

A Brazilian prosecutor warned Felipe Massa that he could be arrested and sentenced to up to six years in prison if he takes team orders to help Ferrari teammate Fernando Alonso win the Formula One title.

Massa could be charged with fraud if he allows Alonso to pass him or if he does anything else that would somehow alter the result Sunday at in Interlagos, according to prosecutor Paulo Castilho, known for taking up sports causes in Brazil.

“Massa or any other driver who does anything to fraud the result of the race can be arrested and formally charged,” Castilho told The Associated Press on Thursday. “It doesn’t mean that it will happen, it will be up to the local authority in charge of the event to decide whether the law has been broken.”

The law mentioned by Castilho says that it’s a crime to “fraud by any means, or contribute to fraud, in any way, the result of a sporting event.”

Massa arrived at the Brazilian Grand Prix saying he would give way to his teammate if needed Sunday, just as he did while leading the German GP in July so Alonso could earn more points in the race for the title.

“I would do it again, I’m a professional driver,” Massa said earlier this week.