FIFA’s ethics committee prosecutor has opened an investigation into allegations of match-fixing in friendlies before the 2010 World Cup.

FIFA said in a statement to Associated Press on Friday that Michael Garcia, the chairman of FIFA’s ethics committee investigating chamber, had moved ahead because the South African government had not yet set up an inquiry – seven months after it was agreed it would and over three years after the suspicious matches.

FIFA said Garcia “has decided to open a preliminary investigation on the alleged cases of match-manipulation in South Africa in view of the time elapsed” since South Africa had initially agreed to start its own probe.

FIFA found strong evidence that friendlies played in the host country just weeks ahead of the World Cup three years ago were fixed, with allegations that the matches were manipulated by crooked referees working for illegal Asian betting syndicates.

The alleged fixing came dangerously close to football’s biggest event, with one of the games under suspicion at the official opening of the Soccer City stadium in Soweto, the showpiece venue that hosted the World Cup final.

Although the exact games have not been identified, South Africa’s 5-0 win over Guatemala and 2-1 win over Colombia in May 2010 have long been under suspicion. Three penalties were awarded in each match, mostly for handball, with a number of the decisions questionable.

The move by FIFA’s ethics committee exposes a further breakdown in the relationship between the world body and its former World Cup host.

South Africa sports minister Fikile Mbalula has criticised FIFA this week, accusing it of interfering in South Africa’s business.

FIFA said on Friday it was authorised to investigate under its ethics code “if associations fail to prosecute potential breaches of that code.”

Korea Telecom(KT), price cheap South Korea’s second largest mobile carrier, has been selected as the owner for the country’s tenth professional baseball team, and Suwon, Gyeonggi, was chosen as the team’s home

The KBO announced its evaluation council, composed of 22 baseball experts, chose mobile carrier giant as team owner and operator after reviewing applications. The KBO will request approval of its choice at a general meeting to be held with existing baseball franchise owners on January 22.

If two-thirds of the owners approve the KBO council’s designation, KT will officially become the 10th team, following its mobile industry rivals LG and SK.

KT would likely join the league in the 2015 season, after participating in the Futures’ League in 2014.

“The 22 evaluators favoured the baseball team management plan that KT and Suwon submitted more than the plan by Booyoung Group and North Jeolla,” KBO’s secretary general, Yang Hae-young, said.

Last Thursday the two candidate teams and their partner cities, KT and Suwon and Booyoung and North Jeolla (Jeonju), ountlined their plans for the 10th team at the Grand Intercontinental Hotel in Samseong-dong, southern Seoul. Booyoung is a construction company with more than a dozen affiliates.

Booyoung and North Jeolla, led by Lee Joong-keun, Booyoung CEO, and North Jeolla Governor Kim Wan-joo, pledged that they would build a new baseball stadium that could accommodate 25,000 fans by investing US$104 million by 2015.

They also said that the 10th team should awarded to North Jeolla so the league can be regionally distributed.

There are currently nine teams in the league, and four of them are in the Seoul metropolitan area–three in Seoul and one in Incheon.

KT and Suwon said that the southern city in Gyeonggi has a higher market value because it could attract more baseball fans.

Suwon has a population of 1.15 million, and about 6.4 million people live within an hour of the stadium.

North Jeolla said it could reach out to 1.3 million people in Jeonju and nearby cities Gunsan, Iksan and Wanju.

Mobile carrier KT also promised to donate US$18.9 million to the league for baseball’s growth and development and to invest US$27.5 million in remodelling the existing Suwon Baseball Stadium into a facility that can accommodate up to 25,000 fans.{jcomments on}

Floyd “Money” Mayweather Jr. and 50 Cent fledgling business TMT Promotions is no more after the pair split.

This business and best-friends relationship is history, as has been rumored for several weeks. Mayweather and Jackson had formed TMT Promotions (“The Money Team”) while Mayweather was in jail last summer. But while it got licensed to promote fights in New York, it never got off the ground.

And 50 Cent, whose real name is Curtis Jackson, left no doubt about it, tweeting Thursday that “TMT IS OVER the money team is no longer a team. So it SMS promotions that’s it thats all.SMSaudio”

Also 50 Cent announced that his SMS promotions would put the Yuriorkis Gamboa vs. Miguel Beltran fight on the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez fight at the MGM Grand on Dec. 8.

That’s notable because that Dec. 8 card is promoted by Top Rank, which is run by Bob Arum, who has become a hated enemy of Mayweather. Arum once represented Mayweather, and the two haven’t had a civil word in a while.

Mayweather has been represented in fight negotiations by Golden Boy, which has been involved in a “cold war” with Top Rank for several years.

Gamboa had been with Top Rank but became friendly with Mayweather and signed with TMT. Now he’s back in Arum’s good graces.

Fitty also tweeted this: Catch IBF CHAMPION BILL DIBB VS. JASON VELEZ DEC.1 (Miguel) Cotto’s card lets go New York!!! Don’t miss it”

The rapper intimated that Mayweather wasn’t the money man he purports to be. “I move the fighters to SMSpromotion cause the other half of the money team. Didnt put up there $MONEY$.SMSaudio,” he tweeted.

And one last turn of the knife: “If anyone wants a money team jacket I’m selling mine for a dollar. The nap back hat comes with it. That’s a fare price. SMSaudio.”

Glasgow 2014 has joined forces with community arts groups to allow local people to connect with the Commonwealth Games by creating their own original flag designs.

Within Glasgow, three community groups in Toryglen, Partick and Calton have worked with a visual artist on an arts project to design flags that express something about their localities.

These completed works will join the 71 Commonwealth nation and territories’ flags at the Lord Provost’s Parade from George Square to Glasgow Green as part of the Glasgow Show on Saturday July 21.

The communities involved this year are in the clusters around some of the Games venues. They have created flag designs representing their communities using painting, photography and collage.

Councillor Archie Graham, the Chair of Glasgow Life and Executive Member for the Commonweath Games, said: “These Games belong to the people of Glasgow and Scotland and it’s important that communities across the city get involved. This excellent initiative, working with people who live a stone’s throw from Games venues, allows individuals to express creatively what their community means to them. We hope to build a lasting legacy from this project and involve more communities next year as we move closer to the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.”

Rachel Mimiec, an artist who worked with the community groups, said: “The work created by the individual participants celebrates a mix of personal memories, local folklore and public occasions. Each flag represents what is important to that individual about their community and there is a real sense of pride in doing so.”

Margaret Woods, participant in Calton, who designed a flag, said: “I really enjoy being part of this art group, it’s got a lot to offer. This project has been good. I came to live in Calton in 1948 and I like where I live. Doing the flags and using local landmarks on them has brought back a few memories for me. I did one design with a symbol of weaving which was previously a big industry in the area. It’s nice to feel involved with the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.”

Paul Zealey, Head of Engagement and Legacy at Glasgow 2014, said: “Glasgow 2014 provides a wide range of opportunities for communities to mark the countdown to the Games and join in local celebrations. We are delighted to showcase the creative talent across the city in our parade of flags marking ‘Two Years to Go’.”

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.