A proposed bid to host the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics in Budapest has fallen at the first hurdle after the plans were rejected by Bucharest City Hall Councillors. A vote was cast narrowly against the proposal by the Mayor Sorin Oprescu. A majority of 28 votes were needed in order for the plans to be progressed but the bid only received the support of 22 Councillors.

After a half hour debate on the topic and despite only 8 Councillor’s voting against the idea, crucially 20 members abstained from voting which proved the bid’s downfall. Oprescu had come out saying that the hosting of the Games would act as a catalyst for development, including improving the city’s infrastructure and boosting the Romanian economy.

The Hockey Hall of Fame has opened its doors to women for the first time

Angela James of Canada and Cammi Granato of the United States received their Hall of Fame rings on Monday.

They were inducted with former NHL star Dino Ciccarelli, builder Jim Devellano and the late Daryl “Doc” Seaman, one of the founders of the Calgary Flames. The acceptance speeches are Monday night.

“I think it’s a historic night and I think it’s great for hockey at all levels,” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said. “Both Angela and Cammi are inspirational, they’re pioneers once again. What they’ve done in the game to this point has been terrific and I think they’re great role models for other girls and women looking to devote themselves to this game.”

The Hall of Fame established separate induction criteria for women this year, paving the way for James and Granato.

The IOC has issued a warning to Pyeongchang over the South Korean city’s conduct in the bidding for the 2018 Winter Olympics.

The IOC ethics commission examined alleged conflict-of-interest violations after two South Korean companies signed sponsorship agreements with international sports federations.

The IOC says Korean Air and the International Skating Union have agreed to postpone their sponsorship deal until after the 2018 host-city vote next July. The IOC says a separate deal between Samsung and the international rowing federation did not break the rules.

The IOC says warned Pyeongchang and urged the bid “to fully respect the rules of conduct.”

Euroleague, Europe’s premier basketball league, is to be named Turkish Airlines Euroleague Basketball starting from next season.

The agreement is the first-ever title sponsorship deal for the Euroleague and will run for the next five seasons, with an option to extend it for a further five.

Euroleague CEO Jordi Bertomeu said: “We have been working for a long time to find the right title partner that could satisfy not only the economic value  of becoming a title sponsor but becoming a partner, with a commitment to the growth of basketball across the globe.”

Turkish Airlines chairman Hamdi  Topcu added: “After [striking] great partnerships with Barcelona FC and Manchester United, two of the most important football brands, it is a privilege  for us to partner with the Euroleague, one of world’s most prestigious basketball organisations  and Europe’s biggest basketball league.”

World Snooker has unveiled ‘Power Snooker’ a new Twenty20-style shortened format of the game, with the first competition due to take place at London’s O2 Arena in October.

Featuring eight players, the competition will be a one day-event with each match lasting just 30 minutes, the winner being the highest points scorer.

The new format has been devised by Rod Gunner, and endorsed by World Snooker chief executive Barry Hearn.

Ronnie O’Sullivan has already confirmed his attendance, with Neil Robertson, Ding Junhui, Mark Selby, Ali Carter, Shaun Murphy, Luca Brecel and Jimmy White being lined up to participate.

Gunner, who created the new format, said: “It had struck me for some time that the game of snooker needed a new and exciting transfusion.

“Having seen how Twenty20 cricket has revitalised that sport, I am delighted to have come up with the concept of Power Snooker and seen the positive reaction from within the game.”

O’Sullivan added his typically unique support for the format, saying: “To be honest I find the World Championship quite a bore. I’ve won it three times, but 17 days in Sheffield is draining. People just want to pitch up and play.

“This is the future of snooker. It is just that a few people have got to get their heads around it. We are not stuck in the 1970s anymore.”

The International Automobile Federation (FIA) have unveiled the 2015 FIA World Endurance Championship calendar with Nürburgring in Germany the latest addition to the series. 

The 2015 schedule is a continuation of the previous three seasons, doctor | with eight races once again filling the line up of 6 Hour and 24 Hour events, order including a new event at the Nürburgring in Germany at the end of August.

The 2015 season will start on the 27/28 March with The Prologue at the Circuit Paul Ricard in France for the official test and is the traditional first chance for the media and fans to see the new cars all in one place, thumb including the new LMP1 manufacturer entry from Nissan alongside the hybrid prototypes from Audi, Porsche and Toyota.

As in the previous two years, the opening race of the year will be at Silverstone, where the teams will compete for the Royal Automobile Club Tourist Trophy at the season opener.  The 2015 WEC 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps will be the fourth time the Belgium round has taken place at the start of May for the customary last race before the ‘Big One’, the 24 Heures du Mans in June.

The 6 Hours of Nürburgring is the new race in 2015 and means that German teams Audi and Porsche will race at home for the first time in the history of the World Endurance Championship. The 6 Hours of São Paulo is not being held due to the pit building renovation work which will not be completed in time for the August race date.

The 6 Hours of Circuit of the Americas in September is the first of four races overseas, with the Lone Star Le Mans event being a joint race weekend with the Tudor United Sports Car Championship.

It will be followed by races in Fuji, Shanghai and the finale in Bahrain at the end of November.

“This calendar represents continuity and stability,” said Gerard Neveu.  “We are very excited about visiting the Nürburgring and holding the first FIA WEC race in Germany, which will be a good homecoming for Audi and Porsche. Nürburgring has a long history with endurance racing and this event will be a good opportunity to celebrate it with both a modern paddock with the FIA WEC, and a historic paddock with the 50th anniversary of the 1000 Kms of Nürburgring. With this new calendar we have reduced the summer break and it will provide around one race per month.”

“The eight race calendar means we are also building the tradition of 6-hour events in the countries we visit,” said Pierre Fillon, President of the ACO.  “To maintain all of the races at the same time of the season for at least three years is a very positive move.  The 2015 FIA WEC calendar will provide a great mix of entertainment and sporting action, with the highlight of the season coming in June with the 24 Heures du Mans, which remains the jewel in the endurance racing crown.  We look forward to seeing you in 2015.”

Havas Sports & Entertainment (Havas SE), the global brand engagement network of the Havas Group, has been appointed by EF Education First (EF) to manage the marketing strategy and communications around their partnership with the Rio 2016 Organizing Committee (ROCOG) of the Olympic & Paralympic Games and the Brazilian Olympic Committee. 

Havas SE in Brazil will support EF with the development, activation and measurement of all marketing and communications activities around their role as the Official Supplier of Language Training Services for the Games.

EF Education First will contribute to the recruitment and training process of volunteers, provide language training for 500k Brazilian students, the members of ROCOG, and athletes of Team Brazil already studying abroad with EF. Havas SE will help EF communicate around their language training programs in preparation for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, which involves helping to train one million people, an ambitious project that is part of ROCOG’s plans to leave a lasting legacy for the Brazilian people after the Games.

Present in Brazil since 2010, Havas SE has an extensive track record working for sponsors around major events, most recently around the FIFA World Cup for official sponsors including Hyundai, Kia, Coca-Cola and Louis Vuitton. Havas SE works for a range of local and international clients in Brazil including the former as well as DIA Supermarkets, Akzo Nobel, Einstein Hospital, the Sony Channel and Olive Oils from Spain.

Havas SE’s local expertise is boosted by the network’s strong knowledge and history of working with sponsors, institutions and stakeholders around the Olympics since 1992. Havas SE worked for 11 sponsors during London 2012, and has organized every Olympic torch relay for The Coca-Cola Company through its experiential arm, ignition, since 1996 including, most recently, the tour for Sochi 2014 .

Bruno Baracho, Managing Director of Havas SE Brazil, commented: “We are delighted to support EF Education First in their sponsorship strategy and activation around such an important partnership.

“Being part of a global network allows us to leverage global expertise, complemented with creative thinking and deep local knowledge, to ensure that EF Education First connects with Olympic fans and shares the story of their unique Olympic partnership with the public.”

The National Hockey League have revealed they will make a decision on whether to send NHL players to the Pyeongchang 2018 Olympics in about six months time.

It took nearly four years of intense negotiations with the International Olympic Committee before the NHL finally agreed to shut down its league for two weeks so its players could compete in the Sochi Games.

But NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly told reporters gathered in Russia for the 12-team men’s ice hockey tournament that he expects a much quicker resolution regarding the Games in South Korea.

“It should not take all that long, but I would have said the same thing coming out of 2010,” Daly said on the eve of the men’s competition.

“We will have a broader discussion with the players’ association on international competition and what we are doing internationally.

“That discussion is under way so I would anticipate a quick resolution in respect to the Olympics, maybe six months.”

Key sticking points during the last round of negotiations focused on insurance, travel, access to players and hospitality for players’ and owners’ families.

While those same issues are likely to be on the table in the coming months, Daly also seemed to suggest that shutting down the NHL so players can compete in the Olympics may not make sense considering the growth in the league.

The NHL has a much higher profile and is more successful as a business model now than when its players first competed in the Olympics at the 1998 Nagano Games, two factors Daly said will be considered in making the decision regarding 2018.

“We are much more visible on the worldwide stage so we are at a different stage in our evolution and development than we were in 1998,” said Daly.

“That is a factor that you throw into the mix when you consider whether the Olympics makes sense for you going forward.”

Growing the NHL brand in Asia is a key part of the league’s business plan, but that does not make participation in the 2018 Pyeongchang Games, or any other future Olympics, a guarantee.

“There are a lot of negatives that come along with the Olympics,” said Daly.

“The fact is we are guests here and it is not our tournament and it is someone else’s tournament. In terms of making it as good as it can be, we do not have control over that. There are positive and negatives.”