The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) has announced that its international legacy programme, ‘International Inspiration’, is delivering on its international legacy promise a year earlier than planned.

LOCOG added that its legacy programme has already achieved its vision of reaching 12 million children and young people around the world. 

International Inspiration is London 2012’s official international sports legacy programme and is bringing to life the promise made by the London 2012 bid team – who pledged to reach young people all around the world and connect them to the Games, so they are inspired to choose sport. 

Its original vision was to reach 12 million children in 20 countries by the start of the London 2012 Games, and the programme is already reaching 12 million children and young people in 17 countries around the world, particularly in developing countries. 

It is delivered as a partnership between UK Sport, UNICEF and the British Council.

Seb Coe, chair of LOCOG said: “When London won the right to stage the 2012 Games, we did it on the back of several serious commitments. One of them was to use the power of the Games to inspire change – we promised to engage and inspire the youth of the world through sport and to integrate long-term sustainable legacy from the outset.

“International Inspiration is that vision. We promised that the lives of 12 million young people would change through the power of sport, so a year out from the Games I am delighted to announce that we have fulfilled that pledge. I would like to thank the delivery partners of International Inspiration who have helped us achieve our vision.”

The London 2012 programme will continue in some countries until 2014.

US betting company Brandywine Bookmaking is set to be bought out by leading UK firm William Hill as it seeks to establish itself in the American sports betting market.

William Hill will pay US$14.25m and provide a $1.4m convertible loan as part of the deal for Brandywine which operates in Nevada and Delaware, two of only four US states in which sports betting is legal under federal law.

William Hill revealed that Nevada has the largest market, with an estimated turnover of $2.7bn whilst Brandywine recorded revenues of $7.7m last year.

The announcement comes weeks after William Hill made its first move into the US market in agreeing to buy American Wagering Inc (AWI) and Club Cal Neva Satellite Race and Sportsbook Division for a total of $39m last month.

Ralph Topping, William Hill chief executive, stated: “Brandywine is a good strategic fit for AWI’s and Cal Neva’s sportsbook operations and will give William Hill a leading position in the US land-based sports betting market.”

The acquisitions of Brandywine, AWI and Cal Neva’s sportsbook division are all expected to complete in 2012, after finalising the licensing process.

A report from the government-backed Institute for Applied Economic Research (Ipea) has warned that 10 of the 13 of Brazil’s airports being improved for the World Cup in 2014 will not be ready in time.

It added that even if extra investment meant that the airports were ready in time, 14 of the country’s 20 airports would be operating over capacity. Brazil expects between 800,000 and one million visitors during the tournament.

Having also won the bid to stage the 2016 Olympics, Brazil’s government promised to complete major infrastructure work as part of its bid to host the World Cup and in addition to 13 airports being upgraded, there is also supposed to be a new airport being built in Natal, where some of the World Cup games are due to be played.

Ipea puts much of the blame on Infraero, the state-owned airport authority, which it says, “has a low level of efficiency in the execution of investment programmes”.

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has said that her government will make “a strong intervention” to ensure that the airports are ready, including opening them up to private investment.

A female security guard has been arrested on suspicion of possessing explosives and drugs near London’s Olympic Stadium site.

The police have revealed that the incident is not thought to be terrorist-related though the 40-year-old dog handler was held after her vehicle was searched.

Scotland Yard said police recovered a very small amount of a substance, which was being forensically examined, and a spokesman added: “On March 29, acting on information received, police stopped and searched a woman in a car park off Pudding Mill Lane. 

“Her vehicle was searched and a 40-year-old woman arrested on suspicion of possession of an explosive substance and Class A drugs. She is in custody at an East London police station. 

“The arrest was made by officers from the Olympic site support unit (OSSU) following information received. 

“Another car was stopped and searched by the same unit on the M11. Nothing was found in the car and the driver was not arrested. 

“Searches were carried out of residential addresses in Kent and London and no other substances were found. The investigation is being carried out by Newham CID. 

“The Counter Terrorism Command is aware but the incident is not being treated as terrorism related. This incident did not represent a threat to the safety and security of the site.”

A spokesman for the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) added: “There are robust measures to ensure the safety and security of the Olympic Park. 

“We are working with the police in their investigation. At no point has the safety and security of the Olympic Park been put at risk.”

A spokesman for security firm G4S, officially signed as the Games security firm, said: “Our canine services team is licensed to hold small samples of explosives for training purposes and are required to undertake rigorous training and follow strict operational processes.

“Our ODA canine services teams are highly effective because the dogs are able to regularly train using ‘live’ training aids. All dog handlers are fully vetted and operate to the highest industry standards. 

“G4S take breach of operational processes very seriously and are assisting the police with their inquiries in relation to this incident.”

A record breaking deal has been reached between the National Hockey League (NHL), for its most lucrative sponsorship agreement in the league’s history, with alcoholic beverage company Molson Coors in Canada and MillerCoors in the United States to make Molson Canadian its official beer.

The deal will span over the course of the next seven years, from the 1st July in time for the start of the 2011/12 season, and will also involve the Coors Light brand in both countries. Molson Canadian will also retain official beer status for key events such as the showpiece outdoor games – the NHL Winter Classic and Heritage Classic – and the NHL All-Star game, and will be able to base promotional activities around the season-ending Stanley Cup. The sponsorship will be promoted across all NHL media platforms.

A reported agreement was reached over the course of the deal for MillerCoors and Molson Coors to pay around US$375m, in order to replace Anheuser-Busch in the US and Labatt in Canada respectively. According to Buffalo Business First, this includes $100m in rights fees, with similar amounts to be spent on activation and media buys with rights holders and franchises.

NHL chief operating officer John Collins hailed the deal as “groundbreaking” for the league, adding: “Molson Canadian is an iconic brand with a rich hockey heritage and Coors Light has a track record of connecting with sports fans in innovative and effective ways. The combination of unprecedented support of our clubs and TV rightsholders with activation across the NHL’s comprehensive portfolio of marketing and media assets will create great opportunities for both brands.”

Molson Coors Canada president and chief executive Dave Perkins stated: “Molson Canadian is synonymous with the game of hockey and was the brand that helped build the tradition of ‘Hockey Night’ across Canada. Partnering with the NHL reinforces Molson Canadian’s ‘Made from Canada’ brand position, and also reflects our company’s desire to help Canadians connect over shared passions and great beer.”

The executive vice president and chief marketing officer at MillerCoors, Andy England added: “Molson Canadian has a long history of supporting hockey at all levels and will use this platform to build momentum in the States, especially in its core markets where hockey already has a stronghold with fans. And Coors Light, the brand that’s all about ‘cold refreshment,’ will use the NHL partnership to strengthen its presence in NHL markets, especially in regions such as the Northeast and Great Lakes.”

Japanese sports broadcaster J Sports have partnered with leading media rights agency MP & Silva, announcing deals that will see the Asian company obtain rights for soccer’s English Premier League and French Ligue 1.

J Sport will now show coverage of both major European league’s throughout Japan and have agreed a partnership with MP & Silva becoming the broadcaster’s acquisition partner for international sports content.

Kazushige Sasajima, president, J Sports Broadcasting Corporation, stated: “We are delighted to confirm our partnership with MP & Silva, which will give us unparalleled access to the company’s portfolio of premium sports content, such as the English Premier League and Ligue 1. The deal reaffirms J Sports’ commitment to provide greater value and viewing options to our viewers, and consolidates our position as the top sports broadcaster in Japan. These first acquisitions strengthen our programming line-up and add even greater depth to our world class sports programming, particularly in football.”

Cho Su Hyeon, MP & Silva managing director, Japan and Korea, added: “Given J Sports’ undisputed leadership position in Japan, we are extremely pleased to sign a partnership that will allow our sports content to reach the broadest sports-focused television audience in the country. The strategic tie-up also gives us a rare opportunity to play a bigger role in helping our partner J Sports to drive more subscribers and increase commercial opportunities through both our existing portfolio of rights and by leveraging the strength of our network of partners.”

An L.A. City Council committee “moved to launch a formal working group and trigger an independent financial analysis to review AEG’s plans to construct” a downtown National Football League (NFL) stadium yesterday, 19 January.

AEG President & CEO Tim Leiweke was “well received in his first presentation” before the council’s committee on Trade, Commerce & Tourism. During the meeting, he said: “There are one or two teams ready to move… At least one team will come if we build it”

However, committee Chair Janice Hahn stated after the meeting that there is “reason to move on the massive project expeditiously.”

 

Rugby administrator Greg Peters has been named the new chief executive of South Africa, New Zealand and Australia Rugby (SANZAR).

Former Wellington Hurricanes chief executive, Peters becomes the first permanent head of southern hemisphere rugby’s governing body.

SANZAR has previously been administered on a rotational basis between each of the three member unions.

Peters said: “It’s rare to have an opportunity such as this one to lead a major rugby organisation through a significant growth phase.

“I am sure there will be challenges but that’s what makes sport so compelling, and the strength of the SANZAR alliance and the major competitions speak for themselves.

“The Tri-Nations features the three top-ranked teams in world rugby and we are about to welcome Argentina who finished third in (the 2007) World Cup.

“In Super rugby, we have the world’s most demanding cross-border provincial rugby competition and that intensity is set to increase with the new conference model, so there is no more exciting time to get involved.”

The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) have announced that they will stage another tournament in China next season with the launch of the WTA Elite Trophy.

The new event, which will take place in Zhuhai, effectively replaces the current Tournament of Champions for rising stars of the tour which this year will be held in Sofia at the end of the season. 

The replacement will see the best players who don’t qualify for the WTA Finals in Singapore head to southern China. In theory, this will be those ranked between nine and 20 in the WTA rankings.

Taking place the week after the WTA Finals, the new event will operate on a round-robin basis with four groups of three in the singles. The winners of each will progress to the semi-finals.

There will also be a six-team doubles field split into two groups. The winners will meet in the final.

Zhuhai has been given a five-year deal to stage the tournament which will offer a prize fund of US$2.15million in 2015.

The city joins Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Wuhan, Beijing and Tianjin as Chinese WTA venues.

WTA boss Stacey Allaster said: “This brand-new event combining great players, a fantastic new stadium, and the magnificent location of Zhuhai is a formula that will make the WTA Elite Trophy a success.”