The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) has appointed international sports marketing agency Fast Track to deliver the Asia-Pacific PR and media engagement programme in the run-up to the 2014 BNP Paribas WTA Finals.

The 2014 WTA Finals is the second high profile client for Fast Track Singapore, health following the Asian Tour deal signed in March.

The BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global is the finale of the international women’s tennis season, shop featuring the top-eight singles players and top-eight doubles teams battling it out for outright supremacy in the Singapore Indoor Stadium. 

“The WTA Finals is one of the highest profile and most exciting sports entertainment event to come to Asia and for us to be involved is a huge privilege and extremely exciting”, salve   said  Dan Parr, Director of Fast Track Asia. 

“We will have some of the biggest names in women’s tennis competing here in Singapore and we will be working closely with the WTA Asia-Pacific team to publicise and promote the event to key audiences across the region”, continued Parr.

Sancia Zheng, Marketing Director for the WTA Asia-Pacific commented; “The Fast Track team impressed us with their understanding of both tennis and the media landscape. 

“They have a good network across Asia and a strong pool of resource within their business to help us maximize the media and content opportunities in the lead up to our season finale in October 2014.  We are looking forward to working with them on the maiden BNP Paribas WTA Finals to be held in Singapore.”

Fast Track CEO, Andy Westlake, said: “We are delighted to be working on such a high-profile event. Fast Track’s international offices are performing very strongly in their regions, further building our capabilities and reinforcing our global credentials. The work being delivered is first-class, underlined by the quality of client feedback and the volume of interest from major brands, sports events and governing bodies in working with us.”

Fast Track has regional offices in Hong Kong, Singapore and Sydney, as well as Abu Dhabi, Doha, Madrid and London, where the agency is headquartered.  The agency specialises in sponsorship consulting, activation and communications, and works with global brands and right holders including HSBC, Lucozade, Land Rover, AIA and the Asian Tour.

The finals is scheduled for 17-26 October 2014 in Singapore.

New Formula 1 team owner Gene Haas has revealed his team will be rebranded.

The team will now be known as the Haas F1 Team changing from the previously planned Haas Formula. However, drugs the latter will remain the legal entity, as it is the name of the company that was granted the entry by the FIA.

A team statement said that the change was to better correlate his team with motor racing’s most prestigious series.

“Haas F1 Team automatically conveys our place among the pinnacle of motorsports,” said Haas. “When you hear ‘F1’ you know exactly what it is – a global racing series that showcases the latest technology and attracts the best talent in engineering and design. Haas Automation has an excellent reputation in the United States and I want that reputation to grow worldwide.

“Connecting Haas Automation with F1 in name and in practice when the Haas F1 Team debuts in 2016 is the best way to grow our business and elevate Haas Automation to a premium, global brand.”

The National Football League (NFL) could have a franchise in London by the end of the decade, Commissioner Roger Goodell has revealed.

“It depends on if we continue to see that growth and how fast it goes,” Goodell told the NFL Network on Thursday. “We couldn’t be happier with what we are seeing.

“We actually couldn’t be more surprised by the tremendous demand for NFL football in London and the U.K. in general, and frankly even Europe. It’s not something I think is 15 or 20 years away, it could be five or 10 years away.”

For the upcoming season, the National Football League is staging three regular season games in London, the most contests ever held overseas during an NFL campaign.

“The (London) fans want to see more NFL football,” said Goodell. “Our clubs have responded very favorably. We’re anxious to do more of it.”

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft revealed how he would like to see a franchise in London soon.

“We played here three times,” Kraft said. “It’s amazing, the last two times we sold 85,000 tickets out, just like that. It was a great experience.

“I know enough of us in the ownership category along with executives at the league level feel that would be a great entry point and a way for us to expand the reach of the NFL.

“I’d personally like to see a franchise in London before the decade’s out.”

Brian Cookson has revealed his bid to become International Cycling Union (UCI) President has been further boosted following endorsements by Greg Lemond and French Cycling Federation (FFC) Honorary President, health  Jean Pitallier.

Speaking at the Eurobike roadshow in Germany, pills  Greg Lemond, a three-time winner of the Tour de France and two-time World Road Race champion, said: “I have met and spent some time discussing with Brian about where cycling lost its way, how it lost its way, and what to do to bring the sport back to where it is not only a sport that leads by example, but a sport that inspires people once again.

“I feel confident after meeting Brian that his interest is to bring honest and transparent leadership to a sport that so desperately needs it. My hope is Brian will be the one to bring all interested parties together to once and for all do what needed to be done years before, find solutions, both short term and long term, and to make it a priority that cycling comes first.

“The choice between Pat McQuaid and Brian Cookson is, I believe a clear one: only Brian can deliver the change cycling needs.”

Jean Pitallier, who was also FFC President from 2001-2008 and Secretary General of the organisation between 1981-2001, added: “For the dignity of the sport of cycling, it is time to turn the page and bring about a healthy change for international cycling.

“Brian Cookson has presided over great things at British Cycling and has my full and total support to become the next President of the UCI.”

The support from Lemond and Pitallier concludes a successful week for Brian Cookson’s campaign as he builds further momentum in the lead up to the vote, which takes place at the UCI Congress in Florence on 27th September.

Speaking from the 2013 UCI Mountain Bike and Trials World Championships in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, Brian Cookson said: “I am proud to have the backing of respected figures like Greg and Jean and I would like to thank them both for supporting my campaign to become UCI President.

“Greg is a true legend and role model in our sport and has inspired so many people around the world to take up cycling. He understands our sport so well. 

“Jean has provided important leadership to French cycling for many years and I have always respected his insights and views on cycling.

“We are entering a crucial phase of the campaign and I feel very positive about the support and feedback I am receiving.”

The East Coast Hockey League has unveiled a new logo for their 2015 ECHL All-Star Game.

The logo for the 2015 CCM/ECHL All-Star Classic presented by Visit Orlando, drugs was created by the Joe Bosack Graphic Design Co. They were also responsible for designing the primary and secondary logos for the Orlando Solar Bears. In addition, prescription CCM will provide the All-Star game jerseys which will be designed by one lucky winner of the ECHL All-Star Jersey Design Contest.

The 2015 ECHL All-Star Game will be hosted by the Orlando Solar Bears at Amway Center in downtown Orlando on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2015.

Disgraced former Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Asif has lost his latest appeal over his match-fixing conviction today.

The 30-year-old former world No 2 Test bowler was released from prison last May after serving half of a 12-month sentence for a fixing scandal that rocked the sport.

He was one of three Pakistan cricketers jailed at London’s Southwark Crown Court in November 2011 after the discovery of a plot to bowl deliberate no-balls in the 2010 Lord’s Test against England.

Ex-captain Salman Butt was jailed for 30 months for his role as the ‘orchestrator’ of the plan, while fast bowler Mohammad Amir was detained for six months in a young offenders institution.

The trio have also been barred from the playing for five years as a result of bans imposed by the International Cricket Council.

In November 2011, the Court of Appeal dismissed challenges brought by Butt and Amir against their sentences.

Asif’s latest challenge has fallen on deaf ears as it as rejected.

Giving the decision of the court, Mr Justice Griffith Williams said: “We are not persuaded that there are any grounds, arguable or otherwise, for attacking the safety of the convictions of this applicant. The renewed applications are accordingly dismissed.”