The 2011 International Cricket Council World Cup is proving to be a money spinner for the Royal Netherlands Cricket Board (KNCB) with as many as seven sponsors having coming on board. KNCB had recently signed-up Amul as the main sponsor for Amul Butter brand.

The new sponsors who have joined the list include Optiver (Associate Sponsor of the Netherlands Team at the 2011 Cricket World Cup), ambulance Albion (Helmet Sponsor), Kyboe Watches (Players and Officials Time-pieces), De Stilo Footwear (Players and Officials Footwear), Players and Escher / MAC Jeans (Officials Clothing Apparel), Corus TATA (Event and Hosting India), Surridge (Match play and Training Kit & Clothing Partner).

Richard Cox, KNCB CEO, stated: “The Cricket World Cup is the third largest Sports event in the world and as such commands detailed planning and support for the players and coaching staff. It has been our stated intention all along to ensure the best possible environment for our squad and therefore essential to maximise the corporate opportunities that exist around an event of this size. By engaging with so many brand partners and establishing world class links which will hopefully last for many years we have provided just that environment.

“I would like to thank them all for their support to the team as we look forward to witnessing the team’s achievements at the World Cup but would make particular mention of Optiver as the newest and largest off-field sponsor for the event.  Their presence with us throughout the World Cup will be featured as part of the launch of the new KNCB website set for Monday 21st February just 24 hours before the big game against our old foes England.”

Chris Sketchley from Albion commented: “Albion sports is proud to be supporting the Dutch national cricket team, and in particular during their participation in the ICC Cricket World Cup. Team members are wearing individually fitted helmets to ensure not only the best possible level of comfort and performance, but also to provide the highest level of protection should it be called upon.

“Albion Sports extends this personalised service to other elite teams it directly supports, and in doing so is ensuring future innovations and product enhancements benefit cricketers of all levels around the world as a direct result of insights and feedback provided by elite players. We wish the team every success during the 2011 CWC tournament.”

Rashid Shah of Optiver added: “We have been long time supporters of Cricket in the Netherlands at previous ICC World Events and once again we are looking forward to being associated with the team in Asia as well as featured back here in our home country which is a true reflection of our worldwide brand.”

A five-year renewal has been agreed between the National Basketball Association (NBA) and security firm Contemporary Services Corporation (CSC).

The partnership will see the firm continue as security partner and CSC’s special events sector handle all ticket taking services whilst providing security and ushering at the forthcoming 2011 NBA Jam Session, pills under the terms of a deal which will last until 2015.

The three-day Jam session is part of the NBA’s All-Star weekend, sale which culminates with the annual NBA All-Star Game which will take place on Sunday 20th February.

NBA fans will have the chance to meet and collect autographs from star players whilst competing against friends in challenges such as the NBA All-Star Skills Challenge, which is title-sponsored by Taco Bell, whilst getting tips from the NBA professionals.

 

FIFA.com: What kind of year has 2010 been?

FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter: 2010 has been a year of “fulfilment”, a historic year, one in which we’ve broken new ground. First of all, we’ve had the World Cup in Africa, which is an extraordinary achievement in itself. It’s had a phenomenal impact around the world, and the economic impact of the event can never be underestimated.

Back in 2004, when the competition was awarded to South Africa, the country was a young republic that had been in existence for ten years and was looking to find its place in the modern world. Since then, both the rest of the world and South Africa itself have come to realise just how important a country it is.

South Africa has risen to the challenge, attracting investors along the way. Its GDP per capita has increased considerably, the Rand has grown stronger despite the crisis, the country is part of the G20 and IBSA (a trilateral, developmental initiative between India, Brazil and South Africa), and it has also been made a Non-Permanent Member of the UN Security Council.

For our part, we will be continuing with our social programmes through Football For Hope, which focuses in particular on education and health in South Africa and across the continent. 

How do you think the year has gone for Africa in footballing terms?

To be honest, I was expecting to see more African teams in the second round of the World Cup, with one of them going on the semi-finals. Ghana just missed out by the narrowest of margins, though, and there was huge disappointment. This month, however, we’ve seen TP Mazembe Englebert of Lubumbashi (Congo DR) go all the way to the final of another competition, the FIFA Club World Cup, which is a first for an African team.

I’ve always said that there are no more little teams at international level because standards have levelled off at the top, whereas the gap has grown at club level.

That’s why Mazembe’s sudden success has been such a surprise. They knocked out the CONCACAF champions, Pachuca of Mexico, and then the South American champions, Internacional of Porto Alegre, Brazil. And they were emphatic wins too. It was no surprise to see them come unstuck against Inter Milan, although the scoreline was a bit harsh on them. I think that tells you they were just happy to get there and that perhaps they had a little less “fire” in them.

The venues for the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cup finals were revealed a few weeks ago. What is your feeling about the announcements?

We have made historic decisions in terms of sport and geopolitics. We’ve sent the World Cup to new territories. The 2018 World Cup will go to eastern Europe and the vast country that is Russia, and the 2022 event will go to Qatar, in the Arab world. The World Cup will discover new cultures in new regions, and that’s something I’m delighted about. 

Can you explain the decisions in more detail?

You need to follow the development of football and FIFA to understand these decisions. It’s not something that started yesterday either. My predecessor Joao Havelange said that football had to become a universal sport. There was a need to promote football and look for sponsors because we didn’t have a cent back then.

When I jumped into this project in November 1974 I did so with my feet tied together, and I could see straightaway that there was more to football than just kicking a ball. When I became the FIFA President, the decision was made to go into Asia. And then I said we had to go to Africa, which is what we did. It’s only natural, then, that we should keep on moving into new regions.

Can you understand the disappointment of the other candidates?

Yes, but maybe some people have forgotten that in football you have to learn to lose as well as to win. It was a competition. Some people won, some people lost. That’s normal.

What about the criticism in the media?

The sporting media don’t always appreciate the social or cultural importance of awarding the World Cup finals to a country. They just think about penalties, corners, refereeing and money. But, as I’ve already said, this decision wasn’t about making money.

You’ve just touched on the next question. Can you explain your view of the social role of football?

The socio-cultural impact of the game on the future of our society is a subject that is close to my heart. That will be my message when I go to the Confederations’ Congresses, which begins in Asia, in Doha, on 7 January.

Football has spread to all parts of the world now and we need to ensure the expansion and development of the Football For Hope movement. “Hope” is wonderful, but you also have to make a real impact. That means you have to safeguard these projects and follow them up in detail and to do that involves getting support from the respective ministries of education and health. 

The FIFA mission is to “Develop the game, touch the world, build a better future”. What still needs to be done?

We have “developed the game” and will continue to do so. That never ends. We have “touched the world” because we’ve gone everywhere or nearly everywhere. And as for “building a better future”, in other words creating a better world, well, we’re still working on that. 

What message do you have for the new year?

Football is more than a game, but it still remains a game. We need to make the most of its positive values, and, more than anything else, make the most of life. That’s my message for fans around the world this new year.

Supermarket chain Waitrose, food shop of the John Lewis Partnership, have renewed their contract with English soccer’s nPower Championship side, Reading FC. The deal will see the side continue to wear the Waitrose sponsored home, away and training kits for a further two seasons, 2011/12 and 2012/13.

The supermarket will provide the food for away matches for the Royals and also offer exclusive deals to Reading FC season ticket holders under the new agreement. The renewal sees the club remain as the only English side to be sponsored by a food retailer.

Reading FC commercial director, Pat Coyne spoke of the deal: “We are absolutely delighted that Waitrose have extended their contract with us. Our partnership to date has been very successful and we are looking forward to continuing that for a further two years at least. We share the same brand values, together we are very proactive in a number of joint initiatives, especially engaging with fans in the local community, and we are proud to wear the Waitrose logo on our shirt.”

We’re delighted to extend our commitment to Reading Football Club and its supporters by sponsoring the team for the next two seasons. The partnership has already enabled us to support the community in one of our prime retailing areas and broadened the exposure of our brand on both a local and national level. We look forward to building on the success of the partnership and further realising its potential in the years ahead.” added Waitrose commercial director, Mark Williamson.

The future of the Australian Formula One Grand Prix is under threat due to a fee dispute.

Grand Prix chairman Ron Walker has accused race organisers CAMS (the Confederation of Australian Motorsport) of holding the event to ransom.

The 2011 event could be deleted from the F1 calendar unless a solution is found by November 19.

Walker claims CAMS is demanding $800,000 to run the four-day event and says it is acting as a monopoly.

The dispute is due to go before the ruling world body, the FIA, and the World Motorsport Council.

But Walker has threatened to sack CAMS and hire organisers from another grand prix to run the Australian race.

“We call tenders to all the services to the Grand Prix and CAMS were unwilling to comply with our request,” said Walker, who is in Abu Dhabi for talks with F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone.

“Then the (Victorian) Government decided that as CAMS was a monopoly, they wanted competitive tendering in all pricing, which is what the ACCC demands.

“But CAMS have resisted and have said to the World Motorsport Council that if the Australian Grand Prix do not comply then we will apply to have them removed from the calendar.

“We will not sign a new contract with CAMS unless they modernise their management and reduce their prices,” Walker said.

“They are charging us too much. All the officials are voluntary and we provide all the uniforms and food.”

Walker said the AGP Corporation was unhappy with the layers of managers and officials CAMS felt they needed to organise motorsport in Australia.

He said that Ecclestone has told him CAMS can remain the overriding national sporting authority but it was possible to appoint another organiser, such as the organiser of the British Grand Prix.

“It is the downright threat that has got the ire of the government and everybody else,” Walker said.

“We have been arguing with CAMS ever since we started.

“Now they have said you re-hire us on our terms or we will apply to the FIA to have you removed from the calendar.”

Walker said the AGP was “sensibly communicating” with CAMS in order to try to settle it,” he said.

“But they are threatening the Government and you can’t get away with that too often – but that’s how imperious CAMS is.”

Bahrain will host a European Tour golf event for the first time in January 2011, it has been announced.

Event sponsors Volvo and the European Tour unveiled the new competition yesterday which will offer US$2.2 million in prize money.

The tournament is being supported by the Bahrain Economic Development Board.

The tournament will take place between 27 and 30 January 2011 at the Royal Golf Club’s Montgomerie championship course.

It will be a ‘Tournament of champions-style’ competition and will see European Tour tournament winners compete together with leading amateurs on one day of the tournament.

National Football League (NFL) franchise the San Francisco 49ers has announced a new multi-year agreement with technology company HP which will see it become presenting partner of the 49ers for the 2010 season.

49ers chief sales officer, John Vidalin, said: “We are very excited to have our first ever season presenting partner in HP. HP will have a strong brand presence integrated into the presentation of 49ers football – from training camp to the 2010 season.

“Similar to the 49ers international relevance in football, HP’s technology innovation is international in scope so we’re excited to see a partnership between a pair of iconic brands headquartered in the Bay Area.”

Senior vice president and chief marketing officer for HP, Michael Mendenhall, added: “HP is synonymous with innovation. Pairing our brand with the San Francisco 49ers, one of the most storied franchises in the NFL creates a dynamic combination that can bring together fans of both organisations.”

The Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club in Hong Kong has been confirmed as the host venue for the 2015 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (AAC), drug organisers announced during the sixth staging of the prestigious championship in Melbourne. 

The AAC, capsule which is being played at The Royal Melbourne Golf Club this week, arthritis is scheduled for 1-4 October next year. As the event moves throughout the region, it has now been held in China (2009, 2013), Japan (2010), Singapore (2011), Thailand (2012) and Australia (2013).

Organised by the Asia Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC), the Masters Tournament and The R&A, the AAC offers the winner an invitation to the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. The champion and runner(s)-up earn spots in The Open Qualifying Series for The Open Championship.

The 2015 event will mark the first time the championship has been held in Hong Kong. Clearwater Bay is located in the New Territories and situated on a peninsula with stunning views of the South China Sea and Hong Kong. The golf course is divided into two parts: the Highland Nine and the Ocean Nine.

“All of us in Hong Kong who share a love of golf should be very proud to have been selected as the host,” said Ning Li, President of the Hong Kong Golf Association (HKGA). “It will be an honour and a privilege to show the region our wonderful city and showcase one of the area’s most beautiful and challenging courses.”

Wyman Li, Chairman of Clearwater Bay, said: “The Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship is, without question, the elite amateur competition in our region, with unmatched rewards that continue to inspire players to reach their dreams. We are delighted to serve as hosts and are committed to growing the profile of the event in every way possible.”

“This announcement represents a significant moment for the further development of golf in Hong Kong and the entire region,” added David Hui, Captain of Clearwater Bay and Honorary Chairman of the HKGA. “The Asia-Pacific Amateur will bring with it tremendous prestige to our area, with the world of golf watching as we assist in the conduct of this far-reaching championship. We can, and will, provide the support necessary to ensure the event’s ultimate success.”

This week’s AAC features 116 players from the APGC’s 35 member associations.Television coverage includes three hours of live broadcast on each of the four days and a 30-minute highlights show, and will be aired in more than 150 countries, confirming it as the world’s most televised amateur golf tournament.

Qatar’s women’s basketball team have pulled out of the Asian Games at the last minute over a rule banning Muslim headscarves.

About half of Qatar’s team wear hijab headscarves and they were due to open their campaign against Mongolia in the qualifying round at Incheon on Tuesday.

“FIBA didn’t let our players play with the headscarves and so we had to withdraw from the tournament,” said Ahlam Al Mana, head of Qatar’s women’s sports committee.

“What happened today is against International Olympic Committee goals which are meant to include countries from different cultures, and also it’s against the slogan of the Asian Games in Incheon which is ‘Diversity Shines here.'”

Al Mana said Qatar knew about the ban in advance, but hoped to persuade FIBA to change its mind. The headwear ban has already been relaxed at national level.

She added that teams from other countries affected by the ban had not travelled to the Games in South Korea.

“I’m pretty sure that what happened today can change FIBA rules quickly,” Al Mana said.

“Of course the OCA (Olympic Council of Asia) encouraged us to participate but this is a technical decision from FIBA. I hope in the near future they will allow us.”