Cricket Australia (CA) have announced that Australia’s capital city Canberra will host the Big Bash League final. 

Manuka Oval will host the Twenty20 title decider on January 28, over two weeks before the 2015 World Cup starts in Melbourne.

BBL boss Mike McKenna explained the demands associated with hosting the one-day tournament were part of the decision, but that CA also liked the idea of a neutral venue.

“Manuka Oval has undergone significant work in recent times to upgrade facilities for fans,” McKenna said in a statement.

“We think it can provide a great backdrop to the biggest match of the tournament, while exposing a new market to the excitement of the league.”

The WACA has hosted all three BBL finals to date due to the Perth Scorchers’ success.

WACA chief executive Christina Matthews suggested her organisation was content with the change announced by CA.

“They have chosen a truly neutral venue and not another team’s ground,” Matthews said.

“It was maybe the only way for CA to have the match played on the other side of the country and it is a credit to WA cricket that they weren’t willing to take the risk for the fourth year in a row.”

Allrounder Dan Christian pointed out the potential downfall of the decision, using the example of Melbourne’s two teams playing off in the decider.

“Instead of Stars vs Renegades in front of 70k at MCG, Finch v KP will be in Canberra??,” Christian posted on Twitter.

Ticketing platform provider Paciolan has entered into a partnership with DePaul University (DePaul).

DePaul will leverage Paciolan’s online ticketing and marketing solutions, as well as the company’s Customer Relationship Management (CRM) technology for the university’s 15 intercollegiate team sports. 

“First and foremost, our goal is to provide DePaul fans the best possible technology and deliver an ideal fan experience,” said Jean Lenti Ponsetto, Athletics Director at DePaul University. “We are excited to partner with Paciolan, the industry leader in college athletics, to help achieve this vision.”

Paciolan’s online ticketing system will provide DePaul with a completely branded and hosted online box office at DePaulBlueDemons.com that enables the university to manage its individual brand and efficiently sell tickets. By leveraging the system, DePaul will provide their fans with online services and user-friendly account management, as well as ticketing features including electronic ticket transfers, the ability for fans to pick their own seat via an interactive seat map, and print their tickets from the comfort of their homes.

DePaul will leverage Paciolan’s Customer Relationship Management (CRM) solution which provides a 360 degree view of each customer’s interaction with the university, including ticketing and purchase history, to enhance ticket sales at each venue and maximize relationships with each individual fan. 

“We are delighted with the ability to leverage Paciolan’s CRM system to enhance customer services each time we communicate with DePaul season ticket holders, fans and students,” said Peter Tombasco, Associate AD of External Affairs, DePaul University. “The opportunity to personalize conversations and services will help us to build lifelong relationships with our passionate fans.”

“Offering new features like online account management, pick your own seat technology, and PACMail helps to enhance the ticket buying process,” said Jay Finnerty, Director of Ticket Sales and Operations at DePaul University. “Paciolan’s ticketing and marketing technology provides us with powerful tools to better communicate and conveniently interact with our fans online.

“We are thrilled to partner with DePaul University to provide them with the technology to enhance their fan relationships and deliver superb customer service,” said Dave Butler, chief executive officer of Paciolan. “Paciolan remains dedicated to delivering industry-leading and fan-friendly technology to college athletics institutions.”

Match fixing has hit a new low after three Lebanese football referees pleaded guilty to accepting free sex from a gambling-linked global syndicate in return for rigging a match in Singapore.

A district court judge jailed assistant referees Ali Eid, 33, and Abdallah Taleb, 37, for three months, but deferred sentencing, referee Ali Sabbagh till Tuesday for whom state prosecutors said was the most culpable.

Turning to Ali Sabbagh, 34, the judge said: “I need time to consider your sentence. I don’t, for the moment, accept that you should be sentenced to six months.”

Deputy public prosecutor Asoka Markandu described Ali Sabbagh as ‘the most culpable’ among the three as he was the one approached by the syndicate and the one who persuaded the two linesmen to accept the sexual bribe.

The three men were arrested for accepting sexual favours in exchange for agreeing to fix an Asian Football Confederation Cup match on April 3 between Singapore-based club Tampines Rovers and India’s East Bengal.

They were abruptly pulled out before the match began.

The three were denied bail and have been detained at Singapore’s Changi prison since April 4.

Eric Ding Si Yang, 31, a Singaporean businessman who allegedly supplied the prostitutes, has also been charged with corruption and granted bail.

The judge lashed out at the FIFA-accredited referees for bringing disrepute to the sport, saying they were probably the first international football match officials to be charged with corruption in Singapore.

“That alone, the fact that you are international officials, in my view, is already an aggravating factor,” he said.

“The Singapore public has an interest in preserving football as a professional sport in Singapore. This is because it has social, recreational and economic value,” he added.

Cologne (Germany) and Paris (France) have been announced as the hosts of the 2017 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship.

The German-French bid received 63 votes from the delegates. The other bid with Copenhagen (Denmark) and Riga (Latvia) got 45 votes.

“It was quite a battle but the Danish and Latvian delegation always offered a fair competition. It was a nice experience to work together, sick ” said Franz Reindl, the General Secretary of the German Ice Hockey Association, who is set to assume the same role in the Organizing Committee as he did in 2010.

“We are really proud about the work done and we left a great bid behind us and hope they will bid next year,” said Luc Tardif, President of the French Ice Hockey Federation and an IIHF Council member.

The committee of the Danish-Latvian bid congratulated the winners as it now refocuses to the future.

“Germany and France were strong opponents. Sometimes 100 per cent is not enough. The team behind our bid did an incredible job. We will continue and look forward,” said Henrik Bach Nielsen, President of the Danish Ice Hockey Association and an IIHF Council member.

“We were very close to winning. I wish Germany and France good luck and success,” said Kirovs Lipmans, President of the Latvian Ice Hockey Federation. “We will meet again in Riga. I’m sure about that.”

Germany and France bid together under the slogan “together for 2017”.

Cologne is a well-known venue for international hockey fans. The Lanxess Arena played host to the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championships in 2001 and 2010. The 1998-opened arena is the largest venue for indoor sports by capacity in Europe offering 18,500 seats for hockey.

The gold medal game in 2010 took place there in a highly successful World Championship for Germany. Currently placed tenth in the most recent World Ranking, the Germans finished in fourth place with the support of the home crowd. Something the Germans wouldn’t mind to repeat in the city of one million inhabitants.

“Both countries have a long hockey history and the federations are working closely together. A World Championship in Paris and Cologne offers a great chance to develop our sport in France, Germany and Europe,” said Uwe Harnos, President of the German Ice Hockey Association. “We are looking forward to create an outstanding event for all teams and their fans with a unique atmosphere.”

SmartCard Marketing Systems Inc.announced today that its licensed partner in Turkey, Soluspay, has signed a distribution agreement with Fenerbahce Sports Club for the delivery of a prepaid debit card and virtual wallet platform for its millions of fans.

Fenerbahce is the largest sports club in Turkey with over 5 million fans.  The agreement includes an estimated purchase of 5 million cards over the next 3 years.  The agreement also includes a license for Smartcard’s virtual wallet platform, VelocityMoney, and will integrate it into a prepaid debit card platform to provide innovative financial and membership services to its large fan base.  The initial project will be to replace the 310,000 existing membership cards with branded prepaid debit cards.

Mr. Aziz Yildirim, the President of Fenerbahce said that this project will bring an unprecedented level of benefits for its fans   In addition to its paid sports fan members, the club also has a total of over 700,000 paid subscribers to its cellular and internet services.

Sertac Ozinal, president of Soluspay, explained that this project was just the beginning of the cooperation between Soluspay and Fenerbahce to provide first-of-its-kind financial services to its fans.

Major League Baseball (MLB) owners have approved the sale of the San Diego Padres to a group that includes pro golfer Phil Mickelson and the two sons and two nephews of former Dodgers owner Peter O’Malley.

Commissioner Bud Selig announced the endorsement Thursday after the conclusion of the owners’ meetings in Denver.

Under the deal, the group will buy the franchise from John Moores for about $800 million. San Diego businessman Ron Fowler will be executive chairman.

The final closing of the sale will be on or before Aug. 31.

Dereck Chisora could potentially face a lifetime ban from British boxing’s governing body for his behavior before, during and after his loss to WBC champion Vitali Klitschko.

The British Boxing Board of Control said Monday it has opened an investigation into Chisora’s conduct in connection to Saturday’s bout in Munich. Chisora slapped Klitschko at the weigh-in and spat water in the face of his opponent’s brother, Wladimir, before the fight. He then brawled with former WBA champion David Haye at the post-fight news conference, leading to him being questioned at length by German police on Sunday.

The BBBC said Monday that it is investigating Chisora on a misconduct charge.

The body is looking into his behavior “prior, during and after his contest” against Klitschko, BBBC General Secretary Robert Smith said in a statement. “A further statement will be issued once the stewards have decided on what action will be taken.”

And asked whether a life ban was a possibility for Chisora, BBBC general secretary Robert Smith said: “Of course it is. The board have many powers – they can fine, they can suspend and they can withdraw a licence.

“There are many powers to them but let’s just get there first before we speculate what we’re going to do.”

Chisora taunted fellow Londoner Haye about losing the WBA belt to Wladimir Klitchko in July, leading to a heated exchange before the pair came to blows. Haye also fought with members of Chisora’s entourage, and his coach, Adam Booth, was bleeding from a cut on his head.

Haye, though, looks likely to escape sanction by the BBBC because he officially retired after his defeat to Wladimir Klitchko.

“Mr. Haye is not a licensed boxer with the British Boxing Board of Control and therefore no longer under the jurisdiction of the British Boxing Board of Control,” Smith said.

Chisora faces a charge of simple assault in Germany but was released Sunday after nearly seven hours of questioning by police. His coach, Don Charles, also faces a charge of assault for his involvement in the melee.

The pair have returned to England.

Chisora and Charles were detained at the Munich airport at 10:30 a.m. Sunday and taken for questioning to Munich police headquarters. Chisora was initially held on suspicion of assault, causing grievous bodily harm and of making a threat. Chisora was heard vowing to shoot Haye.

More serious charges were reduced when police were unable to find Haye despite searching for the boxer at his hotel.

Wladimir Klitschko said Monday he was “shocked and deeply embarrassed” by Chisora and his team.

Klitschko says “these kinds of actions …

by Ismail Uddin

To have your view on the British boxers shambolic actions, click here.

 

More people attended British horse racing events than ever before in 2011 as total attendance at race courses topped 6.15 million for the first time according to the Racecourse Association.

The previous record was set in 2004, with a more stable economy, but the latest results exceed it by 100,000 visits. 

The latest figures were reportedly helped by good weather and more aggressive promotion of the sport by racecourses, along with other initiatives designed to take racing to a broader audience.

The sport saw its highest attendances in July when over a million adults went racing to 147 fixtures. 

Children are not included in the numbers as they are allowed in free at almost all race meetings.

Of the 60 racecourses around Britain, 37 saw a rise in average attendance and improvements were witnessed in most months of the year.

In April 2011, 26 racecourses participated in a ‘try racing for free’ offer organised by Racing for Change, an industry promotional body. 

The activity resulted in an additional 63,000 adults through the turnstiles, many of whom were new customers or lapsed race goers.

In October, Ascot hosted the first-ever QIPCO British Champions Day, attracting over 26,000 visitors and saw competition between many of the best horses in the world, including Frankel. 

The sport’s growing popularity on the track was also been mirrored in TV viewing figures with both Channel 4 and the BBC reporting increases in their audience numbers. 

In 2011, 9 million viewers saw the Grand National, an increase of one million on the previous year.

Stephen Atkin, Chief Executive of the Racecourse Association commented: “I am very pleased to see racecourse attendance on the up for a third year in a row and to break the previous record is fantastic.

“Financially it is a very difficult time for people at the moment, so it is a vindication of the exemplary work being done on Britain’s Racecourses that more and more people are enjoying a day out at the races.”

Allegations of excessive pricing for construction materials for the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics are to be investigated under orders from Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.

The Russian Government’s Chief Auditor, cialis Konstantin Chuichenko, symptoms published a report that revealed that some prices of raw materials such as sand, crushed stone and pebble had doubled in the space of a year, forcing Medvedev to order the inquiry.

Sochi has already splashed out more than US$30bn on construction projects ahead of the Games, but fears of possible cost over-runs have prompted Medvedev to take a closer look.

Medvedev spoke of the investigation: “Apart from giving the order to the Prime Minister (Vladimir Putin), it is necessary to give the order to the Prosecutor General (Yury Chaika). 

“I would like ongoing control of this kind over the use of funds for the Olympics. Such facts must be consistently dragged out and made public.

“Discipline is one thing, and a criminal offence is another. Let them investigate.”

English rugby league club Warrington Wolves have singed a sponsorship agreement with UK-based bookmaker Betfred.com which will see the company receive significant exposure through signage advertising around the sides Halliwell Jones Stadium home ground.

David Hutchinson, Wolves’ sales and marketing controller said of the deal: “We are delighted to have Betfred.com as our partners here at the club, a major player here in the market place. It fulfils the requests of many supporters here at Warrington Wolves at this very exciting time.”

Mark Pearson, a spokesman for Betfred.com added: “It’s fantastic to have an association with the Wolves and let’s hope we are paying out a few quid to their supporters this season. One thing for sure this Super League season is going to be extremely exciting and very very close.”