The Sauber F1 Team has boosted its Asian connections after signing Asia Jet, a Hong Kong private aviation firm, as a sponsor for selected Grands Prix in 2011.

Under the terms of the deal, expected to be worth as much as US$100,000 per race, the company’s logos will appear on the cars rear wing endplates at all Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) races, plus the inaugural Indian Grand Prix in October.

Asia Jet’s chief executive Mike Walsh said: “Asia Jet is a proud supporter of Formula One, and has consistently flown fans, drivers and sponsors to attend the F1 races in different cities for the past few seasons.

“We hope to continue and extend our reach further throughout Asia and beyond, combining the best Formula One has to offer with the convenience of getting to and from the races on the schedules of our important clients.

“We are convinced this will be very successful for Asia Jet and further enhance our reputation as the leading private jet company of choice for our customers.”

Peter Sauber, team principal of Sauber, added: “Asia Jet is a prestigious and growing brand in a high-tech business in which time and performance are crucial, as is also the case in our sport. As Formula One is getting more and more popular in Asia with an increasing number of races to be held there, we regard Formula One as an ideal marketing platform for Asia Jet.”

The deal caps a successful commercial line-up for the team, having secured significant backing from Mexico, notably through a deal with telecoms firm Telmex.

A new report released by the National Bank of Kuwait on Sunday 19 December stated that the World Cup 2022 in Qatar will provide a significant economic boost to the national and its neighbouring countries.

The study revealed that Qatar’s significant construction programme ahead of the event will have a knock-on impact on other countries in the Middle East. According to the report: ‘Hosting the World Cup will set tight deadlines, create extra spending, bring in new expertise and present additional motivation and incentives’.

Among the infrastructure projects planned include a $25 billion metro and rail network, a $7 billion deep water port, a $10 billion international airport at Doha and a $4 billion causeway linking Qatar and Bahrain. $20 billion is also set to be spent on building and expanding Qatar’s road network.

A further $4 billion will be spent on 12 state-of-the-art stadia with air conditioning. The study added that Qatari officials have pledged to add 90,000 new hotel rooms before 2022, surpassing the 65,000 demanded by FIFA.

A plea has been made by England Women’s soccer team coach, Hope Powell and head of the national game for the Football Association (FA), Kelly Simmons, to move the whole of women’s soccer schedule to the summer period.

The call comes just four months before the start of the newly revamped Super League’s inaugural season.

Powell said: ‘When I was a player I always felt we should be playing in the summer. Moving the entire game to summer couldn’t realistically be done from day one, but hopefully we can work towards that and it would be great if it happens.’

Simmons added: ‘We want to grow the women’s game and I believe that taking it into the summer would attract more players and spectators. The WSL will be a closed league for two years but if the Premier League then becomes the feeder it would be a better fit if that league and the pyramid below it were played in the summer.’

By Martin Laurence, Staff Writer

Russia have won the bid to host the World Cup Finals in 2018. The team spoke of their delight stating that FIFA would “not regret their decision” and that they hoped “to make history together”. Despite rumours that Russia had slipped down in the list as favourites the bid was won based on the feeling that the World Cup could help to develop the infrastructure of the nation. President Putin’s absence was seen by many as a negative move however the move now seems to have been made through confidence in the campaign.

The final 30-minute presentations were made by the remaining four bidding nations for the World Cup 2018 today. Committees from Holland/Belgium, Russia, Spain/Portugal and England all staked their claim to host the finals in front of the FIFA executive committee at the FIFA headquarters in Zurich. With a 22-strong committee the winning bid needed to receive at least 12 votes after the final round of voting.

After years of hard work the hopefuls heard of the committees decision on who will host the finals in 2018 on Thursday afternoon.

Holland/Belgium

Holland/Belgium, the rank outsiders to claim victory, were first to present their case to FIFA on the morning of Thursday 2 December. The bid was introduced by the FIFA ExCo member for the nation, Michel D’Hooge.

The joint nations motto of ‘Together for great goals’ was perhaps the most football orientated and the bid was put forward by a number of Dutch football icons. The team was made up of Ruud Gullit, Johan Cruyff, Guus Hiddink, Jean-Marie Pfaff and Paul van Himst. Gullit was keen to highlight the key benefits of their bid including its compactness- “our limited size is our real strength”; it is a green bid due to this; it’s a bid from a strong economy; it’s a bid from the heart of Europe; it’s a showcase for joint bids; and finally, it’s a bid that intends to have a true legacy.

The presentation was littered with a total of five videos, cutting each speakers case considerably in a stop-start presentation.

Spain/Portugal

Up next were Spain/Portugal whose presentation began at 9am GMT. The presentation was opened by Pedro Mourinho and was quickly into a very formal and business-like groove.

The bidding team firmly established that though it represented a joint bid, believed to be seen as unfavourable by some of the FIFA ExCo members, the bid has a “borderless geographical reality”. After much of the media have overlooked the impact of Portugal on the joint bid perhaps it was a smart ploy to start the bid through the Prime Minister of Portugal Jose Socrates.

It was then the turn of the Spanish President Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero who guaranteed that all FIFA’s requirements would be met speaking, as Socrates did, in his native tongue.

Though the presence of the political powers that be in the nations will have an impact, the presentation was lacking energy and fun installed by a short video with various clips of Spanish and Portugese culture.

Unlike the Holland/Belgium bid, Spain did look to use the FIFA ExCo member of Spain, Miguel Angel Villar Llona which they hoped would sway the vote in their favour.

England

England’s 30-minute presentation began at 10am GMT and was full of popular figures. Bid ambassador Eddie Afekafe offered a more personal touch, explaining how football had effected his life, initially in a voluntary role at Manchester City. The start to the bid had a good balance with Afekafe bringing a figure who can be related to, to the star-studded cast.

Prince William, President of the Football Association was next to speak, bringing a regal feel to the presentation from an individual who understands the importance of the game to the English public. Prime Minister David Cameron spoke without notes of the “passion and expertise” the nation has to host a successful games.

Possibly the most influential figure in the last few days has been soccer icon, David Beckham. Beckham spoke of his childhood growing up as a soccer fan and of the experiences and honours that have befallen him in his illustrious career. The player is a passionate and fantastic ambassador for the bid speaking emotionally about the benefits the Cup could bring to England and it’s children and grandchildren.

A polished and concise presentation was wrapped up by bid chief executive Andy Anson and a video showing the influence of English Football all around the world.

Russia

Last up were Russia, the favourites to win the bid for long periods of the process. Breaking news which shocked many yesterday was revealed confirming that President Vladimir Putin would not be attending the event. Putin stated that he felt his presence was not in the spirit of the game, seemingly condemning the appearance of political figures from the rival teams.

The bid was introduced by bid chief executive Alexey Sorokin who immediately looked to lift the mood following a lengthy and overrun presentation from Spain/Portugal.

“Being the last bid to present we have two options,” said Sorokin. “Either bore you to death with facts and figures from our bid book, or show you what is in our hearts. We chose the second option.”

The bid was very much focused around the fact that Russia believed they could make history with FIFA and open avenues to new markets and new fans.

A video was shown highlighting a little boys dream of playing for his country followed by a cultural glimpse of opera featuring football playing singers.

Russia hoped that FIFA would choose their bid to help them to develop their country and develop the game in a nation which may not be as familiar to international football on a global stage as some of their rivals.

Russia also used their FIFA ExCo member in Vitaly Mutko who joked, in a light hearted presentation “If you give us a chance, Fifa, you will never regret. I also promise that in 2018, I will speak English like my friend Geoff Thompson.”

The presentation was joined by sporting icons including pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva and Arsenal soccer star Andrey Arshavin in a well-balanced and competent display.

Jenson Button might have been the victim of an attempted kidnapping in Sao Paulo on Saturday night, according to former Formula One champion Jackie Stewart.

The Formula 1 paddock was in shock on Sunday after it emerged the reigning World Champion’s car had been approached by up to six men with guns whilst returning from Interlagos to his Morumbi hotel.

The specially trained police driver fended off the attack by smashing through traffic, with triple World Champion Stewart worrying that wallets and watches might not have been the target.

“Drug barons don’t go out to kill people but kidnap them because they are linked to rich multinational companies. In Jenson’s case that means Vodafone and Mobil,” the Scot said.

50 years ago, Cuban rebels kidnapped the then reigning World Champion Juan Manuel Fangio at gunpoint and held him for 24 hours.

Button’s father John, who was in the car with his son at the time of the attack, admitted he fears it was not random.

Rumours on Sunday suggested the attackers were alerted a few minutes before the attack that Button’s entourage had left the circuit.

“It was really weird,” said John Button, “because we were in a very small, compact Mercedes, and they couldn’t see in.”

“It looked like they were waiting for someone, so that’s a little bit worrying.”

Button’s attack was not the only security issue at Interlagos this year. A group of photographers had their cameras stolen, a radio producer was relieved of his wallet and car keys, and even the local Lucas di Grassi admitted to being mugged.

“A guy walked up to the car, tapped a gun in his belt and I handed over the watch,” said the Virgin driver.

One certainty is that Button was relieved to leave Brazil on Sunday night.

“I don’t think that’s the way to put it,” he said before the race. “It’s an epic circuit and it holds a lot of good memories. But I’ll be on my way home tonight.”

Race Team Alliance (RTA), pills a not-for-profit business league comprised of race teams participating in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, look has expanded their membership to 18 full-time NASCAR Sprint Cup teams, ampoule comprising 37 full-time entries.

The purpose of the organisation is to create an open forum for the teams to explore areas of common interest and to work collaboratively on initiatives to help preserve, promote, and grow the sport of stock car racing.

“One of the early goals of the Race Team Alliance was to expand our membership, and after only a month in existence, we have accomplished that goal,” said Rob Kauffman, the RTA’s elected chairman. 

“We now have virtually all the full-time teams participating. I think the membership as a whole is enthusiastic to get to work on some of the other items on our agenda, in particular some of the cost areas and marketing opportunities we have already identified.”

The RTA membership includes: BK Racing, Circle Sport, Front Row, Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, Germain Racing, Go Green / FAS Lane, Hendrick Motorsports, HScott Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing, JTG Racing, Michael Waltrip Racing, Phil Parsons Racing, Richard Childress Racing, Richard Petty Motorsports, Roush Fenway Racing, Stewart-Haas Racing,Team Penske and Tommy Baldwin Racing