A suggestion made by Birmingham City Council Leader, Mike Whitby, to charge local residents to watch top athletes like Usain Bolt and Allyson Felix train there before London 2012 to help cover a US$345m budget cut, has angered many in the area..

Whitby led negotiations which saw Birmingham sign deals with the athletics teams from Jamaica and the United States to set-up pre-Games training camps there next year, representing somewhat of a coup as the two countries are arguably the most high-profile athletics teams competing at London.

Whitby has estimated that the deals could be worth up to $24m to Birmingham’s economy, with the US team set to be based at Alexander Stadium while Jamaica are to train at the University of Birmingham.

Whitby, who represents the Conservative party in the UK, wants to use the opportunity to raise extra cash to help offset the massive cut in funding Birmingham City Council is facing, and stated: “We need a more effective way of generating revenue.

“We have a tremendous capacity to increase revenue. 

“We have the Olympic training camps coming next year which is a fantastic opportunity.

“We are looking at charging to watch the athletes train.”

Perry Barr Labour MP Khalid Mahmood, who represents communities surrounding Alexander Stadium, has led opposition to the controversial plan, telling the Birmingham Post: “It’s absolutely disgraceful.

“This is a scrooge measure by this Council which will deter ordinary people in Birmingham from engaging with the Olympics.

“How are we supposed to encourage and inspire young people from poorer backgrounds to enjoy sport if we exclude them when these athletes are on their doorstep?

“The people have already paid for the Olympics through their taxes. 

“This should be abandoned before it goes too far.”

Whitby later claimed to insidethegames that the suggestion had been just an idea and not one he planned to pursue, stating: “Quite rightly we will and do look at a whole range of revenue generating ideas but this is not something we will be taking forward.”

After a disappointing start to the Bundesliga season, which saw former England national team manager Steve McLaren sacked last week, German soccer club Wolfsburg have signed a sponsorship deal with alloy wheel manufacturer Borbet.

The news comes as a timely boost after the club appointed Pierre Littbarski as manager, and the deal represents a fourth-tier partnership with the club.

Under the terms of the agreement TV-visible perimeter advertising and two “Cam Carpets” at one end of the pitch at the team’s home Volkswagen Arena will be installed in what is the highest-profile sponsorship ever agreed by Borbet in their 130-year history.

The Chairman of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), case Paul Roy has welcomed the written ministerial statement from John Penrose, the Minister for Tourism and Heritage, on the sale of the Tote.

Speaking on recent developments in the sale of the betting company, Roy stated: “Racing welcomes the Government’s latest steps in resolving the future of the Tote, and particularly that Racing interests are central to a successful outcome. We look forward to continuing to work closely with Government to get the best outcome for the sport.

“Racing is clear what is right for the sport from any change in the Tote’s status. MPs put it best earlier this month; the Tote was set up for Racing, and that must continue but in a way that fits the modern market after the Tote is removed from the public sector.” He added: “That means recognition of the strong relationship between the Tote and the sport, which is such an important part of the business, and recognition of the contribution the sport racing has given to the Tote over many decades.

“The Foundation is a tried and trusted way of delivering those objectives. It reflects an ownership model that is true to the Tote’s roots of being part of its community, whilst providing commercial flexibility in the modern market.

“Following today’s announcement, other parties may want to talk to Racing about plans for the Tote. This is only natural given that the future success of the Tote depends on the co-operation of racing and the fact that racing’s interests are front and centre. They will know what they must do. We will of course listen, and discuss how they plan to provide an outcome that addresses all our issues.”

As expected, it has been confirmed that no other candidates have contested the re-election of current UEFA president, Michel Platini, ahead of the midnight deadline on Wednesday. The decision to leave Platini as an unopposed candidate means that it is all but a certainty that the Frenchman will continue in his role for another 3 years after his introduction in 2007.

UEFA confirmed that, “UEFA president Michel Platini will be seeking a second four-year term of office from 2011 to 2015,” after the former France international soccer player revealed that he would put himself forward once again earlier in the year.

The biggest challenge that Platini may face in his extended tenure is expected to be the implementation UEFA’s financial fair play rules in 2012. The new regulations will limit spending in order to safeguard the future of European clubs but is set to receive a frosty reaction from the continents biggest and most wealthy clubs.

The battle continues between London soccer clubs West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur over who will be given the right to move into the Olympic Stadium post-2012. Sir Keith Mills, non-executive director of Tottenham believes that the clubs should know of the decision as early as March 2011.

The two teams must convince the Olympic Park Legacy Committee (OPLC) that they have not only the club’s, but the legacy of athletics in their interests.

Speaking to insidethegames, Mills stated: “By the end of March they should say which of us is the preferred bidder and which of us they will work with exclusively for, say, six months to try and execute a deal. And if not, they’ll go back to the other bidder.”

Whilst the majority of West Ham fans have welcomed the proposal, Tottenham Hotspur chairman David Levy faced a barrage of upset shareholders who feel the club should not be moved.

A vast majority of fans are backing an alternative plan to redevelop White Hart Lane and turn it from 36,000 into a state-of-the-art 56,000-capacity stadium that preserves the same atmosphere as now.

The concept, however, is highly unlikely at a cost of around US$625m as it is restricted by a number of issues, not least the prospect of the club being saddled with debt. Add to this the fact that horrendous public transport problems in and around Tottenham already reach breaking point on match days, let alone coping with another 20,000 spectators.This has seen the club gain an interest alongside fellow Londoners West Ham, in a much cheaper option of relocation.

German Bundesliga soccer club and league struggler’s, 1. FC Koln have renewed their kit sponsorship deal with supermarket chain Rewe until the end of the 2011/12 season.

The deal is worth US$4.45m to the club and will offer the sponsor TV-visible advertising hoardings at the Rhein Energie Stadion, the clubs home venue.

Rewe Group board member Josef Sanktjohanser said that the club had great ambition stating: “With the contract extension, we are making a sign that we will stand by the club and its many fans in difficult times. We are confident that with the fighting spirit it has shown in the last few games, the team is on the right track.”

“We will make every effort to return the confidence that Rewe has placed in us by renewing this contract.” added 1. FC Köln president Wolfgang Overath.

A premium live sports streaming package has been acquired by major online gambling group, bet365 from the Sportsman Media Group (SMG). SMG, a Munich and Vienna based sports rights and online publication company, has supplied the package to the betting firm which includes Spanish La Liga fixtures and German Bundesliga games among its coverage.

The Sportsman claims to have offered and implemented live motion pictures of high profile sporting events for more than five years in their role as a provider of live streaming solutions for online betting platforms.

Alongside La Liga and the Bundesliga soccer leagues include rights for the Volleyball and Handball Champions League as well as events from the world of tennis, basketball, beach volleyball and table tennis.

UK Prime Minister David Cameron has unveiled plans to transform London’s East End into one of the “world’s great technology centres”.

Firms including Google and Facebook are to invest in the East London Tech City, he said in a speech.

He hopes the area, which includes Olympic Park, will challenge California’s Silicon Valley as a global hub for technology.

Mr Cameron made his announcement in Shoreditch, east London. The initiative reflects his plan to create private sector jobs to fill the hole left by public sector spending cuts.

In a speech to businesses and entrepreneurs, Mr Cameron said: “Right now, Silicon Valley is the leading place in the world for hi-tech growth and innovation.

“But there’s no reason why it has to be so predominant.

“Our ambition is to bring together the creativity and energy of Shoreditch and the incredible possibilities of the Olympic Park to help make east London one of the world’s great technology centres.”

He said the response from international technology firms and venture capitalists to the government’s proposals had been “overwhelming”.