Nürburgring Nordschleife Added to 2015 FIA World Touring Car Championship Calendar

The FIA World Touring Car Championship will race at the Nürburgring Nordschleife in 2015, abortion it has been announced today. 

The event will mark the beginning of a three-year deal between WTCC promoter  Eurosport Events and 24h-race organiser ADAC Nordrhein, cialis and also the return of an FIA World Championship event to the terrific Grüne Holle, find thirty-two years after the 1983 ADAC 1000Km, third round of the World Sportscar Championship.

Thanks to this deal, Eurosport Events will bring WTCC back to Germany in style, after a three-year break. The WTCC Race of Germany was previously hosted by Motorsport Arena Oschersleben from 2005 to 2011.

The WTCC usual event format – made of two 60km races – will be revised for the special occasion of running on the 25.378-kilometre combination of the Nürburgring’s GP circuit and the legendary Nordschleife.

“The race at the Nordschleife will definitely be a highlight of the season,” said François Ribeiro, Eurosport Events COO. “To tackle this monument of car racing history, we asked FIA to revise the sporting regulations for that event. The idea is to held one single 120km race, with one pit stop. The details of this particular format will be worked out between FIA, Eurosport Events and teams before the next FIA Touring Car Commission. Then a proposal will be submitted for approval to the FIA World Motor Sport Council. WTCC drivers are all excited about this idea: the new TC1 cars on the Nordschleife crowded with 250,000 spectators, combined with a first class TV production on which Eurosport Events will mix all its expertise from WTCC and ERC live filming. It will be the event all drivers want to win, and a good show on TV.”

Walter Hornung, Sports Director of ADAC Nordrhein and Race Director of the 24h race, was just as delighted: “WTCC is a series providing enthralling motor racing and attracting massive attention all over the world. The weekend of the 24 Hours could not have a more attractive  opening. With this deal, ADAC Nordrhein also demonstrates that we are keeping on developing the 24h race for the future to make it even more attractive for the fans, media and partners.”

ECB Charges Cricketers Lou Vincent & Naveed Arif Over Match-Fixing Offences

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has issued charges against former New Zealand cricketer, physician Lou Vincent, abortion and former Sussex cricketer, Naveed Arif, over match-fixing offences.

Vincent is charged with a total of 14 offences in relation to two county matches played under the ECB’s jurisdiction in August 2011 – a Twenty20 match between Sussex and Lancashire and a 40 over game between Sussex and Kent.

Naveed Arif is charged with six offences in relation to the 40 over game between Sussex and Kent in August 2011.

Both players have been provisionally suspended from all cricketing activities organised, authorised or supported by the ECB, ICC, any other National Cricket Federation and any member of any other National Cricket Federation.

Chris Watts, Head of ECB’s Anti-Corruption unit, said: “This has been an extremely complex and lengthy investigation co-ordinated across many jurisdictions around the world. This matter is now the subject of formal legal proceedings and we will therefore make no further comment other than to re-iterate our determination to bring to account the very small minority who seek to corrupt cricket.”

ECB Chief Executive David Collier added: “The ECB’s ACCESS unit has worked tirelessly in conjunction with the ICC’s ACSU to bring about these charges, which once again demonstrates the ECB’s zero tolerance approach to corruption in our great game.”

Miami Dolphins Owner Ross to Privately Fund Stadium Renovations

Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross has revealed he will privately fund the renovations to Sun Life Stadium.

The original renovation plan in Miami called for the public to pay for the stadium renovations, denture but the state legislature ended its session in May without approving the proposal. The proposed deal would have raised up to $289 million for renovations by raising the Miami-Dade hotel tax from 6 to 7 percent.

The Dolphins would have also had a shot at up to $90 million in state sales tax rebates, which could have meant a total of $379 million in public funds.

In a statement Ross said: “I have made clear I want the stadium modernized because it’s right for our fans and it’s right for Miami-Dade and South Florida. I have decided the best way to get this done is to pay for the project with private funds. All we ask in return is that we are treated the same as all franchises in the state of Florida. A world-class city needs a world-class stadium.

“We haven’t won a Super Bowl bid in Miami-Dade in far too long, and we know that with the stadium as an issue, we never will unless it is modernized. The Super Bowl Committee will have to decide if they want to compete for the next two Super Bowls so time is of the essence. It is time to move forward.

“This privately funded project will create more than 4,000 local jobs. We can bring back the Super Bowl, the College Football Playoff Championship and world-class soccer matches — and all the revenue those big events generate for the local community. I am going to make the commitment and provide the resources because Miami deserves the economic benefits of a modernized stadium.

“But for me, this is about something more. I grew up here in Miami-Dade and have been part of this area for most of my life. I want to do this for the community that has done so much for me, and for this storied franchise that means so much to the people of South Florida. With this project, we can secure the future of the Dolphins in Miami-Dade for another 20 years.  That is more important to me than anything else.”

PrimeSport Named Official Ticket Exchange of 2013 Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game

Ticket provider, PrimeSport, announced today a partnership as the Official Ticket Exchange, VIP Pregame Hospitality and Travel Package Provider for the 2013 Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game.

This year’s Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game will be held on August 31, 2013 at the Georgia Dome and feature the reigning National Champion Alabama Crimson Tide vs. the Virginia Tech Hokies.

“We couldn’t be more excited about this match-up between two top programs such as Alabama and Virginia Tech with two of the best coaches in college football, Nick Saban and Frank Beamer,” said Gary Stokan, Chick-fil-A Bowl president and CEO. “Add all of this to two of the best fan bases in the nation and an unopposed time slot on ESPN and you have the making of a classic college football game to kick off the 2013 season.”

As the Official Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game Ticket Exchange, PrimeSport creates a secure and approved marketplace for fans to buy and sell tickets in a convenient, safe and guaranteed environment. Ticket holders who are unable to attend the game have a place to safely sell their tickets. Buyers can be assured that the tickets are authentic and guaranteed, even if the game is sold out.

As part of the partnership, PrimeSport will also be offering official Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game ticket and hospitality packages for the dedicated fan looking for a VIP experience at the event. Official pregame hospitality will include regional food, cold beverages, music, along with Alabama and Virginia Tech former players. Official travel packages are also available from PrimeSport and include hotel accommodations, game tickets, official pregame hospitality, official souvenirs and much more.

“We are excited to be able and give fans so many options to customize their Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game experience with official tickets, VIP experiences and travel packages,” said Greg Nortman, chief operating officer of PrimeSport. “This is going to be a great game and we are looking forward to providing the PrimeSport Experience to Alabama and Virginia Tech fans coming to Atlanta in August.”

National Hockey League Cancels Games Until January 14

More National Hockey League (NHL) games have been cancelled raising the realistic possibility of the entire season being lost.

The league has wiped out all fixtures until January 14 due to the failure of the NHL Players’ Association and the NHL to agree on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

The announcement takes the total number of games lost in the regular season, which should have begun on October 11, to 625 – 59.8 percent of the original schedule.

The NHL has previously said a shortened campaign should include at least 48 games, which means an agreement needs to be reached in the coming weeks.

No official deadline has been announced as yet by the NHL, which is the only North American professional sports league to cancel a season because of to a labor dispute. The 2004-05 season was lost completely to a lockout.

Players are currently casting ballots on whether or not to give their executive board the authority to file a disclaimer of interest. Such action would dissolve the union and allow individual players to file anti-trust lawsuits against the league.

Hannover 96 zahlt 70.000 Euro Strafe

Das DFB-Sportgericht hat Hannover 96 heute in seiner mündlichen Verhandlung in Frankfurt am Main zu einer Geldstrafe in Höhe von 70.000, healing – Euro verurteilt. Der DFB sanktioniert damit das umfangreiche Fehlverhalten von 96-Fans, healing insbesondere auch das verbotene Abbrennen von Pyrotechnik, während des DFB-Pokalspiels gegen Dynamo Dresden am 31. Oktober 2012 in der AWD-Arena. Hannover 96 hat das Urteil angenommen, es ist damit rechtskräftig.

“Der Schaden für Hannover 96 ist immens, nicht nur finanziell. Entsprechende Konsequenzen für die Verursacher haben wir nach den Vorfällen bereits gezogen. Ich will zum jetzigen Zeitpunkt nicht ausschließen, dass diese noch umfassender werden”, erklärt 96-Präsident Martin Kind.

Björn Borg set for China Launch

Björn Borg will launch his clothing and sportswear business in China with a store on Shanghai’s notorious West Nanjing Road.

Björn Borg products will also be available to buy from Taobao, China’s largest e-commerce site.

Björn Borg CEO, Arthur Engel, said: “This is a first step in our Chinese initiative. We are in it for the long term, and this will be followed by a number of stores both in Shanghai and the rest of China.”

The company will sell sportswear, fashion items, footwear and accessories. {jcomments on}

Korean Baseball Enjoys High Ticket Sales

The Korea Baseball Organization is reportedly enjoying the height of its popularity with record ticket sales.

Korea’s professional baseball league reached the million attendance mark in just 65 games on April 29, fourteen games fewer than it took to reach that level in 1995.

The KBO aims to reach 4 million at the fastest pace ever. With 3,952,118 spectators so far, the original goal of getting 7 million to the ballparks this season seems very plausible and 8 million may even be achievable, as just 251 games of the 532 have been played.

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Boris Johnson to Tip Off NBA Basketball Week in the UK

The Mayor of London Boris Johnson will be joined by local schoolchildren on a specially designed and installed, see travelling basketball court to tip off National Basketball Association (NBA)  Basketball Week.

The initiative, which was announced earlier this year, is a week of free youth-oriented basketball events, which starts in London before travelling to five UK cities and returning to London next week in order to promote the sport in the nation.

The week’s events lead up to the NBA Games – London 2011 presented by Thomson Sport on March 4 and 5 at The O2 Arena, when the New Jersey Nets and the Toronto Raptors will play in the NBA’s first-ever regular-season games in Europe.

Basketball Week is being organised by the National Basketball Association (NBA), British Basketball (representing Team GB), the British Basketball League and England Basketball and aims to increase participation in the sport, giving young people up and down the country the opportunity to try their hand at basketball.


DHL to Deliver Manchester United Partnership

English Premier League soccer giants Manchester United have announced an agreemnet with express and logistics company DHL to become the club’s official logistics partner.

The contract will run for a duration of three years in which DHL will undertake a range of logistics services on behalf of Manchester United and also work with the Manchester United Foundation to improve the lives of vulnerable young people in the local community. 

DHL Express (UK & Ireland) chief executive officer, Phil Couchman stated: “By partnering with Manchester United we have teamed up with a brand whose international footprint mirrors our own. A major part of our business is to help businesses grow by offering them an efficient and effective international offer.

“The way that Manchester United has grown from humble beginnings formed by a group of railway workers into a worldwide brand with 333 million followers shows how small businesses can emerge into world leaders.”