The Global Ocean Race have announced a number of plans for the next couple of years with Southampton and the Solent, on England’s South Coast, being chosen to host the start of the revamped Global Ocean Race 2014-2015.

Announcing this today, organisers of the GOR and of the PSP Southampton Boat Show also confirmed that the event’s race village will be part of the boat show prior to the race start on Sunday 21st September 2014, enabling tens of thousands of visitors to get a close up view of the remarkable Class40 yachts that will average speeds, through the Southern Ocean, faster than most of the boats in the famous Whitbread races. It is planned that the GOR sailors will also complete their circumnavigation in the Solent and finishing the race in Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth, in June 2015 is under consideration.

Speaking at the Tullet Prebon London Boat Show, the race organiser, Josh Hall, confirmed that the 31,000-mile race will again follow the classic Southern Ocean route around the world in what many now consider to be one of the toughest races on the calendar.

“The boats have proven reliability and are incredibly quick and we are extremely proud to bring the race to the home of Southern Ocean racing,” he said. The third edition of the GOR will make its first stop in Cape Town, with its base at the stunning V&A Waterfront Marina. From there it will head down to New Zealand and/or Australia, with stops in South America and Charleston, USA, before finishing back in The Solent. The Australasian and South American stopovers are currently in negotiation.

Also revealed are the names of a new Steering Board for the race, brought in to help raise the profile, boost sponsorship and give the race the importance in the sailing calendar that its members feel it now deserves. Chairman of the Steering Board is Julian Mounter, a former CEO of three major broadcasting organisations; a former Times journalist and the driving force that pieced together the financing of Team New Zealand, winners of the America’s Cup under Sir Peter Blake’s leadership, and, earlier, was instrumental in the funding of the successful Whitbread campaign of Grant Dalton in New Zealand. Julian was also Senior Media Consultant for the first two editions of the Volvo Ocean Race.

Harold Anderson will head up GOR Broadcast and Internet production. Harold is a top television producer who was in charge of programming for two of the recent Volvo Ocean Races and has also overseen coverage of several Olympic Games for, among others, the BBC.

Mark Howell will head up GOR Media and Public Relations. Mark was charged with maximising coverage for London throughout the London 2012 Olympic Games and was Press Officer for the RYA during the 1996 Olympics and from 1997 to 2001 and PR Director for the British Olympic Association at The Olympic Games in both Japan and Sydney. Mark was also Head of Media for the Volvo Ocean Race 2001-02 and 2005-06.

Acquiring strong sponsors is an essential part of sport events and Chris Witty joins the GOR team bringing extensive experience from the world of sports sponsorship. Chris has been involved with sponsorship and team management in Formula 1, World Championship rallying, Le Mans and hybrid racing, working with FI legend Eddie Jordan, and is the youngest ever team owner to win a Grand Prix. Witty has also been an offshore powerboat racing team owner and series promoter with multi world champion Steve Curtis MBE, and was responsible for coordinating Richard Branson’s Atlantic Challenge powerboat and balloon adventures. Working with Witty will be Event Organiser and former ITV and BBC Natural History Unit Producer/Director Megan Lander.

Hall said: “Ocean Racing is the pinnacle of our sailing sport. It is exciting, challenging and an enormous adventure, but in recent years it has been diluted because of the need to attract wealthy sponsorship from countries not on the classic routes. With three new classes (fully-crewed, two-handed and single-handed), we expect to attract a substantial fleet. Entering this race is affordable for many who could not afford to enter some of the other existing events and we also believe the GOR returns ocean racing to the days when amateurs could take on the professionals.”

The GOR also announced the first of its sponsors for the 2014 event including long term offshore racing supporter, bluQube; Formula (1) Design, part of Team Concise and developers of a new One Design Class40; Akilaria, producers of the prolific Akilaria Class40 design who have been staunch GOR supporters since its inception and PSP will take the role of GOR logistics partner.

At the Tullet Prebon London Boat Show, Celox Sailing, also confirmed that the Austrian-based company – which operates a unique sailing business with six departments including a sailing academy, sail loft and yacht servicing – will continue sponsorship of the GOR for the 2014-15 race and will be entering the double-handed division of the GOR with Class40 GustBuster.

Each of the countries where there will be a stop is to have a number of well-known sailors or those who are in some way connected to the sport and distinguished in other arenas as GOR Ambassadors. From the UK, single-handed sailing legend Pete Goss, MBE has accepted the role of Ambassador.

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) announced that Nagano, medic Japan will host the 2013 IPC Ice Sledge Hockey B Pool World Championships from 8-16 March. 

The competition will be organised by the Japan Ice Sledge Hockey Association (JISHA), site and as many as eight teams could play on the ice at the Wakasato Tamokuteki Sport Arena, commonly known as “Big Hat.” 

It will be the fourth edition of the B Pool Championships, and the top three finishers from the event will move on to the Paralympic Winter Games Qualification Tournament, which will take place in late 2013 and will be the final chance for teams to qualify for Sochi 2014. 

Just last week, six teams competed in the 2012 edition of the event in Novi Sad, Serbia, where Russia defeated Sweden, 1-0, in the gold-medal game. 

Xavier Gonzalez, IPC Chief Executive Officer, said: “It is great to see Paralympic winter sport continuing to grow in Asia and, for the first time ever, an ice sledge hockey World Championship event will take place there.” 

The “Big Hat” venue offers three different spectator stands and is situated less than three hours northwest of the Japanese capital of Tokyo. 

Nagano is a city of nearly 400,000 people and hosted the first-ever Paralympic Games in Asia in 1998. The Nagano Games demonstrated a rising media and public interest in Paralympic winter sports, as 151,375 spectators viewed the Games, which were covered by 1,468 journalists. 

Kojin Nakakita, President of the JISHA, said: “On behalf of the local organising committee and Japan Ice Sledge Hockey Association, I am glad to announce that the LOC and IPC have happily signed the contract for hosting the 2013 Ice Sledge Hockey World Championships B to be held in Nagano, Japan in the next March. 

“Japan is known as one of the best hospitality countries in the world, and we are confident that this event will be one unforgettable event for all participants. All the best to everyone, and see you all in Nagano.”

Force India owner, arthritis Vijay Mallya has been issued a non-bailable warrant by the Indian city of Hyderabad following his involvement  in a cheque bounce case.

The 13th metropolitan sessions court issued the warrant against crisis-hit Kingfisher airlines in a case filed by GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd (GHIAL), pilule which manages the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport here.

The case was filed in August by GHIAL after four cheques, reportedly costing $2million issued by Kingfisher, who Mallya is chairman of, towards user charges bounced.

The court issued the warrant after Mallaya failed to appear despite summons issued to him. The liquor baron reportedly sought exemption from personal appearance as he was abroad.

A spokesman for the complainant told the AFP: “The cases were listed today for the airline to appear in the court.”

“Since they failed to appear before the magistrate, the court has ordered issuance of NBW (non-bailable warrants) against Kingfisher Airlines (KFA), Vijay Mallya and four other KFA officials.”

The crisis-hit airlines faces similar cases in Mumbai and Delhi after the airport operators moved the court over dishonoured cheques.

Rugby Football Union licensing agent CPLG Sport has announced three new merchandising deals for the England Rugby brand.

The licensing agent for the Rugby Football Union (RFU) said it is “dealing with more interest than ever before” around the brand, with the 2015 Rugby World Cup taking place in England.

Brecrest joins the RFU’s licensing programme and will produce England Rugby branded babywear, BL Sports is on board for luggage, bags and wallets, and Drew Pearson International will soon launch headwear, scarves, gloves, snoods, earmuffs and wristbands.

The three new licensees join over 30 existing partners.

Andy Ward, head of merchandising at the RFU, said: “We are finding that prospective partners are increasingly aware of the potential that the 2015 Rugby World Cup offers from a licensing point of view and this is leading to a strengthening of the programme in this year alone.”

CPLG Sport’s senior commercial manager Nicola Thompson added: “The England Rugby brand is always going to be a magnet for the licensing community but the extra incentive of the 2015 Rugby World Cup means we are dealing with more interest than ever before and these new deals with best in class partners are testament to that.”

Coveted US golfer Phil Mickelson appetite for sports ownership has increased after joining a group hoping to buy the San Diego Padres.

Mickelson, a San Diego native, told the U-T San Diego on Monday that he has rejected previous opportunities to become involved in sports ownership, but the Padres are an appealing option.

“This was a unique opportunity with families that had done this before and know how to do it right and want to get involved in the community,” Mickelson said.

Mickelson told the paper he’s joined a group headlined by former Los Angeles Dodgersowner Peter O’Malley, one of five known parties interested in purchasing a controlling interest in the club. Former Padres legend Tony Gwynn recently joined a potential ownership group led by movie producer Thomas Tull.

Owner John Moores is selling the Padres after a proposed sale of the team to Jeff Moorad collapsed in March after baseball owners refused to approve Moorad as controlling owner. Moorad headed a group that in March 2009 agreed to a gradual takeover of the Padres. At the time, the deal was estimated to be worth around $500 million.

Moores owns 51 percent while Moorad’s group owns 49 percent.

Mickelson said he would put “a lot” of his own money in the deal and that, “given the price tag, it’s a significant amount.”

Mickelson has earned more than $66 million during his career on the PGA Tour in prize money and considerably more in endorsements.

“I feel it’s a great financial opportunity, yes,” Mickelson said of the Padres. “But what excites me is the financial opportunity and the opportunity to get the community more involved with the Padres.

” … Growing up, the Padres were my team and still are. I always had a love for the team. But (recently) I just felt disassociated with the organization a little bit as a fan. I just know I didn’t identify with the players or have an emotional connection. Where I want to get involved is I want to get a personal involvement with the players and the community — personal interaction with fans, more community outreach. I want to create an emotional tie with the players and the community.”

Mickelson, 41, has won 40 PGA Tour titles, including four major championships. He said he did not expect a possible interest in the Padres to affect his golf career. He is playing in this week’s Memorial Tournament in Dublin, Ohio, followed by the U.S. Open in two weeks.

“I have as strong a desire to compete as ever,” he said. “I’m working on my game, trying to get ready for the U.S. Open.”

English nPower Championship soccer strugglers Crystal Palace FC, troche have agreed a two-year sponsorship deal with telecommunications company Soccertel.

Soccertel will provide Palace fans with cheaper calls on their mobile phones, as well as mobile internet services under the terms of the agreement.

Mark Catlin, Soccertel managing director, said of the deal: “Although I have been involved in the telecoms business for many years, the true love of my life is football, and for me personally, it’s great that we have been able to develop a product and strategy that enables fans to benefit from the incredible cheap rates that we offer. More importantly, it enables them to receive unique, innovative offers and gifts directly associated with Crystal Palace FC.”

In addition, the partnership will also enable fans of the south London club free entry to the club’s ground, Selhurst Park, by topping up credit onto their mobile phones. Financial details of the deal have not been disclosed by either party.

Catlin added: “The members of the commercial team that I have dealt with, Chris Powlson and Kevin Miller have from day one seen what see what we are trying to achieve with Soccertel, and have been very supportive and provocative in making this deal possible.”

Kevin Miller, senior commercial sales for Crystal Palace, added: “We are extremely pleased to welcome Mark and his team to Selhurst Park. The package offered by Soccertel really gives fans tangible rewards and will hopefully generate some great phone deals for them. On matchdays they will see the Soccertel brand advertised on the Whitehorse Lane stand wall in the stadium as well as in the matchday programme, and will also be able to get information via the website and e-newsletter.”

FIFA’s controversial President Sepp Blatter has accused England of being ‘bad losers’ after failing in their bid to host the 2018 World Cup. After allegations of corruption in FIFA have been rife within the British media both before and since the vote, Blatter rejected all allegations of corruption saying that the governing body was “financially clean and clear”.

Much of the English bid team and media have reacted angrily to the decision made which saw them receive just two of a possible 22 votes from the FIFA executive committee in Zurich last Thursday. Acting chairman of the Football Association (FA), Roger Burden has since withdrawn his application for the post, stating that the role would involve liaising with FIFA and that he wanted “nothing more to do with them”.

Speaking to Weltwoche, a Swiss weekly magazine, Blatter stated: “To be honest, I was surprised by all the English complaining after the defeat. England, of all people, the motherland of fair play ideas.

“Now some of them are showing themselves to be bad losers. You can’t come afterwards and say so and so promised to vote for England. The results are known. The outcome came out clearly.”

“There is no systematic corruption in FIFA. That is nonsense,” he added. “We are financially clean and clear.”

Cheltenham Racecourse has signed a two year sponsorship deal with construction equipment maker JCB.

The firm has renewed its backing of the Grade 1 JCB Triumph Hurdle for the 10th and 11th year, with the next version of the race being run on 18 March, 2011, as part of the Cheltenham Festival.

And there will be three new juvenile hurdle races as part of JCB’s jump racing sponsorship portfolio.

The Gloucestershire course said the JCB deal made “enormous sense”.

The juvenile races are for horses aged three years old up to the end of the year and four years old from the turn of the year

These will each be run over routes of about two miles at three major Cheltenham fixtures in November, December and January.

Mr McNeile, director of sponsorship at Cheltenham Racecourse, said JCB had been a “terrific partner” over the past decade.

“I’m sure that the JCB brand will gain even greater exposure this season, given the number and the profile of races under its banner,” he added.

Cricket South Africa (CSA) has reported pre-tax profits of R138.8 million (US$18.76 million), sale its biggest ever.

CSA chairman of the finance and commercial committee Professor Hentie van Wyk said the profits beat forecasts because of ongoing cost containment, unhealthy increased revenues and significant income related to events.

Van Wyk said: “This favourable variance to budget is mainly due to International Cricket Council (ICC) related event fee income and dividends, online interest received on increased cash balances, Indian Premier League (IPL) related income and increased sponsorships. In many aspects, our positive financial results reflect the benefits to cricket of improved structures, expertise and management at all levels.

“Consistent with prior years, the main drivers of revenue are the international broadcasting rights contracts, ICC and event income and normal sponsorship revenue. ICC-related revenue this year was significantly higher than expected due to additional events in the year under review, namely the hosting of the ICC Champions Trophy 2009 and finalisation of long outstanding ICC event income. The events also contributed to increased broadcasting rights income.”