Das Land Rheinland-Pfalz und die Nürburgring GmbH haben unter Verstoß gegen das europäische Beihilferecht motorsportfremde Wirtschaftsaktivitäten am Nürburgring aufgebaut. Das komplexe Geflecht aus Darlehen, viagra | Bürgschaften und dem Pachtvertrag mit den nur auf Gewinnmaximierung ausgerichteten privaten Betreibern wurde von der EU-Kommission über ein Jahr intensiv geprüft und mit dem Land Rheinland-Pfalz diskutiert. Nachdem bereits am 21. März 2012 als Ergebnis der Untersuchung nicht gemeldete Beihilfen im Umfang von 524 Mio. Euro zu Buche standen, ist es nicht überraschend, dass Brüssel ohne Trennung der Sportstätte des Nürburgrings von dem Vergnügungspark keine weiteren Gelder genehmigt. Die rheinland-pfälzische Politik hat riesige Fehler gemacht, die jetzt mit Hilfe des Insolvenzverwalters und der EU-Kommission ausgeräumt werden müssen.

Der Verein “Ja zum Nürburgring” hat das Beihilfeverfahren bei der EU-Kommission angestoßen, um die fundamentalen Fehlentwicklungen zu stoppen. “Uns war klar, dass die Rennstrecke nicht der Goldesel für die sportfremden Wirtschaftsaktivitäten sein konnte”, sagt der Vorsitzende Otto Flimm. Nach Auffassung des Vereins hat nicht die EU-Kommission die Insolvenz verschuldet, sondern die über viele Jahre an den Tag gelegte Ignoranz des Landes Rheinland-Pfalz und der Nürburgring GmbH gegenüber den Regeln des Marktes und des Rechts. Daher fordert der Verein die Politik auf, ihre Fehler einzugestehen und sich klar dazu zu bekennen, dass nur mit einer schuldenfreien Gesellschaft in öffentlicher Hand die Rennstrecke ihre seit 1927 zugedachte Rolle als Heimstätte des Sports und Infrastruktureinrichtung für die Region erfüllen kann.

Die Insolvenz der Nürburgring GmbH bietet die Chance für einen Neuanfang. Auch der Insolvenzverwalter darf das Allgemeininteresse nicht aus den Augen verlieren. Der Verein “Ja zum Nürburgring” wird sich daher auch in der neuen Situation für die Sportstätte stark machen. Die Region und der Motorsport, insbesondere der Breitensport, am Nürburgring müssen vor größerem Schaden bewahrt werden. Dazu hat der Verein bereits am 22. Juni 2012 in einer Resolution Eckpunkte für einen Neustart am Nürburgring niedergelegt. Diese behalten auch in der Insolvenz Gültigkeit. Der Verein wird die Anliegen des Motorsports und der Region gegenüber dem Insolvenzverwalter eindeutig zum Ausdruck bringen und alles daran setzen, diese im Gläubigerausschuss zu vertreten. Otto Flimm: “Die Sportstätte des Nürburgrings hat eine Zukunft: Dazu muss die Kirmes weg und die Rennstrecke wieder im Fokus stehen.”

Der gemeinnützige Verein “Ja zum Nürburgring” engagiert sich seit vielen Jahren für den Erhalt und die Pflege der Rennstrecken des Nürburgrings. Er hat nicht nur zum Neubau der Grand-Prix-Strecke einen Zuschuss in Höhe von 6 Mio. DM geleistet, sondern weitere rund 1,6 Mio. Euro zur Durchführung von Sicherheitsmaßnahmen an der Nordschleife des Nürburgrings beigesteuert. Wegen der Fehlentwicklungen am Nürburgring hat der Verein im vergangenen Jahr die Nürburgring GmbH auf Rückzahlung der rund 1,6 Mio. Euro verklagt und Vergabe- und Beihilfebeschwerden bei der Europäischen Kommission eingereicht.

Ruffneck Scarves, officially licensed scarf provider to Major League Soccer, has agreed a licensing agreement with MLS’s Philadelphia Union to produce scarves for 2012 season ticket holders.

Philadelphia hosts the Colorado Rapids in the first home match of 2012 on Sunday, March 18, at PPL Park in Chester, Penn. First kick is 4 p.m. ET. Last year PPL Park attendance averaged 99 percent of capacity for Union regular season games.

“Philadelphia has some of the most enthusiastic fans you will find in sports, and our scarves have been around the necks of Union fans these past two seasons,” said Ruffneck Scarves president Jeff McIntyre. “Coming off a playoff appearance last year and with the All-Star Game coming this summer, there should be plenty of scarves raised when the boys march onto the field.”

PPL Park will be the site of the 2012 AT&T MLS All-Star Game on July 25.

The Union, who qualified for the 2011 MLS Eastern Conference Semifinals, begin the 2012 season on March 12 at Portland. 

Ruffneck Scarves has also produced scarves for season ticket holders of the Colorado Rapids, Columbus Crew, D.C. United, Montreal Impact, New York Red Bulls, Portland Timbers, Seattle Sounders FC and Vancouver Whitecaps FC.

Federal prosecutors objected to a recommendation by a probation officer that former Major League Baseball outfielder Barry Bonds receives only probation when he is sentenced for obstruction of justice on December 16.

The slugger was convicted for obstructing a grand jury’s doping investigation by providing a vague answer. Bonds lied to the jury by suggesting that he didn’t knowingly take performance-enhancing drugs and that he simply allowed doctors to inject him.

Conviction on the obstruction charges usually lead to 15 to 21 month prison sentence, but Bonds’ lawyers have pointed to a investigative report by probation officers that suggested that Bonds spends an indefinite time under ‘location monitoring’ instead.

Bonds’ defence lawyers have pointed to the former San Francisco Giants’ star’s “significant history of charitable, civic and prior good works” as the main reason for leniency. The lawyers have also claimed that the convictions would be an ‘aberration when taken in context of his entire life,”.

Other sporting figures such as cyclist Tammy Thomas and former professional football player Dana Strubblefield have been convicted of similar charges, but have avoided prison.

A note passed between a Spanish and Qatari Fifa member saying “we’ve won” indicates the country’s respective bidding teams for World Cup 2018 and 2022 will escape action over allegations of collusion, rather than they have won the hosting rights.

Troon Golf has announced The National Azerbaijan Golf Club, sale located near Azerbaijan’s capital city of Baku, adiposity has been selected to host an event on the 2014 European Challenge Tour Schedule.

The first golf facility in this emerging golf destination, under the stewardship of the market-leaders, will host the inaugural Azerbaijan Challenge Open. Surpassing all expectations, in only the club’s first full year of operation, the announcement by the European Tour emphasises the award-winning service and professionalism the Troon mark represents, readily acknowledging its ability to deliver world-class events.

The event, which takes place in July when the Challenge Tour’s season is in full swing, will give the team led by PGA Professional and General Manager, Philip Henderson, the perfect opportunity to firmly place Azerbaijan on the golfing map.

Henderson commented on the announcement, “We are extremely excited to welcome the Challenge Tour to Azerbaijan, the course is in superb condition and we are certain the exciting talent on show will enjoy the course in the first staging of the event here.”

Since its inception, the National Azerbaijan Golf Club has worked closely with the fledgling governing body, the Azerbaijan Golf Federation. Its President, Anar Z. Mammadov, recently commented on the announcement its first course has been selected to host a European Challenge Tour event, he said: “Golf is new to Azerbaijan. We hope to popularize it at all levels through the European Challenge Tour event, which is extremely important for our country. We are sure that the players will enjoy the golf course, as well as the tourism attractions and that the ‘Land of Fire’ will be one of the brightest events in Challenge Tour history.”

English League Two team Portsmouth have struck a deal to build a new long-term training base at the Roko Health Club site on Copnor Road.

The agreement will see the Blues invest significant funds to initially create two state-of-the-art training pitches, allergist as well as integrate and refurbish the existing changing rooms and player lounge facilities at the rear of the site.

The club will also install offices for football department staff and create a purpose-designed fitness suite for the players.

Pompey have signed a long-term lease with Roko, whose health club services and facilities at the Copnor Road site will be unaffected.

Local football club Pickwick will also benefit, with their teams moving their training and playing operations to Alexandra Park after the City Council joined with Roko and Pompey to help find them a new home.

Contractors have been working on the site since April and the club hopes to be using the facility by the end of the summer. In the meantime, Pompey will continue to use their current training base at the University of Portsmouth.

Blues chief executive Mark Catlin said: “We are delighted with this deal and are very grateful to Roko, the council and Pickwick FC for making it happen.
“It is further tangible evidence of our commitment to rebuild the club to ensure it can continue to grow sustainably in the future.

“Andy Awford and his staff have all been involved in the discussions and they are looking forward to using the new training ground, which is being designed to their specification.

“We see these works as a first phase and if, as we are confident of happening, the club continues to progress, the site can be expanded and developed.”

Gerald Vernon-Jackson, leader of Portsmouth City Council said: “It has been good for the City Council to be part of a plan for the football club to have a long-term training base here in the city.

“By the city council, football club, Roko and Pickwick working together we have found a solution that works for everyone.”

Barry Hunter, CEO at Sport & Leisure Group which runs the Roko site said: “We are very excited by the prospect of Portsmouth Community Football Club basing their training ground at our Copnor Road site.

“Roko Health Club and our five-a-side centre PlayFootball are well entrenched sport and fitness venues in the Portsmouth community and we believe this opportunity fits very well with our local strategy.”

The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) has lifted the suspension of the Lebanese Basketball Federation (FLB) by reinstating it with full rights and thereby paving the way for the country’s national teams and officials to take part in all FIBA competitions and activities.

The decision came after FIBA carried out a thorough review of the FLB’s statutes and organisation and held discussions with representatives of the federation. Also taken into consideration was the positive opinion granted by FIBA Asia.

The suspension was handed down on 11 July 2013, following the disruption of the Lebanese national championship due to political and judicial interferences, with the national federation being punished for serious infringement of the FIBA General Statutes and all principles under which the Olympic sports movement is founded. 

Lebanon’s Basketball Federation has been a member of FIBA since 1947.

The MCC World Cricket Committee is looking for the International Cricket Council to push ahead with plans for a Test championship.

There is a window in the current international schedule in 2017 for the championship to take place in England.

But nothing has been agreed, anabolics between the Test nations, unhealthy sponsors or broadcasters. The current proposal is for the top four teams in the rankings to contest the title, which the MCC supports. But the Cricket Committee says that an inaugural tournament including just the top two would be acceptable.

A statement released on behalf of the group, which is chaired by former England captain Mike Brearley and includes the likes of Andrew Strauss, Michael Vaughan, Rahul Dravid and Steve Waugh, read: “The committee is a strong supporter of the proposed World Test Championship, and urges the International Cricket Council to ensure that such a tournament – or at least a final – takes place in 2017 and beyond.

“Since its creation in 2006, the WCC have stated that everything possible should be done to promote and protect Test cricket, which it believes is the ultimate form of the game.

“The committee understands the commercial sensitivities and logistical issues surrounding the proposed World Test Championship, but feels that a solution must be found.

“Whilst the committee would ultimately like to see the currently proposed four-team knockout competition proceed, it believes that a scaled-down version involving the top two teams in either a one-off Test Final or Test Series would still provide a context that the longest form of the game currently lacks in comparison to ODI and T20 cricket.

“The committee would like to end the uncertainty for everyone in the game by pressing ahead with a WTC in 2017, as announced, and believes that Test cricket could suffer if the concept was dropped.”