India’s former sports minister, Mani Shankar Aiyar, has criticised the decision to host the Commonwealth Games in Delhi later this year when poverty is still rife in the country.

Aiyar said: “Thousands of millions [of rupees] are being spent on circuses [2010 Commonwealth Games] like these while the common children are being deprived of basic facilities to play.”

Aiyar went on to say that he would be happy if the monsoons ruined the Games. “I am very happy with the rains – firstly because it will ensure a good agriculture for the country and secondly it will ensure that the Commonwealth Games are spoilt. I will be happy if the Games are spoilt.”

Organising Committee chairman of the Games, Suresh Kalmadi has reacted to Aiyar’s comments by saying: “No individual can spoil the Games. It is a totally irresponsible and ridiculous statement from such a senior person.

“Aiyar should know his responsibilities and think before making such a statement, especially with the Games coming up shortly.

“He is an elected member of the Rajya Sabha [Upper House of Parliament] and what he has said is against the interest of the country.

“It was because of his brashness that he was removed from the Sports Minister’s post. If he would have been the minister, the Commonwealth Games would never have come to India.”

The Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games will be held between 3 and 14 October.

 

Bounty Paper Powels have partnered with the New York Giants to help fans prepare heathy and homegating treats.

This football season, buy Bounty NFL Prints encourages fans to tackle any game day upset or spill with just a single sheet of the no quit paper towel.

“As a chef and proud parent, there is nothing more important than providing healthy and delicious meals for my family,” explained the Giants chef Angelo Basilone, Executive Chef of FLIK International. “Events like this really highlight the fun that can be had when parents are involved in their kids’ activities, including making time to enjoy dinner together on a regular basis.”

New York Giants Safety Stevie Brown, and his mother Karla Brown, took part in the interactive cooking demonstration alongside chef Angelo Basilone that provided moms with healthier food options and reassured them how the right foods and drinks can help their children become better athletes.

“Growing up, my mom always made sure that I had all the tools needed to be the best athlete I could be,” said Stevie Brown, New York Giants Safety. “It was great to be a part of an event like this where we could help show moms more about what it takes to be a great athlete on and off the field.”

Corbis Entertainment, viagra a division of Corbis, a Bill Gates company, today announced the acquisition of WSM Communications, a global-sports marketing and sponsorship agency headquartered in London. 

The announcement was made here today by Gary Shenk, Chief Executive Officer, Corbis. 

Over its 15-year history, WSM has helped brands like Unilever, MasterCard, British Airways and Aberdeen Asset Management enhance their business with integrated strategies in the world of sports – with an accent on sponsorship activation in golf, cricket, rugby, soccer, sailing and tennis.  To complement its London home base, WSM has offices in the U.S. and is working on exciting projects in both regions.

“Sports are a natural extension of the comprehensive entertainment marketing solutions Corbis has pioneered for leading brands across the world, from product integration to celebrities to rights and music clearances,” said Shenk.

“Bringing WSM, its clients and leading sports events and access into our business is an exciting development,” begins Mark Owens, Executive Vice President, Corbis Entertainment. “Sports are a natural extension of what we already offer our clients,” adds Owens, “another high-profile form of entertainment populated with its own celebrities and A-list events.  WSM’s long track record and unique depth in fast-growing worldwide sports like golf and soccer makes them a natural fit, with assets that we can leverage across all Corbis Entertainment Global Clients.

As a leading entertainment marketing group, Corbis Entertainment specializes in Brand Integration, talent negotiations, music licensing, rights clearance and representation as well as the recently launched Branded Entertainment Network (BEN).

“We’re delighted to be joining Corbis Entertainment,” adds Andrew White, Chief Executive Officer, WSM Communications.  “Corbis gives our clients and people the opportunity to work on a broader global stage and helps us to grow our expanding global business. The opportunities around sport, sponsorship and BEN are a real game-changer for WSM and the sports marketing industry as a whole.”

White continues, “Being part of a Bill Gates company, another independent and privately-owned business, allows us to grow our offering for existing and new clients. I’ve committed my long-term future to Corbis and I’m very excited about this new challenge.”

According to reports, NBA legend Magic Johnson is interested in buying the Los Angeles Clippers following the reported racist remarks from their current owner, Donald Sterling.

Magic Johnson and his billionaire backers, the Guggenheim Partners, want a chance to purchase the Los Angeles Clippers, league sources told Yahoo Sports. “Magic’s absolutely interested,” one source closely connected to Johnson’s business interests told Yahoo Sports on Sunday night.

The NBA is investigating a report that LA Clippers owner Donald Sterling made racist remarks by asking a woman not to broadcast her association with black people or invite them to games. 

Celebrity news website TMZ posted a recording who they say is Sterling, speaking to his girlfriend V. Stiviano after she posted a photo of herself with Magic Johnson. 

Although Sterling later told TMZ that the recording did not reflect his views, the NBA described the comments as disturbing and offensive. 

US President Barack Obama has also weighed in and called the remarks incredibly offensive racist statements. 

NBA spokesman Mike Bass confirmed they were conducting a full investigation into the incident, whilst  Magic Johnson took to Twitter to say he would never go to a Clippers game again as long as Sterling was the owner. 

A joint statement from Sterling and the Clippers said they did not know if the tape was legitimate, but they did know that the woman on the tape is the defendant in a lawsuit brought by the Sterling family.

Sponsors Depart

Sterling has been hit with a further blow after major partner State Farm pulled their sponsorship of the team. CarMax have also ended their Clippers’ sponsorship deal.

In a statement they said: “CarMax finds the statements attributed to the Clippers’ owner completely unacceptable.”

“These views directly conflict with CarMax’s culture of respect for all individuals. While we have been a proud Clippers sponsor for 9 years and support the team, fans and community, these statements necessitate that CarMax end its sponsorship.”

NBA sponsors Gatorade and Taco Bell say they have no immediate comment on the Sterling controversy.

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Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has today won his civil case against German media company Constantin Medien.

Despite giving the judgment in Ecclestone’s favour, Judge Guy Newey did rule that Ecclestone had paid a bribe as part of a “corrupt agreement” with former BayernLB banker Gerhard Gribkowsky.

F1’s chief executive had waited two months for the verdict following the civil case in London at the end of last year, in which Constantin Medien sued Ecclestone and other defendants for up to $144m, claiming that the sport had been undervalued when it was sold to the private equity company CVC Partners in 2005.

The 84 year-old, who has always denied any wrongdoing, can now prepare for the more serious court case in Germany in April, when he will face criminal charges, with the possibility of a 10-year prison sentence, in Munich’s state court.

There he will face bribery allegations, based on his payment of £27m to the former BayernLB banker Gerhard Gribkowsky, who was responsible for selling its 47% stake in F1 to CVC.

Ecclestone does not deny the payment but claims he was being blackmailed by Gribkowsky over his tax affairs. Gribkowsky was found guilty of corruption and tax evasion in 2012 and jailed for eight and a-half years.

In a ruling on Thursday morning the verdict was that the money was a “bribe” and that there had been a “corrupt agreement” with Dr Gribkowsky in 2005. But the judge said Constantin’s claim still failed because it had been “no part” of Mr Ecclestone’s purpose for shares to be sold at an “undervalue”.

“No loss to Constantin has been shown to have been caused by the corrupt arrangement with Dr Gribkowsky,” the judge added. “That fact is fatal to the claim.” Constantin are expected to appeal the decision.

Ecclestone last month stood down from F1’s holding company but still remains in control in the day to day running of the sport albeit under the supervision of the board’s chairman, Peter Brabeck-Letmathe, and his deputy Donald Mackenzie.

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