Fast Track Opens New Office in Singapore

International sporsts agency Fast Track has expanded its roots in Asia with a new office opening in Singapore later this month, discount alongside sister agency ICON.   

Fast Track, drug part of CSM Sport & Entertainment (CSM), stuff a group that also includes PEOPLE Marketing in China, branding specialists ICON, and essentially, one of the world’s leading commercial sales and athlete management agencies.

Fast Track’s first Asian office was established in Hong Kong in November 2010 and currently works with a range of sporting clients across the region including HSBC, AIA, the EurAsia Cup and the Asian Tour.

In a further commitment to the region, Jonathan Castleman, former Managing Director of Fast Track’s international businesses, will be relocating to Singapore in July to take up a new role as Group Managing Director – APAC and ME for CSM Sport & Entertainment.  Castleman will drive and coordinate the growth of all CSM’s agencies across Asia Pacific and the Middle East.

Commenting on the new office, Castleman said, “This is an exciting period of growth for Fast Track and CSM as a whole.  The Fast Track office in Hong Kong has grown from a single person in 2010 to the 17 staff we have today and our team delivers best-in-class services to a range of international and regional clients all across Asia on a daily basis.”

“Singapore’s major events policy is well known and we see huge opportunities in the Lions City for both existing and new clients.  It also provides a great platform for increased activity in the growth economies of South East Asia,” continued Castleman.

Dan Parr, the current Director of Fast Track Hong Kong, will have an expanded remit to include oversight of the new Fast Track Singapore office. “We’re very excited to be opening up shop in Singapore and I’m delighted with our first recruit in Darren Lai, who we have hired as our Communications Director”, said Parr. 

“Darren’s background is in sports journalism, having started off at MediaCorp’s TODAY newspaper before venturing into PR with boutique agency IMSG, which specialises in sports events.  He has fantastic experience and contacts in Singapore having worked for Nike, New Balance and Red Bull.  He is one of the rare breed in the industry to have media, client and agency experience and we are looking forward to having him on board right from the start,” continued Parr.

Fast Track, is part of CSM Sport & Entertainment and currently represents over 50 clients covering major global, regional and national sports events and a myriad of developing sports and youth engagement programmes. 

Fast Track is headquartered in London with offices in Abu Dhabi and Qatar, as well as in Hong Kong, Sydney and now Singapore.

Mayor of London Approves Warner Stand Redevelopment at Lords

Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, has today approved plans to redevelop the Warner Stand at Lord’s Cricket Ground. 

The new stand will provide 2,832 seats with improved views of the ground and new catering and hospitality facilities. 

Johnson said: “There is no better way to spend a warm summer’s afternoon than listening to the glorious sound of leather on willow at the home of cricket, Lords.

“The new Warner Stand combines the very best of twenty-first century architecture with state-of-the-art facilities and will enhance the overall visitor experience by improving sight-lines and accessibility, with a new restaurant overlooking the field of play. The stand will enrich the unique character of Lords and ensure that it remains the most idyllic cricket venue in the world for many years to come.”

Northern Ireland to Host Irish Open in 2015 & 2017

The European Tour have revealed the Irish Open will be held in Northern Ireland in two of the next three years.

Royal County Down will host the tournament for the first time since 1939 from May 28-31 next year, with Lough Erne Resort staging the event in 2017.

The Irish Open was last held in Northern Ireland in 2012, when record crowds watched Jamie Donaldson’s victory at Royal Portrush, and former world No 1 Rory McIlroy has inspired its return.

European Tour chief executive George O’Grady said: “The Irish Open at Royal Portrush in 2012 captured the imagination of the country after a lengthy absence and we are delighted to confirm that the tournament will be back in Northern Ireland next year at another magnificent links venue in Royal County Down, before returning again in 2017 at Lough Erne Resort.

“We must acknowledge the vision and commitment of First Minister Peter Robinson, Minister Arlene Foster and their colleagues within the Northern Ireland Executive and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board to secure the return of the Irish Open to Northern Ireland in 2015 and 2017, which further underlines the country’s presence on the world stage following the outstanding achievements of its players in recent years.

“Indeed, it was Rory McIlroy’s inspired suggestion to me during the 2013 BMW Masters in China that proved to be the catalyst for today’s announcement and we are confident that our players will relish the chance to compete for the Irish Open title at this iconic links course next year.”

McIlroy said: “We all thoroughly enjoyed the experience of playing an Irish Open in Northern Ireland two years ago so it is fantastic news that we will have another chance in 2015 and again in 2017.

“Royal County Down is another great links course, which I know particularly well, and it is one which I am very proud of as a Northern Irishman, so I’m delighted to have the opportunity to play an Irish Open there. I’m sure the fans will come out and support us again and make it another week to remember.”

England’s Paul Casey won the Irish Open at Carton House last year and will defend his title at Fota Island in Cork from June 19-22.

New York Knicks to Have NBA D-League Affiliate

The Madison Square Garden Company (MSG), ailment which owns and operates the New York Knicks, clinic has revealed today it will launch a NBA D-League team that will play in White Plains, cough NY.

The new team will be the NBA D-League’s record 18th team and will be the exclusive affiliate of the New York Knicks, playing its home games at the Westchester County Center, approximately 30 miles north of New York City. With the purchase, the Knicks become the seventh NBA team to fully own and operate their own NBA D-League affiliate.

“We are thrilled to work with the New York Knicks and Westchester County to bring NBA D-League basketball to White Plains,” Dan Reed, NBA D-League president said. “The New York area has a rich basketball history and we’re excited to give some of the game’s best fans the opportunity to watch top NBA prospects up-close and personal in an intimate, family-friendly and affordable environment.”

Allan Houston, the Knicks’ Assistant General Manager, will serve as the new team’s General Manager, while Bill Boyce joins the MSG family as the vice president of sales and business operations for the club in Westchester, reporting to Dave Howard, president of MSG Sports. Boyce joins MSG after four years as the president of the NBA D-League’s Frisco-based Texas Legends.

“We are very excited to bring a New York Knicks NBA Development League franchise to Westchester, a great basketball community that has embraced the orange and blue, and served as our training home for 25-plus years,” Houston said. “The NBA D-League is thriving, and this opportunity allows us to develop players closer to our training facility, and to provide high level, affordable basketball entertainment to the community.”

The Knicks are inviting fans to help choose the name for the new team. From now until Mar. 24, fans can go to NYKnicksDLeague.com to submit their names online. Following the submission process, fans will go back to the same website to vote for the final team name. In addition, beginning today, fans can enter to win two full season tickets on the website; the sweepstakes will run until Apr. 11.

“Westchester County is proud to be teaming up with three great organizations – the NBA Development League, The Madison Square Garden Company and the New York Knicks,” Westchester County Executive Robert P. Astorino said. “What’s exciting is that the partnership works on so many levels. It brings professional basketball to the County Center. It offers fans and families a lot of fun and thrills at an affordable price. And it will generate revenues and new jobs for the county at no cost to taxpayers. It all adds up to a winning combination.”

Chairman of the Westchester Board of Legislators Michael Kaplowitz also welcomed the arrival of The Madison Square Garden Company and the New York Knicks organization to the County Center. “Westchester basketball fans will now have a quality professional sports team to root for right here at the County Center that builds on a long and storied tradition of basketball in Westchester County,” he said.

Dover Motorsports Promotes CFO Timothy Horne to Director

Dover Motorsports, viagra 60mg Inc. which operates the Dover International Speedway in Dover, there Delaware and Nashville Superspeedway near Nashville, Tennessee, has announced Timothy R. Horne, as a Director joining the Board.

Horne, who was the Senior Vice President – Finance and Chief Financial Officer, will serve as a Class II Director with a term expiring in 2016.

Dover Motorsports, Inc. Chairman, Henry B. Tippie stated, “Tim Horne has served as our Chief Financial Officer since 2008 and previously from 1996 at the time of our initial public offering through 2002. We are pleased to welcome Tim to the Board and are secure in the knowledge that we are adding a seasoned professional with first-hand knowledge of all facets of our organization.”

Lotus Positive Over Financial State Despite Quantum Motorsports Deal Collapse

Lotus have reassured their fans they will be on the F1 grid this season, despite concerns over its financial health following the apparent collapse of its deal with Quantum Motorsports.

The Enstone team appeared as a provisional entry on the line-up issued by the FIA last week, and has already announced that it will miss the opening test of the year, but chairman Gerard Lopez maintains that there is no doubt over its participation, with the sponsorship funds being brought by Pastor Maldonado more than enough to ensure its participation despite doubts over the 35 per cent buy-in arranged with Quantum.

Maldonado arrives from Williams with PDVSA backing, having been picked ahead of Nico Hulkenberg to partner Romain Grosjean. The Venezuelan replaces Ferrari-bound Kimi Raikkonen, who ended his association with Lotus due, in part, to unpaid wages. Reserve driver Davide Valsecchi this week revealed that he, too, had yet to be paid by the team, and the ongoing wait for funds from Quantum has caused questions over Lotus’ future to be raised once again.

“Nothing has changed – we’ll be there,” Lopez told Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport, revealing that the team had run out of patience with its apparent saviour.

“The Quantum money never arrived, [so] we broke things off with them, [but] we have a full budget for 2014 with our new sponsor PDVSA, and we won’t run up any more debts.”

Lopez confirmed that his Genii Capital firm – which remains the team’s major creditor – would cover the losses incurred during its pursuit of fourth place in the constructors’ table last season. He also insisted that Raikkonen – and presumably Valsecchi – would receive any outstanding salary.

Sacramento Set to Host 2014 USA Track & Field Championships

Sacramento has been named as the host city for the 2014 USA Track and Field Outdoor Championships, impotent a five-day event to be held at California State University, a number of reports have confirmed.

Officials with the Sacramento Sports Commission declined comment, but have scheduled a joint news conference with USA Track & Field Tuesday morning for what they describe as a “major announcement.”

“I’m not going to confirm or deny, but we are very excited about the announcement,” said Mike Testa of the Sacramento Convention and Visitors Bureau, which has run the Sacramento Sports Commission since January. “Since day one we have been trying to bring major track and field back to Sacramento.”

The press conference will be held at Sacramento State, and will be attended by Mayor Kevin Johnson, Sacramento State president Dr. Alexander Gonzalez, officials with USA Track & Field, and officials with the Sacramento Sports Commission.

The annual event, which typically takes place in late June, attracts the country’s best male and female track athletes. The choice of Sacramento as host city continues a long tradition of major track events in the capital city area, including five previous national track champion meets, in 1968, 1981, 1995, 2000 and 2004, when the event served as the U.S. Olympic track trials. 

Former IPL Chairman Modi Banned for Life from BCCI

Lalit Modi, the first ever chairman of the Indian Premier League (IPL) has been banned from future involvement with the BCCI after a special general meeting (SGM) of the board in Chennai.

The unanimous decision was made quickly after the meeting and it came following a series of legal proceedings in court over the last couple of weeks. The Supreme Court on Wednesday gave the final go-ahead for the BCCI meeting and the board’s action was swift and severe. 

The BCCI meeting “resolved that Mr Lalit Modi is guilty of committing acts of serious misconduct and indiscipline, and… is hereby expelled from the board,” BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel said in a statement after Wednesday’s meeting.

“He shall forfeit all his rights and privileges as administrator. He shall not in future be entitled to hold any position or office, or be admitted in any committee or any member or associate member of the BCCI.”

Modi, speaking to Times Now said he would continue to fight the BCCI. “I expected the ban, it’s sad for Indian cricket because it shows the BCCI is least concerned for the integrity of cricket,” he said. “It’s a cosy club. I’m going to be here, fighting them. I think Indian cricket needs cleansing and as far as I am concerned I am going to go after them. Till now they were colleagues. Time has now come to take everything out of the box and put it in public domain.

“I was already gone. I was suspended for three years. I kept fighting. I will continue to fight. I am moving on, I am looking at other sports. Wait and watch … it’s a global league. I have not been sitting here idle.”

Mr Modi was instrumental in founding the IPL in 2008 and it has become a multi-billion-dollar industry. The IPL is the best-paid of the world’s Twenty20 cricket leagues, with top Indian and international players taking part each spring.

Indianapolis Bid to Host 2018 Super Bowl

The city of Indianapolis have announced they will bid for the right to host the 2018 Super Bowl.

Gov. Mike Pence, mayor Greg Ballard and Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay announced Friday at an event at Lucas Oil Stadium that the city plans to bid for the 2018 showpiece with likely opposition being New Orleans, Denver and Minneapolis.

“This is really unprecedented because we are going after this Super Bowl on the merits of the greatness we accomplished,” Irsay said. “We are the gold standard on how Super Bowls are run.”

The city received high marks for how well it hosted the 2012 Super Bowl that featured the New York Giants and New England Patriots.

“We raised the bar in Super Bowl 2012,” Pence said. “We’re going to do it again.”

Denver, Minneapolis and New Orleans have already announced that they plan to bid for the 2018 Super Bowl.

The Super Bowl Advisory Committee will decide which cities will be asked to bid during the NFL’s fall league meetings in Washington in October. The owners will then select the winner during the spring meetings in Atlanta in May.

Antalya to Again Host BNP Paribas World Team Cup in 2013

Antalya, arthritis Turkey will host the 2013 BNP Paribas World Team Cup, anesthetist the ITF’s flagship wheelchair tennis team event, ITF has announced today.

The event will be staged on the clay courts of the Club Ali Bey Manavgat on the Turkish Riviera on 20-26 May.

The World Team Cup is the ITF’s flagship wheelchair tennis event, often referred to as the Davis and Fed Cups of wheelchair tennis. The initial event took place in California in 1985 involving six men’s teams. The women’s competition began the following year, with quad and junior events introduced in 1998 and 2000 respectively. Due to the increased number of teams wanting to take part, the ITF introduced regional qualifying for the men’s and women’s events in 2012.

Teams from over 50 countries will take part in the 2013 competition. Four regional qualifying events will determine the six men’s and four women’s teams to join the direct entries in the finals in Antalya. In Antalya, teams will contest the men’s World Group (12 nations), men’s World Group 2 (12 nations), women’s World Group (12 nations), quad event (8 teams) and junior event (8 teams).

Antalya is hosting the event for the second time having previously staged the World Team Cup in 2010. The resort has a long history of hosting major ITF events and will also stage the ITF Seniors World Team and Individual Championships in 2013. 

BNP Paribas became title sponsor of the event in 2012 in a five-year agreement that runs through 2016. The company’s long-term agreement with the ITF also includes sponsorship of Davis Cup, Fed Cup, Junior Davis Cup and Fed Cup, and the biennial Worldwide Coaches Conference and regional coaches workshops.

ITF President Francesco Ricci Bitti said: “The ITF is delighted that the BNP Paribas World Team Cup will return to Antalya, having staged an extremely successful event in 2010. This is the most prestigious event on the ITF’s wheelchair tennis calendar, and in the ITF’s centenary year, it is fitting that it has attracted its largest entry ever.”