Tunisia to Host First-Ever WBSC Congress in May

Tunisia in North Africa will host the first-ever WBSC Congress, the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) announced today.

The event will be organised in Hammamet, Tunisia 10-11 May 2014. 

The historic inaugural WBSC Congress will unite all national governing bodies of the International Baseball Federation (IBAF) and the International Softball Federation (ISF) for the first time under the umbrella of the WBSC, as elections will be held to select all positions within the WBSC Executive Board, including that of the president.

Never before has an IBAF or an ISF Congress been organised in Africa — what is now a primary target of the WBSC’s growth strategy to deepen baseball and softball’s global footprint.

With the decision to award the Congress to Tunisia, WBSC officials have confirmed the focus will be on those emerging territories with high potential for development, and where baseball and softball can be practiced to activate the youth demographic, promote gender equality, encourage greater universality and where the National Federations can build and reinforce their National Teams for international competition.

“This is another key milestone — across many levels — for the global evolution of baseball and softball,” said WBSC co-Presidents Riccardo Fraccari and Don Porter, “and we are not only honoured but we are particularly proud to have Tunisia as the host of the WBSC’s very first Congress.”

WBSC’s Fraccari and Porter noted that baseball and softball’s union has resulted in increased opportunities and reach — and has raised the potential legacy and value of WBSC’s events so that new hosts like Tunisia are showing serious interest for the first time.

“We are committed to growing the appeal and relevance of baseball and softball in emerging territories across Africa and around the world, and Tunisia’s excellent bid is a key indicator that underscores baseball and softball’s continued worldwide emergence and highlights the attractiveness, benefits and realities of baseball and softball’s partnership,” said the WBSC co-presidents.

USGA Selects Torrey Pines as 2021 U.S. Open Host

The U.S. Golf Association has awarded the 2021 U.S. Open to the city-owned Torrey Pines golf course pending city approval. 

Mayor Kevin Faulconer told U-T San Diego on Monday that an item will be placed on the City Council docket this week that asks it to support hosting the prestigiuos event 13 years after the successful 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines.

“It’s a great win for San Diego, pharm ” Faulconer said. “The fact that we’ve been selected again speaks volumes as to how this city came together and put on a world-class tournament in ’08. It just shows, from the USGA’s standpoint, that we know how to get it done.”

Tiger Woods won the 2008 US Open in a playoff against Rocco Mediate. 

Magic Johnson Buys Los Angeles Sparks

NBA legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson and Los Angeles Dodgers owner Mark Walter has purchased Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) team Los Angeles Sparks.

The deal was unanimously approved by the WNBA and NBA Board of Governors.

The investment group includes Dodger co-owners Todd L. Boehly, Robert L. Patton and Stan Kasten. 

The franchise will remain in Los Angeles and play at STAPLES Center. The WNBA’s 2014 game and television schedule will also be announced this week.

“We are thrilled to welcome Magic Johnson and Mark Walter to the WNBA,” said Richie. “With their proven track record in the business realm, their commitment to the city of Los Angeles through civic engagement, and their passion for the game of basketball, we look forward to partnering with our new owners to usher in a new era for this iconic team. This is a great day for Los Angeles, the Sparks franchise, its players, and of course, the loyal fans who have been so supportive of the team for 17 seasons.”

“This is a great day for the city of Los Angeles and the Sparks,” said Johnson. “The leaders of this great city came together quickly to keep this franchise right where it belongs—in the city of Angels. Thanks to my sister, Evelyn, playing college basketball, I have a great appreciation of the talented players that represent the WNBA. Our group will now work together to bring our loyal fans another WNBA championship. ”

“Earvin came to me and said we need to help save the Sparks and keep them in Los Angeles,” Walter said. The decision was quite easy for our investment group due to the passion Magic has for this city, these great athletes and our phenomenal fans. This team and its great players should remain a part of the sports fabric of this wonderful city.”

NASCAR’s Swan Racing Reveals New Investor

Swan Racing, a stock car racing team that currently competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, has announced the addition of Anthony Marlowe as a minority owner.

Marlowe, a successful business leader from Iowa has been involved in NASCAR as a sponsor with different teams since 2011. His leadership and his experience with business-to-business deals will be increasingly valuable to the team as it seeks additional partnerships.

“Anthony is an entrepreneur like me,” said team owner Brandon Davis. “He has the same work ethic and the same approach when it comes to finding creative and innovative solutions. Anthony is the perfect fit for the team and will be an integral part of it going forward.”

“This is a remarkable day, which for me marks the intersection of my passion for NASCAR and my dream of owning part of a professional sports team at the highest level,” said Marlowe. “I kept a close eye on Swan Racing during its inaugural season last year and was so impressed with Brandon Davis, the way they do business, and their pursuit of excellence that I wanted to be part of his Cup team for the long-haul.”

Marlowe joins other successful investors in Swan Racing including former NFL great Bill Romanowski. Romanowski, who played 16 seasons in the NFL, was an early investor in the team. Additionally, Romanowski’s business, Lean1 Health Shakes, is a primary sponsor for Swan Racing.

Marlowe, 34, is co-founder and president of TMone (pronounced T-M-one), a domestic customer relationship management (CRM) firm supporting Fortune 500 companies. He is also the managing member of Iowa City Capital Partners, which is a private investment firm that provides equity funding to companies. Inc. Magazine recognized Marlowe in 2007, at the age of 28, as one of the 25 youngest CEOs of the 5000 fastest growing companies in America.

FIA Searches for New Team to Join F1 Grid in 2015

Formula 1’s governing body, FIA have revealed there are searching for a 12th team for the 2015 or 2016 season and until at least 2020.

In a statement on Wednesday night, FIA said it was opening a new selection process to identify a “candidate team to participate at a competitive level” in Formula One.

There are 11 teams on the circuit while F1 rules allow for up to 13.

“The overall long-term interests of the championship will determine which candidates are selected,” read the statement.

Candidates must formally express their interest to FIA by January 3.

Formula One last accepted three new teams for the 2010 season. HRT had to shut down last season due to financial problems, while Marussia and Caterham have not collected a single world championship point in 77 races.

F1 officials hope to attract a team from the United States. The USF1 project shut down just before the 2010 season.

Chicago Bears Renew Training Camp Deal

The Chicago Bears have announced they have extended their deal with Olivet Nazarene University to use their training camp at the Bourbonnais campus for the next nine years.

The Bears have called Olivet Nazarene University their training camp home since 2002 based on the excellent facilities that help the team prepare for the season and the close proximity to their fan base, viagra order with the campus situated approximately 55 miles from Chicago.

The relationship between the Bears and ONU has brought increased awareness to Kankakee County causing it to be considered a part of south suburban Chicago.  It also has helped Olivet to maintain its enrollment growth including a school-record 1, symptoms 000 new students scheduled to begin the 2013 school year.

In order to provide the best facilities for its students and the Bears, Olivet built a 176,000-square-foot Student Life Recreation Center featuring fitness rooms, swimming and therapy pools, meeting space, and a field house.  The Bears used the new facility in 2013 to house their weight room, indoor walk-throughs and personnel meetings. Future planned Olivet upgrades include regrading and sodding its four practice fields along with expanding and renovating the locker room and athletic training facilities.

The RC Cola Chicago Bears training camp at ONU routinely hosts approximately 100,000 fans annually over the course of the three-week camp period. Admission and parking are free to fans and this year’s camp has included a kids’ interactive area, team pro shop, post-practice concerts, kids autograph sessions and a variety of theme days for fans to participate. This past Sunday (August 11) the team had its largest training camp practice crowd in their 12-year stay at ONU, with approximately 20,000 fans in attendance.

AITA Offers New Terms to Players

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The All India Tennis Association (AITA) has attempted to resolve its dispute with eight Indian players, canada buy led by Somdev Devvarman, by agreeing to most of their demands.

A player boycott of the Davis Cup Asia/ Oceania Group I tie against South Korea was threatened if their demands were not met.

“They had asked for change in positions of SP Misra, Nandan Bal, Dr Vece Paes (team doctor) and Sanjay Singhas (physiotherapist). Misra will stay for the Korea tie but Zeeshan Ali will be the Davis Cup coach in 2013. The Executive Committee has decided to approach the Sports Authority of India for a well-qualified doctor and physiotherapist,” an AITA statement said.

AITA said the players’ suggestions were welcome but the association would have the final say.

The AITA admitted it had received a letter from Misra expressing his desire to discontinue..

The players demanded an improved share of prize money. The AITA currently receives 50 percent of the prize money while the players are given the remaining 50 percent. The AITA said, “The AITA Executive Committee has decided that for Asia/ Oceania Group II, it will be 50:50. For Group I, 60 percent to players and 40 to AITA. And if they win an Asia/Oceania Zonal tie (Group I), it will be 70 percent for the players.”

For World Group ties, it will be 70 percent to the players and 30 to the AITA. For away ties, it will be the old arrangement of 100 percent to the players”.

The players had also asked for a say in choosing venues, the AITA said they would consider weather conditions before arranging fixtures and suggestions on the surface and conditions would be taken from the captain.

The players have not yet responded. The team for the Korea tie is scheduled to be picked on January 11.{jcomments on}

Cycling Participation for People with Disability Increases by 20%

A new survey by British Cycling today found that cycling participation amongst people with a disability has increased by over 20%.

The survey, arthritis which focused on the inclusivity and accessibility of cycling, search found that over 200, capsule 000 people with a long term limiting disability cycle once a week. Cycling is one of the most accessible sports in the country and British Cycling wants to lead developments ensuring that participation continues to grow.

Stewart Kellett, British Cycling’s Director of Recreation and Partnerships, said:

“British Cycling offers countless opportunities across the country for everybody to get involved in cycling – from large scale one-off events to weekly local led-rides, Go-Ride clubs for under 16s, competitive events, as well as courses and training.

“However, there is always more that can be done to improve opportunities and the experience for people with a disability who want to get into cycling. That’s what our survey is aiming to do.”

British Cycling’s survey gives people the opportunity to comment on how cycling’s accessibility can be improved.

Team Korea Enters Louis Vuitton Cup

Team Korea will take part in the 2013 Louis Vuitton Cup, the elimination series for America’s Cup challengers, having paid its entry fee.

The team will be the first from Korea to compete for the America’s Cup.

Team Korea’s fellow competitors are Emirates Team New Zealand, Italy’s Luna Rossa Challenge and Sweden’s Artemis Racing.

Competitors recently voted to extend the entry deadline for challengers to August 1.

The winner of the Louis Vuitton Cup, scheduled for July 4 to September 1, 2013, will face San Francisco’s Oracle Racing at San Francisco Bay in the 34th America’s Cup.

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Former Chinese Soccer Officials Sentenced for Accepting Bribes

Nan Yong, the former director of the Chinese Football Administrative Center, has been sentenced to ten and a half years for accepting bribes of 1.4million RMB ($US 235,000).

Yong, who held a series of high profile roles in Chinese soccer and was credited for his part in China’s only successful World Cup qualification campaign, was arrested in 2010 and accused of accepting bribes and colluding to fix matches.

Li Dongsheng, another former senior Chinese soccer official, today received a nine-year jail term for bribery and embezzlement.

Nan and Xie are the highest-ranking officials to be sentenced since China began a nationwide campaign in March 2009 to root out graft in local soccer. They told the courts they need to consult with their respective attorneys before deciding whether to appeal the verdicts, Xinhua said.