Japanese public multinational corporation Honda have announced they have entered a team in the motorcycle class of the Dakar Rally to be held in January 2014 in South America, decease with its works team “TEAM HRC”.

Five riders—Helder Rodrigues (Portugal), Sam Sunderland (United Kingdom), Javier Pizzolito (Argentina), Joan Barreda (Spain), and Paulo Goncalves (Portugal)—will ride the CRF450 RALLY, a rally-racing bike specially developed for the 2014 Dakar. TEAM HRC took the CRF450 RALLY for testing and competed in the 2013 Morocco Rally, a prelude to the Dakar Rally held in October of this year, and also the 2013 Merzouga Rally. The team took victories in both races.

Tetsuo Suzuki, President, Honda Racing Corporation, said “Since our entry in the 2013 Dakar Rally in January, the Motorcycle R&D Center and HRC have focused on developing an outstanding machine and a winning team. The 2014 Dakar Rally spans more than two weeks, but through this race we will fight to the finish to share our dreams and exhilaration with our customers. Next year starting with the Dakar Rally, HRC will boldly move forward to share the excitement of two-wheeled motor sports with its fans world wide, and we look forward to continued support for HRC”s activities.”

Katsumi Yamazaki, TEAM HRC Rally director, “Everything was new and we learned much from the 2013 Dakar Rally, since the last time we raced in the Dakar was 24 years ago. This year we will put together a winning team in a very short period, carefully considering the machine, rider and crew. We know we are on the right track since we won the Morocco and Merzouga rallies on our brand new CRF450 RALLY, and our team will do its best to achieve the ultimate goal, winning the Dakar. We appreciate all the support, and hope everyone will cheer us on as the team fights all the way to the checkered flag.”

World Soccer’s governing body, FIFA have revealed Kuala Lumpur will host the 2017 FIFA Congress.

The Malaysian capital city was competing against bids from Costa Rica, Canada, the Czech Republic, Finland, Palestine, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates but Malaysia was picked ahead of the others.

Malaysia will be the first Asian country to host the congress since South Korea in 2002.

FA of Malaysia (FAM) general-secretary Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin said it is a huge honour for Malaysia to host the prestigious event.

“We will welcome 209 member associations. It is an opportunity to show Fifa our country, and it will definitely be a springboard for our tourism industry,” said Hamidin yesterday.

“We have modern infrastructure and state-of-the-art facilities and I believe the delegates will have a good time here.”

On the benefits of hosting the congress, Hamidin said FAM would gain from other member associations on several aspects of football.

“We need to continue improving and stay on the right platform with other associations.”

Next year’s congress will take place in Sao Paulo just before the World Cup while in 2015, the year of Fifa’s presidential election, the meeting will, as in previous election years, be held in Zurich followed by Mexico in 2016.

Formula 1 Russian Grand Prix Promoter has confirmed a deal for the Russian Automobile Federation to become the Russian Grand Prix organiser.

The Russian Grand Prix will take place in October 2014 in Sochi. 

Oleg Zabara, arthritis Deputy General Director of OJSC “Center “Omega” for organization of Formula 1 Russian Grand Prix, abortion said: “We have signed a contract with the Russian Automobile Federation which reflects the interests of both parties. Sporting organization is one of key factors for hosting successfully Formula 1 Russian Grand Prix.

“Properly trained specialists should participate in the organization of international motorsport events. We have already created the staff schedule for the Grand Prix. As the Promoter we will provide the full technical support whenever any part of organization needs it. RAF will provide qualified judges, purchase and together with the FIA ??they will be responsible for the sporting management of Formula 1 Russian Grand Prix.” 

Sergey Ivanov, CEO of Russian Automobile Federation, added: “We all are expecting to have complicated and hard work to prepare the first Formula 1 Russian Grand Prix in the history. As a result of the agreements concluded with the Promoter RAF will be able to ensure a qualified staff at the Event and organize a Grand Prix of a high level. Foreign specialist will help us as consultants and trainers; however the majority of the members of the sporting personnel will be Russians. This will allow us to invite solely Russian judges in the future for national rounds of Formula 1 World Champi onship. I have no doubts that together we will achieve success.”

The Pakistan Cricket Board are set to appeal a decision made by the Islamabad High Court (IHC) ordering new elections for the chairman position on the cricket governing body.

The IHC scrapped the election of Zaka Ashraf as PCB chairman in May and have ordered a new election within 90 days.

They have also called for a five-year audit of the PCB and national academy accounts by the Auditor-General of Pakistan in a 30-page judgment which was officially released on Tuesday.

But the PCB are unhappy, saying a statement: “We have in principle decided to file an intra-court appeal against the judgment of the IHC given on a constitutional writ petition.”

The court’s decision is likely to create a gridlock on matters such as team selection for the tours of Zimbabwe and Singapore and the home series against South Africa, all of which need to be organised by October.

The statement went on: “Furthermore, the PCB needs to conclude arrangements for media broadcasting agreements, for which tenders are required to be floated on an urgent basis.”

The PCB feels the judgment raises concerns relating to ICC guidelines on the non-intervention of government into the administrative affairs of the board.

The German Tennis Federation (DTB) has submitted its bid for a grass tournament in Hamburg from 2015. 

The decision was especially against the background of a long-term security of the tournament site in Hamburg. Germany would with two grass tournaments in succession – Hamburg and Halle – become the most important tennis site on the way to Wimbledon. 

A reason for the application was the fact that the grass tournament in June would be held immediately after the French Open, allergy and therefore before the Hamburg summer holidays.

The postponement of the Wimbledon tournament in 2015 by a week means that the period between Wimbledon and the U.S. Open is reduced by one week and the future of some Clay tournaments in this period is uncertain. Especially since the contract of DTB with the ATP expires in 2018 and not be ruled out that the 500 license of the Hamburg tournament will be awarded on a hard court tournament in order to give players more opportunities to prepare for the U.S. Open.

Lance Armstrong has announced he will drop his fight against drug charges bought on him by the US anti-doping agency (USADA).

As a result, Armstrong, 40, will be banned from cycling for life and will see his seven Tour de France titles stripped from him.

The American achieved the record run between 1999 and 2005, but after becoming “weary” of the “nonsense,” from the USADA, he is set to end his fight, despite maintaining his innocence.

In a statement, Armstrong said: “There comes a point in every man’s life when he has to say, ‘Enough is enough’. For me, that time is now.

“I have been dealing with claims that I cheated and had an unfair advantage in winning my seven Tours since 1999. Over the past three years, I have been subjected to a two-year federal criminal investigation followed by Travis Tygart’s unconstitutional witch hunt.

“The toll this has taken on my family and my work for our foundation and on me leads me to where I am today – finished with this nonsense.”

“The idea that athletes can be convicted today without positive A and B samples, under the same rules and procedures that apply to athletes with positive tests, perverts the system and creates a process where any begrudged ex-team-mate can open a USADA case out of spite or for personal gain or a cheating cyclist can cut a sweetheart deal for themselves. It’s an unfair approach, applied selectively, in opposition to all the rules. It’s just not right.”

Armstrong continued: “USADA cannot assert control of a professional international sport and attempt to strip my seven Tour de France titles. I know who won those seven Tours, my team-mates know who won those seven Tours, and everyone I competed against knows who won those seven Tours.

“We all raced together. For three weeks over the same roads, the same mountains, and against all the weather and elements that we had to confront. There were no shortcuts, there was no special treatment. The same courses, the same rules. The toughest event in the world where the strongest man wins.”

The USADA claim Armstrong used blood booster, erythropoietin (EPO), steroid and blood transfusions, as far back as 1996.

Travis Tygart, head of the USADA commented: “This is a heartbreaking example of how the win-at-all-costs culture of sport, if left unchecked, will overtake fair, safe and honest competition, but for clean athletes, it is a reassuring reminder that there is hope for future generations to compete on a level playing field without the use of performance-enhancing drugs.”

Mervyn Westfield, ed the first county cricketer in England convicted for spot-fixing has launched his appeal against the conviction on Thursday.

Former Essex player Westfield was sentenced to four months in prison at the Old Bailey in February.

Westfield, link 23, from Chelmsford, was jailed after pleading guilty to one count of accepting or obtaining a corrupt payment to bowl in a way that would allow the scoring of runs.

He was accused of being paid £6,000 to bowl so that a specific number of runs would be chalked up in the first over of a match between Durham and Essex in September 2009.

Passing sentence, Judge Anthony Morris told Westfield: “I am satisfied that you would have known from the outset that what was being offered was a corrupt payment and that you could and should have refused it.

“I am also satisfied that, if you had any concerns about the approaches being made to you, you had an opportunity to mention them to the team captain or management, or if you were nervous of doing so, at least to your friends within the team. You chose not to do so.”

As well as the jail sentence a confiscation order was made for £6,000.

His case will be heard by the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Judge, sitting with Mr Justice Openshaw and Mr Justice Irwin at the Court of Appeal in London.

Volvo Ocean Race has selected a record number of candidates to go through to the final stage of the bid process to become host cities for the 12th and 13th editions of the Volvo Ocean Race, drugs scheduled for 2014-15 and 2017-18.

Of more than 60 applications received, ed a record number of 33 will progress through to the Candidate phase.

The bid process, cialis managed by London-based sports agency The Sports Consultancy and launched earlier this year, received over 60 Expressions of Interest.

The successful host cities will be announced at the end of 2012 and the race route for the 12th and 13th editions of the race confirmed.

Commenting on the bid process, The Sports Consultancy Managing Director Angus Buchanan said: “We have been very impressed with the number, quality and geographic spread of bid applications received, which in turn has enabled us to select the best possible Candidates with whom we will progress discussions.

“The desire to host this spectacular event is stronger than ever which is testament not only to the appeal of the event to spectators but also a recognition of the significant economic benefits that the Volvo Ocean Race brings to its host cities.”

Knut Frostad, Chief Executive of Volvo Ocean Race, added: “When selecting a route for the Volvo Ocean Race it is important that we consider a range of factors including sporting, commercial, heritage and legacy.

“This formal host city bid process allows us to choose the best possible route by identifying the strongest host city partnerships that will benefit the race, its hosts and the event’s growing global audience.”

Babies will not be charged an admission ticket for the Olympics, London 2012 organisers have claimed as long as they are firmly fastened to an adult.

This comes after organisers ruled in January that Babies and young infants would need a ticket

It was in March last year that tickets for the Games first went on sale, since when some of those who secured seats in the ballots have given birth.

The mumsnet.com website was inundated by outraged mothers earlier this year as they discovered they could not take their babies to the Olympic events unless they bought a separate ticket. Most venues were sold out by that time.

Following complaints and suggestions that the policy might be in breach of sexual equality laws, organisers agreed to review the situation.

LOCOG chief executive Paul Deighton said: “Anyone who purchased a ticket… and did become pregnant, had a baby and wants to take the baby to the Games will be able to do so.

“The baby of course will be under 12 months old and then will be let in if securely strapped to the parent or carer by way of a baby carrier, papoose or sling.”

This ‘babes in arms’ policy will apply to all venues with the exception of Manchester’s Old Trafford, Wembley Stadium, Newcastle’s St James’ Park and the North Greenwich Arena.

There are existing licensing agreements at these venues, meaning that all spectators would require tickets regardless of age.