Brazil announces huge World Cup and Olympic investment

The Brazilian Government’s development minster, Miguel Jorge, has announced that a further US$100 billion will be invested into the 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games.

The cash injection is part of a wider US$735 billion investment into the infrastructure and construction sectors over the next three years.

At a Brazil-Italy business seminar in Sao Paulo this week, Mr Jorge said that now was the best time to invest heavily in the country, whose economy is expected to grow by between 6 and 6.5 per cent this year.

Jorge said: “We have macroeconomic, political and institutional stability. Besides, we have quickly overcome the effects of the international financial crisis and have returned to a path of sustainable growth.”

The Government had announced earlier this year that it would spend US$890 billion on upgrading the country’s infrastructure ahead of the World Cup and Olympic Games.

However, despite this, the Morumbi stadium in Sao Paulo was dropped from hosting any matches at the 2014 World Cup last month after the city missed the deadline to provide guarantees to cover the cost of the venue’s renovation.

Japan Awarded Super Rugby Franchise in 2016

Japan is set to host a new Super Rugby franchise, governing body SANZAR (South Africa, New Zealand and Australia Rugby) announced today.

The Asian country beat out Singapore as the preferred host for the 18th team in the expanded Super Rugby competition.

The southern hemisphere provincial competition will increase from 15 to 18 teams in 2016, with one team from South Africa and another from Argentina already awarded places.

Japan and Singapore were vying against each other for the last available spot with Japan getting the vote after a meeting of the South African, New Zealand and Australian Rugby (SANZAR) executive board.

“Compelling proposals were put forth by Japan and Singapore in what was a very competitive tender process and we thank both parties for their passion in sharing our vision to expand the competition to new fans, territories and commercial markets,” SANZAR chief executive Greg Peters said in a statement.

“While ultimately edged out in this instance, Singapore presented a highly attractive bid and we will maintain a positive relationship with an eye to potentially working with them in the future.

“Following the Executive Committee’s decision however, SANZAR will now work exclusively with the JRFU to finalise arrangements for their entry in to Super Rugby, subject to execution of the formal participation agreement.”

Boston Celtics Unveil New Alternate Logo

National Basketball Association (NBA) Boston Celtics has unveiled an alternate logo for the 2014-15 season on Monday.

A press release by the Celtics read: “The goal in creating the logo was to extend the Celtics brand with a symbol reflecting the rich tradition of the organization throughout its history, yet versatile enough to work across various formats and products.”

The Celtics said the new logo reflects the leprechaun logo from the 1960s illustrated by Celtics legend Red Auerbach’s brother, Zang.

The new logo will not be use on game uniforms, but the Celtics made one uniform switch for the 2014-15 season.

The new logo will first appear this month in a variety of adidas apparel and merchandise.

Inter Milan Ink Infront Sports & Media Partnership

Inter Milan, also known as Internazionale, have signed an agreement with Infront Sports & Media for sponsorship marketing across Europe and the distribution of corporate hospitality services on matchdays at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza.

The new deall will run until the end of the 2017/18 season. 

Addressing the media and sponsors, Erick Thohir and Marco Bogarelli, respective presidents of Inter and Infront Italy, set out the terms of the partnership, the commercial policy for enhancing the Inter brand in Italy and abroad, as well as the activities which the two companies will develop hand in hand to consolidate the club’s commercial policy on a national and international level. 

“We’re proud to be here today to announce this agreement with Infront, one of the world’s biggest companies in handling TV, media and advertising rights for sports events,” said FC Internazionale President Erick Thohir. “It seems fitting that two of the world’s leading names in their respective fields should join forces and move forward together with the aim of mutual improvement. Inter and Infront share a growth strategy that they will develop together over the next four years, looking to position the Inter brand on a level of international excellence.” 

“We are delighted to have reached a partnership agreement with a prestigious club like Inter,” said Marco Bogarelli, President of Infront Italy. “We are sure that by working together we will bring great added value both to the club itself and to Inter’s image throughout the world. The distinguishing feature of this agreement is our shared strategy and the working collaboration that the two companies adopted from the very beginning. Infront and Inter have been working in unison from day one and I am confident that we will see the first results already in the coming weeks.”

Charlton Submit Plans for New Training Facility

English Championship club Charlton have submitted plans for the construction of a new training ground complex. 

Plans for the complex at Sparrows Lane were submitted to the Royal Borough of Greenwich council with a decision expected in early April.

The Addicks also confirmed how new owner Roland Duchatelet is fully behind the plans, adding how he is “embracing the concept and indicating his wish for it to progress at the earliest opportunity”.

“Plans to redevelop the training ground have been progressing for some time,” chief operating officer Steve Bradshaw told the club’s official website.

“The enthusiasm Mr Duchatelet has shown clearly demonstrates the club’s ambition to improve its current facilities for the professional players and ensure the facility meets category-one standards under the Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP) academy guidelines, while also providing excellent facilities for the community.”

Charlton Community Trust Chief Executive Jason Morgan added: “The club and Community Trust are strategic partners in this build, in terms of sourcing funding, design and future construction of the facility.

“The club feels our strong local community links are an important element and this facility will support new and existing sports and community initiatives.

“There is still much to do but we are delighted to have submitted plans to the Royal Borough of Greenwich for their consideration.”

London Golf Club to Host 2014 Volvo World Match Play Championship

The 2014 Volvo World Match Play Championship will be played on the International Course at the London Golf Club, help it was announced today.

Volvo, sale IMG and the European Tour made the announcement for the event taking place from October 15-19.

Celebrating the 50th anniversary since the inaugural Championship, won by Arnold Palmer at Wentworth in 1964, the 2014 Championship will revert to a 16-man field and offer a prize fund of €2.25m (just over US$3 million) with a first prize of €650,000 (approx US$880,000).

Per Ericsson, President of Volvo Event Management, said, “We are delighted to make this announcement today and are looking forward to returning this great Championship to England, where we staged our last PGA Championship in 2004. The UK is an important market for Volvo and, after looking at many possible venues, we found the London Golf Club to be ideally placed to both host this world-class field and our most valued customers. I am grateful to our partners IMG and the European Tour for their on-going support and also to the London Golf Club for agreeing to host the Championship.”

George O’Grady CBE, Chief Executive of The European Tour, said: “Already a tournament with a great tradition on The European Tour, we look forward to the Volvo World Match Play Championship adding a new chapter to its rich history in this, its 50th year, when it is played for the first time at The London Golf Club.”

Charles Fairweather, Chairman of the London Golf Club added, “We are very excited to host the prestigious Volvo World Match Play Championship this October. We are looking forward to working with Volvo, IMG and the European Tour to deliver what we hope will be the best Volvo World Match Play Championship to date and I have no doubt that the players will find the International Course at the Club ideally suited to match play golf.”

Golden State Warriors Reveal Interest in Operating WNBA Team

The NBA’s Golden State Warriors have revealed their interest in operating a WNBA franchise on Friday, a day after the league announced that the Los Angeles Sparks ownership group has ceased operations of the team and laid off all front-office employees.

The Bay Area team also confirmed that it has been in contact with the WNBA about the possibility of taking over the Sparks.

League president Laurel Richie confirmed Thursday night that the WNBA has made contact with groups that have previously expressed interest in running a franchise.

The Warriors are now confirmed to be among those groups. Warriors owner Joe Lacob is a longtime women’s basketball supporter, a season-ticket holder for Stanford’s women’s team and a former owner of the San Jose Lasers of the American Basketball League. Golden State chief operating officer Rick Welts worked closely with then-president Val Ackerman to launch the league in 1997.

“Our ownership group has maintained their interest in operating a WNBA team in the Bay Area since acquiring the Warriors three years ago,” Warriors team spokesman Raymond Ridder said. “We’ve had exploratory conversations relating to this topic with the WNBA on several occasions since 2010, including most recently regarding the Los Angeles franchise. At this point, our dialogue remains in the exploratory stage as we evaluate the complexities of any such acquisition now or in the future.”

MotoGP Reveals Return to South America with Argentina Race Confirmed

MotoGP has announced it will return to South America for the first time in 10 years.

The third race of 2014 will be staged in Argentina while, later in the year, another meeting has been pencilled in for Brazil.

Termas de Rio Hondo will host Argentina’s round on April 27, with the Brazil race set for September 28 at a new track in Brasilia.

Argentina previously staged 10 Grands Prix between 1961 and 1999 in Buenos Aires, while the most recent Brazilian race was staged in Rio de Janeiro in 2004.

The calendar opens with an evening race in Qatar on March 23, the British race will be at Silverstone on the last day of August, with the curtain brought down in Valencia on November 9.

If Brazil goes ahead, there will be a total of 19 MotoGP meetings deciding the outcome of motor-cycling’s Blue Riband category.

McLaren F1 Set to Delay Title Sponsor Announcement

McLaren F1 have revealed they will delay their announcement of a new title sponsor until the launch of its car next year.

The Surrey based team had suggested that they would reveal who would replace Vodafone in 2014, with the new sponsor set to be revealed on December 2 but team principal Martin Whitmarsh has now said that the announcement is likely to be delayed.

“There will be some new sponsors, but I think probably, and I don’t know because I haven’t talked to our PR function, but there will be more of a fanfare at the car launch rather than an announcement on December 2,” he told the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes phone-in.

“I think it depends on what partners want to do and where they want to do it. My own view is that we would be taking away from what I hope will be an exciting car launch next year, but we will see.”

The 2014 car is likely to be launched in the run up to the first pre-season test at the end of January.

US Open Prize Money Significantly Increased

The US Tennis Association (USTA) have announced that prize money for the 2013 US Open will be increased by four million dollars, doubling the record two million dollar increase of 2012. 

Total US Open prize money in 2013 will be $29.5 million.  Singles prize money at the US Open has now increased by 34% since the 2011 US Open.  Overall tournament prize money has been increased by $6 million since the 2011 US Open. Distribution of prize money by round will be determined by the USTA in due course.  The USTA will solicit suggestions for this distribution from the men’s and women’s players and their respective tours. 

In order to accommodate the players’ request for a day of rest between the singles semifinals and finals, the 2013 US Open is scheduled to conclude on Monday, September 9.  The women’s singles semifinals will be played in a single day session on Friday, September 6, and the women’s final will take place on Sunday, September 8 at 4:30 p.m. ET, in the time slot where the men’s singles final was traditionally played. 

The men’s singles semifinals will continue to be played in a single day session on Saturday, September 7, with the men’s singles final to take place on Monday, September 9 at 5:00 p.m. ET.  In the new schedule, no competition will be scheduled for the second Saturday night of the tournament. 

“I’m pleased that the USTA has modified the US Open schedule to include a day of rest between the semi-finals and final,” said Andy Murray, winner of the 2012 US Open. “Together with the prize money increase, it’s good that they’ve taken on board the players’ concerns.” 

“We recognize the increased physicality required to compete at the highest level of the sport, and we have responded to the players’ request for a scheduled day of rest between the singles semifinals and finals,” said Jon Vegosen, USTA Chairman of the Board and President.  “The record increase in US Open prize money and the changes in the next year’s schedule are aimed at rewarding the players’ talents and accommodating the rigors of the modern professional game.”

The ATP said in a statement: “By modifying the schedule to allow a rest day between the semi-finals and the final, the US Open has recognised the incredible physical demands of men’s tennis.

“However, the ATP and its players have made it clear to the US Open that we do not support a Monday final. We strongly believe the US Open should keep a similar schedule to the other Grand Slams, with the men’s semi-finals completed by Friday and the final on Sunday. It is unfortunate the US Open response did not reflect our views on this issue and the ATP and its players will continue to pursue this matter in its discussions with the USTA.”