Legendary NFL running back Jerome “The Bus” Bettis has been revealed as the latest franchisee of Papa John’s, ed the Official Pizza Sponsor of the NFL, now owning three restaurants in Pittsburgh.

“Papa John’s is the recognized leader in quality, which extends from our superior pizza to our leading-quality franchisees,” said John Schnatter, Papa John’s founder, chairman and CEO. “Having Jerome as a franchisee is huge for the Papa John’s brand and for our customers in Pittsburgh. After getting to know him over the years I have no doubt that he will be able to replicate his success on the field at the restaurants.”

Bettis purchased his Papa John’s restaurants through a partnership with Bajco Group, which currently owns 12 restaurants in the Pittsburgh area. The partnership plans to open additional restaurants in the Pittsburgh area over the next couple of years.

“We are thrilled to partner with Jerome to purchase these restaurants,” said Nadeem Bajwa, CEO of Bajco Group. “Jerome is a fierce competitor with high integrity, and I’m proud to be his business partner. He is an iconic figure in Pittsburgh and I have no doubt these restaurants will do very well.”

Bettis’ involvement with Papa John’s dates to 2011, when he was featured in Papa John’s Super Bowl XLVI Coin Toss commercial with Schnatter and Denver Broncos quarterback and fellow Papa John’s franchisee, Peyton Manning.

“I’ve been a fan of Papa John’s for a long time and am excited to be a part of the team,” said Bettis. “I’ve always been a part of winning organizations and Papa John’s is no exception. I’m particularly impressed with the brand’s focus on quality and drive to be the best. I’m also impressed with John’s passion to continue growing the brand around the world.”

The ITF announced today that it has appointed the Tennis Federation of Myanmar as host of the 2013 Davis Cup by BNP Paribas Asia/Oceania Zone Group III and IV events. The two events will be held in consecutive weeks at the Thein Byu Tennis Stadium, erectile the national tennis centre in Yangon, cialis between 22 April and 5 May.

The fact that the events are being staged in back-to-back weeks at the same venue means that there will be a two-week tennis festival at the ten-court facility with a total of 19 nations set to take part.

The first week will see eight nations, order Cambodia, Hong Kong China, Iran, Malaysia, Oman, Pacific Oceania, UAE and Vietnam, contest Asia/Oceania Zone Group III, with Cambodia looking to build on its historic Davis Cup debut in 2012 when it won promotion from the Asia/Oceania Zone Group IV event staged in Doha in April.

The following week sees 11 teams take part in Asia/Oceania Zone IV, including Bahrain, Bangladesh, Iraq, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Myanmar, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Turkmenistan and Yemen.

The staging of Davis Cup is part of a series of projects undertaken by the Tennis Federation of Myanmar (TFM) to build a strong base of new tennis teachers and players. The TFM took the first step towards widespread improvements at the end of 2011 when it hired Robert Davis as head coach and technical expert, and the federation is now focusing on coach education, talent identification and development, officiating and attracting international tournaments to Myanmar.

This week the TFM is hosting the Myanmar International Tennis Project at Thein Byu Tennis Centre, which previously hosted the Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Zone Group IV event in 2005 and 2007. The national tennis centre has received support from both the ITF and the Grand Slam Development Fund.

“The Davis Cup is a very prestigious event and for the nation of Myanmar we are extremely proud of this honour to be host nation,” said U Aung Maw Thein, President of the Tennis Federation of Myanmar. “Myanmar tennis just took a giant step forward. Because of the Davis Cup this will be a catalyst for developing the tennis at all levels throughout the country. New courts have to be built, teachers and referees educated and our players trained. The Tennis Federation of Myanmar is most grateful to the ITF for giving us this responsibility.”

The IAAF Council have confirmed the host venues for two IAAF World Athletics Series events which will take place in 2015.

Guiyang, China will host the 2015 IAAF World Cross Country Championships while Cali, Colombia will host the 2015 IAAF World Youth Championships.

Guiyang, capital of Guizhou Province, is located in the southwest of China, on the eastern side of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau. The city is situated at 1100m above sea level and has a population of 4.3 million.  

The city which was the venue for the 2005 and 2012 Asian Cross Country Championships, is rich in history, folk culture and traditions. Guiyang abounds with artefacts from the Ming and Qing dynasties, such as the Jiaxiu Tower, Wenchang Pavilion, Yangming Cave and Qingyan Ancient Town.

Cali is situated at 1000m above sea level and has a population of 2.5 million. The average temperature in July is around 30C max.

The city which was the venue for the 2005 South American Championships and 2007 CAC Championships is known in Colombia as the capital of fiestas, street partying, dancing, and salsa, as Cali’s Salsa Clubs are among the most famous in the entire continent.

Guiyang and Cali were sole bidders, and competition dates have yet to be confirmed.

Following the success of Team GB’s cyclists, the Mayor of London Boris Johnson has unveiled plans for the capital to host a two day world class festival of cycling next year.

Accompanied by double gold medal winning cyclist Laura Trott, the Mayor of London confirmed plans for the festival which will be known as RideLondon and will feature a series of events for amateur, club and world elite cyclists.

Today the Mayor confirmed that RideLondon will take place over the weekend beginning 3 August 2013 and that it will be managed by the London & Surrey Cycling Partnership, a joint venture between the organisers of the London Marathon and The Tour of Britain. It is predicted that the weekend festival could attract over 200,000 visitors from outside the capital, lead to a major boost in cycling numbers and generate tens of millions of pounds in economic benefit.

Online registration is now open for cyclists to register their interest in RideLondon, which will open with a family fun ride for up to 70,000 cyclists on an eight mile loop of closed roads around London’s iconic landmarks. The following day a 100 mile road ride for up to 20,000 amateur, club and world class elite cyclists will take place that begins in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and will be based on much of the route of the 2012 Games cycle road race. Women’s elite, junior cyclists and hand cycles will also take to the streets of the capital to compete in a city centre grand prix.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: “This year London has been the place to be and yet again this amazing city has proved its expertise in hosting major world class sporting and cultural events. Our challenge is to ensure that 2012 is just the start, not the end of the benefits of hosting the Games. We must create long lasting opportunities for the Olympic Park and the capital, which will showcase London to the world, attract more visitors, create more jobs and support the economy.  We also need to capitalise on the incredible achievements of Team GB’s Olympic cyclists whose superhuman efforts will inspire thousands more Londoners to take to two wheels. I urge every Londoner and cycle fanatics from all over the country, if not the world, to mark the weekend of 3 August 2013 in their diaries for what I believe will become one of the world’s number one cycling events.”

RideLondon will aim to be the largest charity fund-raising cycle ride in the world and organisers will be able to draw on the vast experience of the London Marathon team within the partnership. Since its foundation participants in the London Marathon have raised over half a billion pounds for good causes and in 2011 they raised a staggering £51.8 million.

Detailed routes for the RideLondon events will be revealed later in the year taking into consideration lessons learned from the 2012 Games. The finish for all the RideLondon events will be on The Mall subject to approval of final details.

The international promotion associated with what will become an annual cycling festival will bring millions of pounds of economic benefit into London through national and international participation plus hundreds of thousands of spectators and worldwide TV audiences. It will provide a long term source of income for investment into improving conditions for cycling in London and provide opportunities to channel people to other cycling initiatives.

Laura Trott, Double Olympic track cycling champion, said: “It’s been amazing the way the British public have really got behind Team GB and cycling in general during the last few weeks. I’ve been completely blown away by how many people have come out to support us. The crowd noise in the Velodrome was something I will never forget. It’s great to think we may have inspired people to get on their bikes and RideLondon is a great opportunity for the public to get out and join us on the roads. Cycling has always been a huge part of my family’s life and I hope that having watched the Games lots more people will be encouraged to have a go.”

Nick Bitel of London & Surrey Cycling Partnership, said:  We are very pleased to have been chosen to deliver this event on behalf of London, particularly as it will be the first direct sporting legacy from the London Olympics.  With our combined expertise and technical knowledge of organising elite cycling and mass participation events, LSCP expect to deliver a world class festival weekend of cycling open to amateurs, club and the worlds best cyclists.    We already know from our charity partners that this event will be a great opportunity to help raise funds for British charities and we will aim to make this the world’s largest charity fund-raising cycle event.

Brian Cookson OBE, President of British Cycling and UCI management committee member, said: “The Launch of RideLondon today is further proof that British Cycling’s Olympic legacy is already in place. Like the rest of the country I have celebrated the achievements of Laura Trott, Bradley Wiggins and Sir Chris Hoy, not just because they have succeeded during a wonderful summer for British cycle sport, but because they and the rest of the British Cycling team are inspiring people across the country to get active. Success in the Tour de France and the Olympics has seen membership surge, seeing 250 people a day join British Cycling. There are over 160,000 more people cycling once a week or more than was the case six months ago. RideLondon demonstrates there is now an unprecedented, mainstream demand for cycling events in this country. And our colleagues at the UCI know that British Cycling can be relied upon to produce not just competitors of the highest level, but also superbly organised events for cyclists of all levels of ability. None of this is a happy accident but the product of years of hard work. What we are seeing are the fruits of a strategy British Cycling has been pursuing for over a decade. And the success of our sport at both elite and participation levels is a great return on the efforts of so many of the people involved in our sport who have turned that strategy into action. Having been involved with the creation of RideLondon we look forward to this annual events first delivery next year with great anticipation”

Iain Edmondson, Head of Major Events at London & Partners, said: “Delivering on our promise to realise a tangible legacy from the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, today’s announcement of RideLondon sees the culmination of over two years planning and preparation come to fruition. As we near the end of staging the greatest event on the planet, London has truly staked its place as the most exciting major events destination. RideLondon will offer something for every sports fan or keen cyclists – from watching the thrilling elite race travelling through London and Surrey to inspiring people to take part in the biggest annual mass participation cycling event in the world.”

Daniel Moylan, Chairman of the London Legacy Development Corporation, said: “Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park will begin to reopen from summer 2013 and RideLondon will give thousands of people the opportunity to experience it for the first time. Our Olympic success in cycling has captured the imagination of Londoners and we will draw on that inspiration to put on a cycling festival within the Park that brings people together and encourages healthy living.”

Peter Hendy CBE, London’s Transport Commissioner, said: “Already, hundreds of thousands of people cycle in London every day and RideLondon will provide a fantastic opportunity to encourage even more people to start cycling. This inaugural event will combine a fun and free family closed road ride in central London with the excitement of watching the world’s best professional cyclists race, plus a mass participation event over the same course. It is now time to turn the vision for RideLondon into one of the world’s leading cycling events and a lasting legacy of the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games into reality. Roll on 3 August 2013.”

David Hodge, Leader of Surrey County Council, said: “I am delighted we can work with the Mayor of London to give the nation’s new-found enthusiasm for cycling a lasting legacy. Having made such a success of the Olympic cycle races we now have the springboard we need to find the next Bradley Wiggins or Lizzie Armitstead.”

Im Rechtsstreit des Deutschen Tennis Bundes (DTB) und des katarischen Tennisverbandes (QTF) mit der ATP hat das Berufungsgericht in Philadelphia die Entscheidung aus erster Instanz aufgehoben. Das Bundesbezirksgericht in Wilmington im US-Bundesstaat Delaware hatte im Oktober 2009 die Klage der ATP auf Erstattung ihrer Anwaltskosten abgewiesen, there die der Organisation durch den Rechtsstreit um den Status des Hamburger Rothenbaum-Turniers entstanden waren. Die ATP hatte sich dabei auf ihre Statuten berufen. Die Entscheidung ist nun zurück an das erstinstanzliche Gericht verwiesen worden.

“Das Berufungsgericht ist der Meinung, dass sich die erste Instanz mit ihrer Urteilsbegründung zu stark darauf gestützt hat, dass die Regelung in den ATP-Statuten gegen das nationale Kartellrecht verstößt”, erläutert DTB-Geschäftsführer Stephan Brune die Nachricht aus den USA. “Das Berufungsgericht äußert aber große Bedenken, dass diese Statuten überhaupt rechtmäßig sind. Es hat dem Bundesbezirksgericht in Wilmington klare Hinweise gegeben, dass die Regelung gegen das Recht des Staates Delaware verstößt. Aus diesem Grund sind wir nach wie vor optimistisch, dass letztlich zu unseren Gunsten entschieden wird.”

Nachdem eine Jury am Bundesbezirksgericht in Wilmington der ATP im Sommer 2008 das Recht zugesprochen hatte, dem Turnier am Hamburger Rothenbaum den Masters-Status zu entziehen, hatte die Organisation den DTB und die QTF im Oktober 2008 auf Erstattung ihrer Anwaltskosten in Höhe von etwa 17 Mio. US-Dollar verklagt. Diese Klage wurde im Oktober 2009 abgewiesen, wenige Wochen später legte die ATP gegen das Urteil Berufung ein.

Recent advertisements shown on national and international media promoting buying London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic tickets are scams according to the Metropolitan Police Service who have cautioned the public not to fall for theses schemes.

The advertisements, which have now been circulating for a number of weeks, only feature a mobile phone number or email address to contact for more information in order to purchase tickets that are actually counterfeit.

Detective Superintendent Nick Downing from Operation Podium, the Met’s dedicated response to serious and organised crime affecting the economy of the London 2012 Games, said that the public must stay away from the adverts in order to avoid be coned of their money.

“Please do not attempt to buy tickets from adverts such as these as you risk paying over the odds for tickets that may not exist and your personal details may be stolen and used in other crimes,” Downing warned.

“The safest way to buy tickets for the Olympic and Paralympic Games is from the London 2012 website.

“On this site you will find the most up to date information about tickets, future Olympic and Paralympic Games ticket sales and the London 2012 website checker.”

It is illegal to advertise or sell an Olympic or Paralympic Games ticket without the appropriate authorisation from the event organisers London 2012 and carries a fine of up to £20,000 ($31,700) for each offence.

It is recognised that the Olympics, the world’s largest sporting event, is an attractive target for those organised criminal networks who seek to exploit the economy of these major events.

China has commited to the Extreme Sailing Series in new 3 year deal.

At an official signing ceremony last week hosted by Ms Zang Aimin, herbal Vice President of Qingdao Major International Sailing Events Organizing Committee & Executive Vice President of Olympic Sailing City Development Association, Qingdao signed a new host venue agreement for a further 3 years from 2012-2014.

Qingdao played host to Act 2 last year for the first time, declaring the event an outstanding media and spectator driven event. In 2012, China’s fourth largest manufacturing port and the sailing venue for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, will again host Act 2 between the 17th to 20th April.

“The 2011 Extreme Sailing Series Qingdao for the Double Star Cup was successfully held at the Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center, adding new momentum to the development and popularization of sailing in Qingdao,” said Ms Zang Aimin.

“Its success has greatly enhanced Qingdao’s reputation and influence as an international city. Approved by the Qingdao Municipal Government, we will sign a three-year agreement from 2012 to 2014 with Extreme Sailing Series. The event will be held every April in Qingdao. We sincerely look forward to the continuous cooperation with Extreme Sailing Series and a more wonderful Qingdao Act.”

by Ismail Uddin

Auburn University’s college National Championship win has propelled them to more than double its royalties from licensed merchandise sales.

Merchandise royalties at Auburn, which beat the University of Oregon in January to win its first national title since 1957, surged to $5.3 million for 2010-11 from $2.5 million a year earlier, according to the Alabama state school.

The haul helped Auburn climb to No. 4 from 15th in an annual list of top collegiate merchandise royalty earners released by the College Licensing co, a division of IMG Worldwide. It’s a lofty ranking Auburn might keep even without on-field success this season, said Cory Moss, a vice president for Atlanta-based CLC.

“A championship is extremely valuable, as it obviously played a major role in Auburn jumping that high,” Moss said in a telephone interview. “We definitely anticipate a carryover not only just for the year after but throughout, because we’re continually trying to develop that brand and utilize the national championship to catapult them to the next level.”

Auburn were led to the win by NFL number one draft pick Cam Newton which could havd added to the sales.

The rankings cover royalties reported between July 1, 2010, and June 30, 2011, by clients of CLC, which account for about 80 percent of the market. The company doesn’t represent every major-conference school, with Ohio State and Southern California among those not on its list.

The University of Texas said it earned $10.6 million in royalties in the last year, more than any other CLC school. Alabama ranked second, followed by Florida.

Ohio State took in $9.4 million in royalties, according to the Columbus, Ohio, school, while USC does not break out royalty revenue in its annual report.

 

Major League Baseball (MLB) has approved Nolan Ryan as the controlling owner of the Texas Rangers after linking up with Chuck Greenberg to buy the franchise from former Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks last August in a deal valued at US$590m.

Greenberg became chief executive officer of the Rangers before leaving in March and selling his stake in the club and in turn, Ryan stepped in to become CEO and his position was ratified on Thursday during the quarterly joint meeting of the 30 MLB owners in a unanimous vote.

Ryan, who picked up a MLB record 5,714 strikeouts during his career, will now vote for the Rangers on all matters during future League meetings as well as being accountable to MLB for the operations of the club.

MLB commissioner Bud Selig told reporters after the meeting: “Actually, that was the first item of business. There was an intense debate that maybe lasted about 12 seconds. Maybe it didn’t even last 12 seconds. It was very quick, done, over. He’s done a remarkable job there the last couple of years.”