La Manga Club has enhanced its reputation as Europe’s premier sports and leisure destination after renewing its relationship with the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) and signing a new agreement to become its overseas training resort until 2016. 

The award-winning five-star venue in Murcia, Spain, will be used as a year-round training facility as the LTA bids to develop the next generation of British tennis stars hoping to follow in the footsteps of current number ones Andy Murray and Laura Robson. 

Under the terms of the three-year deal, La Manga Club will provide the LTA’s performance team and coaches with the chance to train with small groups of players on world-class outdoor facilities through the year. 

Featuring a tennis academy including 20 clay courts, four hard courts and four on artificial grass, the luxury resort boasts some of the best facilities in Europe and British stars past and present including Murray, Robson, Tim Henman and Elena Baltacha have all used the resort as a winter training base over the last decade. 

La Manga Club has also been used to stage Davis Cup and Fed Cup and, in return for offering its facilities, the LTA will support the resort with building its brand and development in the UK market over the next three years. 

The first LTA elite squad is due to arrive at the Spanish resort for a two-week training camp later this month and Leon Smith, LTA head of men’s and women’s tennis, said, “We are delighted to re-establish a relationship with one of the premier tennis resorts on the continent. 

“La Manga Club perfectly understood the requirements of our players, particularly with regards to clay court play, and will offer excellent practice facilities during the entire year, including the off-season.” 

Lorenzo Martinez, La Manga Club’s director of tennis and leisure, said: “This new partnership demonstrates and reinforces La Manga Club’s commitment to sporting excellence. 

“We are thrilled to welcome the LTA and their elite teams back to La Manga Club and excited at the prospect of working together with one of the most respected Federations in tennis.” 

Set over 1,400 acres in an area three times the size of Monaco, La Manga Club is renowned for its first-class range of facilities and has hosted star names from the worlds of sport, leisure and showbusiness over the last 40 years. 

The resort boasts unrivalled facilities as a sport and leisure venue including three 18-hole championship golf courses, a 28-court tennis centre and a 2,000sqm spa and fitness centre. It also offers the choice of a five-star hotel, four-star serviced apartments and townhouses, more than 20 bars and restaurants and is great fun for children.

British Cycling has recorded its best month for membership growth in the organisation’s history, adding over 2,400 new members in July and bringing its total membership to over 51,000, Chief Executive Ian Drake announced today.

Since Bradley Wiggins crossed the finishing line on the Champs Elysees on 22 July over 1,000 more cyclists have signed up to receive British Cycling member benefits.

Ian Drake, British Cycling Chief Executive, said: “This surge in membership comes in the middle of a great summer for British Cycling.

“We recently passed 50,000 members and were delighted by Sport England figures which showed 160,000 more people are cycling than were six months ago.

“July has been a bumper month. We’ve celebrated success by fellow British Cycling members Bradley Wiggins, Britain’s first Tour de France winner, and Lizzie Armitstead, whose medal in the London 2012 women’s road race on Sunday drew in unprecedented crowds.

“There is more great cycling to come in the Olympics and Paralympics and I believe we have already established a legacy for the sport. Continued success will inspire thousands more to join British Cycling.”

British Cycling provides a range of benefits to support its members including free legal assistance, up to £10 million liability insurance and discounts on cycling purchases. Members also get priority access to tickets for major cycling events like the Glasgow Track World Cup this November.

The Abu Dhabi Centre of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) is now open after an official launch by the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD).

It is the first Alternate Hearing Centre for CAS, which settles disputes in sport and has its headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, with further offices in New York and Sydney.

The centre is the first of three centres CA plans to open in Asia and the Middle East and Mohammed Al Kamali, secretary general of the UAE National Olympic Committee, believes the court will be up and running within six months.

Sultan Saeed Al Badi, undersecretary of the ADJD, said: “The ADJD and CAS had signed the agreement in February under directions from Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Presidential Affairs and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department.

“This CAS centre in Abu Dhabi is a directive of Sheikh Mansour since it will help the department in achieving its strategic goals through improved judicial specialisation at local, regional and international levels. It will also support the development of sports in the region by raising professional and legal aspects of the field.

“We are looking forward to providing a platform of excellence to organise meetings, seminars and other activities related to the development and promotion of sports’ legal aspects in the region.”

John D. Coates, President of CAS, confirmed two other centres in the region will open later in Kuala Lumpur and Shanghai.

“Sport is part of society and we were very keen to make our services available in the Middle East and I think this is a very good centre for it.

“Increasingly the Middle East is going to be seen more and more. Abu Dhabi has the [Formula 1] grand prix here, Dubai has so many events, Qatar is getting ready for the World Cup. This is a very stable city, stable government and we are very comfortable being based here.”

Coates said the court’s laws would soon be translated into Arabic and it is understood cases heard in Abu Dhabi will be sent to CAS for a final verdict.

UEFA has revealed its concern over the cost of hotels in Ukraine, the co-host with Poland for this summer’s European Championships.

The cheapest room available in Donetsk on June 11, the date of England’s clash with France in their opening Euro 2012 game, is 6,000 Ukraine Hryvnia (£478/$748).

The one starred Agat Hotel in Donetsk is currently charging double that for the same date.

By way of comparison, the cheapest hotel available in the Polish city of Gdansk, which will host world and European champions Spain and Italy on June 10, can be purchased for 135 UAH (£11/$17).

“There are issues around the high cost of hotels in Ukraine in particular,” UEFA’s events chief executive David Taylor told reporters in Warsaw.

“That is causing us some concern. Of course UEFA cannot fix that ourselves.We don’t manage hotels. But we do think it’s not a very good image to present of trying to charge as much as possible.

“We speak to the authorities, we speak to hotels, we try to ensure that they understand the importance of trying to set prices at a reasonable level so that, in future years, people who come to Ukraine can enjoy it and come back, not be scared off by high prices.”

Though UEFA cannot enforce change itself, it is lobbying to ensure hotels are affordable for the average spectator during Euro 2012.

by Ismail Uddin

Richard Worth, Chairman of the America’s Cup, has proclaimed NBC’s deal to broadcast sailing’s marquee regatta as “enormous.”

NBC will air two America’s Cup races in 2013 and will also broadcast this years America’s Cup World Series.

“The significance is enormous,” he exclusively told iSportconnect.

“Where sailing has been difficult to commit to for primary broadcasters, the new style of coverage is absolutely transformational, and the start times are far more reliable. The America’s Cup events are easy to follow, intensely watchable, and opening the door to a much broader range of viewership. The idea that this is Formula One on the water is not fanciful.”

He also expressed his admiration for Sky’s continued coverage of Amerca’s Cup and the America’s Cup World Series in the UK.

“Sky Sports don’t get much wrong when they decide to lead the way,” he added.

“From the next America’s Cup World Series event in Naples in the week of April 15th, Sky Sports will be devoting no less than 13 hours of live coverage to the drama of the fleet racing which is dangerous, thrilling and produced using the best technology on offer.”

by Ismail Uddin

Discuss NBC’s deal with Richard Worth here >>

Read Richard Worth’s exclusive iSportconnect interview here >>

Rutgers University is the centre of some controversy after it was revealed that one of the coaches was given $100,000 interest fre home loan while the History department is getting stripped of funds.

The women’s basketball coach got monthly golf and car allowances. Both collected bonuses without winning a championship.

On flip-side, the history department took away professors’ desk phones to save money and shrank its doctoral program by 25 percent. After funding cuts by the deficit-strapped Legislature, New Jersey’s state university froze professors’ salaries, cut the use of photocopies for exams and jacked up student tuition, housing and other fees.

Rutgers also increased funding for sports. The 245-year-old school spent more money on athletics than any other public institution in the six biggest football conferences during the 2009-2010 fiscal year, based on data compiled by Bloomberg. More than 40 percent of sports revenue came from student fees and the university’s general fund.

“I am dumbfounded,” said New Jersey Assemblyman David Wolfe, a Republican who is a professor of psychology at Ocean County College in Toms River. “Rutgers officials appear before the Legislature every year and claim they are underfunded and need more money. Now we find out we have the No.1-subsidized athletics program in the country.”

 

Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball’s (MLB) have been plunged into further financial trouble after the league rejected a 17-year agreement with News Corp. (NWSA)’s which may leave the team’s future and its ability to meet a June 30 payroll in doubt.

According to MLB commissioner Bud Selig, price the broadcast package, erectile pills which included a US$385m loan to the Dodgers, isn’t in the best interests of baseball.

Dodgers owner Frank McCourt responded that he’ll “explore vigorously our options and remedies.” The proposed deal with Fox was worth about $3bn, McCourt said at an April 27 news conference in New York.

The Dodgers have struggled to meet their last two payrolls and have another totaling about $30m at the end of this month that will include more than $8m in deferred compensation to former player Manny Ramirez, the Los Angeles Times has reported.

Steve Susman, one of McCourt’s attorneys, said in an e-mailed statement: “Commissioner Selig’s letter of rejection is not only a disappointment, but worse, is potentially destructive to the Los Angeles Dodgers and Major League Baseball.”

A deal for the Washington Capitals and New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL) to open the 2011-12 season in Russia seems to be over.

Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) President Alexander Medvedev stated: “It looks like we will not see much matches next season. And we have only one reason that the NHL due to their, sort of say, exclusively business-like approach.”

Reports suggest that the NHL asked for a guarantee of US$2-$3m for the trip to happen which the KHL saw as “unreasonable” as the Russian league would not have been able to break even “due to Russian hockey economic streams.” 

Speaking of the revenue guarantee claim, NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said: “I am not prepared to disclose the substance of our discussions, but I will confirm that the discussions did not result in an agreement to bring NHL teams to Russia for next year”

Former FIFA president Joao Havelange expects Brazilian Football Confederation president Ricardo Teixeira to seek the FIFA presidency in five years time.

In an interview with the Brazilian sports daily, Lance, Havelange said he talked Teixeira out of running for the presidency next year and advised him that it would be best to wait until 2015, after Brazil have hosted the World Cup.

Havelange said he believed that Sepp Blatter would be re-elected as FIFA president next June. Blatter was Havelange’s right-hand man at FIFA and served as secretary general for many years.

Havelange, 94, was FIFA president between 1974 and 1998, and is credited with revolutionising the organisation, from a Euro-centric amateurish governing body to a multi-billion global powerhouse.

Teixeira is chairman of the 2014 World Cup organising committee as well as being head of the confederation (CBF). Havelange insisted a successful tournament would prove his credentials for the top job at FIFA.

“Ricardo is dedicated, has 30 years experience,” said Havelange. “He would be a good president having administered the CBF. I think that would be justice in 2015.

“With a well organised tournament, he will demonstrate the ability to organize to FIFA. It is the opportunity of being present on the world stage.”

Teixeira was married to Havelange’s daughter Lucia Havelange for nearly 30 years, and they have a son together. Although they divorced in 1997, Teixeira, who was considered the protégé of the former FIFA president, is believed to be still close to him.

Despite his age, Havelange is still regarded as a hugely important figure in world sport. His behind-the-scenes work for the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic bid was considered to be a crucial factor behind the IOC’s decision to award the Games to the Brazilian city in Copenhagen last October.

The International Rugby Board (IRB) has announced a record investment programme for 2014, the second year of its current four-year (2013-16) funding cycle, despite recording a planned operating loss in 2013.

With Rugby World Cup 2015 set to deliver a record commercial programme and global participation at an all-time high of 6.6 million, funding invested and utilised by the IRB in 2014 (excluding Rugby World Cup 2015 related expenditure) will total £50 million.

It is anticipated that the core investment will remain at approximately this level throughout the four-year cycle, forecasting an investment of at least £193 million, eclipsing the previous cycle’s £150 million by 29 per cent.

The IRB’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2013 show a budgeted net loss for the period of £45.1 million, as adjusted for International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), which the IRB operates in line with global best practice. Under IFRS, the IRB defers revenues and direct expenditures for RWC 2015 until the year of the tournament. These results are in line with expectations and reflect the IRB’s commitment to promoting and developing Rugby worldwide.

The commercial programme for Rugby World Cup 2015 is set to achieve record levels, driven by confidence in the Rugby World Cup brand, particularly in the European market. Revenues are currently in line with budget but ahead of schedule with all worldwide partnerships completed in record time. The IRB also acknowledges the strong continued support of HSBC as the title sponsor for the HSBC Sevens World Series, with Sevens revenues on a strong growth curve.

IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset said: “Our record investment is the driving force behind unprecedented growth in the Game with more than 6.6 million men, women and children actively participating. The IRB is committed to ensuring that the sport has the strong foundations from which to foster further growth and reach out and inspire new fans in major new Rugby markets, while ensuring a strong base.”

“We are committed to ongoing investment in our Unions, at all levels, and continue to collaborate with them and our regional associations to ensure that we service and support their strategic needs. We are also committed to supporting our high-performance and development Unions through unprecedented investment in competitions to prepare RWC 2015 and beyond to RWC 2019.”

Lapasset added: “These record levels of investment are made possible because of the continued growth of Rugby World Cup as one of the world’s most successful, best-loved and largest major sporting events, providing the IRB with the long-term financial platform to develop and grow the Game around the world.”

“The commercial programme for Rugby World Cup 2015 in England is on track to deliver a record net surplus for investment in the Game with our top level worldwide partner programme locked down in record time and with record value and a wider broadcast platform.”

IRB Chief Executive Brett Gosper added: “The IRB’s commitment to record development and growth in participation is reflected by the organisation’s diligence in maintaining reduced operating costs and strategically investing in the Game for the period 2013-2016 through targeted programmes, including training and education, player welfare, tournaments and high performance. We are also investing significantly in men’s and women’s Sevens as we count down to our Olympic Games return at Rio in 2016.”