The Olympic flame has only just gone out but British Cycling is already underway with plans to continue the London 2012 legacy and build on the phenomenal success of the Great Britain Cycling Team.

Reaffirming its commitment to growing the audience for cycling in the UK, British Cycling has confirmed that it has already lined up three national and international events to continue the Games legacy: the British National Track Championships in Manchester at the end of September, a Track World Cup round in Glasgow in November and a UCI BMX Supercross World Cup round in Manchester in April 2013.

British Cycling is hoping that the chance for cycling fans, new and old, to see the world’s best cyclists in action on home soil once again will continue to inspire participation in the sport across the nation as well as provide GB athletes with more top level international competition in this country.

Kicking off the action for home fans will be The British Cycling National Track Championships at the Manchester Velodrome from 26^th-30^thSeptember 2012. The championships are the traditional competitive curtain raiser to the winter season and offer new fans a great way to get acquainted with the sport.

Following the national championships the action heads north of the border as the second round of the UCI Track Cycling World Cup Classics sees Glasgow make its debut on the international stage from 16^th-18^th November 2012. It will be the first major event to be staged at the new Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, which forms part of the £113million Commonwealth Arena. Tickets will go on sale to British Cycling members at 2pm on 16^th August before going on general sale at 12 noon on 22^nd August and can be purchased via www.ticketmaster.co.uk. Spectators are encouraged to book their tickets early to avoid disappointment as high demand is expected.

Into 2013 and the action continues in Manchester with the UCI BMX Supercross World Cup round that takes place from 19^th-20^th April 2013.This will be the third major international BMX event to take place in the UK in the space of 12 months, following May’s World Championships and the Olympic Games. The competition will take place at Manchester’s National BMX Centre, which itself was built as part of the London Olympic Games legacy and has provided Team GB’s BMX athletes with a world class training and competition facility since it opened a year ago.

Jonny Clay, Cycle Sport and Membership Director at British Cycling, commented: “Hosting events of this calibre demonstrates how committed we are to development of the sport and shows how well we’re able to combine infrastructure and events to drive growth in the sport at all levels.

“The Track World Cup in Glasgow is the first opportunity for people to see the GB cycling team in international action after the Olympic Games and the event promises to be a great spectacle for cycling fans as our GB athletes prepare for the 2014 Commonwealth Games and set off on the road to Rio 2016.”

“We’re delighted to also be bringing the  first round of the 2013 UCI BMX Supercross World Cup to Manchester and welcome the  best international BMX racing back to the UK for the third time in 12 months, continuing the legacy left by this year’s UCI BMX World Championships in Birmingham and the London Olympic Games.”

Simon Morton, Director of Major Events at UK Sport, said: “We are delighted the UK has been given the opportunity to host these exciting sports thanks to National Lottery funding. It has been clearly demonstrated with events such as the Track Cycling World Cup, which UK Sport has supported since 2004, how events like this can support both  growth and performance ambitions.”

“The Chris Hoy Velodrome in Glasgow will be one of the world’s best venues for Track Cycling, and our fans are in for a real treat as they see the British team begin their journey towards Rio 2016. This will be the first of many events that UK Sport’s National Lottery funded programme will help to stage in the UK after London 2012.”

“We are fully committed to building a strong and sustainable legacy from hosting London 2012 and have increased our investment to £4.5million a year to bring world class sport like the UCI Track Cycling World Cup Classics and UCI BMX Supercross World Cup to this country.

“Our programme has already secured 10 World and European Championships for the UK in the last 18 months and we will continue to work hard to bring world class sport here”

Chair of Glasgow Life and the Executive Member for the Commonwealth Games, Councillor Archie Graham, said: “The London 2012 Olympic Games captured the imagination of the nation, with the sensational performances of the Team GB cycling team among the real highlights. The atmosphere at the Olympic velodrome was incredible and we can’t wait to get a feel for that when the Track Work Cup comes to the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome in November.”

“Glasgow is one of the world’s leading sporting cities in part thanks to our world-class events programme, which is growing all the time as we continue to invest in the very best facilities. And as we look ahead to the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, the Track World Cup will give people the chance to see just what they can expect when the world’s top cyclists go for gold in our new velodrome.”

Paul Bush OBE, Chief Operating Officer for EventScotland said: “Scotland is the perfect stage for events, and with the opening of the new Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome we can proudly add the sport of track cycling to our extensive portfolio of major international events. Following the success of Sir Chris and his fellow Team GB athletes at the Olympics, the excitement and enthusiasm for the World Cup event in Glasgow is going to be huge.”

Councillor Rosa Battle, Manchester City Council executive member for culture and leisure, said: “The UCI BMX Supercross World Cup is sure to be spectacular and it will be phenomenal to see The National BMX Centre host its first global event.” 

“Since opening, the BMX centre has proved incredibly popular with both local residents and elite competitors. Two athletes based at the centre, Shanaze Reade and Liam Phillips, have recently represented the country in the Olympics and I’m sure their example along with the BMX Supercross World Cup will inspire even more people to give the sport a go.”

“The UCI BMX Supercross World Cup shows once again that Manchester is a world-class sporting destination and it’s a very welcome addition to the exciting programme of events we have lined up for 2013.”

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Absolute Taste, in partnership with ISS Food and Hospitality, has been appointed as Westfield Stratford City’s caterer for hospitality throughout the London 2012 Olympics.

Westfield’s corporate hospitality venues, athletes’ services and broadcast sites, which all overlook the Olympic Park, will be serviced under the new contract. 

Working in a 50:50 partnership, Absolute Taste and ISS say they will be serving food “using some of Britain’s best produce with a passionate team of professionals who understand the unique client needs and demonstrate first class customer service”. 

John Burton, director, Westfield Stratford City, explained more about the deal: “Westfield Stratford City will host high profile clients from 2012 sponsors to international broadcasters, and of course Team GB. Absolute Taste and ISS demonstrated their vast experience and understanding of corporate hospitality catering services, broadcast requirements, events and fine dining and we look forward to working with them on this once in a lifetime opportunity unparalleled in the hospitality world.” 

Lyndy Redding, managing director of Absolute Taste, added: “We are all absolutely thrilled to have been awarded such a prestigious contract. We always knew 2012 was going to a big year for London and Absolute Taste, and, to be working with Westfield at this time, is going to be a very special occasion indeed. We have already put in a lot of hard work into this project and we are committing ourselves to delivering an unrivalled level of hospitality in the stunning location that Westfield has provided.” 

Absolute Taste and ISS will offer their catering services from 1st April through to 30th September 2012. Westfield Stratford City is situated metres away from the Olympic Park including the main stadium, Aquatics Centre and Velodrome.

by Ismail Uddin

Teams participating in the Champions League this season will receive between $10 million and $50 million in revenue redistribution alone.

denture helvetica, buy cialis sans-serif;”>UEFA said Tuesday on its website: “Each of the 32 clubs involved in the group stage will receive a participation bonus of $6.16 million. In addition, arthritis they will be entitled to a match bonus of $871,000 per match played in the group stage. Performance bonuses will also see $1.27 million paid for every win and $633,000 for every draw in the group stage.”

Sides in the round of 16 pick up an extra $4.7 million, quarter-finalists an extra $5.2 million and semifinalists an extra $6.6 million with the winners pocketing a $14 million bonus and the runners-up an $8.8 million bonus.

More than $500 million in TV revenue will also be redistributed to the clubs according to the proportional value of each market represented by the Champions League contenders.

Organisers of the World Baseball Classic (WBC), discount | co-sanctioned by Major League Baseball (MLB) and the International Baseball Federation, announced yesterday, June 1, that the competition will expand from 16 to 28 countries with the addition of a new qualifying round for the 2013 international edition.

The new round of qualifying will feature 16 teams divided into four pools of four teams each. Qualifying games will take place in 2012 and the four pools will operate under a double-elimination format, with each pool winner advancing to the WBC in March 2013.

Brazil, Canada, Taiwan, Colombia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Britain, Israel, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Philippines, South Africa, Spain and Thailand have been invited to join the qualifying stage. Australia, China, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Netherlands, Puerto Rico, United States and Venezuela have already qualified following the results of the 2009 tournament.

MLB commissioner Bud Selig stated: “Growing the game of baseball around the globe is the primary objective of the World Baseball Classic. By expanding the competitive field of the 2013 tournament, we are demonstrating our commitment to this goal and reinforcing that the WBC is the premier showcase of baseball around the globe.”

The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) has confirmed that the 2016 World Championships will take place in the Russian cities of St Petersburg and Moscow, with Skoda renewing as an official sponsor of the event until 2017

Denmark and Ukraine both withdrew from the bidding tender after they were convinced of the strength of the Russian bid, according to the IIHF, and the 2016 World Championship will coincide with the 70-year anniversary of the introduction of ice hockey to the country.

Russian Hockey Federation president Vladislav Tretyak stated: “Our bid is based on our experience of organising IIHF World Championships and world-class sporting events. We are not inflating the budget, as we say in Russia, because we already have two world-class venues ready, and can use the money for other important things of organizing a tournament.”

According to Yuri Nagornykh, Russia’s Deputy Minister of Sports, Tourism and Youth, visa procedures are to be relaxed for the event, adding: “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will send special directions to countries with high interest in the 2016 IIHF World Championship so they will get visas easily. We are also discussing visa-free travelling with the European Union and other countries.”

Meanwhile, Czech car manufacturer Skoda has been secured by Infront Sports & Media as a renewed Official Sponsor of the World Championships until 2017, taking it’s partnership with the IIHF up to a quarter century milestone.

The new agreement covers the period from 2012 to 2017 and is a continuation not only of the main sponsorship, but also of Škoda’s role as Official Car Partner.

Winfried Vahland, Head of Škoda, explained: “We are happy to be the Official Main Sponsor of the IIHF World Championship for another six years and thus to continue an extremely successful
partnership. ŠKODA is putting the pedal to the metal on the international markets. Until 2018, we want to at least double our sales to about 1.5 million vehicles. The fascination with ice hockey
is a perfect fit for ŠKODA. The power of the sport will continue to support us on our future growth course.”

Dr René Fasel, President of the IIHF, said: “Škoda’s involvement with the IIHF World Championship and its continued visual presence in national and international ice hockey has made the brand and the sport become almost inseparable. The long-term commitment speaks for itself in regards to the strength of the work achieved by all parties. I am pleased that Škoda, the IIHF and Infront will remain fully aligned to annually deliver the top event in international ice hockey. Reliable partners such as Škoda build the foundation for the continued and successful development of the tournament.”

Philippe Blatter, President & CEO of Infront, added: “This year’s IIHF World Championship is the first major sports event where Škoda promotes its new corporate identity – a confirmation for the
high value of the IIHF platform for marketing partners. The continued collaboration allows all parties involved to take on a long-term perspective and raise this partnership to new heights. Supported by
Infront’s tailored services, Škoda can further develop as well as activate its sponsorship – to reach ambitious marketing objectives. We are convinced that the steadfast commitment by Škoda for the IIHF World Championship will also be a benchmark and driving force for other marketing partners.”

European football’s governing body Uefa has approved the match schedule for the Euro 2012 finals, it has been announced.

There had been some fears some of the stadiums in the co-host cities of Ukraine and Poland would not be ready in time, but Uefa has now approved eight venues in both Ukraine and Poland at an executivee meeting in Minsk this week.

Poland will stage games in Warsaw, Wroclaw, Poznan and Gdansk, while Kiev, Donetsk, Kharkiv and Lviv will hold matches in Ukraine.

Uefa released a statement which said: “In Poland, Wroclaw and Poznan will host three group stage matches, while Gdansk will stage three group stage matches and a quarter-final.

“Warsaw will host three group stage fixtures, including the opening Group A game featuring Poland, a quarter-final and a semi-final. Poland will play their second group match in Warsaw, and their third in Wroclaw.”

The tournament will take place between 8 June and 1 July 2012.

Co-owner of Premier League side West Ham United, David Gold, has said that former England captain David Beckham could play a key role in helping the club move to the Olympic Stadium after the London 2012 Games.

Beckham played an important part in helping London get the 2012 Games, and is undertaking a similar role for England’s bid to host the FIFA World Cup in 2018 or 2022.

Gold said: “David Beckham could play a massive part, because of his roots, in helping West Ham win the Olympic Stadium.

“We know what a great ambassador he is. Now we see David as not just an ambassador for West Ham but also for East London where it all started for him.”

West Ham are one of several bidders to take over the stadium following the Games.