The Jockey Club, the largest commercial group in British horseracing, have today revealed they have selected leading constructor, Kier, as the main contractor to deliver its £45m grandstand development at its flagship Cheltenham Racecourse in time for The Festival 2016.

Work will start on the development, which was subject to financing, immediately following the end of next week’s Cheltenham Festival after The Jockey Club also today announced it has secured all £45m funding required for what amounts to its largest-ever single capital investment project. Around 235,000 people are expected to attend on the Home of Jump racing between Tuesday 11^th and Friday 14^th March 2014.

The funding package includes nearly £25m successfully raised through The Jockey Club Racecourse Bond – the first retail bond in British sport. The remaining £20m has been secured through a combination of bank financing via The Jockey Club’s syndicate banks – HSBC, AIB and RBS, a Levy Board capital fund loan, commercial deals and the Group’s available cashflow from trading.

Kier’s appointment follows a highly competitive tender process involving several leading construction firms. Kier has delivered several major projects at Cheltenham Racecourse, including the £17m construction of The Centaur building, one of the largest events spaces in the South West of England. Kier’s Cheltenham office will lead the development, meaning an immediate positive economic impact for the local area, with many of those who will work on the development living locally.

The development will create a state-of-the-art new grandstand alongside Cheltenham’s existing main grandstand. It will include new annual members’ facilities, general public viewing areas, private boxes, a Super Club and the Royal Box. 

Nicholas Wrigley, Senior Steward (equivalent to Chairman) of The Jockey Club, said: “We have raised the £45 million required for our major development at the home of Jump racing ahead of schedule. This exciting project will add much to the customer experience at Cheltenham.

“In the last thirty years, more than £80 million has been spent on Cheltenham’s facilities. It is fitting our Group’s largest ever single investment coincides with the 50^th anniversary of Racecourse Holdings Trust, which was formed in 1964 to acquire and protect Cheltenham Racecourse, then later became Jockey Club Racecourses.

“I should like to congratulate The Jockey Club executive, our Cheltenham development funding group and the racecourse team for swiftly and efficiently securing the financing package for this important next step in Cheltenham’s future.”

Ian Renton, Cheltenham and South West Regional Director for Jockey Club Racecourses, said: “I’m delighted the full funding required for our new grandstand has been secured and welcome Kier to the project as our main contractor following their highly impressive tender. We will work closely together to ensure the development is delivered on time and within budget.

“The new grandstand has been designed to provide improved facilities for all racegoers as well as racehorse owners, trainers, boxholders and those joining our new Super Club. The building work will begin in earnest after The Festival next month and we have an exciting 22 months ahead until it is ready in time for The Festival in 2016.”

Miramont Country Club in Bryan, Texas, will host the 2014 and 2015 Junior PGA Championships, it has been announced.

One of the America’s premier events in junior golf, the Junior PGA Championship has been a stepping stone to both collegiate and professional careers for many of golf’s past and current performers.

Miramont Country Club, which opened in 2005, becomes the first facility in Texas to host the Junior PGA Championship. The par-72 layout, which is currently ranked No. 13 in Texas by Golf Digest’s “Best in State Rankings,” will provide a challenging test for participants in both the boys’ and girls’ divisions.

The 2014 Championship will be conducted from July 29 – Aug. 1, and the 2015 Championship, Aug. 3-6. The 2014 Championship will also serve as the final qualifying event to make the 2014 U.S. Junior Ryder Cup Team, which will be contested Sept. 22-23, at Blairgowrie Golf Club in Perthshire, Scotland.

“We are extremely proud of the fact that the Junior PGA Championship has evolved into one of the most prestigious in all of junior golf, and has helped produce some of the most accomplished players in our game today,” said PGA of America President Ted Bishop. “The PGA of America is also looking forward to bringing this Championship to a wonderful facility like Miramont Country Club over the next two years.”

Brad Lardon, PGA director of golf at Miramont Country Club, said he is eager to host the Junior PGA Championship.

“We have always wanted to support amateur and junior golf,” said Lardon. “Everyone associated with Miramont Country Club is thrilled to host the Junior PGA Championship over the next two years.”

Begun in 1976, the Junior PGA Championship has been a popular stop on the national junior circuit for many of today’s PGA and LPGA touring professionals.

Past competitors who have gone on to successful professional careers include: Cristie Kerr, Phil Mickelson, Inbee Park, Dottie Pepper, Jordan Spieth, David Toms, Alexis Thompson and Tiger Woods.

Mallory Park, a Leicestershire motor racing circuit which has hosted British Superbikes, has new operators. 

Stuart Hicken and Eddie Roberts have formed a jointly-owned company – Real Motorsport Limited – to run the circuit on a day-to-day basis. 

They commented: “This is a great day for us both. We have grown up with Mallory Park, firstly as spectators, then as competitors and now running businesses associated with the sport”. 

Eddie owns Complog, a leading worldwide retailer of motorcycle tyres which also supplies the British Superbike Series. He enjoyed a 20-year racing career, which saw him compete in many events, including Grands Prix and the Isle of Man TT. 

Stuart is owner of the Buildbase BMW Motorrad UK British Superbike Team. He started racing in the late 1960s, then managed successful racing teams for others, before setting up his own Hawk Racing squad. Stuart’s career also included several years at Mallory Park. 

The previous operating company went into administration, after a series of problems associated with the contravening of agreed noise regulations. 

Both men commented: “We realise that there is a lot of bridge building to be done with the local community, but Mallory Park has been here for a long time and we are hopeful that – with understanding all round – it will have a long and successful future. We would like to thank circuit owner Chris Meek for giving us the opportunity of re-establishing Mallory Park and also Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council for advice regarding noise issues and the community”. 

The pair will now start a programme of works to get the circuit into shape for the forthcoming season and plan to stage their first race meeting in the spring, together with a programme of practice and track hire days.

The International Boxing Association (AIBA) Executive Committee has awarded the 2014 AIBA Congress to Jeju Island, tadalafil Korea.

“On behalf of the Boxing Association of Korea, for sale I would like to convey my deepest appreciation to the AIBA Executive Committee for its decision to hold the 2014 AIBA Congress in Jeju”, no rx expressed Mr Yoon Seok Chang, President of the Boxing Association of Korea. “I am convinced that this will significantly contribute to the development of the sport of boxing in Korea. We are honored and encouraged by this decision.” 

“We are delighted to have been nominated as hosts of the 2014 AIBA Congress”, said Mr. Keun-min Woo, Governor of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province. “This event will celebrate a new era for the sport of boxing in Korea after a few difficult years. We ensure AIBA of our full support to host its 195 National Member Federations in the best possible conditions.” 

As defined in the AIBA Statutes: “The Congress is an assembly to which all eligible AIBA National Member Federations are convened at least once every four years. The Congress is the supreme body of AIBA.”

The Bowl Championship Series is set to be renamed the the College Football Playoff from 2014, stuff the BCS conference commissioners announced today.

They also will choose the remaining three sites for the six-bowl semifinal rotation in the new system and the site of the first championship game to be held Jan. 12, decease 2015, this week.

”We’ve decided to call the playoff what it is – the College Football Playoff,” BCS executive director Bill Hancock, who will hold the same position in the playoff system, said in a statement.

Premiere Sports Management in Overland Park, Kan., was hired to help come up with a name and brand the new system.

Before the news was reported, Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany said he’d be happy with whatever was selected.

”I’m am not good with names – obviously,” Delany said during a break in the meetings, referring to the Big Ten’s division names, Legends and Leaders, that produced so much negative feedback the conference has already decided to change them.

The new postseason format will create two national semifinals to be played New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day, with the winners advancing. The six bowls in the playoff rotation will host marquee, BCS-type games on New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day during the seasons they do not host a semifinal.

Three semifinal spots have already been decided: the Rose, Orange and Sugar bowls.

Four other bowls have bid for the final three spots. The clear front-runners are the Cotton, Chick-fil-A and Fiesta. The Holiday Bowl in San Diego also put in a bid, but even its organizers have acknowledged they are a long shot at best to land the game.

Those decisions will be announced Wednesday.

The coaches on the Big 12?s spring teleconference were already talking about the Cotton Bowl having a spot in the rotation as if it was a done deal.

”I think it’s really exciting for this region, for everybody, and I think all of the schools in this region, to have Dallas as one of those sites is great for everybody in this region, and exciting for everybody,” Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said. ”Obviously, everybody knows what a great and quality, what an awesome stadium it is, then the location for us is an advantage, or should be.”

The first semifinals will be played at the Rose and Sugar bowls.

”I’m glad it has [been competative],” Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby said. ”I think it will give us a better outcome.”

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) announced that it has entered into an agreement with StarGames to launch World Tennis Day to help promote tennis participation around the world.

The inaugural World Tennis Day will be held on Monday 4 March 2013 as part of the 2013 ITF Centenary activities.

World Tennis Day will be centred around a series of high profile exhibition events around the world, thumb including the well-established BNP Paribas Showdown in New York’s Madison Square Garden. Each of the events, ailment organised by the promoter StarGames, arthritis will feature current and former professionals together with demonstrations of the ITF’s Tennis10sprogramme aimed at increasing participation among young players around the world.   

Alongside these events, the ITF will be encouraging its 210 National Associations to support World Tennis Day with their own grassroots and club activities to attract new participants to the sport.

The United States Tennis Association (USTA) has already established the successful Tennis Night in America in conjunction with the BNP Paribas Showdown in which clubs are asked to open their doors as part of a month-long drive to get children playing the sport. Over 2,200 clubs in the United States took part in this initiative in 2012.

Several other National Associations have already pledged their support to join the USTA in World Tennis Day activities in 2013, including Davis Cup finalists Czech Republic and Spain, plus Argentina, Brazil, Hong Kong, India, Mexico, Norway, Portugal and South Africa. Announcements about further exhibition events will be made soon.

The ITF’s Tennis10s programme, which promotes the use of slower and lower bouncing balls, shorter and lighter rackets, and smaller courts to make it easier for children to take up the game. Tennis10s is a supporting programme of the Tennis Play and Stay campaign, the ITF’s global initiative launched in 2007 aimed at increasing tennis participation worldwide. Tennis Play and Stay centres around the slogan of ‘Serve, Rally and Score’ and seeks to promote tennis as an easy, fun and healthy sport.

“We look forward to World Tennis Day as a way to put a spotlight on tennis participation,” said ITF President Francesco Ricci Bitti. “The very successful Tennis Night in America, staged by the USTA in association with StarGames, is an example of how special events and participation activities can be combined successfully. We look forward to events around the world over the next few years, and to see our 210 member national associations get behind World Tennis Day with activities in their own countries on that day.”

Ivo Kaderka, president of the Czech Tennis Association (CTA), said: “We think World Tennis Day will be very good for tennis worldwide and the CTA looks forward to getting involved in this initiative.” Anil Khanna, President of the Asian Tennis Federation and All India Tennis Association, said: “We will be delighted to support World Tennis Day.”

Jerry Solomon, President and CEO of StarGames, said: “Our partnerships with the USTA on Tennis Night in America and BNP Paribas on the Showdown have proven successful so to be able to expand this to World Tennis Day in partnership with the ITF and its 210 member nations is a unique opportunity. I want to thank the ITFleadership for sharing our vision and look forward to the day when World Tennis Day brings focus to the sport through multiple special events combined with the Tennis10s programme across the globe.”

“Tennis Play and Stay and Tennis10s are programmes with proven success in growing participation,” said Dave Miley, ITF Executive Director of Development. “This initiative will give both the ITF and our member nations a great opportunity to showcase and draw extra attention to what they are doing to grow tennis in their countries through World Tennis Day.”

The Germany city of Braunschweig and the Russian city of Cheboksary will host the top leagues of the 2014 and 2015 European Athletics Team Championships, sale following decisions by the European Athletics Council on Saturday.

Braunschweig prevailed over Ostrava (Czech Republic) in the contest to host the top division of the 2014 championships, sales while Cheboksary was the sole bidder for 2015.

European Athletics President Hansjörg Wirz said: “We congratulate Braunschweig and Cheboksary and look forward to excellent European Athletics Team Championships in the summers of 2014 and 2015. 

“They have shown the Council that they are ready to host these prestigious championships in terms of competition, asthma logistics and promotion.

Each city delegation made its final presentation to the European Athletics Council during its 133rd meeting this weekend.

The 2-4 November Council meeting is taking place in Bucharest, Romania, at the Athenee Palace Hilton Hotel.

Gateshead will host the 2013 edition of the European Athletics Team Championships super league.

Scotland will bid to host the opening stages of the Tour de France.

EventScotland will collaborate with British Cycling UK to develop a formal proposal to stage the Grand Depart in Edinburgh, before the race heads south.

The organisation has been working towards bringing the tour to Scotland for a number of years, aiming to keep it in the UK for as long as possible.

Watched by around two billion people every year and attracting up to two million spectators to watch the opening stage, the Tour de France is one of the world’s largest sporting events.

The tour was last in the UK in 2007, when London and Kent hosted the Grand Depart and opening stages.

Officials expect 2017 to be an opportunity for another ‘mega-event’ following the 2012 Olympic Games and 2014 Commonwealth Games, and the proposal has received full backing from the Scottish Government.

Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond said: “Scotland has a strong relationship with the international cycling community, and I am delighted that a proposal is being developed for the opening stages of the Tour de France.

“To bring such a fantastic event to Scotland would be a huge coup, but we have a strong track record and I know that the country has a huge amount to offer ASO and the cyclists taking part.

“The Scottish Government is committed to supporting major international events, and I have no doubt that the combined expertise of the UK partners would lead to a first-class opening stage of the Tour.”

Discussions are currently ongoing between UK partners and tour organisers, with particular support from UK Sport.

Simon Morton, director of Major Events and International Relations at UK Sport, said: “Our ambition after the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games is to attract some of the world’s most prestigious sporting events to the UK and cement our position as one of the world’s leading host nations. We have already secured the 2015 World Gymnastics Championships in Glasgow and 2017 World Athletics Championships in London, to name a few.

“The Tour de France is a spectacular competition, and would provide a fantastic opportunity to engage the British public in the sport, so we welcome the opportunity to work with EventScotland and British Cycling to look at bringing the opening stages to the UK in 2017.”

FIFA has imposed worldwide bans on six Zambian players involved in a match-fixing scandal in Finland after the conclusion of their appeal.

physician 255, 255, 0.917969);”>The six men played for Rovaniemi Palloseura and were originally convicted of accepting bribes of $15,000 to $57,000 each to affect the outcome of matches.

The Football Association of Finland (Faf) had already banned Godfrey Chibanga, Chileshe Chibwe, Steven Kunda, Christopher Musonda, Chanda Mwaba and Nchimunya Mweetwa who were given suspended jail sentences.

But the Faf bans handed out after their convictions in 2011 have now been extended by FIFA to cover football globally.

FIFA’s disciplinary committee has hailed the sanctions to be “another important decision in its fight against match-fixing”.

The investigation centred on a Singaporean man, Wilson Raj Perumal, who was sentenced to two years in prison after earning $210,000 by fixing results in Finnish league matches.

Perumal was originally arrested in February 2011 after entering Finland using a fake passport and was later convicted of illegal border crossing and forgery as well as bribery.

FIFA also suspected Perumal had fixed international games featuring Asian and African national teams.