MP & Silva has agreed a deal for the international media rights distribution of the FIVB Club World Volleyball Championship 2010, featuring eight of the world’s top men’s teams and six of the leading women’s teams.

This year, world volleyball’s top club competition has been expanded to include a women’s tournament, for the first time since 1994. Men’s and women’s matches will alternate throughout the event, which runs from 15 to 21 December in Doha, Qatar. The tournament will have a round-robin format to determine the overall ranking and classification before semifinals and final.

Under the terms of the agreement, MP & Silva will undertake the global media distribution responsibilities – with the exception of Middle East and North Africa – for all telecommunication platforms and formats, including terrestrial free-to-air television, satellite and cable television, IPTV, mobile television, mobile, and internet and broadband television.

Paul the octopus, who shot to fame during this year’s FIFA World Cup™ in South Africa for his flawless record in predicting game outcomes, has died, his aquarium in Germany said today.

“Management and staff at the Oberhausen Sea Life Centre were devastated to discover that oracle octopus Paul, who achieved global renown during the recent World Cup, had passed away overnight,” the aquarium said in a sombre statement.

Paul beat the odds during the FIFA World Cup by correctly forecasting all eight games he was asked to predict, including Spain’s 1-0 win over the Netherlands in the final.

Paul’s body is now in cold storage while the aquarium decides “how best to mark his passing.”

“We may decide to give Paul his own small burial plot within our grounds and erect a modest permanent shrine,” said Sea Life manager Stefan Porwoll.

“While this may seem a curious thing to do for a sea creature, Paul achieved such popularity during his short life that it may be deemed the most appropriate course of action.”

International law firm Norton Rose has become the exclusive legal advice partner of Munich’s bid committee to host the 2018 Winter Olympic Games, it has been announced.

The firm will provide support to the German city’s bid to host the Games during the candidate city phase, where it faces competition from Annecy, France and PyeongChang, South Korea.

Munich 2018 CEO, Willy Bogner, said: “Norton Rose’s support comes at exactly the right time to boost our preparation of the bid book. We need a large number of contracts and guarantees with local authorities, so we will make full use of their extensive legal expertise.

“This partnership will enable us to continue uniting every level of German society, from individuals to governments, from local businesses to international corporations, in passionate support of Munich’s bid to host the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

“With Norton Rose we have won a partner with a highly influential international network. During the candidate city stage, these international contacts will be an invaluable asset in helping us tell our story all over the world.”

Dr Alexander Von Bergwelt, managing partner of Norton Rose in Germany, added: “Norton Rose is a sports-minded law firm. Naturally, we support Munich’s application to host the Winter Games in 2018. We have local roots and a global presence, with our network of 30 offices all over the world and our lawyers cover all relevant areas of legal expertise.

“This allows us to provide optimal support to the bid committee, particularly drafting the bid book, which will form an important basis for selecting the 2018 host city.”

Canada and England have been announced as the latest hosts for the IRB Women’s Sevens World Series. 

Langford in British Columbia will welcome the women’s competition to its shores as it hosts round four of the series on April 18-19, 2015 at the Westhills Stadium, Langford, British Columbia. The penultimate round of the series visits London where the action comes to the Twickenham Stoop on the same weekend as the men’s HSBC Sevens World Series.

In keeping with the last two seasons, the 2014/15 series will kick off in 7he Sevens Stadium in Dubai on December 4 and 5 alongside the men’s series.

With the Road to Rio getting even shorter, the women’s series will again return to Brazil just over a year out from the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Sao Paulo will play host to the event on February 7 and 8.

Teams will travel to the United States the following month where Atlanta will host round three of the tournament in Kennesaw State University on March 14 and 15.

With their women’s sevens side now a consistent feature at the top end of the women’s standings, Canada will welcome the series to Langford on April 18 and 19.

The last two rounds of the series will be contested in Europe with London hosting the fifth round at the Twickenham Stoop, with the final to be played next door in front of massive crowds at Twickenham Stadium.

Like last season, the series will conclude in the Netherlands as part of the Amsterdam Sevens.

IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset said: “The level of competition in the Women’s Sevens World Series is at an all-time high, and has been helped by the prospect of taking part in the Olympic Games in Rio in 2016.”

“We now have Canada and London added to the bill for the coming season and given the appetite for quality Rugby and the Sevens Game, I have no doubt that they will be excellent hosts when they welcome the women’s series to their shores next year.”

Surrey Sports Park in partnership with London United Basketball Club have become the owners of the Surrey British Basketball League (BBL) franchise which will now be known as Surrey United.

The former Surrey Heat will continue to play their home games at Surrey Sports Park.

Paul Blanchard of Surrey Sports Parks said of the new venture: “We are excited to be part of this new partnership which has secured the long-term stability of a professional BBL team in Surrey.

“Surrey has some of the most passionate basketball fans in the country and we hope they will unite behind this new franchise and continue to support the long history of top-level basketball in the county.”

Emma Chambers of London United Basketball Club said: “The project is limitless and there are so many factors that can make us successful. We want to create a programme which provides the dedicated Surrey fans with a competitive BBL team consisting of exciting talent, recipe but also by engaging with the community and building strong foundations to develop young talent in the Surrey area. We are completely committed to building a long term sustainable project benefiting from stable partnerships with academic institutions and Surrey Sports Park. We are fully aware of the passionate following of basketball in the Surrey area and hope to give much needed security to the Surrey fans and community.”

Andy Webb Chief Operating Officer of the BBL confirmed the change, “The BBL believes the franchise has been strengthened by the changes and we look forward to working with the new Board. There is a significant opportunity for the increased growth of basketball in the Surrey area, and we believe the additional resources this transaction enables will help make that happen.”