Maceio in Brazil has been announced as the host of the first edition of the ‘International University Beach Games’ this Autumn, buy the International University Sports Federation (FISU) has revealed.

The event launched with CBDU, its Brazilian Member Association, will take place between 30 Nov. to 8 Dec., 2014.

This new competition welcomes university teams representing their universities, from all countries worldwide while the age-bracket for participation is the same as in the other FISU events (17 to 28 years of age). Athletes will compete in six beach sports, i.e. beach volleyball, beach soccer, beach handball, beach rugby, beach triathlon and surfing. 

The Australian Rugby Union has revealed a $19.5 million surplus for 2013.

The announcement of a surplus was in a year that saw the return of the British & Irish Lions to Australia; increased participation; a new Head Coach for the Qantas Wallabies; and a new strategy to grow the game.

The 2013 financial results were presented to the Australian Rugby Union 2013 Annual General Meeting.

ARU Chairman Michael Hawker AM said 2013 had been a year to reunite and re-energise the Australian Rugby community.

“The British & Irish Lions Tour generated a significant surplus for us in 2013 and will help steer Australian Rugby towards future success on and off the field, symptoms ” Mr Hawker said.

“We continue to play an important role in the Australian sporting landscape for fans, herbal players, sponsors and volunteers and have three key areas of focus under the new strategy – expand participation; develop elite success; and unlock our financial potential.”

Mr Hawker said building a sustainable financial model for Australian Rugby remains the number one priority for the Board and Executive in the year ahead as operating deficits are expected for 2014 and 2015.

“Our efforts to reduce Australian Rugby’s cost base and unlock new sources of revenue will continue in 2014 as we work to develop a business model that is less reliant on one-off windfalls and provides the ability to strategically invest in the growth of our game.”

With the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games set to begin, physician Worldwide Olympic Partner Procter & Gamble have unveiled a new advertising campaign labelled “Tough Love, prostate | ” its first spot created specifically for the Paralympics

Narrated by Amy Purdy, “Tough Love” celebrates Paralympians and the moms and families that support them on their journeys. The spot tells the extraordinary stories of Paralympic athletes and their moms, capturing their daily courage, determination, creativity, toughness and ultimate joy when they succeed against great odds. “Tough Love” is part of P&G’s Thank You, Mom campaign, which also features the “Raising an Olympian” film series, showcasing the journey of 28 world-class athletes, including Canadian Paralympian Greg Westlake as seen through the eyes of his mom.

“We’re committed to raising awareness and sharing excitement around the Paralympic Games,” said Jodi Allen, P&G VP of North American Marketing and Brand Operations. “No athlete gets to the Olympic or Paralympic Games alone. This is even more true of Paralympians, whose moms suspend fear and exhibit tremendous courage and resourcefulness in supporting their kids’ dreams, day in and day out, even in the face of naysayers. Through ‘Tough Love’, we want to honour and showcase their stories, and through them all moms who support their kids’ dreams.”

“My mom never gave me special treatment; instead she gave me the opportunity to try whatever I wanted to do,” said Greg Westlake. “It was this sense of normalcy that helped me get to where I am today and why ’Tough Love’ really resonates with me.”

“While I was absolutely heartbroken when the doctors told me that Greg would have to have both legs amputated at such a young age, I didn’t treat him any differently and instead we tried every able-body sport out there before he found his love for sledge hockey,” said Deborah Westlake. “I’m so proud of what Greg has accomplished and I can’t thank P&G enough for helping us share our story and show the world and other people facing similar challenges that with a little determination and some ‘tough love’ amazing things can be achieved.”

Bundesliga 2 club Sportclub Paderborn 07 and 3rd Liga team Chemnitzer Fc have announced international sports marketing company Infront Sports & Media as their new marketing partner.

Infront is to acquire the existing mandates for the overall marketing of the two clubs in the 2. Bundesliga and 3. Liga respectively from the sportsman media group, ailment with immediate effect. The current sponsorship agreements remain unaffected by the transaction; the purchase price will not be disclosed.

SC Paderborn 07 and Chemnitzer FC will supplement the comprehensive club portfolio of the Infront Germany subsidiary. The sportsman media group’s existing marketing teams in Paderborn and Chemnitz will be integrated into Infront Germany and be supported through the headquarters in Frankfurt. Both mandates include the marketing of all commercial rights, cure including main sponsor, generic stadium naming partner, suppliers and hospitality with Paderborn until at least 2020/21 and with Chemnitz until at least 2023/24.

Reinhardt Weinberger, Managing Director of Infront Germany, added: “SC Paderborn 07 and Chemnitzer FC are two clubs with a long tradition, a strong fan base and they make an outstanding addition to our portfolio of clubs in Germany. For both clubs the sales focus will continue to be on the region — beyond which we will be supporting the teams with our nationwide network. The clubs and their existing sponsors and fans can be confident of a smooth transition and the Infront group’s high standard of quality. It helps that we are able to build on the outstanding work the sportsman has accomplished in recent years.”

Wilfried Finke, President of SC Paderborn 07, commented: “Infront is one of the leading marketers in German and international football. We are convinced that, with its many years of experience and its vast network, the company is ideally equipped to help us exploit the commercial potential of SC Paderborn 07 and build on the excellent, fruitful relationship we have had with the sportsman.”

Mathias Hänel, President of Chemnitzer FC, added: “Infront has an excellent track record in the club business and strong sales structures for all marketing rights. It is our hope that Chemnitzer FC will also benefit from these things — particularly since there will be new and attractive marketing opportunities associated with our new stadium opening in 2015. We thank the sportsman for the work it has done and look forward to our future partnership with the Infront Group.”

The Chilean FA has followed Argentina in signing an agreement to be based in central Belo Horizonte during next year’s FIFA World Cup.

The agreement was signed between Chilean FA President,Sergio Jadue, and reigning Brazilian league champions, Cruzeiro, to use their world class facilities during next year’s tournament. 

Known as ‘Toca da Raposa’ [The Fox Hole], the state of the art facility, regarded as one of the best training centres in Brazil, occupies 8,300 square metres and is complete with four full sized football pitches, a heated swimming pool and an on-site 25 room hotel with restaurants, games rooms, a movie theatre, administrative offices and a media centre.

Located in Belo Horizonte’s Pampulha district, Toca da Raposa is only 8km from the newly renovated Mineirão Stadium, the 62,500 seat multi-purpose venue that will host six matches, including a semi-final during next year’s tournament.

The news follows the announcement in October that Argentina will also be based in Belo Horizonte, at Atlético Mineiro’s Cidade do Galo training complex.

Argentina, along with England, Colombia, Belgium, Greece, Algeria, Iran and Costa Rica will play group games in Belo Horizonte and if hosts and tournament favourites, Brazil, win their group, they will also play their last 16 match in the city.

Speaking about the announcement, Sergio Jadue, President of the Chilean FA, said: “This is a modern training centre with the appropriate privacy for the team and our delegation, it’s not by accident that Cruzeiro are the 2013 Brazilian league champions.”

Camillo Fraga, Municipal Secretary for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil, said: “We are delighted that Chile, alongside Argentina, will use Belo Horizonte as a base during the FIFA World Cup and we welcome their players, officials and fans. This is a big boost for the city and an excellent opportunity for us to welcome tourists from neighbouring Latin American countries as well those who will travel in from around the world.

“The fact that two top class teams will use Belo Horizonte and its fantastic facilities is a great endorsement for the city and it makes us very proud. The FIFA World Cup is providing us with an opportunity to show the world what the city has to offer and we must capitalise on this to create a lasting legacy of international sports events and improved infrastructure that will benefit the whole of the region.

“Our plans are really taking shape ahead of this wonderful festival football and we are excited and ready to welcome world the Belo Horizonte.”

FIBA Europe President Olafur Rafnsson has unexpectedly passed away at the age of 50.

Mr Rafnsson died during a visit to Geneva, where he had been attending Tuesday’s official opening of FIBA’s new headquarters.

He was President of the National Olympic Association of Iceland and was elected to the Presidency of FIBA Europe in 2010.

Mr Rafnsson was a former player and won the Icelandic Championship in 1988 as part of the Haukar team.

His colleagues at FIBA paid tribute.

“It is with great sadness that we heard of Olaf’s passing. On behalf of FIBA and of the basketball community as a whole, we want to offer our condolences to his family and loved ones,” said FIBA Secretary General and International Olympic Committee (IOC) Member Patrick Baumann.

“He did a lot of good for sports – in particular for basketball – over the course of his life.

“He had success as a basketball player in his native Iceland and made a smooth transition into sports administration, where he served as President of the country’s national Olympic association.

“After being elected President of FIBA Europe in 2010, he played a major role in the triumph that was EuroBasket 2011 in Lithuania.

“He will be sorely missed.”

FIBA President Yvan Mainini joined Mr Baumann in paying homage to Mr Rafnsson.

“Olaf was very much liked and respected by his colleagues and peers in the world of basketball and beyond,” he said.

“While Iceland is a cold place, Olaf was very much a warm person,” he pointed out, recalling a visit to Mr Rafnsson in Iceland.

“It is a very sad time for the basketball community but the best way possible to remember and honour Olaf is to carry on his work in Europe and do so all together, united.

“At this moment in time, our thoughts are with Olaf’s family.”

A fresh despute about pay has left the Bangladesh Premier League reeling after International cricket stars threatened to quit.

The second edition of the BPL has already been deprived of any Pakistani players after they were prevented by their national board from taking part on the eve of the tournament.

Now players from five of the BPL’s seven teams could walk away in the middle of the competition unless they receive the salaries that they were promised, according to officials and their representatives.

The owner of the Dhaka Gladiators, which won last year’s inaugural tournament, confirmed that ex-England player Owais Shah was among the players who are threatening to pull out of the competition.

“Shah and some other players have threatened to pull out if they are not paid their due fees immediately,” Salim Chowdhury told AFP.

The inaugural tournament last year was also marred by complaints from players who said teams failed to pay out their full dues or on time.

To avoid a repeat scenario, new rules were set up to make it mandatory for the teams to deposit 25 per cent of their players’ fees with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) which would then hand over the cash.

Chowdhury blamed the board for the non-payment, insisting that his outfit had transferred the money.

But BCB spokesman Jalal Yunus said only two teams including the Gladiators had so far fulfilled their commitment to deposit money with the board, adding that he hoped payments would come through in the next few days.

‘We hope we’ll receive all payments by Saturday,’ he told AFP.

The Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations (FICA) said ‘many’ players remained unpaid and their patience has worn thin.

“The players are very seriously considering some sort of boycott simply because there is little else they can do,” FICA chief executive Tim May told ESPNcricinfo.

The inaugural edition was also hit by allegations of spot fixing, resulting in the suspension of an ex-Bangladesh cricketer and arrest of a Pakistani national.