IMG Looks to Sell Sponsorship for Action Sports Event

IMG, bronchi through their Swiss subsidiary IMG Schweiz, herbal have agreed to market action sports event, mind  freestyle.ch.

freestyle.ch, one of the biggest action sports events in Europe, consists of competitions in the four disciplines of snowboard, freeski, FMX (motorcycle) and skateboard. Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, the two day event will be televised internationally and is expected to attract over 30,000 spectators.

IMG Schweiz takes over the exclusive marketing mandate for this event with immediate effect, thus offering its partners the opportunity to appear at freestyle.ch as sponsors.

Peter Hürlimann, CEO of freestyle.ch, is delighted with the collaboration: “With IMG, we have the world’s leading event marketer by our side and this partnership is certain to produce many new and exciting opportunities.”

Jürgen Krucker, Managing Director of IMG Schweiz, sees the project as a good platform for sponsors: “freestyle.ch is a strong product with extensive national and international media coverage and many direct contacts on the ground. The combination of four integrated sports makes this trendy lifestyle event unique. It is an excellent opportunity for sponsors to raise their profile.”

The next freestyle.ch will take place on 27 and 28 September 2014.

Work on World Cup Stadium Suspended Following Fatality

Work has been halted on the Arena Amazonia in Manaus, which will host four World Cup matches in 2014 and England’s opening match against Italy, following a fatality at the stadium.

A construction worker died at the site on Saturday, prompting a labour court to order a halt to all work being conducted high above ground until they are satisfied that conditions are safe.

England are set to kick off their Group D campaign at the stadium on June 14 against Italy and the tragedy is the latest in a series of setbacks for organisers.

The state government’s unit responsible for overseeing the construction is confident though that the suspension will be lifted soon.

A statement from the Amazonas state government read: “During the day on Saturday and Sunday the Amazon state government, through the project management unit of the World Cup, was at the construction site of the Arena Amazonia watching the work performed on site after the fatality occurred early on Saturday.

“Around noon on Sunday we took note of the notification of the Labour Court for the immediate partial stoppage of work. The decision should be applied to activities (carried out at) height, notably cover mounting and on the facade of the stadium.

“The decision was immediately acted upon by (construction company Andrade Gutierrez) and it is taking the appropriate measures for the full resumption of work. Other services will continue normally, starting from Monday.”

The three other matches the venue is set to host at the World Cup is Cameroon/Croatia, USA/Portugal and Honduras/Switzerland.

The death in Manaus brings the number of workers killed during construction of World Cup venues to five, including two who died last month when a crane collapsed at the Itaquera Arena in Sao Paulo, which is to hold the opening ceremony and first match of the finals between Brazil and Croatia.

FIFA has said the Sao Paulo stadium will not be completed until mid-April now, less than two months before the start of the tournament.

The world governing body extended its sympathies after the latest death.

A statement said: “FIFA and the local organising committee (LOC) learnt of the death of the worker on Saturday at the Arena Amazonia site with great sadness.

“We would like to send our most sincere condolences to his family, relatives, colleagues and friends.”

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Laguna Seca Cut from 2014 MotoGP Provisional Calendar

Laguna Seca has been left off the 2014 MotoGP provisional calendar published on Wednesday leaving the United States with only two races for 19-race season.

The Americas Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, and Indianapolis GP both remain on the calendar with April and August dates respectively.

Spain, home of world champion Jorge Lorenzo and championship leader Marc Marquez as well as promoters Dorna, continues to have four races.

Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca said in a statement that it could no longer compete with the other two U.S. venues.

“For 25 years…Laguna Seca has served as the ‘home’ for Grand Prix motorcycle racing in the United States, having staged 15 world championship Grands Prix since 1988,” it said.

“Unfortunately, and in spite of loyal support from fans, sponsors and media, there will not be a 16th U.S. Grand Prix in 2014.

“At this time, the U.S. is only able to support two MotoGP events. The support provided by the states of Texas and Indiana make it difficult for us, as a not-for-profit, to currently compete.”

Brazil and Argentina have both returned to the calendar. Argentina, with a race at the new Termas de Rio Hondo circuit, will be on April 27 with Brasilia hosting Brazil’s race on September 28, subject to the track being homologated.

Brazil last hosted a race in 2004 while Argentina has been absent from the calendar since 1999.

Former USGA President William Campbell Passes Away

William Campbell, a former US Golf Association President and captain of the Royal Ancient, has died, the USGA has revealed.

Campbell, 90, died from causes incident to age at his home in Lewisburg, West Virginia, on Friday.

Although he decided against a professional playing career, Campbell was an influential figure in the game.

He appeared in 37 US Amateur Championships, winning the title in 1964.

He had a record of 7-0-1 in singles play in eight Walker Cup appearances, captaining the winning US team in the amateur match-play contest against Britain and Ireland in 1955.

His 17 appearances in the Masters remain a record for starts by an amateur at Augusta National.

He also won four North and South Amateurs, two Tam O’Shanter World Amateurs and captured the West Virginia Amateur 15 times.

From 1982 to 1983, Campbell served as president of the USGA, and in 1987, the Royal Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews — golf’s global governing body — named him captain, a term he served for one year.

He was also a member of the West Virginia State Legislature from 1948 to 1951.

Austrian GP Back on F1 Calendar after Red Bull Deal

Formula 1 is coming back to Austria after Red Bull struck a deal for the race to return to the calendar in 2014.

The Austrian-owned energy drinks’ company, which owns Formula 1’s World Champion team, announced via a statement in its homeland that F1 would return to the Red Bull Ring – the new name for the A1 Ring – for the first time since 2003.

“Dietrich Mateschitz and (F1 supremo) Bernie Ecclestone have reached an agreement to the effect that Formula One will return to Styria next year,” the statement read.

Austria last hosted a Formula 1 race in 2003, prior to it falling off the calendar when redevelopment plans at the Spielberg circuit stalled.

Its new owner Red Bull spent time considering what to do with the venue, prior to a major investment push that led to it reopening as the newly named Red Bull Ring in 2011.

The statement added that the revised race had been scheduled for 6 July 2014.

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BBL Champions Leicester Riders Unveil New Club Logo

British Basketball League (BBL) champions, Leicester Riders have unveiled a new club crest that represents the Riders History, the fans, the game, the community and the future. 

The modern design has been specially crafted to balance both the clubs history and its ambitions to move forward. This is depicted by a strong forward running horse and the introduction of the date the club was founded back in 1967.

Subsequently lending the Riders the title as the longest running team in the British Basketball League.The Riders are instantly identified by their signature colour red, which plays a vital role in the new design, which is both clean and dynamic.

There will be the opportunity to purchase Official merchandise with the club’s rebranded crest once the new website is launched this July.

Managing Director Russell Levenston commented ” Following our most successful season to date, we’re extremely excited about the new logo and brand for the the Club.  We have worked very closely with 5or6 who have done some fantastic work that we hope will make our fans proud”

LA Council Give Final Approval for NFL Stadium

The LA City Council today gave final approval to plans to build a new NFL stadium downtown, sick a key step in returning a pro football team to the nation’s No. 2 media market by 2017.

The $1.5 billion project, which includes upgrading a portion of the adjacent LA Convention Center, is the one proposed to be privately funded by Anshutz Entertainment Group — the same AEG that has just put itself up for sale.

The stadium—its naming rights already secured by Farmers Insurance as Farmers Field—ideally will  be ready for construction in March 2013, assuming any lawsuits against the project are resolved.

There are several candidates to eventually call Farmers Field home. The San Diego Chargers appear to be the front-runners, with the Oakland Raiders and Buffalo Bills also realistically in the mix. 

Deutsche Sporthilfe mit erfolgreichem Pfingst-Wochenende

Mit einer Matinee im Abgeordneten-Restaurant des Reichstags feierte die Deutsche
Sporthilfe im Beisein von Bundesinnenminister Dr. Hans-Peter Friedrich an Pfingstsamstag
ihren 45. Geburtstag – am 26. Mai 1967 wurde die Stiftung in Berlin gegründet. In seiner
Grußadresse unterstrich der Bundesinnenminister die “besondere Bedeutung der Sporthilfe
für die Gesellschaft. Sie ist Deutschlands wichtigste private Förderinstitution im Sport, medicine durch
die Vorbildfunktion des Spitzensports wirkt sie so auch in den Breitensport hinein. Machen
Sie weiter so! Deutschland braucht Sie!”
Mit einem Geburtstags-Scheck über 50.000 Euro legte die Bundesliga-Stiftung als Premium-
Partner der Deutschen Sporthilfe am Pfingstmontag im ZDF-Fernsehgarten nach. Der irische
Extremsportler Joey Kelly lief in einem Rekordversuch 24 Stunden lang in einem “Todesrad”,
die Bundesliga-Stiftung wollte je Umdrehung des Todesrads 5 Euro spenden. Am Ende
lief Kelly 53,2 km bei 6.255 Umdrehungen. Die erlaufene Summe von 31.275 Euro rundete
Geschäftsführer Kurt Gaugler großzügig auf einen Gesamtbetrag von 50.000 Euro auf – mit
Blick auf die kommende 50. Jubiläums-Saison der Fußball-Bundesliga.
Über diese Spende für den Förderhaushalt der Deutschen Sporthilfe wird sich besonders
Behindertensportler Valentin Baus freuen. Der 16-jährige Rollstuhl-Tischtennisspieler aus
Bochum wurde mit der Jubiläums-Fördernummer 45.000 in die Förderung der Deutschen
Sporthilfe aufgenommen. Er ist amtierender Deutschen Meister in seiner Wettkampfklasse.
“Ein Modell für die Welt” wollte der einflussreiche deutsche Sport-Funktionär Willi Daume,
damals Präsident des Deutschen Sportbundes (DSB) und des Nationalen Olympischen
Komitees für Deutschland (NOK), schaffen und entwickelte schon zu Beginn der 60er Jahre
angesichts zunehmender Professionalisierung im Sport die Vision eines eigenen bis dato
noch nicht gekannten Systems leistungssportlicher Förderung.
Am 26. Mai 1967 wurde dann beim Berliner Notar Carl Scholz die Stiftungsurkunde
unterzeichnet. Der erste Vorsitzende der Deutschen Sporthilfe, Josef Neckermann, verstand
es, die Vision Daumes umzusetzen. Als erfolgreicher Sportler und Unternehmer brillierte
er sowohl auf gesellschaftlichem Parkett, genoss aber auch hohen Respekt im Sport.
Leidenschaftlich stritt der zweifache Olympiasieger für die Förderung der Leistungssportler
in Deutschland. Er öffnete die Tore der Wirtschaft für den Sport und schuf die Strukturen, die
den Erfolg der Stiftung bis heute begründen.
Die Stiftung Deutsche Sporthilfe hat bis heute 45.000 deutsche Sportlerinnen und Sportler
mit rund 375 Millionen Euro unterstützt. 90 Prozent aller bundesdeutschen Medaillen bei
Olympischen Spielen, Welt- und Europameisterschaften wurden von Athletinnen und
Athleten gewonnen, die von ihr gefördert wurden.

Mit einer Matinee im Abgeordneten-Restaurant des Reichstags feierte die DeutscheSporthilfe im Beisein von Bundesinnenminister Dr. Hans-Peter Friedrich an Pfingstsamstagihren 45. Geburtstag – am 26.

Mai 1967 wurde die Stiftung in Berlin gegründet. In seinerGrußadresse unterstrich der Bundesinnenminister die “besondere Bedeutung der Sporthilfefür die Gesellschaft. Sie ist Deutschlands wichtigste private Förderinstitution im Sport, durchdie Vorbildfunktion des Spitzensports wirkt sie so auch in den Breitensport hinein. MachenSie weiter so! Deutschland braucht Sie!”

Mit einem Geburtstags-Scheck über 50.000 Euro legte die Bundesliga-Stiftung als Premium-Partner der Deutschen Sporthilfe am Pfingstmontag im ZDF-Fernsehgarten nach. Der irischeExtremsportler Joey Kelly lief in einem Rekordversuch 24 Stunden lang in einem “Todesrad”,die Bundesliga-Stiftung wollte je Umdrehung des Todesrads 5 Euro spenden. Am Endelief Kelly 53,2 km bei 6.255 Umdrehungen. Die erlaufene Summe von 31.275 Euro rundeteGeschäftsführer Kurt Gaugler großzügig auf einen Gesamtbetrag von 50.000 Euro auf – mitBlick auf die kommende 50. Jubiläums-Saison der Fußball-Bundesliga.

Über diese Spende für den Förderhaushalt der Deutschen Sporthilfe wird sich besondersBehindertensportler Valentin Baus freuen. Der 16-jährige Rollstuhl-Tischtennisspieler ausBochum wurde mit der Jubiläums-Fördernummer 45.000 in die Förderung der DeutschenSporthilfe aufgenommen. Er ist amtierender Deutschen Meister in seiner Wettkampfklasse.

“Ein Modell für die Welt” wollte der einflussreiche deutsche Sport-Funktionär Willi Daume,damals Präsident des Deutschen Sportbundes (DSB) und des Nationalen OlympischenKomitees für Deutschland (NOK), schaffen und entwickelte schon zu Beginn der 60er Jahreangesichts zunehmender Professionalisierung im Sport die Vision eines eigenen bis datonoch nicht gekannten Systems leistungssportlicher Förderung.

Am 26. Mai 1967 wurde dann beim Berliner Notar Carl Scholz die Stiftungsurkundeunterzeichnet. Der erste Vorsitzende der Deutschen Sporthilfe, Josef Neckermann, verstandes, die Vision Daumes umzusetzen. Als erfolgreicher Sportler und Unternehmer brillierteer sowohl auf gesellschaftlichem Parkett, genoss aber auch hohen Respekt im Sport.Leidenschaftlich stritt der zweifache Olympiasieger für die Förderung der Leistungssportlerin Deutschland. Er öffnete die Tore der Wirtschaft für den Sport und schuf die Strukturen, dieden Erfolg der Stiftung bis heute begründen.

Die Stiftung Deutsche Sporthilfe hat bis heute 45.000 deutsche Sportlerinnen und Sportlermit rund 375 Millionen Euro unterstützt. 90 Prozent aller bundesdeutschen Medaillen beiOlympischen Spielen, Welt- und Europameisterschaften wurden von Athletinnen undAthleten gewonnen, die von ihr gefördert wurden.

Taipei to Host its First Ever WTA Challenger Event

Taipei, Taiwan will host its first ever challenger event under the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) in October.

The Taipei Ladies Open has been upgraded to part of the WTA’s new challenger series, with the prize money raised to US$125,000 said the OEC Group, sponsor of the tournament.

The OEC games will be held at Taipei Arena, a state-of-the-art venue in Taiwan, OEC President, Robert Han, said. Han expects the upgrade of the competition will help to attract more high profile international players.

Taipei Sports Minister, Tai Hsia-ling, said she hopes the competition would “bring together international talent and facilitate exchange of techniques and experience.”

Peter Johnston, managing director of WTA’s Asia Pacific region, believes Taipei is an ideal venue for a WTA challenger event.

“We want to come to a city that embraces the tournament,” he said.

“Tennis is growing here. We want to make sure the WTA is helping (that trend).”

After Taipei, another city in Asia will be chosen to host the next WTA challenger this year.

Further details about the other Asian venue will be annnounced shortly.

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Fourth Man Arrested in Connection with Tottenham Spying Probe

Police investigations into allegations that Tottenham spied on Olympic officials during its failed bid to take over the main stadium after the 2012 Games have merited an arrest of a fourth man thought to be involved.

A 45-year-old man in south London was held on suspicion of fraud and an “amount of material was seized” in a search of his residential property, police said. His name was not released.

The Scotland Yard probe began in August when allegations of wrongdoing in the bidding process were made by West Ham and the Olympic Park Legacy Company, whose board members decide the future of venues on the site of the 2012 Games.

During a London Assembly committee hearing last year, OPLC chair Margaret Ford accused Tottenham of ordering surveillance on all 14 members of the legacy company board.

Tottenham denies any allegations of spying or the illegal obtaining of information.

It emerged during a separate High Court case that a company, which a judge said was hired by Tottenham, had copies of a West Ham executive’s telephone records that had been “unlawfully obtained by subterfuge.”

The investigators allegedly employed by Tottenham were from the accountancy firm PKF, whose former partner Howard Hill was arrested last week on suspicion of fraud.

Police investigating the illegal procurement of information made their first two arrests last November. There have been no charges filed in the case.

PKF denies any unlawful activity and said it has had no communication with Hill since he resigned from the firm in December.

Tottenham previously insisted that it “did not instruct PKF to engage in any unlawful activity and PKF have confirmed that they did not.”

West Ham’s deal to take over the $744 million Olympic Stadium collapsed in October amid legal uncertainty.

Instead, the venue will remain in public ownership and be rented after the Olympics. West Ham hasn’t decided whether to bid again or redevelop its existing Upton Park ground.