The Russian Olympic Committee and Sochi 2014 Organising Committee have revealed plans for two summer and winter-themed attractions in Kensington Gardens during the London Olympic Games.

Russia.Sochi.Park comprises Russia.Park and Sochi.Park – two sites that will operate between July 26 and August 12.

Russia.Park will be a summer festival-style fun park, doctor spread over a 10, vialis 40mg 000 m² area in Perks Field. It will be packed with Russian culture, pills cuisine and sport, including cameos by some of Russia’s leading Olympians and performances by folk artists from all the regions of Russia.

Alexander Zhukov, President of the Russian Olympic Committee said: “The world is fascinated by Russia, and Russia.Sochi.Park offers an opportunity to really experience all the sights, tastes, sounds and people of Russia”.

Sochi.Park will be a winter wonderland in the middle of a London summer, providing a high-tech visitor experience that takes guests through Russia to Sochi, the next Olympic host city via high-tech interactive digital experiences including a 4D chairlift ride up the Krasnodar mountains.

Sochi Park will boast an ice arena on which the biggest ice spectacular ever to be staged outside Russia will be presented: “Sochi – Small Stories of a Big City”, starring 6 Olympic and 18 World Champion ice skaters including llya Averbukh and Tatiana Navka.

Dmitry Chernyshenko, Sochi 2014 President and CEO, said: “We are delighted to be bringing Sochi to London and offering the world a flavor of what can be expected at the next Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.”

Paul Deighton, CEO of LOCOG, added: “I warmly welcome the Russian Olympic Committee to London, and look forward to Russia.Sochi.Park in London this summer.”

With the London 2012 games fast approaching, just over a third of on-site hospitality tickets for the Games have been sold to date by Prestige Ticketing.

But the lack of interest has not deterred the company with sole corporate hospitality rights inside Olympic venues as they expect to pick up sales.

Prestige Ticketing won a tender by Olympic organisers Locog for some 90,000 tickets – about one per cent of the total allocation but more than 60% of the company’s deals are still on offer. The general expectation from industry insiders have suggested that a much higher proportion of packages to have been sold after nearly seven months of sales.

In the much-criticised public ballot for tickets earlier this year, top-tier tickets at the Olympic ceremonies cost £2,012, ($3,080) with the best seats at athletics events going for £750 ($1,148). The cheapest of Prestige Ticketing’s deals cost £495 ($757), while the most expensive £4,500 ($6,887) packages are being sold in batches of 10 and secure seats at the ceremonies or prized athletics and cycling finals.

At the Olympic Park, Prestige Ticketing is building a £7.5m ($11.5m) three-storey pavilion catering for 3,000 guests at a time, just 70m (77 yards) from the main stadium.

Hospitality venues will also be located at Greenwich Park, North Greenwich Arena, Horse Guards Parade, Eton Dorney and Wimbledon.

The economic downturn meant traditional customers in finance and advertising had been joined by companies in sectors like construction, energy and resources, said the company. While corporate packages at the women’s hockey final had been the first to sell out, there had also been strong demand for the tennis at Wimbledon, rowing at Eton Dorney and equestrian events in Greenwich, said the company.

Prestige Ticketing’s Marketing Director Tony Barnard believes it will be a matter of time before the rest of the tickets are sold.

“We’re seeing a significant increase in sales activity. The ballots for tickets have ended so people know that if they want to go, there’s only one way left to go,” he said.

The Coca-Cola Company has launched a $120 million plant in south Russia to supply non-alcoholic beverages for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Russia’s host city of Sochi.

The plant, some 20 km from Rostov-on-Don, which will be the company’s fifteenth production facility in Russia, will have a capacity of 450 million decaliters of non-alcoholic beverages a year, the company said in a statement.

Muhtar Kent, Coca-cola Chairman and CEO, said: “Our system is part of the fabric of Russia’s economic development and we continue to invest in Russia to create jobs and stimulate growth across our supply chain. Today’s announcement underscores the Coca-Cola system’s long-term strategy of investing in Russia.”

The Coca-Cola Company along with its bottling partner, Coca-Cola Hellenic, will invest in Russia more than $3 billion from 2012 to 2016, Kent also said.

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.”