Infront Sports & Media, professional ed the international sports marketing company, buy has been appointed as “Official Hospitality Agent for the 2015 Rugby World Cup” by Rugby Travel & Hospitality Ltd. 

Under the agreement, purchase Infront France will offer hospitality services that cover the best seats across 13 stadiums and all matches of the 2015 Rugby World Cup, which will take place in England from 18 September to 31 October 2015.

The appointment is part of an ongoing development strategy for Infront’s hospitality portfolio and services in France. The company is already “Official Hospitality Agency” of the Stade de France until 2015.

Andrew Burton, Chief Executive of Rugby Travel & Hospitality, said “We are delighted with the appointment of Infront Sports & Media as an Official Hospitality Agent for Rugby World Cup 2015. France is a key territory for us with thousands of companies expected to make the short trip to England to enjoy Official Hospitality in 2015. The appointment of hospitality agents in France is designed to ensure French companies can secure their place at what will be the biggest sporting event of the year.”

Jean-François Jeanne, Managing Director of Infront France: “We thank Rugby Travel & Hospitality Ltd. for their confidence in Infront to support the 2015 Rugby World Cup through its strong network and experience in premium hospitality sales. French companies will be offered great onsite opportunities, when the Rugby World Cup returns to English soil next year.”

The Volvo Polestar will enter the next round of the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) in China after the Swedish car manufacturer revealed it wanted to test the waters for future involvement.

Newly crowned STCC champion Thed Bjork will take the wheel of the one C30 car Volvo Polestar which will race at the Shanghai International Circuit.

“We are entering to check the pulse of WTCC, impotent as well as celebrating Thed Bjork’s title in the STCC,” said Alexander Murdzevski Schedvin, Motorsport Commercial Director at Volvo Cars.

”We moved our focus to the Volvo S60 model as our primary car for motorsport in 2012.

“While this model does not match WTCC well today, we still think WTCC represents possibly the best value for money and onefits-all global motorsport solution if you want to race with a c-segment car.

“Consequently, we are keen on staying closely informed and this is precisely our objective with Shanghai, not outright performance and results,” said Murdzevski Schedvin.

iGATE, the NASDAQ listed leading outsourcing services company, in association with Forbes, has revealed they have launched the inaugural iGATE CXO Cup golf tournament.  

This first-class championship-style golf tournament will be held March 21 – 22, 2014, at the historic Pinehurst Resort & Country Club in North Carolina, USA. iGATE will simultaneously host the second iGATE CEO Cup at the same venue, where  Grand Slam champion Gary Player will co-host both golf tournaments.

Commenting on the tournament, Gary Player, said, “Following the success of the iGATE CEO Cup, I am honored to also co-host the inaugural iGATE CXO Cup. The tournament will be an excellent opportunity to further gather many of the world’s greatest business minds in order to give back and make the world a better place, all while playing a game we all love. “

CXOs of North America will compete for total prize money of $75,000. Winners will donate their prize money to the charities of their choice.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have announced the launch of their own lucrative Twenty20 competition, called the Pakistan Super League, in March. 

The league is set to be contested among five franchises, who will each be allowed to sign a total of six players from overseas.

PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf, who unveiled the competition alongside former International Cricket Council chief executive Haroon Lorgat, hopes that the competition will help pave the way for international cricket to return to the country.

“Haroon Lorgat and the other organisers are working together to make this a grand success for Pakistan cricket,” Ashraf said.

“They are hopeful overseas players will take part in the league with the response from players and their agents very positive so far.

“This is a $100 million project we hope will open the door for international cricket to return to Pakistan.”

No Test-playing nation has visited Pakistan since 2009, when six policemen and two civilians were killed after a gun attack on Sri Lanka’s team bus in Lahore.

Bangladesh recently agreed to tour Pakistan but subsequently scrapped the idea, saying they still had concerns over player safety.

Lorgat added: “The PCB is working hard to make this T20 league a success and I hope with the involvement of overseas players it will change the perceptions people have about playing in Pakistan.”

The National Football League (NFL) have pleased many fans and players after reaching an agreement to end a labour dispute with regular season referees following three weeks of miscalls leading to public outrage

The eight-year deal with the NFL Referees Association will allow locked-out officials to return to action after temporary replacements had struggled to act as cover for them in the early stages of the 2012 season.

The NFL Commissioner, Roger Goodell, said in a joint statement with the referees association: “Our officials will be back on the field starting Thursday night. We appreciate the commitment of the NFLRA in working through the issues to reach this important agreement.”

The replacements had come under increasing scrutiny for a number of questionable calls, most recently a contentious decision that affected the outcome of Monday’s game between the Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks.

The tipping point came when the Seahawks were awarded a last-ditch, game-winning touchdown despite replays showing that a Green Bay defenceman had made an interception.

The public outcry compounded the league’s displeasure with sub-standard officiating that had upset fans, coaches and players alike.

The New England coach, Bill Belichick, was fined for making contact with a referee on Sunday, while the Denver coach, John Fox, and the defensive coordinator, Jack Del Rio, were also fined for publicly criticising officials following a loss.

The regular referees, locked out since june, originally failed to reach accord with the NFL on a new collective bargaining agreement, largely due to a disagreement over pension payments.

But after lengthy discussions between the sides on Wednesday, the two parties made progress and ultimately settled on a new deal that gives officials higher salaries and improved retirement benefits.

“This agreement supports long-term reforms that will make officiating better. The teams, players and fans want and deserve both consistency and quality in officiating,” Goodell added.

“We look forward to having the finest officials in sports back on the field, and I want to give a special thanks to NFL fans for their passion. Now it’s time to put the focus back on the teams and players where it belongs.”

Kim Green and Kevin Savoree, owners of Green Savoree Toronto LLC, have announced today they have renewed the contract of the Honda Indy Toronto.

 

“The Honda Indy is a great example of the diverse sports scene in Toronto,” said Mark Grimes, Chair of Exhibition Place and City Councillor for Ward 6, Etobicoke-Lakeshore. “This race, and all the great events that come with it, is a Toronto tradition that offers great entertainment for local families, fans and visitors while contributing to the economic prosperity of our city.”

 

“Honda Canada is very proud to continue to be a key member of the team bringing the Honda Indy Toronto to our great city,” said Dave Gardner, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Honda Canada Inc. “This partnership continues to build on the successes of recent years and brings the highest level of racing excitement to Torontonians and Canadians.”

 

“The Honda Indy Toronto is more than just a race,” said David Whitaker, President and CEO of Tourism Toronto. “It’s an open and accessible festival for thousands of residents, a driver of tourism and a platform through which we promote our skyline, people and landmarks to the world. We all benefit from that.”

 

“With a strong heritage in open-wheel racing, Toronto continues to be a great fit for INDYCAR,” said Randy Bernard, CEO of INDYCAR. “It’s important from a business standpoint to be in one of the largest DMAs in North America. The circuit continues to produce some of our most competitive and memorable races and the Canadian race fans are some of the most enthusiastic in all of sports. Green Savoree has produced a first-class event in Toronto and we look forward to continuing our relationship well into the future.”

 

“This event is a part of our heritage, our fabric and our future,” said Charlie Johnstone, Vice President and General Manager of the Honda Indy Toronto. “We take the responsibility of putting on a good show very seriously and it is clear that a growing community of partners and fans believe in our vision and are ready to take a stake in the event.”

 

Green Savoree Racing Promotions, organizers of the Honda Indy Toronto, was created in 2009 to manage the Toronto event with a focus on partnerships, people and fiscal responsibility.

 

“Auto racing is exciting and accessible for fans, but it is also very attractive to corporate and public partners,” said Kim Green, Co-Owner of Green Savoree Racing promotions. “We wish to thank Honda Canada and all of our partners for helping us bring the Honda Indy Toronto to life.”

 

The Honda Indy Toronto takes place July 6-8, 2012 on the streets surrounding Exhibition Place near Lake Ontario and downtown Toronto. With 26 years of IndyCar racing history in Toronto, the Honda Indy Toronto is among the most respected motorsports events in North America and includes the fastest racing series on the planet, celebrity athletes, and a festival of live entertainment and interactive activities.

Namibia has taken their appeal for re-entry to this year’s Africa Cup of Nations to the CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport) in Switzerland.

Namibian officials will reportedly argue today that Burkina Faso, medicine who topped a qualifying group which featured both countries, look ineligibly fielded Cameroon-born and Chechnya-based defender Herve Zengue during the campaign.

According to FIFA rules, adiposity a player can only “dress for another country” on two occasions – a) if a parent or grandparent was born there or b) if the player himself has lived there for at least five years.

Namibia stipulate that Zengue fulfils neither category, but the Confederation of African Football has already thrown out such appeals twice.

If the CAS contravene this ruling and dock Burkina Faso points, Namibia will quality by virtue of assuming top stop because of the point forfeit.

Time is running out for Namibia. The 2012 Africa Cup of Nations tournament begins on January 21st in Equatorial Guinea .