Rogge Latest to Defend London 2012 Ticketing System

International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Jacques Rogge has become the latest to defend the London 2012 ticketing system, claiming that the demand to watch the Games was “amazing”.
The system has been condemned in Britain due to the large number of applicants who missed out on tickets, particularly in the first phase of sales, but is being hailed as a major success internationally.
There were 22 million requests for 6.6 million available tickets, with 1.2 million applicants getting nothing.
Rogge stated: “We’re amazed by the demand for tickets for the London Olympics. Seven million [tickets] on sale and 20 million wanting tickets.
Rogge insisted that, although it was unfortunate not everybody had been awarded tickets, there was nothing wrong with the system, adding: “You’re bound to have people who are unhappy.
“I can just say the system put in place by LOCOG is a fair system. It is a good balance between the international and national.”
In total, more than 3.5 million Olympic tickets have now been sold for London 2012 and around 850,000 successful applications have been made for tickets with less than two million tickets remaining.
International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Jacques Rogge has become the latest to defend the London 2012 ticketing system, claiming that the demand to watch the Games was “amazing”.
The system has been condemned in Britain due to the large number of applicants who missed out on tickets, particularly in the first phase of sales, but is being hailed as a major success internationally.
There were 22 million requests for 6.6 million available tickets, with 1.2 million applicants getting nothing.
Rogge stated: “We’re amazed by the demand for tickets for the London Olympics. Seven million [tickets] on sale and 20 million wanting tickets.
Rogge insisted that, although it was unfortunate not everybody had been awarded tickets, there was nothing wrong with the system, adding: “You’re bound to have people who are unhappy.
“I can just say the system put in place by LOCOG is a fair system. It is a good balance between the international and national.”
In total, more than 3.5 million Olympic tickets have now been sold for London 2012 and around 850,000 successful applications have been made for tickets with less than two million tickets remaining.

Fernando Aguerre Re-elected International Surfing Association President

Fernando Aguerre has been re-elected unopposed as President of the International Surfing Association (ISA) at the ISA 50th Anniversary World Surfing Games in Punta Rocas, Peru.

Aguerre will continue to lead the sport’s global development in what will be his eighth term as President. 

After promoting the unique culture and youthful values of the sport as ISA President for the past two decades, Aguerre will continue to use his energy and passion for Surfing as the driving force behind its continued worldwide growth.

The ISA Annual and Biennial General Meetings also saw the appointment of two new Vice-Presidents with New Zealand Olympic Windsurfing Gold Medalist and IOC Member, Barbara Kendall MBE, and two-time ISA Stand-up Paddle [SUP] RacingWorld Champion, Casper Steinfath, joining the ISA leadership structure. Kendall and Steinfath join Aguerre and the other two ISA Vice Presidents, Karin Sierralta (Peru) and Layne Beachley (Australia), on the ISA Executive Committee.

In his re-election speech, Aguerre praised the election of Kendall and Steinfath as a key moment in the development of the ISA. He also highlighted the positive social impact of the ISA’s activities, how the introduction of groundbreaking wave pool technology will play a ‘game-changing’ role in the future of the sport and how this, alongside the sport’s global youth appeal, will play a key part in the ISA’s drive for Olympic inclusion.

Speaking after his re-election, Fernando Aguerre, ISA President, said: “Electing Barbara Kendall to Vice President means that the ISA has gained a very experienced Olympic voice. It also means the ISA continues in its commitment to gender equality in Surfing, ensuring that the make-up of the governing body’s Executive Committee is a minimum of 40% female.

“Casper Steinfath is respected by his peers in the Surfing and SUP Racing community around the world, not just because of his Surfing abilities, but also because he is somebody we can count on. He has a diverse background, speaks five languages and he will be a great ambassador for the ISA.

“Athletes are central to how the world of sport, including the IOC, operates and it’s great that we now have a young, active athlete in the Executive Committee to spread the message of Surfing. Surfing speaks directly to young people. The unique culture and youthful values are the embodiment of our sport and we must harness this youthful energy and use it as a driving force behind our ambitions.

“With the new wave technology that is about to transform Surfing we are presented with a wonderful opportunity to take the sport to new territories. People who have never even been to the ocean will have the opportunity to Surf on consistent, high performance waves. This development really is a game changer for Surfing and combined with the sport’s global, youthful appeal, it can drive us towards the goal of Olympic inclusion.”

Barbara Kendall MBE, ISA Vice President and IOC Member, said: “Surfing and the ocean have always been a huge part of my life and I am thrilled to be able to give something back to the sport in this way. The ISA is at a very exciting stage of its development and I’m delighted to be able to contribute to this important journey. With its young fans and global appeal, Surfing can continue to grow and realise its ambition of joining the Olympic Sports Programme.”

Casper Steinfath, ISA Vice President and Professional Surfer, said: “This is a big honour for me and one I will embrace. I believe Surfing and SUP with their youthful values, have a unique way of connecting with people all over the world. As a competing athlete and a role model, I have a responsibility to express the true values of Surfing. I am now looking forward to taking on this additional role with the ISA and helping to take the message of Surfing and SUP to young people all over the globe.”

Richard Lamb Renews Interest in Buying Bradford Bulls after Points Deduction

All hope is not yet lost for Bradford Bulls as London-based businessman Richard Lamb has revealed he will renew his bid to buy Bradford Bulls after the Super League club fell back into administration. 

The Rugby Football League’s decision on Tuesday to impose the maximum six-point deduction on the club for breaching its insolvency regulations for the second time in two years prompted the prospective new owners to walk out.

Mark Moore, chairman of Bradford Bulls 2014 Ltd which agreed a sale with the administrators last Friday, withdrew his offer and launched a scathing attack on the RFL for placing the club in special measures, thereby preventing them from signing any more players. 

The RFL responded by blaming Moore’s failure to go through with a £300,000 offer to previous owner Omar Khan for the club’s latest crisis.

That left Leeds-based accountant David Wilson running the club once more but the RFL remains confident of finding new buyers.

RFL director of standards and licensing Blake Solly said: “There are still two bids on the table that the administrator can have a look at.

“We’re also working with a number of other parties who contacted us in the last 28 days expressing an interest in the club. We will be working with the administrator to try and ensure the club has a viable and solvent future.”

Lamb, who was involved in rugby league commercially during the 2013 World Cup, confirmed he is still keen to acquire the club and has offered to provide staff to help organise Sunday’s home game against London Broncos.

“My desire has not changed from last week,” Lamb tweeted. “To lead your great club.

“I am waiting for David to come back to me, hopefully by the end of this week.

“I have told him if the club needs support at the weekend with staff and personnel I’d bring some people up from London to help.”

Moore claimed in his farewell tirade that the points deductions means relegation for the Bulls is “almost a certainty” but Lamb says he has no issue with the sanctions and insists that a drop into the Championship would not be fatal.

“If that’s the rules of the governing body, then you have to take it,” he said.

“Hopefully, if we are successful, we can make sure that this season we perform as strongly as we can.

“If it resulted in the club going into the Championship, then – as we’ve seen in Premiership rugby and a number of other sports – as long as you run the club effectively and efficiently, then you can return, in this case, to Super League in the following season.”

Formula 3 Unveil New Logo, Formula 4 to Follow Suit

The logo of the FIA Formula 3 European Championship has been rebranded it has been revealed today.

Along with the Formula 3 Championship, help the leading junior category in international single-seater racing that was re-launched in 2013, pharmacy the FIA will also establish a new logo for the soon to be launched Formula 4 Championship in 2014.

The FIA said in a statement: “In order to clearly display the coherence between these two formulas the Formula 3 and Formula 4 logos have been rethought. They are modern, diagnosis readable and clearly identifiable. They will convey the brand image of these series and will be adapted in each zone’s championship.”

The FIA European Formula 3 Championship is the first to benefit from this new image. The logo will be present on all the communications tools, on official documents and on the cars.

The new logo also coincides with the introduction of new technical regulations and the arrival of new engines, which places the FIA Formula 3 European Championship in a new cycle by positioning it on a long-term basis at the core of the pyramid that leads to Formula 1.

Infront Sports & Media Appoints Dog Digital to Provide Digital & Technical Consultancy

Leading sports marketing group Infront Sports & Media have appointed Dog Digital to provide digital and technical consultancy it has been announced today.

Infront will be working with Dog Digital (Dog) from its UK and Singapore offices on a range of projects, including redeveloping the Infrontsports.com website, developing digital platforms and branding for Infront owned sports events in China and Europe, and on enhancing Infront’s global digital communications strategy through digital PR, SEO and social media.

Dog was initially appointed to develop digital platforms and branding for a series of 10k running events in Asia but was subsequently invited to extend their proposal.

Discussing the appointment, Dejah Meldem, Director of Digital Media at Infront Sports & Media said: “Ensuring we have the very best digital products to support our events, services and communication is absolutely paramount to Infront’s ongoing growth strategy so I am very pleased to confirm our new partnership with Dog Digital. Both the Europe andAsia teams at Dog impressed us with their sophisticated and joined-up approach as well as their sports marketing experience.”

Rory Patience, Business Development Manager – Sport at Dog Digital, said: “Partnering with Infront on this international venture will really allow the creative and technical expertise from all our offices to come to the fore. Branding, scalable digital platforms and cross-channel marketing strategies are just the beginning of the journey and we’re looking forward to delivering digital experiences that set Infront and its sporting events apart as best-in-class on the international stage.”

Dog Digital already has a significant sports client portfolio and created a dedicated in-house team for the sector in 2013. The last 12 months alone has seen the creative agency win and deliver campaigns for UEFA Europa League & Champions League, Lucozade Powerleague, SportScotland and Scottish Swimming. The agency has also completed web development and marketing campaign work with London 2012 Olympic Games, Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and the Ryder Cup in conjunction with VisitScotland.

Cleveland Browns Reach Deal to Renovate FirstEnergy Stadium

The Cleveland Browns have reached an agreement with the City of Cleveland for renovations for the city-owned FirstEnergy Stadium, price pending city council approval.

The Cleveland Browns will invest $120 million toward improvements and capital repairs. Additionally, diagnosis the team will continue to pay 100 percent of the operating and maintenance expenses to meet its obligations under the lease.

To support this significant investment, the City plans to commit $2 million a year for the next 15 years or $30 million from the City’s operating fund. This represents a present-day value of $22 million. These funds will help fulfill the City’s obligations outlined in the stadium lease for capital repairs and improvements. In addition, with $24 million remaining in the existing sin tax fund for future repairs, as part of the agreement, the City has granted the Browns the right to provide input on how $12 million of that money will be spent on specific infrastructure components, starting in 2016. 

“This $120 million renovation is a result of wanting to create the best fan experience in the NFL for our fans and players, and also to create a venue to attract other world-class events at FirstEnergy Stadium,” said Browns Owner Jimmy Haslam. “We realize the transformative opportunity of this investment for the City of Cleveland and worked with Mayor Jackson to help minimize their costs and create the most productive agreement moving forward. We are excited to reward our fans and the community with the experience they deserve.”

“The city owns a very valuable asset in FirstEnergy Stadium and the proactive investment in it by Jimmy Haslam and the Cleveland Browns is significant,” conveyed Cleveland Mayor Frank G. Jackson. “Funding these renovations will protect and enhance the investments we have made in the stadium over the years and will strengthen Cleveland’s reputation as a destination city.”

The Jackson Administration will submit legislation to Cleveland City Council for its review and consideration for passage.

2014 Shell Advance Asia Talent Cup Reveals Sepang as New Base

The 2014 Shell Advance Asia Talent Cup will be based at the Sepang International Circuit (SIC).

The home of the Malaysian MotoGP race will be the headquarters for the championship that will serve as a new feeder series to the MotoGP World Championship, arthritis aiming to increase the numbers of entries from the Asian region.

“I cannot overstate the importance of this aspect in motorsports, nurse ” says Datuk Razlan Razali (pictured), CEO of SIC which also hosts the Shell Advance Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix, “having personally witnessed the progressive results and achievements of our locally groomed riders through SIC’s talent development programme.”

22 riders will compete in the inaugural Shell Advance Asia Talent Cup next year, with six raced being staged across a selection of countries in the region.

Turnberry Returns as Women’s British Open Host in 2015

Turnberry’s famous Ailsa course has been announced today as the venue for the 2015 Ricoh Women’s British Open for only the second time in the Championship’s history.

The Ayrshire resort was last home to the Women’s British Open Championship in 2002 when Australia’s Karrie Webb won this prestigious title for a third time.

Shona Malcolm, health the LGU’s CEO said, pills “We are delighted to be returning to Turnberry which has welcomed the Championship back with great enthusiasm. This decision continues the Championship Committee’s commitment to ensuring that the world’s best women players showcase their talents on the world’s best golf courses in years to come. As the history books show, Turnberry provides a wonderful stage for Major golf and I am sure we will see another dramatic Championship in 2015. We are grateful to EventScotland for its continued support and to South Ayrshire Council for recognising the value to business and tourism in hosting a Championship of this quality.”

Jordi Tarrida, General Manager, Turnberry Resort, added, “We are very proud of our reputation as one of the world’s most renowned golf resorts and our history as a Major Championship venue. Hosting the Women’s British Open in 2002 was a fantastic experience so we are delighted to be working once again with the LGU and IMG and bringing the 2015 Championship back to Turnberry.”

The 2015 event will see the Championship played in Scotland for the third time in five years following Carnoustie in 2011 and St Andrews this year. Scotland’s regular hosting of the event is part of a 10-year investment by EventScotland which will see the Championship played in the Home of Golf every second year until 2019.

Sergio Perez Hopes Former Backer Telmex Will Sponsor McLaren

New Mclaren-Mercedes driver, Sergio Perez has admitted he hopes Telmex becomes a major sponsor of the team.

With the British squad set to lose its Vodafone title sponsorship at the end of the season, Perez’s links to billionaire Carlos Slim, who owns Telmex, may lead the telecommunications company to sponsor the team.

Asked if that assumption is adding pressure to his shoulders, team newcomer and 23-year-old Perez said: “No, on the contrary. Pressure and criticism is just normal.

“Hopefully Telmex will be at my side again soon,” he told the Spanish sports newspaper Marca.

“I’ve been with them all through my career, practically since I started, so I’m a little sad they are not with me this year, because the team still has a contract with Vodafone.

“I would love to see the blue on my car again.”

Perez insisted he is not bothered that some people think his Telmex connection is the only thing that got him into F1 with Sauber, and subsequently into a top car with McLaren.

“I don’t want to prove anything to the people who think that,” he insisted.

“If you think that, then you think that Fernando is only at Ferrari because of Santander.

“I don’t think it influenced the decision to hire me; I don’t think McLaren is desperate to find sponsors.

“They are the best team in terms of marketing. Any big company wants to be here,” added Perez.

NBA Continues Global Push with Eight Games in Six Countries

The National Basketball Association (NBA) have revealed today that NBA teams will play eight pre-season games in six countries this October.

The games will include the first-ever NBA preseason games to be held in Brazil and the Philippines, ailment and in the cities of Bilbao, Spain and Manchester, England.

In addition to oncourt action, the NBA global games will feature a variety of events off the court, including NBA Cares community outreach activities and interactive fan events in each city. They will also be supported by a variety of marketing and promotional partners, and will be available to fans on television and through digital media.

“Providing fans with an authentic NBA experience is an important part of our efforts to grow the game globally,” said NBA Commissioner David Stern. “This fall, nearly a third of our teams will embark on a global tour that will celebrate the game of basketball, give our international fans a chance to connect with NBA teams and players, and leave a lasting impact in each of the communities we visit.”

The NBA global games schedule tips off with three games in Europe in collaboration with long-time partner Euroleague Basketball that will feature the Oklahoma City Thunder and Philadelphia 76ers. Oklahoma City will open the schedule in Istanbul, Turkey on Oct. 5 with a game against five-time Turkish champion Fenerbahce Ulker Istanbul at the Ulker Sports Arena. Philadelphia will be the first NBA team to play in Bilbao when they take on Uxue Bilbao Basket on Oct. 6 at the Bizkaia Arena at the BEC. The Thunder and 76ers complete their European schedule with a game against each other on Oct. 8 in Manchester at the Manchester Arena. For the second year in a row the NBA’s series of games in Europe will be presented by BBVA, the league’s official bank partner.

“We are very happy to continue our successful collaboration with the NBA,” Roser Queraltó, Euroleague Basketball Chief Business Development Officer, stated. “Since 2006 we have offered our fans the opportunity to enjoy games with teams coming from the best leagues in the world and bringing basketball to an international stage with the aim of continuing its enormous growth. I am sure that our fans in Istanbul and Bilbao will enjoy these games.”

The Indiana Pacers and Houston Rockets will begin their preseason slate with a game in Manila, Philippines on Oct. 10 at the Mall of Asia Arena. The game will mark the first time an NBA team has traveled to the Philippines since the then-Washington Bullets played against a Philippine Basketball Association All-Star team in 1979. The Pacers and Rockets will then travel to Taipei for a game on Oct. 13 at the Taipei Arena, marking the second NBA game played in Taiwan.

The Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards face each other on Oct. 12 in the first-ever NBA game in Brazil at the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro. The game will be a homecoming for the Wizard’s Brazilian native Nenê.

The NBA global games will conclude with two games in China between the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors. The teams will play on Oct. 15 at the MasterCard Center in Beijing, then travel to Shanghai for a game at the Mercedes-Benz Arena on Oct. 18.

To date, the NBA has staged 138 preseason and regular-season games in 19 countries and territories across Europe, the Americas and Asia since 1978.

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