During its meeting held in Lausanne today, cialis the General Assembly of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) re-elected Francesco Ricci Bitti as its President for another 4-year mandate.

The Italian has been leading the organisation since 2013 and is Honorary Life President of the International Tennis Federation (ITF).

ASOIF Vice-President and President of the International Boxing Association (AIBA) Ching-Kuo Wu was

proposed to serve a second term as ASOIF representative on the Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), to be formally ratified by the IOC in August.

ASOIF member federations also officially consented to a new governance assessment tool, recently developed by the ASOIF Governance Taskforce.

The tool comprises a comprehensive set of five key principles and 50 indicators that are tailored to the specific characteristics and needs of sport organisations.

Commenting on today’s discussions, ASOIF President Francesco Ricci Bitti said: “I am very happy our members agreed on the need and value of our new assessment tool.

“Governance is a very important and pressing topic and, as we are all aware, there is no time to lose.”

“Our aim is to help our federations to protect the integrity of their organisation and sport in the best way possible.”

Regarding the fight against doping, the General Assembly heard an update about the anti-doping study commissioned by ASOIF earlier this year.

The research explores the current anti-doping activities and processes of the ASOIF members; the related expenditure; and the current IF practices surrounding athletes’ health and safety.

First results will be available in June and are expected to deliver valuable input to the ongoing discussions about the potential creation of an independent body for testing.

The General Assembly also listened to a presentation of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

Furthermore, the General Assembly voted for an amendment of the ASOIF statues which will enable

IFs “governing sports included within the events programme for a specific edition of the Summer Olympic Games” to become “Associate Members”.

Last year, the Organising Committee of Tokyo 2020 proposed 18 additional events from five sports to the IOC for inclusion at their Games, with the final decision to be taken by the IOC this summer.

 

 

A new Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) tournament is coming to Switzerland, sale with a new indoor event to be staged in April starting in 2017 in Biel/Bienne.

The tournament has been granted official status by the WTA Tour, pills the women’s professional tennis circuit, in the ‘International’ category.

It will feature 32 players for the singles competition and a draw of 16 for the doubles.

The event is designated to take place at the national tennis centre of Swiss Tennis. A new indoor arena is due to be completed in February 2017.?

InfrontRingier will  market the national media rights to the event – with the international rights lying with the WTA.

The company is offering a title sponsorship opportunity, as well as further attractive partner packages around the event together with access to an exclusive hospitality area that will serve up to 400 people.

Lukas Troxler, Deputy Managing Director of InfrontRingier and designated Tournament Director, commented: “We are more than proud to partner with Octagon to bring the WTA Tour to the country, especially at this time, as Swiss women’s tennis is experiencing tremendous international success and a huge upward trend.

“Tennis fans in Switzerland are eager and enthusiastic to support their players and it is exciting for the country to once again become a world stage for tennis. We would like to extend our thanks also to Swiss Tennis for its support and look forward to continuing our successful collaboration.”

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The Rugby Football Union (RFU) have announced that Dominic Proctor will become its third Independent Non-Executive Director (INED) for a three-year term.

Proctor has been the president of media investment group GroupM since January 2012.

Read more HERE.

Sports and media company IMG has renewed its agreement with the PGA of America to distribute international broadcast rights for the PGA Championship and the Senior PGA Championship until 2021.

The new agreement, arthritis which officially begins in 2017, viagra 40mg extends the relationship between IMG and the PGA to 35 years, having begun in 1986.

Rights for North America are not included in the deal.

“As we celebrate our Centennial, the PGA and IMG will continue to advance the value of PGA Professionals, while sharing these great championships with millions of viewers worldwide,” said PGA CEO Pete Bevacqua.

“The PGA Championship remains a signature event on the sporting calendar, and we will strive to increase viewership around the world,” Ioris Francini, President of IMG Media.

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Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov has taken full ownership of National Basketball Association (NBA) franchise the Brooklyn Nets and the Barclays Center.

The deal was agreed between Prokorov’s Onexim Sports and Entertainment and Nets Sports and Entertainment. In 2010, Onexim acquired 80 percent of the team and 45 percent of the arena.

Full story HERE.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (“BCCI”) is releasing an ITT for the right to operate and manage the two proposed new Franchises, herbal which are intended to form part of the League during the 2016 and 2017 seasons but not thereafter.

The rights on offer include the right to operate and manage the two Franchise during the 2016 and 2017 seasons but not thereafter, capsule to exploit the Team Rights, to stage its home League Matches at the Stadium which shall be provided to the Franchise by BCCI (as detailed in the ITT and Franchise Agreement) and a host of other rights.

The ITT document will be available for collection by interested parties (against a formal request letter on official letterhead) at the BCCI Headquarters at Cricket Centre, Wankhede Stadium, ‘D’ Road, Churchgate, Mumbai – 400 020, between the hours of 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. each day (Saturdays between 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 pm and excluding Sundays) from 16th November 2015 until 30th November 2015 at a cost of INR 2,00,000/- (non refundable and non adjustable) to be paid vide a Demand Draft drawn in favor of “Board of Control for Cricket in India” payable at Mumbai (“Tender Fee”).

Only parties that have purchased the ITT Document (or belonging to the same group of companies on whose behalf the ITT Document was purchased) are entitled to participate in the tender process.

This Notice is being issued only for the purpose of information and shall not be deemed to vary, alter or modify the terms of the ITT in any manner whatsoever.

BT Sport will continue to air comprehensive highlights of all 11 rounds of the second season of the FIA Formula E Championship.

Full story and quotes HERE.

Built to go the distance during the 40, ampoule 000 nautical mile, 11 month-long circumnavigation, Elliot Brown watches will be worn by Skippers and crew aboard the 12 70ft ocean racing yachts to test their durability in extreme conditions.

Elliot Brown co-founder Ian Elliot said: “Elliot Brown’s mission is to build handsome, everyday watches with greater natural durability than any other watch.

“Our watches soak up harsh conditions and look just as good with a shirt as they do over foul weather gear.  It is the perfect watch for active travelers, sports people and the Clipper Race crew who will face Mother Nature’s toughest conditions while they race round the world.

“Being the official timekeeper is a perfect fit. Clipper Race crews consist of people just like us who share a hunger for adventure and a will to conquer the elements.   Putting our watches into one of the toughest races on the planet will be a stern test but it’ll provide great feedback.”

Elliot Brown is unusual in that they test every watch in water to 200m of pressure. But the company also put one of its timepieces through an extreme test of water resistance and corrosion when it left a watch at the bottom of Poole Harbour in the UK for six months over winter.

Despite the constant low temperature, prolonged saltwater corrosion and considerable fouling, the watch was ticking as normal when it was brought to the surface following the test.

Clipper Race Chairman and Founder Sir Robin Knox-Johnston added: “The Elliot Brown brand is a great fit as a partner for the Clipper Race with the extremely tough conditions the crew withstand during their journey just as their timepieces are extremely durable.

“We look forward to seeing them achieving great things through their sponsorship and all the opportunities available for the company as Official Timekeeper.”

Elliot Brown is producing 1000 special edition Clipper Race crew member watches.

One round the world crew member taking part in this year’s race will also be sporting an Elliot Brown timepiece in their capacity as an ambassador to the brand. They will report back on the challenges they face during the circumnavigation to Elliot Brown, sending blogs, photos and videos.

For more info, visit www.clipperroundtheworld.com

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The Jockey Club today announced its annual results, which reveal that the largest commercial group in British horseracing grew its business to record levels in 2014, with a sixth consecutive year of turnover growth, and used its resources to make record returns to the sport through contributions to prize money.

The results outline how a focus on maximising returns from The Jockey Club’s commercial operations have allowed it to pump more than £400 million into prize money and facilities for customers and facilities in the last decade.

The owner of some of the world’s leading racing festivals, including the Crabbie’s Grand National Festival, The Cheltenham Festival, The Investec Derby Festival and the QIPCO Guineas Festival, The Jockey Club is governed by Royal Charter to reinvest all profits into British racing.

In 2014, The Jockey Club grew its commercial operations for a sixth consecutive year to achieve‎ record turnover of £171.2 million, up by 5.1 percent year-on-year (2013: £162.9 million) which is almost double UK economic growth in 2014.

Key to this turnover were ticket sales, particularly at the Group’s major racing festivals, hospitality and catering sales, media income, music nights and non-racing events at its venues.

This performance allowed The Jockey Club to contribute a record £19.1 million to prize money in 2014 – up from £18.2 million in 2013 – taking its prize money contribution in the last decade to £146.4 million.

In 2014, the Group also invested £34.1 million on new and upgraded facilities and maintaining standards and racing surfaces across its 15 racecourses nationwide; training grounds at Newmarket, Lambourn and Epsom Downs; the historic Jockey Club Rooms; and The National Stud.

This combined reinvestment in British racing through prize money and facilities of £55.2 million in 2014 was an increase of £21.7 million on the previous year.

After its record prize money contribution, in 2014 the Group generated its second-largest operating profit ever of £21.7 million. This was £0.3 million less than its 2013 record as a result of decision to increase its reinvestments in British racing.

Simon Bazalgette, Group Chief Executive of The Jockey Club, said: “I’m delighted we’ve been able to grow the business for a sixth successive year because it allows us to increase our dividend for British racing. By maximising returns from our commercial operations we’ve been able to invest more than £400 million into the sport in the last 10 years. We’ve done that through prize money and facilities for customers and participants, and also supporting the sport’s promotion.

“This is something our people feel very proud of and it is thanks to their hard work striving to give customers of all types the best possible experience and promoting British racing as a sport, nationwide. It’s also been essential because of racing’s flawed funding model where Britain remains the poor relation to other racing nations thanks to an outdated Levy system that needs replacing as quickly as possible.

“Racing brings enjoyment to millions of people each year and is responsible for tens of thousands of jobs. We take very seriously our role as stewards of some of its most iconic events, as well as our operations throughout all levels of the sport.”

For more info and to download the full Annual Review click HERE.

Watch our interview with Simon Bazalgette below. 

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Major League Baseball (MLB) received a record $9 billion in revenues for 2014, according to a report by Forbes.

That figure is a huge 13 per cent increase from last year’s $8 billion.

One of the main reasons for the increase was the league’s new broadcast deals with ESPN, FOX and CBS

Read the report HERE.