The 2022 FIFA World Cup is set to take place in November and December after the dates were recommended by a FIFA task force at a meeting in Qatar today.

Additionally, the task force have also proposed a shorter tournament.

The recommendations will be discussed at a FIFA Executive Committee meeting in Zurich on 19^th and 20^th March, where the dates could be ratified.

A FIFA statement read: “Following a six-month consultation process, Fifa’s task force for the International Match Calendar 2018-2024 held its third and final meeting today in Doha, identifying end-November/end-December as the most viable period for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

“The proposed event dates have the full support of all six Confederations. The proposal will be discussed at the next meeting of the FIFA Executive Committee, scheduled to take place at the Home of FIFA in Zurich on 19 and 20 March 2015.”

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The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) has chosen Boston as its candidate city in the bid to host the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The Boston vote was agreed unanimously by the USOC board of directors ahead of Los Angeles, tadalafil San Francisco and Washington D.C.

Full story HERE. 

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Global sport business network iSportConnect has joined forces with the World Olympians Association (WOA) in a bid to help tackle the Ebola crisis in West Africa.

Following the iSportconnect Director’s Club event in London on Wednesday at which two-time Sierra Leone Olympian Dr Francis Dove Edwin and WOA Chief Executive Mike Miller presented a moving speech, iSportConnect made a commitment to promote #TargetEbola to its international community of sport business leaders and executives.

Dove Edwin, who has witnessed first-hand the devastation caused to his country of birth and the impact the virus has had on its people, urged those attending the iSportConnect Directors’ Club meeting to help raise awareness and much-needed funds to fight the spread of Ebola in West Africa.

He said the sporting world has a duty to get involved and help save lives.

“The impact of the disease is far-reaching; it is something that affects the human race and it is something that affects our brothers and sisters playing sport,” said Dove Edwin.

“Gatherings are banned in most parts of West Africa so playing sport and even training is impossible. That is why we need to act now. We need to use the positive influence our position as leaders in sport gives us to help everyone affected by this deadly disease.”

Sree Varma, Founder and CEO of iSportConnect, said: “Ebola is a devastating disease that is affecting the lives of so many people and iSportConnect is proud to team up with the WOA and get involved in supporting the #TargetEbola campaign.

“It is vital that members of our community are aware of the impact Ebola is having on our friends and colleagues in West Africa and Francis Dove Edwin’s moving talk really brought home to us the importance of working together to help fight the spread of this deadly virus and through iSportconnect’s global platform we will aim to strongly get that message across.”

Mike Miller, WOA Chief Executive, said: “We are grateful for the response from iSportConnect and welcome their support of #TargetEbola. We are asking everyone in the Olympic Family and wider sporting community to support #TargetEbola and help those in need.

“You can do this by visiting TargetEbola.org to donate much needed funds, you can raise awareness of the campaign by spreading the message on social media and you can contribute sporting memorabilia that can then be auctioned by the WOA. Every effort and every penny helps and we are urging the sporting community to act now.”

About #TargetEbola

#TargetEbola was launched last month following an appeal to the WOA from Dr Francis Dove Edwin, who was appointed to the Presidential task force to fight the spread of Ebola in his home country. Since then the WOA has teamed up with international aid organisation Oxfam and US humanitarian NGO Medisend International and put into motion efforts to deliver much needed supplies to West Africa.

To get involved and promote #TargetEbola, the donation link is www.targetebola.org/donate and the SMS details are Text TARGET to 70066 [UK only].

You can also support the campaign by posting selfies on social media. The #TargetEbola selfie kit can be downloaded here: www.targetebola.org/selfie

iSportconnect is the largest global private network of Sport Business Executives. It brings together sports business professionals around the world in a global networking community enabling them to meet, share ideas and information and access to a wide range of relevant services.

About iSportconnect

iSportconnect.com is the one stop platform for members of the sports industry with private community, latest news, features, community discussions, executive jobs & market place opportunities.

iSportconnect TV is the first online TV channel for the worldwide sports business industry. iSc TV broadcasts daily news shows and weekly round-ups of the major news stories, with expert insights from key people from inside the industry. It also provides viewers with big one-on-one interviews and special programmes dedicated to certain sectors of the industry.

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Turkey has been confirmed as the host nation for the Winter European Youth Olympic Festival in 2019.

The announcement was made at the European Olympic Committee (EOC) General Assembly in Baku last week.

Turkish Olympic Committee Sports Director, health Alp Berker, presented the Games concept at the General Assembly with a Turkish delegation which included Turkish Olympic Committee President, Professor Dr. U?ur Erdener.

Erzurum in Eastern Turkey, will be the host city for the event and already has a history of hosting major international events, including the FIS Junior Nordic World Ski Championships, the FIS Snowboard Junior World Ski Championships and the Winter Universiade.

President of the Turkish Olympic Committee, Professor Dr. U?ur Erdener, said: “In Turkey we are committed to ensuring that sustainability is at the forefront of our minds when we are hosting these major events and we have been eager to use the wonderful facilities from the Winter Universiade in 2011 to continue to promote sport participation among our nation’s many young people.

“As you all know, 40% of the Turkish population is below the age of 25. They are the perfect place to start to ensure that we create a society which holds the Olympic values at its core.

“The people of Erzurum are passionate about their city as a destination for exciting winter sport events and will be delighted to welcome their fellow athletes from all over the continent in 2019.”

Mayor of Erzurum, Mehmet Sekmen, said: “It will be an honour for our city to host the Winter European Youth Olympic Festival.

“We are ready to offer guests the highest quality sports facilities and a warm Anatolian welcome. Erzurum looks forward to welcoming the very best of Europe’s young athletes in 2019.”

The Winter European Youth Olympic Festival is the top multisport event for young European athletes and usually involves around 1,600 participants. The proposed dates for the Winter EYOF in Erzurum are 9-16 February 2019.

Championship football club Queens Park Rangers (QPR) have held talks with the Greater London Authority (GLA) over building a new stadium at Old Oak Common.

Old Oak Common is the subject of a planned redevelopment with the GLA issuing a statement in June asking for ideas for a ’30-year vision for Old Oak.’

Old Oak could see new transportation links, order homes, shops and leisure centres by 2026 if the plans go ahead.

Now, QPR have confirmed that discussions have already taken place about the possibility of moving to the area, which is very close to the side’s current home at Loftus Road.

A statement read: “We are looking at a number of potential options for a new stadium and believe that Old Oak could provide one possible solution.

“We have met with representatives of the GLA and the supporting local authorities to discuss whether a football stadium could be incorporated into any plan that comes forward for this site.”

Plans for a new stadium had been high on the agenda for club owner Tony Fernandes and last month CEO Philip Beard said they had been ‘making progress’ with stadium plans.

When QPR were in the Premier League in the 2012-13 season, Loftus Road was the smallest ground with a capacity of 18,439.

Loftus Road is amongst the smaller grounds in the Championship and the club are eager to increase their size to boost revenue streams.

Location: London, anabolics UK

Closing Date: 14th October

Overview:

• – Development and delivery of a long term Safety & Security strategy for all International and Domestic cricket
• – Develop and oversee a robust approval process around the management of the accreditation of all staff, media, internal and external stakeholders including the access zones (G, AAA, PMOA)
• – Fully integrate the accreditation system and approvals into the long term strategic plan
• – Review and assess industry standards in Safety & Security and Accreditation ensuring best practice is adhered to
• – Support touring teams and the ECB Cricket Operations Department in all matters relating to safety and security and in particular work with the ECB’s Director of Security Management ? Represent ECB as “Duty Match Manager” at designated Major Matches and Domestic Matches
• – Co-ordinate opportunities for NVQ Level 4 training and CPD for Venue Safety Officers and their nominated deputies
• – Support venues in the provision of all accreditation, safety and security matters through the development of appropriate strategies and training
• – Oversee the implementation of the ICC Anti-Racism Regulations by international venues
• – Liaise and co-operate with the ICC Regional Security Manager to ensure delivery of all ICC security requirements at each venue
• – Monitor the implementation of safety and security measures at ECB events including but not limited to safety recommendations from the ECB’s Crowd Management Working Group and compliance with SIA legislation, Equality Act 2010 and other relevant legislation introduced from time to time
• – To lead, manage and develop the working relationship with the National Police Chief Council (NPCC) and the Sports Ground Safety Authority
• – Represent the ECB in meetings of Safety Officers, NPCC, government agencies or other bodies as deemed appropriate from time to time
• – Chair meetings and ensure the maintenance of  accurate records/minutes
• – Clearly define venue contingency plans
• – Manage ECB Health and Safety plans
• – Enforce the management of the ECB Alcohol Policy
• – Develop reports for relevant Committees and the ECB Board where necessary

• – Excellent people skills to communicate effectively with ECB departments, stakeholders and Venue Executives
• – Previous experience of producing detailed reports and assessments of activities at various venues
• – Exhibit a high level of attention to detail and accuracy
• – Ability to be transparent and objective in assessments of Venues
• – Committed and comfortable in demanding/busy environment requiring work through a high proportion of anti-social hours (evenings, public holidays and weekends)
• – Strong persuasion and relationship/team building skills
• – Strong verbal and written communication skills
• – Experience of operational management within a venue which has staged Major Events
• – Highly motivated
• – An appetite to learn and raise standards
• – Project Management skills and a high level of understanding of the accreditation process
• – Operate with the upmost integrity
• – Sports experience
• – Confident decision maker
• How to Apply
• Click to apply HERE

The Barmenia Versicherungen insurance company is the new main and shirt sponsor for Bayer 04 for the next four years. 

The partnership agreement will run until 30 June 2020.

Find out more HERE

The 92 Premier League and Football League clubs generated more than £4 billion in revenues for the first time in 2014/15, according to the 25^th Annual Review of Football Finance from the Sports Business Group at Deloitte.

£4 billion means it’s a new record for English footballs League clubs.

In addition, clubs’ capital expenditure reached £305 million, the most ever invested in a single season.

Premier League clubs once again saw record revenues, generating £3.3 billion as the league continues to benefit from the current broadcast rights cycle, which began in 2013/14.

The lucrative broadcast deals have also helped clubs to record a second consecutive year of pre-tax profits in 2014/15, the first time this has happened since 1999.

Despite the revenue increase being modest (3%) when compared with wage costs growth (7%), Premier League clubs’ operating profitability was still the second highest it has ever been and almost seven times the average of the five years to 2012/13.

Dan Jones, Partner in the Sports Business Group at Deloitte, comments: “The pace of football’s financial growth in two and a half decades is staggering.

“By half-time of the second televised Premier League game next year, more broadcast revenue will have been generated than during the whole of the First Division season 25 years ago.”

“It is particularly reassuring to see that clubs are looking to spend on improving stadia and infrastructure.”

“The impact of the Premier League’s broadcast deal is clear to see. For the first time, the Premier League leads the football world in all three key revenue categories – commercial, matchday and broadcast – and this is driving sustainable profitability.” 

The National Basketball Association (NBA) and  sports website SPOX.com, anabolics part of Perform Group, herbal have signed an expanded multiyear partnership to provide season long digital content on NBA.de, the NBA’s official online destination in Germany.

SPOX.com will offer fans in Germany a new mobile optimized experience, including an increased number of daily video clips, and customized content tailored to German fans.

In addition, for the first time, NBA.de will stream NBA All-Star 2016, including the BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge, State Farm All-Star Saturday Night and the 65^th annual NBA All-Star Game, live from Toronto, Canada.

“We are thrilled to announce our expanded partnership with SPOX in advance of the first All-Star ever held outside the United States,” said NBA Associate Vice President, Germany, Nordics and Central Europe Jan Menneken. 

“This partnership stands as a testament to the NBA’s commitment to providing fans in Germany with the best content the league has to offer. And there’s no better way to tip off this partnership than by livestreaming All-Star 2016 in Toronto next weekend.”

“We are delighted to continue working with the NBA, which is proof of how satisfied both parties are,” said Perform Germany Managing Director Dirk Ifsen.

“Since the beginning of the partnership in 2012, we have seen a significant increase in both fan engagement and interest in the sport in Germany.  Using our experienced editorial team, we will continue to offer fans the most compelling and original NBA news.”