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England to host Rugby World Cup in 2015
England has won the right to host the Rugby World Cup in 2015,
beating off rival bids from South Africa and Italy.
The International Rugby Board (IRB) announced England as the
host of the 2015 event with Japan to host the tournament in 2019
following a vote of the IRB Council in Dublin. England received 16
votes from the 24-strong IRB Council to emerge victorious. England
was a co-host of the tournament in 1991 and 1999.
UAE to host 2010 America’s Cup
The United Arab Emirates has been named as the host venue for the
33rd America’s Cup which starts on 8th February, 2010. Two-time
defending champion Alinghi of Switzerland picked Ras al-Khaimah
as the port for a one-off duel against US challengers Oracle.
Canadian GP likely to return in 2010
Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is likely to return to the F1
calendar in 2010 after Bernie Ecclestone hinted that a deal had been
reached to reinstate the Canadian Grand Prix. The Montreal leg of
the F1 season was dropped in 2009 after a row over fees between
F1 rights holder Ecclestone and track promoters. In June, Quebec
Finance Minister Raymond Bachand and the City of Montreal stated
that the federal and provincial governments were ready to meet the
shortfall required to see the street circuit back on the F1 scene.
English Cricket Board reports increase in participation
The England and Wales Cricket Board has announced that there
was an increase in participation across recreational cricket in 2008,
particularly amongst women and disabled players. Overall, there
was a 24% jump in participation, with a near 50% increase in the
number of women and girls taking part in the sport. There was
also a 137% increase in disability cricket participation and a 30%
increase in black and ethnic minority participation.
Bidding process for 2018 Winter Games launched
The International Olympic Committee has launched the bid process
to find the host of the 2018 Winter Olympics. French Alpine town
Annecy, Munich, and Pyeongchang in South Korea have confirmed
their intention to bid, while a bid is also expected from Harbin in
North East China.
National Olympic Committees must name candidate cities by 15th
October. The winner will be announced by the IOC at a meeting in
Durban in July 2011.
British Masters dropped from Tour
The British Masters, one of the longest standing golf tournaments
in the UK, was dropped from this year’s European Tour schedule
after failing to find a new title sponsor. The event, which has been
played at The Belfry for the last three years, had been staged every
year since 1946.
China tournament steps up to WGC status
The HSBC Champions golf tournament in Shanghai, China has been
boosted up to World Golf Championships status, becoming the
fourth worldwide tournament to be just one step down from the
majors.
Indian athletes uninsured as they
prepare for the Commonwealth Games
It has been recently reported in the Indian press that insurance is
not in place for athletes in training for the 2010 Commonwealth
Games to be held in New Dehli. Despite being a requirement
of the government guidelines for preparing teams, a year after
training began all over India, insurance cover for athletes is still
being discussed by the Sports Authority of India.
This deficit has been brought into focus following the serious eye
injury recently sustained by hockey goal-keeper, Baljit Singh.
England to become GB for 2012 football
A deal to allow an England football team to represent Great
Britain at the London 2012 Olympics has been agreed. Under it,
the Scottish, Northern Irish and Welsh football associations will
have no involvement in the 2012 Games but they will not seek
to prevent England from representing Great Britain in London
on a one-off basis. World football governing body FIFA has
ratified the proposal.
Platini confirms that Ukraine will co-host Euro 2012
UEFA president Michel Platini has given Ukraine assurances
that it will not lose the right to co-host the 2012 European
Championships despite falling behind on construction deadlines.
Platini previously threatened to revoke the hosting rights from
the country if Kiev’s Olympic stadium is not built on time, leaving
Poland as the sole host of the tournament.
Pakistan lose £27m due security concerns
Pakistan’s removal as a co-host of the 2011 Cricket World Cup
due to security concerns will cost the country’s national cricket
board. The country was set to hold 14 ties, including one semi-
final, after being awarded the tournament in conjunction with
India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Pakistan have already suffered
substantial revenue losses due to the cancellation of tours by
Australia and India last year. The Pakistan Cricket Board is
believed to estimate the combined loss of revenues since last
year is around £27m.
UK lands Rugby League World Cup
The UK has landed the Rugby League World Cup tournament in
2013, adding to the increasing number of global events being
staged in the country in the next decade.
The decision was made at a meeting of the Rugby League
International Federation in Singapore to discuss the future of
the international calendar.
Australia had also submitted a bid to stage the event again
after the success of the 2008 tournament which attracted
combined crowds of 290,000 and a global television audience
of 19.2m, making it the most widely broadcast event in the
game’s history.
The 2013 Rugby League World Cup is set to be contested by 12
teams, an increase on last year’s 10-team event in Australia.
The 2009 and 2011 Four Nations will be staged in England with
both Australia and New Zealand hosting it in 2010 and Australia
the next hosts after the World Cup in 2014.
World Sports News Roundup