Latest Football Transfer Rumours Done Deals And Titbits

Done Deals:

– FC Toronto have confirmed the signing of Sebastian Giovinco from Juventus. He will join the MLS side in July after his contract with Juventus expires in June.

– Villarreal have completed the signing of U-20 Uruguay striker Franco Acosta.

– AC Milan have completed the signing of Suso from Liverpool.

Today’s football reports and transfer rumours:

Roberto Martinez and Samuel Etoo. photo credit Evertonfc

– Sampdoria are hoping to complete the signing of Everton forward Samuel Eto’o on Tuesday.

– Valencia are reportedly interested in signing Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher.

– Valencia have confirmed that a bid of £26.8million for Nicholas Otamendi was rejected. According to reports,the bid was from Manchester United.

– Arsenal are reportedly interested in signing Villarreal defender Gabriel Paulista.

– Inter target Lucas Leiva is reportedly unhappy at Liverpool, and is seeking an Anfield exit.

– Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers admits Divock Origi will likely stay on loan at Lille rather than cut his stay in Ligue 1 short

– Juventus are reportedly interested in signing Shakhtar Donetsk forward Luiz Adriano.

– According to reports, Roma forward Mattia Destro’s agent met with Arsenal today

– West Bromwich Albion are keen on signing Wigan midfielder Callum McManaman

– Burnley striker Danny Ings who is out of contract in the summer, says talks over a new deal at Turf Moor are not progressing.

– Swansea striker Bafetimbi Gomis has put his future in doubt after saying the Welsh club have gone back on their promises

– Leicester City have rejected a £5million bid for Jamie Vardy from West Bromwich Albion

– Chelsea are keeping tabs on 18-year-old Serbian Danilo Pantic, who could cost £400,000 from Partizan Belgrade.

– Sweden defender Markus Nilsson will train with West Ham this week in an attempt to win a contract.

– Swansea have reportedly lodged a £4million bid for Norwich defender Martin Olsson

– Chelsea are considering a move for Heerenveen star midfielder Daley Sinkgraven.

– According to reports in France,Liverpool have made an offer for Marseille’s young midfielder Mario Lemina

– Bundesliga side Wolfsburg are reportedly lining up a £23million move for Chelsea forward Andre Schurrle

– Juventus forward Carlos Tevez has revealed he may put pen to paper on a contract extension with the Serie A champions.

Football tit bits:

– Zambia’s key midfielder Nathan Sinkala is out of the rest of the African Nations Cup finals with a knee injury suffered on Sunday

– Jose Mourinho has told Chelsea fans to show Steven Gerrard some respect in Tuesday’s League Cup semi-final first leg clash with Liverpool at Anfield. “He’s a historic player for Liverpool, a historic player for the Premier League. He’s an opponent I always admired and respected. There is a song that my fans have that I don’t like at all. A couple of times it’s good fun but to go and go and go, especially when a player like him deserves respect, we don’t need that.”
Mourinho said

– Manchester United striker Radamel Falcao insists he has no injury concerns and wants to secure a regular role under Louis van Gaal. “It was 90 very important minutes for me. I need to play and I am very happy that I did. Obviously, I really hope to score soon, but the opportunities will come, I am sure of that. I am fine. I feel really good. I am playing without any sort of fitness problems. I am very happy with the win. It was a very difficult game but we managed the match well and got the three points. We were very close to scoring more and I could have had two goals. Sadly, the goalkeeper did very well and the other chances were not that clear.” Falcao said

– Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has heralded Santi Cazorla as the perfect role model for young players aspiring to shine at the top level.

– Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal insists he won’t change formation just because fans ask for it. “I cannot observe the fans because how many fans do Manchester United have? You cannot take into account 600 million opinions. To look at the players, to communicate with the players, to observe and to analyse: that’s my job.” LvG said

Today’s AFCON 2015 results:

Senegal 2-1 Ghana

South Africa 1-3 Algeria

AFCON FIXTURES GROUP C

Tuesday 20 january 2015

16:00 GMT Ivory Coast – Guinea

19:00 GMT Mali – Cameroon

Bailey Suspended For Second Minor Over-Rate Offence

Warner fined 50 per cent of his match fee for conduct contrary to spirit of the game

Australia captain George Bailey has been suspended for one ODI and fined 20 per cent of his match fee, while his players have been fined 10 per cent of their match fees for maintaining a slow over-rate during Australia’s One-Day International against India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday.

Andy Pycroft of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees imposed the suspension on Bailey after Australia was ruled to be one over short of its target at the end of the match when time allowances were taken into consideration.

As Bailey had previously been found guilty of a minor over-rate offence in One-Day Internationals within the last 12 months, this offence constituted his second minor over-rate offence for the purposes of the ICC Code of Conduct. Bailey pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the proposed sanction, so there was no need for a formal hearing.

In accordance with Article 2.5.1 and Appendix 2 of the ICC Code of Conduct, which deals with minor over-rate offences, in the case of a second minor over rate offence in the same format of the game within 12 months, the captain receives a one match suspension and is fined 20 per cent of his match fee, while the players are fined 10 per cent of their match fees for each over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time.

As such, Bailey has been suspended from Australia’s next ODI, which is against England and will be played in Hobart on Friday 23 January.

In another incident, David Warner has been fined 50 per cent of his match fee after committing a Level 1 breach of the ICC Code of Conduct.

Warner admitted to a breach of Article 2.1.8 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which provides that an offence will be committed where a player engages in “… conduct that either : (a) is contrary to the spirit of the game; or (b) brings the game into disrepute”.

The incident happened on the last ball of the 22nd over when Warner approached India batsman Rohit Sharma and confronted him aggressively after the batsmen had taken a run from an over-throw. The Australian had to be withdrawn from the confrontation by both the on-field umpires.

Warner accepted the offence and the proposed sanction, and therefore a formal hearing was not required.

Both the charges were laid by on-field umpires Kumar Dharmasena and John Ward, third umpire Mick Martell and fourth official Simon Fry.

ANOC SIGNS MOU WITH SEOUL NATIONAL UNIVERSITY

ANOC enhances opportunities for NOCs through collaborative agreement

The Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) has today signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Division of Global Sport Management Talent Development at Seoul National University (GSM-SNU) as ANOC continues to identify ways to improve the service it offers its NOCs.

The MOU aims to encourage greater academic cooperation between the two organisations in order to contribute to the development of sport within the international community. As part of the agreement, ANOC will recommend prospective candidates from NOCs for the Dream Together Master Programme and will help assist with the placement of students from the Programme in careers and internships within NOCs.

Supported by the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism and the Next Generation Sports Talent Foundation, Seoul National University launched the Dream Together Master Programme to educate and support next generation sport administrators in the world in 2013. Taught by internationally recognised professors, the Dream Together Master Programme provides world-class education for the next generation of sports administrators across a variety of topics including sport humanities, organisation and governance, marketing, the Olympic Movement and international sport development.

ANOC President Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah (centre), ANOC Secretary General Gunilla Lindberg (left) and ANOC Vice-President Patrick Hickey (right) during ANOC press briefing

Speaking following the MOU signing, ANOC President Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah said:

“We are very happy to have entered into this partnership with the Seoul National University. We are always looking at ways of improving our offering to the NOCs and creating a route for them to enter into further education and learn from international best practice is an excellent way of doing that.

“Many smaller NOCs will not have access to the same level of international expertise as their colleagues from larger NOCs. The Dream Together Master Programme is specifically designed to target sports administrators at NOCs and National Federation of countries where sport is less well developed. Working with Seoul National University will allow ANOC to offer greater opportunities to our NOCs and equip them with the tools they need to advance the sports movement within their countries and beyond.”

Dr. Joon-ho Kang, Director and professor of the Dream Together Master Programme added:

“We are very excited about the opportunities that our collaborative partnership with ANOC will bring. ANOC represents 204 NOCs worldwide and so is ideally placed to help us connect with nations around the world. We want to work with as many NOCs as possible to ensure that they are maximising sport’s full potential to change society for the better.”

“This programme is a kind of platform that any entity can join to develop future leaders in sport management for public and private sectors. As one of the world-class comprehensive universities representing Asia, Seoul National University is the only institution offering Master’s and PhD degrees in sport management among the top 50 universities in the world.”

AHEAD SUPER 4: DOLPHINS GO INTO HIDING

Dolphins playing and coaching personnel have moved their training sessions to Omagwa, a town outside Port Harcourt to perfect their strategies.

The team that eventually got a full house on Sunday are now at a hotel in Omagwa, close to the International airport and held Monday morning training session at the practice pitch of the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium.

All but one of the expected players turned up for the session with midfielder, Emeka Atuloma being the only absentee.

Dolphins Fc training

“We have a full camp now,” Sunday Rotimi, captain of the side said.

“Only Atuloma has not come but from his last conversation with us, we expect him in today (Monday).”

All coaches were part of the training session, including head coach, Stanley Eguma who oversaw proceedings.

The team will train at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium until Thursday when they move to Abuja to take part in the Super 4 against Kano Pillars, Enyimba, Warri Wolves, the U23 and U20 national teams.

MIAMI TO COME ALIVE FOR SECOND WORLD CUP REGATTA

From 26-31 January 2015, Miami, USA will welcome world class fields in ten Olympic and three Paralympic events for the second regatta of the 2015 ISAF Sailing World Cup series.

Biscayne Bay will come alive with the sails of 651 boats, featuring 848 sailors from 63 nations. The stakes are high at the 2015 edition of ISAF Sailing World Cup Miami, Presented by Sunbrella, with Abu Dhabi Final qualification spots and valuable ranking points available at the 200-point regatta.

The 2015 ISAF Sailing World Cup Miami, Presented by Sunbrella, marks the second anniversary of competition for the Nacra 17. The mixed multihull made its debut at the 2013 edition with a small seven boat fleet that was dominated by North Americans. Sarah Newberry and John Casey (USA) took the first Nacra 17 gold medal and now two years on, Miami welcomes a truly international field with 21 nations represented within the 51-boat fleet.

Seasoned campaigners and young hopefuls will be on the start line come 26 January, gunning for an Abu Dhabi ISAF Sailing World Cup Final qualification spot.

Overall winners: Jason Waterhouse & Lisa Darmanin (AUS) Racing – Day 7 / Nacra 17 ISAF Sailing World Cup- Melbourne Sandringham Yacht Club Sunday 14 December 2014 © Sport the library / Jeff Crow

Beijing 2008 Tornado Olympic gold medallist Fernando Echavarri (ESP) will take to Nacra 17 racing for the first time in Miami. Echavarri has paired up with 2011 470 World Champion Tara Pacheco who formerly sailed with Iker Martinez. Pacheco and Martinez, who were coached by Echavarri, split up towards the end of 2014 with Martinez teaming up with Marina Lopez.

The transition from coach boat to the Nacra 17 has gone well for the experienced Echavarri, a two time Tornado World Champion, who is taking things in his stride, “We have been sailing for about two months. We are just starting and there are many things that are going on and we want to think about a one year campaign. If everything works well and we qualify [for Rio 2016], we will then think about the next step.

“Miami will be the first race so we are just thinking about learning and getting into the game again. At the moment we are taking it day by day. We have many things to organise before we even think about our goals. For today I can tell you that our goal is to balance the rudders, which will make everything easier.

“We’ve had some normal starting issues that make us lose some time but we are happy about our progression. There are many things to learn and they are special to remember. Here in Miami we came two days ago [Thursday 15 January] with a charter boat so there is plenty of work to do to prepare.

overall winner / Stefania Elfutina (RUS) Racing – Day 6 / RSX – Womens Medal race ISAF Sailing World Cup – Melbourne Sandringham Yacht Club Saturday 13 December 2014 © Sport the library / Jeff Crow

“It’s a nice competition, as always, in Miami. I am really happy to be back in the game.”

Echavarri joins a list of highly experienced competitors in the Miami Nacra 17 fleet. Two time Nacra 17 World Champions Billy Besson and Marie Riou (FRA), Sofia Bekatorou and Konstantinos Trigonis (GRE), Franck Cammas and Sophie de Turckheim (FRA) and Puerto Rico’s Enrique Figueroa, sailing with Franchesca Valdes Ortega, all have vast experience that they’ll put into practice in Miami.

At the other end of the spectrum are Aruba’s Nicole van der Velden and Thijs Visser. At 20-years-old Van der Velden is one of the youngest competitors in the fleet but with two years of campaigning behind her, she hasn’t been intimated by her older rivals, reaching World #17 and finishing in the top ten at the European Championship.

“It’s amazing how much you can learn in two years just by committing to something,” commented van der Velden. “The learning curve has been huge for me. The Nacra is so much fun to sail and I can’t wait to see what this year will bring for us.”

It would be easy for van der Velden to look in awe at the star spangled fleet that features numerous Olympic medallists, Volvo Ocean Race winners and multiple World Champions but she has used the competition to her advantage as she explained, “It’s awesome to be able to sail against such experienced sailors. It really pushes you even harder to get better and better, especially being so young there’s so much to learn.

“For us at the moment it’s quite important to keep working on our racing skills. So every race we do we try to learn as much as possible from it.”

Lisa Darmanin and Jason Waterhouse (AUS) were the first Nacra 17 pair to qualify for the Abu Dhabi ISAF Sailing World Cup Final when they took the Melbourne title. Teams will be vying to join them on the start line with six days of high intensity racing in Miami.

Great Britain’s Giles Scott will spearhead the Finn fleet, aiming to defend his title and continue his unbeaten run of six ranked regattas and the Aquece Rio – International Sailing Regatta 2014 (Olympic Test Event).

Scott has dominated at every regatta and has his eyes on another victory, “It [the unbeaten run] is absolutely something I’d like to continue. Every regatta I do is incredibly important, but that being said I do really try and focus on each event as it comes so we’ll have to see what Miami brings, I’m sure it will be great racing.

“I think the fleet will be very strong this year with only a handful of the top guys missing. Last year we were plagued by lack of wind so hopefully this year we get good Miami conditions.”

World #1 Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic (CRO), World #2 Caleb Paine (USA), ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne victor Ed Wright (GBR) and Abu Dhabi ISAF Sailing World Cup Final champion Vasilij Zbogar (SLO) will all be in the fleet.

Forty five teams are registered to compete in the Men’s 470 and quality is prevalent throughout the pack. Mat Belcher and Will (AUS) will be the ones to beat whilst 2013 champions Sofian Bouvet and Jeremie Mion (FRA) will want to hold on to their title. 2014 ISAF Sailing World Cup Qingdao gold medallists Jordi Xammar and Joan Herp (ESP) will be looking to impress whilst Greece’s Panagiotis Mantis and Pavlos Kagialis will certainly be in the running for top honours.

In the Women’s 470, 2014 World Champions Lara Vadlau and Jolanta Ogar (AUT), Olympic champions Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie (NZL) and Olympic silver medallists Hannah Mills and Saskia Clark (GBR) will renew their rivalry. The trio shared the podium at the Santander 2014 ISAF Worlds as well as the 2014 Olympic Test Event with minimal separation between them.

Tom-Burton at ISAF SWC Melbourne © Jeff Crow

Miami will be the first opportunity for the trio to test themselves against each other in 2015 which will make for some intriguing and insightful racing.

In the 2.4mR, one of three Paralympic events taking place in Miami, Megan Pascoe (GBR) will be aiming to defend her title. In testing winds at the 2014 edition Pascoe kept her focus to take the victory ahead of Allan Leibel (CAN) and Helena Lucas (GBR). Both Leibel and Lucas will return in 2015 with Melbourne victor Matt Bugg (AUS) and the ever consistent Bjornar Erikstad (NOR) also within the fleet.

Alexandra Rickham and Niki Birrell (GBR) return to defend their crown in the SKUD18 but will face stiff competition from long term rivals Dan Fitzgibbon and Liesl Tesch (AUS). Ten boats will go in the competitive Sonar fleet with 2014 silver medallists John Robertson, Hannah Stodel and Stephen Thomas (GBR) set to lead the charge.

Competitors in the Paralympic events will have five days of fleet racing from Monday 26 January to Friday 30 January. Medal Races across the ten OIympic events will bring the regatta to a close on Saturday 31 January where medals will be awarded to the top three boats.

Volleyball: Eritrea Launch “African Dream Project” in 4 Centres

Some material of the project

Eritrea Volleyball Federation started officially the long pathway of the “African Dream Project” which is held under supervision of FIVB President Dr Ary Graca under the name of (Dr Ary Project for Grassroots).

The implementation of the project started in 4 centers of excellence in Eritrea with good coverage of the media specially the official Government Newspaper of Eritrea which is published in 3 different languages.

The Programme aims at having a common project mainly focusing on volleyball at school. All relevant stakeholders must be involved which are Ministry of Education, Ministry of Sport, Ministry of Youth, and National Olympic Committee. The project will see the setting up of centers that will be used to develop identified athletes at young age and arranging all the keys for their involvement later on to their corresponding Youth national teams.

4 centres to kick start the African Dream in Eritrea

CAVB web site: http://www.cavb.org
Twitter: CAVB Tweets
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CAVBVolleyball
YouTube: CAVB Video
Instagram: CAVB_ volleyball

Joola To Produce Special Blade For Quadri

As part of the new improved deal for Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri, Germany-based kits firm, Joola will produce a special blade for the Africa Champion.

A statement on Joola’s website stated, “The present reigning star Quadri Aruna, ITTF player of the year 2014 and international public favourite, has extended his contract with JOOLA on a long-term basis! The Nigerian model athlete has been extremely satisfied with the material and individual advise from JOOLA over the years, so that the contract extension is a logical step in his career plans.”

Quadri Aruna and JOOLA Managing Director Michael Bachtler signing the contract in Germany last week

In a recent visit by Quadri to Germany to finalise the new deal, the statement said: “However, Quadri’s visit at JOOLA was not only used for signing the new contract but also for intensive testing of a special blade series “Quadri has been able to gain experience with the new ball. Of course, we are puzzling together to find an ideal blade for him and are on a good way. We will certainly have found the best possible solution in the coming months and will present a blade that will be interesting for many players.” said JOOLA product manager, Rade Markovic.

Ahead Glo League Super 4: Ikhana Seeks Title Brace For Enyimba

Glo Premier League Super 4 defending champions, Enyimba International FC of Aba have had a slow start to the season and Coach Khadiri Ikhana insists however that they are good to successfully defend the trophy they won last season. Players of the 2014 Federations Cup champions were expected in camp Monday afternoon as the undisclosed issues that kept them away from camp was said to have been resolved.

Ikhana admitted that the club may not have had the best of a build-up to the tournament but took solace in the reality of the opportunity to compete which the tournament offers. “I have to confess that it has been rough with the team but then we are resolved to successfully defend the title we won last season. More importantly, the tournament is coming at a very good period because we will use it to assess and correct our match strategies ahead the CAF Champions League match on February 13 against Buffles of Benin Republic.

Enyimba’s Starting 11

The former Kano Pillars handler singled out his former side who are the league champions as the toughest opponents for Enyimba, noting that they have been preparing very well since last year unlike the other clubs in the tournament.

“If you ask me the best club at the moment, I would say Kano Pillars because they have had an excellent preparation and when a club prepares well, it is easier to win but then, Enyimba cannot be ruled out because we also have retained most of the players that were with us last season. We will count on their experience and team spirit to do well”, submitted Ikhana who led Enyimba to Nigeria’s first ever Champions League win in 2003.

Enyimba Coach Kadiri Ikhana

He is also counting on the quality of some of his new signings to make a good showing at the tournament, showing special interest in the duo from Abia Warriors, defender, Chima Uluocha and forward, Onyekachi Peter. “We saw those boys play against us and we are convinced they have the quality to help Enyimba and this tournament is a good place to integrate them into the squad in a competitive environment”, the coach revealed.

Enyimba, Dolphins, Kano Pillars and Warri Wolves are the clubs involved in the Glo Premier League Super 4 which also has the National U-20 (Flying Eagles) and the National U-23 (Dream Team) participating on invitation. The tournament starts on Saturday, January 24 with opening fixture between Dolphins and Kano Pillars.

All 2015 – 2018 AIBA Commission Members Appointed

The International Boxing Association (AIBA) President, Dr Ching-Kuo Wu, has completed his appointments of Members including all Chairpersons for AIBA 11 Commissions (list attached). However, for the AIBA Scientific Commission, which is a newly developed Commission, an additional 4 experts from different areas such as the Medical field, Scientific field and Boxing Equipment field will soon be appointed as Members.

“I am very proud and happy to have found highly competent and knowledgeable boxing members to take part in all Commissions’ work. I believe that these members will greatly contribute to the further enhancement of our sport and continuous success of our organization”.

The mandates of the Commission Members are from January 2015 until next AIBA Congress. All Commissions will have held their first meetings as well as a Joint Meeting from February 3 – 5 in Lausanne.

Commission Chairperson Country

APB Commission Mr Brahim Asloum France

Athletes & Youth Commission Mr Serik Konakbayev Kazakhstan

Coaches Commission Mr Pedro Roque Otano Azerbaijan

Disciplinary Commission Mr Tom Virgets USA

Ethics Commission Mr François Carrard Switzerland

Medical Commission Dr Abdelhamid Khadri Morocco

Refereeing & Judging Commission Mr Osvaldo Bisbal Argentina

Scientific Commission Dr David McDonagh Norway/Ireland

Technical & Rules Commission Mr Adam Kusior Poland

Women’s Commission Mrs Joyce Bowen Barbados

WSB Commission Mr Franco Falcinelli Italy

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS: 2015 THOMAS KELLER MEDAL

The World Rowing Federation, FISA, has opened the nomination process for the 2015 Thomas Keller Medal to the general public.

The Thomas Keller Medal is the highest distinction in the sport of rowing. It is awarded to recognise an exceptional international rowing career as well as exemplary sportsmanship. The public is now invited to submit nominations until 16 February 2015.

The award was named after the late President of FISA, Thomas Keller. Born in 1924, Keller was elected President of FISA in 1958 as a 34-year-old and was then the youngest-ever president of an international sports federation. Following the 1988 Olympic Games Thomi Keller spontaneously awarded the FISA Medal of Honour to single scullers Peter-Michael Kolbe (Germany) and Pertti Karppinen (Finland) to commemorate one of the greatest rivalries in the history of the sport, thereby recognising their exceptional talent and sportsmanship. This shaped the idea of the Thomas Keller Medal which was initiated by the Keller family following Thomi’s passing in 1989 and was first awarded to the great Norwegian rower Alf Hansen in 1990.

Each year the winner is carefully selected by the Thomas Keller Medal committee which includes Keller’s son Dominik, and it follows a broad international nomination process including public nominations. The aim is to ensure that the true values in which Keller so strongly believed are represented.

Thomas Keller Medal

The nominees for the Thomas Keller Medal are assessed on the following five factors:

1. Success at the international level
2. “Type” of career
3. Technical mastery of the sport
4. Sportsmanship
5. “Legendary” aspect

In July 2014, Drew Ginn of Australia was awarded the Thomas Keller Medal in Lucerne. Ginn had a career that spanned 17 years beginning as part of Australia’s famed Oarsome Foursome and ending four Olympic Games later back in his country’s four. He accumulated four Olympic medals (three of them gold) and five World Championship titles along the way. Ginn’s career included two remarkable comebacks following back injuries and he was known for his fluid, efficient rowing style.

Previous winners include Eskild Ebbesen (Denmark), Vaclav Chalupa (Czech Republic), Jueri Jaanson (Estonia), James Tomkins (Australia), Kathrin Boron (Germany), Elisabeta Lipa (Romania) and Steve Redgrave (Great Britain).

The award will be presented on Saturday 11 July 2015 at the World Rowing Cup in Lucerne, Switzerland.

Nominations must be submitted for this year’s Thomas Keller medal by midnight CET on 16 February 2015.

Major Announcements In Tokyo See Top Sports League NPB As Co-Host Of New WBSC Premier 12™ Flagship Event

— Iconic Tokyo Dome to stage 2015 Premier 12 Semi-finals and Finals– Official Logo, Tournament Dates for Premier 12 Flagship Event Unveiled in Tokyo

— Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games High on WBSC Agenda

The President of the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC), Riccardo Fraccari, and the Commissioner of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), Katsuhiko Kumazaki, have agreed on a partnership that will bring the inaugural WBSC Premier 12™ to Japan in November, it was announced today at a press conference in Japan’s capital city.

Under the partnership, NPB — the 2nd highest-attended major sports league in the world in 2014, with nearly 23 million fans filling venues for NPB’s 80th anniversary season — will host a special grand opening contest, the semi-finals, and medal round of the WBSC’s new flagship professional baseball world championship featuring the Men’s National Teams from the Top 12-ranked nations (the “Premier 12”) in the world and will award US$ millions in prize money, in addition to distributing the highest amount of world ranking points of any international baseball event.

Following in a series of blockbuster announcements, the iconic Tokyo Dome was named as the crown jewel venue that will host the 2015 WBSC Premier 12 semi-finals, bronze medal contest and the decisive gold medal finale. It was also revealed that a “secret” location will be announced in the coming weeks for the grand opening of the 2015 Premier 12 in Japan, along with special opening ceremonies.

“The iconic Tokyo Dome is a symbol of Japan and of baseball,” said President Fraccari, “and it is one the world’s leading stadiums for staging some the biggest events in sport and entertainment, which not only reinforces but further defines the Premier 12 brand ahead of its launch.”

The world governing body leader said he was honoured to strengthen ties with one of the sporting world’s most successful leagues and have the 2015 Premier 12 co-hosted across two of baseball’s most important territories.

“I thank NPB Commissioner Kumazaki for this landmark partnership, which will help drive the launch, reach and overall viewership of the inaugural WBSC Premier 12 this November into the hundreds of millions,” said President Fraccari, “and, I am particularly proud of how we were able to work together with all the various stakeholders to get this done and have Premier 12 co-hosted by two nations where our sport is the established leader among athletes, fans, sponsors, and can generate record viewer ratings and engaging in-stadium experiences.”

The opening Round-Robin (except for the special grand opening contest in Japan) and quarterfinals of the Premier 12 will be staged in Chinese Taipei.

Said NPB Commissioner Kumazaki: “This partnership sends a strong signal that we are united behind WBSC President Fraccari and share his global vision for international competitions and the Premier 12. This is a great privilege and responsibility for NPB, and we have every confidence in the success of the WBSC Premier 12. NPB is committed to — in strong partnership with WBSC — further raising the profile of WBSC-sanctioned international events, particularly those that feature National Teams and that showcase our sport and our athletes playing for their countries on the global stage like the Premier 12.”

PREMIER 12 LOGO UNVEILED

Amid a wave of major announcements already changing the course and history of the WBSC Premier 12, the first-ever presentation of the Official WBSC Premier 12 logo was unveiled by short video presentation.

The same United Kingdom-based group (The Works Ltd) responsible for the official looks of such elite properties as the 2014 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Champions League Finals has been appointed to deliver a truly global look and feel, and electrifying atmosphere for the 2015 WBSC Premier 12, including all Fanzones. The unique features of the modern logo include 12 stars that symbolise the world’s 12 best baseball nations that make up the identity and will compete in the Premier 12.

2015 PREMIER 12 DATES ANNOUNCED

WBSC officials stressed the aim of this flagship world baseball championship is to be an exciting sprint that covers only nine total days of competition, as the dates of the inaugural WBSC Premier 12 were revealed: 8-21 November.

While the schedule and groups of the 2015 WBSC Premier 12 will be released at a later date, the grand opening, under the new co-hosting agreement, will showcase the top stars on the World No. 1 Japanese National Baseball Team, “Samurai Japan”, and will likely draw a sold-out stadium and kick-off Premier 12 with a frenzy among fans and media alike.

PREMIER 12 LAUNCH HERALDS “NEW ERA”

WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari credit ibaf.org

President Fraccari said the launch of Premier 12 reflected an exciting new period for world baseball and softball, highlighted by the rapid development and expansion of baseball and softball, and leading to the emergence of a new world order in baseball and softball.

“This is giving rise to a golden era of global growth amongst fans, sponsors, broadcasters and especially among young people and women interested in playing and following baseball and softball worldwide, particularly in new markets in Europe, the Middle East, as well as in South America and Africa, and in Asia,” President Fraccari said.

President Fraccari said that inclusion of baseball and softball at the Olympic Games, which he described as “the greatest sporting stage and spectacle in the world”, was a central goal in this new era.

Finishing only behind wrestling at a 2013 International Olympic Committee vote for inclusion on the Olympic programme and following the endorsement of IOC President Thomas Bach’s Agenda 2020 reforms late last year, the WBSC will look to apply for further consideration for possible inclusion at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, he said.

“I believe that Japan’s passion for baseball and softball, if included at the Tokyo 2020 Games, will unite and engage the entire Olympic host nation of Japan behind the Games and the Olympic ideals of sport in society — as well as honour Japan’s sporting heritage,” he said.

“The inclusion of baseball and softball at Tokyo 2020 will also make the Olympic Games, the Olympic magic and values more relevant and accessible to millions of new and loyal baseball and softball fans and players in the growing list of nations where baseball and softball are now part of the sporting landscape in the 21st century and continuing to grow in popularity.”

World Baseball Softball Confederation

PREMIER 12 NATIONS AND GLOBAL SPREAD

The twelve qualified nations for the inaugural Premier 12 in 2015 were announced in November 2014 and form an elite and global group (by World Rank): No. 1 Japan, No. 2 USA, No. 3 Cuba, No. 4 Chinese Taipei, No. 5 Netherlands, No. 6 Dominican Republic, No. 7 Canada, No. 8 South Korea, No. 9 Puerto Rico, No. 10 Venezuela, No. 11 Italy and No. 12. Mexico.

The 2015 Premier 12 will have a global footprint that spreads across the entire western hemisphere — North, Central- and South America, and the Caribbean — Asia, and Northern and Southern Europe. Oceania’s No. 14 Australia, which had been ranked as high as No. 10 in 2012, finished just 8.96 rankings points behind No. 12 Mexico.

Event Technical Committee Approves Replacement In Ireland’s Squad For The ICC Cricket World Cup 2015

The ICC has confirmed that the Event Technical Committee of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 has approved Max Sorensen as a replacement player for Tim Murtagh in Ireland’s squad for the tournament, which starts on 14 February.

Murtagh is suffering from a stress fracture in his right foot and, therefore, has been ruled out of the tournament.

The 29-year-old Sorensen has played eight ODIs for Ireland in which he has scored 97 runs and taken 12 wickets. Sorensen’s last ODI appearance in Ireland colours was against Scotland in Dublin in September 2014.

Any injury or illness-based replacement requires a written submission to the Event Technical Committee along with a diagnosis from a medical practitioner as to the extent of the injury or illness. Once replaced, a player may not return to the squad save as an approved subsequent replacement for another injured or ill player.

The Event Technical Committee of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 is Geoff Allardice (ICC General Manager – Cricket, Chairman), Campbell Jamieson (ICC General Manager – Commercial), John Harnden (Chief Executive, CWC 2015 LOC), Gavin Larsen (Cricket Operations Manager, New Zealand), Russel Arnold and Sanjay Manjrekar (independent nominees).

Ireland is in Pool B of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 along with defending champion India, former winners Pakistan and West Indies, African rivals South Africa and Zimbabwe, and qualifier United Arab Emirates (UAE). Ireland will play its opening match against the West Indies at Saxton Oval in Nelson on 16 February.