Americas

Rio 2016 has added Manaus to its list of cities that could host football matches alongside Rio de Janeiro during next year’s summer Olympic Games.

US sports technology, data and content company Stats has made its second acquisition in the space of a week by striking a deal to purchase ‘big data’ specialist Automated Insights (Ai).

The International Surfing Association (ISA) has boosted the sport’s case for Olympic and Paralympic inclusion by introducing its first World Adaptive Championship.

The CAA Sports agency has opted to end its two-year partnership with Roc Nation Sports, the sports management arm of the Roc Nation entertainment company owned by hip-hop superstar Shawn “Jay Z” Carter.

Durban is set to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games after the South African city’s only rival, Edmonton in Canada, pulled out of the bidding contest due to economic concerns.

US sports technology, data and content company Stats has bolstered its position in the market by acquiring The Sports Network – a sports news wire service with a major presence with the NHL ice hockey league and in Canada.

Influential former International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Mario Vazquez Rana has died at the age of 82.

General Fernando Azevedo e Silva, who leads the Olympic Public Authority (APO) for the Rio 2016 Games, has stepped down from his post.

Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf) president Jeffrey Webb has called on Fifa to open up the bidding process for the 2026 World Cup as the region seeks the return of the showpiece tournament for the first time since 1994.

North America’s Major League Baseball (MLB) has appointed Anomaly as its new multimedia creative marketing agency.

Sportswear company New Balance has confirmed plans to enter the football market by folding its existing Warrior Football business into a new brand dedicated to the sport.

The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) has appointed a son of former Cuban leader Fidel Castro as a global ambassador as it seeks to build its bid for the sports’ return to the Olympic programme.

A group of caddies from golf’s PGA Tour have filed a class-action lawsuit against the organisation relating to the issue of branding on their bibs at tournaments.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has reflected on a turbulent year at the head of the American football league during his annual state of the league address.

The International Cycling Union (UCI) has announced its Cyclo-cross World Cup will expand outside Europe for the first time, while the Global Cycling Promotion (GCP) organisation has been closed following a full review.

IndyCar has expressed its shock and disappointment after authorities in the Brazilian capital Brasilia cancelled the race that was due to open the 2015 season of the North American motor-racing series.