Events

Volvo Ocean Race organisers have hailed the record level of interest in becoming a host city for the 12th and 13th editions of the event, after 33 applications were passed through to the final stage of the bidding process.

Baku’s bid for the 2020 Olympic Games has secured heavyweight commercial support in the shape of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR), Azerbaijan Airlines and Azercell.

NASCAR has joined a series of other major US leagues in signing up to support Beyond Sport United, which will take place for the second year on November 13 at Yankee Stadium in New York.

London Mayor Boris Johnson believes it is “overwhelmingly likely” that football club West Ham United will secure the tenancy of the Olympic Stadium despite the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) having extended the bidding process in an effort to attract further interest.

The Australian and New Zealand rugby unions have come out in support of the International Rugby Board’s (IRB) new financial model for the World Cup.

Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated preparations for UEFA Euro 2012 have been “100% accomplished” as he outlined his belief that the tournament will showcase the country’s new, modern image.

The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) has launched an international tender process to select the host city for its showpiece WTA Championships for 2014 and beyond.

Major League Baseball (MLB) has awarded the 2013 All-Star Game to the New York Mets, the second time in five years the event will head to the city.

Georgia has confirmed its intention to make a bid for UEFA Euro 2020 after shelving plans to put forward a co-hosting model with Azerbaijan.

SportAccord Convention has announced that the UK’s Minister for Sport and the Olympics, Hugh Robertson, will speak at the 10th annual edition of the event in Québec City next week.

Ottawa has signalled its intention to become a major player in the sports hosting market by forming a new team dedicated to attracting national and international sports events and congresses to Canada’s capital city.

Dublin has secured the right to host the 2013 Heineken Cup final, the showpiece game of European club rugby union.

Euroleague Basketball has announced that London’s O2 Arena will host the 2013 edition of its showpiece Final Four event.

Formula One’s commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone has confirmed that Spain will lose one of its grand prix race dates from next year under a new arrangement that will allow Barcelona and Valencia set to share hosting duties.

The Australian state of Queensland has been announced as the host of the 2014 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships, one of the sport’s leading events.

Russian authorities on Thursday claimed that security agencies had foiled a plot by Islamic militants to stage attacks up to and during Sochi’s 2014 Winter Olympic Games.