World Cup 2010: What Will it Cost Travelling Fans Once They get to South Africa?
England football fans heading to South Africa this summer could save over a quarter on everyday costs while away, according to ECA International, the world’s leader in the development and provision of solutions for the management and assignment of employees around the world.
With goods and services 27% cheaper on average in South Africa than the UK, travelling fans already have one reason to celebrate.
Japanese supporters will see the biggest savings of around 60%, while for Australians cheering on the Socceroos goods and services will be approximately 40% cheaper. American visitors could make savings of around 30%.
Mexicans who go to South Africa to support their team will experience the smallest difference from home – prices of everyday items are on average 4% cheaper in South Africa than in Mexico.
The news is not so good for followers of Paraguay’s national team. Fans heading to this year’s World Cup should expect to pay around 9% more on average for goods and services while away.
England supporters will be glad to learn that beers in a bar will be a third cheaper than at home – that’s three beers for the price of two. Cigarettes can be bought for two-thirds of the price back home. With those savings likely to prompt the odd hangover the good news is that painkillers are half the price in South Africa than back in the UK. Read more
Life-size Kobe Bryant trading card unveiled at NBA All-Star Festivities sets Guinness World Record
A giant trading card of Los Angeles Lakers All-Star Kobe Bryant unveiled today by Panini America set the Guinness Record for World’s Largest Signed Game-Used Jersey Card. Bryant was at the NBA All-Star Jam Session to autograph the card, which includes a 15-inch-by-15-inch swatch of an official jersey he wore in a game. The card measured 7 feet high by 4 feet, 11 inches wide.
Panini America is the exclusive trading card partner of the NBA. This week Panini launched Adrenalyn with a national mobile tour that starts in Dallas during All-Star festivities.
Adrenalyn is an interactive trading card game, geared to children ages 6 to 11, that brings together the excitement of the NBA with the thrill of collecting a 450-card set featuring NBA stars Carmelo Anthony, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Dirk Nowitzki, Dwyane Wade and NBA rookies Tyreke Evans, Blake Griffin, and Brandon Jennings, among many others.
The front of each Adrenalyn card features an offensive, defensive, and overall rating so kids can play the game using the Adrenalyn game board. The unique authorization code on the back of each card allows kids to upload their cards online to a virtual collector’s album and play the game at www.paniniadrenalyn.com, a safe and secure site. Adrenalyn cards, collector’s kits and starter sets are available at all major retail stores including Wal-Mart, Target, Toys “R” Us, Kmart, and The Dollar Store, and online at NBAStore.com and at the NBA Store in New York City.
Source: Panini America
Odyssey introduces new Black Series Tour Designs putters
The Number One Putter in Golf Presents Precision-Crafted Milled Putters Inspired by Tour Feedback
Callaway Golf Company announced the January 15th retail availability of their new Odyssey® Black Series® Tour Designs line of milled putters. The latest innovation from The Number One Putter in Golf®, Black Series Tour Designs were crafted through extensive work between the Odyssey design team and professional golfers across the world’s major tours.
With a new black look, the precision-crafted milled putters in Odyssey’s Black Series Tour Designs line feature updated shapes and more head options, all designed to offer elite performance at the highest levels of the game. Each putter is milled from 1025 carbon steel for the soft feel demanded by the best players in the world.
“In creating the Black Series Tour Designs putters, we consulted with some of the greatest players in the game, including Phil Mickelson,” said Austie Rollinson, Principal Designer for Odyssey Golf. “We incorporated this Tour player feedback into the design of these precision-crafted milled putters. The result is updated shapes and more head options preferred by better players, all delivering the truest roll possible in a premium look.”
Black Series Tour Designs putters feature Advanced Roll Technology (A.R.T.) for precise response and the truest roll possible. A.R.T. is achieved through multi-material construction using tungsten weighting, which creates a quicker, more favorable roll by moving the center of gravity back and lower in the putterhead. A urethane dampening layer is subtly placed between the carbon steel putter head and the tungsten flange, which enhances the feel at impact.
The TD Milled Face has a precise, deep milling pattern that generates consistent impact performance across the face, resulting in better feel, distance control and a smooth roll. Each putter is finished with a Deep Black PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) coating, producing a durable, glare-free look that was added specifically in response to feedback received from the world’s best golfers.
Black Series Tour Designs putters are available in several core models, including the #2, #4, #6 and #9. The new product introduction retail price for Odyssey’s new Black Series Tour Designs putters is $269.
For more information on these products and Odyssey’s complete lineup, visit www.odysseygolf.com.
H2O Audio unveils advanced waterproof headphones and updated Interval waterproof headphone system
New High-Performance Designs Deliver Superior Sound Quality and Functionality In and Out of the Water
H2O Audio unveiled three progressive new products: the Surge Pro, H2O Audio’s Balanced Armature waterproof headphone featuring a compact design and premium sound quality; the Surge Sportwrap, an ergonomically designed neckband headphone that provides stability and comfort for active sports like running, surfing and wakeboarding; and the updated Interval Waterproof Headphone System specifically designed for Apple’s 3rd Generation iPod shuffle with built-in Surge Waterproof Headphones and convenient “Made for iPod” controls. All new products are available for purchase online at www.h20audio.com, and are scheduled to hit major retailers nationwide including Apple, Best Buy, Sports Authority and Amazon.com later this month.
“The team here continues to raise the bar in waterproof audio design and technology via our collaboration with some of the world’s finest athletes,” said John Paul Cavanaugh, CEO, H2O Audio. “These new products reinforce our commitment to provide the best waterproof headphones and accessories to meet the needs of all types of athletes.”
Precisely designed and rigorously tested, the new products reflect H2O Audio’s roots in watersports and the active lifestyle. Developed using the company’s patented waterproof technology and insight from H2O Audio’s Athlete Ambassadors including Michael Phelps, Natalie Coughlin, and Laird Hamilton, the entire collection features 100% waterproof and sweatproof durability to withstand heavy perspiration, rinsing after active use, and submersion under water up to 12 ft.
“H2O Audio offers a great line of waterproof products and I am excited to see their progress in design and technology,” commented Michael Phelps. “I hope more people get in the pool for exercise now that they can bring their music with them.”
Source: www.h2oaudio.com
MatchFights.com Announces September 25, 2009 Date For Premier Live Bare Knuckle Brawlers Fight Club Event
MatchFights.com is pleased to announce the September 25, 2009 date for the premier of its Bare Knuckle Brawlers fight club event — the Internet’s only live, high definition, pay-per-view venue for true bare-knuckle combat. For a limited time, fight fans can subscribe to see the live premier broadcast on the Bare Knuckle Brawlers website, www.bkbfightclub.com, at a special introductory price of $9.99.
Bare Knuckle Brawlers features no-holds-barred combat in an interactive venue where viewers will not only determine which fighters are matched but also who ultimately wins each contest. In addition, viewers can chat with other viewers live during the broadcast, making the experience truly interactive.
Bare Knuckle Brawlers is ushering in a new era in human combat, with un-sanitized, no-holds-barred fights between highly skilled fighters. The broadcast will also feature between-fight entertainment, including a ring-girl bikini contest where the viewers will vote for the winner, and a rock concert.
Bare Knuckle Brawlers will deviate from the current “mainstream” Mixed Martial Arts product in a number of ways. First, there will be no preference given to any one style of fighting, MMA or otherwise. All styles of fighting will be welcomed with separate rules governing each style. Second, the past several months have been spent previewing some of the top bare knuckle fighters in the country in an attempt to find the twenty best. Many of these exhibition bouts have taken place in warehouses and backyards, with video posted online. The voting public will then match these fighters up for the live broadcast. Finally, because the broadcast will be live over the Internet, anyone anywhere is the world with internet access can watch the event for the low price of $9.99.
Gregg Geddes, spokesman for MatchFights, explained, “The intent of MatchFights and its Bare Knuckle Brawlers property is to take fighting back to its roots — the way grandpa used to do it on the docks to scrape up enough cash to feed his family. While we applaud the efforts of the major MMA organizations to become recognized by the mainstream, we appreciate that there is a segment of the population that has no interest in sanctioned fights between contract fighters. We want to offer the fights that fans want: karate vs. tae kwon do, street fighters vs. professional boxers — the matchups are limitless. MatchFights will provide a clear alternative to the existing product, with true human combat presented in the highest quality high definition format. Viewers will not feel left out and short changed since they will have the ability to choose the match-ups that are broadcast and even help to determine the winners with their votes.
“We look forward to presenting our first live broadcast on September 25th and encourage those interested in real, bare-knuckle combat to visit our website and register for the events at our low introductory price. Visitors can also see some preliminary demo fights, which do not have the production values or film quality that the live events will have, but they do showcase some of the fighters we expect to see on September 25th,” he added.
To register for the inaugural Bare Knuckle Brawlers events, or to try out to fight for Bare Knuckle Brawlers, please visit http://www.bkbfightclub.com/.
Source: MatchFights, LLC