Rugby European Championship in Hannover
On 11 and 12 July 2009, Hannover Will be the Venue for the Sevens European Championship for the Second Time
Following last year’s successful event, which was attended by about 26,000 visitors, the European Rugby Association FIRA-AER awarded the men’s Sevens European Championship to the provincial capital of Lower Saxony for the second time in a row. And this year, for the first time, women, too, will be chasing a title of their own.
Under the motto “Rugby, family and friends”, the best European teams will be competing for the European title in the AWD Arena during the course of the two-day tournament. Matches are divided into two halves of seven minutes each and the play is fast- moving and easy to follow – ideal conditions for spectators to experience everything up close.
Altogether ten teams will start, with the men’s teams having to earn their participation in the European Championship through qualifying competitions taking place in the run-up to the event. Currently, in addition to hosts Germany, the European champions Portugal, France, Spain, Georgia and Romania have all secured their places. On the women’s side, the reigning European champions, England, as well as France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Russia, Moldova, Sweden, Portugal and hosts Germany, will be taking part.
Hannover Marketing und Tourismus GmbH (HMTG) is supporting the city’s great rugby event with posters and fliers, distributed as supplements in various newspapers, and is also offering an attractive package, which combines a visit to the tournament with an overnight stay in the city centre.
Spectators who need a break from all that high-performance sport can enjoy the biggest Schutzenfest (marksmen’s festival) in the world, which takes place on the neighbouring fairground. The funfair is an official fringe event of the Sevens European Championship. The stadium can be revisited with a valid entrance ticket at any time, as the tickets are good for both days and all matches in the AWD Arena and Sports Park.
For further information, visit http://www.hannover.de/rugby
Brawn GP Team Partner with Terminator Salvation at 2009 F1 Grand Prix of Spain
In advance of the worldwide release of the highly anticipated motion picture Terminator Salvation, Formula One championship leaders Brawn GP will join Sony Pictures Releasing International to feature imagery from the film on their cars at the Grand Prix of Spain, which begins today. The film will be released in Europe and around the world June 3, 2009.
The class-leading racecars of Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello will carry the new and unique Terminator Salvation imagery. This unique, one-race sponsorship builds anticipation toward the red-carpet European Premiere on May 28, 2009, in Paris.
The partnership reunites Sony Pictures Releasing International and Formula One following Arnold Schwarzenegger’s famous appearance at the 2003 British Grand Prix to promote T3 – Rise of the Machines.
Nick Fry, CEO, Brawn GP, said, “We are thrilled to be supporting Sony Pictures Releasing International with the launch of Terminator Salvation at this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix. Our promotional partnership will see both race cars and our garage branded in the movie’s famous imagery as we help launch one of Hollywood’s biggest movies of the year to over 580 million F1 viewers in over 90 countries. The Terminator brand promises thrilling action and high drama as machines and human ingenuity battle for supremacy – it’s a perfect match for Brawn GP and Formula One.”
“The Terminator franchise has a long standing relationship with Formula One and we are thrilled to be partnering with the number one team, Brawn GP,” added McG, director of the film. “This motorsport series represents the best of the mechanical engineering and is true trial of the human spirit, themes that perfectly parallel Terminator Salvation.”
Sal Ladestro, executive vice president, Marketing, Sony Pictures Releasing International, said, “Formula One is one of the most popular sports in the world and there are no bigger stars right now than the team of Brawn GP. With all eyes on Spain this weekend, we can think of no better partner to build anticipation for the international launch of Terminator Salvation than Brawn GP and Formula One.”
Set in post-apocalyptic 2018, Terminator Salvation stars Christian Bale as John Connor, the man fated to lead the human resistance against Skynet and its army of Terminators. But the future Connor was raised to believe in is altered in part by the appearance of Marcus Wright (Sam Worthington), a stranger whose last memory is of being on death row. Connor must decide whether Marcus has been sent from the future, or rescued from the past. As Skynet prepares its final onslaught, Connor and Marcus both embark on an odyssey that takes them into the heart of Skynet’s operations, where they uncover the terrible secret behind the possible annihilation of mankind.
Terminator Salvation is directed by McG, from a screenplay by Michael Ferris and John Brancato. The film is produced by Moritz Borman, Derek Anderson, Victor Kubicek and Jeffrey Silver, and executive produced by Peter D. Graves, Bahman Naraghi, Mario F. Kassar, Andrew G. Vajna, Joel B. Michaels, Dan Lin and Jeanne Allgood.
Terminator Salvation will be released in the U.S. on May 21, 2009 by Warner Bros. Pictures. Sony Pictures Releasing International is distributing the film in most international territories between May 27, 2009 and June 13, 2009.
Source: Sony Pictures Entertainment
Technogym VARIO: a Revolution in the gym
From June a revolution in Europe’s Best Gyms: the First Equipment to Loose Weight at Your Pace
The cardio revolution is landing in Europe’s best gyms! Vario, the ultimate Technogym concept allowing you to loose weight by choosing your favourite movement. Forget exhausting running sessions of endless bike rides, VARIO is the first cardiovascular equipment following your stride and automatically adapting to the desired movement: from the classic vertical step to a simple walk as well as a long stride.
Vario world preview was be held at FIBO – the most important European trade show for fitness and wellness equipment – in Essen (Germany) from April 23rd to April 26th. Vario will be available in the best clubs across Europe starting from June.
A real revolution since the machine dynamically adapts to the user. Legs movement automatically adjusts the equipment trajectory offering each user the most suitable stride: in this way VARIO reduces fatigue and at the same time guarantees the maximum caloric expenditure.
VARIO is easy to use, offers a natural movement that requires no adjustment and simply follows each user’s stride. Due to its simplicity and naturalness VARIO is suitable both for the young person looking for a dynamic and fun experience as well as the elderly user that simply wants to take a stroll without loading their joints.
The elegant design ensures that VARIO integrates effortlessly with all the other products in Technogym’s EXCITE line. Like all the products in Technogym’s EXCITE line, VARIO features the most innovative training programs: from the simple QUICK START used to access a free workout, to programs with time, distance or calorie goals, as well the most sophisticated constant heart rate programs.
VARIO is the latest piece of equipment that no Fitness & Wellness Club can do without and its versatility means that it is also ideal for beauty farms, hotels, company gyms and private homes.
Source: Technogym SpA
Audi Adjusts Its U.S., European Motorsports Activities for 2009
Audi’s focus will be on Europe’s DTM series, the 24 Hours of Le Mans and customer sport programs
No activities in the 2009 American Le Mans Series
Audi announced it will concentrate its motorsports efforts for 2009 on the new R15 TDI sport prototype for the 24 Hours of Le Mans race, the re-worked race touring car A4 for the DTM circuit and the newly developed R8 LMS for customer use in the GT3 class. Audi also said it will not be represented by its factory team, Audi Sport North America, in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) in 2009.
Audi entered the American Le Mans Series in the year 2000 and has been instrumental in building up this championship series ever since. The championship has become one of the most fascinating motorsport series with a growing fan base. The ALMS is recognized internationally and is regarded as the world’s best sports car championship.
“The decision to withdraw was a very difficult one for these reasons. Furthermore, with the Champion racing team we had a partner that operates at the highest level. The extraordinary dedication and precision of Team Champion was the key to Audi’s victories over the last few years in America,” said Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich, the head of Audi Motorsport, in relating the difficult decision by Audi AG to call off ALMS participation next year. “We achieved an unprecedented winning series together. Since the 2000 season Audi has won the LMP1 title nine-times in succession in this high-caliber sports car championship. Our brand dominated the circuit last season by taking seven wins in eleven races.”
Dr. Ullrich also noted how technology developed for Audi’s racing efforts in ALMS and elsewhere is turning into benefits for U.S. consumers. “TDI Technology in racing supported the market launch of Audi TDI Technology in the U.S. perfectly,” he said.
While Audi AG plans to concentrate its factory involvement at European venues throughout the 2009 season in these economically tough times, American fans of Audi motorsports will be treated to a premiere: The all-new Audi R15 TDI sports prototype will make its debut March 21, 2009 during the 12-hour race at Sebring, Fla. This international racing classic, which will be contested by Audi Sport Team Joest, is traditionally regarded as excellent preparation and a final test-race for the 24 Hours of Le Mans race in France. At the same time, the race at Sebring with its special demands made of man and machine guarantees excellent motorsports competition.
ECA Calls for Full Club Involvement in EU Initiatives on Football Governance
In a frank speech delivered today at the EU Sport Forum in Biarritz, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Chairman of the European Club Association (ECA), called on the EU to ensure that football clubs were included at the very heart of all decision-making in establishing guidelines and frameworks designed to improve governance and fair play in professional football.
“Consultation alone is not enough,” stated Rummenigge. “Decisions with a direct influence on clubs, their management, employees and fans need to be discussed and sanctioned by those stakeholders.”
Rummenigge questioned certain decisions taken in the past without proper consultation as having had an extremely negative consequence on football in general and clubs in particular. The Bosman ruling had some negative effect causing salary inflation, spiraling transfer fees and other practices which have undermined financial soundness in the game.
He went on to pledge ECA’s commitment to work with the football family to help set the sport back on a sound footing, based on solid investment over the longer term and on healthy competition, and pointed out the Professional Football Strategy Council as doing excellent work in the governance of football.
ECA
The European Club Association is the sole, independent body representing football clubs at European level, and takes its place at the high table of European football along with UEFA, and official bodies representing players and the leagues.
The formation of ECA marks an end to disharmony in the European football family, and clears the way for the collaboration of all parties in building the future of the game in Europe. Through ECA, and for the first time in some years, clubs now have a powerful voice in decision-making that shapes the future of professional football in Europe.
ECA replaces the G-14 group and the European Club Forum both dissolved early in 2008 and is fully recognized by UEFA and FIFA. ECA is committed to play a major and constructive role in helping shape the future of football, for the benefit of all concerned with the game.
ECA – LEADING THE WAY FOR FOOTBALL CLUBS IN EUROPE