Tokyo 2020: The Japanese government approves €1.16bn Olympic Stadium (68,000 places)

The Japanese government has approved the construction budget for the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo in 2020 (the games will take place from 24/07 to 09/08/2020) for the amount of $1.28bn (€1.16bn), a reduction of 42% compared to the initial plan of $2bn (€1.8bn), announced Shinzo Abe, the Japanese Prime…

France: Ligue 1 club presidents create the "Première Ligue" union, chaired by Bernard Caïazzo (ASSE)

The 19 presidents of Ligue 1 clubs (all except Bertrand Desplat, the president of En Avant de Guingamp), meeting in Paris (FRA), decided to form a new union of professional football clubs, which takes the name "Première Ligue", according to a statement obtained by News Tank Football on 01/09/2015…

FIFA: former Nigeria international Segun Odegbami intends to stand for the presidency

Segun Odegbami, the former Nigerian international, announced his intention to be a candidate for the FIFA presidency, on 01/09/2015. "The world is very interested in who becomes the next president of FIFA, considering the current image and state of this institution and I see myself fitting into…

European Commission: the EPFL to partner with the first European Sport Week (07 to 13/09/2015)

The EPFL has joined the European Commission to promote the first European Sport Week, held from 07 to 13/09/2015. The objectives of the Sport Week are: to encourage physical activity, promote sports and their social role, as well as promoting team spirit and the reward of effort. The EPFL and…

Vitaly Mutko, minister for sport and patron of Russia 2018, elected president of the Federation

Vitaly Mutko was elected president of the RFU, the Russian Football Federation, after the extraordinary general meeting of the body in Moscow (RUS) on 02/09/2015. Mutko, 56 years old, held parallel functions as the Russian minister for sport, president of the LOC (Local Organising Committee) for…

FIFA: Brazilian Zico invites other presidential candidates to participate in a public debate

"I invite you to join efforts in order to stimulate and organize a public debate with all the potential candidates at the earliest possible date," said Zico (BRA), a candidate for the FIFA presidency, in an email sent to the other candidates and published on 31/08/2015. The former Brazilian…

2024 Olympic Games: Los Angeles (United States) has officially bid to host the 2024 Olympics

The Los Angeles City Council (United States) voted unanimously in favour of becoming a candidate city to host the 2024 Olympic Games, in an announcement on Santa Monica beach on 01/09/2015. Mayor Eric Garcetti and the USOC (United States Olympic Committee) both confirmed the formalisation of the…

FIFA: press conference of the American and Swiss attorney generals in Zurich (SUI) on 14/09/2015

Loretta E. Lynch, the Attorney General of the United States, and Michael Lauber, the Attorney General of the Swiss Confederation, have scheduled a joint press conference in Zurich (SUI) on 14/09/2015 to discuss the two legal investigation currently in progress in connection with FIFA. The US and…

Attendance of sports leagues around the world in 2013-14 and 2014-15

FIFA: "Term limits and financial transparency" on FIFA reform agenda (Gianni Infantino, UEFA)

"We have heard some of the presentations. The points are the same: term limits, financial transparency of money in and out. Once you can secure all these things this will be a very important step," said Gianni Infantino, the UEFA general secretary, in Monaco on 28/08/2015. Gianni Infantino (SUI…