Industry
President Establishes New White House Office Of Olympic, Paralympic And Youth Sport
WASHINGTON—President Barack Obama has announced the formation of the new White House Office of Olympic, Paralympic and Youth Sport. The new, permanent White House office will promote the values of the Olympic Movement and encourage increased youth participation in athletics. The primary function of the office will be to enhance awareness of the Olympic Movement through promotion at the federal level of its fundamental principles.
The White House Office of Olympic, Paralympic and Youth Sport will recommend federal policies and programs to the president to enhance opportunities and access for youth participation in sport, especially in urban areas; foster and encourage youth sporting, educational and cultural events involving Olympic values-based programs and the participation of U.S. Olympians and Paralympians. In addition, the White House Office of Olympic, Paralympic and Youth Sport will work in coordination with executive departments and agencies, including the Department of Education and Health and Human Services, to engage in outreach to state and local government officials, nonprofit organizations and the private sector; coordinate federal resources for and act as a liaison to any organizing committee for an Olympic and Paralympic Games hosted in the United States; and work closely with the U.S. Olympic Committee and national sport governing bodies to increase access and opportunities for youth to participate in sports.
OHSAA Extends Partnership With Wilson
ADA, Ohio—The Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) has extended its partnership with Wilson Sporting Goods Co., based in Chicago, through 2015. Wilson Sporting Goods operates the Wilson football factory in Ada.
Under the new agreement, the Wilson F1003 GST football will be the official football of the OHSAA Championships and Ohio High School Football Coaches Association. Wilson will also work closely with OHSAA on new initiatives, including scholarship programs and a “First Friday” program to promote prostate cancer awareness.
YOUTH
Alpharetta Adds IronKids Triathlon
ALPHARETTA, Ga.—The IronKids Triathlon is coming to Alpharetta Sept. 13. It is one of only eight IronKids events this year.
The IronKids Alpharetta Triathlon will feature swim, bike and run competitions in three age-based categories: junior, for ages 6-8; intermediate, for ages 9-11; and senior, for ages 12-15. The top five male and top five female finishers of each group from each IronKids qualifying event will earn a spot in the IronKids National Championship on Oct. 4 in Tucson, Ariz.
In conjunction, the IronKids Expo will be held 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sept. 12 and 8-11 a.m. on Sept. 13 at Wills Park.
The Alpharetta Convention and Visitors Bureau, co-sponsor of the event with the City of Alpharetta, will hold a drawing Sept. 1 for 10 free entries to the triathlon and other prizes. IronKids photo (credit: Photo courtesy of asiphoto.com.); caption: Alpharetta is one of eight cities to host the IronKids Triathlon this year.
Dixie Softball World Series
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.—More than XX teams competed July 31-Aug. 5 in the 2009 Dixie Softball World Series in Sumter, S.C. Competitions were held at Sumter’s Bobby Richardson Complex and Patriot Park Sportsplex.
State champions from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia, along with a Sumter host team, competed for the Dixie Softball World Series title in five age groups: Darlings (8u); Angles (10U); Ponytails (12U); Belles (15U); and Debs (18U). Dixie Softball World Series and state champions for each age group are listed at Softball.Dixie.org. Dixie Softball photos (credit: Keri Evans) requested 2009
EVENTS
PGA Championship Returns To Minnesota
BLOOMINGTON, Minn.—The PGA Championship will return to Minnesota Aug. 10-16 as Hazeltine National Golf Club near Bloomington hosts the 91st Annual PGA Championship. The event was last held in Minnesota in 2002.
Hazeltine National Golf Club features a par-72, 7,149-yard golf course. It is locateed in Chaska, just 12 miles from Bloomington.
Nebraska Hosts Off-Road Triathlon
LINCOLN, Neb.—The Xterra B.O.L.T. off-road triathlon will be held Aug. 15 at Branched Oak Lake near Lincoln. The triathlon will include a 1K swim, 21K mountain bike and 8K trail run. More than 200 participants are expected.
The Xterra B.O.L.T. is conducted by the Nebraska Sports Council and sponsored by Cycle Works, the Nebraska Lottery, Nebraska Surf Co., Rodale, Gu Energy Gel, and Xterra Gear, Wetsuits and Footwear.
Additional events surrounding the off-road triathlon include a surfing-kayaking paddleboarding timed competition and an eating contest. Prizes will be awarded in both ancillary events.
PBR Coming To Ford Park Arena
BEAUMONT, Texas—Ford Park Arena in Beaumont will host the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) Aug. 21-22 as 45 of the world’s top professional bull riders compete in the YMBL/PBR Chute-Out Bull Ride for qualifying points toward the tour finals.
The YMBL/PBR Chute-Out Bull Ride will feature eight-time World Champion Don Gay as master of ceremonies, as well as concerts by Roger Creager and Robert Earl Keen after the competitions. YMBL photo, logo (credit); caption: Ford Park Arena in Corpus Christi, Texas, will host the YMBL/PBR Chute Out Aug. 21-22.
Corpus Christi To Host Annual Football Classic
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas—Texas High School Football Fraternity Inc. has announced that the 2009 Gulf Coast Football Classic will be held Aug. 27-28 in Corpus Christi. Alice, Corpus Christi and Flour Bluff Independent School Districts will work together on the annul football classic. The location of the game has not yet been announced. Corpus Christi-Football Classic logo
VENUES
Race Track Owners Sue Pep Boys
HAMPTON, Ga.—Speedway Motorsports Inc., which owns Atlanta Motor Speedway LLC, has sued Pep Boys, claiming the auto parts and services retailer backed out of a multimillion-dollar sponsorship deal. Pep Boys, the suit claims, owes the speedway $1.6 million.
Pep Boys has filed a counterclaim, requesting a jury trial and arguing that a change in race dates was “a material breach of the agreement.”
The suit was filed in Henry County Superior Court, but moved to U.S. District Court in Atlanta.
Oso Beach Golf Course Reopens
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas—Oso Beach Municipal Golf Course in Corpus Christi has reopened after completing a six-month renovation. The renovations included replacing the irrigation system with a new system with twice the capacity, planting grass to replace bare spots on fairways and cart paths and repairing the clubhouse.
The course reopened July 25.
GOVERNING BODIES
USA Rugby Forms New City-Based Women’s Sevens League
BOULDER, Colo.—USA Rugby has launched a pilot program to grow and develop the women’s sevens games and to provide another avenue for players to advance to the National Team. The City-Based Sevens League (CBL) is made up of teams in Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.
Team tryouts were held in each city in July; selected players participated in a two-week developmental program before the CBL Tournament July 26 at Friendship Field in Phoenixville, Pa. CBL Logo
USTA Offers Tennis Clinic With BMA Conference
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.—The US Tennis Association (USTA) held a tennis clinic June 13 in conjunction with the 100 Black Men of America (BMA) National Conference in New York. The clinic, held at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City, was part of USTA’s overall diversity effort.
Through the tennis clinic, students from BMA’s mentoring program had the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of tennis, including the QuickStart Tennis format, from USTA-trained coaches and players. Former New York City Mayor David Dinkins, who is also a USTA board member and co-founder of BMA, was among the VIP guests.
The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center also will host USTA’s 39th Annual Tennis Teachers Conference, Aug. 29-Sept. 1. Patrick McEnroe, captain of the US Davis Cup Team and general manager of USTA Player Development, will be one of several featured presenters.
