World Rugby Chief Says Japan 2019 Poses a Risk -- Federations Focus

(ATR) Head of World Rugby Bill Beaumont admits that bringing the Rugby World Cup to Tokyo poses a challenge to the federation.

"We look at it as being a small risk coming here," Beaumont told British media. "I think for too long we have stuck with the traditional countries that we go to, and it's incumbent on us to spread the [game]."

Although not known as a traditional rugby country, Japan is making strides in growing the game and made a splash at the 2015 Rugby World Cup with a huge upset over South Africa. Now it is preparing to host the 2019 World Cup before it hosts the 2020 Summer Olympics a year later.

"In a way, it's a reward to Japan for all their contributions to rugby not only at the last World Cup, but throughout the years," Beaumont said.

Japan has the challenge of matching the success at the last World Cup not only with its sporting achievement but also with hosting the 2019 edition of the event.

The 2015 World Cup in England nearly sold all of its tickets with a 98 percent sale rate, easily making it the most successful World Cup in the sport’s history.

Beaumont acknowledges the challenge but notes that Japan’s economic success should help ticket sales.

"We need to try to work with them and get people to buy the tickets," he said. "We're not coming to a tier two nation, commercially. We're coming to a hugely successful, vibrant economic nation.

"It's about trying to engage the local population, the local sports bodies, the local schools, whatever the professional team is in that area."

IJF Takes Spotlight at Sportel Monaco

The International Judo Federation is seeking to make its mark at Sportel Monaco 2016.

During the world’s leading marketing and TV rights convention, IJF agreed to continue its partnership with Hakuhodo DY naming them the official media partner.

For the next four years, the Japanese based company will cover all broadcasting and marketing rights for IJF Events.

"It is a great honor for the judo family to continue the partnership with Hakuhodo DY Media Partners for the next four years. Based on our common experience and based on the professionalism of Hakuhodo DY Media Partners in general, we can make judo grow bigger. I am convinced that this partnership will bring the right benefit to Hakuhodo DY Media Partners and the right promotion to our sport and its values," President of the International Judo Federation Marius Vizer said in a statement.

Meetings have already taken place between the two to discuss strategies for the World Judo Tour 2017- 2020.

Along with gaining partnerships, IJF was also recognized during the Sportel Awards.

The IJF "Judo for the World" film, which was dedicated to Japan, was a finalist at the awards. The series began in 2015 with seven 5-minute films produced in countries around the world. Each film demonstrated how judo can change the lives of individuals everywhere. Big names in judo such as Rafaela Silva, Ungvari Miklos and Ortiz Idalys were featured in the film.

Sportel Monaco 2016 will continue until Oct. 27.

U-23 Baseball World Cup Nearly Here

The U-23 Baseball World Cup begins this week in Monterrey, Mexico.

Chinese Taipei, Austria and more have recently announced their rosters for the World Cup.

The Chinese Taipei roster includes pitcher Yi-Zhong, catcher Ming-Hung and infielder Yi-Hung Chen. The nation will begin the U-23 world championship tournament in Group B and is determined to finish among the top three nations in the group, advancing to the Super Round.

Ranked No.33 worldwide - Austria- will be making it's first ever appearance at the World Cup this year.Finishing 2nd place at the U-21 European Baseball Championship in 2014 qualified them for the Cup. The game was named "one of the greatest successes in the history of Austrian baseball". The team will be led byJapanese-born head coach Hiroyuki Sakanashi, who currently manages the Vienna Wanderers baseball club.

Austria will also be in Group B, playing against Australia on Oct. 28.

Due to his attendance at the U-23 World Cup WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari will not have the opportunity to attend Major League Baseball's World Series which is currently underway.

The U-23 Baseball World Cup will begin Oct. 28 and end Nov. 6.

Written by Kevin Nutley and Courtney Colquitt

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