World Surfing Games to Set Stage for Olympic Debut -- Federations Focus

(ATR) The International Surfing Association is returning to the capital of European surfing in 2017 – an event that will have significant Olympic implications.

The world’s premier surfers will ride the waves on France’s southwest coast in Biarritz at the ISA World Surfing Games next May.

Surfing federation president Fernando Aguerre tells Around the Rings that the ISA flagship event will play a pivotal role along the road to the sport’s Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020, while potentially beginning the Olympic qualification process.

Surfing was accepted into the Tokyo 2020 Olympic program by the IOC executive board in August. Twenty male and twenty female surfers will ride waves on their shortboards with Olympic medals at stake in Japan.

For more on the ISA World Surfing Games click here.

Mongolian wrestling coaches banned for three years

The penalty for stripping to protest an officiating call at the Rio Olympics is a three-year ban.

That’s the decision handed down to two Mongolian wrestling coaches by United World Wrestling. The Associated Press also reports that the Mongolian Wrestling Federation has been fined 50,000 Swiss Francs, or about $51,000.

Tserenbaatar Tsogtbayar and Byambarinchen Bayaraa stripped off most of their clothes after taking exception to the referee’s decision to award Uzbekistan's Ikhtiyor Navruzov the win over Mongolia’s Mandakhnaran Ganzorig in the 65kg freestyle bronze medal bout last month.

Ganzorig was leading by seven points to six but was adjudged to have refused to engage over the final 18 seconds of the match. The judges adjusted the score to 7-7 and then awarded an additional point and the match to the Uzbek after the Mongolian corner's challenge was rejected. Thatprompted the strip protest by the coaches.

Tencent reaches global basketball audience through new partnership

Until 2025 Tencent will act as the official global partner of the International Basketball Federation.

Tencent will be recognized at all FIBA major national team competitions including FIBA Basketball World Cups, Continental Cups, Olympic Qualifying tournaments, U19 and U17 World Championships and Basketball World Cup Qualifiers.

Per the agreement, starting next year the global digital company will have the opportunity to set up activations for its brands such as Tencent’s social network qq.com, the instant messaging service WeChat, and more during these tournaments.

"We are very glad to establish the strategic partnership with FIBA, the world governing body for basketball. Tencent and FIBA will work together closely in a variety of capacities in the coming nine years, particularly for the 2019 and 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cups" Senior Executive Vice President of Tencent SY Lau said in a statement.

World Air Sports Federation gains logistics partner

DHL will be named the official logistics partner for the World Air Sports Federation for the next four years.

"We are happy to become part of the world air sport community which includes fantastic competitions and activities.

With our global network of transportation specialists we are able to provide the best solutions for the air sport persons as well as to the FAI Members, the local organizers and the whole Federation. DHL will assist in transport and also in questions on customs, dangerous goods handling and packaging through its specific knowledge of air sports," Global Managing Director of DHL Trade Fairs & Events Vincenzo Scrudato said in a statement.

The specialized subsidiary exclusively deals with the logistics of trade fairs and event goods, and plans toprovide 24 hour services at 24 branches worldwide with all logistics, haulage and storage issues.

Together the FAI and DHL will work to promote new business through commission meetings, events and collaborations with the air sport community.

FINA solicits bids for 2024

Potential bidders for the FINA World Swimming Championships in 2022 and 2024 met for an informational meeting in the city of Lausanne.

Representatives of National Federations/Cities of Chinese Taipei, Germany, Hungary (Budapest), Russia (Kazan) and Switzerland were all in attendance.

During the meeting countries were briefed on marketing, budgeting, TV broadcasting and bidding procedure.

"The FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) is not only a spectacular sport event, it is also a unique occasion to gather the FINA family and provide them with a significant business opportunity, exchange of knowledge and tribute to our Stars through the FINA World Aquatics Convention and the FINA Gala ‘Soirée des Etoiles’," FINA Executive Director Cornel Marculescu said in a statement.

In 2022 and 2024, the Championships will be held alongside the FINA World Aquatics Convention.

Written by Courtney ColquittandBrian Pinelli

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