The economic downturn has claimed another victim in the world of motorsport as Suzuki announced its withdrawal from the World Rally Championship after only one season. The company said that to secure its own business environment for tomorrow, the organisation will focus on the core business functions.

The new FIH president, Leondro Negre, is visiting Delhi in January to inspect the city’s progress toward the World Cup 2010. He will consult with the Indian Olympic Association regarding the sport event. .

LOCOG has been handed a deadline for the announcement of the venues to be used for the London 2012 Olympic Games. The IOC has given the organiser until March 2009 to annouce venues for shooting, gymnastics and badminton. .

F1 teams have apparently reached agreement with the FIA to reduce costs significantly over the next two season. The measures, to be announced shortly, are expected to fall short of the proposal for standardised engines and gearboxes proposed by Max Mosley. .

London 2012 officials are said to be considering basing a sport technology university at the Olympic stadium after the games. Insiders say that London needs a new university, which would ensure the Olympic park is put to good use in the long-term.

Honda announced their immediate withdrawal from Formula One on Friday 5 December citing the ‘deepening credit crisis’ and the deteriorating operating environment facing the global auto industry. The decision puts 750 jobs, based at Honda’s Brackley factory, at risk unless a buyer can be found before January. The management team are highly confident that a [...]

Ascot’s King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes has a new sponsor. The sports event will carry a prize of £1m for the first time ? up from this year’s £850,000. Until 2006 the sports event had been sponsored by De Beers. .

The EBU’s collective bid for the rights to the 2014 and 2016 Olympic Games has been rejected by the IOC who say they have higher financial expectations. The EBU says its members “were surprised by the high financial expectations of the IOC,” although how much was bid is unclear. .

It has been reported that a ?no compromise? approach to funding by UK Sport, means that only sports with a realistic chance of medals at the London 2012 Olympic Games will be backed. Expensive team sports which have an unlikely chance of a medal eg: handball will be most at risk of the cut. This [...]

British Olympic Association Chairman, Lord Moynihan warned yesterday that if the shortfall in government funding for athletes of £79 million could not be found, Britain?s aspirations for the London 2012 Olympic Games? medal table could fall from fourth to eighth. Sports likely to suffer from funding cuts are handball, volleyball and hockey.