Istanbul

Sixty thousand people were left frustrated at the UK Red Bull Air Race as blustery winds swept across historic Longleat in Wiltshire which was supposed to be hosting the event. 
The daredevil pilots were grounded; alongside the traffic which also grounded to a halt as chaos led to lines of spectators queuing for hours. With nothing else to entertain the long-enduring crowd, drivers let off steam and the police were called in to calm the situation.
Tickets for the event were sold out weeks in advance and the organizers were expecting 100,000 people to turn up. At 16.00hrs the organizers finally cancelled the race, but everyone gets to apply for a refund.  And a spokesperson from the Red Bull Company Limited confirmed: "we have learned our lessons from this year and will ensure that they are acted on for future events".
The UK debacle compared very unfavorably with the excitement of the same event in Istanbul in July.  Under stunning blue skies the pilots flew over water on the estuary which separates the city, known as the "Golden Horn" (Halic). The pre-event show started early, followed by acrobatic delights from the competitors.
All this - like the article below - raises the question whether it is prudent to schedule weather dependent sporting events in countries with unreliable weather conditions.  As for the Red Bull Air Race, (whichever way you cut it), when it takes off, it is a spectacular, spectator sport.

sidelines...... another Asian invasion

More than 1,100 competitors took to the water at the World Rowing Championships at London's Dorney Lake.  One thing that did worry athletes was the wind, as past competitors vividly recounted a World Cup Event in 2005 when a gusting crosswind almost brought the competition to a total stand still.
But this year's Championships at the newly renovated facility was a success, not least because it gave the world the opportunity to see how well China would perform as the host nation for the next Summer Olympics in 2008.  
China's aspirations for the Games in Beijing knows no boundaries. This includes a whole new approach to finding talent; and in the example of rowing away with 'gold', China's success in part will be predicated upon the outcome of the new TV reality show to be aired in the country over the next year.  
Oar Idol: is the latest off-spring from the Pop Idol/American Idol format.  TV viewers will be invited to participate in a contest with the a prize of a different kind: the chance to cox for their country in the Beijing Olympics.  Broadcaster CCTV anticipates that there will be as many as 10 million contestants and 300 million viewers.
These simply staggering statistics - and the idea that elite athletes can be born from a reality show format - has some merit.  How do you find the hidden talent, when you are looking for a combination of age, weight and intelligence?  No doubt the panel of judges, which include members of the Water Sport Administration, will emphatically express their preferences in the selection process, (in Simon Cowell fashion).
Long live a format which not only offers access to all and produces a winner; but also ensures that the winner has all the financial and management support required to complete the journey to the world number one spot. And if it does all work out, there would be no stopping the reality show which uncovers singers, entrepreneurs and budding interior designers, alongside potential Olympic Champions!  Compulsive viewing perhaps?

fashion icon...... media moments

As usual those Harley boys are seeking the ultimate ride. This time an international group of fourteen - all of whom worked in Riyadh - completed a 5,000 mile trek to London, with temperatures at times reaching over 50 degrees centigrade.  For those of you who enjoy power under the engine and are tempted, but prefer the home-comforts of four wheels and AC, look no further than Audi. Yet again, the car manufacturer crossed the line first at Le Mans this year; and their success was hardly the exception that proves the rule.   Audi almost always beats the competition when it comes to sports car endurance races.  Spending considerably less that the high-profile F1 car manufacturers, Audi have developed a car that most enthusiasts can not only relate to, but can also buy..... or at least something similar.  Two special limited editions of the Le Mans winning Audi R10 TDI (Turbo Diesel Injection) are available in your local showroom for around US$ 60,000; or if you prefer a slightly less tuned version but similar technology, there's an option to purchase and impress for less than US$ 30,000. 

home and away   a time-bomb waiting to explode

The unexpected happened when David Carruthers - the Chief Executive of BetOnSports was arrested as he stepped off his transatlantic flight in Texas.  He was subsequently shipped off to St Louis, Missouri to await trial (see column on the right). It is difficult to pinpoint exactly how and why this happened at this particular time; however, BetonSports immediately suspended its operations in the US and shut down their offices in Costa Rica. 
At a recent Emergency Briefing: 'Online Gambling & the US' organized by World Online Gambling Law Report, speakers flown in from the US explained that it was perhaps only a matter of time before one of more 'cases' tested the water when it came to online gambling.  According to US lawyers who spoke at the conference, BetonSports was an obvious target when it continued to advertise (offline) that the corporation and its services were "licensed and legal" to operate. As a result, Carruthers was among eleven people and four companies charged with US violations of the Wire Act which outlaws the placing of bets on sporting events via the telephone.  The very serious implications of BetOnSports' decision to challenge these laws has led to the suspension of 85% of their business. The BetOnSports debacle was shortly followed by the Louisiana State indictment of Non-Executive Chairman Peter Dicks of SportingBet; and no doubt there is more to come.
Equally importantly, US action flags the end of a very liberal era when internet transactions functioned within a boundary-free world, and their reach was limitless.  Credit card transactions - similarly global in nature - are now under scrutiny.

When the law is broken in one country which has different laws to another country or state, who is responsible for the the violation: the credit card holder, the credit card company; the state where the card was issued; the location of the financial transaction; or a combination of the above and/or other participants? This potential legal quagmire reflects the transient nature of a level playing - the World Wide Web - operating on its own as the only truly open platform.  And this begs the question whether the web is in conflict with other business 'formats' which are bound by the more 'traditional' geo/political boundaries.  What will be the outcome? Only time will tell; but a briefing in London in October below may help clarify some of the issues.

Following on from these developments, The World Online Gambling Law Report has organized a morning briefing next month: Third Party Risk in Online Gambling.  Location: Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Nicholson Graham LLP at 110 Cannon Street, London, EC4N 6AR  UK. 9:00hrs - 13:00hrs with registration from 8:30hrs GMT.

sport culture: pay, or don't play

It should come as no surprise that the culture of overcharging 'given half a chance' has reared its ugly head yet again, as Dublin appears to be cashing in on the Ryder Cup.  Such is the excitement of the 'US versus Europe' event at the K Club course, that even the American Ambassador in Ireland expressed his concerns about exorbitant prices.
Spiraling accommodation costs and hiked greed fees (sorry 'green fees') have lead to the usual pre-major sporting event concerns.  No different to the World Cup or the Olympics, host cities cannot help themselves.  They simply have to bow to temptation and over-charge!  
The Irish government pledged to spend around US$ 20 million marketing the ever-competitive tournament.  The likes of Tiger Woods will be transported around Ireland in one of the 600 helicopters available for participants and spectators.  And although the price of access to this prestigious event is a mere US$400 per day, rumour has it that some tickets have been auctioned on e-Bay for over US$100,000.
One of the few headlining sporting events where top sportsmen play for their team, rather than for the prize money, the Ryder Cup is a real spectators' occasion.  Drama on the greens combined with the equivalent of football 'WAGs' (wives and girlfriends) provides the 'action' both on and off the course.  With an expected TV global audience of one billion, this may yet again prove another example of the compulsive attraction of 'combative' sport.... and the financial opportunities that go with it.
RESULT: Europe won the Ryder Cuo, Sept 24, 2006

starting blocks

Will it be back to the starting blocks for Floyd Landis who - immediately after claiming the Tour de France title after completing the 17th Stage,  tested positive for testosterone and was immediately sacked by Phonak - his Swiss cycling team.  The thirty-year old American plans to appeal - basing his case upon the claim that he produces high levels of the hormone naturally.  If unsuccessful, he will be stripped of his title and around US$ 600,000 of prize money. 
The accuracy of some tests are increasingly under scrutiny, and going public with the results too soon does have an impact.  And here is an example:
On June 23, 2006 in Indianapolis, Marion Jones claimed the 100 metres title in the American Championships.  Subsequently she denied all charges after an initial blood sample tested positive for the blood boosting, performance enhancing drug, erythropoietin (EPO).  Earlier this month, the results of a second test - the B sample - proved Jones right and cleared her of any wrong doing.
The question must then be asked whether it would be prudent for the Federations (or anyone else) to hold back on the results of any tests until the process has been 'completely' completed.  And if the authorities don't show caution, perhaps those responsible should also take the hit for any financial losses direct or direct that an athlete may have incurred?

David Beckham handed over his black captains arm band as he left the pitch injured before the end of the end of England's road to win the World Cup.  And whether he ever plays for England again is difficult to predict.  But his legacy lives on.
The David Beckham Academy (DBA) Corporate Cup Tournament is an annual football competition benefiting the David Beckham Scholarship program and David’s chosen charity The Shine Foundation.
Sixteen teams each captained by a celebrity football manager such as Ray Winstone, compete for the prestigious Corporate Cup.  Playing alongside the likes of David Beckham and many other celebrity competitors in combination with a glittering After Party in London on December 14, 2006, makes this an A-List event which you too could attend!
(The Shine Foundation funds and develops educational initiatives that give disadvantaged children extra time, attention and support to help them develop at school, in addition to working diligently to help thousands of children recognize and realize their true potential.
The David Beckham Academy provides players of all levels, aged 8 to 15, with the rare opportunity to attend youth summer camps coached by some of the top in the industry.)