The next edition of the Volvo Ocean Race, a "round the world race," will end at the Dutch seaside resort of Scheveningen. Scheveningen "hosted a pit stop in the race last year" and organized a three-day festival around the event. The 13th edition of the race will begin in autumn '17. Alicante, Spain, the race’s HQ since '10, will be the departure port (DUTCH NEWS, 3/23).
WARNER CALLS FOR OVERHAUL: Cricketer David Warner believes the next World T20 to be staged in Australia in four years time "should be immediately preceded by a lead-up tournament to allow cricket’s biggest names to be firing at the right time." Warner "has advocated for a T20 window to be blocked out" on the int'l calendar in '20, and for an Indian Premier League or an Int'l Cricket Council-run T20 Champions Trophy to "directly flow into the World Cup showpiece." The shortest format has been a "long-standing farce" at the int'l level, with series and even World T20s "jammed into the schedule with no preparation time allowed for overworked teams" (Sydney DAILY TELEGRAPH, 3/23).
EVENT BRIEFS ...
The Japan FA announced it filed candidacy to FIFA to host the 2020 Futsal World Cup. The JFA is "aiming to get the tournament staged in Aichi Prefecture." It plans to hold the event in October and November with the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics being held in the summer (KYODO, 3/23).
The Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Open was confirmed for Abu Dhabi later this year. The tournament was announced at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club and will take place at the Gary Player-designed course from Nov. 2-5. The Emirates already host the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters, traditionally the season finale on the Ladies European Tour. The Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Open is organized by the Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy (FBMA) and runs in cooperation with Abu Dhabi Sports Council. It offers a prize fund of $550,000, with the field to comprise 126 players (THE NATIONAL, 3/23).
