The Int'l Rules Series between Ireland and Australia will return in '17 and will return to a two-test format. Despite the "success of one-off tests" in Perth in '14 and in Dublin last year, the series will be played out over two tests in Australia next year on Nov. 11 and 18, "with the winner decided on the aggregate score." The Gaelic Athletic Association and the Australian Football League "have also agreed in principle to play a two-Test series" back in Ireland in '19. Venues and times for the games have yet to be announced (IRISH INDEPENDENT, 11/21).
All India Football Federation President Praful Patel has indicated that India will bid for the FIFA U20 World Cup in '19, and will "draw from the experience" of hosting the U17 World Cup in '17. Patel: "We have told the FIFA Competitions Committee that we are keen to host the event at the earliest available opportunity in 2019, and this will further give a boost to our grassroots initiatives." Patel said that the progress made and publicity generated since winning the rights to host the U17 World Cup "will encourage the continued development of the next generation of footballers" (ESPN.com, 11/21).
Sierra Leone has been asked by FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura to bid for the right to host the 2018 U17 Women's World Cup. Samoura made the request in a meeting with Sierra Leone President Ernest Bai Koroma, sports ministry officials and exec committee members of the country's FA during a two-day working visit. Sierra Leone has "never hosted a major football tournament." Should "any bid be successful it would be a major boost for the country," which suffered from the ebola epidemic between '14 and '16. However, the country "lacks most of the facilities required" to host a major FIFA or Confederation of African Football tournament and would need to "upgrade existing stadiums and possibly construct new venues to make a successful bid" to host the 16-team event (BBC, 11/21).
The 2018 Asian Games organizing committee reached an agreement with South Korea's Ssangyong Information & Communications Corp. to establish and operate integrated information systems during the games. The event will be hosted by Jakarta and the South Sumatran capital Palembang. SICC will operate a game results system, game information system and all digital facilities at the competition venues. SICC has been working with the Olympic Council of Asia since the 1986 Asian Games in Seoul and has "already managed numerous" int'l sports events (JAKARTA GLOBE, 11/21).
Milan will host a "new men's tournament showcasing the young guns of world tennis" starting next November, the ATP said. The inaugural Next Gen ATP Finals will be held over five days at the Fiera Milano stadium from Nov. 7-11 and will be staged there until '21. Only players aged 21 and under will be eligible with qualification being decided on ATP Race rankings. The tournament "is expected to be used as a trial for various rule changes and innovations" (REUTERS, 11/20).
