The Royal & Ancient opened its new Asia-Pacific office at Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore which will help further the organization’s commitment to the growth and development of golf in the region. R&A Captain Keith Macintosh officially opened the new office (R&A).
The commissioner of the Canadian Football League refused on Friday to admit a "connection between football and chronic traumatic encephalopathy, the progressive degenerative brain disease that’s been linked to repeated blows to the head." CFL Commissioner Jeffrey Orridge said, "Last I heard, it’s still a subject of debate in the medical and scientific community. The league’s position is that there is no conclusive evidence at this point. And as I said, we continue to work with them and monitor the progress that they’re making in terms of getting a greater understanding of whether or not there is a linkage." The CFL is facing a C$200M ($145M) class-action lawsuit filed in Ontario Superior Court by former players Korey Banks and Eric Allen, "who allege the league and a Toronto clinic withheld information about how repeated concussions can lead to long-term cognitive disorders" (London GUARDIAN, 11/25).
Owners who "leave trainers with unpaid bills are set to be barred from having any runners in Ireland, it was agreed at this week's Irish Racehorse Trainers' AGM." Unanimous backing was given to all training fees being paid through Horse Racing Ireland, "rather than directly to the trainer." Many have been "looking for this to happen for years and attendees were informed that HRI was backing the initiative." Since the start of the recession in particular, trainers across the country "have been left unpaid for horses and training fees, with owners unable or unwilling to cough up" (IRISH INDEPENDENT, 11/25).
A meeting of Pakistan and India's cricket authorities will take place on Dec. 17 in Colombo, Sri Lanka, to "hold a straightforward discussion on the lull-stricken relations between the two nations." The Indian authorities have "already brought forward different options, including the option of a triangular series, but Pakistan is not interested to being decoyed now." According to sources, the Pakistan Cricket Board has "decided to take up bilateral matches" with Board of Control for Cricket in India President Anurag Thakur. In case it does not receive a positive response there, "legal options will be considered" (EXPRESS TRIBUNE, 11/27).
The ICC said that it is "disappointed" South Africa captain Faf du Plessis has appealed against his fine for ball-tampering. TV footage appeared to show the 32-year-old "licking a finger and shining the ball while eating a sweet in the second Test against Australia." Du Plessis pleaded not guilty to the charge. A judicial commissioner will hear the appeal "at the earliest opportunity" (BBC, 11/25).
The World Taekwondo Federation won the Federation of the Year award at the Peace & Sport Awards 2016. Peace & Sport is a Monaco-based independent organization "which promotes sports as a tool for peace." During the Nov. 24 ceremony in Monaco, the organization recognized the WTF "for its World Taekwondo Cares Program that has contributed to the development of social integration through the martial art" (KOREA TIMES, 11/27).
World Baseball Softball Confederation President Riccardo Fraccari welcomed the news that the House of Switzerland -- a project under the Swiss Department of Foreign Affairs -- broke ground on a baseball legacy project in Rio de Janeiro. The Consulate General of Switzerland will modernize and upgrade the baseball field at Lagoa, which is overseen by Carioca Baseball & Softball Federation -- an affiliate of the Confederation of Brazilian Baseball & Softball. The scope of the Swiss legacy baseball project includes leveling the playing ground, improving the facilities and correcting drainage (WBSC).
