Hong Kong has bid to host the 2018 Rugby World Cup Sevens in a move described as an "insurance policy" by Hong Kong Rugby Football Union Chair Trevor Gregory. The Hong Kong Rugby Football Union "had previously stated it would not bid for the 2018 edition as it could not host two major sevens tournaments" -- the Hong Kong Sevens and the World Cup -- in one year at the Hong Kong Stadium. Gregory: "But we have now put our hand up because we are not sure if the International Rugby Board will include Hong Kong as part of the World Series when they announce the cities in the next cycle. So as an insurance policy we have bid for the World Cup" (SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST, 3/5). ... Indian Premier League Chair Ranjib Biswal on Wednesday said that "60 to 70 per cent matches in the seventh edition of the Twenty20 tournament will be held in India." The decision to host the "bulk of the matches" in India was taken after a meeting of Board of Control for Cricket in India 'bigwigs," including President N. Srinivasan. Biswal insisted that since IPL is a domestic event, its main objective "is to conduct majority of the matches in India" (PTI, 3/5).
LFP TO HOLD WORLD CHALLENGE EVENT: The Spanish Football League (LFP) was scheduled to hold a presentation of its "LFP World Challenge" project on Thursday in Madrid, with LFP President Javier Tebas, Spanish State Secretary for Trade Jaime García-Legaz and Superior Sports Council (CSD) President Miguel Cardenal among the project's ambassadors expected in attendance. Following a press conference explaining the the plan to spread the values of football and Spanish business throughout the world, an interactive presentation called "The Spain Experience" will feature a combination of networking and a cooking exhibition led by Spanish chef Paco Roncero. Thursday's event comes after an agreement announced last week between Mediapro, the LFP and Twitter to make LFP game highlights available worldwide through a new Twitter handle, @LaLiga (LFP).
