Canada

A leading group of international women footballers have followed through on their threat to bring legal action against Fifa after the game’s world governing body refused to alter its stance on the use of artificial turf at its 2015 Women’s World Cup in Canada.

Fifa remains committed to staging next year’s Women’s World Cup in Canada on artificial turf despite the threat of a lawsuit from leading female players.

Canadian city Edmonton plans to invest between C$80m (€55.3m/$72.9m) and C$100m in a new velodrome as part of its bid to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Mark Cohon has announced that he will not seek a third term as commissioner of the Canadian Football League gridiron competition when his current contract expires in April.

Tim Leiweke, one of the most prominent names in the global sports industry, will step down as chief executive of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) in the coming months to pursue new opportunities, the Canadian company confirmed this (Thursday) afternoon.

Ticket sales and distribution company Ticketmaster has been appointed as the official ticket service provider for the 2015 Pan and Parapan American Games, which are scheduled to take place in Toronto, Canada next year.

Bud Selig’s successor as commissioner of Major League Baseball (MLB) is set to be decided next week, when the league’s owners gather in Baltimore to vote on three final candidates.

A group of international female footballers is threatening legal action against the decision to stage 2015 Fifa Women’s World Cup matches on artificial turf surfaces across Canada.

Fifa president Sepp Blatter has talked up Canada’s planned bid for the 2026 World Cup as the country prepares to demonstrate its credentials for hosting major football events by staging the women’s game’s two international showpieces.

Tom Renney has been appointed as the new president and chief executive officer of the Hockey Canada national ice hockey governing body.

Calgary was ranked fourth in the 2014 Ultimate Sports Cities rankings in the category of Event Strategy. The Calgary Sport Tourism Authority (CSTA) is responsible for bidding for sports events for the city and is reflective of the city’s pervasive sporting culture. The CSTA is a collaboration of leaders in sport, business, government and tourism who are mandated to provide advice, due diligence and strategic direction in evaluating and attracting sports events.

VANOC, the organising committee for the Vancouver 2010 winter Olympic Games, has released final financial figures to show the event broke even.

Calgary was ranked fourth in the 2014 Ultimate Sports Cities rankings in the category of Legacy. The 1988 Olympic Winter Games provide the best illustration of Calgary’s commitment to lasting legacy. Following 1988, and benefiting from endowment funds left for the Games’ legacy, the Calgary Olympic Development Association, now called WinSport, has evolved into a new vision for Canadian winter sport.

The Edmonton 2022 Bid Committee has appointed Reg Milley as its chairman as the Canadian city aims to land the Commonwealth Games.

The NHL North American ice hockey league has announced that its salary cap will rise to $69m (€50.7m) for the 2014-15 season, slightly below initial projections.

The Canadian city of Edmonton has stepped up its bid for the 2022 Commonwealth Games by appointing TSE Consulting as lead consultant in its efforts to land the multi-sport event.