According to a report released May 26 by PricewaterhouseCoopers, the global sports market is showing signs of a recovery from the effects of the 2008-09 recession, with an average annual growth forecast of 3.8% through 2013. Fueled in part by the 2010 World Cup and 2012 Olympic Games, worldwide spending on sport is projected to increase from $114 billion in 2009 to $133 billion in 2013. Click below to read the PwC Report, "Back on Track? The Outlook for the Global Sports Market to 2013."
They exchanged suspicious glances and growled at each other at first, but Graham and Eustacia have finally learned to be friends. They now see beyond their differences and instead focus on the similarities: the green frames, the cream tires, the leather Brooks saddles, the twine, the dynamo hubs and headlights - so much common ground.
Lately I have been incorporating both bikes into my routine: During the day I travel for work and errands on the Pashley, then come home, quickly change clothes, and do a 25-mile ride on the Rivendell before it gets dark. They are both feeling loved, and I am feeling a like a velo-bigamist!
The excitement is building! This Friday will mark the two-week countdown to the World Cup kick off on June 11 . . . and we will be at the Opening Ceremonies and first match between South Africa and Mexico in the brand new Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg! Dan Covell and I were lucky to experience the first Olympics in China, and in a few days -- along with 11 Western New England College students -- we will bear witness to the first World Cup in all of Africa!
Team USA is set for the World Cup. Discussion here. One thing is for sure, come the end of June Bob Bradley will either be a coaching genius or unemployed.
Even though none of the South African venues is anywhere near FIFA's high-altitude limit of 2,500 meters (8,200 feet), the Johannesburg stadiums -- Soccer City (at left) and Ellis Park -- are at 1,753 meters (5,751 feet), which is more than a mile in elevation!
The Times reports that the European Union is set to propose increasing its unilateral emissions-reduction target to 30% by 2020:The European Commission is determined to press ahead with the cuts despite the financial turmoil gripping the bloc, even though it would require Britain and other EU member states to impose far tougher financial penalties on their industries than are being considered by other large economies.
The plan, to cut emissions by 30 per cent on 1990 levels by 2020, would cost the EU an extra £33 billion a year by 2020, according to a draft of the Commission’s communication leaked to The Times.
What's that you just read?
"£33 billion a year by 2020"That is a total of about 400 billion Euros over 10 years. [UPDATE: A reader writes in to suggest that the Times has its currency wrong, the 33 billion should be in Euros. If so, then the total for the decade is 330 billion Euros. Thanks MW.] It is not going to happen. EurActiv reports the realpolitik:
France and Germany yesterday joined the growing ranks of European countries opposed to making further unilateral moves on climate change, as the European Commission today plans to make the case for raising the EU’s greenhouse gas reduction goal from -20% to -30% by 2020. . .For emissions reductions policies to succeed they simply cannot involve high costs (and yes, for the EU 400 billion Euros is a high cost). This is just a political reality, there is no point in complaining about it.The common declaration by France and Germany signals a hardening of Europe’s policy on climate change, six months after the failure of UN climate talks in Copenhagen.
It also deals a blow to Connie Hedegaard, the EU’s climate action Commissioner, who is expected to recommend today (26 May) that Europe raises its greenhouse gas reduction target from -20% to -30% by 2020.
