Famous for its football skills, beautiful scenery and the Rose of Tralee, Co. Kerry now also boasts the Dingle Marathon to its list of accolades. In 2009 the inaugural Dingle Marathon saw approximately 5,000 people descend on the picturesque town, on what has claimed to be Ireland’s hottest day of that year. 2,500 runners lined-up race morning in Dingle town and begun the 26.2 mile loop through the twists and turns of the striking Dingle peninsula.

The course is Athletics Association of Ireland certified and will see athletes partake in a unique run passing beautiful scenery, idyllic villages and historical sites providing a natural lift of spirit. This year the Dingle Marathon is offering it participants the choice of the full marathon (26.2 miles), half marathon (13.1 miles) or new to this year, the Ultra marathon (50 miles).

The Ultra marathon will be held as the National 50 mile title and is an International Association of Ultra Runners labelled event. All 50 miles of the race are on road except for a short trail run at the very start and the Ultra will join up with the main marathon in Dingle town. Once this merge takes place normal marathon conditions will be in place. While it is an extremely challenging run that is not to be underestimated, the course will provide you with an overwhelming sense of achievement.

Entries for all distances are currently open and runners can register on www.dinglemarathon.ie. All are welcome to run on behalf of a charity of their choice or one of the charities currently involved with the marathon. These details can be found on the website.

The 2010 Dingle Marathon is again taking place on a Saturday allowing all participants and spectators the chance to really enjoy their experience. A mixture of music, entertainment, and interesting side events will take place throughout the weekend encouraging everyone to join in on the festivities.

Dingle, voted among the top 100 destinations in the world by Trip Advisor has plenty to help you relax for the weekend. Steeped in heritage with its vibrant Irish language and traditional Irish music Dingle has amazing archaeological sites, beautiful churches and numerous award winning restaurants serving the freshest of seafood.

To register for the marathon or to find out more information please visit www.dinglemarathon.ie.

DAY ONE of the Festival opens at sunset with Swallow the Sun (Fin), along with Kamelot (USA) and the sisters of mercy (UK). Two unforgettable days in Piata Mare of Sibiu will bring six bands for the first time in Romania. The second day of the Festival offers the live performances of Serj Tankian, Dark Tranquillity and Sirenia.

ARTmania Festival 2010 prepares six important concerts in Piata Mare on Friday and Saturday, as well as other events in the weekend of August 13 – 15. The public will have access to the events with valid tickets or passes for Piata Mare. Festival passes and tickets are available in Germanos, Carturesti, Diverta, Vodafone and Humanitas stores and also online on www.eventim.ro and www.myticket.ro (a 6% ticketing fare applies). Prices are as follows: May 1 – 31, 80 RON/ day and 140 RON/ full pass; June 1 – August 12, 90 RON / day and 160 RON/ full pass; August 13 – 15, 110 RON/day and 180 RON/ full pass.

Budapest Marathon, organiser of the Nike Budapest International Half Marathon and of the Spar Budapest International Marathon, organises also an Ultra Running Race in Hungary.

In 2010 the race was organised for the 3rd time. It is a 195 km run around Lake Balaton (sometimes also referred to as the Hungarian see). This is a 4 day long race where runners can accomplish the daily distances (46,7 km – 52,9 km – 43,6 km – 52,2 km) either individually, in pairs or in teams of 4 runners.

This year the Half Balaton Supermarathon was organised for the first time where runners could come and join only for the weekend for two days and run half of the total distance. Also, any of the distances could be run individually called the Marathon +. In 2010 overall there were more than 250 runners at the start.

The weather was 11-15 degrees, sunshine, everything given for a perfect race! It was a real international event, runners came from 13 different countries. Runners received a beautiful medal and a vest as a memory of their achievement!

The next race will be organised 17-20 March 2011.
For more information visit www.budapestmarathon.com.

Perics race will be held this year August 22, 2010 and is now part of Grand Prix of Nations. This race 21km and 1200m level difference on the roof of the French Pyrenees, is a race mountain, only trail that takes
you to 2810m altitude.

Information and registration on club.quomodo.com

In 2010 Budapest will host two anniversary running events:

25th Nike Budapest International Half Marathon, 5th September 2010
25th Spar Budapest International Marathon, 26th September 2010

Last year almost 8000 runners took part on the Nike Budapest Half Marathon (including the relay for two runners and the fun run distances), with more than 1000 foreign runners from 40 different countries. The race is similar to a marathon race in its nice atmosphere, relay, fun run, the same precise organization, and the beautiful medal for each finisher.

On the Spar Budapest International Marathon nearly 13 000 runners participated in 10 different distances. There were 3000 runners who competed on the marathon distance. However, runners can also choose the unique 30 km race, which is very useful for those who are not prepared for the marathon yet or are planning to run one in the near future. Teams or groups of friends can enjoy the relay race of 3 or for 5 persons. If you register for the marathon race, you can bring a person to run he 7,5 km long minimarathon for free.

The nice atmosphere and the friendliness of the races are enhanced by street musicians along the course. The courses are wide and flat so this is perfect to beat one’s personal record as well. The registration fee at both races contains the entry fee to the famous Széchenyi thermal bath after the race.

Running through the world heritage of Andrássy Street and along the riverside that divides the city in two parts gives an unforgettable experience for all runners. Spectators are evenly spread out along the course but slightly thin on the ground, so if you are more turned on by a fantastic view and to running a quick time, this is your race.

See www.budapestmarathon.com for more details.

The second step of the World Championships started today at the Centre Departemental de Formation et de Animation Sportive of Eaubonne in the Val d’Oise department, and will last until the 16th May. 3500 games will be played on 120 soccer tables and broadcast live on the ITSF World Tour website. These games will also be broadcast by Eurosport 2 in 11 languages in nearly 50 million homes in 58 countries. 500 players from 22 nations will be present at this big event.

Nations Cup
The French Women’s team, defending champion of the World Cup, and the French Men’s team, runner-up of the World Cup, will face several countries such as the United States, Belgium, Algeria and Cameroon in the
Nation’s Cup.

The Reunion Island’s participation
For the first time, the local table soccer club of the Reunion Island will take part in the Bonzini World Championship Series. Eight players will try to achieve high scores in the competition.

Free access
Visitors will be able to watch matches played by professional players and also have free access to about 20 tables during the 4 days.

Ministry of Sports recognition
Despite countless requests submitted by the French Table Soccer Federation (FFFT) to the Ministry of Sports, the discussion has reached a dead end. Yesterday, neither a Sport Agreement nor a Youth and Education Agreement (a branch of the French Ministry of Sports) has been granted; therefore, the FFFT has decided to refer the case to a competent court so that a decision be made at last.

For other informations visit www.francebabyfoot.com.

Travelers and film makers come together to celebrate the revolution in media.
The Road Junky Travel Film Festival in Berlin, May 28-30, 2010, brings existing online communities together under one roof in 3 days of film, discussions and music to celebrate the changing face of travel and media.
In the days before mainstream media, travelers were once the eyes and ears of the world. Now with the advent of budget cameras and internet distribution, every traveler can be a video journalist and share their experiences through independent media channels.

The festival will feature short films and features that challenge common prejudices about other cultures and take viewers on a journey through the eye of the traveler. The 3 nights of screenings will also be streamed live on the internet to tens of thousands of travelers around the world.

Events during the day will include photography exhibitions, live storytelling, discussions between travelers and talks from personalities like Ludovic Hubler who recently hitchhiked 170,000 km across deserts, oceans and ice flows to circumnavigate the world.

Film screenings will be followed by live swing bands and DJ’s representing the best of Berlin’s bohemian culture.The Road Junky Film Festival is the first convention organised by www.roadjunky.com.

For more information please visit www.roadjunkyfilms.com and to schedule an interview please contact tom(at)roadjunkyfilms.com or by phone 015784508185.

Germans buy more bikes than any other European nation.
Friedrichshafen – Germany plays a special role in the European bicycle industry as the venue for EUROBIKE, the annual trade fair held in Friedrichshafen on Lake Constance, which last year attracted almost 40,000 trade visitors and 1,550 journalists from 75 countries. It has long been the leading global event of its kind. This year’s Eurobike will be held between September 1 and 4.

Increasing numbers of European countries see the bicycle as playing a key role in solving transport, environmental and health problems. As well as being a popular means of transport and leisure activity, cycling makes an important contribution to the European economy, with manufacturers alone employing some 21,000 people. The leading European producers are Italy, Germany, the Netherlands and Poland.

According to a study by the trade associations COLIBI and COLIPED, European manufacturers produce some 13 million bikes each year. Unlike other industries, a high proportion of their output is sold in Europe, where total sales amount to some 20.4 million. The biggest European producer is Italy, which makes 2.38 million bicycles a year. Germany comes an extremely close second, with 2.37 million.

In terms of parts production, the gap is much wider, with Italian companies such as Campagnolo and Cinelli having an output in value terms of €559 million, followed by Germany at €190 million. In terms of numbers, the biggest European market for bicycles is Germany, where 4.3 million are sold each year, followed by France with 3.4 million and Britain with 3.3 million.

As far as retail value sales are concerned, the picture is slightly different: Germany still heads the list at €1.7 billion, but the Netherlands, that quintessential cycling nation, ranks second with €954 million. The average Dutch buyer invests €688 in a new bike, compared to €386 in Germany.

EUROBIKE takes place from Wednesday September 1 to Saturday September 4, 2010. The first three days are for trade visitors only, and the event is also open to the public on the Saturday. The EUROBIKE demo day for dealers and journalists takes place in Argenbühl im Allgäu on Tuesday August 31.

You can find some photos from the 2009 event at the Gallery.
For more information, visit www.eurobike-show.com.

Tannkosh 2010 will take place at Tannheim airfield from August 27th – 29th 2010. Like in the previous years, the emphasis lays on hosting a great get together of pilots and airplanes and last but not least the party, organized by pilots for pilots.

The Tannkosh Team, will do whatever it takes to make this event become the highlight of your flying season 2010. The organizers are looking forward to every single aircraft that lands at Tannheim “International”, to be a part of Tannkosh 2010.
The event is especially proud to welcome numerous rare airplanes and great flying displays that have confirmed their participation, so everybody will be able to take a closer look at those beauties and talk to the owners and pilots.

Program
August 26th Arrival of the early birds and exhibitors. File your claim on the flightline and then come and join for a fun evening among friends.
August 27th Party on and around the airfield, lots of airplanes to admire, Airshow displays, workshops – and flying bands will be give you a swinging welcome.You can relax in the warm July sun, stroll along the colourful flightline, talk to pilots from all over Europe.
August 28th Lot’s of flying displays, interviews with participants, information for pilots, workshops.

Check some photos in the Gallery.
For other informations please visit tannkosh.com.

Amway UK, one of the world’s leading direct selling companies, has announced the sponsorship of Bogdan Cristea, an Amway Business Owner (ABO) who is organising a challenge to cycle over 1000 miles from London to Romania. Monies raised from the 18 day marathon will help fund the refurbishment of a mother and child centre and an art therapy programme for children in a Romanian orphanage based in Timisoara.

Bogdan, originally from Romania, works in London as an Amway ABO and is also a volunteer helping disabled people. He was first introduced to Amway in Romania in 2005 and relocated to London in 2006 where he started his UK Amway business. It wasn’t until he had moved to the UK and watched a British documentary about the Romanian care system that he became aware of the injustice and abuse that some children suffer in his home country.

“This type of documentary is never televised in Romania so I was unaware until I came to London,” said Bogdan. “I was so full of despair for these children that I decided to try to make a difference. I grew up in Arad, which is not far from Timisoara where there is a refuge centre and orphanage. The money raised in this challenge will help fund the expansion of a mother and child centre for victims of abuse or neglect who have nowhere else to go. Currently they have six rooms but they hope to modernise three more with our assistance. We will also help fund an art therapy programme for children at the orphanage.”

The challenge will consist of a core team of riders, and will commence on 1 August 2010 from Amway’s flagship store in Holborn. The riders hope to raise one Euro/Pound from every active Amway ABO in each country they cycle through which includes UK, France, Belgium, The Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania. This will help them accomplish their goal of £60,000.

Amway UK has pledged £1000 to the challenge and will support the riders in their efforts with nutritional advice and by supplying them with Nutrilite multivitamins, which support an active lifestyle and Strive+, a rehydrating energy drink. The company will also be providing the team with ‘Nutrilite’ cycle wear as well as publicising the challenge among its global ABO network to encourage support and participation from others. The campaign falls under Amway’s global ‘One by One’ programme in which they pledge to help children live better lives through various fundraising and volunteer initiatives.

Andy Smith, Amway UK/ROI’s branch manager said: “We are delighted to be supporting Bogdan in this fundraising challenge. We became involved in December last year when we held a staff toy collection for the orphanage, which was hand delivered to the children by Bogdan at Christmas. This is a fantastic cause that really helps children live better lives. In March, we will be hosting a conference and will be encouraging more ABO’s to sign up to the challenge.”

Bogdan concluded: “This is a challenge of a life time, a dream that we’ll accomplish. I want to establish and sustain a relationship with the orphanage for many years to come. This in turn will benefit the children and also the future society of Romania. Thank you to Amway for their ongoing support.”

For more information about the London to Romania challenge visit www.cycleslam.eu.
Anyone can join the ride for any distance.