FIFA Congress to Elect President -- Monday Memo

(ATR)FIFA will hold congress at its headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland on May 29.

Item 17 on the agenda for the FIFA Congress, the FIFA presidential election, is expected to dominate headlines this week. The winner, ATR European editor Mark Bisson says, will most likely beSepp Blatter.

Despite the challenge from Jordanian Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein, the 79-year-old Swiss is expected to secure the majority of votes of the 209 member federations in the secret ballot.

Also on the agenda for the FIFA Congress is the proposal by the Palestinian Football Association for the suspension of the Israeli FA.

Preparations for the Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cups will be discussed, and the mandates of the co-opted female members of the Executive Committee will also be extended.

Deadline for ITF presidential candidates

The deadline for candidates to declare their eligibility for the International Tennis Federation's board and presidential elections is May 25.

Earlier this month, an ITF spokesperson told ATR thatFrancesco Ricci Bitti would not stand for re-election as president. The 73-year-oldhas led the ITF since 1999.

Ricci Bitti is also president of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations.

The ITF will elect a new president in September.

Boston 2024 in Lausanne

Boston 2024, the group behind the city's bid for the Summer Games, heads to Lausanne this week to meet with the IOC as part of the "invitational phase" for 2024 Olympic bids.

A revised bid plan is expected to be released in June, according to Boston leadership.

Boston, Budapest, Hamburg, Paris and Rome have expressed interest in bidding for the 2024 Olympics.

National Olympic committees have until Sept. 15 to submit letters of intent for cities to bid.

Athletics Diamond League Heads to U.S.

Eugene, Oregon is hosting the next 2015 IAAF Diamond League meet on May 30.

In April, the IAAF awarded the 2019 Athletics World Championships to Eugene. This marks the first time the show the sport’s showcase event will be staged in the United States.

The fourth meet of the 2015 Diamond League season is slated for June 4 in Rome, Italy.

Europe, U.S. Holiday Closings

The European offices of the IOC, international federations and NOCs will close in observance of Whit Monday (or Pentecost Monday) on May 25.

Normal business hours will resume on May 26.

TheAround the Rings headquarters in Atlanta will be closed on May 25 for Memorial Day. Usual business hours will resume on Tuesday.

Written byNicole Bennett

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