The BBC made a short video portrait on Herman Van Rompuy from Belgium, who is ‘the favourite’ to become the first president of Europe.

Have a look at the video on the following link (first you’ll see the Dutch article and below is the video);

http://www.standaard.be/artikel/detail.aspx?artikelid=DMF19112009_039

Sociale netwerksites als Netlog, MySpace en Facebook krijgen binnenkort een uniforme paniekknop voor kinderen en jongeren. Daarmee kunnen bezoekers hulp zoeken als ze worden lastiggevallen door mensen met oneerbare bedoelingen. Het initiatief komt van de EU, in samenwerking met de eigenaars van de verschillende sites. Dat staat vandaag in De Morgen.

NBA professional basketball player  Shaquille O’Neal’s wife s has filed for legal separation with the intention of seeking a divorce.

Celebrity news website TMZ.com said the O’Neal family had been living in Florida. But Shaunie O’Neal recently pulled the children out of school in that state and moved with them back to Los Angeles, where courts tend to be more generous in awarding child and spousal support, TMZ reported.

Shaquille O’Neal plays this season for the Cleveland Cavaliers, together with NBA star Lebron James.

Dutch article: http://www.nieuwsblad.be/sportwereld/GT/Index.aspx?genericID=494&articleID=MP2HR6SF

Freddy De Vadder zit niet stil, in december is er de première van z’n gloednieuwe voorstelling: “Freddy gaat naar de bakker”. Vanaf 2 november kan je de vorige voorstelling “ICOON” bekijken op DVD. Op 13 november wordt een ingekorte versie van deze show ook uitgezonden op CANVAS.

www.freddydevadder.be

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHmxv_2Kyb8&feature=player_embedded 

Fisher Lands the Volvo World Match Play Championship

11/1/2009

England’s Ross Fisher has been angling for a big prize all season, coming close at the ‘majors’ but he finally landed one of the biggest titles in world golf, the Volvo World Match Play Championship with a 4&3 victory over American Anthony Kim.

28-year-old Englishman Ross Fisher won the biggest title of his career so far, clinching the €750,000 (approx. US$1.1million / GBP671,000) champion’s cheque playing what he described as, “Flawless golf,” to defeat American Anthony Kim at Finca Cortesín.

The irony of a Wentworth-based golfer winning the first World Match Play Championship away from the London course in the 45-year history of the world’s longest-running match play event was not lost on Fisher, who said, “It would have been nice had it been at Wentworth, but everything moves on and Finca Cortesín is a sensational golf course.”

On his way to the final, Fisher dispatched a number of big-reputation players, Camilo Villegas, Angel Cabrera followed by Anthony Kim in the final.

“This is where I want to test myself, against the best players in the world and besides the ‘majors’ and the WGC events, this is a huge tournament,” he said, adding, “The defending champion qualifies automatically and barring injury, it will be an honour to be here in a year’s time to defend my crown.”

All square at the lunchtime interval, Fisher powered away in the afternoon round, making only one bogey, running out a relatively comfortable winner in the end when Kim conceded on the 15^th green. 
Earlier, Australian Robert Allenby took the 3^rd / 4^th place play-off, edging-out US Masters champion Angel Cabrera on the first extra hole; the Australian recorded his 14^th career hole-in-one when he holed his 230-yard tee-shot at the sixth hole.

Volvo and Pro Grandiose Cars presented Allenby’s 70-year-old father Don with a €6,000 (approx. US$ / GBP5,400) Volvo C70 golf buggy in recognition of his son’s achievement.

“There was not supposed to be a hole-in-one prize but Volvo kindly came up with a lovely Volvo golf buggy and dad is thrilled with it, a wonderful gesture from a great sponsor” said the Australian.

Saturday 31102009 Results and Draw sheet for Final & Consolation Match on Sunday 01112009

Results Saturday 31102009

MATCH 1:  
08.15   &   13.25
Anthony KIM (USA) v Robert ALLENBY (AUS)
5 & 4  

MATCH 2:  
08.30   &   13.40
Angel CABRERA (ARG) v Ross FISHER (ENG)
                                     39th hole

FINAL:  
08.15   &   13.45
Anthony KIM (USA) v Ross FISHER (ENG) 

CONSOLATION MATCH: 
08.35
Robert ALLENBY (AUS) v Angel CABRERA (ARG)

On Nieuwsblad.be, they announced this morning that Cadel Evans will be riding for American BMC Racing Team. He has been contracted by Omega Pharma – Lotto for 5 years and will as of next year ride for BMC.

Link to the Dutch article: http://www.nieuwsblad.be/sportwereld/Article/Detail.aspx?articleID=DMF01112009_004

Windows 7, the latest version of Windows operating system, is available as of today.

Hopefully we can expect a good, stable, fast and well-designed system without bugs, because Vista wasn’t a success at all.
Apparently, if we may believe the reviews, Windows 7 will be a success.

Review in English on Engadget: http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/windows-7-review/
Dutch article on: http://www.standaard.be/Artikel/Detail.aspx?artikelId=KR2GSL36

Follow the Volvo World Match Play Championship 2009, October 29 – November 1 2009 on Facebook and Twitter;

Twitter: http://twitter.com/Volvo_MatchPlay

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Volvo-World-Match-Play-Championship-2009/123491203430?ref=nf#/pages/Volvo-World-Match-Play-Championship-2009/123491203430

The Volvo World Match Play team is now working day and night to set up this world-class event.
Frequent picture updates on Facebook of the tournament set up are uploaded; Here below some set up shots;

Bid now on EBAY to get one of th exclusive packages to support the Seve Ballesteros Foundation – Click on the Seve banner on the homepage of www.volvoworldmatchplay.com

:: Volvo World Match Play 2009

Bron: www.volvoworldmatchplay.com

World Match Play Championship 2009 at Finca Cortesin. Confirmed players: Camilo Villegas, Paul Casey, Retief Goosen

—————————————————————————————————————————————————-

press release 14th October 2009

Volvo and IMG today announced a partnership between the Seve Ballesteros Foundation, Spain, and the 2009 Volvo World Match Play Championship.

Former Champions, Seve Ballesteros, Colin Montgomerie and Corey Pavin will all be at Finca Cortesin for the45^th Volvo World Match Play Championship.

14^th October 2009, Madrid

The Seve Ballesteros Foundation, Spain, will be the official charity of the Volvo World Match Play Championship whereby all proceeds of fundraising activities and a contribution from Volvo will go towards the foundation’s objectives of fighting cancer, researching brain tumours and providing opportunities in golf for youngsters from a similarly disadvantaged backgrounds as the golfing great who was struck down by a brain tumour almost exactly a year ago.

A five-time winner of the World Match Play Championship, Seve’s amazing career included three Open Championships, two Masters Tournaments and a total of 87 titles worldwide. 

His mastery of match play is second to none and he is widely credited with the revival in Europe’s Ryder Cup fortunes in the early 1980s. Ballesteros won 20 points from 37 matches against the United States and went on to play an inspirational role as Captain in Europe’s retention of The Ryder Cup at Valderrama in 1997. 

His love of team golf was also illustrated when he subsequently created The Seve Trophy giving the European Ryder Cup players match play competition in non Ryder Cup years.

Fundraising activities around the inaugural Volvo World Match Play Championship will generate income for the Seve Ballesteros Foundation through a series of initiatives including a charity auction as part of the Gala Dinner during this year’s Championship, eBay auctions giving Seve’s many fans around the world and at home in Spain the opportunity to donate by bidding for lots such as golf memorabilia, unprecedented ‘inside the ropes’ access during the Championship and luxury leisure packages at the magnificent 5-star Finca Cortesín Golf Resort, which hosts the historic championship for the first time and even the chance to play golf and have lunch with Seve Ballesteros himself at his private golf course in Spain.

The Seve Foundation’s first project, the “Seve My Hands” sculpture promoted by Miguel Alonso will be on display.

Seve will be joined at the Volvo World Match Play Championship by current Ryder Cup Captains, Colin Montgomerie and Corey Pavin, who have both jumped at the chance to attend the World Match Play Championship they won in 1999 and 1993 respectively and watching some of their potential team members go head to head at Finca Cortesin.

Seve commented, “The World Match Play Championship is very special to me – it is a tournament I won 5 times so I am particularly delighted that the event is partnering with my Foundation. I am so happy this great tournament has moved to Spain and if my health allows me, I am looking forward to being there later this month, and to spend time with my friends Colin and Corey. I also want to take this opportunity to thank Volvo and Per Ericsson for all the support and the Seve Ballesteros Foundation and I are receiving from their side.”

Colin Montgomerie added, “What fantastic news to hear Seve will be attending. I learnt a lot from him when he was my Captain in 1997 and will fascinated to hear his advice on Ryder Cup matters. I am obviously looking forward to watching many of my potential team members show off their match play skills and what a wonderful inspiration for them to know the greatest match player of all time will be in the gallery watching them.”

Corey Pavin, 2010 US Ryder Cup captain and the 1993 winner of the World Match Play Championship, said, “I am very excited to be heading over to Spain on a scouting mission at Finca Cortesin. Of course, I am looking forward to seeing some amazing match-ups but the news that Seve Ballesteros will be there is terrific. It is great to hear he is getting his strength back and is able to return to a tournament where he enjoyed so many victories and I am really excited about spending time with him and, of course my opposing captain, Monty.” 

Per Ericsson, “We are delighted to celebrate the first year of the Volvo World Match Play Championship moving to Spain by teaming up with Spain’s favourite golfer, Seve Ballesteros. Having him at the tournament will make our inaugural year even more special and we hope we will be able to raise significant funds for the Seve Ballesteros Foundation.”

Added Volvo’s golf supremo, “As well as Seve’s well-documented campaign for awareness of and research brain cancer, his work in providing golfing opportunities for disadvantages youngsters chimes with Volvo’s top-to-bottom support for golf and the entire Seve Ballesteros Foundation also strikes a chord with Volvo’s strong principles in the area of corporate social responsibility.”

Sergio Garcia, bidding to win his first World Match Play Championship was also thrilled to hear the news; “I am so happy to hear that Seve will be involved in the Volvo World Match Play Championship and also to hear that he is feeling well enough to attend. I think all the players, especially me, are going to be very inspired to know that Seve, the master of match play and a multiple winner of the tournament, will be involved.” He continued, “I think it is very exciting for Spanish golf to have attracted such a strong international field for the first World Match Play to be held in Spain and I am really looking forward to the week.”

Said Javier Reviriego Bóveda, Director General of Finca Cortesin Golf Club, “Everyone at Finca Cortesín is excited by the imminent arrival of the Volvo World Match Play Championship two weeks tomorrow and having invested considerable financial and emotional capital in the project, this is exactly the sort of challenge a world class golf resort such as ours aspires to.

“To be judged in the most high-profile sporting environment in Spain this year and by 16 of the finest players in world golf is exactly the reason we bought into the Volvo World Match Play Championship vision, and I can tell you that the golf course is coming into the most magnificent condition in time for the ultimate test,” continued Reviriego.

“We look forward to offering our unique and unrivalled brand of hospitality to the players and their families, our partners Volvo and IMG, invited guests and the many, many spectators we hope will attend,” he concluded.