Soccerex Confirm Eurosport as Premium Media Partner

Soccerex has announced that Eurosport, Europe’s leading sports entertainment group, has become the Premium Media Partner for the Soccerex European Forum until 2014.

Under the terms of the three-year partnership, Eurosport will provide news coverage of the Soccerex European Forum, 30-31 March 2011, Manchester, across their channels as well as broadcasting a dedicated programme on the Forum post-event.

The European Forum brings together the leaders of the soccer industry, from some of the biggest clubs, brands, leagues and federations from across Europe and the World for two-days at the Manchester Central.

Soccer is key to Eurosport’s editorial strategy and this year Eurosport’s TV soccer offering includes the FIFA Women’s World Cup, live Bundesliga, as well as the award-winning interview series Eurogoals One-to-One.

David Wright, Marketing Director at Soccerex commented: “I am delighted to be working with Eurosport. They are a great partner for Soccerex as there is a natural synergy between the two brands – in particular with the European Forum. Eurosport is a recognised brand in the football industry and this partnership will bring great positive attention to our Forum and will also provide fans across Europe with exclusive Soccerex content for the next 3 years.”

Heather Bowler, Eurosport’s Global Communications Director, added: “Football is a pillar sport for Eurosport and it makes perfect sense for us to partner with Soccerex, a global leader in the business of football. The European Forum is an opportunity to showcase our superb year-round multi-platform football offer featuring top football live events, coverage and news on our TV, online and mobile platforms.”

VB signs a deal with Surfing Australia

Brewer Fosters Group has signed an agreement between its beer VB and Surfing Australia.

The new deal guarantees VB the tag as “The Beer” of Surfing Australia for the next three years, discount along with its state branches (NSW, allergist VIC, TAS and WA).

VB will be supporting the grass roots of Australian surfing via the new Surfing Australia “VB Boardriders Club” program.

Surfing Australia CEO Andrew Stark said he was excited to be partnering with VB.

“VB is such an iconic national brand and a great partner for the iconic national sport of surfing,” he said. “This sponsorship will flow down to state branches, grass roots club surfing and even something for the recreational surfing community. The partnership greatly assists Surfing Australia with its mission to develop the sport across Australia.”

Fosters Group representative Paul Donaldson said working with Surfing Australia would allow VB to reach the lifeblood of Australian surfing.

“VB is keen to really support grass roots surfing in Australia. You won’t see VB logo’s on the boards of the next super-grom – that’s not what this is all about. We want to support the clubs and surfers who are in the carpark at Winkipop, Newcastle or Yallingup at 6am in the middle of winter and run the club events rain, hail or shine. We know VB is loved by many real surfers all over the country, so this is one way we can give something back for all their support over decades. After all, there is simply nothing better than an ice cold stubby or longneck after a long session.”

Adding to the agreement, VB will be offering support sponsorship to the Australian Surfing Festival, comprising of the Australian Longboard, Open Surfmasters and Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP) Titles, as well as an array of events on the state branch calendars and Australian surfing’s night of nights, the Australian Surfing Awards.

The deal also incorporates VB’s support sponsorship of some of the country’s most iconic events including the Margaret River Prime Pro Surfing event in Western Australia and the Noosa Festival of Surfing in Queensland.

Financial details of the deal were not released

Oslo Bid for 2022 Winter Olmpics Withdrawn as IOC Rues ‘missed opportunity’

Norway’s government have revealed that they have withdrawn Oslo as a bidding candidate for the 2022 Winter Olympics.

Oslo’s departure leaves Beijing, China and Almaty in Kazakhstan as the only contenders after most potential applicants pulled out.

Norway, which has hosted the Games twice and won more Winter Games medals than any other nation, will quit the race after the ruling Conservative and Progress parties both declined support, asking the government to stop the application.

“We’ve received clear advice and there is no reason not to follow this advice,” Conservative Prime Minister Erna Solberg said. “A big project like this, which is so expensive, requires broad popular support and there isn’t enough support for it.”

This year’s Sochi Olympics cost a record $51 billion, and while Norway promised an event a tenth of that figure, campaigners could not rally enough support in part due to fears that the cost of hosting the Games would balloon.

“The Conservative Party MPs are divided and cannot advise the government to go ahead with the Olympics. We therefore asked the government to halt the application process,” Conservative MP Trond Helleland said.

IOC Disappointed with ‘half-truths and factual inaccuracies’

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) were disappointed with the decision while also suggesting Oslo did not do enough to understand the bidding procedure for the Olympics which would have helped their politicians understand more in depth about the games. 

“This is a missed opportunity for the city of Oslo and for all the people of Norway who are known worldwide for being huge fans of winter sports,” said IOC Executive Director for the Games Christoph Dubi in a statement.

“And it is mostly a missed opportunity for the outstanding Norwegian athletes who will not be able to reach new Olympic heights in their home country.”

“Earlier this year the Norwegian bid team asked for a meeting with the IOC for an explanation of all aspects of the IOC requirements, including the financial details, and the IOC arranged this for all three bid cities in order to ensure fair play amongst the three bids. 

“Unfortunately, Oslo sent neither a senior member of the bid team nor a government official to this meeting. For this reason senior politicians in Norway appear not to have been properly briefed on the process and were left to take their decisions on the basis of half-truths and factual inaccuracies.

Stockholm in Sweden, Krakow in Poland, and Ukraine’s Lviv have all previously pulled out of the bidding process. Switzerland’s St Moritz and Germany’s Munich briefly considered a run for the 2022 Games before financial concerns and local opposition led to them dropping their plans.

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Don Garber Signs New Deal to Remain MLS Commissioner Until 2018

Don Garber will retain his position as Major League Soccer (MLS) Commissioner after signing a new five-year contract until 2018.

Garber, bronchi 56, anabolics has served as MLS Commissioner since 1999, ushering the league through some of its darkest days early last decade through steady expansion and unprecedented growth. With the addition of Orlando City and New York City FC in 2015, the league will carry 21 teams next season, and Garber has repeatedly stressed his vision that 24 teams will play in the league by 2020.

“It’s the first five-year deal I’ve signed in 15 years. Every other deal was a three-year deal,”Garber told SI.com. “I had always been of the mind that you sign three-year deals so you can give everybody the flexibility to determine what you want to do. The league was younger and less mature. Now we’re teeing up a long-term commitment to each other.”

Garber told SI.com that he signed his new deal in January, three months before it was revealed he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. Garber returned to work last month and told SI.com he learned recently that is cancer-free, needing no further treatment after undergoing surgery in July.

“I’m feeling good,” Garber told SI.com. “I took a break during the month of August that allowed me to effectively recover. Now I’m back in the saddle and energized.”

Prior to joining MLS, Garber spent 16 years as an executive with the National Football League.

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Everton FC Sign Kitman Labs Partnership

Premier League team Everton FC have announced a partnership sports science software company, Kitman Labs. 

As part of the deal, Everton will use their Profiler system, an athlete management platform with an emphasis on injury prevention.

Danny Donachie, Head of Medical at Everton FC, commented: “Most players will generally embrace anything that they feel will improve their performance. Education is key, as their understanding of the benefits of screening is paramount. At our club, the culture quickly changed and now the daily screening tests are seamlessly integrated into the daily schedule. This compliance is underpinned by our initial education and the consistency of testing. Education of the staff is also of great importance as they often offer key messages and support to the players.”

This contract represents the first major signing of an English Premier League club for Kitman’s Profiler System, which enjoyed its first birthday earlier in the summer.

Commenting on the deal, Kitman’s Chief Executive, Iarfhlaith Kelly is optimistic about the validation this gives the company’s technology in English soccer:

“With Everton coming on board, it shows that this technology can work just as well in soccer as it has in rugby. We’re thrilled to see such a forward thinking and progressive club like Everton embrace our athlete management platform, especially given its emphasis on validated sports science research.

“We have worked very closely with Everton, and their back-office staff to understand their injury profile and through a combination of validated research studies and anecdotal evidence within the club, we have built up a battery of screening tests which are directly related to the club’s highest known injury risks, helping to get the most out of the time the players spend screening.”

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ETU European Aquathlon Championships in Germany Returns to 2014 Race Calendar

The European Triathlon Union and the German Triathlon Federation have announced today that the ETU European Aquathlon Championships will return to the 2014 race calendar.

The ETU Aquathlon Championships will be held in Köln for the second time on May 31st 2014, store integrated into the Rheinauhafen Triathlon, anesthetist part of the Willpower Race Series.

The last European Aquathlon Championships were also held in Köln back in 2011 and Matthias Zöll, Secretary General, is pleased to see the competition return.

“The European Aquathlon Championship will be held in a great location at the Köln Rheinauhafen,” he said. “It is a good sign that the Jeschke & Friends organisational team have successfully applied and received this European Championships after problems over the last few years. These have fortunately been resolved.

“This is proof that everyone in the triathlon scene is working hard to promote triathlon and all multi-sports in Germany.”

ETU President, Renato Bertrandi, said “I am very pleased that our European Aquathlon Championships will take place in Köln.

“The end of May is a perfect date for all athletes that are willing to compete in the waters of the Rhine. It is great that Germany, a country with a great history in Triathlon is organising this ETU event in such an iconic city.”

A total of €6,000 prize money will be awarded to Elite starters. 

Livestream Signs IMG Deal to Air Live Sports Events

Livestream, a live streaming video platform, has announced its biggest partnership deal Wednesday with IMG Media Worldwide, a sports and fashion talent and marketing agency. 

Livestream’s Chief Executive and co-founder Max Haot told CNET about its partnership with IMG. “This partnership will see IMG and Livestream stream tens of thousands of high-quality live sports events every year, from the US, South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.”

Hoat has a long history with IMG, having cut his teeth working on interactive media at the company in London for nearly a decade.

David Salmon, IMG’s head of technology and strategic partnerships, said Livestream was attractive for providing a good set of tools to connect to mobile devices, televisions, and desktop computers.

“In general, live streaming as a medium is still kind of convoluted,” he said. “Live streaming is still far harder than it should be, and you are dealing with lots and lots of immature technologies. Livestream really helps bridge that gap.”

IMG, traditionally an agency for athletes, in recent years has expanded into marketing, sports training, and media for fashion, music, and collegiate sports enterprises. IMG tested the waters with Livestream before signing the long-term partnership by working with the service to stream Wimbledon, The Open Championship, the National Rugby League, and major European football league games.

Bob Friedman Acquires Golf’s Byron Nelson USA

Golf apparel company Byron Nelson USA has been acquired by 37-year industry veteran Bob Friedman, and will be headquartered in the north Atlanta suburb of Norcross.

Friedman commented on the deal: “There was no finer gentleman on or off the course than Mr. Nelson. We are honored to share his lifestyle line of American heritage apparel with no compromises, just a passion to bring you the best apparel we can produce.”

Byron Nelson apparel will be sold in full collections that include golf shirts, cashmere and merino wool sweaters and vests, outerwear, casual wear, shorts and even waterproof rainsuits.

Byron Nelson USA will be run as an independent company from Friedman’s existing interests in Divots Sportswear, which he founded in 1976, and Sope Creek Apparel Company, which Divots acquired in 2010. Byron Nelson USA will, however, take a portion of the Divots booth at the PGA Show (6563) to exhibit the 2013 line.

Jerez to Remain on MotoGP Calendar Until 2015

The Jerez City Council and Dorna Sports have reached an agreement to keep the Jerez Grand Prix on the MotoGP calendar until at least 2015.

Following doubts about the future of MotoGP at the Jerez de la Frontera circuit, which regularly attracts crowds of over 200,000 people, the Andalucian Government decided to act and secure the future of the race.

Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta commented: “It’s with great pleasure that I can announce the extension of the Jerez Grand Prix for a further three years.

“It is one of the key stops on the MotoGP calendar with an atmosphere bar none that attracts huge crowds from near and afar.

“It is also a popular venue with the riders, as the track’s nature makes it a great spectacle for some of the best racing in the world.”

There is also a change to the 2013 calendar which sees the German Grand Prix at Sachsenring moved back a week from its original date from July 7 back to July 14.

Formula One’s governing body announced last week that they were bringing forward the date of their German Grand Prix by a week to create a space for an as yet unnamed European race on July 21.

Germany’s MotoGP round is one of the best attended on the calendar and the date for next year’s race had been moved from July 14 to July 7 last October.

Organisers of the Goodwood Festival of Speed, one of the most popular motorsport gatherings in Britain that regularly features F1 cars and drivers, have also said they will change the date of their event from July 7 to avoid a clash.

Shanghai Film Group to Release NBA Film This Summer

Shanghai Film Group, the first non-US film company to partner with the NBA, will release a joint production with the basketball federation this summer.

The feature film, titled ‘Amazing’, will include appearances from well-known Chinese actors Huang Xiaoming, Huang Yi, Charles Chen and Amber Kuo, American actor Eric Mabius, NBA players Dwight Howard, Carmelo Anthony and Yi Jianlian, and former NBA player Scottie Pippen.