Sportel has announced an end to its conventions five-year stay in Asia, with spring’s edition scheduled to take place in Rio, Brazil, next year.

SPORTELRio 2012 will take place from March 12-14 at the Sofitel on Copacabana in Rio de Janeiro, the home of the 2016 Olympics. The leading international convention for sport, television and new media has been running for 21 years, and its next event will be the annual SPORTELMonaco market from October 10-13.

David Tomatis, chief executive officer of Sportel, stated: “After five successful years in Asia, Sportel is moving to Brazil, home of the FIFA World Cup in 2014 and the 2016 Summer Olympic Games.

“We are pleased to offer our participants a meeting platform in a city to become the world capital of sports, centre of the expanding South American market,” he added. “It will be the opportunity to network with the industry’s highest level executives, learn about the latest trends and innovations, conclude deals, forge new alliances and more generally pursue your business objectives.”

The United States Olympic Committee and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign announced an agreement designating the university as a U.S. Paralympic Training Site.

The distinction was given to the Division of Disability Resources & Educational Services, ailment which is part of the College of Applied Health Sciences at Illinois. The DRES venues, ed staff and resources will provide an elite athlete training environment for current and aspiring Paralympic track and field athletes.

“We are pleased to support the University of Illinois and its dynamic wheelchair program in a more formal manner, symptoms ” said Cathy Sellers, U.S. Paralympics track and field high performance director. “The program has produced many Paralympic athletes who’ve reached the podium and we look forward to its continued success.” 

The university’s wheelchair track and field program is synonymous with Paralympic athletic achievement and has helped produce several elite athletes, including Jean Driscoll, Sharon Hedrick and Shawn Meredith. 

At the London 2012 Paralympic Games, athletes from the university’s wheelchair track and field program accounted for 10 out of the total 28 U.S. track and field medals won – including three gold medals and one bronze from 2014 Illinois graduate Tatyana McFadden – and four gold medals from Raymond Martin, who is currently a junior at the university.

There are 22 athletes currently training at Illinois, including 12 U.S. Paralympians, six Paralympic medalists and four gold medalists. Collectively, the 22 athletes own four world records, and three have been nominated for ESPY awards and have won the Boston, London, Chicago and New York City marathons. 

“We are excited about the opportunity to deepen our relationship with the United States Olympic Committee by becoming one of its elite Paralympic training facilities,” said Tanya Gallagher, dean of the College of Applied Health Sciences. “Since athletes from our program at Illinois participated in the first Paralympic Games we have had a sustained commitment to the world-wide recognition and celebration of athletic ability that these games represent. We are honored to have been selected as a training site and for the support we received from BP.” 

“As a proud partner of the United States Olympic Committee, BP is honored to support the establishment of what we believe will be the top Paralympic wheelchair racing training facility in the world,” said Corey Correnti, BP’s Chicago-based vice president of marketing, sales and supply. “We’re very excited to lend our support to this world-class wheelchair racing program at the University of Illinois.

Australian Football League team Adelaide FC has today appointed Andrew Fagan as their new Chief Executive Officer.

Fagan joins the Crows from Australian Rugby Union, prostate where he held the position of General Manager of National Teams, cialis Competitions and Rugby Operations. Fagan will start at the Club early next month.

He has been responsible for the strategic and commercial management of the Wallabies, pilule Australia’s Rugby Sevens Teams, National Competitions, all Test Match operations, Australian Super Rugby, and the national governing body’s relationship with the International Rugby Board.

South Australian-born Fagan is also a former long-time Chief Executive Officer of Australia’s most successful Super Rugby Club, the University of Canberra Brumbies.

Adelaide Football Club Chairman Rob Chapman commented: “Andrew has an extensive background in sports administration, and is the ideal person to take our Club forward,” Chapman said.

“He has been a senior executive at a governing body and also led a successful elite sporting club.

“Andrew has done in recent times, much of what our Club needs to achieve in the next few years.”

Fagan added: “The Crows are a strong national brand, boasting a world class stadium, a loyal and passionate supporter base, and talented playing squad.

“In saying that, there is a great deal of upside still to be realised both on and off the field and I am looking forward to maximising those opportunities.”

Daytona International Speedway (DIS) today announced CommScope, ailment Inc., order a global leader in infrastructure solutions for communications networks, order has become the first technology partner.

The company will partner the expanding “We Built Daytona” marketing platform supporting the unprecedented $400 million DAYTONA Rising redevelopment project.

CommScope will deploy a new communications infrastructure at DIS providing the facility with the bandwidth and flexibility to offer services that will enhance a fan’s experience, as well as improve stadium operations. 

The “We Built Daytona” platform is designed specifically for partners involved in the construction of DAYTONA Rising and enables them to showcase their involvement through a marketing presence (once their role in the project begins). 

“We’re thrilled to welcome CommScope to our ‘We Built Daytona’ roster of partners, and we are especially honored to recognize them as the first technology partner for the platform,” said DIS President Joie Chitwood III. “This new infrastructure from CommScope will give us the ability to deliver leading technology services and functions to fans and staff as DIS becomes the world’s first motorsports stadium.”

For stadium operations staff, the new infrastructure will enable DIS to provide critical security measures such as high resolution security cameras, HVAC control, lighting control, and other fire and life safety services.

“Daytona International Speedway is an American icon, and we are excited that CommScope will be a part of its transformation,” said Kevin St. Cyr, senior vice president of Enterprise Solutions, CommScope. “The advanced connectivity solutions that we will put in place will ensure that DIS can support the needs of racing fans in 2016 and beyond.”

The International Triathlon Union (ITU) has announced today an increase in the prize purses for the 2014 World Triathlon Series and World Cup events.

This year, ITU has increased the bonus pool by $177,000 (all USD), making it the biggest ever with a total of $755,000 available to the top 35 men and women. With $2.2 million dollars up for grabs, the WTS remains one of the richest triathlon circuits worldwide. 

After boosting the grand total for the World Cup circuit by nearly $300,000 last season, the prize money will remain the same this year, bringing the sum for the two series to just under three million dollars. 

“We increased the bonus money to reflect the new structure that requires athletes to compete in five World Triathlon Series races en route to becoming the World Champion,” said ITU President and IOC Member Marisol Casado, “Athletes will now be more rewarded for competing across the Series as a whole.” 

The Edmonton Grand Final will offer a $280,000 pot to the winners, while the ITU World Champions will each take home an extra $5,000 from previous years, with the winning athletes awarded $40,000 in the men’s and women’s races. ITU is also providing a travel subsidy to its National Federations for athletes competing in both the Stockholm and Edmonton stops.

The 2014 ITU World Triathlon Series opens on April 5-6 in Auckland, New Zealand.

The Wasserman Media Group, a leading sports and entertainment marketing company, have announced they will purchase the world-famous San Francisco footrace Bay to Breakers from AEG.

Wasserman will now preside over this historic 12-kilometer event, which dates back to 1912 and spans from San Francisco’s Embarcadero to Ocean Beach.

“We are excited and proud to be the new stewards of one of the greatest footraces in the world,” said Casey Wasserman, Chairman and CEO of Wasserman Media Group. “Our goal, first and foremost, will be to maintain the traditions and the individual color of this beloved race. This is an iconic event, one that is central to San Francisco’s social fabric, and we are committed to preserving its history and traditions.

“There is no doubt that since acquiring the Bay to Breakers in 2004, AEG has been very successful in operating and furthering the reputation of one of the premiere events of its kind.  We thank them for their stewardship and allowing us the opportunity to take the event to an even higher level,” Wasserman added.

“While we weren’t actively pursuing a buyer, after meeting with Casey and his team, we were convinced that their passion for events as special as the Bay to Breakers along with the investment they are prepared to make and the platform they have to showcase this historic event makes them the ideal ownership group to raise the bar even higher for the Bay to Breakers,” said Dan Beckerman, President & CEO, AEG.

“The enthusiasm and commitment that Casey and the Wasserman Media Group team have brought to the table has convinced us that they are dedicated to devoting the resources and investment to helping the Bay to Breakers reach even greater heights while preserving the reputation, traditions and iconic standing that the race become known for,” said Kristin Bachochin, Sr. Vice President AEG Sports.

Founded in 1912 Bay to Breakers is one of the most popular footraces in the world drawing over 50,000 participants and 100,000 spectators annually. 

Former England cricket captains and Ashes legends Andrew Strauss and Michael Vaughan have signed up as ambassadors to front Wolf Blass’s Ashes broadcast partnership with Sky Sports in 2013/14.

Strauss, medic who was captain for the victorious 2009 and 2011 Ashes series, look and Vaughan, herbal who skippered the unforgettable 2005 triumph, will both feature in TV sponsorship idents as part of the brand’s official ‘Wolf Blass Yellow Label’ partnership with Sky Sports coverage of this summer’s Investec Ashes as well as the next series, in Australia, this winter.

Wolf Blass has a long association with Cricket and had a strong presence in UK media during both the 2005 and 2009 Ashes series, including sponsoring highlights on Five in 2009.

Andrew Carter, Managing Director of Treasury Wine Estates EMEA, said: “We are incredibly excited to have two inspiring leaders like Andrew and Michael signing up to be Wolf Blass brand ambassadors for this year’s Ashes. They are both people who represent the essence of triumph, much like Wolfgang Blass, the founder of the Wolf Blass brand.

“This campaign will centre around the heartland of Wolf Blass wines, ‘Yellow Label’ – the UK’s favourite premium Australian wine.  These wines have delivered quality and consistency for more than 40 years,” he said.

The idents will be shown throughout each day’s play on Sky Sports, during replays and also catch-up TV. 

To help drive the platform, TWE has appointed sports marketing agency MediaCom Sport to manage all activation activity.

“Wolf Blass has a fantastic cricketing heritage and we’re looking forward to developing and deepening its association and involvement with the game with a shared essence of triumph. Strauss and Vaughan, are two heroes of the Ashes and the brand couldn’t have more appropriate ambassadors during what promises to be a fantastic summer of cricket,” said James Hough, Director of Sport at MediaCom Global.

GOLF 20/20, ed  the collaboration of leading organizations representing all segments of the United States golf industry, reports golf’s economic impact of $68.8 billion in 2011.

In a study conducted by SRI International, findings are based on several core segments (golf facility operations, golf course capital investment, golfer supplies, tournaments and associations, and charities) and enabled categories (real estate, hospitality and tourism).

When indirect and induced economic activity driven by the golf sector is taken into consideration, a total impact of $176.8 billion was generated.

Highlights include: 1.98 million jobs, $55.6 billion wage income, 25.7 million golf participants and15,751 traditional golf facilities.

In November 2012, GOLF 20/20 announced the game’s charitable impact of $3.9 billion. Golf as a fundraising vehicle includes an estimated 12,000 golf facilities, 143,000 events, 12 million participants and raises $26,300 average per function.

“The economy has endured two significant recessions the past decade and golf has fared well,” says Steve Mona, CEO of the World Golf Foundation, administrator of GOLF 20/20. “The health and growth of the game has a direct bearing on jobs, commerce, economic development and tax revenues for U.S. communities and industries.”

Golf’s core industries alone exceed the economic impact of spectator sports, the performing arts, and the amusement and recreation industries.

GOLF 20/20 is a unique collaboration of all segments of the golf industry, from associations and manufacturers to golf course owners/operators and the media. It was launched in 2000 and is designed to unite and activate the industry around key strategic initiatives that increase participation and retention, involvement and interest in the sport.

LADA Sport and Lukoil have confirmed they are finalizing a deal to join forces in an all-Russian partnership for competing in the 2013 FIA World Touring Car Championship.

Evgeny Malinovskiy, symptoms head of Lukoil Racing said: “We are in the final stages of the negotiations and close to sign the agreement with LADA Sport. We hope that our support and experience in WTCC will help LADA Sport and that we will be one of the best teams.”

After an encouraging participation with one LADA Granta car driven by James Thompson in two WTCC events – Hungary and Portugal – during the 2012 season, therapy next year the Avtovaz Group will be represented by two cars, medic run under the banner of LADA Sport Lukoil, with Russian driver Aleksei Dudukalo joining Thompson in the team’s line up.

LADA Sport principal Victor Shapovalov commented: “We are very pleased and proud with Lukoil’s decision to support our WTCC programme. The whole team are very motivated and work flat out to develop competitive cars for our drivers. We are very excited looking forward to the start of the season. Testing said that the Granta is a fast car, with a powerful engine. We believe that Aleksei and James will be in the position to fight for top positions in every race.”