Wu Seeks Third Term as AIBA President, David Gough Becomes BMA CEO

AIBA president Ching-Kuo Wu has revealed he will stand for a third term ashead of the Amateur International Boxing Association (AIBA).

The 68-year-old architect was first elected AIBA president in 2006 after taking over from Pakistani Anwar Chowdhry, who was ousted after allegations of corruption, and wants another term to continue his revolutionising of the sport.

“I have decided to run again for the AIBA presidency to serve another four years and to continue enhancing all the AIBA programs together with you for more great achievements in all areas,” he told AIBA members in a letter published by the body on Saturday. 

“I am greatly proud of what was achieved in the last four years together with you.”

The AIBA elections will take place at the organisation’s congress in Jeju, South Korea on Nov. 14. 

DavidGough_BMAAIBA Appoints David Gough as BMA CEO

AIBA also today appointed David Gough as Chief Executive Officer for its exclusive global marketing company, the Boxing Marketing Arm (BMA).

Mr Gough has significant experience in world-class sponsorship sales, sports marketing and commercial partnership having previously worked for IMG and Coca-Cola amongst others.

Wu, said: “I am delighted that David Gough is joining the BMA, and there is little doubt that his excellent international experience will provide us with significant support as we move into an exciting new era for boxing. 

“AIBA is the global governing body for the sport of boxing and David’s knowledge of international sports sponsorship and marketing will certainly boost the commercial success of our boxing competitions and initiatives.”

Mr Gough, whose appointment was reviewed and approved by the BMA board, said: “This is an important time for AIBA and the sport of boxing and I am thrilled to be joining at a time of such revolutionary change.

“Having worked for some of the world’s biggest brands and events, I am convinced that APB and World Series of Boxing (WSB) can establish themselves as top sports competitions on the international stage.”

Mr Gough has significant sports experience, having worked with Coca-Cola at the FIFA World Cup and Olympic Games, five Super Bowls, four NCAA Final Fours, three MLB and NBA All-Star Weekends and Disney events.

WADA Expand Digital Offerings with New Website

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has expanded their digital offerings by launching a new website.

The new site, order which is launched after one year in the making, patient replaces WADA’s former platform which had been in place since 2009.

Designed to best reflect WADA’s global profile, patient the new website will encapsulate information ranging from WADA’s role and daily activities to resources, technical information, news, and questions and answers on the latest topics from the world of anti-doping. The site offers improved design, navigation and functionality, including the option for users to be notified when documents or resources are updated. Users will also be able to notice an improved homepage design and cleaner layout of page content.

“In the ever-evolving world of anti-doping, the availability of relevant and current information for stakeholders and those involved in sport and anti-doping is absolutely crucial,” said WADA Director General David Howman.

“As a central part of WADA’s communications strategy, this new website is the latest step in WADA’s efforts to communicate effectively with the anti-doping community. It is an easy-to-use platform that effectively encapsulates the large amount of information that we in the anti-doping community need to work with. I hope that all our stakeholders will see this site as another step forward in how WADA will collaborate with its partners during the important times that lie ahead.”

Preston Replaces Bangkok as Players Championship Grand Final Host

Preston’s Guild Hall have been announced as the new hosts of the Players Championship Grand Final despite the tournament originally been scheduled to take place in Bangkok.

The tournament was originally due to be staged in Bangkok, troche but has changed location due to political unrest in the Thai capital.

It will be the first time in nine years that the arena will host a major snooker tournament. The Guild Hall previously staged the UK Championship from 1978 to 1997 and the Grand Prix in 1998, unhealthy 1999 and 2001 to 2005.

The Players Championship Grand Final is the culmination of the European Tour and Asian Tour series which has run throughout the 2013/14 season. There have been eight events across Europe, and the fourth and final Asian event in China runs from March 4 to 8, after which the final line-up of 32 players for the tournament will be confirmed.  

World Snooker Chairman Barry Hearn said: “We are delighted to bring a world class snooker tournament to Preston for the first time since 2005. The Guild Hall is a superb venue and we know that the Lancashire area is a hot-bed for snooker. This announcement is fantastic news for the fans in the area, who now have a chance to see the top stars competing for a major title. 

“Tickets will sell quickly so anyone who wants to experience the action live should get their seats booked immediately.” 

Councillor Peter Rankin, leader of Preston City Council, said: “It is great to welcome back the world’s best snooker players to Preston and back to the Guild Hall, a venue which has been synonymous with the sport over the years.

“There is a great appetite for snooker in the region and I am sure people will want to come out and see the top stars of the sport competing in the Guild Hall.”

Many of the world’s leading players will be at the £300,000 five-day world ranking event which runs from March 25 to 29.

Sports Agency SugarTime Launches New Office in New York

SugarTime, Inc., the parent company for SugarTime Sports Agency LLC and SugarTime Sports Management LLC, launches New York offices in October 2013. 

The Sports Agency is a full-service operation for NBA and FIBA athletes while the Sports Management firm advises and manages several clients in the NFL and other professional sports industries. SugarTime prides itself on providing clients with one-to-one attention, something Sugarman believes separates SugarTime from other sports industry-related agencies.

“This is the perfect time to expand our presence — when we have a groundswell beneath us to carry our momentum forward,” said David Sugarman, CEO, agent and founder. “After a year of developing our clientele and brand identity we have built a name for ourselves and need to step up to the next level. Establishing an office in New York will go a long way to making that happen.”

SugarTime, Inc. has been based in South Beach since its inception in 2010. Most recently, SugarTime received recognition from the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce as the Small Business of the Year.

During the development process, all business operations continue as usual. SugarTime Director of Player Recruitment, former NBA All-Star, Kenny Anderson remains in South Florida to continue servicing clients while the company’s New York offices are finalized.

“Returning to where my career started in New York at this time in my life is exciting,” said Sugarman. “When I was at the pinnacle of my career in the financial industry, I left New York to move ahead. Shortly thereafter I decided to create SugarTime, now I return nearly a decade later with the SugarTime brand that has made an impact within the sports industry.”

Justin Rose’s Brand Set to Rise following US Open Triumph

By Ismail Uddin

England’s first major winner for 17 years is set to raise Justin Rose’s marketability according to one sponsorship expert. 

Justin Rose picked up the US Open, winning by two shots, to become the first Englishman since Nick Faldo in 1996 to win one of Golf’s ‘majors’ and Nigel Currie, Director of brandRapport believes his stock will rise following the victory and he will hold all the cards when it comes to negotiations with new and current sponsors.

“Winning a major will potentially double his sponsorship/off course earnings,” he told iSportconnect. 

“He will have clauses in his sponsorship contracts that will trigger bonuses because he has now won a major.  His next round of sponsorship negotiations will see him in a much stronger position as a winner of a Major.” 

“It is particularly significant because he is the first Englishman to have won a major since Faldo in 1996.  We probably got used to success in the 80s and 90s but it has proved harder for the British players to win Majors in recent years.  This uniqueness will add significantly to his marketability.“ 

Rose also showed signs of how he could be attractive for sponsors following his victory by not letting his emotions overbearingly get to him and by acting in a professional manner during media interviews. 

Currie believes this is a good trait to have in an ambassador. 

He added: “He is very good with the media and potentially very attractive to sponsors. 

“Golf is one of the really big global sports so winning a Major promotes the player to a huge global audience.” 

Justin Rose is currently sponsored by Ashworth, Taylormade, British Airways, Zurich, Adidas, Golf at Goodwood, Jumeirah, EA Sports and 4Sports & Entertainment.

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AmBank Groups Renews Sponsorship of Malaysian Grassroots Golf Tournament

AmBank Group, find an Islamic banking company, has renewed its sponsorship of a major junior golfing tournament to be held in Malaysia.

The tournament will involve 90 golfers from Malaysia and 30 junior golfers from Thailand, Korea and India.

Players will compete for the Tan Sri Datuk Azman Hashim trophy, named after the AmBank Group Chairman.

AmBank Group corporate communications and marketing senior general manager, Syed Anuar Syed Ali said the grassroots development of golf would be influential in developing and elevating sports to a higher level in the country.{jcomments on}

E.J. Viso Looks for Sponsors to Return to IndyCar Series

E.J. Viso is looking to return to the IndyCar Series for a sixth season, but much of that will depend on the sponsorship he retains.

The Venezuelan is planning to return home to seek sponsors to continue his stay in the motorsport series. 

“I need to know that first, then I can [determine] team, engine and engineers,” he said. “It all comes from that.”

Viso said he’d like to form a team from scratch, but that “is very ambitious.” So, he’ll look to partner with an existing team.

“At least this year it’s more safe,” he said. “Both parties benefit.”

Viso has competed in 82 IndyCar races, finishing in the top five three times, including a fifth at the Milwaukee Mile in 2012. He led 27 laps in that race.

Viso spent three seasons with KV Racing Technology, which will have Tony Kanaan and Simona De Silvestro as its drivers in 2013.

Viso raced for HVM Racing in 2008 and 2009.

German Banker Jailed in F1 Bribery Case

Gerhard Gribkowsky, the former BayernLB chief risk officer, has been sentenced to eight-and-a-half years in prison for various crimes of corruption, including tax evasion and accepting illegal payments, including one from F1 ringmaster Bernie Ecclestone.

Gribkowsky, who was involved in BayernLB’s efforts to off-load its f1 shareholding in 2005, last week told a Munich court that he had received almost $44m in corrupt payments, including accepting a $10m sum from Ecclestone, allegedly to prevent him from revealing details of the Briton’s tax arrangements.

“I allowed myself to be bribed,” Gribkowsky admitted, backtracking on denials made eight months ago, before claiming that he had had ‘a secret agreement’ with Ecclestone to ensure that the 48 per cent holding would go to private equity giant CVC. In exchange, he would be paid a substantial sum and be offered a job in F1.

Gribkowsky was arrested in January last year and has been told that he could face up to nine years in prison if found guilty of wrongdoing. He has already served 18 months of his sentence while waiting for the hearing.

Ecclestone has always denied claims that his payment to Gribkowsky was to grease a deal that would ensure BayernLB’s holding would go to CVC Capital Partners, which was in the process of becoming the sport’s commercial rights holder.

“I have always said that we gave him money, but it was not for what he said,” Ecclestone told Reuters at last weekend’s European GP in Valencia, “He was shaking me down a bit and saying I had control of a family trust – which was not true. He was doing the best he could. I was a little bit stupid – normally I would have told him to get lost.”

Ecclestone has been investigated as part of the case against Gribkowsky, but has not been charged in connection with it. However, he is certain to remain in the spotlight a little longer after a prosecutor alleged that he was ‘an accomplice in corruption’ while summing up ahead of the verdict.

Christoph Rodler, acting for the state against Gribkowsky, suggested that the court had heard evidence that Ecclestone ‘was not the victim of extortion… but the accomplice in an act of bribery’ and that he had an ‘existential interest’ in seeing CVC acquire BayernLB’s stake in F1. It is claimed that Gribkowsky’s payments came from Ecclestone’s Bambino Holding’s trust, which was also an F1 stakeholder at the time.

The UK Serious Fraud Office has been following the case in Germany and continues to consider whether there is any need to look deeper into Ecclestone’s affairs. The 81-year old has revealed that HM Revenue and Customs had written to him within the past few months to confirm that they had been looking into his tax arrangements.

“After all this, I’d have been surprised if they didn’t contact me,” he admitted.

NBA Eastern Conference Finals Game 6 Gets Highest Ever Rating on ESPN

Thursday night’s NBA Eastern Conference Finals Game 6 on ESPN where the Miami Heat defeated the Boston Celtics to even their series at 3-3 – generated an 8.2 overnight rating, decease the highest overnight for an NBA game ever on cable (records back to 2003), sale according to Nielsen.

 

The 8.2 for Game 6 surpasses the previous record, troche a 7.9 for Game 4 of this series, as the best overnight ever.

 

The 8.2 overnight rating is up 49 percent compared to the most recent Game 6 on ESPN – Boston/Orlando in the 2010 Eastern Conference Finals – which posted a 5.5.

 

In Miami, Game 6 delivered a 22.0 rating, the highest-rated NBA playoff game on ESPN in the market. In Boston, the game averaged a 20.5, the second highest-rated NBA game on ESPN in the market.

 

ESPN will televise Heat-Celtics Game 7 on Saturday, June 9, at 8:30 p.m. ET.  The Finals on ABC will begin Tuesday, June 12, at 9 p.m.

ICC and BCCI Yet to Decide on Interpol Offer

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the International Cricket Council (ICC) are still deciding whether to accept Interpol’s proposal to set up an investigate unit to monitor match-fixing and corruption in cricket, almost a year the idea was mooted by Interpol Secretary General, Ronald K Noble.

Noble met with IPL Chairman, Rajiv Shukla, a few months ago but the proposal is still being examined by the BCCI.

“Since the cases of fixings involve people from across the globe and the betting take place in different countries, the investigators need a mandate to go beyond national and international boundaries,” a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) official said.

This would not be Interpol’s first involvement in the fight against match-fixing in sport it— the organisation already has project in Singapore, funded by FIFA, to protect the integrity of professional soccer.

A similar anti-corruption unit for cricket would be established at Interpol’s Global Complex for Innovation (IGCI) in Singapore by 2014 if the BCCI and ICC approve the proposal. CBI officers would form part of the IGCI unit.

“Interpol can be of immense help in improving the integrity in cricket and can help instill confidence among the cricket fans across the world,” said an New Dehli-based Interpol officer.
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