F1 Teams Williams and Renault Revive Successful Partnership

Formula One team Williams have announced that they are reviving one of the most successful partnerships in F1 by teaming up with Renault for the 2012 and 2013 seasons.

Williams and Renault enjoyed huge success between 1989 and 1997, winning four drivers’ and five constructors’ titles and a total of 63 race wins.

The initial deal will see Renault supplying engines and chassis, and the partnership could continue after the introduction of the new, energy efficient, turbo-charged V6 engines in the sport in 2014.

Frank Williams, Williams principle, said: “Our previous relationship with Renault was one of the most successful in Williams’ history but we will not allow ourselves to dwell too much on the past.

“We must look to the future and continue to re-build our on-track reputation, which I am hopeful that today’s announcement will help us to do”.

Bernard Rey, president of Renault F1, added: ‘There’s a great pride in reviving the Williams-Renault name. Together, we produced racing cars that are recognised for their technical innovation and it is still Renault’s most successful period in F1 to date. It’s a hugely exciting opportunity for both Renault and Williams’.

NBA Look to Increase Indian Fanbase Through Times Group Deal

A digital partnership has been agreed with India’s largest media house, the Times Group, by the National Basketball Association (NBA) in a measured effort to ramp up its fanbase in emerging markets.

A dedicated NBA section on timesofindia.com will offer daily updates on the latest news and scores under the terms of the agreement, ahead of the NBA Finals that begun last night, May 31, between the Dallas Mavericks and the Miami Heat, with Times Group journalists being flown to the US to cover the action.

The NBA section will offer daily video highlights, photo galleries and articles from NBA analysts, as well as features on the league and its players while the game was broadcast live on Indian television from 6:30am Wednesday on Ten Sports.

The league’s own website already has a dedicated page for India and a number of other countries, including China, where an aggressive marketing push in recent years has helped make basketball popular with a huge fan base.

The digital initiative with Times Internet follows up on several on-ground activities prominent among them being the Mahindra NBA Challenge, a multi-city, community-based basketball league in India.

BCCI Set to Earn USD223m from IPL Season 4

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the principal owner of Twenty20 brand Indian Premier League (IPL), could earn an estimated US$223.2m from the season 4 of the cash-rich tournament after sharing the central revenue pool with the individual franchises.

According to research by financial services company, India Infoline the IPL revenue pool includes franchise fee, broadcast rights fee, in-stadia sponsorship, and new media rights fee.

The BCCI signed a new sponsor in German automobile major Volkswagen till 2012 to join the existing four co-sponsors of Hero Honda, Citibank, Vodafone and Karbonn Mobiles.

Besides renegotiating the broadcast rights agreement with Sony Max, the BCCI sold media rights including television rights in certain market’s and global internet, mobile and radio rights for $58.25m this year.

Additionally, the BCCI had last year auctioned two new franchises – Pune and Kochi – for $370m and $333.33m respectively, for a period of 10 years.

The India Infoline study stated: “The 3x jump in bid amounts for the new franchises, an increase in BCCI’s share of the central pool of revenues, and lucrative deals for online rights have also contributed to the surge in BCCI’s revenues.”

The research also adds that IPL’s Indian sub-continent broadcast rights holder Sony Max will earn advertisment revenue in excess of $200.95m. The drop in ratings in India of 20 per cent over last year, will have no impact on Max’s revenue since the broadcaster had already sold 90-95 per cent of its inventory even before the IPL had started.

The study added: “Set Max’s overall ad revenue from IPL 2011 is likely to be more than $200.95m, ensuring a profitable edition.”

ECB CEO David Collier to Step Down

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have announced Chief Executive David Collier will retire from his position after the 2014 season.

ECB Chairman Giles Clarke said: “David has overseen the most successful period of development, buy playing success and growth for cricket in England and Wales and we are extremely grateful to him. During his decade as Chief Executive David has produced and delivered three strategic plans which have revolutionised cricket in this country. The three plans – Building Partnerships, Grounds to Play and Champion Counties have provided the blueprint for the success not only of England teams but also the ECB Board, County and recreational structures.

“When we reflect on the past 10 years we will all recognise the huge debt of gratitude which is owed by cricket in England and Wales to David Collier and the management teams he has built and revitalised during that period.”

David Collier succeeded Tim Lamb in October 2004 and is only the second Chief Executive in ECB’s 17 year history and is one of the longest serving chief executives in modern British sport. Prior to taking up the role of Chief Executive of ECB David served on the ECB Board as an elected  Director since ECB’s inception. His contribution to sport was recently recognised by Loughborough University with the award of an Honorary Degree and he is a previous recipient of the Sydney Friskin award for services to hockey.

Before joining the ECB David Collier was Chief Executive at Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club from 1999 – 2004 during which time he oversaw the modernisation of Trent Bridge which subsequently developed into one of the most impressive Test grounds in the world.

David Collier said: “After 10 years at ECB I believe it is the right time to step aside and retire from the position of Chief Executive as I shall turn 60 in the Spring and I do believe the time is right for a new CEO to open the batting.

“I am immensely proud of the achievements and the enormous strides forward which cricket in England and Wales has made during the past decade. We now possess venues which are amongst the best in the world, we lead the world in women’s and disabilities cricket, our recreational game is flourishing and we have delivered commercial success providing more revenue than ever before for our 18 First Class Counties.  

“Our success in bidding for  and winning six ICC Global Events is testimony to our ability to deliver world class events and the staging of the 2009, 2010 and 2013 events set new standards for these tournaments.

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Denver Nuggets Extend Social Media Reach to Sina Weibo

National Basketball Association (NBA) franchise Denver Nuggets have have the extended their social media reach and the league’s promotion effort in China by creating an official Sina Weibo account.

Sina Weibo is a micro-blogging website considered a hybrid between Facebook and Twitter. Weibo is one of the most popular sites in China, with roughly 100 million messages posted daily. The NBA has attracted more than 70 million followers since launching its official Weibo account on Dec. 17, 2010. 

On March 24, the Nuggets, in conjunction with the NBA, launched their official Sina Weibo account to share news, photos and other team-related information with millions of potential fans in China.

Attracting more than 30 percent of all Chinese Internet users, Weibo offers an opportunity for the Nuggets and the NBA to communicate directly with fans and provide unique content that help them learn more about the team the league.

The Nuggets media relations department and interactive marketing team work closely with the NBA China staff on the team’s Weibo page. The NBA China staff currently manages the translation and basic game content and updates, while the team and league collaborate on overall content selection and strategy.

Two current Nuggets players, Aaron Brooks and Wilson Chandler, played professionally in China in 2011-12.

The announcement follows La Liga giant FC Barcelona joining Sina Weibo recently.

Oslo Reveals Logo & Identity for 2022 Winter Olympics Bid

Oslo 2022, the group representing Norway’s capital city bid for the 2022 Winter Olympics, has unveiled its logo and visual identity just ahead of the opening of the Sochi 2014 Games.

The logo is also based on a Nordic design expression – Nordic Simplicity.  The design contains only character elements put together as a kit.

“We have been concerned that the logo should take up in its core values as urban and natural, playful, responsible, ambitious and generous. I think we have got it,” said Oslo 2022 President Eli Grimsby.

“We now take with us into our communications both nationally and internationally.”

“The visual profile is for many the first impression of the Oslo Olympic application and determines how our message is received,” said Oslo Olympic commissioner, Hallstein Bjercke.

“It is playful, innovative and eye-catching and will be noticed, both at home and abroad.”

Grimsby explained “Oslo is probably the only capital in the world that can organize the Olympic Winter Games in an urban yet close to nature environment.  We will give the world a spectacular sports fest based on Norwegian values.”

Oslo is competing with Almaty, Beijing, Krakow and Lviv to host the Games.  Representatives from each city are currently in Sochi to participate in the Games’ observer program.

Application files are due to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on March 14; the final election will be held in Kuala Lumpur on July 31, 2015.

Further Olympic Committees Receive Terrorist Threats Heading into Sochi

It was revealed today that Sochi are facing further fears of terrorist threats as more Olympic Committees announced that they had also received threatening emails.

The Hungarian Olympic Committee (HOC) said yesterday they had received warnings of terrorist threats made towards the Sochi Winter Olympic Games. 

Britain, prostate Italy and Germany were amongst countries whose Olympic Committees had confirmed that they had received threatening emails.

It has been suggested that most of the Olympic Committees had received similar or even the same messages which warned attacks against competitors or delegates if they travelled to the games in Sochi.

However the British Olympic Committee (BOC) seemed to doubt the threat, physician releasing a statement where they described the email as, ‘not credible’.

The HOC seemed to follow suit as they agreed with Britain in agreeing that the threats that it received had been investigated and were found not be threatening.

Nevertheless the German Olympic Committee spokesman Christian Klaue said: “We take all tips on security questions seriously and are in close contact with the relevant German authorities.

Kuwait to Host 2015 Men’s World Team Squash Championship

The World Squash Federation (WSF) has selected Kuwait as the host of the 2015 Men’s World Team Squash Championship.

The fast-growing squash nation has twice hosted the Asian championships and in 1997 first launched the Kuwait Open, a major PSA World Tour event which has continued to attract the world’s leading players. In 2009, Kuwait staged the PSA World Championship at Green Island Resort.

“Squash has a long and flourishing history in Kuwait and we have already held major World Tour events featuring both men and women’s championships as well as the Men’s World Individual Championship,” said a spokesman for the Kuwait Squash Federation. “We are now honoured to have been selected to host the top 32 teams in the world in two years’ time.”

WSF President Narayana Ramachandran added: “Kuwait Squash not only has high quality facilities but now also abundant experience at staging major squash events, which is why I am delighted that we have chosen Kuwait to host this Championship. It is a fantastic, exciting event and will be much anticipated.”

The event will take place at the Late Sheikh / Salem Al-Sabah International Squash Complex from 12-18 December 2015.

Red Bee Media Awarded BT Sport Playout Contract

BT Sport has appointed Red Bee Media to provide playout, channel and media management services to it’s new upcoming sports channels.

The channels, set to launch this summer, will be available across the UK via various platforms including satellite, fibre broadband and in pubs.

Grant Best, senior channel executive producer for BT Sport, said: “We are delighted to have teamed up with Red Bee Media for playout, channel and media management services. It’s vitally important that we have complete confidence in our ability to deliver the amazing live sports coverage we’ll be offering to customers of BT Sport. We chose Red Bee Media because of its impressive expertise in supporting this type of live event broadcasting. We are happy to extend our relationship with Red Bee Media, having already chosen them to help us with the design the BT Sport logo.”

Patrick Tillieux, chief executive officer at Red Bee Media, added: “We are delighted to be chosen by BT to provide these critical services for the eagerly awaited BT Sport channels. This is a significant win for Red Bee Media and is testament both to our excellent track record in delivering high quality, reliable and cost effective media distribution solutions and our expertise and experience in managing the demanding nature of high-profile live events and sports programming. We look forward to working with BT on this exciting launch and to extending and developing our relationship further over the coming months.”

Los Angeles Clippers Reveal New Lease Agreement for Staples Center

One of NBA’s hottest teams this season, Los Angeles Clippers have agreed to a 10-year extension of their Staples Center lease.

“We are very excited about our present and our future at STAPLES Center. It is indeed an honor to benefit from the sustained stability that accompanies being part of the greatest venue in the NBA, and we are glad to provide this state of the art backdrop to our deserving and loyal fan base,” said Clippers’ President Andy Roeser.

The Clippers, one of the arena’s original anchor tenants, played its first regular season game at STAPLES Center on November 2, 1999 against the Seattle Supersonics.  Under the new agreement, which becomes effective at end of the current 2012-13 season, the franchise will continue to call the arena their home thru June, 2024, a period of 25 years.

“Donald Sterling, Andy Roeser and the entire Clippers organization have been not just great partners but a huge part of the success of STAPLES Center,” said Timothy J. Leiweke, President & CEO, AEG.  “Their contributions have served to make this unique three team anchor tenant relationship both mutually successful as well as mutually beneficial.  We are happy for their many achievements and are proud to call them our partners and friends.”

The Los Angeles Clippers currently rank first in the NBA’s Pacific Division.  The team’s record of 32-11 is second best in the NBA.