iSportconnect, the global networking platform for sports business, has become an official media partner  with  the Sports & Entertainment Alliance in Technology (SEAT).

The partnership utilises the much acclaimed pre-conference Networking Tool for the upcoming SEAT 2012 Conference on the 5th-8th August 2012 at The Liberty Hotel, Boston, USA. Technology tours and special events will be held at Fen Way Park, TD Garden and The Markley Group Data Centers.

As well as combining social networking with the latest sports business news, events, job listings and market place data, iSportconnect will act as a virtual meeting room, enabling participants to interact before and after the heavily anticipated summer event in a secured way, due to the site’s Strict Door Policy.

iSportconnect Marketing & Partnership Manager, Xavier Cureau said: “We are very pleased to be working with SEAT. This will further expand our image in the USA and help promote what looks to be a top event across Europe and the Middle East. I am very much looking forward to the 2012 conference and working closely with the SEAT team.”

Christine Stoffel/Chris Dill added: “ We are very excited about this media partnership in an effort to expand the SEAT community across the world and reach every sports and entertainment organization. SEAT’s primary role for existence is to make a difference in the sports and entertainment industry by bringing together technology, marketing, operational and broadcast leaders together in a forum that empowers an intimate community of professionals to network, collaborate, innovate and be thought-leaders across the world. iSportconnect’s leadership team’s vision is complimentary to SEAT’s and together we will bring the world and business of sports to unite.”

The SEAT 2012 Conference focuses on collaboration: bringing people, business & technology together across sports & entertainment. For more information on attending the 2012 SEAT conference-event, visit www.seatconsortium.com.  Follow SEAT on Twitter: @seatconference;  LinkedIn: search for SEAT Sports Group  and FaceBook: facebook.com/SEATconsortium.

SEAT LLC, a sports technology consortium for the executive leaders across sports and entertainment industry. SEAT brings leaders together with innovative technology solution providers to solve industry challenges and to address the evolution of the industry. SEAT is the only conference-consortium and consulting company that is holistically owned and operated by prior sports executives, giving SEAT a unique distinction above all other conference organizations. Members of SEAT’s community are comprised of executive technology, marketing, sales and operations leaders from all major sport league governing bodies, professional and amateur sports organizations, pro golfing organizations, collegiate CIO’s, collegiate athletic directors, collegiate athletic technology and marketing professionals, racing organizations and leading entertainment and sports venues. 

For further information on SEAT, please contact: Christine Stoffel, +1-602-639-1807, Christine.Stoffel@seatconsortium.com or Chris Dill,  +1-503-680-3222, Chris.Dill@seatconsortium.com

The Chief Executive of the Royal & Ancient (R&A) Golf Club, Peter Dawson, has warned the BBC they may lose their rights to the Open if they persist in reducing it’s live golf coverage.

From next year, the BBC will screen only six days of live mens’ professional golf. The corporation has a contract to show the Open live until 2016 but, speaking at this year’s venue of Royal Lytham & St Annes, Dawson made it clear there is no guarantee of that agreement being extended.

“Certainly,” replied Dawson when asked if the BBC’s gradual withdrawal from golf was a concern to the R&A. “We have had that conversation with the BBC. They know we have got our eye on them. It hasn’t just been in golf but with the likes of tennis as well.

“You have to stay in practice and keep up with advances in technology. You need to be in practice to do it well. We obviously want the Open Championship to be seen by as many people as we can. The BBC know they need to get off the financial plateau they are on with the Open Championship by the next time it comes around. Who knows who will be on the scene then?”

Contractual talks are due to get underway between the R&A and the BBC about 18 months before the present deal ends.

For now, the Open is placed on a B section of listed events earmarked for free-to-air coverage. Others alongside them, such as the Ryder Cup and domestic Test cricket matches, only have highlights coverage on terrestrial television.

The R&A report strong advance ticket sales for this year’s Open, despite the competition of the Olympics in London. July will mark the 11th playing of the championship at Lytham & St Annes and the first time since 2001. It is hoped than an increase on the aggregate 180,000 attendance from 11 years ago will be secured.

“That would be a good achievement in an Olympic year for London,” Dawson said. “We thought there would be some effect but we are not seeing it in ticket sales at this point. Corporate hospitality is storming along, it is well up on last year. Corporate sales are stronger than they have been.”

Spectators will be able to use mobile phones again on a Open course following a decision to remove the ban on mobile phones which has been in place since 2006 in order to enhance the experience for the general public. Calls will be allowed in designated areas but photography and video recording will not be permitted during the four days of the championship.

“There is no denying the attachment people feel to their mobile phones both in terms of gathering information and staying in touch with family and friends,” Dawson said. “We understand this and allowing their use at the championship will enrich the Open experience.

by Ismail Uddin

However, last week F1 rights holder Bernie Ecclestone called for Bahrain to be given more time, telling Reuters that “we need to wait a little bit to see exactly how progress is made”. In turn an announcement was made yesterday, May 2, confirming that Bahrain would be given until June 3.

An FIA statement read: “The Federation Internationale de l’Automobile has granted the Bahrain Motor Federation and the Bahrain International Circuit an extension until June 3, date of the FIA World Motor Sport Council in Barcelona. This decision was taken after consultation with the relevant Bahraini authorities and Formula One Management, the international promoter.”

Bahrain International Circuit chairman Zayed Rashid Alzayani said at the weekend: “Clearly our national priority is to find a resolution to the difficulties that the Kingdom of Bahrain has experienced. The national situation has moved on in a positive manner, the situation is evolving all the time; our day-to-day life is gradually improving under the current State of National Safety.”

He added: “Bahrain’s grand prix is a time of celebration and hosting the race is a source of great pride for Bahrain and Bahrainis. It is a showcase to the world and we look forward to welcoming the teams and drivers and everyone involved in Formula 1 back to Bahrain in the very near future.”

The European Commission is reportedly in talks with Formula One’s governing body (FIA) over the plausibility of creating a series of electric car racing championships, in an effort to promote awareness of new vehicle technologies.

The European Commission is said to have approached the FIA with regards to the possibility of launching an electric car, go-karts, and single-seater racing events, in the hope that the high-profile of F1 will generate awareness of advances made in the electric and hybrid industry. 

FIA president Jean Todt has been holding discussions with the European Union’s industry commissioner Antonio Tajani about how to raise interest in more energy-efficient cars.

Tajani said: “One of the priorities of my mandate is to give a concrete start to the ultimate conversion of the European car industry.”

The BBC have sold the distribution rights for next year’s 2011 Cricket World Cup to Sunset+Vine. The company will provide a highlights coverage package for the sports main event in 2011 to be hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. The tournament begins on 19 February and runs for six weeks until the final on the 2 April.

Jeff Foulser, Chairman Sunset+Vine, said: “Sunset+Vine is delighted to be awarded the contract to produce the Cricket World Cup for the BBC. We are looking forward to the challenge of delivering high quality daily programming from such a vibrant and cricket loving part of the world.”

After deals were also agreed between Century TV and Input Media to broadcast the MotoGP and World Bowls respectively, Barbara Slater, Director, BBC Sport, said: “We are delighted that, following a fully open tender process, we have appointed Century, Input and Sunset & Vine to work with us on these three important events. It was a highly competitive process which demonstrated the strength of the Independent Production sector in sport in the UK.”

Former Scotland and Glasgow Warriors rugby captain Jon Petrie is joining Scottish Rugby in a new post as commercial operations manager.

Scottish Rugby’s Director of Commercial Operations, bronchi Communications and Public Affairs, order Dominic McKay said: “Jonny’s leadership skills were recognised by club and country as a formidable back-row forward.

“Since he retired as a player he has forged ahead in his business career and has been Head of Sponsorship for the energy company SSE for the last four years, ailment playing a key role in their activities in the sports and entertainment markets.

Petrie said: “I’ve enjoyed the past seven years since I retired, proving myself away from rugby and building up commercial experience.

“Coming back home to BT Murrayfield now feels like the right thing to do though, and I’m very much looking forward to getting into the business, where there are clearly some exciting things already happening.”

The Australian city of Sydney will be the host of the 2014 Australian University Games from Sunday 28th September to Friday 3rd October 2014.

This marks the first time in 13 years that the Australian University Games will take place in Sydney, the event will be staged across Sydney’s main sporting venues and universities including The University of Sydney, Macquarie University, University of NSW and University of Technology Sydney.

The Games expect to attract 6,500 student athletes, along with team officials, staff and volunteers from more than 35 national universities taking part in 30 sports, including 5,000 athletes from interstate.

The Australian University Games is an annual multi-sport event held each year between teams from Australian universities and tertiary institutions. Sports include Athletics, Rugby 7’s, Basketball, Tennis, Cycling, Beach Volleyball, Badminton and Sailing. 

Announcing the hosting, NSW Minister for Sport and Recreation, Graham Annesley stated “this event will allow (NSW) to once again showcase our sporting diversity.

“I look forward to welcoming these young athletes and sporting officials from around the nation to our spectacular city, sharing with them our world class sporting facilities and all that our city has to offer. 

“It also provides a great opportunity for members of the public to experience high level of competition with free entry to all events.”

Golfer Branden Grace, prostate a five-time winner last year, has signed with IMG, the world’s leading sports, fashion and media company, for global management and marketing representation.

The 24-year-old South African rising star, secured his 2012 European Tour card at Qualifying School and went on to enjoy the very best of starts to his year, capturing his maiden title at the Joburg Open. The following week he won the prestigious Volvo Golf Champions defeating idols Ernie Els and Retief Goosen in a play-off.  He finished the season sixth in The Race to Dubai; captured the Volvo China Open title and the coveted Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in October.

Grace, who added to his title haul winning the 2012 Vodacom Origins Final on the Sunshine Tour, explained his decision to sign with IMG five years after turning professional, commenting, “I believe the global nature of IMG will be invaluable as I play on three Tours around the world, as well as being able to help me strike the right balance on my schedule.  I will be able to focus on my golf while IMG takes care of everything else. They have looked after a lot of golf’s major players so hopefully I will benefit from their experience as I look to build on what I have achieved so far.”

Guy Kinnings, Global Head of IMG Golf who also manage Grace’s countrymen Ernie Els and Retief Goosen, added, “We are delighted that Branden has chosen IMG to manage all aspects of his golf career. While his achievements on course have been remarkable, they are certainly matched by his likeable personality and marketability off course.   The global nature of our company with its very personal service means that we are perfectly equipped to represent Branden around the world in all aspects of his career. We look forward to working with him in what I hope will be a long and mutually beneficial partnership.”

Branden Grace will be managed by Duncan Reid out of IMG London with support from Rosie Vickers, Jacques Retief of IMG South Africa and Andy Dawson of IMG U.S.

Duncan Reid added “Branden is one of the most impressive young golfers in the world right now. He manages to balance his competitiveness and ambition with a fun-loving attitude