iSportconnect and Worldlink Group Plc, medicine the UK listed Company with patents on providing changing data in real-time for mobile devices today announce an expansive initial one year partnership. 

From August 1, ampoule Worldlink Group will be a sponsor across all sections of the site and its betting and gaming division, abortion Worldlink Sport will also become the Official Sponsor of the iSportconnect Betting and Gaming sub community.  Worldlink provides an enhanced betting experience via a dedicated desktop and mobile applications together with its licensed bookmaking partner, BetButler. Worldlink will also become a major sponsor of the iSportconnect “Director Club” events which have won critical acclaim across the sports business industry.

Worldlink have recently announced several high profile sports rights partnerships including a partnership with  FA Premier League club Sunderland AFC,  and are about to announce further sports rights partnerships. iSportConnect will be providing extensive coverage of these agreements as they are announced.

Neil Riches, Managing Director of Worldlink commented : “I am delighted to be announcing our partnership with iSportconnect .We are partnering rights holders in  the sports market from professional through to the amateur level with an extensive portfolio of rights. We see iSportconnect as a tremendous way to engage with sports business decision makers both online and at the Director Club Events.”

iSportconnect CEO Sree Varma added: “Worldlink has a wealth of expertise and value that can add a great deal to organisations, businesses, and individuals within sport. We are very excited that Worldlink are using iSportconnect to develop connections in the sports business. This partnership demonstrates that iSportconnect can provide a great platform for sports networking and business.”

Wordlink also announced today a major deal with Newcastle United.

Swedish Cider manufacturer, viagra Kopparberg is launching its first football themed campaign in the UK aimed at the England vs Sweden Euro 2012 match next week (15 June).

The cider brand is offering pubs and clubs across the UK ‘Swengland’ packs containing a ‘brigadeer’ and ‘blonde’ moustaches to be worn by England and Sweden fans respectively as well as the flags of both countries.

The campaign is being run from Kopparberg’s Facebook page, where fans and pubs can sign up to receive a pack ahead of the match.

It is hoped the move will lead to a boost in the level of regular online interactions the brand has with its fans. Kopparberg claims its Facebook fanbase has doubled to 120,000 over the last six months.

Kopparberg has focused it efforts on boosting its ties to music and the creative arts in recent campaigns.

Rob Calder, head of marketing at Kopparberg, sais: “We’re not trying to be something that we’re not. We’re more focused on bringing together fans from both sides and having a good atmosphere around the match. Rather than support either England or Sweden the brand decided to combine the two countries in a tongue-in-cheek way that’s in keeping with our ‘Un-established since 1882’ marketing strategy.”

The brand says that it will “definitely” look at doing activity around future England vs Sweden matches.

European Tour’s 2012 Iberdola Open has been cancelled due to the event being unable to find a sponsor. 

Despite the Mallorca-based tournament being scheduled to begin on May 10 by the European Tour, the organisers have revealed that the lack of a main sponsor has forced the event to be cancelled. 

Seve Ballesteros’s son Javier will also be prevented from playing on the first anniversary of his father’s death. 

Tournament host Jose Maria Olazabal invited the 21-year-old to this year’s event. 

Ballesteros said: “It’s a bit disappointing as I was looking forward to playing in Mallorca.” 

The Madeira Islands Open will now fill the vacant position in the European Tour.

by Ismail Uddin

Following a meeting of the World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) in Paris on Tuesday, March 8, the FIA, motorsport’s governing body, released a statement to confirm that the Bahrain Motor Federation has been instructed “to communicate by May 1 at the latest if the Bahrain Grand Prix can be organised in 2011”.

Formula One Management (FOM) chief executive officer Bernie Ecclestone has previously indicated his willingness to seek a new date for the Bahrain race, and last week he said: “If they want the race then we want to be able to supply it for them. If there is peace in Bahrain, we will be there.”

A release on the FOM website stated: “On May 1 Bahrain’s Crown Prince – HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa – is expected to inform the FIA about the possibility of hosting a race in the country, and then together with Formula One Management, the FIA will make a final decision about a new slot for the race during the 2011 season.”

The statement added: “Formula One group CEO Bernie Ecclestone had hoped a new date could be settled on before the season got underway, but given the circumstances, it was mutually agreed that a final decision would be made in May.”

Penske Racing announced that it has reached a mutl-year extension of its partnership with PPG Industries and that Guidepoint Systems has joined Team Penske’s partnership lineup. Both companies will serve as primary and associate sponsors of the Nos. 3 and 6 cars during the 2011 IZOD IndyCar Series season.

Guidepoint Systems, an industry-leading vehicle tracking service available through more than 2,5000 new and pre-owned dealerships, will be the primary sponsor of the No. 3 entry driven by Helio Castroneves at five races this season — including the opener at St. Petersburg on March 27 — and Ryan Briscoe’s No. 6 car at two events. Additionally, Guidepoint Systems will be a full-season associate sponsor on the No. 3 car.

Rand Mueller, founder and CEO of Guidepoint, said: “It is a great opportunity to partner with Penske Racing to showcase the safety, security, convenience and pin-point accuracy of Guidepoint Systems location-based services. Team Penske is a proven winner and we look forward to working with Helio, Ryan and the entire team beginning this season.”

Beginning its 32nd season working with Penske Racing, PPG is the world’s leading coatings and specialty products company. It will be the primary sponsor of the No. 6 car at the races at Milwuakee, Iowa and Kentucky. It also will be an associate sponsor on all three Team Penske cars.

Director of Business Development at PPG, stated: “PPG has such a great history with Penske and we are excited about the opportunity to grow and develop this unique partnership even further. We look forward to being a part of Penske Racing’s winning teams in both NASCAR and IndyCar this season as we continue our very successful relationships with the other Penske business properties.”

Usie Richards has been announced as the new President of FIBA Americas at the the 11th Ordinary Congress of FIBA Americas that took place this past weekend in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Mr Richards previously served as President of the National Federation of the U.S. Virgin Islands, President of the Caribbean Basketball Confederation and is a member of FIBA’s Central Board.

“I’m excited for the opportunity and the trust you all place in me as the new President of FIBA Americas. I will work hard to improve basketball in the Americas,” he said following his election.

For his part, the Secretary General of FIBA Americas, Mr Alberto Garcia said: “We have to stop thinking about the past and start looking to the future. For this reason, we have to expand the basketball in the smaller categories, there is the future of our basketball.”

With regards to the election of the new President of FIBA Americas, he stated: “I am excited about the election of Usie as President and I cannot wait to start working together, seeking to improve basketball in America.”

The Congress also saw the election of the new Executive Committee of FIBA Americas, which is configured as follows:

-President of FIBA Americas – Mr Usie Richards (US Virgin Islands)
-Secretary General of FIBA Americas – Mr Alberto Garcia (Argentina)
-Secretary General Emeritus of FIBA Americas – Mr Jenaro Marchand (Puerto Rico)
-FIBA Americas Treasurer – Mr Jim Tooley (USA)
-First Vice-President – Mrs Michele O’Keefe (Canada)
-Second Vice-President – Mr Gerasime Bozikis (Brazil)
-Third Vice-President – Mr Ruperto Herrera (Cuba)

NBCUniversal has renewed their partnership with AT&T for the American telecommunications corporation to provide networking services to support the delivery of its Olympics coverage across multiple devices during the 2014 Olympic Winter Games from Sochi, Russia, February 6-23, 2014.

NBCUniversal will use an array of AT&T networking solutions to deliver high-definition coverage of the Sochi Olympic Winter Games. These services will support high-definition video feeds and allow viewers in the United States to enjoy a reliable, high-quality viewing experience of the Sochi Winter Games.

“When people watch the Olympic Games, they increasingly do so from multiple screens – a smartphone, tablet, computer and the traditional television screen,” said Robert Kiraly, Director of Broadcast and Telecommunications Operations, NBC Olympics, Inc. “AT&T supports the networking services we need to ensure our viewers will have the best experience possible, no matter their screen preference.”

“We’ve had a strong relationship with NBCUniversal for decades,” said Dan Walsh, senior vice president, Global Customer Solutions and Integration, AT&T Business Solutions. “Whether people are at home watching television or traveling with a laptop, tablet or smartphone, we will support the NBC Olympic experience. The work we’re doing this year in Sochi continues to expand on that.”

The World Figure Skating Championships are set to return to the United States for the first time in seven years after it was revealed Boston will host the 2016 event.

The International Skating Union announced Monday that the global competition, ampoule which will involve approximately 160 athletes from 40 countries, will be held March 28-April 3 at TD Garden. 

“This will be a thrilling opportunity for all of us to welcome the world to Boston,” said Joe Blount, president of the Skating Club of Boston, which will co-host with the US Figure Skating Association.

The Sports Partnership has announced that it has signed England and Liverpool defender Glen Johnson. 

Glen’s career began at West Ham and in 2003, herbal after just 15 appearances and a loan spell at Millwall, order he became Roman Abramovich’s first signing for Chelsea, pharmacy the same year he made his England debut against Denmark. 

He won the Premier League and League Cup in 2005 with Chelsea but was loaned by Jose Mourinho to Portsmouth in 2006. The move became permanent and he helped the club to win the FA Cup in 2008. 

Glen signed with Liverpool in 2009 and has been a regular ever since, winning the League Cup in 2012 and helping the team to the FA Cup Final that year, as well as remaining an integral part of the England set-up. 

Glen commented:  “I’m pleased to be working with The Sports Partnership and having seen what they’ve done with other athletes I have no doubt this will be a good relationship.”

James Williamson at The Sports Partnership added: “We’re delighted to announce Glen as an addition to our roster. We will be offering support on a number of levels to help develop projects that Glen has away from the pitch such as his Foundation.”