Athletics Australia have inked new multi-year technology partnership deal with IMG Sports Technology Group (IMG STG) that will see IMG STG become the preferred centralised technology provider to the sport.

A partner since 2004, ailment this new agreement comes after AA conducted a detailed review and tender process.

The first part of this multi-year deal is AA’s new website, doctor designed with all new functionality and engagement in mind, this fully customised website has been tailored for mobile optimisation to ensure engagement and a strong sense of branding for the Athletics community.

Central to the technology in 2014 will be an all new national centralised membership database, which will serve to underpin growth and administration for the sport.

AA Chief Executive Dallas O’Brien looks forward to continuing to working together, highlighting his excitement about how the new deal focuses on delivering a national product.

“Athletics and IMG have worked together in some form for many years and this new relationship is an extension of an already strong partnership. We are very excited by what opportunities this brings to our sport, including the most important development of a national database that incorporates the most up to date technology for ease of use,” O’Brien said.

“We have already introduced a new website for AA in consultation with IMG STG and the road ahead is one we are very keen to travel on to ensure the best possible produce for our athletes, coaches and officials.”

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has appointed freud communications to lead the PR campaign for this summer’s Friends Life twenty20 cricket competition.

The UK’s leading independent communications agency has been charged with the task of increasing awareness of the country’s annual domestic t20 competition – entering its eleventh season – as well as increasing engagement with fans at matches, generic in what promises to be a landmark summer for the sport including the hotly anticipated Investec Ashes Series and ICC Champions Trophy.

Will Collinson, doctor Head of Marketing at the England and Wales Cricket Board, erectile said: “freud communications’ proven pedigree will help us develop the brand promise of t20 cricket – ‘Something Completely Different’ – and continue to raise the profile of this unique and accessible competition.”

A spokesperson for freud communications said: “We’re delighted about the prospect of working with the ECB and promoting one of cricket’s most entertaining, action-packed and fun competitions. Cricket will be at the forefront of the sporting agenda next summer and we will look to capitalize upon that.”

The Friends Life t20 competition begins on Wednesday 26 June.

The Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) has reportedly chosen a candidate for CEO who will be announced within days.

A meeting of all eight commissioners is understood to have been scheduled for Tuesday to confirm the appointment of a replacement for David Gallop.

Racing New South Wales boss, Peter V’landys and ARLC interim CEO, Shane Mattiske have both been linked with the role.{jcomments on}

With only a few days to go until the Olympic Games in London, iSportconnect is proud to announce the release of our Olympic Special E-magazine, in association with Havas Sports & Entertainment with Sir Craig Reedie headlining the piece.

Accompanying the main feature will be other major articles with Dr Ching-Kuo Wu (President, International Boxing Association), Dr Kang Young Joong (President, World Badminton Federation) and Tim Reddish (Chairman, British Paralympics). 

In addition, Pippa Collett, (Vice Chair, European Sponsorship Association), Gordon Lott (Head of Olympic Marketing and Group Sponsorship), Marzena Bogdanowicz, Anthony Temple (President, GB Pentathlon) have all chipped in and written ‘expert columns’ for the publication.

The E-mag also wraps up all the big news stories and sponsorship deals from the Games, making the iSportconnect Olympic Special E-magazine your one place to go for all things London2012.

Click here to go to the eMagazine

Paddy Power is working with UK technology firm fanatix to provide an in-match social TV experience for viewers of the UEFA Champions League final.

Via the fanatix social TV platform, order | viewers will be able to discover other fans watching the game around the world as well as participating in the global debate around the action through aggregated and curated football-specific Twitter feeds.

Additional aspects of the service will see fans able to share their opinions on the Final with friends via the integrated group messenger, denture access in-depth match information and statistics, physician or engage in debate with the Paddy Power pundits.

Founded in 2011, fanatix is a technology platform designed to engage the burgeoning second screen sports entertainment community. The platform makes it easy to discover which friends are watching the same game, start a private group chat with them from anywhere in the world, for free or engage in the global debate around the game.

The deal is the third major coup for the company in recent weeks after the fanatix platform was selected by Manchester City to engage fans during the crucial Premier League title run-in games and ESPN to support the broadcasters coverage of the FA Cup Final.

Paddy Power, Head of Communications for Paddy Power, said: We’re always looking for fun ways to engage fans in a dialogue during big sports events and fanatix is the ideal platform to address the fast-growing second screen sports audience.”

Will Muirhead, fanatix CEO and Founder, added: “Paddy Power has done an incredible job in leading the charge of sports books onto mobile devices and we’re thrilled that they have chosen to work with fanatix on during this global event.”

“The recent Barcelona v Chelsea UEFA Champions League semi-final match generated over 14,000 tweets per second, making it the most ‘social’ television event ever. We expect the Final to be even more engaging for fans around the world.”

Jacklin Design Group, led by English Golfer Tony Jacklin CBE, has signed a development contract with clients Prestigia to create a brand new 18-hole golf course, as well as a 9-hole, par-3 course, in Marrakech, Morocco.

Tony Jacklin and his team will be working in association with fellow golf course architects, Martin and Stirling.

The Argan Golf Resort, set on 220 hectares and with 70 hectares set aside for the golf courses, will be situated just five minutes from the famous Mohammed VI Boulevard and only a few minutes from the city’s major historical sites.

On the 10th of December, 2011, Jacklin Design Group and The Argan Golf Resort staged an official signing ceremony, with invited press and special guests. The golf course is scheduled to open between spring and summer of 2013.

“We are really excited about the Argan Resort. We have designed the course in a desert style to minimize water consumption and have used plants and fauna that are indigenous to the area. The fabulous views of the Atlas Mountains provide the golfer with a stunning backdrop; this will undoubtedly provide players of all abilities with an experience to remember,” said Tony Jacklin, CEO, Jacklin Design Group.

The resort, which will feature a five star hotel, villas, apartments, private villa opportunities and Polo Club, also has further plans for a bespoke Golf Academy, created by Tony and his team.

Oliver Dury, Group Commercial Director, added: “The Argan Resort is a fantastic site. The resort is located close to both the cultural city of Marrakech and the International airport. Golfers will also have the opportunity to play multiple courses during their stay at Argan, making the region an ideal destination for golf tourism.” 

by Ismail Uddin

Chief financial officer for Formula 1 team McLaren, Andy Myers has stated that it will not be following its British rival Williams to the stock market.

50 per cent of the ownership of McLaren is held by Bahrain’s Mumtalakat sovereign wealth fund with the remaining shares in the hands of its chairman, Ron Dennis, and Saudi tycoon Mansour Ojjeh. 

In November 2009, they bought out former shareholder Mercedes’ 40 per cent stake but the motivation was not to list the business according to Myers, who stated: “The McLaren group has no plans to float in the future.”

Tomorrow, March 2, Williams will become the first F1 team to float when it lists 28 per cent of its shares on the Frankfurt stock exchange with the majority of the offering sold by its co-founder Patrick Head, who intends to retire this year.

Myers said McLaren’s strategy “is to remain as a private company in the ownership of a small number of focused shareholders, since we believe that best suits our business model”.

The ICC has today confirmed that it is in regular communication with the Pakistan Cricket Board and has offered to support the PCB in its current investigations into the reasons behind wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider’s decision to leave the Pakistan team on the morning of the final ODI against South Africa in Dubai.

At the same time, the ICC has also offered Haider, who left the UAE for London, any help he needs. ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said: “Clearly this is in the first instance a team matter for Pakistan cricket but the ICC is willing to provide assistance to the PCB and the player.

“We understand his plight if reports are indeed true, but we can only help if he is willing to engage with us.”

Haider, who played a match-winning knock of 19 not out to take his side to a victory against Proteas to level the series at 2-2 in the just concluded five match ODI series in Dubai, went missing from the team hotel on the morning of Pakistan’s fifth ODI against South Africa in Dubai and resurfaced in London later the same day.

He is planning to seek political asylum in Britain after fleeing from Dubai.

The 24-year-old told Pakistan TV station Geo that he plans to seek political asylum in Britain after confirming he had received death threats for defying match-fixing plans.