FIFA and the Indian Football Association (AIFF) signed a protocol agreement recognising the cooperation between the two bodies regarding the development of football on the sub-continent.

It also gave world football’s governing body and the Indian FA the chance to re-evaluate how best to work together.

The protocol agreement (which is set to run until 2014) was signed on 5 September 2012 by FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke and by Praful Patel, President of the AIFF. It sets out how FIFA and the Indian FA should work together towards the development of football. “The agreement covers management strategy, technical development and the strengthening of clubs and the championship,” Valcke explained.

Patel also went on to outline the AIFF’s 10-year development plan focussing on youth football, which has been named “Lakshya” which means “aim”. One of these aims is to help the Indian team to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar™ , with the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017 – which the country is a candidate to host – being a milestone along the way.

“We will present an official application and then it will be up to the FIFA Executive Committee to decide. We have a solid case and a real commitment to the development of football in our country, which should put us among the stronger candidates,” Patel said.

“The PERFORMANCE FIFA programme has already helped us streamline our organisation and complete our technical, educational, grassroots and coach-training activities, which is something that we really needed to do,” Kushal Das, Secretary General of the AIFF, told FIFA.com. “With FIFA’s help, we’re implementing a complete development structure, and if we’re chosen to host the FIFA U-17 World Cup, that will definitely be a real help as well.”

FIFA, the Indian FA and the country’s national authorities have already been working closely together for some time, with various programmes and activities having been set up and implemented. Just a few weeks ago, Minister for Sports Ajay Maken announced the opening of sporting infrastructures for the public to give young people easier access to playing sport after school. This may seem like a simple measure but it is a crucial one in terms of encouraging Indian youngsters to play football.

Valcke also highlighted other investments, saying, “The Win in India with India programme, in which some $8m USD has been invested, has already seen four artificial pitches built in Mumbai, Shillong, Imphal and Bangalore. Two others will be opened this month in Goa and Kolkata, with another two still to come”.

FIFA has also spent $2 million USD on renovating the Mumbai Cooperage Stadium, a project which should be finished in December and which includes floodlights for evening games, seating and new locker-rooms for the stadium.

Thanks to FIFA’s Goal programme, the AIFF has also launched an ambitious plan to establish regional elite talent academies as part of their focus on youth development. “The first training centre was opened in Mumbai in May,” said Das, “with two more to follow shortly in Bangalore and Kolkota.”

“FIFA is contributing $500,000 USD and the second phase of the plan will continue in January 2013 with the opening of an elite training centre for the national U-16 team as well as five other regional centres for a total of 150 players born between 1999 and 2000,” explained Thierry Regenass, FIFA’s Director of Member Associations and Development, as he spoke of a project to promote a generation of players who could well make up the core of the team for the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017.

“India is a priority for us,” concluded Valcke. “Our hope is for as many FIFA tournaments as possible to be held by countries which have needs in terms of development, and this would make the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017 a perfect milestone for India.”

Gillette Stadium, illness home of the NFL’s New England Patriots, cough has selected Brock International to provide the shock pad and drainage layer used underneath its new synthetic turf surface in the Dana-Farber Field House.

“The management group at Gillette Stadium is who they are because they make great decisions, drugs ” said field consultant Patrick Maguire of Activitas. “They have done it again by choosing a durable and time-tested turf product and installing Brock PowerBase, which signals that the long term comfort and protection of their athletes continues to be a top priority. A solid foundation is critical to the success of any venture and the added performance and sustained resilience that Brock provides will make this a top quality field for years to come.”

The Dana-Farber Field House is the stadium’s indoor practice facility, hosting practices for the Patriots, the New England Revolution of Major League Soccer, Revolution Academy youth teams and the Patriots Cheerleaders. FieldTurf is providing the new multi-purpose synthetic turf field.

Research firm BioMechanica, LLC studied the estimated risk of head injury on synthetic turf surfaces with Brock underlayment and found the product reduces the likelihood of traumatic brain injury by up to 50% compared to typical synthetic turf over a stone base, provides the same G-Max and playability as a pristine natural grass field and mitigates field hardening over time. In evaluating Head Injury Criteria (HIC), also known as critical fall height, Sports Labs LLC found that Brock PowerBase offered significant improvement in HIC when compared to a turf field that featured a stone base.

International Rugby Board (IRB) has announced that men’s and for the first time women’s Rugby Sevens will feature at the Central American and Caribbean Games in Veracruz, Mexico in 2014.

The announcement comes after the IRB and the Central American and Caribbean Sports Organization (CACSO) signed a memorandum of understanding that will see the popular sport feature at its second Games.

The exciting decision to retain Rugby Sevens in the Games’ programme comes after a successful inaugural CACSO Rugby Sevens competition in Guyana in 2010 and detailed evaluation of all sports by the 31 National Olympic Committees affiliated to CACSO. 

The new agreement will see eight men’s teams and women’s teams compete in an event which will showcase the sport across the region.

The inclusion of a women’s competition alongside the men’s event further reflects the growth of Women’s Rugby winin the region ahead of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games where Rugby Sevens will make its debut.

IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset said: “I would like to thank CACSO, the region’s NOCs and in particular CACSO President Héctor Cardona for their ongoing support of Rugby. We are committed to delivering an exceptional and competitive event that will further the profile of the Games, Rugby and our shared values.”

IRB Regional Manager for North America and the Caribbean, Tom Jones added: “It is excellent that Rugby Sevens will once again feature at the CACSO Games. The addition of a women’s event is a real endorsement of a sport that is taking off throughout the NACRA IRB region and South America (CONSUR) and inclusion will further the development of the Game on all fronts.”

North America and the Caribbean are strategically important to the IRB and the overall growth of the global Game. The region has witnessed significant increases in participation over the last four years with more than 500,000 men, women and children actively participating. The IRB is investing £10.7 million in the development of the Game there between 2009 and 2012.

The 2010 Games was won by Guyana, who have been regular winners of the Caribbean Sevens title in recent years and who also scooped the coveted Guyana team of the year award after winning their sixth successive NACRA Caribbean title since 2006.

NBC has sold out is allocated spots for advertisements during the Superbowl.

For the Feb. 5 game in Indianapolis, drugs NBC said it sold all of its 30-second ads, at an average of $3.5 million, by Thanksgiving. That’s up from about $3 million last year when Fox carried the game.

At a $3.5 million average, the 70 commercials that run during the game would produce $245 million in gross revenue; subtract ad agency commission, and NBC would receive just over $208 million.

Then, add in the revenue from the six commercials that will run during halftime, and still more in the six hours of pregame programming, and you can see why networks love Super Bowls.

“We should shatter all prior records for that day,” Seth Winter, the senior vice president for sales and marketing for the NBC Sports Group, said last week.

In 2009, the last time NBC carried the Super Bowl, selling advertising was not so easy, and it had to keep at it through the weekend of the game. NBC left the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing with 85 percent of its Super Bowl advertising sold. Then the economy cratered.

“We really slogged through the last 15 percent,” Winter said. Not so this time. While the economy is not robust, advertising for major sports events is. “I never underestimate luck and timing,” he added.

NBC is also selling advertising on its live streamed broadcast of the game and on Super Bowl-related programming to be shown on the NBC Sports Network.

“Every advertiser in the Super Bowl has some participation across the board of the NBC Sports Group portfolio,” Winter said.

The ability to sell advertising at enormous prices for a game that will reach over 100 million viewers is one reason NBC agreed last month to a nine-year deal that starts in 2014 with the N.F.L. and will cost the network an average of $950 million annually. The contract guarantees NBC three Super Bowl broadcasts.

Global  logistics firm FedEx is making a return to the PGA Tour as title sponsor of the 2011 St. Jude Classic in Memphis. The deal sees a multi-year sponsorship of the event scheduled in June of next year making it the FedEx St. Jude Classic.

“We continue to focus on a multi-year commitment to assure the tournament’s future success in Memphis,” PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem said in a statement.

The company which is based in Memphis, previously had a long-running spell as the events title sponsor until 2006 in a deal which lasted 21 years.

A federal fraud investigation of Stanford Financial Group, which had served as the title sponsor following FedEx’s departure, saw the reference to Stanford dropped in 2009.

Smith & Nephew, a global medical technology company, stepped in this year as a presenting sponsor for the PGA Tour’s third-longest running event, dating back to 1958. However, FedEx has now revived its links with the event joining the FedExCup, which is given every year to the PGA Tour’s champion.

 

This Thursday begins the Sport Innovation Summit (SIS), therapy the first congress in Mexico and worlwide that presents tangible innovations to improve the world of sport. Through conferences with national and international speakers from 10 countries to inspire the industry leaders. 

Mexico City and the Sports Institute (INDEPORTE) will host the Sport Innovation Summit, purchase an event organized in coordination with Moveo Lab, cheap under a common motivation: Grow innovation to improve the sport in Mexico. 

The SIS will be on Thursday, October 23^th from 9 am to 6 pm and Friday, October 24^th from 9 am to 3pm, in the spectacular  Sala Telefónica at the Centro Cultural Roberto Cantoral, located at the south of the city, in the street Puente de Xoco, Gate A. It will certainly be a great opportunity to do networking with the major industry leaders in different sports. 

The biographies of the 26 great speakers are on the website sissummit.com/ and the conference program (on the appendix) of the speakers through a dynamic 20 minute presentation on 8 categories of innovation in sport, such as:

1. Athlete’s Performance
2. Fan Experience & Apps
3. Sport Articles
4. Public Sport Policies
5. Sports Modernization
6. Infrastructures & Sustainability
7. Sport & Media
8. Special Guests

“We are ready to welcome the first Sport Innovation Summit, where the people will be witness of how to contribute to the development of the Mexican sport through the inspiration of international and national cases with great impact,” Arnaud Drijard, Director of  Sport Innovation Summit .

“Doing the Sport Innovation Summit and invite great speakers in the sports industry, is key to inspiring sports leaders across the country to go one step forward and innovate in improving the sport,” Horacio de la Vega, Mexico City Sports Director.

The Motor Sports Association (MSA) has confirmed that Andrew Coe will leave his post as chief executive of International Motor Sports Ltd, the MSA’s wholly-owned commercial subsidiary, early next month. 

Coe joined IMS from the International Tennis Federation (ITF) in 2001. Since then, he has been in charge of the UK’s round of the FIA World Rally Championship – Wales Rally GB – and cultivated a long-term relationship with the Welsh Government that has seen the rally based in the Principality ever since. In that time, IMS has also organised the RACMSA International Rally of Scotland, the MSA EuroClassic and many other successful events, including the on-track organisation of the British Grand Prix. 

“Andrew has done a great job at IMS for many years and has given loyal service to British motor sport throughout, overcoming some difficult and challenging times, both for the sport and the economy,” MSA and IMS chairman Alan Gow acknowledged, “Last year’s Wales Rally GB was undoubtedly one of the highlights of the event in the past decade. 

“However, now is the time for this organisation to rationalise and utilise the great resources and expertise that exist within the MSA group, in order to create a more cohesive and dynamic company structure. 

“I would like to place on record our thanks to Andrew for everything he has done for IMS, for British rallying and most especially for Wales Rally GB, and wish him every success in the future.” 

Coe’s future plans have not been revealed, but he will take leave of his current position on 2 May. 

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my 13 years as chief executive of IMS and have had the particular privilege of working with many talented and professional people,” he said, “While I will miss their company and our interaction, I am proud of what has been achieved and now very much look forward to the next challenge in my career.”

Major League Soccer (MLS) club Columbus Crew have announced that it has partnered with interactive sports agency Sportsdigita to launch ticket renewals, ask as well as season ticket and group sales platforms.

The Minneapolis, ask Minnesota-based company has already launched the Crew’s 2014 season ticket renewal program, medicine providing season ticket members with a digitally based interactive portal to customize their buying experience and share their team pride with friends through social media.

Sportsdigita focuses on digital sponsorship, ticketing and fan engagement for professional sports teams, including the Cleveland Cavaliers, Cleveland Browns, Minnesota Timberwolves, Minnesota Twins, Minnesota Wild, Dallas Stars, Utah Jazz, Miami Dolphins, San Diego Chargers, Chicago White Sox, New York Giants and San Jose Sharks. Crucial to the buying experience is also a dedicated account manager to assist in each step of the process.

“With an increasing amount of business moving to digital platforms, it makes perfect sense for us to partner with Sportsdigita to create and offer a unique interactive experience for our season ticket members to renew their seats,” said Crew Vice President of Ticket Sales Clark Beacom. “We are excited to be the first MLS team to partner with Sportsdigita and offer a renewal and sales tool that will help our sales momentum carry over into 2014. This platform also has the added benefit of being Green-friendly, because it provides an alternative to the traditional printed materials we used in the past for renewals and new business efforts.”

After rolling out the club’s season ticket renewal program using Sportsdigita, the Crew has also teamed with the company to generate interactive platforms for new season ticket and group sales.

“We applaud the Columbus Crew for thinking ahead and continuing to stay progressive in this digital age,” said Angelina Lawton, Sportsdigita CEO and Founder. “The Crew understands the importance and value of reaching their fans and season ticket holders through digital integration. At Sportsdigita, we pride ourselves in being able to deliver digital solutions to our forward-thinking partners like the Crew, who are a big reason why Major League Soccer continues to grow in innovation and popularity.”

International sports promoter Barry Hearn has said Hong Kong could be influential in turning table tennis into a glamourous and lucrative sport.

Hearn launched the Ping Pong World Championships in London last weekend, aiming to make his version of table tennis more “rock and roll” and turn it into a global TV spectator event.

Hearn plans to create a global ping pong qualifying infrastructure and then replicate the model with several franchises around the world, and has identified Hong Kong as a key territory.

“This is not going to happen overnight but I will need a person in Hong Kong who can deliver and guarantee so many qualifying events to find six qualifying players to take part in the championship,” Hearn said.

“If someone comes to me with that proposition, I will say to them ‘turn it into a business and show me what you can do’. They will make a few mistakes along the way, as will we. But I think they will be successful.”

Hearn said viewing figures from the live TV screening of last week’s two day championships trebled expected figures.

“The response I have had from TV companies and sponsors has been brilliant,” he said.

“I am looking at the figures from the world championships and I am now thinking I can establish this quite quickly and get global partners to take over different territories to build this into a really major event,” he said.

Hearn’s version differs from standard table tennis because players must use old-school sandpaper-surfaced hard-bats that slow down rallies and, according to Hearn, make the game easier and more exciting to watch.

“This is not an exercise in thumbing our noses at the International Table Tennis Federation. But table tennis as a sport is dead,” he said.

“You’re not going to get kids to pick up the game if it is not aspirational. I need to get my tournament up to US$1 million prize money as quickly as possible.”{jcomments on}

Pocono international Raceway, erectile Inc. today announced a new partnership with Front Row Marketing Services, discount one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing sports and entertainment marketing firms, ask making it the Raceway’s agency of record for commercial rights, corporate partnership development, and sales opportunities.

Pocono is the long-running, largest and most innovative independent racing facility in North America and in 2013 will host two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series weekends as well as the return of Indy Car racing for the first time since 1989.

“Pocono Raceway has taken huge steps in bringing the Raceway to the forefront of the motorsports industry in America,” stated Raceway President and CEO, Brandon Igdalsky. “We have completely repaved the track, added industry leading safety features, increased fan amenities and built a three megawatt solar farm making Pocono Raceway the largest solar powered sports facility in the world. Adding Front Row Marketing Services is another step in forging Pocono Raceway’s continued success in the future,” added Igdalsky.

“Arguably the home of NASCAR in the Northeast with the largest proximity to major urban centers and their consumers, the Pocono Raceway brand offers corporate marketers decades of consumer authenticity very few tracks can speak to,” said Chris Lencheski, President of Front Row Marketing Services. “Our group is very excited to become a larger part of the success of Pocono, the potential our Analytics division has discovered coupled with Front Row’s gravitas in the northeast marketplace will ensure a long fruitful partnership.”

“We are very excited to be able to work with Brandon and his family to help identify what our analytics have proven is a tremendously valuable opportunity for an organization looking to engage an authentic fan base of consumers with the highest sponsor loyalty the Northeast,” said Eric Smallwood, Senior Vice-President of Front Row Marketing Services. “This iconic racetrack showcases the most prestigious levels of motorsport in North America and for the first time in over 20 years will host the thrilling IZOD IndyCar Series, we’re genuinely looking forward to help drive the Raceway’s success!”