British Dressage Looks for New CEO as Bond Leaves for Hong Kong

British Dressage Chief Executive Amanda Bond has revealed today she will quit the organisation and join the Hong Kong Jockey Club.

Amanda joined British Dressage in October 2008 after completing her role with the Beijing Olympics and Paralympics in Hong Kong and in her five and a half years with the organisation has made a significant impact. Under her guidance and leadership, symptoms BD has developed and grown into one of the world’s most respected equestrian organisations.

British Dressage Chairman Penny Pollard commented; “Amanda’s departure will be a huge loss to both the company and the sport of dressage and para dressage in Great Britain. In her time as Chief Executive, clinic she has shaped and moulded us into a more professional company and has never been daunted by the task. Professionally, I will miss working with her as the enthusiasm and passion she brings to the job is outstanding. I’m certain the rest of the Board, staff, members and supporters of British Dressage will join me in wishing her well in her new adventure.”

Amanda will be joining the Hong Kong Jockey Club in the role of Executive Manager – Equestrian Affairs. She will oversee all matters equestrian outside of racing with the aim of developing equestrian sport in the region. With over 25,000 employees, the Jockey Club is the largest employer in Hong Kong.

Amanda said; “My departure is tinged with sadness as I have enjoyed every second of my time with BD. We have an excellent team and it has been a joy to work with everyone. It really does feel that it has been an honour to serve the members and the sport. It has been quite a five years…a period of my life I will always cherish. Moving on was never going to be an easy decision, but the opportunity at such a prestigious organisation as the Hong Kong Jockey Club was not one I could ignore. They have ambitious plans and I look forward to helping shape the future.”

Recruitment for a replacement is already underway. Penny added; “Amanda will be difficult to replace. However, we’re looking for someone to continue to deliver on our ambitious strategic plan. There’s a great team in place at Meriden who really understand the running of our sport. What we need now is an inspiring leader with proven managerial experience and ideally someone with a strong commercial background.”

Time Warner Cable Named Official Telecommunications Provider of Byron Nelson Championship

Time Warner Cable’s (TWC) have announced they have partnered HP Byron Nelson Championship with the media company serving as the official telecommunications provider for the tournament.

Through a partnership with tournament organizers, viagra 40mg Salesmanship Club Charitable Golf of Dallas and Time Warner Cable’s commercial services division, Time Warner Cable Business Class (TWCBC), will deliver video, voice and data for the event.

TWCBC has built a network at the site of the annual golf tournament to power video screens on the course, in corporate hospitality villas and to deliver phone and data service to locations where PGA TOUR officials, Salesmanship Club members, spectators, media and vendors are located.

TWCBC offers a full complement of business communications services including phone, Internet, Ethernet, cable and security solutions to small, medium and enterprise-sized companies.

“The services we’re providing at the HP Byron Nelson Championship will enhance the experience for spectators and tournament participants. Reliable access to technology that supports the overall success of this world class event is critically important,” said Vince Margiotta, Regional Vice President for Time Warner Cable Business Services. “The attention we give to serving an event of this scale is just one example of our commitment to providing the highest level of service to all of our commercial customers every day.”

More than 13 miles of fiber-optic and coaxial network cabling was used to build the network, which also includes a fiber connection into the media center.

“The HP Byron Nelson Championship is delighted to team up with Time Warner Cable technology to bring the best experience to our event,” said Tournament Director Jon Drago. “This partnership is a great example of a major corporation working together with a major event to provide necessary operational services and create great marketing initiatives.”

Glasgow 2014 Appoints Fast Track to Sell Broadcast Rights

Glasgow 2014 has appointed international sports rights agency Fast Track to ensure TV and radio audiences across the globe share the excitement and spectacle of the XX Commonwealth Games. 

The London-based agency won the contract to represent the sale of the Games’ international broadcast rights to key global markets including South Africa, Asia and New Zealand, as well as exploring non-Commonwealth Games territories.

It is anticipated that a global audience of around two billion will experience Glasgow 2014’s sports action and Opening and Closing Ceremonies through a wide range of international television and radio channels – creating a once-in-a-lifetime showcase opportunity for Glasgow and Scotland. Around 4,500 athletes representing 71 nations are expected to take part in the Games.

Glasgow 2014’s Chief Executive David Grevemberg said: “Maximising the opportunity of Glasgow 2014’s international broadcast rights is a critical success factor in terms of ensuring as many people as possible across the world can share the experience of an outstanding Commonwealth Games in Scotland and the sporting achievements of thousands of great athletes from across the world. 

“We are delighted to be working with Fast Track, a truly international sports agency with a wealth of experience and a successful Commonwealth Games track record. Through their efforts, we look forward to sharing Scotland’s biggest sporting spectacle with audiences around the globe.”

TV Sports Industry veteran Richard Russell who will lead the Fast Track team added: “Fast Track is extremely proud to have been appointed. Glasgow 2014 will be the third consecutive Commonwealth Games that Fast Track has represented and we look forward to the challenge of building on the record income and distribution levels we achieved for Melbourne in 2006 and Delhi in 2010.”

UFC Announces China Date

The Ultimate Fighting Championship organisation has officially announced its first-ever event in China.

Macau will hold a UFC event on November 10.

The event will take place at CotaiArena, a 15,000-seat venue that has established itself as the top live-entertainment location in southern China. The fight will be broadcast by FUEL TV in the US, and by UFC television partners around Asia and globally.

“Breaking into a market with a population of over 1.3 billion is both a testament to the growth of our sport and a long-term challenge we are excited to undertake,” said Lorenzo Fertitta, UFC Chairman and CEO. “This is just the first of many world-class fights we plan to hold over the coming years in China, one of the birthplaces of martial arts. The world-class CotaiArena in Macau is an ideal place to start this journey.”

“Sands China is thrilled to introduce UFC to Macau for the first time,” said Edward Tracy, President and CEO, Sands China Ltd. “Our continuing mission is to bring the best entertainment events to the region, cementing Macau’s place as Asia’s entertainment hub. It’s our pleasure to be working with the UFC organization to bring such a major sporting event for the enjoyment of Macau’s visitors and locals alike.”

UFC’s broadcast reach in China is now more than 450 million television viewers.

“This event is a major step in the development of the UFC brand in this region of the world, and China in particular,” said Mark Fischer, UFC Managing Director of Asia. “We are delighted by this opportunity to build on the media growth and attention we have received and to finally bring a live event in prime time to the millions of fans in this area, and especially to those lucky enough to come and experience all the excitement of the UFC in person.”{jcomments on}

Minnesota Vikings to Play Games at University of Minnesota Stadium while New Stadium Being Built

The Minnesota Vikings have reached a tentative deal with the University of Minnesota for the NFL team to play at the TCF Stadium while a new Vikings stadium is being built.

Bagley declined to name a dollar amount, hospital but said the “agreement in principle” would add about 3, ed 000 temporary end zone seats to the 50,000-seat stadium.Bagley says other details need to be resolved before both parties sign off on the deal.

The Star Tribune says the Vikings paid $1.7 million to play a game at TCF Stadium after the Metrodome roof collapsed in December 2010.

Vikings vice president Lester Bagley also said negotiations for a new stadium are ongoing.

Team owner Zygi Wilf met Tuesday with Gov. Mark Dayton and chief authors of the stadium bill.

Bagley says there are “complicated negotiations” going on between the Vikings, the state and the city of Minneapolis.

He compared the talks to a prenuptial agreement. He said, “We have to live with each other for the next 30 years.”

He says the negotiations are focused on putting a new stadium on the current Metrodome site.

by Ismail Uddin

Hannover 96 gibt UEFA-Sanktionen bei Spielen in Kopenhagen und Lüttich weiter

Für den Missbrauch von Pyrotechnik durch 96-Fans und weitere Verfehlungen einiger Anhänger in den Auswärtsspielen in der Europa League beim FC Kopenhagen (3. November 2011) und bei Standard Lüttich (30. November 2011) hat Hannover 96 hohe Geldstrafe erhalten. Die UEFA sanktioniert das Abbrennen von Leuchtfackeln und Rauchbomben im 96-Fanblock während des Spiels in Kopenhagen sowie das Betreten des Rasens eines Fans während des laufenden Spiels. Für die Verfehlungen in Kopenhagen verhängte die UEFA eine Geldbuße in Höhe von 15.000, diagnosis – Euro. Hannover 96 gibt die Strafe an die Verursacher weiter.

„Unsere Linie bleibt konsequent. Wir werden die Verursacher zur Rechenschaft ziehen und auch diese Geldstrafe an die Täter weitergeben”, cialis cheap erklärt 96-Präsident Martin Kind. In Kopenhagen hat die dänische Polizei Täter ermittelt, deren Identität Hannover 96 bekannt ist. Entsprechende juristische Schritte wurden gegen die identifizierten Personen inzwischen eingeleitet.

Bereits in der Hinrunde hat Hannover 96 eine vom DFB ausgesprochene Geldstrafe an einen ermittelten Täter weitergegeben. Für das Abbrennen von Pyrotechnik beim Bundesliga-Auswärtsspiel beim FC Augsburg unterzeichnete der Verursacher ein Schuldanerkenntnis und den Ausgleich der damals verhängten Geldbuße in Höhe von 4.000,- Euro.

Deutlich höher ist die UEFA-Strafe für das Auswärtsspiel in Lüttich. Ebenfalls wegen des Missbrauchs von Pyrotechnik im 96-Block sowie anschließende Auseinandersetzungen mit der belgischen Polizei hat die UEFA eine Geldbuße in Höhe von 30.000 Euro ausgesprochen. „Auch hier wollen wir wissen, wer Hannover 96 erheblich geschadet hat. Die Ermittlungen zur Identifikation der Täter in Abstimmung mit den belgischen Behörden dauern noch an”, so Martin Kind.

Der 96-Präsident appelliert noch einmal eindringlich an die Anhänger, die geltenden Vorschriften und Regeln zu beachten: „Ich hoffe sehr, dass die Spiele gegen den FC Brügge friedlich verlaufen. Neue Verstöße würden zu weiteren hohen Strafen führen. Dann wären auch weitergehende Konsequenzen für unsere Anhänger nicht auszuschließen.”

New Zealand Looking for Investment During Rugby World Cup 2011

New Zealand will use its six weeks as host of the Rugby World Cup 2011 as an opportunity to attract global investment the tournament Minister Murray McCully said.

One of the areas identified was to broaden exports to help its economy recover from the deadliest earthquake in 80 years.

New Zealand plans to promote its most lucrative products during the Sept. 9-Oct. 23 event to an expected 95,000 fans, business people and media who descend on the South Pacific nation, McCully said in an interview in Wellington. The campaign is part of a longer-term plan to boost foreign earnings to 40 percent of gross domestic product from about 30 percent, he said.

McCully, who is Minister for Foreign Affairs along with the Rugby World Cup, said: “Despite the economic times, it’s a matter of us just being focused enough to make the most of an opportunity that really is the opportunity of a lifetime.”

New Zealand, which has more land mass than the U.K. and one-fourteenth its population, is hosting rugby’s most prestigious event a year after the first in a series of quakes that struck Christchurch, killing more than 180 and leaving the nation’s second-biggest city with a $16.7 billion repair bill. The country’s dollar has climbed more than 20 percent over the same period, peaking at a record-high near 88 U.S. cents last month.

The surging currency may prevent the nation’s tourist industry, which vies with dairy as the largest, from reaping long-term benefits from hosting the tournament, the central bank said in a report last week. It estimated that fans will spend about $580 million on local goods and services.

“The dollar is making it tough for all the foreign- exchange earning sectors of the New Zealand economy,” said McCully, 58. “It’s not just a question of how we perform. The fortunes of other economies — particularly large ones — reflect themselves in our exchange rate as well.”

New Zealand is promoting 16 export markets during the tournament, McCully said. They will include industries such as film-making, fashion, information technology and boat-building, along with more traditional exports such as food and wine.

The effort will target touring investors including corporations and sovereign wealth funds, as well as promoting the country through visiting media, McCully said. New Zealand’s geographic location was previously a disadvantage as it isolated the country from its main trading partners, McCully said. That’s changed in recent years, he said.

“We live in the Asia-Pacific century, and our major strategic disadvantage has become our major strategic advantage,” McCully said. “We sit on the rim of the Asia- Pacific region where all those Asian economic powerhouses are going to be the center of world economic growth for as far ahead as we can see.”

Canterbury Crusaders Still Without Stadium

New Zealand Rugby League side Canterbury Crusaders are still without a home ground for the second successive season as Christchurch city officials said the earthquake damaged stadium will remain closed in 2012.

The Crusaders, record seven-time winners of the southern hemisphere’s elite provincial rugby competition, were forced onto the road for the entire 2011 campaign after AMI Stadium was damaged in the Feb. 22 temblor that killed more than 180 people in New Zealand’s second-largest city.

The long term future of the 36,000 seater stadium has yet to be determined with the engineers expressing a need to demolish one stand. The council have yet to find a replacement stadium for the crusaders.

“At this stage we can confirm that the stadium will not be available for the 2012 season,” Wells said.

Re-leveling and other repairs are required on another stand, the council said, adding that work is under way to establish the best course of action regarding two stands that dropped as much as 40 centimeters (16 inches).

The scale of the re-leveling required has never been done before in New Zealand and is rare around the world, Wells added. One method of repair could involve driving piles down 25 meters to reach solid ground.

“Engineers are working now to determine the best method of repair and to establish the costs involved,” she added.

10 Sports Broadcasting Deals of the Week: 12/09/14

1

Premier League Continue Anti-Piracy Push with Irdeto Partnership

Friday, 12 September 2014

2

Eurosport Receive Best Ever Audience For US Open Women’s Final

Thursday, 11 September 2014

3

MTG Renews F1 Rights Deal in Baltics & Scandinavia

Thursday, 11 September 2014

4

Mediaset Gets Spanish Broadcast Rights to Formula E Championship

Thursday, 11 September 2014

5

Sunset+Vine Gets ISAF Sailing World Championships Contract

Wednesday, 10 September 2014

6

Baku 2015 Signs Broadcast Deals in Romania, Hungary & Belgium

Tuesday, 09 September 2014

7

Eurosport Asia-Pacific to Broadcast National Badminton League in 16 Countries

Tuesday, 09 September 2014

8

NASCAR Introduce New Media Strategy for Chase Series

Tuesday, 09 September 2014

9

Eurosport Acquires Broadcast Rights to BDO Events

Friday, 05 September 2014

10

 Ekstraklasa Appoint MP & Silva to Distribute Media Rights

Thursday, 04 September 2014

Sergey Vorobyev Installed as New Chief of Inaugural Russian Grand Prix

The inaugural Russian Grand Prix will have new management after Sergey Vorobyev was announced as the new chief responsible for delivering the inaugural Russian Grand Prix later this season.

With attention now focusing on converting the facilities in Sochi towards their other sporting function following the completion of the 2014 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, the administration of the Krasnodar region felt the need to make changes to the top-line management, diverting previous incumbent Oleg Zabara onto ‘other projects’.

“Oleg did a very good job in building a team of professionals and establishing good reputation of the project,” Richard Cregan, international consultant to the event promoter, commented, “It is important to note that Sergey Vorobyev has been involved in the organisation of the Russian Grand Prix for several years. He co-operates with FOM, he is very involved in the details of work processes, and he is acquainted with major figures of the automotive industry and the world of motorsport. The team and the administration support him, so, there is comprehensive succession of the project management and there is no doubt he will be successful.”

Vorobyev previously acted as the deputy director of the department responsible for organising the grand prix, and has been involved in the project since 2012, working as a commercial director before graduating to the role of deputy director last year. He already has extensive experience in delivery of the most significant racing circuits previously constructed in Russia – including the NRing, Moscow Raceway, and PrimRing.