find 255, 255, 0.917969);”>World Triathlon Corporation (WTC) with the help of Infront Sports & Media are planning to offer 14×26 minute programmes on the race series to media worldwide for the Ironman and Ironman 70.3 endurance triathlon races.

 

The magazine programming will be produced to the highest international standards, transmitting the unique features of the sport, whilst tailoring the long-term endurance format as an attractive, coherent broadcast product. The series will start with a season’s intro available in mid-June, followed by the first race highlights from the Ironman Regensburg (Germany), taking place on 17 June 2012.

 

The magazine programmes will be produced by Host Broadcast Services (HBS), the world’s leading specialist host broadcaster and Infront’s wholly-owned subsidiary. The company will contribute its extensive experience in media production for major sports events, to create a series of television magazine programmes of the highest quality continuously throughout the season. The programming offers approximately 50 per cent race footage as well as results and standings, background on the event location, insight into training sessions, athlete profiles and background coverage – all with English commentary.

 

Stefan Petschnig, Executive Manager Europe & South Africa of the World Triathlon Corporation, commented: “Infront is keeping its word and has supported us in initiating a true media transformation for theIronman sport. We have received very positive feedback already from the first Ironman France programme produced by HBS last year and are now continuing on this path. The high-quality production features will help to transmit the fascination of Ironman and Ironman 70.3 races to TV screens worldwide to catch the attention of the fans as well as attracting new audiences.”

 

Stephan Herth, Executive Director Summer Sports at Infront, said: “The magazine programming is a real first in the Ironman world and will push the current reach and boundaries of the series. We have turned a multi-hour competition format into an exciting 26 minute highlight show, making the sport more consumable for a TV audience and offering an attractive product for broadcasters worldwide. The 14 show series will contribute to a substantial increase of Ironman TV coverage – in quantity and quality, adding significant value to the sport and ensuring continuous visibility throughout the entire season.”

 

The core Ironman series takes place around the globe starting in April and leading up to the World Championship Finals in Kona, Hawaii each October. The magazine programming offered by theWTC and Infront feature most of the European races, including amongst others the Ironman France (Nice, 28 June), IronmanAustria (Klagenfurt, 5 July) and the Ironman European Championship (Frankfurt, 12 July).

D.C. United look like they will continue to play at the RFK stadium for the team’s 17th season after a agreement was reached.

Both the club and RFK stadium are close to reaching an agreement on a new lease that will keep the MLS club playing at the 51 year old facility.  RFK Stadium currently has no other tenants.

There had been speculation that the club would seek another viable, drug more cost-friendly solution as they explored the idea of a new stadium (playing games at the University of Maryland had previously been considered), ed but with D.C. United’s MLS season beginning on March 10th, any idea of an alternative solution has at least temporarily, been put on hold.  

D.C. United President Kevin Payne said: “We obviously awkwardly have not made a formal announcement yet, but given the timing I think it’s safe to assume we will be playing at RFK.  We do expect an announcement shortly of a new relationship with Events D.C.”

As for potentially playing in a new stadium, talks are still continuing, with many hopeful that a new stadium deal is completed due to the District’s improving financial shape.

IOA (Indian Olympic Association) president Suresh Kalmadi will not resign from his post after being released on bail yesterday after nine months in jail.

Kalmadi has, however, asked acting president Vijay Kumar Malhotra to continue his work whilst the IOA president is engaged in a long legal battle to clear his name.

Kalmadi stated, “I will not be able to represent the IOA. I will not be taking part in IOA activities for a long time”.

IOA vice-president Tarlochan Singh explained the situations as follows, “Kalmadi’s legal battle and his parliamentary commitments will keep him away from the IOA for some time. So, Kalmadi requested Malhotra to continue as the acting president.

“Kalmadi is still the IOA president. There has been no motion against him and he will continue as the IOA president. Malhotra will just work as acting president, as he has been doing, since his (Kalmadi’s) arrest.”

Kalmadi, chief of the New Delhi Commonwealth Games organising committee, was arrested last April for an alleged scam in the Timing, Scoring and Result system contract related to the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

Swiss Cycling and InfrontRingier which is a joint venture between global sports marketing company Infront Sports & Media and Swiss media company Ringier, doctor have agreed a long term partnership.

The agreement covers All the main commercial activities of Swiss Cycling is covered in the deal. These include the organising and marketing of the Tour de Suisse from 2015. The deal alsohas emfacise on the development in  youth and amateur cycling in Switzerland.

The partnership main role is to establish Switzerland as one of cycling’s leading nations, allergy by introducing new marketing structures, proactive activation at amateur and youth levels and enhanced exposure of the ‘Swiss Cycling’ brand.

With regards to the Tour de Suisse, the partnership hopes to increase the nine-day tour’s attention through extensive media exposure. From 2015, InfrontRingier will comprehensively handle the organisation and implementation of the tour, managing all aspects from conceptualisation to marketing.

The president of Swiss Cycling Melchior Ehrler, said: “With InfrontRingier we have gained a competent partner who will support us with its experience in the field of media and commercial exploitation, brand development and event management throughout the enhancement process of cycling in Switzerland. We see great potential and have therefore decided not to limit the cooperation purely to marketing aspects, but to jointly tackle the broader development of the sport on both amateur and professional levels. This comprehensive partnership is an excellent starting point which will bring cycling in Switzerland to the next level of success.”

From the other side Philippe Blatter, president and chief executive of Infront Sports & Media and chairman of the board of InfrontRingier, said: “Cycling success with Swiss participation in the past has demonstrated again and again the tremendous enthusiasm the sport can create in this country and we intend to build upon this fundament together with Swiss Cycling. Our shared vision is to strengthen the public positioning of this traditional sport and to sustainably establish both existing and future Swiss Cycling events as a highlight of the national sports calendar – for participants, spectators, sponsors and media alike. The Tour de Suisse as a premium brand and the flag-ship event of Swiss Cycling will be further strengthened nationally and internationally.”

The Sport England Board announced its decision to reduce the funding available to the Rugby Football Union (RFU) and the Rugby Football Union for Women (RFUW) by US$1.768m yesterday, May 9.

The reduction was made in light of disappointing rugby union participation figures shown in the Active People Survey over the last couple of years and the agreement with the RFU is a recognition that it will not achieve the participation growth commissioned through Sport England’s 2009-2013 investment.

Sport England’s Active People Survey shows that the number of adults playing rugby union at least once a week has declined from 230,000 at the start of this funding period to 177,900 at the latest update.

Sport England chief executive Jennie Price said: “The decision to reduce funding to the RFU was not taken lightly but Sport England has been clear that failure to achieve the agreed growth in its sport would lead to a governing body’s overall funding levels being reviewed.

“I am glad that the RFU has acknowledged that the challenge for rugby union is to stop the decline in participation and to inspire new and former players to get out on the pitch enjoying this great game in all its forms.

“We strongly support the approach being taken by the new leadership team at the RFU and the priority now being given to the grassroots game.

“Our discussions with the RFU have given us confidence that the very significant investment we are still making in rugby union will deliver value for money.”

RFU chief executive John Steele added: “We have to accept that the failure to meet our Sport England targets over the last few years would inevitably affect the level of funding we receive.

“However, I now believe we have far more realistic targets for the next two years and we are committed to creating a sound platform for growth as we move towards the home World Cup in 2015.”

The RFU/RFUW’s maximum funding award for 2009-2013 was $50.39m, consisting of $30.87m revenue funding and $19.5m capital funding, but as a result of reductions to Sport England’s Exchequer funding in the Comprehensive Spending Review, the RFU/RFUW’s capital award has already been reduced to $17.28m.

Around $13m of Sport England’s four-year investment is going into women’s rugby, with $5.9m dedicated to supporting England’s elite squad and developing the next generation of women rugby players after the England women’s team reached the final of the Rugby World Cup last September.

The Canterbury Rugby Union has appointed its first independent director to its board – Christchurch legal professional Michael Singleton.  

Mr Singleton is a highly experienced commercial lawyer currently employed by the Christchurch International Airport Limited.  Canterbury Rugby Chairman Grant Jarrold said Mr Singleton’s commercial experience will be an asset to the Union.

“Michael has a strong commercial and business background, remedy as well as a passion for professional rugby and our community.  We know that he will have a lot to offer the CRFU and we were thrilled that he applied for the position,” Mr Jarrold said.

Mr Singleton’s appointment to the CRFU Board is effective from 25 March 2014.  It is the first of three independent appointments to be made within the next three years.   The Board ultimately will consist of 6 elected and 3 appointed members following the 2016 Annual General Meeting.  

“The appointments panel was pleased with the high calibre of applicants for the position and this is a positive sign of real interest in our game and its future governance,” Mr Jarrold said.  “We all look forward to working with Michael and together playing our part in striving to ensure our ongoing success on and off the field.”

Singleton added: “As a keen rugby fan and a proud Canterbury man, I am excited to have this unique opportunity to support rugby in this region and help ensure its continued success.”

Snooker is set expand further after a breakthrough partnership between the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA), International Billiards and Snooker Federation (IBSF) and the International Olympic Committee-approved body of the World Confederation of Billiard Sports.

At the meeting in Sheffield it was agreed that the WPBSA and the IBSF would work jointly on the international development of the sport, through multi-sport events such as the World Games and Asian Games and perhaps even one day the Olympic Games. Snooker is already guaranteed to be a participation sport at the World Games in Columbia in July 2013, with 16 players from a minimum of 12 countries to play for gold, silver and bronze medals. 

The strategy is intended to generate increased interest in the sport of snooker and unlock funding around the world to develop the sport through National Governing Bodies.

The WPBSA already works with National Governing Bodies engaged with the International Olympic Committee. Working jointly with the WCBS will allow the World Snooker Tour to be recognized as a world sport in the eyes of the IOC.

WPBSA Chairman Jason Ferguson said: “Snooker has progressed massively in recent years and this new agreement will open doors for us in new key markets to expand our sport.

“I would like to thank to members of the WCBS for their support and faith in the WPBSA as we strengthen our presence as one of the world’s major sports.

“I believe that one day snooker will be an Olympic sport. Many sports receive substantial funding from the IOC to assist growth and increase participation. I’m very excited about what the future holds for snooker and the potential to pave a new way ahead.”

Jim Leacy, President of the IBSF, said: “We are delighted to be working hand in hand with the WPBSA and this has given snooker at both professional and amateur levels the opportunity to strive for greater things.”

CricHQ and Cricket Ireland have expanded their partnership that will see every ball of the 2013 Irish International season covered via the CricHQ software.

The product will be used right across the Cricket Ireland fixture calendar in 2013 with all Ireland Men’s and Women’s matches as well as Ireland’s Under 19, denture Under 17 and Under 15 international home matches being live scored.

Fans and players are able to follow the game closer than ever before and enjoy a level of statistical information, doctor live matches, rx online profiles and media content previously unavailable.

The CricHQ app has been developed in New Zealand and is backed by a number of high-profile investors including England off-spinner Graeme Swann and ex-New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming. In addition to Cricket Ireland, other governing bodies who are partnering with CricHQ include the International Cricket Council, New Zealand Cricket, Cricket Canada, and a number of First Class counties in England.

Andrew Leonard, Marketing Manager from Cricket Ireland said: “We’re delighted that our partnership is being strengthened and with 2013 set to be arguably the most exciting home season in our history the timing couldn’t be any better. The CricHQ product is developing very quickly indeed and the new Competition Management Solution is a particularly strong development, not just for the RSA Inter-Provincial Series but for all our tournaments and series this summer.” 

Rob Lynch, CricHQ’s Europe manager said: “We are delighted to have strengthened our partnership with Cricket Ireland. Our aim is to work closely with the Irish cricket community to showcase the benefits of using our products and what is possible by adopting today’s technology. Irish cricket continues to perform exceptionally on the international stage and we hope that our partnership with Cricket Ireland will help to continue to not only spread the good word about the sport in Ireland and around the world but also to inspire the next generation of Kevin O’Briens and William Porterfields.”

Ron Burkle’s Yucaipa Companies and Relativity Media announced today that they will be forming Relativity Sports, herbal which will rank among the largest sports agencies in the United States.

The new company is a result of combining industry leader SFX Baseball, ed top football agency Maximum Sports Management and Relativity Media’s own prominent basketball agency Rogue Sports.

Relativity Sports will be a major player in North American athlete representation with more than 150 clients in MLB, abortion the NBA and NFL, and over $1 billion in current contracts. Relativity Sports athletes are superstars in professional baseball, basketball, and football, including Amar’e Stoudemire, Mariano Rivera, Justin Verlander, David Ortiz, Justin Morneau, Alfonso Soriano, Miguel Cabrera, Larry Fitzgerald, Greg Jennings, Ndamukong Suh, Devin Hester and Steven Jackson. The company also represents coaches and broadcasters.

“Relativity Sports serves as a perfect launching pad for us to continue to grow our entertainment business. This alliance offers athletes turnkey access to a true merger of sports and entertainment,” said Ryan Kavanaugh, Relativity’s CEO. “In addition to their careers in professional sports, we can offer athletes opportunities in film, television, music and gaming.”

“This partnership marks a new evolution in sports agencies and we couldn’t be more pleased to help open new platforms to the world’s best athletes,” said Ron Burkle, Managing Partner of The Yucaipa Companies.

According to Happy Walters, Co-COO of Relativity Media who will oversee Relativity Sports, “We are extremely excited to bring the hard-working and talented agents at SFX and Maximum together with Rogue Sports and Relativity Media. Relativity Sports will utilize its marketing relationships with global brands and studio assets to offer athletes unique access not available at other agencies.”

SFX Baseball is a premier agency representing baseball’s top professional players and managers. The agency represents a compelling mix of established All-Stars, emerging stars and minor league talent, with a dominant presence in the Latin Market.

Maximum Sports Management was formed over 20 years ago by NFL super agents Eugene Parker and Roosevelt Barnes. Maximum Sports’ reputation and proven track record as relentless contract negotiators and innovators is unparalleled in professional football. Clients include retired NFL Hall of Fame inductees such as Curtis Martin, Deion Sanders, Emmitt Smith and Rod Woodson.