Linktel Corporate, buy a Brazilian telecommunications operator, has just signed a partnership with Orla Rio to deploy a Wi-Fi network to offer internet access on the Rio de Janeiro beaches with the World Cup and Olympics to visit the city in the next few years.

The project, “Orla Rio Digital,” will provide free Wi-Fi for the local population and tourists. This service takes place as part of the preparation for the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games. By the end of 2012, the service will be available in Leme and Copacabana beaches. In 2013, it will be extended to Leblon, Ipanema, São Conrado and some parts of Barra da Tijuca.

“To ensure full time access, complete redundancy, control content and control access we are now preparing for the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games. As millions of tourists come to Rio de Janeiro for these sporting events, clients/users of services such as Boingo, iPass, Trustive, Swisscom and Skype, will enjoy their easy experience of connecting to the Internet. The Wi-Fi service offered by Linktel has a similar technology used at international airports such as Heathrow, (London) and JFK (New York),” said José Antonio Ferreira Pinto, New Business Director at Linktel.

The foreign tourists also will use the service in roaming Linktel through international agreements with the major Wi-Fi operators from around the world. “Users will access their e-mails and social communities. All paying Skype customers will be able to use their credits via Wi-Fi to talk to their friends and business partners from around the world,” added Pinto.

Luis Antonio Abreu, Vice President of Orla Rio, commented: “In coming years the Wi-Fi Linktel services will be available from Leme to Prainha. By the end of 2012, this service will be available in Leme and Copacabana. In 2013, it will be available for Arpoador, Leblon, Ipanema, São Conrado and some part of Barra da Tijuca. Then, it will be deployed on other beaches.”

The International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) announced the appointment of IMG, Dentsu and XYZ to market its commercial (marketing and media) rights for the period 2013-2020.

It is the first time in the FIVB’s history that such a comprehensive marketing and media group has been engaged to work with the international volleyball’s governing body with the exclusive marketing and media rights agreement, which contains a relevant minimum guarantee, ensuring that the FIVB remains in control of its global marketing and media strategy.

All three agency partners will collectively work across marketing for the FIVB, while IMG and Dentsu have been appointed to handle the media rights sales to all FIVB events.

The FIVB President Jizhong Wei signed the partnership agreement during the FIVB Executive Committee meeting in Lausanne with the President of IMG Media Michel Masquelier, the general manager of the Dentsu International Sports Department Soichi Takahashi and the XYZ Olympic Sports vice-president Fernando von Oertzen.

“This outstanding marketing alliance heralds another significant step in this new and exciting era for FIVB marketing,” President Wei said. “We are extremely proud to work together with three distinguished companies which bring unparalleled strength and depth when it comes to media and marketing and an extensive global reach to deliver on our very important marketing goals.”

The unprecedented decision, made recently by the FIVB Board of Administration, to work with three world-class marketing agencies  – with IMG, Dentsu and XYZ providing unrivalled expertise and experience in volleyball and beach volleyball, and sports marketing across every market where the game is played – was formed to deliver on the FIVB’s vision of creating a ground breaking volleyball and beach volleyball Global Partner programme and follows on from the impressive initial phase of the FIVB’s new marketing strategy which has seen rebranding of FIVB events over the past two years and the introduction of the popular FIVB Heroes campaign. 

IMG Media head of sales worldwide Ioris Francini said at the signing: “We are delighted to be working with the FIVB and alongside both Dentsu and XYZ over the next eight years with the shared goal of expanding and growing the marketing and media rights of all the sports’ assets. All three companies have well established relationships with FIVB and our objective is to increase the value of the sports, enhance the global awareness of the players and teams, widen the horizons of volleyball outside its core constituencies and develop the marketing programme by attracting global sponsors and the best official suppliers. It will be an exciting time for volleyball and its followers.”

Dentsu Inc. sports division director Kiyoshi Nakamura said: “We are delighted to be a part of this unprecedented historical consortium of IMG, XYZ and Dentsu that will be responsible for the central commercialisation of the FIVB’s programme of events and the sport of volleyball that continues to be extremely popular in Japan and across the rest of Asia.”

XYZ President Bazinho Ferraz, added: “Working with Dentsu and IMG on behalf of volleyball builds unprecedented and impressive potential to market and take FIVB properties to every corner of the world. It is a unique and historical opportunity to experience volleyball and beach volleyball’s cross cultural value at the highest level.”

Chelsea FC’s bid to buy back the freehold on Stamford Bridge has been rejected after a extraordinary general meeting of Chelsea Pitch Owners (CPO) shareholders.

Billionaire Blues owner Roman Abramovich and his board must rethink their proposal to CPO, which would have helped their move to a new 60,000-seater stadium, after it was voted down at a dramatic extraordinary general meeting.

Chelsea failed to convince the holders of 75% or more of the shares in CPO to back them at the gathering in Stamford Bridge’s Great Hall. The plan was supported by 61.6% of the 5,796 votes cast in person or by proxy, leaving the club 13.4% short of their target.

Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck confirmed Abramovich had been quickly made aware of the outcome. Buck, who refused to speculate whether the club would make a fresh proposal, said: “Roman’s disappointed, but he respects that Chelsea Pitch Owners have spoken.

“It’s really a matter of discussing with the rest of the board and discussing with Mr Abramovich what – if any – next steps there should be, can be, will be.”

The outcome prevented Chelsea regaining ownership of the land they sold to supporter-led group CPO in the 1990s in order to ensure the club was not made homeless by property developers.

Under confusing circumstances the vote looked set to be postponed at one stage when an adjournment of the meeting was proposed by one shareholder who challenged the validity of the vote and the handling of proceedings by the CPO board and its chairman Richard King.

That motion received widespread support and appeared certain to succeed until King dramatically intervened to reveal a no vote would almost certainly carry the day.

With 4,000 proxy votes already counted, King confirmed that for the club to triumph, they required the holders of 1,400 of the 1,700 shares present at the meeting to back their proposal. That convinced the 700 shareholders present to cast their votes, which were quickly totted up before the result was announced.

iSportconnect reported earlier this month (click here) that Chelsea made an offer to buy back the Stamford Bridge freehold, saying they would not be able to move to a new stadium unless they could profit from the land on which Stamford Bridge sits.

The International Rugby Board Council (IRB) has confirmed it has postponed the election of its chairman until December, after the council explained that the election should not take place during the Rugby World Cup competition.

An election must be held before 1st January, 2012, when the current mandate of current chairman Lapasset and vice-chairman Beaumont expires. 

IRB said in a statement: “This decision was taken after a resolution was passed to defer the vote until after the completion of Rugby World Cup 2011. Both candidates [Lapasset and Beaumont] and Council were in agreement that in future the election of chairman should not take place during Rugby World Cup but should take place at the IRB Annual Meeting of Council in the year following rugby’s showcase tournament.”

The election had been due to be held in Auckland today, Wednesday 19th October.

The outcome of the election is thought to be too close to call, with New Zealand and Australian understood to be backing the former England captain Beaumont on the basis of his promises to reform the IRB’s commercial model, including World Cups.

Meanwhile, Lapasset has based his manifesto around the growth of the global game over the last four years, specifically having driven

The Australian soccer A-League will be reduced to just 10 teams next season after debt-ridden North Queensland Fury was dropped from the competition.

The former owner of the club withdrew his support after the side lost millions of dollars, leaving the club under league administration for the past year.

Football Federation Australia (FFA) supported Fury for the A-League’s 2010-11 season, but insisted that the club had to raise enough capital to justify its continued participation in the tournament.

A statement from the FFA chief executive Ben Buckley, read: “The decision was determined after considering the financial position of the club for season 2011-12 as too big of a financial risk for FFA to undertake. Despite the hard work put in, the target of US$1.52m of capital from the Retain the Fury campaign was not met, with less than $304,000 being pledged.”

He added: “Whilst the club and the advisory board had attracted some very encouraging sponsorship commitments, the projected loss to run the club next season is still in our assessment in excess of $2.03m.”

According to local media reports, the FFA invested between $7-9.12m into Fury during its turbulent two seasons in the A-League. Administrators had planned to expand the league to 12 teams next season with the addition of a second Sydney side, but the plan was scrapped due to financial concerns.

English Rugby Union team, unhealthy Saracens confirms it will be entering into detailed discussions with the London Borough of Barnet about the possibility of transforming Barnet Copthall Stadium into a vibrant, arthritis multi-purpose sports venue, with real benefits for the entire community.

The stadium, currently home to Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers amongst other sports clubs, would become a premier athletics venue and potential training centre for the 2012 Olympic Games, as well as being an outstanding community sports hub and a Premiership rugby ground.

The emerging proposals would comprehensively refurbish the existing main building to the west of the site and create a new permanent stand to the east which would be used by spectators of athletics meetings and rugby matches. Demountable stands would be in place during the winter season to facilitate up to 16 Saracens fixtures.

Saracens is urgently seeking a home with the potential to ensure the club is sustainable in the long term; Barnet Copthall would provide this opportunity and bring Premiership rugby back into north London, heartland of the club’s support since 1876.

Chairman Nigel Wray said: “There is a unique opportunity to create a fabulous stadium. Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers would thrive, Saracens would use the artificial turf pitch around 16 times per year, and the rest of the time – up to 350 days per year – the field could be used by schools, local clubs and the wider community.

“Barnet Copthall would also become a new hub for the award-winning Saracens Foundation, which has been working with more than 500,000 young people in London over the past decade, improving lives by running various courses that link education and sport.

“It goes without saying we will consult widely and extensively with the local community and stakeholders to establish a proper dialogue and ensure we create an asset that meets all the requirements of local residents and sports clubs.

“In the process, we will create a home for Saracens, an ambitious club playing entertaining rugby in a superb stadium, an institution which will make the people of Barnet and all North London can feel proud for many years to come.”

Geoff Morphitis, Treasurer of Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers said: “This is a tremendous opportunity in these difficult financial times to refurbish a stand that is nearly 50 years old and to bring in new facilities.

“This would ensure the venue can continue to host top class athletics meetings and serve as a valuable sports facility for the local community. We look forward to working with Saracens to ensure the delivery of an outstanding sporting venue and to expand our work in the local community.”

The Japan Football Association have announced a partnership with the Iranian Football Association.

Asian champions Japan and rival Iran have struck a deal to cooperate in promoting football at home, with a focus on the women’s game.

As part of the agreement, the countries will share and exchange personnel, including coaches and referees, as well cooperate in areas such as sports medicine and professional league management. The association said it signed the deal with its Iranian counterpart in Tehran on Tuesday with plans to work together on “invigorating women’s football”, as Iran reportedly plans to launch a female league next month.

Japan won the 2011 women’s World Cup as the first Asian nation to lift the global football trophy for either sex, having come a long way since it launched a women’s league in 1989. They also lifted their first women’s Asian Cup this year.

Women’s football has been popular in Iran for decades, although the Islamic government has banned women from entering most sporting events, including football matches between male sides, since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Since 2005, the JFA has signed similar partnership agreements with counterparts in eight other countries – France, Spain, Germany, Singapore, Tajikistan, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan and Vietnam.