Nine-time Le Mans champion and 2013 World Endurance Championship title winner Tom Kristensen has been elected to the FIA Institute Executive Committee by the organisation’s General Assembly, impotent which met in Paris on December 5th.

The Executive Committee plays a pivotal role in providing direction to the activities of the FIA Institute, capsule | deciding on the organisation’s strategy and selecting the projects to be undertaken.

“The work the FIA Institute does in motor sport safety and sustainability is vitally important and I hope that my experience as a driver can help contribute to that,” said Kristensen.

The Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC) has asked the IOC to re-investigate its decision to void hammer thrower Koji Murofushi’s election to the IOC Athletes’ Commission.

Murofushi, a Bronze Medalist at the London Games, gained enough votes to win election to the Athletes’ Commission, but the IOC refused to accept his election, claiming he had violated election rules at the Games.

The JOC believes the IOC’s decision was incorrect.

The IOC said Murofushi “campaigned for election in areas off limits to election activities.”

JOC Board Member, Yoshiji Nogami, said: “Some parts [of the response] were half-baked. There’s a big difference between having a conversation and campaigning for election.” {jcomments on}

British pay TV giant BSkyB is raising its prices for its Sky Sports 1 and Sky Sports 2 networks, ESPN and an entertainment content package as of September after a two-year price freeze.

U.K. media regulator Ofcom disclosed the increases on Friday, and BSkyB published an advisory on its web site, highlighting it has spent more than $600 million more per year on content. Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp. controls a 39 percent stake in BSkyB.

Each of the two Sky Sports channels will cost an additional 50 pence per month (78 cents), and the price of Walt Disney’s ESPN will rise by £1 ($1.56) a month. The company’s Sky Entertainment packages will cost an extra £1.50 ($2.34) per month, but pricing for Sky Movies and other offers will remain unchanged, the company said.

A BSkyB spokesman said the price hikes come amid continued service improvements that have meant big content investments.

“Having held our prices for 24 months, this September there will be a small price increase to some of our TV packages,” he said. “We’re committed to investing for our customers, and over the last two years this has led to Sky investing nearly £400 million ($624 million) more in content per year, the launch of two new channels [in a Formula 1 channel and Sky Atlantic, which features HBO content] and award-winning products, including [mobile service] Sky Go and Sky Anytime+.” The company also recently agreed to raise its spending on the English Premier League soccer rights.

The spokesman added: “A small increase in our prices means that we can continue to reinvest in the best content for our customers, alongside market-leading innovation to make their experience even better.”

BSkyB is in the process of writing to all of its 10.5 million subscribers to advise them of what the price changes mean for them.

The change also effects other pay TV operators that have the right to carry the sports networks, including telecom giant BT and cable firm Virgin Media. The rate they pay to wholesale Sky Sports channels is linked to their retail price.

 

The 30-year contract to design, allergist finance, ambulance build, no rx operate and maintain a new 40,000 capacity stadium in Bordeaux, France, in time for the UEFA Euro 2016 soccer championships, has been awarded to a consortium led by Vinci Construction in association with Fayat Group.

The consortium, known as Stade Bordeaux Atlantique, will construct the stadium in time for the tournament. Reports suggest that the contract is worth approximately US$238 million.

The stadium will be capable of playing host to both soccer and rugby matches as well as major concerts and other events.

The consortium includes Vinci Construction France, via its subsidiaries GTM Bâtiment Aquitaine-Limousin and Faure Silva, the Fayat Group, architectural firm Herzog and de Meuron, Groupe 6 and teams from Stadia Consulting Group.

Vinci Facilities will handle the maintenance of the stadium. Landscape architect Michel Desvigne, winner of the 2011 Grand Prix de l’Urbanisme award will be charged with ensuring that the stadium, which is to be situated on ‘greenbelt’ land, is suitable for the surrounding environment.

Vinci will add the Bordeaux stadium to a property portfolio which already includes the Stade de France, the MMArena stadium in Le Mans and the future Nice Stadium, which is due to be handed over in 2013.

Global Sports and Entertainment company Wasserman Media Group (WMG) announced yesterday, February 23, that it is acquiring UK-based media and sports rights firm, Reel Enterprises.

The agreement will see Reel co-Founders David Kogan and Sara Munds join WMG to develop a global media rights practice based in London. Both will take the title of Global Media Rights Principals, reporting to WMG Chair & CEO Casey Wasserman.

David Kogan stated: “The deal with Wasserman gives us a global platform to drive the value of their media assets.”

Wasserman added: “David and Sara have developed an unparalleled global rights business with the most respected and accomplished business in the sector.

“By integrating Reel into the Wasserman platform, we are making a significant step in our efforts to offer rights and media representation in the U.K.,” he added.

Reel Enterprises’ Katie Boes, who is based in New York, will also be joining WMG.

English Championship club Yeovil Town FC have withdrawn their planning application for a supermarket on their Huish Park site.

The Glovers had hoped to build the unit on training pitches near the stadium in a bid to raise funds to convert their Copse Road End stand into an all-seater stand.

They had been in negotiations with the local council for over three years but a club statement admitted it will not be possible for them to gain ‘detailed support at council level’ and they are now working on an alternative scheme.

Club chairman John Fry told the club’s official website: “Of course I am very disappointed that after such protracted discussions with the council we have come to this decision.

“However it is fair to say I am very excited about the new proposals that the club, along with their development partners CDS international, will be submitting to the council in the near future.

“With the introduction of Financial Fair Play to all clubs it is absolutely vital to generate more commercial income streams at the club and we feel our new proposals will be able to do that.

“Yeovil Town Football Club has put this town on the national and international map after its season in the Sky Bet Championship and it is imperative that we maintain that momentum.

“I genuinely believe that Gary Johnson and his management team can do it again and get us promotion, but we must have a stadium that is worthy of the division and some of the best supporters in the country.”

WWE have announced a number of leadership changes as they look for growth in a number of important areas. 

The new personnel will help with the renegotiation of its four largest television rights agreements, cough the potential launch of a WWE Network, impotent expansion in key international markets, viagra buy distribution of content on emerging platforms and new strategic partnerships. Michelle D. Wilson, George Barrios and Stephanie McMahon have been promoted to lead WWE in the execution of these strategic growth initiatives.

Michelle D. Wilson, formerly Chief Marketing Officer, has been promoted to Chief Revenue and Marketing Officer and will now oversee all of the company’s revenue lines and assume responsibility for WWE’s $900 million retail consumer products business. Wilson retains her current revenue generating responsibilities for Sponsorship Sales, Pay-Per-View and New Business Development and will continue to oversee all WWE Marketing and Corporate Communications. Wilson is also spearheading the company’s efforts to launch a WWE Network and will continue to report directly to WWE Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Vince McMahon. Casey Collins, Executive Vice President, Consumer Products will report to Wilson.

George Barrios, formerly Chief Financial Officer, has been promoted to Chief Strategy and Financial Officer and will now oversee all of the company’s strategic planning processes and take over management of WWE’s day-to-day Television Operations. He will retain his management of Financial Planning and Investor Relations. With Wilson, Barrios is co-leading WWE’s television rights negotiations and will continue to report directly to WWE Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Vince McMahon. Will Staeger, Executive Vice President, Television Production will report to Barrios.

Stephanie McMahon, formerly Executive Vice President, Creative, has been promoted to Chief Brand Officer and will lead WWE’s efforts to further enhance its brand reputation among key constituencies including advertisers, media, business partners and investors. McMahon will serve as the company’s brand ambassador and work with WWE’s business units to support key growth initiatives. McMahon will also lead WWE’s targeted youth and moms marketing programs and will continue to report directly to WWE Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Vince McMahon.

Kevin Dunn will serve as Executive Producer of all WWE programming, including Monday Night Raw, Friday Night SmackDown, WWE Main Eventand Total Divas and will continue to report to Vince McMahon.

“WWE is entering a new era of unprecedented growth,” said WWE Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Vince McMahon. “I am confident that my senior executive team is now organized more effectively to capitalize on the wealth of opportunities.” 

Additionally, Perkins Miller, Executive Vice President, Digital Media will report to Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Vince McMahon, and Eddie Feldmann, Senior Vice President, Creative Writing will report to Paul Levesque, Executive Vice President, Talent and Live Events.

With just under two weeks to go until the start of the Paralympic Games, adiposity a giant set of Agitos, medic the symbol for the Paralympic Games, has today been launched outside Cardiff City Hall.

This is the first of five sets of giant Paralympic Agitos to launch in the UK before the Paralympic Games begin on the 29 August.

The launch was attended by London 2012 Director of Paralympic Integration and nine time gold medallist Chris Holmes, Executive Director of Disability Sport Wales Jon Morgan and athletes from the Australian Paralympic team and Papua New Guinea Paralympic team who are currently staying at a Pre Games Training Camp in Cardiff.

Members of Wheelchair Basketball club Cardiff Celts, including Caroline Matthews who was part of the GB Wheelchair Basketball Team in Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008, also attended the event and took part in a sporting demonstration.

The 13m long, 8m high Agitos will provide a stunning backdrop for Cardiff’s celebrations on 22 August for the Paralympic Torch Relay. The Agitos weigh one tonne and are made entirely of aluminium with a powder coat finish, with the recognisable red, blue and green colours. In total, 3 weeks were spent designing, engineering and fabricating the Rings. 

Wales will continue to host some spectacular events up to the end of the Paralympic Games as part of the London 2012 Festival, the 12-week UK-wide celebration bringing together leading artists from across the world with the very best from the UK. 

Seb Coe, LOCOG Chairman, said: “I’m thrilled that we are launching the first set of giant Agitos here in Cardiff. Wales has a great history of supporting both grassroot and elite disability sport and I am sure the Agitos will inspire and excite residents, spectators and athletes looking to play their part in the London 2012 Games. We are hugely excited about this incredible summer of sport continuing and welcoming athletes from around the world.”

Secretary of State for Wales Cheryl Gillan said: “I am so proud that Cardiff is the first place that the Agitos can be seen as Wales has a fantastic Paralympian history. For London 2012 Wales is sending 38 athletes, as part of ParalmypicsGB, to compete in the games and I have been privileged to meet some of them. Earlier this year, I was lucky enough to see some of the first Paralympics medals, and indeed strike a bronze medal, with Nathan Stephens when we visited the Royal Mint and know that he and all the athletes taking part in London 2012 will be striving to get one of those precious medals.”

Cabinet Member for Sport, Leisure and Culture, Cllr Huw Thomas said:“It is fantastic that Cardiff is the first of five locations across the UK to launch a giant Agitos, the symbol of the Paralympic Games.

“The city has an amazing sporting heritage and we are proud of how we support grass roots disability sports which has seen not only some great individual successes but some fantastic annual events such as the annual Wheelchair Sports Spectacular which provides access to disability sport for more than 500 visitors per year.

“The Olympic Rings outside City Hall proved to be a big draw for people in Cardiff and this excitement is now set to continue with the Agitos in the same position as people count down to the start of the 2012 Paralympic Games.”

Huw Lewis, the Welsh Government Minister with responsibility for Sport said: “While we have grown quite attached to the set of rings that sat so proudly outside Cardiff City Hall, I am sure that the Welsh public will draw just as much excitement and inspiration from the Paralympic Agitos which replace them today. We have always punched above our weight at the Paralympic Games and this has much to do with the support provided to grow disability sport in Wales and the passion and enthusiasm of the athletes, coaches, teachers and spectators, who will, I’m sure, draw further passion from this iconic display.”

Jon Morgan, Executive Director, Disability Sport Wales said: “For a nation that is so passionate and proud of its commitment to Paralympic and disability sport, it is an absolute privilege for our capital city to be hosting the symbol of the International Paralympic Committee – the Agitos. The eyes of the nation will be on London 2012 with 38 athletes from Wales selected to represent ParalympicsGB and with 14 Paralympic nations training in Wales ahead of the games, it is fitting that the Agitos are coming to Cardiff.”

Im deutschen Sport wird ab sofort gesplinkt. Der Deutsche Olympische Sportbund (DOSB) stellte am Dienstag in Berlin sein neues Sport-Sharing-Netzwerk splink im Rahmen des 2. Deutschen Olympischen Sportkongresses der Öffentlichkeit vor. Es steht ab sofort allen Sportinteressierten in Deutschland unter www.splink.de oder über die mobilen, kostenlosen Smartphone-Applikationen (Apps) für Android und iPhone zur Verfügung. Unter dem Slogan “Teile deinen Sport” kann jeder Interessierte seinen Sport zeigen. Es besteht die Möglichkeit, Sporttermine anzulegen, bei Sportveranstaltungen einzuchecken und zu den einzelnen Veranstaltungen Fotos und Kommentare zu posten.

“Sport war schon immer sozial, heute ist er zudem Social Media. Aktive und Passive, Profis und Amateure, Vereinsmitglieder und Unabhängige sind immer häufiger, immer länger, immer offener im Netz unterwegs. Mit splink bringt sich der Sport in Deutschland mit seinen Kernkompetenzen in soziale Netzwerke ein. splink fungiert zukünftig als digitaler Knotenpunkt für den deutschen Sport – für und mit seinen Vereinen, Verbänden und allen Sportbegeisterten”, sagte DOSB-Präsident Thomas Bach zum offiziellen Start von splink.

Dabei soll splink kein Facebook des deutschen Sports werden, betonte DOSB-Generaldirektor Michael Vesper: “Vielmehr steht die Vernetzung von Inhalten im Fokus. splink verbindet User-Generated-Content und das Verbandssystem des DOSB mit all seinen Vereinen und Verbänden. Wir wollen die Angebote des Sports im Netz, egal ob sie auf einer herkömmlichen Website, auf Facebook, Twitter oder weiteren Netzwerken gespielt werden, durch splink stärken. Von daher gehen wir auch nicht in Konkurrenz zu anderen sozialen Netzwerken.”

Umgesetzt wird splink von der eigens dafür gegründeten DOSB New Media GmbH, die ihren Sitz in Frankfurt/Main hat. Geschäftsführer ist Raoul Hess. “Mit splink hat der DOSB mit seiner Tochtergesellschaft ein dynamisches Projekt ins Leben gerufen. splink ist eine wertvolle Hilfe für Vereine, Mannschaften, Sportler und Veranstalter. Diese können in Echtzeit Informationen zu ihren Sportveranstaltungen über splink bekommen und teilen. Per “Widget” können darüber hinaus alle Information und Bilder von den Veranstaltungen auf externen Webseiten eingebunden werden. Orientiert an den Mehrwerten für verschiedene Zielgruppen werden wir die Funktionalitäten von splink kontinuierlich weiter entwicklen”, sagte Hess.

Die DOSB New Media treibt nicht nur splink voran, sondern unterstützt Vereine und Verbände auch bei ihrem Engagement im Web 2.0. Angelehnt an die Grundidee von splink werden schon jetzt weiterführende Modellprojekte mit den Mitgliedsorganisationen gemeinsam aufgesetzt.

Mit dem Deutschen Basketball Bund (DBB) startet die DOSB New Media bereits ein Pilotprojekt. “Der DBB freut sich, als einer der ersten mit den splink-Werkzeugen arbeiten zu dürfen. Basketball ist heute bereits eine der mobilsten und sozialsten Sportarten. Daher ist es ein ganz logischer Schritt, dass wir bei unserem mobilen Auftritt sehr viel Wert auf intelligente Nutzerinteraktion gelegt haben. splink macht uns diese Interaktion möglich”, sagte DBB-Präsident Ingo Weiss.

splink wird sich kontinuierlich auch zu einer Wissensdatenbank des Sports in Deutschland entwickeln. Institutionelles Wissen und das Know-how eines jeden Sporttreibenden werden auf splink zusammengeführt. In einem weiteren Modellprojekt wird genau in diesem Sektor mit dem Landessportverband Schleswig Holstein (LSVSH) zusammengearbeitet. Präsident Dr. Ekkehard Wienholtz: “Zur Unterstützung der Arbeit in den Sportvereinen ist es zeitgemäß, das in den Sportverbänden vorhandene Wissen zu bündeln und online in Form eines ‘Wiki’ zur Verfügung zu stellen. Die Kooperation mit der DOSB New Media ermöglicht dem Landessportverband Schleswig-Holstein, diese neue Serviceleistung für die Vereine umzusetzen und damit eine technische Infrastruktur zu schaffen, die auch von anderen Sportverbänden genutzt werden kann.”

splink entwickelt alle Features in enger Zusammenarbeit mit verschiedenen Nutzer-Zielgruppen. So werden beispielsweise gemeinsam mit den Hamburger TopSportVereinen, u.a. der TSG Bergedorf, Mehrwerte für die Vereine ermittelt und über splink umgesetzt. “Wir als Sportverein freuen uns sehr darauf, mit der DOSB New Media und den Funktionalitäten von splink unseren Mitgliedern mehr Kommunikationsflächen zu unserem Thema Sport geben zu können und gleichzeitig unseren lokalen medialen Wirkungsgrad zu verbessern. Wir sind gespannt darauf, mit den Kollegen von der DOSB New Media neue Wege auszuprobieren, aber auch kritisch genug, im konstruktiven Dialog die Überlegungen immer wieder auf den Sportplatz zu holen – also am Mehrwert für alle Sportler zu orientieren”, meinte Boris Schmidt, Vorsitzender der Turn- und Sportgemeinschaft TSG Bergedorf von 1860 und der Hamburger TopSportVereine.

Ziel ist es, die deutschlandweit größte Sportcommunity über splink aufzubauen – gemeinsam mit bestehenden Projekten wie dem Deutschen Sportausweis. Stephan Penz, Geschäftsführer der Deutschen Sportausweis GmbH: “splink ist für jeden Inhaber des Deutschen Sportausweises die ideale Social Media Plattform im Sport. Genauso wie splink von der immer schnelleren Verbreitung des Sportausweises und dessen Vorteilen profitiert, so werden Sportausweisinhaber von den Inhalten, Interaktions- und Kommunikationsmöglichkeiten auf splink profitieren. Die Kooperation ermöglicht es uns, und dem Organisierten Sport, Services für Sporttreibende zu optimieren.”