G4S Reveal £50 million Cost for London 2012 Security Fiasco

Security firm G4S, who’s public security failings at the London Olympics, said the fiasco would cost it £50 million ($79.1m) and it was fighting to rebuild its reputation.

Under-fire boss Nick Buckles, hauled before MPs last month to explain why troops had to be drafted in to fill the shortfall, pledged on Tuesday there would be no repeat problems at the Paralympic Games, starting on Wednesday.

He also said there were no signs the company was losing contracts or not winning new ones and that, with 3.8 billion pounds of work per year in its pipeline, it should bounce back.

However, not all analysts were convinced, pointing to the company’s decision to freeze its interim dividend, and G4S shares were down over 2 percent in morning trade.

“The unchanged interim dividend suggests some caution from management, especially with a number of key government contract decisions coming up during H2 2012,” said Panmure’s Mike Allen.

Over half of G4S’s British revenue comes from government contracts, with more than 20 percent of its pipeline also stemming from that market, including deals to run prisons and some police services due later this year.

The firm said 50 million pounds was its estimate for the cost of paying military and police personnel drafted in to cover the shortfall in guards, as well as potential penalties and liabilities.

G4S managed to provide 7,800 staff for the Olympic Games at peak times, compared with a promised 10,400.

Major Sports Events to be HD after London 2012

At the London 2012 Olympic Games the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) will bid farewell to standard definition for all major sports events.

The EBU has made a considerable long-term investment in its Eurovision satellite and fibre network, click ensuring that more than 70 EBU Members holding rights can flawlessly access all 12 HD multilateral signals.

As part of the network upgrade, price order the EBU gave these Members up to eight MPEG 4 decoders each, try to give European public service media and the audiences they serve optimal transmission quality. 

Eurovision Network Director Graham Warren said the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games marked a milestone in the live sports transmission industry.

He added: “This is a turning point for Eurovision, and the beginning of the end of standard definition. Until now we have always provided parallel SD and HD signals, but this is the first big event where we have focused all our energy on HD alone.”

Occupying a square kilometre of the International Broadcasting Centre, in London, the EBU will run 12 simultaneous multilateral transmissions and three unilateral feeds for up to 13 hours a day for the duration of both the Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games.

New York Islanders New Stadium Proposal Rejected

National Hockey League’s (NHL) New York Islanders have failed to secure support to build a new US$400 million arena after voters rejected proposals.
The Islanders draw the fewest spectators in the NHL. The proposal to replace the 39-year-old Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, Long Island, was rejected with a majority vote of 57 percent, according to the Nassau County Board of Elections.
William Biamonte, the board’s commissioner, called it a “solid win” for opponents, though County Executive Edward Mangano said he isn’t giving up on a new arena.
Mangano said in a press conference: “Tonight is not an ending — it is a beginning. We will find a new path, a path that solves the problems and blockades to redeveloping this property.”
Charles Wang, who bought the Islanders in 2000 for around US$190 million, said he was “heartbroken” by the outcome of the vote. He expressed disappointment that voters did not see the proposal as “a move in the right direction for growth.”
“We’re not going to make any comments on any specific next steps,” said Wang, who had threatened to move the team if it did not get a new arena. “We’re committed to the Nassau Coliseum until the year 2015, and like we said we will honour our lease.”

National Hockey League’s (NHL) New York Islanders have failed to secure support to build a new US$400 million arena after voters rejected proposals.

The Islanders draw the fewest spectators in the NHL. The proposal to replace the 39-year-old Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, Long Island, was rejected with a majority vote of 57 percent, according to the Nassau County Board of Elections.

William Biamonte, the board’s commissioner, called it a “solid win” for opponents, though County Executive Edward Mangano said he isn’t giving up on a new arena.

Mangano said in a press conference: “Tonight is not an ending — it is a beginning. We will find a new path, a path that solves the problems and blockades to redeveloping this property.”

Charles Wang, who bought the Islanders in 2000 for around US$190 million, said he was “heartbroken” by the outcome of the vote. He expressed disappointment that voters did not see the proposal as “a move in the right direction for growth.”

“We’re not going to make any comments on any specific next steps,” said Wang, who had threatened to move the team if it did not get a new arena. “We’re committed to the Nassau Coliseum until the year 2015, and like we said we will honour our lease.”

Sheikh Ahman Elected for Sixth Term as Olympic Council of Asia President

Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah has been re-elected for a sixth term as president of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) at the organisation’s general assembly in Tokyo on Thursday.

The 49-year-old Kuwaiti first assumed the post in 1991 and has also been a member of the International Olympic Committee since 1992.

In his victory speech, Sheikh Ahmad hailed PyeongChang’s successful bid for the 2018 Winter Olympics after the South Korean city overcame the challenges of Munich in Germany and Annecy in France to secure the hosting rights last week.

Sheikh Ahmad said: “This is Asia, and Asia is always ready to host sports events. I would like to congratulate our friends from Korea, from PyeongChang, for winning the bid to host the Olympic Winter Games in 2018. This is another success for our family and will give added value to the Olympic movement.”

International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge, who was attending the general assembly, said he would welcome another “strong bid” for the 2020 Olympics from Tokyo. The Japanese capital, which is still recovering from the effects of a devastating earthquake earlier this year, is expected to confirm its application to host the Games over the coming days.

Rogge said: “We feel absolutely safe. We are totally assured that international competitions can take place in Japan.”

At the OCA’s 30th annual general assembly, the 36-sport competition program for the 2014 Incheon Asian Games in South Korea was approved, with softball included under the category of baseball after having been dropped initially. Soft tennis was also included under the tennis banner.

Harlequins Extend EXP Sport as Sponsorship Agency

English Rugby Union club Harlequins has extended its agreement with sports agency EXP to continue to work as the club’s full service sponsorship agency until at least 2015.

EXP Sport was founded by Laura Oakes, viagra and the relationship between the two parties began in July 2008, seek after leaving her position as head of sponsorship at Harlequins. Laura was responsible for the restructuring of Harlequins’ sponsorship portfolio and signing several new sponsors including the main sponsor, diagnosis Etihad Airways, a deal which has since recently been renewed.

The new deal was reached after EXP Sport’s impressive track record working with the club to significantly increase its commercial revenue. The agency has successfully renegotiated several key partnerships in the past 12 months including sponsorships with LV=, Greene King and Norton Rose and continues to work closely with Harlequins to activate their partners’ sponsorships throughout the season and at large scale events.

Laura Oakes said: “EXP Sport is delighted to announce that our deal with Harlequins FC has been renewed. Our business has grown significantly over the last three years but the relationship with Harlequins has always been of great importance especially in establishing EXP Sport as a credible agency and the success that we have had, not only in securing sponsorships for the club but also in the way the relationship has worked, has undoubtedly assisted us in securing other clients within the sports sector. We look forward to working with them over the next four years and continuing to build what is a very sound sponsorship program for the club.”

Mark Evans, chief executive of Harlequins, added: “EXP Sport has demonstrated to us the benefits of working with an external agency whilst delivering an in-house level of service. They offer us the opportunity to access a wider network of potential sponsors and to keep up to date with the sponsorship market whilst their relationship with the club has helped us to retain our partners by delivering a first class account management service. We look forward to continuing to work with them.”

Qatar Chiefs Hit Back Over Corruption Allegations

Qatar chiefs have hit back over claims of corruption involved in their bid to host the 2022 World Cup.

The Sunday Times has reported that Mohammed Bin Hammam made payments to African football officials in return for support for the Qatar World Cup bid – a notion which has been dismissed by Qatari authorities. 

A statement on behalf of Qatar’s Supreme Committee for 2022 said: “This week the world should be watching Brazil, yet once again the focus will turn to Qatar as the media continues to attack FIFA’s decision to award our country the World Cup in 2022. 

“This weekend we expect further attacks on Qatar and our successful bid to host the World Cup in 2022. These allegations are baseless and riddled with innuendo designed to tarnish the reputation of Qatar’s 2022 Bid Committee. 

“The constant stream of allegations that have been released to media outlets on the cusp of our interviews with the chairman of FIFA’s Ethics Committee Investigative Chamber do not implicate our bid. They are instead a series of tenuous links that attempt to assume guilt by association. 

“The timing of the release of these allegations is no accident, falling in the same week as our interviews with Michael Garcia and a week before meetings of the FIFA Executive Committee and the 2014 FIFA Congress in Brazil. This has become a pattern prior to important dates in the FIFA calendar. 

“It should be clear that these leaks are not an attempt to shine light on the 2018/2022 bidding process. They are, instead, a flagrant attempt to prejudice an ongoing independent investigation. 

“While Qatar’s bid committee has honoured Mr Garcia’s request to let the process run its course, our right to a fair hearing has been compromised by certain parties trying to influence Mr Garcia’s investigation.” 

The statement said Qatar strictly adhered to FIFA’s bidding rules and regulations but admitted there had been a relationship with Mr Bin Hammam. 

“Mr Bin Hammam is from Qatar, but he was not a member of Qatar’s bid team,” the statement added. 

“In fact, we have never denied we had a relationship with Mr Bin Hammam. As a member of the football world and as a member of Qatari society, he often crossed paths with influential Qatari citizens, including members of our bid team. 

“Further, because Mr Bin Hammam was a member of the Executive Committee, we had to present our plans to him and convince him that our bid was the right choice for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. And as Mr Bin Hammam was also Confederation president and a voting member, it was important for us to maintain a working relationship with him. None of this was improper. We hoped, of course that Mr Bin Hammam would support our bid. But we hoped for the same from every Executive Committee member.”

2014 Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four in Milan is Sold Out!

Euroleague Basketball has announced that all available seats for the 2014 Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four in Milan have been sold, sale assuring that European basketball’s premier event will once again be played to a packed house. The Final Four will take place from May 16 to 18 in Milan, denture Italy, medic at Mediolanum Forum. The arena seats a capacity of 12,086, with the Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four configuration, though some of those seats are reserved for qualifying teams, media and guests. Devoted basketball fans from Europe and beyond will converge in Milan next month for a thrilling weekend during which the 2014 Euroleague champion will be crowned.

Due to the sellout, no more tickets are available for the games except those that are offered to the Final Four teams and those offered by the official authorized vendors as Detur the official travel agency of Euroleague Basketball, Ticket2Final and Viagogo the official marketplace of the Turkish Arilines Euroleague Final Four.

A few Platinum Packages which include VIP hospitality access are still available. For more information write an email to f4tickets@euroleague.net.

NASCAR Announces Brent Dewar as New COO

NASCAR have announced today a number of executive changes with the headline move coming from auto industry executive Brent Dewar who has become their new Chief Operating Officer.

Dewar will begin his role at NASCAR on January 6, 2014.

The motorsport governing body also revealed that Steve Phelps, senior vice president and chief marketing officer, has been promoted to executive vice president, while Steve O’Donnell, senior vice president, racing operations, has also been promoted to executive vice president. The company’s general counsel, Gary Crotty, has been elevated to chief legal officer/general counsel. Mike Helton continues as NASCAR President with continued oversight of all racing operations.

“In Brent Dewar, we will add a seasoned leader with deep experience in the automotive sector, plus intimate knowledge of and passion for NASCAR as well as various other forms of motorsports,” NASCAR’s Chief Executive Officer Brian France said. “Brent brings creativity, drive, intelligence, operational acumen and a clear understanding of our assets and challenges to NASCAR. He’s a leader who’s naturally collaborative, an essential trait as we work more closely with the OEMs, teams, tracks, broadcast partners and others to grow the sport over the next decade.

“Steve Phelps and Steve O’Donnell have led critical evolutions in key areas of our business over the last several years with great success, and Gary Crotty continues to lead one of the best legal teams in all of sport,” added France. “Their promotions are reflective of their achievements and the increased role they’ll play in 2014 and the years ahead.”

In recent years, Dewar has worked in senior executive consulting roles at GreenOrder, Courland International and most recently has been managing partner at Whitby Advisors, the company through which he has consulted NASCAR on its wide-ranging initiative to transform its Competition model in the areas of governance, rules, deterrence / penalties and officiating / inspection.

“Because of the heavy involvement of technology — and that’s something I’m personally passionate about, technology — it just kind of evolved,” Dewar said. “I could see how committed they were to the change process and what’s going on. How can you say no? It’s a great company and a great brand, and at the end of the day, it’s about racing. I’ve been a fan of all forms of racing since I was about 9.”

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Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games Bid Boosted by Formula E Race Staging

Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games bid has got a boost following the decision to stage a round of the inaugural FIA Formula E. Championship in the city in 2014.

The 2014 FIA Formula E Championship is a new global motorsport series featuring electric powered cars racing on urban or city centre circuits.

The FIA has announced that between eight and 10 races will form the global series and the organization has so far shortlisted eight international cities for the preliminary calendar, including five Olympic and Paralympic Host cities.

The proposed Formula E race will be staged in a district of Buenos Aires called Recoleta, located in the heart of the city centre.

The Recoleta district is a key venue in Buenos Aires 2018’s YOG Cultural and Education Programme.

Francisco Irarrazaval, Buenos Aires Under-Secretary of Sport and Chief Executive of the Buenos Aires 2018 Bid Committee said: “Buenos Aires is delighted to be shortlisted for the first even FIA Formula E Championship. Our initial selection reaffirms the city’s status as a host of major international sporting events and that Buenos Aires can be trusted to deliver world class sporting competitions in a stunning urban location.

“We believe Buenos Aires, as a new frontier for top level global sport, is the ideal international city to help launch and promote a new sporting concept to a passionate world-wide sporting audience. As we gain momentum for our bid to host the 2018 Youth Olympic Games, Buenos Aires can again show it can offer these new global sporting initiatives excellent economic, commercial and social conditions for their events to grow and thrive”.

Nach 2000 erstmals wieder geistig behinderte Sportler bei Paralympics

Zwölf Jahre waren Sportler mit geistiger Behinderung von den Paralympics ausgeschlossen. Wenn die Spiele am kommenden Mittwoch in London beginnen, unhealthy sind sie wieder dabei. Darunter auch zwei Teilnehmer aus Deutschland: die Leichtathletin Sandra Mast aus Freudenstadt und der Schwimmer André Lehmann aus Potsdam.

Dass Sportler mit geistiger Behinderung bei den Paralympics wieder an den Start gehen dürfen, try dafür hat die Bundesvereinigung Lebenshilfe all die Jahre gekämpft. Bei den Spielen 2000 in Sydney gewannen die spanischen Basketballer Gold. Dann kam heraus, dass mehr als die Hälfte der Mannschaft die geistige Behinderung vorgetäuscht hatte. Den Spaniern wurde der Sieg aberkannt, und gleichzeitg wurden sämtliche Sportlerinnen und Sportler mit geistiger Behinderung mit einem Bann belegt: Sie durften nicht mehr an den Paralympics teilnehmen. “Schon damals protestierte die Lebenshilfe vehement dagegen, dass behinderte Athleten bestraft wurden, weil nicht behinderte Athleten betrogen hatten”, erinnert Robert Antretter, Bundesvorsitzender der Lebenshilfe. “Unseren beiden deutschen Startern in London drücke ich jetzt ganz fest die Daumen.”

Nach Sydney dauerte es zwölf lange Jahre, bis der Internationale Behindertensportverband Prüfkriterien entwickelt hatte, wonach sich die geistige Behinderung eines Sportlers zweifelsfrei nachweisen lassen soll. In dieser Zeit hatte die Lebenshilfe immer wieder angemahnt, den Bann für geistig behinderte Sportler endlich aufzuheben.

Die Lebenshilfe setzt sich als Mitglied von Special Olympics Deutschland für den Breitensport von Menschen mit geistiger Behinderung ein und ermutigt örtliche Turn- und Sportvereine, sich auch für geistig behinderte Sportler zu öffnen. An den Deutschen Behindertensportverband appelliert die Lebenshilfe, verstärkt Talente unter Sportlern mit geistiger Behinderung zu suchen und diese wie körper- und sinnesbehinderte Athleten in Leistungszentren zu fördern, damit bei den Paralympics 2016 in Rio de Janeiro (Brasilien) mehr als nur zwei deutsche Sportler mit geistiger Behinderung um Medaillen kämpfen können. In London besteht das deutsche Team aus insgesamt 150 Athleten – der Anteil der geistig behinderten Athleten beträgt 1,3 Prozent.