NBC, criticised for their delay in Olympic coverage, has seen mediocre overnight Olympics television ratings.

The Nielsen company said Tuesday that overnight ratings from the America’s largest cities for Monday’s prime-time broadcast were off 5 percent from the corresponding night in Beijing four years ago. For the first three nights of Olympics coverage, NBC’s London ratings were running well ahead of Beijing.

Four years ago on the same night, NBC was able to run many events live, including a gold medal race by Michael Phelps. NBC’s prime-time this year was all tape-delayed material, with a disappointing showing by the U.S. men’s gymnastics team.

Nielsen expects to report a fuller estimate of how many people watched Monday’s broadcast later on Tuesday.

The International Canoe Federation (ICF) has signed a three year partnership agreement with MSL Software S.L. to develop and manage the ICF’s new Integrated Sport Information System (ISIS). 

ISIS which was launched last week provides the ICF with an Extranet that can be accessed by its stakeholders, link also serves as a platform that provides the ICF with new database management tools. 

ICF’s National Federations and event organisers will now be able to take advantage of the multiple services the platform offers such as: calendar, online entries, pre-accreditations data gathering and accreditations printing, biographies, direct messaging, file-sharing, etc. it will also provide the ICF with a brand new voting system. 

ICF Secretary General, Simon Toulson, hailed the relationship with MSL as a strategic partnership that will be of great value to the ICF and its stakeholders. 

“The partnership with MSL – industry leaders in providing integrated solutions for organising sport events and operations, was signed following an in-depth analysis, of the needs of our event organisers and the needs of the ICF and its National Federations,” said Toulson. 

As well as providing event management resources to National Federations and event organizers, the ICF will also be able to monitor key areas of the event organization process such as accreditations, athlete entries, event results etc. While ICF’s National Federations will be able to use this new system, the ICF encourages each Federation to take advantage of the various services offered by the company. 

“Our agreement with Atos (the Worldwide IT Partner for the Olympic Games) has positioned us as the global IT leaders in providing integrated solutions to major events. This signifies a great difference for sports event management and sports spectators worldwide,” said Eulogio Ruiz, CEO of MSL Group. 

MSL becomes an official ICF partner in the field of technology. Recognition of this partnership will be evidenced on all systems and outputs generated by the company, and the ICF will recognize it as an official partner and will offer MSL benefits exclusive to being an ICF Partner.

by Ismail Uddin

The Ghanaian Olympic Committee (GOC) are confident that the threat hanging over Ghana’s participation at London 2012 could be lifted later this year after making a series of changes demanded by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The GOC were suspended by the IOC’s ruling Executive Board in January following what, they claimed, was Government interference after a disputed election, complaining in particular that Government officials in Ghana were appointing the Presidents of national sports federations.

Things came to a head in June 2009 when former triple jumper Francis Dodoo was elected as the GOC’s new President, a result disputed by Benson Tongo Baba, who had held the post for 12 years.

Baba complained to the IOC claiming there been interference from some “external forces” which contravened the ideals of the Olympic Charter and the constitution of the GOC.

Among the IOC’s demands was the implementation of a new Sports Bill by the end of last year, a deadline that Ghana missed, leading to their suspension which meant the GOC stopped receiving IOC funding, its officials banned from attending any Olympic events and Ghana’s athletes barred from competing in the Games.

Ghana’s Sports Minister Clement Kofi Humado has now agreed to introduce the Sports Amendment Act which means that the national sports federations will have the right to elect their own administrators. 

Kofi Humado is now hopeful of getting the Bill through Ghana’s Parliament in Accra before the IOC’s Executive Board is due to meet in Durban on July 4 so the country’s bid for reinstatement can be considered.

An IOC spokesman stated: “Following the suspension of the NOC of Ghana in January, the Government of Ghana has taken appropriate steps to revise the sports legislation in question, so that it would now be compatible with the basic principles of the Olympic Charter which govern the Olympic Movement.

“The EB has recognised these efforts and positive developments and might therefore be in a position to consider lifting the suspension of the NOC at its next meeting in early July 2011 in Durban.”

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak, cialis the government official in charge of Olympic construction facility development in Sochi, advice  has claimed that all construction work ahead of the 2014 Winter Olympics will be completed by the end of 2012.

Kozak revealed that 131 Games venues were already finished, while 182 others were still under construction, stating at a meeting with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin: “We are completely sure that we are capable of finishing the sports facilities next year.

“All the Games sports facilities in the mountain cluster will be completed by the end of 2011, while the Black Sea shore cluster venues will be ready in the summer of 2012 at the latest,” Kozak added. “According to the expert estimations we have finished around 70% of the preparation works for the Olympics.”

Kozak added that the Games organising committee is planning to stage 19 national and international competitions in nine disciplines at Sochi Olympic venues in 2012 to test out the facilities: “We are planning a tough testing of Olympic venues, including a leg of the alpine ski World Cup in 2012,” he said.

The IOC will allow Saudi Arabia athlete Wojdan Ali Seraj Abdulrahim Shahrkhani to compete in the Olympics in a headscarf after a compromise was reached that respects “cultural sensitivities” in the Muslim kingdom.

Judo officials had previously said they would not let Wojdan Ali Seraj Abdulrahim Shahrkhani compete in a headscarf because it was against the principles of the sport and raised safety concerns.

But an agreement was reached after several days of IOC-brokered talks between the international judo federation and the Saudi Olympic Committee that clears the way for her to compete Friday in the women’s heavyweight division.

“They have a solution that works for both parties, all parties involved,” International Olympic Committee spokesman Mark Adams said. “The athlete will compete.”

Saudi Arabia, which had never sent women athletes to the Olympics before, brought its two first female Olympians to London on condition they adhere to the kingdom’s conservative Islamic traditions, including wearing a headscarf.

Shahrkhani’s participation was thrown into doubt last week when judo officials said a headscarf could be dangerous because the sport includes chokeholds and aggressive grabbing techniques.

Without giving precise details of the headscarf agreement, Adams said it is in line with rules of judo in Asia and is “safety compliant but allows for cultural sensitivity.'”

“In Asia, judo is a common practice so they asked for something that would be compliant with that, and the judo federations have reached a compromise that both are happy with,” he said.

Asian judo federations have previously allowed Muslim women to wear the headscarf, known as a hijab, during major competitions. Headscarves are allowed in taekwondo, but taekwondo fighters also wear a headguard, which covers the headscarf.

Shahrkhani may be the first judoka to fight at the Olympics who does not hold a black belt in judo, a Japanese martial art.

She did not qualify for her Olympic spot like the majority of other judoka. The IOC extended a special invitation for her to compete as part of negotiations to bring Saudi women to the Olympics for the first time.

The other Saudi female athlete scheduled to compete in London is 19-year-old Sarah Attar, a California-based 800-meter runner.

Major League Soccer’s (MLS) San Jose Earthquakes and Aurasma, the world’s leading augmented reality platform, have partnered to transform the team’s 2012 logo and promotional materials into cross-media experiences that will draw fans closer to the Major League Soccer team.

Using the free Aurasma Lite app for iPhones, iPads and Android devices, fans can aim their device at the San Jose Earthquakes logo anywhere in the world and view a special video message from top scorer, Chris Wondolowski, followed by game highlights.

Using the app, the Quakes logo transforms into a video of Wondolowski before the fans’ eyes, bringing sports promotion into the bold new world of augmented reality. Wherever the Quakes logo is seen, whether it is a magnet on a fridge, a poster in a bedroom or someone wearing a player’s jersey, fans can unlock game highlights and access exclusive promotions. The videos, called an “Aura,” and promotions will change over the course of the season to keep fans engaged.

Also, fans attending Quakes game will be able to aim their device at the San Jose Earthquakes player cards distributed to attendees in the free game program to view a special player video. Every game, the collectable player card features a different team member, and the Aura will bring that player to life on the fan’s mobile device or tablet, allowing the player to personally share his hobbies, history, hopes and aspirations.

“The San Jose Earthquakes have some of the most devout fans in Major League Soccer, and we want our promotions to match that passion while also meeting the fans’ thirst for more engagement with the players,” said Earthquakes President Dave Kaval. “This partnership with Aurasma brings entertaining, interactive media to our club and allows our fans to connect with our players in revolutionary ways.”

Jennifer Rapp, general manager at Aurasma, added: “The forward-thinking Earthquakes organization understands that its loyal fan base craves engagement with players beyond game day. Since sports teams’ logos are seen on all types of merchandise it is really fun and easy to transform a poster, sweatshirt or even coffee mug into another screen to watch game highlights and engage with the players. We are excited to power the first U.S. Major League Soccer team’s augmented reality experience.”

The San Jose Earthquakes celebrates its home opener against the New England Revolution this Saturday, May 10, 2012 at 7:30pm PST.

by Ismail Uddin

According to The Guardian, Valcke stated: “Contrary to some media allegations I want to make it very clear that neither I nor anyone else at FIFA have asked Mr Mohammed bin Hammam at any point to withdraw his candidature for the upcoming FIFA presidency election.

“The last time I met the AFC [Asian Football Confederation] president was at the Conmebol Congress in Asunción on May 1, where we simply greeted each other. Again these allegations are totally untrue.”

The refute by Valcke came after Qatari 2022 bid officials had denied the allegations of corruption and sought to discredit an “embittered” whistleblower who is set to give evidence to FIFA on Wednesday, May 24.

In a lengthy statement, Qatari officials called the claims of payments to FIFA Executive Committee members in return for votes during the tender for the 2022 World Cup as “distressing, insulting and incomprehensible”.

The statement also raised doubts about the “credibility of the reporters, their motivations and extent to which…the evidence in any way can be relied upon”.

The first major event to be staged by an Olympic venue after the 2012 Games has been confirmed as the 2015 Canoe Slalom World Championships – to be staged at London’s Lee Valley course.

The host to the 2012 Olympic canoe slalom events beat competition from Bourg-Saint-Maurice in the French Alps with London’s Olympic venues having already failed in bids to host the 2015 World Athletics and 2014 Hockey World Cup.

The Lee Valley White Water Centre was the first brand new London 2012 venue to be completed, at a cost of £31m (US$50.4m) in December 2010 and Britain’s top slalom canoeists have had exclusive use of the course since then, before Lee Valley opens to the public – and foreign rivals – on April 22.

Bringing major events in Olympic sports to Britain after the Games have concluded is a cornerstone of the London 2012 organising committee’s ambition to deliver what it calls a ‘legacy’ after the Olympics. However, London’s bid to stage the 2015 World Championships in Athletics was withdrawn in November 2010 as continued uncertainty over the future of the Olympic Stadium meant the bid team could not even guarantee a running track would remain in place.

The UFA sports agency has extended its operations to Asia, pilule opening a new office in Singapore.

UFA Sports Asia will be the new business run from there, healing and is a joint venture with Asian sports rights experts Tom Housemean and Jeff Chue.

Houseman, managing director at UFA Sports Asia, said: “We can hit the ground running. We already enjoy a strong network of pan-Asian relationships, which we can now enhance with a range of attractive new offerings, and these compliment perfectly with the growing portfolio of properties and rights-holder relationships which UFA Sports has developed in Europe.”