Cycling Australia in Search for New CEO as Fredericks Quits

Cycling Australia (CA) is looking for a new chief executive following Graham Fredericks decision to quit as CEO after 18 years in the role.

Fredericks, who will finish in the role at the annual general meeting in November, said the time was right for CA to have someone with “new energy and enthusiasm” to take over as CEO.

CA is also still on the lookout for a new president to replace Klaus Mueller, who stood down in August.

The Australian Sports Commission (ASC) said on Tuesday it was an “urgent priority” for CA to decide upon Mueller’s replacement.

One of the new president’s first tasks would be to play an active role in the appointment of the new CEO.

The pair would then drive the move towards integrating the sport’s three Australian ruling bodies – CA, BMX Australia and Mountainbike Australia.

In a briefing on the first year of its Winning Edge program on Tuesday, the ASC rated cycling the slowest of seven major Olympic sports in progress toward meeting mandatory governance requirements ahead of new funding allocations in March.

Cycling’s level of progress was considered as “low”, while athletics, basketball, hockey, rowing, sailing and swimming all rated between medium and high.

Fredericks said he had been privileged to be at the centre of cycling’s growth and development in Australia for the past two decades.

“However, all good things must come to an end and I believe the time is right to step aside and allow for a fresh approach,” he said in a statement.

“I am very proud of the role I have played in the sport’s growth in popularity and profile as well as the expansion of Cycling Australia as an organisation.

“Cycling in Australia is on the verge of another significant step forward as an integrated industry.

“While I have been very active player in this process, it is important that I recognise when it is time to allow new energy and enthusiasm to drive this strategy.”

Poland & Slovakia to Submit Joint Bid for 2022 Winter Olympic Games

Poland and Slovakia are set to submit a joint bid for the 2022 Winter Olympic Games.

Poland’s Minister of Culture, Joanna Mucha has received documentation on the proposals.

Under the plan, the former royal capital of Krakow, southern Poland, would host the Opening and Closing Ceremonies and Krakow would also host the majority of the ice events while Zakopane, Poland’s winter capital, would host snowboarding, cross-country skiing and the biathlon.

Slovakia would organize several skiing events while hosting a portion of the ice hockey fixtures.

A letter of intent has been signed by the heads of the Olympic committees of Poland and Slovakia.

According to documents submitted to Minister Mucha, the official candidacy declaration would be made in 2013.

Current International Olympic Committee (IOC) rules do not permit joint applications from national Olympic committees and the IOC frowns upon cross-border bids.

Other possible candidates for the 2020 Games include St. Moritz, Oslo, Barcelona, Nice and Lviv.

The host city will be selected in Kuala Lumpur in August 2015, during the 127th session of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

G4S Shares Drop after Olympics Security Mishap

G4S problems have continued to mount following the Olympics security provider revealing its share price had rapidly dropped.

The FTSE 100 Index firm admitted on Friday night that it will incur a loss of up to £50 million ($78m) on the high-profile contract.

Investors fear the group’s reputation has been tarnished by its failure to provide enough staff for the Games, erectile with G4S also facing a period of uncertainty if chief executive Nick Buckles loses his job in the fiasco

The company’s shares dived by as much as 10%, discount wiping £400 million ($488m) off its stock market valuation, click and adding to heavy losses seen at the end of last week.

Seymour Pierce stockbrokers removed its buy rating on the stock and cut its profit forecasts for the current financial year by £60 million ($73m).

Analyst Kevin Lapwood said: “It appears certain that Mr Buckles will fall on the sword along with other senior UK management.

“This could lead to a period of instability at the company, which appointed a new chairman just over a month ago. Whoever is in charge will have a lot of work to do to repair the company’s reputation, especially at home in the UK and with the UK Government, its single largest customer. This will be crucial for the company’s future.

“There will be some short-term repercussions but overall we believe G4S has a good track record with the UK Government. The shortcomings on the Olympics contract should not significantly affect its chances of benefiting from government outsourcing in the longer term.”

G4S said on Friday that it accepted responsibility for the additional cost of the increased military deployment and that it was incurring other significant costs as it endeavours to meet the contract challenges.

G4S’s revenues hit £7.5 billion last year, while underlying profits grew 2% to £531 million.

188Bet Launch Chelsea Viral vs Alien Invaders

A new viral ad campaign has been launched by 188BET that sees four Chelsea stars fighting against an army of giant alien invaders via a 3D projection.

The official betting partner of the London club challenged David Luiz, symptoms Branislav Ivanovic, Paulo Ferreira and Nicolas Anelka to play Alien Invaders, a huge interactive video game beamed on to a 90-foot wall in a warehouse in Battersea, south-west London.

The ad sees the players destroy the Alien Invaders by kicking footballs at the giant screen, with 50 points awarded for hitting a single alien and a bonus 188 points on offer for hitting the Alien Invaders ‘mothership’.

Each player took it in turns to battle the invaders, and striker Anelka proved himself to be the sharpest shooter with a score of 2088. The Frenchman’s accuracy was rewarded with a special 188BET Alien Invaders trophy and a donation by 188BET of £1,500 to charity of his choice.

The triumphant Anelka said: “It was a funny game, a good game to play and I hope one day I can have a garden big enough for this kind of game. The four of us enjoyed it and we were trying to help each other out getting the footballs back but I am happy that I won.

“The trophy will now sit next to the Premier League medal and all my other trophies!”

To help mark the launch, 188BET is offering fans around the world a chance to win a series of money-can’t-buy prizes on its official website, with Jeff Baker, head of marketing services at 188BET, adding: “188BET is always trying to think of new and innovative ways to activate its relationships with its partner clubs.

“For this video, we combined the latest in 3D projection technology with the skill of Premier League footballers, to create what we hope will be an original, fun and engaging video.”.

Bin Hammam Claims His Challenge Led to Blatter’s Positive Plans

Sepp Blatter’s opponent in the upcoming FIFA presidential elections Mohamed Bin Hammam has sought to take the credit for the more positive and forward-looking ideas in the Swiss’ manifesto.

Bin Hammam, Qatari president of the Asian Football Confederation, is Blatter’s only challenger to a potential fourth term as president of world soccer’s governing body.

The 75-year-old current incumbent talked last week of expanding FIFA’s financial support for national associations and reforming the organisation – the second issue, in particular, being one which Bin Hammam welcomed in his latest personal blog.

He said: “To ensure we are not left behind by an ever-changing world, we have to be sure to think at least one step ahead. In recent times, that has not been the case at FIFA. But now, at last, Mr. Blatter is coming out with fresh suggestions about how to run the game’s governing body that might not have seen the light of day had there not been a challenge to his leadership.”

Bin Hammam said many of Blatter’s ideas represented a change of approach, adding: “It seems my challenge has made Mr. Blatter reassess his view of football’s future. Competition is healthy and it is vital to the continual development and progress of the sport that we all hold so close to our hearts.”

Bin Hammam has also promised a wider distribution of World Cup profits and offered 17 extra seats on the controversial executive committee.

Sacramento Council to Analyse Potential New Venue for NBA’s Kings

Last night the Sacramento City Council voted unanimously to spend the next three months working with downtown developer David Taylor and arena builder ICON Venue Group in analyzing the financial feasibility of a new NBA Kings venue.

Taylor said that he would begin “trying to meet with the Kings” this morning. Team ownership has stopped speaking publicly about the arena process.

The study will be free for the city. Once it is complete, clinic the city will conduct its own analysis and bring it back to the council.

Arsenal Reveals Loss for Latest Financial Results

Premier League giants Arsenal have revealed their latest financial results by reporting a £2.2m loss for the six months to the end of November.

The announcement was a sharp fall from the £17.8m profit it made in the same period a year ago.

Turnover from football increased to £136m, cialis up from £106.1m during the same period in 2012.

Broadcasting revenue was boosted to £52.0 million (2012 – £40.1 million) principally as a result of the Premier League’s new contracts with Sky and BT.

Commercial and retail revenues rose to £38.4 million (2012 – £27.7 million) mainly due to the extended partnership arrangements with Emirates which were not yet in force for the comparative period.

The north London club has recently confirmed a major five year contract with PUMA, capsule as the Club’s new kit partner, viagra 100mg which will come into effect from the start of next financial year.

However, profit from trading players suffered a steep decline, from £42.5m to £6.1m.

Before player trading and depreciation, operating profits were £22.2m.

Commenting on the results for the six months, the Club’s chairman, Sir Chips Keswick, said: “When I was appointed chairman last summer, there was good reason to believe that the hard work which has been put in, by many people across the Club, over recent years had created the momentum for a successful season in every aspect of our activities.

“Thus far that optimism has been well-founded. We believe we are in a strong position to take the Club forward both in the short-term and beyond and to deliver future on-field success.”

10 Sports Broadcasting Deals of the Week: 10/01/14

1

Eurosport to Broadcast BDO World Trophy

Friday, capsule 10 January 2014

2

MP & Silva Renews Brasileiro Rights Deal

Thursday, generic 09 January 2014

3

MLB Extends its Partnership with Rogers Communications

Thursday, 09 January 2014

4

NHK Announces Broadcasting Rights to Air 2014 and 2016 Paralympics in Japan

Thursday, 09 January 2014

5

Sony Six Obtains Broadcasting Rights to Australian Open

Wednesday, 08 January 2014

6

Televisa Signs Deal to Broadcast 2014 and 2016 EHF Euros

Tuesday, 07 January 2014

7

Philadelphia Phillies Inks Comcast SportsNet Broadcast Deal

Friday, 03 January 2014

8

UEFA Seals Abu Dhabi Media Rights Deal

Friday, 20 December 2013

9

Eurosport Secures Premier League Broadcast Rights in Romania

Friday, 20 December 2013

10

 MP & Silva Secures Japanese Media Rights to Greece Super League Games

Friday, 20 December 2013

Richard Carrion Resigns from IOC Finance Commission Role

Richard Carrion, one of the five candidates that lost out to Thomas Bach for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) presidency, has resigned from his role as Chairman of the Finance Commission of the IOC.

The Puerto Rican banking executive quit from a number of positions from the IOC, including as chairman of the finance commission, a position he has held from 2002. 

Carrion also resigned as the IOC’s negotiator of television rights deals outside Europe, but has agreed to remain in that role until the Feb. 7-23 Winter Games in Sochi in order to ”assist in the transition process” under new IOC President Thomas Bach.

The announcement follows Bach’s election on Sept. 10 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Bach received 49 votes in the second round to secure a winning majority, while Carrion finished second in the six-man field with 29 votes.

According to Asssociated Press, IOC spokesman Mark Adams said Carrion sent a letter to Bach a few days after the election.

”In his letter, I understand he said that he believed a new president needed to have the latitude to set priorities and select the team to carry them out,” Adams told The Associated Press. ”He made it clear he was happy to help with any transition and that he would continue with TV negotiations in the meantime.”

Carrion has been a member of the IOC since 1990. He was elected as a member of the Executive Committee in 2004. Hew will remain an IOC member but will also leave his position as chairman of the audit committee and member of the coordination commission for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

In the run-up to the 2010 and 2012 Olympic Games Carrión led negotiations for the Games’ U.S. broadcast, earning the Committee $2 billion in revenue.

Singapore’s Ng Ser Miang, who also lost out to Thomas Bach, will chair the next meeting of the finance commission in December.

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Hanoi Wins Bid to Host 2019 Asian Games

Olympic Council of Asia have awarded Hanoi the rights to host the 2019 Asian Games, ahead of Indonesia’s second biggest city of Surabaya and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.

The Vietnamese capital was selected at the OCA’s general assembly in Macau, after Dubai pulled out at the last minute to leave Surabaya as the only other bidder.

“The majority of the votes are for the city of Hanoi to hold the 2019 Asian Games,” OCA president Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah told a press conference.

“The leaders of the country, the sports groups of the country, we have trust that they will reach their commitment, and as a partner we will work very closely with them to bring the best Games ever in Asia.”

The Vietnamese government estimates the event will cost some US$150 million and require the construction of new sporting stadiums and an athletes’ village.

The last major sporting event hosted by Vietnam was the South East Asian Games (SEA Games) in 2003.

Guangzhou in southern China held the previous Asian Games in 2010, and the next Games will be held in Incheon, South Korea, in 2014.