Table tennis legend Jean-Michel Saive has been elected Chair of the European Olympic Athletes’ Commission during the 4th European Athletes’ Assembly held in Porec, Croatia on Saturday 5 October 2013.

Jean-Michel Saive, who is also a member of the International Table Tennis Federation Athletes Committee, received 32 votes of the 34 votes cast to win his place on this prestigious committee.

The 37 year old who has competed in every Olympic Games since table tennis was introduced in 1988 stated: “I am very proud of being elected President of the European Olympic Athletes Commission.

“It is great honor for me and I am also proud for my country and my sport. I would like to thank the representatives form the different NOC who had voted for me. As I was already member of the previous commission for the last 4 years I know how huge the task is.

“I will try my best as I do behind the table and I hope with the new members we can continue the work to help all European athletes.”

The European Olympic Athletes Commission was created in 2001 when Jacque Rogge was President of the European Olympic Committee (EOC). The Commission comprises eight members, six from the sports that appear on the agenda of the Summer Olympic Games and two from the Winter Olympic Games.

Alongside Jean-Michel Saive, Ukraine’s Natalia Dobrynska from heptathlon was elected as the Vice Chair, with the further members from the summer sports being Great Britain’s Kate Walsh (field hockey), Hungary’s Daniel Gyurta (swimming), Italy’s Alessandra Sensini (sailing/windsurfing) and Russia’s Tatiana Lebedeva (athletics/long jump).

Meanwhile, the representatives from winter sports are: Finland’s Mikko Ronkainen (freestyle skiing) and Poland’s Luiza Zlotkowska (speed skating).

Madrid’s 2020 Olympic bid has been boosted by an independent survey which revealed support in the city for the bid has increased.

A poll of 2,000 people between September 10 and 17 shows that 80.2 per cent of people in Madrid said they support the city’s bid for the 2020 Summer Olympic Games, two per cent up from a survey carried out by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) 10 months ago.

Also, 79 per cent of Spaniards voiced their support for Madrid’s bid.

Alejandro Blanco, Spanish Olympic Committee (COE) and Madrid 2020 President said: “The figures prove that Madrid 2020’s Olympic vision continues to be received positively as our citizens understand more of our plans, and the benefits – both sporting and economical – that a successful bid will deliver to our city, region and nation. We are working hard and continue to act responsibly to ensure that there will be solid returns on investment and sustainable legacies at every level of our bid.

“With 83 per cent of our infrastructure already in place we are exploring how by regenerating key iconic buildings such as Las Ventas bullring, instead of building new facilities, will reduce expenditure for our final infrastructure needs and create a sustainable long term legacy for all.”

Blanco added: “The Madrid 2020 Olympic bid is a responsible bid, and our experienced team continue to work hard on the bid, thinking smartly to drive down envisaged expenditure and increase commercial partnerships, revenue opportunities and benefits for the city, our people, the region, and our nation. We continue to make sure everyone gets to know about our project and understand our objectives and the positive impact it will make.”

International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge has scuppered any thoughts of Formula One being included in future Olympics.

Although admitting that grand prix drivers are “very courageous”, doctor Rogge – a guest of F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone – insisted that the Olympics is for “athletes, sale not for equipment”.

“While having a lot of respect, sales [motor sport] will not be included into the Olympic programme,” he is quoted by the Daily Mail.

He did however praise the sport, “There are many similarities between Formula One and the Olympic Games. Both are high quality sports and the competitors have the same spirit, the same mind,” Rogge said while touring the paddock at Silverstone with the F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone on Sunday.

“The Formula One riders are very great athletes, very fit, they are very courageous … and they also have to have strategic thinking and I have a lot of admiration for them,” Rogge said.

The 2012 Summer Games kick off in the British capital later this month.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) claims that it is in close contact with FIFA with regards to the preparations for both the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil. Despite the fears over the pace of these preparations, search the IOC is confident that Rio de Janeiro will hit its targets to be ready to stage the summer Games two years after the World Cup.

However, the Brazilian government and sports authorities should not be in any doubt that the two sports authorities regularly exchange information about their perceptions and observations, with IOC president Jacques Rogge stating: “We have close contacts with FIFA. We give information about 2016 and FIFA gives us information about 2012 and we have a very good collaboration. The co-ordination commission also gave a good report on its latest visit [to Rio] and we are confident that the deadlines will be met.”

This optimism contrasts with concerns expressed by FIFA president Sepp Blatter that Brazil was now further behind in its preparation work for the 2014 World Cup than South Africa had been at the same stage ahead of its 2010 hosting.

Electronics giant Sony has completed the acquisition of UK based, sports tracking technology company Hawk-Eye.

 

Financial terms of the deal which has seen Hawk-Eye snapped up by Sony have not been released, with the Japanese electronics giant hoping to utilise technology originally developed for military use in its sports broadcasting.

 

Hawk-Eye is used for the popular, newly integrated challenge system in major tennis and cricket tournaments, becoming a household name in the process. The technology and has also been used in soccer and snooker with a debate over its use in the former having existed for a number of years.

 

Naomi Climer, Vice-President Sony Europe, commented, “Hawk-Eye is recognised globally for its innovative solutions for resolving close calls in critical sporting situations, particularly in cricket and tennis where they have developed a worldwide reputation.”

 

“Players, officials and sports fans have all appreciated the accurate and entertaining way in which Hawk-Eye has integrated its technology into these key sports,” added Climer.

 

“Hawk-Eye presents Sony with the opportunity to acquire a small, innovative company with unique knowledge and excellent growth and synergies potential.

 

“It is an ideal complementary offering to Sony Professionals existing portfolio of solutions for stadiums, venues and broadcasters, as well as bringing in specific expertise around managed services and sports software solutions engineering.

 

“We see strong opportunities on the technological, business and marketing levels to further Sony’s leadership and engagement in the sports and broadcasting industry.”

The takeover includes all intellectual property, software solutions and engineering capabilities and Hawk-Eye and all of its staff will now join Sony Professional.

Istanbul’s 2020 bid for the Summer Olympic Games got a boost Wednesday when it was announced that Turkey will host the first-ever Turkish Golf Open November 7 to 10, 2013.

The new tournament will become the penultimate event on the European Tour schedule.

Ahmet Agaoglu, President of the Turkish Golf Federation said: “I am honoured to announce that starting from 7th November next year the first European Tour PGA event will take place in Turkey for three years up to and including 2015. There has never been a Turkish Open, and this will be an exciting start for this new tournament and it is our hope too that the players competing in this week’s Turkish Airlines World Golf Final will compete.”

Andrew Chandler, head of the UK-based International Sports Management (ISM), will run the tournament with Turkey.

He said: “This new Turkish Open will now tick a lot of boxes and with Turkey and Istanbul as a contender for the 2020 Olympic Games, this staging of the Turkish Open will help in that regard.”

Australia’s Nine Network is suffering because of the weak advertising market ahead of the London 2012 Olympics.

The advertising market as well as the expensive broadcasting rights and  high production costs.

Nine had targeted about (Aus) $ 140M of  advertising revenues.

TV network bosses predicted Nine would fall (Aus) $ 10M-$15M short of its advertising revenue target, and it has failed to sell all its planned sponsorship packages.

The Olympics shortfall is likely to be keenly observed by Nine’s hedge fund lenders, who hold more than half of the company’s senior debt.{jcomments on}

Andy Anson, former chief of England’s failed 2018 World Cup campaign, has remained tight-lipped over suggestions that he is close to being appointed as a non-executive director of the British Olympic Association (BOA).

Anson has been involved in various consultancy projects since the decision made by FIFA, December 2, that ended England’s hopes of staging the World Cup·for the first time since 1966.

Earlier this year the BOA advertised for two non-executive directors, one understood to be financial, the other commercial and according to The Guardian, Anson, a former Manchester United commercial director, is being hunted for his commercial expertise.

The BOA made a post-tax loss in 2008 of US$2.4m.

Anson, who would neither confirm nor deny his reported imminent BOA role, still believes the 2018 and 2022 World Cup corruption exposé orchestrated by elements of the English media ultimately did for England’s chances.