Irish broadcaster TV3 has secured Irish media rights to the Rugby World Cup 2015.

The free-to-air broadcaster was appointed after a highly-competitive process for the rights and the deal represents a record financial commitment for the Irish market.

Under the terms of the deal, denture TV3 will manage the broadcast of live coverage of all 48 matches and will also deliver a TV, digital and mobile highlights offering.

The announcement comes at an exciting time for Irish Rugby following the national team’s recent 6 Nations success.

With anticipation building ahead of an England 2015 tournament that promises to raise the bar on and off the field, the deal also represents a further boost for event preparations.

RWCL Managing Director Brett Gosper said: “Ireland has traditionally been a strong and passionate Rugby market and we are delighted to be appointing a broadcaster that shares our enthusiasm for Rugby and for our showcase event.”

“TV3 plays a major role in the promotion of sport in Ireland and we are excited by the station’s innovative plans to broadcast Rugby World Cup 2015. We look forward to working in partnership to deliver an exciting experience for sports fans in Ireland.”

RWCL Head of Commercial, Broadcast and Marketing Murray Barnett said: “We are excited about our broadcast offering for England 2015, which is on track to deliver a record number of broadcasters, live hours and digital coverage that will maximise exposure and engagement.”

TV3 Group CEO David McRedmond said: “This is tremendous news for TV3. We are quite sure that Rugby World Cup will be the stand out sporting event for Irish people in 2015 and we can hardly wait to follow the progress of the Irish team.”

Last week saw the fourth and final edition of the Soccerex European Forum held in Manchester. As with every edition so far, allergy the Forum was hugely successful, unhealthy | with this year’s addition attracting 1,600 delegates made up of senior federation and government representatives, clubs, rights holders, brands and true footballing legends, a mix that can’t be found at any other football business event in Europe.

The event helped set the industry’s agenda with UEFA General Secretary Gianni Infantino announcing a number of exclusive initiatives including proposing a minimum 10-match ban for any player found guilty of racism and potential stadium closures for the clubs involved. 2018 FIFA World Cup^TMLOC Deputy CEO Alexander Djordjadze confirmed that the tournament will feature visa-free entry for ticket-holders travelling to Russia, but also free travel on trains and buses for supporters moving in and between host cities.

The Football Association, led by Chairman David Bernstein, played an extremely important role in this year’s Forum, not only hosting a special “FA150 Lounge” for VIPs but also providing a number of speakers including England Manager Roy Hodgson, Club England Managing Director Adrian Bevington and a closing address by the FA Chairman.

In a stand-out conference programme a session moderated by Guillem Balague, Edwin van der Sar, Gaizka Mendieta, Edu Gaspar and Ledley King insightfully and openly discussed the separate journeys they have gone on throughout their careers and the challenges that some of them have had in adapting to life after football.

The workshops at this year’s Forum were extremely successful with packed sessions by Repucom, 20.20, the Royal Belgian Football Association and Huggity, as well key development sessions by high profile delegations including Brazil, India, Manchester and Swansea. The significant rise of social media in football was highlighted by an industry setting presentation from Head of Sport for Twitter UK, Lewis Wiltshire and a tremendously popular workshop on ‘Monetising social media’ by AS Roma, AC Milan and Eurosport, which had delegates queuing through the door to watch. This enthusiasm was reflected during the Forum itself when #Soccerex was trending number 1 to over 10million active users in the UK.

As usual, Soccerex is still the only football business brand in the world that attracts true legends of the game with Sir Bobby Charlton, Steven Gerrard, Eusebio, Joe Hart, Michael Owen, Roy Hodgson, Gordon Strachan, Ossie Ardiles, Bryan Robson, Phil Thompson, Kevin Keegan, Gary Neville, Edwin van der Sar, Ledley King, Edu Gaspar, Gaizka Mendieta, Denis Law, Mike Summerbee, Ali Al-Habsi, Joe Jordan and Gordon McQueen all in attendance at the Forum.

Commenting on the Forum, Soccerex CEO Duncan Revie said: “The last four years in Manchester have proven enormously successful for everyone involved, with this year’s edition surpassing all expectations. We have consistently brought the biggest names in European football together, creating a fantastic learning and networking experience that cannot be matched anywhere else in the industry. We’re now looking forward to Rio and our final Global Convention in the city this November, before returning to Soccerex’s birthplace, Manchester where the Global Convention will be hosted from 2014-2017.”

Marketing Manchester Chief Executive Andrew Stokes said: “The Soccerex European Forum has been an integral part of our strategy to position Manchester as a major destination for football business. This year’s event was an incredible achievement for everyone involved and laid the perfect foundation for Manchester to host the Global Convention starting in September 2014.”

For further information about Soccerex please call +44 (0)208 987 5522 or visit http://www.soccerex.com

Annecy 2018 has received official backing of the French-speaking world in its bid to host the Winter Olympics and Paralympics ahead of next month’s vote.

The support came during the latest Ministerial session of CONFEJES – the Conference of Ministers for Youth and Sport from States and Governments with French as a common language – held in Ndjamena, Chad.

The motion, which was passed with unanimous support, said: “The Conference of Ministers supports France and calls on all its members and those of the International Francophone Organisation to support the Annecy bid – the only French-speaking bid – to host the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games,” 

President of Annecy 2018, Charles Beigbeder, was delighted to receive the backing from CONFEJES.

He said: “It is important for us to have received this unanimous support from CONFEJES.

“We believe Games in France will offer the Olympic Movement an authentic global platform to promote its values. 

“This support is a real boost for us and our team will be doing everything possible in the final days of the campaign to bring the 2018 Games to Annecy to help benefit Olympism all over the world.”

The London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) have announced that a London-based design studio has been appointed to design the Olympic and Paralympic Torches.

The torch, which will be used for the 70-day Olympic Torch Relay, when 8,000 Torchbearers will carry the Olympic Flame across the UK ahead of the Olympic Games Opening Ceremony, with designers Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby having been chosen to design the Torch.

Sebastian Coe, Chair of LOCOG said: “The Olympic Flame will literally shine a light on inspiring people, places and 2012 Games projects and programmes right across the UK as communities begin their Olympic celebrations with the Torch Relay.

“95 per cent of the UK population will be within a one hour journey time of the Olympic Torch Relay and we are now developing the Torch which will be one of the key visual icons of the London Olympic Games.”

Based in Hackney, less than four miles from the Olympic Park, the designers were selected by LOCOG and the Design Council after a competitive tender process last year.

They are also working on design aspects for the Paralympic Torch Relay that will take place between the close of the Olympic Games and the start of the Paralympic Games in August 2012.

Indian broadcaster Sony Six has acquired the broadcasting rights to the Red Bull Air Race World Championship.

The channel will have sole television rights across the subcontinent. The acquisition also marks the inaugural broadcast of the series for the first time ever across Indian television screens. As the onset to the sport going live for Indian viewers, asthma the series leads to its maiden visit to Croatia this Sunday 13 April 2014.

The World Championship features 12 pilots from across the globe. The reigning champion from the last world championship Paul Bonhomme of the United Kingdom is also in the mix and will be looking to defend his title.

Scottish Gymnastics (SG) have announced Brian Samson will take up the role as interim CEO from 13th May 2013. 

SG said in a staement: “Brian is a former Director of Sportscotland and had played a large role in the development of Sportscotland Regional Sporting Partnerships and recently has experience of similar interim  positions with Cycling(CEO) and Snow Sport(Chair).”

“One of Brian’s first tasks will be to create Scottish Gymnastics 2013/2014 annual business plan. 

“We welcome Brian to Scottish Gymnatics.”

PyeongChang’s bid to host the 2018 Winter Games has received a welcome boost after it was confirmed that South Korean President Lee Myung-bak is to show his support for the campaign by attending the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session in Durban next month.

South Africa’s Sam Ramsamy, who is also a member of the IOC, revealed that Lee will be attending the event that is due to begin on July 4 with the vote to decide which city should host the Games scheduled for July 6.

The news follows the confirmation that German President Christian Wulff will also be present to lobby for Munich at the Session, though it remains unclear if French President Nicolas Sarkozy would attend to back the Annecy bid.

Last month Lee claimed it would be a “national disgrace” if Pyeongchang were beaten for a third consecutive time having previously narrowly lost to Vancouver to host the 2010 Winter Olympics and Sochi for 2014.

Ramsamy stated: “The cities are expected to bring huge bid delegations and the winning host city will be elected in a secret IOC ballot on July 6.

“We have already had confirmation that German and South Korean Presidents are also expected to be in Durban to support their country’s bids.

“This event is the biggest biannual meeting of leaders in global sport. 

“Having been born in Durban, this is indeed a great delight and honour that we can host such a high profile event in this city.

“In the 117 years of the IOC, this event has never been hosted in Africa. 

“To host this event in our country and knowing how cities and countries vie to host the IOC Session, Durban is certainly fortunate.

“This gives me an opportunity to personally welcome my colleagues to the city where I was born.”

A comprehensive venue testing programme has been revealed by the London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) to ensure that everything from results, health scoring, timing systems, operational procedures and field tests, are working correctly for next year’s Games.

The programme consists of international invitational events delivered by LOCOG, international federation events, and international events organised by sports national governing bodies and other organisations.

Chairman of LOCOG Seb Coe, stated: “Our approach to operational delivery is similar to that of an athlete.   You do not want to face any conditions at competition time that you have not prepared for. When the world’s greatest Olympic and Paralympic athletes come to London in the summer of 2012, every aspect of our delivery needs to be the best it can be.”

Some of the events involved with testing will form part of UK Sport’s world class events programme, with the body having worked closely alongside LOCOG on the programme. The world class events programme invests National Lottery funding to help stage major international sporting events in the UK. 

Liz Nicholl, chief executive of UK Sport, added: “UK Sport’s world class events programme has been preparing Britain’s sports and elite athletes for their home Games in London for the past five years, so it is fantastic to be supporting LOCOG’s testing programme at this crucial time.” 

The testing programme begins with the Bupa London Marathon on 30th May and runs all the way through to May 2012.