Munich, rival bidders to the PyeongChang and Annecy efforts to win the right to host the 2018 Winter Games, have received a timely boost to their bid prospects after announcing an agreement welcoming on board five new ‘Friends of the Bid’.

The new deals mean that the Bid Committee has now signed a combined total of 21 partnership agreements.The five new ‘Freinds’ include aeronautics giant EADS, City Partner München, Eventpool, JMT Mietmöbel and United Ambient Media.

Managing director of Munich 2018, Jürgen Bühl stated: “The commitment by these five new ‘Friends of the Bid’ demonstrates that local, national and international businesses can see the wealth of opportunities that hosting the Winter Games would generate: not only for their own businesses, but for their entire industries. In addition to financial support, these businesses are pledging to contribute their expertise, ideas and products to Munich 2018’s bid.”

John Kelly has been announced as the new Chief Operating Officer of Football Federation Australia (FFA). 

Kelly has been promoted to the new role after joining FFA as the Chief Financial Officer in January 2012. Previously, he spent a decade in senior executive roles with Ten Network Holdings.

During FFA’s broadcast negotiations last year with FOX SPORTS, SBS and Foxtel, Kelly played a leading role in securing arrangements that will deliver $160 million of economic value of the next four years.

FFA CEO David Gallop said the creation of the COO role and the appointment of John Kelly were the first steps in a restructure aimed at giving FFA a greater focus on implementation of strategies and operational efficiency.

“John Kelly has vast experience in corporate finance and executive administration within the sports and entertainment industry,” Gallop said.

“His significant role in the successful broadcast negotiations was acknowledged by all parties. In my first 100 days in the job John’s sharp business and financial acumen have been demonstrated on a wide range of major projects beyond his finance portfolio.

“I’m delighted John has accepted this important role as COO and I look forward to working closely with him to make FFA a better organisation for all our stakeholders.”

As the COO, Kelly will retain responsibility for finance and assume control of international and domestic broadcast and digital rights, information and communications technology, major event acquisition and stadium hiring arrangements.

He will have a formal co-ordination role over major projects that cover a range of new business opportunities for the benefit of community football and the professional tier.

“I’m grateful to David Gallop for giving me this new opportunity and having confidence in my ability,” Kelly said.

“My first year at FFA has given me a great insight to the football world. I’m tremendously excited by the growth I’ve seen this season and the opportunities ahead. As COO, I look forward to the challenge of delivering business improvements across a wide range of activities.”

Soccerex has announced that David Davies OBE has joined the business as a senior consultant.

With a long and distinguished career in the sports industry, which saw him awarded an OBE in 2006, he is one of the most well known and respected football administrators in the game. He served English football for almost 13 years as Executive Director and Head of International Development at The Football Association.

Since his retirement from The FA in 2006, shop David has maintained and developed his top network of contacts in every continent, matching Soccerex’s global business reach and reputation. He is regularly invited to assist national associations, confederations and clubs with reform and reorganisation programmes. Alongside this, David works closely with organisations that are committed to using the power of football for social development. As one of the founder supporters of London 2012, he is currently working with others to ensure the international legacy of the Olympics and Paralympics.

David is also known for his long standing broadcasting career which continues with BBC Television, Radio 5Live and Sky News.

He commented today: “I am thrilled to have been asked to assist Soccerex who have an enviable reputation around the world for bringing together the global leaders of the game that I love. The name Soccerex is recognised in every continent, and I look forward to a long relationship with its events wherever they may be held.”

Remarking on the announcement, Soccerex CEO Duncan Revie had this to say: “I am overjoyed that David has decided to join Soccerex. To have one of the most respected men in world football working with us is a huge honour and he will undoubtedly open up new opportunities for us around the world. His experience in both the football and media industries is a massive asset for us and we’re excited to be working with him in growing the strength of the Soccerex brand around the world.”

IMG Media have announced today that they have secured the in-flight and in-ship media rights from the International Olympic Association (IOC) for the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics which runs from February 7-23.

The deal includes live coverage on Sport 24, pills | the 24/7 live sports channel produced and distributed by IMG Media exclusively for the in-flight and in-ship markets.

In total, view there will be more than 60 hours of coverage from Sochi on Sport 24, with nearly 50 hours live, including all the main men’s and women’s skiing and snowboarding events and the opening and closing ceremonies.

Richard Wise, Senior Vice President, IMG Media said: “The Sochi Olympics is the pinnacle for winter sports athletes and the Games promises to be a feast of top action.  We are delighted that we will be growing the global audience for such a prestigious event to include passengers in the air and on the seas, through our relationships with airlines and cruise liners and our live Sport 24 channel.”

Vincent Chupin, Vice President of Television and Audio visual rights at IOC Television and Marketing, said: “Our broadcast objective is to reach the widest possible global audience with each edition of the Olympic Games. By working with IMG Media we are pleased we will also be able to bring extensive and live daily coverage of the Sochi Games to audiences on airlines and ships worldwide.”

Other live action to be shown during 2014 on Sport 24 also includes coverage from the Barclays Premier League, all four golf majors and all four tennis Grand Slams, as well as the ATP 1000 events and Finals, F1, the Bundesliga and the Giro d’Italia.

Football Federation Australia (FFA) today announced that Major League Soccer (MLS) senior executive Russell Sargeant will join the Hyundai A-League as General Manager of Operations. 

Reporting to Head of Hyundai A-League Damien de Bohun, viagra 100mg Sargeant will lead the FFA League Operations team, managing Hyundai A-League competition administration and services.

Sargeant brings a wealth of experience to the role after holding key positions in MLS (2005-2013), San Jose Earthquakes (2003-2005) and international sports administration and marketing.

Currently a Senior Director with MLS and Soccer United Marketing, Sargeant will return to his home country Australia following a 12 year stint in the US working in professional sport.

“We welcome Russell to the team and look forward to taking advantage of his wealth of experience in sports marketing and administration with MLS,” FFA CEO David Gallop said.

“FFA is in a phase of detailed implementation of its strategic plan for the A-League. The recruitment of an executive who has been successful in both implementing strategy and building football in a nation with similar characteristics as Australia is another forward step in our growth story.”

Kathy Carter, President of Soccer United Marketing, MLS’ commercial arm, attested to Sargeant’s positive impact on the growth football.

“During more than a decade of commitment to MLS and our commercial arm Soccer United Marketing, Russell has played an instrumental role in the growth of Major League Soccer and the sport of football in the United States and Canada,” Carter said.

“His combination of vision, relationship management skills, and passion for our sport make Russell a valuable asset to any growing football property. While we are sorry to see him leave our organisation, I am confident that Russell will have an incredibly positive impact on the A-League and the growth of football in Australia.”

Sargeant, a former Manly junior football player, thanked FFA for the opportunity to return to Australia to continue working in the sport closest to his heart.

“I’d like to thank David, Damien, and the entire management team at FFA for the opportunity to join the Hyundai A-League at such an exciting time in the league’s development,” Sargeant said.

“I look forward to working with that team, with all of the A-League clubs, and with the entire football community to ensure that the Hyundai A-League continues to plays its critical role in establishing Australia as a world-class football nation.”

Sargeant will commence his role as General Manager, Hyundai A-League Operations in March.

The 2018 Winter Olympics Bid of PyeongChang has received further backing ahead of this year’s decision from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on who will host the quadrennial event.

Approximately US$450,000 has been donated to the Bid Committee by Hyundai Motors Group, with a message promising support until the 2018 host city decision.

The Korean Association of Newspapers (KAN), an organisation that has 47 members comprised of daily newspapers and a news agency, has also agreed a sponsorship agreement which offers PyeongChang 2018 exposure via the member media outlets for the remainder of the bid campaign.

PyeongChang 2018 chairman and CEO, Yang Ho Cho stated: “On behalf of the PyeongChang 2018 Bid Committee, I would like to express great appreciation for the committed support from the Hyundai Motor Group and KAN. Their support and the nation’s passionate backing for our bid gives us an extra boost as we prepare for the important International Olympic Committee Evaluation Commission visit to PyeongChang next month.”