Tsunekazu Takeda, President of the Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC) and Tokyo 2020, was elected Thursday as a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Following the election Takeda said it was “an extremely humbling experience, and I would like to express my appreciation to the IOC for the responsibilities they have entrusted in me. I look forward to continue representing and promoting the Olympic Movement in Japan and throughout the world. I am determined to inspire and educate youth through sport, as there is no other universal language that better brings people together.”

In addition to his positions with the IOC, JOC and Tokyo 2020, Takeda is also President of The Olympians Association of Japan, Executive Board Member of the Olympic Council of Asia, and Honorary Vice President of the International Equestrian Federation.

Tokyo is one of three candidates bidding to host the 2020 Summer Olympic Games. His new position will add momentum to Tokyo’s bid.

iSportconnects’s Creative Partner and Creative agency The Forest Studio have recently expanded into North America and have opened their 2nd office in New York.

 

Creative Director, Karl Hudson said

“The move was an easy choice to make, having been back and forth to New York many times in the last two years, we knew there was an opportunity to build and develop on our current sports clients – at the point we made a few calls and x amount of presentations later, we signed a couple of deals which are cracking foundations upon which to build a US business…”

 

The Forest Studios currently work with Wasserman Media Group, Leaders, Grass Roots Football and Chelsea Football Club.

 

 

Vietnamese company, HAGL Group has expanded its football sponsorship portfolio with a new US$200,000 deal supporting the Lao Football Association.

Under the two-year deal, HAGL will help the Lao Football Association recruit a new coach for its national team. The company will also back a team called the ‘Hoang Anh Attapeu Football Club’ that will compete in the Lao Prime Minister Cup next month and in next year’s Lao League.

The company will also be a major sponsor of the Lao League from 2013.

The Chairman of HAGL, Doan Nguyen Duc, has supported football in Asia for several years.

Duc backed Laos’s national teams from 2008 to 2010 and played an important role in the SEA Games that, held in Vietnam in 2009. He has also help pay the salaries for key Lao football personnel and contributed funding for a football academy.{jcomments on}

 

The Rugby Football League (RFL) have announced the appointment of Gary Linke to the new position of Senior Commercial Manager.

Linke brings rich experience to Rugby League, prescription having spent 13 years with the Football League in the Commercial Department where he played an active role in delivering a number of high profile brands to the sport, including npower and Capital One.

RFL commercial director James Mercer, said: “It is a very exciting time for Rugby League with a raft of new commercial initiatives and we are delighted that Gary has joined as he is a highly-regarded individual with a proven track record in sponsorship and business development.

“He brings with him a wealth of experience and a significant number of relationships within the sports industry. We are looking forward to working with Gary to further enhance Rugby League’s commercial platform.”

Gary Linke said: “I am very excited to be joining the RFL at such an important time for the game, with the Stobart Super League and the Carnegie Challenge Cup driving record interest and the anticipation mounting ahead of the 2013 Rugby League World Cup here in the UK”.

Linke will be based at the RFL’s new London Office near King’s Cross.

-European fans against foreign owners in their domestic leagues-

European sports fans believe the match day experience is the lowest priority for club owners, generic with the majority claiming that ‘foreign owners do not have the best interests of their club at heart’, unhealthy according to new survey findings released today by Havas Sports & Entertainment, unhealthy organisers of the fourth annual Global Sports Forum Barcelona (GSFB), 7-9 March, 2012 – www.globalsportsforum.org.

In the survey sports fans ranked the ‘match day experience’ bottom in a list of club owners’ priorities behind: ‘selling merchandise’, ‘maximising ticket sales’, ‘signing sponsors’ and ‘winning matches’.

In addition 63.3% of respondents stated that they ‘don’t want foreign owners in their domestic league’, with 52.1% claiming that ‘foreign owners do not have the best interests of their club at heart’ and more than half (50.8%) worried that clubs would be left ‘in turmoil’ when a foreign owner leaves.

The research was carried out amongst sports fans across seven European markets as part of the GSFB’s focus on the Globalisation of sport.  Today’s findings, along with other topics affecting the sports industry, will be discussed by the Forum’s 1,000+ delegates, including leading rights holders, brand representatives, athletes and personalities from the world of sport. 

Lucien Boyer, Global President and CEO, Havas Sports & Entertainment and General Commissioner of the Global Sports Forum Barcelona, said:

“Technology and globalisation have helped more sports clubs reach a wider fan base, but all club owners must not forget their regular and dedicated fan base, who deserve the best possible match day experience.” 

“A club’s most committed and passionate supporters are an integral part of its identity and can be one of the main reasons why a club can gain global appeal.  Owners, whilst focussing on the team’s development on the pitch and commercial potential off it, must remember to keep its loyal fan base happy and work with them to grow the club.

 “It’s a crucial time for owners to balance the imperative for results with its relationship with fans and the long-term sustainability of its club.  That’s why we are staging a panel debate on ‘Football and Finance: the dangers ahead’ featuring Dan Jones, Partner, Sports Business Group at Deloitte and Philippe Rasmussen, Financial Fair Play Manager at UEFA on Thursday, 8 March.”

The Global Sports Forum Barcelona will take place in Palau de Congressos de Catalunya in Barcelona from 7 – 9 March.  Now in its fourth year, the GSFB continues to attract the sports industry’s leading figures, delegates from more than 50 countries set to attend.  LOCOG Chairman, Sebastian Coe, will be joined by leading brand and rights holder representatives, including Emmanuel Seugè, Head of Sport & Entertainment Marketing at Coca-Cola, Christophe Pillet, Design Director at Lacoste, and Thierry Weil, Marketing Director at FIFA.

UEFA has awarded SBS Discovery Media media rights in Denmark, Norway and Sweden for all European qualifying matches for UEFA EURO 2016 and the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

In Denmark, the national team’s matches will be aired on Kanal 5; Norwegian fans will be able to follow their country’s progress in the qualifying competitions on TV Norge and/or MAX; and qualifying games involving Sweden will be shown on a combination of Kanal 5 and another free-to-air channel to be confirmed in due course.

Recognising the value of the newly centralised rights, SBS Discovery Media will ensure that viewers in each territory also have access to live match programmes featuring key fixtures played by other countries. It will also broadcast comprehensive free-to-air highlights of games taking place on the same day as the respective national team match.

All fixtures will also be available in each territory via the internet and mobile.

In announcing the awarding of these rights, UEFA said: “We are very pleased to welcome SBS Discovery Media to the family of broadcasters which has embraced the new ‘Week of Football’ concept. The commitment made by SBS Discovery Media and the strength of the channels’ brands across the Scandinavian region combine to provide a powerful platform for the European Qualifiers.”

By Ismail Uddin

Kevin Payne, President and CEO of MLS’ D.C. United has suggested South American Football Confederation’s (CONMEBOL) decision to award USA the Copa America in 2016 may have been motivated by the huge American television market.

Speaking exclusively to iSportconnect, Payne said: “I’m not sure why COMNEBOL has taken this decision, but I assume at least part of it is aimed at the potential of the American television market, specifically, and the soccer market, generally.

CONMEBOL awarded the event to the United States who have never hosted the spectacle. The Copa America marks it centenary in 2016.

Payne added: “I’m not sure how this strategy will work — I’m sure certain teams and matches will be high demand, like any match with Argentina (assuming Messi is playing).  I’m not sure, however, that Venezuela-Peru has the same appeal.  They’d be better off working with Major League Soccer and soccer specific stadia for the earlier rounds, considering larger stadia for specific games and the final.”

Britain’s Sir Craig Reedie, a member of the London Olympics organising committee board, was elected as an International Olympic Committee vice-president on Thursday along with Nawal El Moutawakel.

Sir Craig exclusively told iSportconnect: “To be elected as a Vice President of the International Olympic Committee is the greatest possible honour at any time – but from a personal point of view the honour is greatly enhanced to be elected in London before the Olympic Games which have been such a wonderful project for me for many years.”

Reedie, 71, a top class badminton player in his youth, lobbied successfully for the sport’s introduction at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.

Moroccan Nawal El Moutawakel, 50, who won the inaugural women’s 400 metres hurdles gold medal at the 1984 Los Angeles Games, was elected to the other vacant vice-president’s position.

El Moutawakel, who four years ago became the first woman from a Muslim nation voted onto the executive board, now becomes the first to reach the vice presidency.

“I am deeply honored,” said El Moutawakel, who heads the IOC’s coordination commission for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. “I will continue to promote the Olympic movement with passion and devotion and energy. You can count on me.”

Sir Craig also was the main feature on iSportconnect’s e-magazine. Click here to go to the e-magazine

Discuss with Sir Craig Reedie about his new appointment here>>

1	Giles Clarke Nominated to be Re-elected as ECB Chairman	Wednesday, 29 February 2012
2	Circuit of the Americas Appoint a Host of Personnel	Tuesday, 28 February 2012
3	Former Everton Chief Becomes Cricket Holdings America CEO	Monday, 27 February 2012
4	Rangers COO & Director of Football to Leave Club	Friday, 24 February 2012
5	Squash Star Sue Wright Becomes Ambassador to London 2012 Legacy Programme Sport Makers	Thursday, 23 February 2012
6	IOC Vice President Mario Pescante Quits Over Failed Rome 2020 Bid	Wednesday, 22 February 2012
7	USA Triathlon Employ Jonathan Hall to Fill Performance Leader Position	Tuesday, 21 February 2012
8	Niall Quinn Quits Sunderland Position	Monday, 20 February 2012
9	Rio 2016 Left Flummoxed after Double Resignation	Monday, 20 February 2012
10	IMG Media Appoint Tim Lacy as Executive Producer of Digital Production	Monday, 20 February 2012
11	Phoenix Suns Charities Appoint Tim Benter to Board of Directors	Thursday, 16 February 2012
12	Les Snead Becomes New General Manager of St Louis Rams	Wednesday, 15 February 2012
13	Former CEO of MetLife Stadium Mark Lamping Becomes President of Jacksonville Jaguars	Tuesday, 14 February 2012
14	ESPN Promote Jamie Horowitz to Vice President of Original Programming and Production	Tuesday, 14 February 2012
15	Issa Hayatou to Remain CAF President	Monday, 13 February 2012
16	San Francisco 49ers Promote Gideon Yu to President, GM Baalke’s Contract Extended	Monday, 13 February 2012
17	UKA’s Ed Warner Becomes Chairman of London 2017 Committee	Thursday, 09 February 2012
18	Asian Tour Appoints Former ESPN Star Sports Executive as CEO	Thursday, 09 February 2012
19	OPLC Chair Baroness Margaret Ford to Step Down after London 2012	Wednesday, 08 February 2012
20	Pac-12 Conference Agree Contract Extension with Commissioner Larry Scott	Tuesday, 07 February 2012
21	ASOIF President Denis Oswald Quits Clearing Path for Successor	Thursday, 02 February 2012
22	Former Olympic Gold Medallist Becomes Sports Director for Tokyo 2020 Bid	Thursday, 02 February 2012
23	WWE Appoint Eric Pankowski as Senior Vice President of Creative & Development	Thursday, 02 February 2012
24	United Football League Commissioner Michael Huyghue Resigns	Wednesday, 01 February 2012
25	Karen Webb Leaves OPLC to Become Independent Consultant to Westfield	Monday, 30 January 2012

The Arizona IMG Sports Network announced that Fox Sports 910 will be the new radio partner for all University of Arizona Wildcat football and men’s basketball games in the Phoenix market.

Joe Moeller, illness General Manager of Arizona IMG Sports Marketing, order commented on the new partnership: “Creating a new partnership with Fox Sports 910, viagra without prescription a 24/7 sports station, provides the Arizona IMG Sports Network an even more valuable platform for our partners and fans alike in the Phoenix market. Arizona fans and future Wildcats alike will not only be able to enjoy our live network broadcasts, they will also be able to hear from our athletic director, coaches and student-athletes nearly every day of the year.”

Scott Hopeck, President, Phoenix Market, Clear Channel Media and Entertainment, said of the deal: “Teaming up with the Arizona Wildcats to provide full University of Arizona football and men’s basketball coverage is a significant addition to our new Fox Sports 910 brand. We are happy to serve the large base of fans and alumni who now have a new radio home where they can follow their Wildcats anywhere in the Valley. This is Wildcat Country and the new Fox Sports 910 is the Voice of Arizona Sports.”

All weekly football and men’s basketball coaches’ shows will be aired on the Clear Channel station.