Four-time Olympian Jackie Joyner-Kersee is one of three new members added to the USA Track and Field’s board of directors.
Joyner-Kersee, ambulance who won three gold, search one silver and two bronze medals at the Olympics, was named to the board Monday, along with sports attorney Eve Wright and network television executive Mickey Carter.
The board also elected current member Steve Miller to the position of vice chairman.
Soccerex are pleased to announce MATCH Services AG as their official travel and accommodation partner for the Soccerex Global Convention taking place in the stunning city of Rio de Janeiro, generic Brazil from 26-30 November, find 2011.
Specialist professional service company MATCH have been appointed by FIFA to provide travel and accommodation solutions alongside ticketing, hospitality and tourist packages for footballs major tournaments including the 2014 FIFA World Cup TM; they previously provided the aforementioned services for the FIFA Confederations Cup South Africa 2009, 2010 FIFA World Cup TM South Africa and the FIFA Confederations Cup 2013.
‘Their logistical expertise coupled with their knowledge of the football industry makes MATCH the perfect partners to help our delegates travel to Brazil and source accommodation for their stay during the Soccerex Global Convention. The fact they are appointed by FIFA testifies to the quality of their organisation and affirms the level of service delegates can expect to receive’ explains Soccerex CEO, Duncan Revie.
Over 4000 delegates will attend the Global Convention this year, including representatives from clubs, brands, sponsors, host cities, leagues and federations, government bodies, leading infrastructure suppliers, agencies, international media and many more.
The five day event will include a comprehensive conference line up, a packed exhibition, numerous networking opportunities and a two day Football Festival, all taking place between Forte de Copacabana and Copacabana beach.
For further information about this event please call +44 (0)208 742 7100 or visit www.soccerex.com/global
Soccerex Global Convention
26-30 November 2011
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
If you would like to know more information about this event and other future Soccerex events please visit http://www.soccerex.com // call: +44 (0)208 742 7100 // email:enquiry@soccerex.com
Sportsnet’s The Score has announced it has reached a two-year multiplatform agreement with FIBA, generic the International Basketball Federation, for the rights to eight marquee FIBA events across television, online, and mobile.
The new agreement, which begins now and runs through 2014, features the following premier men’s and women’s FIBA events: 2013 Americas Championship, 2013 U19 World Championship, 2014 Basketball World Cup and 2014 U17 Basketball World Cup.
“We’re in a golden age of basketball in Canada. We are the country to watch for future basketball stars and this new partnership with FIBA provides a tremendous opportunity to showcase home-grown talent to Canadians,” said Navaid Mansuri, Vice-President, Programming, Sportsnet. “The Score has always been at the forefront of basketball and amateur athletics in Canada, and the addition of these events ensures that Canadians will be able to see more world-class hoops action than ever before.”
FIBA action tips off on The Score with the men’s and women’s U19 Americas Championship beginning on June 27 and July 18, respectively, and continuing with the men’s and women’s Americas Championship beginning on August 30 and September 27, respectively. These are important tournaments for Canada’s teams, as they look to secure spots in the 2014 Basketball World Cup.
Inter Milan have announced that Chinese investors are to become the second-largest shareholder group in the Sere A club and will help fund a new stadium.
The deal will see Inter president Massimo Moratti retain overall control of the club. A subsidiary of China Railway Construction Corporation, symptoms a major transport and construction company, cialis will hold a 15% stake and provide engineering expertise and investment for a stadium.
Inter hope their new home can be completed by 2017, while the China Railway link-up is also intended to promote the club in Asia.
“Internazionale Holding announces that it has reached an agreement which envisages the acquisition of a stake in FC Internazionale by a group of Chinese investors,’ a club statement said.
“The Moratti family will keep the control of the company, while the group of Chinese investors will became the second-largest shareholder.”
The statement said the search for a suitable site for the new stadium would begin in the next few weeks, adding: “The parties will jointly select the potentially suitable locations, define the project team and start the filing process to obtain the required authorisations.’
Moratti told Sky Sport 24: “In China, Indonesia, in all these places… there are many fans, and we believe that this agreement could have multiple benefits from this point of view.
“It will be an important statement commercially, given the number of fans and the level of interest in that region.’ He added that he had “had the idea about a new stadium for some time, and now it can be realised”.
Jockey Club Racecourses (JCR), look the largest racecourse group in British horseracing has announced today the appointment of Stephen Wallis to a new senior role of Group Director of International and Racing Relations.
Wallis has been Managing Director of JCR’s Newmarket Racecourses since 2007 and prior to that Managing Director of fellow JCR course Epsom Downs Racecourse, which he joined in 1994.
Paul Fisher, Group Managing Director of Jockey Club Racecourses, said: “It is becoming increasingly important for our business to build the strongest possible relations with all of racing’s key parties, at home and overseas. Jockey Club Racecourses will benefit hugely from using Stephen’s experience and knowledge on a Group-wide basis, listening, learning and acting for the good of our sport.
“In practical terms, we want Stephen to get out there, ensuring the best horses are running in our flagship events, through to encouraging all Horsemen to support our racedays in return for the industry-leading contributions we make to British racing. He will be asking many people in the racing industry what more Jockey Club Racecourses can do for them.
“We are grateful for the telling contribution he has made to Newmarket Racecourses and British racing as a whole in these past four years, which we believe will continue to pay dividends in the future.”
Wallis commented on his appointment: “After 18 years in day-to-day racecourse management, I’m excited about taking up this new challenge. I’m immensely proud to have run Newmarket Racecourses and would like to thank my colleagues and the racing community for the support they gave me during my tenure there.
“I am really looking forward to my new role and the progressive development of Jockey Club Racecourses, who in turn, have been unbelievably supportive to me over the last few months as I’ve been recovering from illness.”
Julian Richmond-Watson, Chairman of Newmarket Racecourses, added: “On behalf of the directors and staff, I would like to thank Stephen for his excellent contribution as well as the dedication he has shown to Newmarket Racecourses. His knowledge of the sport and his enthusiasm for the Home of Horseracing will be greatly missed by us all.
“I cannot think of anyone better qualified or suited to this exciting new role within The Jockey Club and at Newmarket we look forward to working closely with him in improving International and UK racing relations where we wish him every success.”
A recruitment process will now be launched to appoint a new Managing Director of Newmarket Racecourses. The course’s Finance Director, Gary Tate, will continue to operate as Acting Managing Director during this process.
CBC/Radio-Canada, buy order the official rights holder broadcaster of the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games, order and TVA Sports announce that an agreement has been reached to provide TVA Sports access to broadcast portions of CBC/Radio-Canada-produced Olympic programming during Sochi 2014 in French.
“In acquiring the broadcast rights to the Sochi Olympics, arthritis one of CBC/Radio-Canada’s primary objectives was to connect as many Canadians as possible with this unparalleled sporting event.” said CBC/Radio-Canada executive vice-president Louis Lalande. “Our agreement with TVA Sports represents a major milestone in helping us achieve that objective,”
“We’re very proud that the TVA Sports network was chosen to be one of CBC/Radio-Canada’s Official Cable Broadcasters and actively involved in presenting the largest sporting event on the planet. TVA Sports will be giving viewers the opportunity to get an up-close look at this major international competition and follow how Canada’s and Quebec’s athletes fare in their Olympic disciplines,” adds TVA Group’s president and CEO Pierre Dion.
“We’re pleased to have extended our relationship with TVA Sports as they become an Official Cable Broadcaster for Sochi 2014,” said Jeffrey Orridge, Head of Sports Properties and General Manager, Olympics at CBC/Radio-Canada. “This agreement provides an even greater opportunity for Canadians to enjoy every minute of the Olympic experience in either official language.”
Port Vale have are in talks with other interested parties after Keith Ryder’s proposed takeover failed to complete on Monday.
A statement on the club’s official website from Bob Young, a representative from Begbies-Traynor acting on behalf of Port Vale, confirmed that Ryder remains a potential candidate to take over at Vale Park, but that they are now offering the opportunity to other groups.
Young said: “We feel that we have given Keith every opportunity to complete and it is regrettable that this hasn’t happened.
“We initially gave him a deadline of the end of June, which was then extended to July 6.
“We are now offering the opportunity to buy the club to other groups.”
John Steele, has become the new chief executive of the Youth Sport Trust (YST) following his departure as head of the Rugby Football Union (RFU), it has been announced today.
He replaces Steve Grainger who quit as the YST’s last March after he was, ironically, headhunted by Steele to be the new rugby development director at the RFU.
Since Grainger left Baroness Sue Campbell had been the acting chief executive but she has now returned to her previous role as chair.
The main task for Steele, who is due to officially take up his new position on February 6, will be to oversee the new School Games, the Government’s flagship school sport policy, which is supported by Sainsbury’s, which is due to take place at several venues on the Olympic Park in May.
“It is an absolute privilege to be appointed chief executive of the Youth Sport Trust,” said Steele, a former player, coach and director of Premiership rugby club Northampton Saints
“I have often looked on with admiration at the work of the Youth Sport Trust and a large part of my motivation for joining the organisation is it’s exceptional record of delivery and expertise.
“I passionately believe that sport has a crucial part to play in the development of young people and I look forward to taking up this new challenge.
“Leading an organisation which is playing such an important role within this country’s sporting landscape is an honour.
“In this, the Olympic and Paralympic year, we simply must ensure that every young person has the opportunity to take part in more PE and sport.
“We have seen such dramatic improvements in school sport over the last decade and 2012 has to be a catalyst to drive these improvements further.
“Whilst understanding the tough economic position the country is in, if we are to capitalise on this sporting moment it is critical that there is the investment and infrastructure in place to support those young people who are inspired by sport.”
The appointment is no surprise as Campbell is also the chair of UK Sport, where she had recruited Steele as chief executive in 2005 just a few days before London were awarded the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics.
He had earned widespread praise for his work there before he left in June 2010 to replace Francis Baron as chief executive of the RFU.
But he left the RFU a year later following an internal row over the appointment of new performance director, which most people believed should go to Sir Clive Woodward, the coach when England won the World Cup in 2003 and who is now working for the British Olympic Association.
“We are delighted to welcome John to the Youth Sport Trust at what is a truly exciting time for the organisation.” said Campbell.
“John brings a wealth of experience that will be invaluable in supporting us to shape the future of school sport and ensure that every young person has the opportunity to take part, compete, lead and volunteer in sport.
“We have given careful consideration to this position and have been extremely impressed by the strong list of candidates that we received.
“This reflects the importance that so many rightly put on school sport and the role it has to play in the development of the nation’s youth.”
AISTS (International Academy of Sports Science and Technology) announces this year’s final three Executive MBA in Sports Admistration & Technology modules. The Fall Modules series will kick off in October with a 2 day module (20 and 21 October 2011) on Ethics & Governance lead by Professor Müller from the Universities of Lausanne and Geneva. The module will analyse how sports organisations can play an active role in the fight against the problems faced by the sports industry such as illegal and irregular sport betting activities, arthritis doping, price buy money laundering, abortion corruption.
The second module in the series will be the Sports Technology & Innovations module (7-10 November 2011) lead by Professor Jan Anders Månson (EPFL), expert in his field. This module will provide participants the opportunity to learn about the fundamentals and trends in material sciences and new technologies driving trend breaking technologies but also analyse the objectives, advantages, challenges, opportunities and dangers that come with the use of sports technologies.
Finally, after its success last year, the 4 day module on Leadership & Decision Making will take place for the second year in a row (24-25 November 2011 and & 2-3 December 2011) aimed at improving participants’ leadership skills. This module will include teaching on the current state of scientific knowledge on organisational behaviour and discuss how this knowledge can be practically applied to real world situations within sports organisations. Dr Samuel Bendahan AISTS and EPFL Senior Lecturer and Research Fellow at INSEAD will lead the module.
The programme of the modules was designed by academics who are experts in their fields. Participants can expect to be taken through the most recent theories and discuss current relevant topics. Each module will be taught via lectures given by the modules’ scientific heads together with prominent guest lecturers and also allow for questions/answers and interaction between participants through case studies, presentations and discussions. To access the detailed programme of each module please click here.
“The modules will be highly interactive and challenging, the goal is for every candidate to bring in and share his or her own experience, as we expect participants from diverse organisations with different roles, the exchange and learning experience will be rich” says AISTS Executive Director Dr Claude Stricker.
The modules are available for open enrolment and welcome between 15 and 20 participants in senior positions. Package prices for group registrations or discounts for multiple registrations are available on request.
For more information on the modules click here , to register please email info@aists.org or fill out the registration form
Major League Soccer (MLS) and NBC Sports Group today announced a new, allergist day-in-the-life series, MLS 36.
The first episode, featuring MLS scoring-leader Chris Wondolowski of the San Jose Earthquakes as he prepares for the 2012 AT&T MLS All-Star Game in Philadelphia, will premiere Sunday, August 5, at 9:30 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network. MLS 36 will follow the three previous successful 36 series Fight Night 36, IndyCar 36 and NHL 36 which currently air on NBC Sports Network.
Capturing an in-depth and exclusive behind-the-scenes look into the life of this MLS superstar, MLS 36 takes viewers into Wondolowski’s world for 36 straight hours as he and his fellow MLS All-Stars prepare to take on current European champions, Chelsea FC, in the AT&T MLS All-Star Game at PPL Park in Chester, Pa. The 30-minute episode will grant unparalleled access and give unique insight into Wondolowski’s life as a professional soccer player, and his goal that opened the scoring in the All-Stars’ 3-2 victory last week.
“We are thrilled to partner with NBC Sports Group for a series that will provide compelling insight into the personalities and lifestyles of our top players,” said Howard Handler, MLS chief marketing officer. “In each chapter, MLS 36 will chronicle a day and a half of activity at home, on the field and everywhere in between.”
In the editorial foreground of this television venture is the Emmy award-winning 441 Productions, a company which has produced such shows as “Road Trip,” a two-part series that shadowed the 2003 U.S. Women’s Soccer Team in its quest to reclaim the World Cup.
On Friday, August 10 at 10:30 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network will air the second episode of MLS 36, which will depict Seattle Sounders FC striker and Colombian star Fredy Montero in the 36 hours ahead of Sounders FC’s Herbalife World Football Challenge face-off against Chelsea FC on July 18. Montero scored two goals in the match against Chelsea.
Prior to the premiere of MLS 36 on August 5, NBC Sports Network will air an MLS Western Conference showdown between the Portland Timbers and FC Dallas at 7 p.m. ET. Preceding MLS 36: Fredy Montero on August 10, the network will broadcast an MLS Eastern Conference clash between the New York Red Bulls and the Houston Dynamo at 8 p.m. ET.