Denver Broncos has retained 9NEWS as the team’s official television partner in a new multi-year deal.

“We are thrilled to extend our broadcast partnership with 9NEWS,” Broncos Senior Vice President of Business Development Mac Freeman said. “In addition to airing preseason Broncos telecasts and providing exclusive programming for our fans, 9NEWS will continue to serve as an important partner for several initiatives in the Colorado community.”

KUSA-TV will air three of the club’s preseason games at San Francisco in Week 1, at Seattle in Week 2 and home vs. Arizona in Week 4.

In addition, the station will continue to produce unique local programming such as Broncos Huddle, Broncos Tonight and Broncos Game Day Live.

“Denver Broncos football is very important to our community and it is truly our pleasure to partner with this legendary organization,” said 9NEWS President and General Manager Mark Cornetta. “If last season is any indication, we look forward to delivering many, many exciting moments into the homes of our viewers.”

Along with the three preseason contests, KUSA-TV is scheduled to air three regular-season Broncos games as national broadcasts: Denver’s NFL Kickoff Game against Baltimore in Week 1, and a pair of Sunday Night Football matchups — at Indianapolis in Week 7 and at New England in Week 12.

Glasgow Rangers have conceded defeat, accepting a 12-month transfer embargo as a condition of gaining membership of the Scottish Football Association (SFA).

The embargo will begin after this summer’s transfer window.

The decision, which was confirmed by the SFA, will allow Rangers boss Ally McCoist to bolster his squad ahead of the new Third Division campaign.

Charles Green’s newco club were sent down to the bottom tier by Scottish Football League clubs last week, failing in their bid to get into the Scottish Premier League.

The registration embargo and a £160,000 fine were handed down to Rangers for a range of offences, mainly the club’s failure to pay tax under former owner Craig Whyte, who was banned for life by the SFA after he was ruled unfit to hold an official role in the game.

Rangers successfully challenged the transfer ban in the Court of Session before Green’s Sevco bought their assets when they were consigned to liquidation.

Lord Glennie ruled the sanction was not open to the SFA, who referred the matter back to the appellate tribunal that upheld the original sentence.

Former International Rugby Board vice chairman Bill Beaumont is on the verge of taking on the role of Rugby Football Union chairman, according to reports.

Beaumont went up against Bernard Lapasset for the IRB chairman post but lost out in the ballot back in December and South African Oregon Hoskins has since taken on the role of vice chairman at the governing body. Beaumont is yet to declare his interest in the position, but according to reports in the Daily Telegraph, he is the hot favourite to land the chairmanship.

The RFU have recently appointed former All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet club chief Ian Ritchie as their new CEO and with Beaumont’s rugby experience, the pair could be an ideal match.

Other candidates for the post include the two independent non-executive directors at the RFU, Andrew Higginson or Miles Templeman with Ian Metcalfe, the chair of the professional game board, another popular option.

But former England captain Beaumont is expected to take the role unopposed if and when he declares his interest in the position.

Related discussions: Is Bill Beaumont the right man to lead the RFU?

London 2012 – The Official Video Game of the Olympic Games, see to give it its full and rather grand title, recipe will feature 30 separate events to compete in along with online leaderboards and is developed by SEGA Studios Australia.

The game is to be released across the PlayStation3 and XBox 360 platforms and will be available next year.

Gary Knight, Senior Vice President of Marketing at SEGA Europe and SEGA of America, stated: “The London 2012 Olympic Games is sure to be a once in a lifetime experience for many people. The official video game will give people all over the world the chance to participate in the greatest sporting event on earth from their homes, even if they are thousands of miles away!”

Sportsnet 960 The FAN today announced it has reached a seven-year exclusive broadcast rights extension with both the NHL’s Calgary Flames and Western Hockey League’s Calgary Hitmen beginning next season.

The deal reinforces Sportsnet’s commitment to keeping fans connected to their home team first with more Flames games on radio and TV than any other broadcaster. 

The new agreement, which begins at the start of the 2013-14 NHL season and runs through the 2019-20 season, includes all Calgary Flames 82-regular season games each year as well as all pre-season and playoff games. Sportsnet 960 The FAN will continue to air a one-hour pre- and post-game show every game. 

Currently, Sportsnet 960 The FAN airs all Calgary Flames pre-season, regular season and playoff games. For the 2012-13 season, Sportsnet West will telecast a total of 34 regular season Calgary Flames games, more than any Canadian broadcaster. Sportsnet 960 The FAN has been broadcasting Flames games since 2002, while Sportsnet TV has been delivering coverage of Flames games since the network’s inception in 1998. 

“The passion that sports fans have for the Flames in Calgary is second to none,” said Kelly Kirch, Program Director, Sportsnet 960 The FAN. “We are proud to continue this important partnership with the Calgary Flames, and to be the voice that hockey fans trust. This deal demonstrates our unwavering commitment to delivering coverage of every goal and every update for every Calgary Flames game for years to come.” 

“Sportsnet 960 The FAN has been an outstanding radio partner for the Calgary Flames,” said Flames President & CEO Ken King. “We are thrilled with our new agreement and look forward to their high quality broadcasts, insightful coverage and powerful reach.” 

The new package also includes the broadcast rights for all regular season and playoff Calgary Hitmen games each season, which will be delivered on radio or online at www.sportsnet.ca/960, and will provide fans with extensive coverage of their favourite Western Hockey League team over the next seven years.

The Scottish Football League (SFL) are looking to sell the tv rights for 25 Division 3 games, involving Rangers.

The SFL’s media representative IMG, has approached broadcasters with a package to show up to 25 live Rangers matches in Division Three next season. The proposed deal includes the opportunity to broadcast all 18 of Rangers’ away league matches. 

However, any deal cannot be finalised until the Scottish FA grants membership to the new club. Rangers went into Administration in February, and in the process of Liquidation at the moment. Charles Green’s Consortium are setting up a new company (Newco) after the HMRC failed to grant a company voluntary arrangement (CVA).

The SFA want Rangers word they can clear all footballing debts, plus take the punishment from their old company to have a twelve month transfer embargo.

The proposed SFL TV deal subject to certain criteria, including fixture and scheduling clashes as well as policing. The new league season less than three weeks away so all parties want something settled fairly quickly.

Tokyo’s 2020 Olympic Games bid has taken on new momentum after three senior staff members of the Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC) were appointed to serve as senior department directors given their experience with the Olympic Movement.

Yasuhiro Nakamori, JOC International Relations Director and Tokyo 2020 Executive Board Member was appointed Senior Director of Tokyo 2020 International Relations Department.

Toru Watanabe, JOC President’s Office Chief Manager will serve as Senior Director of Tokyo 2020 Marketing & Promotion Department.

Masa Takaya, JOC Communications Manager and former International Triathlon Union Media Manager, who also served as communications director of Tokyo 2016 will hold the position of Acting Communications Director also for Tokyo 2020.

Masato Mizuno, Tokyo 2020 CEO and JOC Vice President, said, “After studying the key factors in several previous successful bids, we have noted the importance of the involvement of NOCs in realizing a truly integrated bid team.

“NOC staff have a wealth of experience in dealing with the International Olympic Committee and various other international sporting bodies, and are able to make a valuable contribution to the overall bid.

“I am certainly glad that Tokyo 2020 is now able to draw on the expertise and experience of senior JOC members and position these at the heart of our bid,” he added.

This follows Japan’s House of Represenatives approving the bid last month.

The Breeders’ Cup and Churchill Downs today announced that tickets are on sale for this year’s Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Friday, November 4 and Saturday, November 5. For the second consecutive year, Churchill Downs will host the event under the two-day Championship format, which will begin on Friday at 2 p.m. ET and finish under the lights at approximately 7:30 p.m. with the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic. Saturday’s card will begin at 12:05 p.m. and conclude with the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at 7:00 p.m. ET.

Last year, a record total of 114,353 fans attended the two days of the Championships at Churchill Downs climaxed by the electrifying battle under the famed Twin Spires between Blame and Zenyatta in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

This year, fans will be able to purchase tickets in two ways:

Fans can go to the Web to www.breederscup.com/tickets to access the online ticket system, which allows purchasers to view seat locations and buy their tickets in a fast, efficient manner.

Those without online access or that need assistance can purchase tickets by telephone by calling toll-free at 877-TIX4CUP (877-849-4287).

Among the new ticketing options for this year’s Championships are:

 

Ticket prices on Championship Friday for Reserved Grandstand and Clubhouse range from $20-$75 and on Championship Saturday from $30-$150. There are also bundled two-day packages available for Reserved Grandstand, Clubhouse Box seating and Premium Dining areas (Skye Terrace and Millionaires Row).

Fans will have the option to purchase single seats in Grandstand reserved box seating, premium Clubhouse box seating and Dining areas (Skye Terrace and Triple Crown Room).

Fans have the option to purchase single day tickets in Grandstand reserved box seating and premium Clubhouse box seating on the First and Third floor levels of the Clubhouse.

General Admission tickets will go on sale beginning October 3 for online purchase only. The online price for Championship Friday will be $10. General Admission online price on Championship Saturday is $20. Patrons will be able to print their tickets at home and bring them to the track for admission. General admission prices at the gate on Championship Friday will be $15 and $25 on Championship Saturday.

Also new this year for out of town guests, Breeders’ Cup has released limited room inventory at its official partner hotels.  These rates are offered at a discount to advertised hotel rates.  Fans may log on to www.bcwc11.com/accommodations to book reservations for the Championships.

“Together with our host, Churchill Downs, we look forward to another outstanding experience for our fans attending the Breeders’ Cup from around the world to enjoy the most spectacular two-days of racing at this year’s Championships,” said Tom Ludt, Breeders’ Cup Chairman. “We were delighted with the record turnout in 2010 and encourage fans to take advantage of the new seating options available this year.”

“The return of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships to Churchill Downs for a record eighth time will be very special for our neighbors in Louisville, the state of Kentucky and Southern Indiana that embrace Thoroughbred racing’s biggest events like no other region in North America,” said Kevin Flanery, president of Churchill Downs Racetrack.  “Last year’s record-setting debut of the Breeders’ Cup as a two-day event at our track was filled with breathtaking performances, lasting memories and wonderful experiences.  After a record-shattering Kentucky Derby Day at our track, our team looks forward welcoming the world back to the Breeders’ Cup at Churchill Downs – there’s always magic when the Championship returns to Kentucky.”

Der Anti-Korruptionsbeauftragte des Welt-Fußball-Verbandes (FIFA), pharm Mark Pieth, hat Bayern-Präsident Uli Hoeneß mangelnde Intelligenz vorgeworfen. “Ich habe Verständnis dafür, dass man Bedenken hat angesichts der Person von Herrn Blatter. Jetzt aber auf Leute loszuschießen, die man nicht mal geprüft hat, das zeugt nicht von großer Intelligenz”, sagte Pieth dem Radiosender NDR Info.

Hoeneß hatte zuvor die Ethik-Kommission scharf kritisiert und deutlich gemacht, dass er nicht daran glaube, dass Blatter noch einmal kandidieren werde bzw. die laufende Amtszeit überstehe.

Pieth glaubt zudem, dass in Kürze noch weitere Schmiergeldzahlungen aufgedeckt werden könnten: “Ich gehe davon aus, dass in der Vergangenheit und in der Gegenwart Neueres gefunden wird. Das ist angesichts der Struktur dieses Verbandes durchaus zu erwarten.” Die FIFA müsse sich laut Pieth dringend renovieren: “Es ist wichtig, dass man jetzt anerkennt, dass hier eine Struktur geschaffen und auch mit Personen besetzt worden ist, die in keinster Weise abhängig sind.”

Dies sei ein Reformprozess, für den der Weltverband aber offensichtlich Joseph Blatter brauche, um in seinem Verband Werbung für Aufklärung zu betreiben: “Das hat nichts damit zu tun, dass wir jetzt besondere Liebe zu Herrn Blatter hätten. Wir sagen ganz pragmatisch, es braucht deshalb Herrn Blatter, weil der in der Lage ist, Leute dazu zu motivieren, zuzustimmen. Der muss die Leute überzeugen, die Angst haben, dass sie selbst möglicherweise in die Untersuchung einbezogen werden”, so Pieth bei NDR Info.

Werner Augsburger is the new director of Swiss Volleyball Federation following his resignation as the Sochi 2014 Sports director earlier this month.

He will succeed Christian Bigler, click who took over the management of the sports ministry in Bern.

The 54-year-old will begin his reign in May 2012.

Augsburger left his Sochi 2014 role after citing problems with a language barrier in Russia, vialis 40mg and leaving his family behind to be based in Moscow according to Swiss daily Neue Zuercher Zeitung.

Augsburger was selected by Sochi Olympic organizers last April. He began his duties organizing events in September.

Augsburger was previously Switzerland’s mission chief at three Olympics. He joined the Sochi team after two seasons as chief executive of the Swiss ice hockey league.