The International Boxing Association (AIBA), world governing body for the sport of boxing, has renewed its partnership with Total Sports Asia (TSA), to distribute the international TV rights of its events in 2013.

The events list includes the European Championships (May 30 – June 9 2013, Minsk in Belarus), the AIBA World Boxing Championships (11-27 October, Almaty in Kazakhstan) as well as the AIBA World Junior Boxing Championships (17-26 August, Kiev in Ukraine). 

AIBA is looking to increase both exposure and revenues of its events around the world and chose to re-appoint TSA, its media partner since 2010, for the AIBA World Championships (worldwide) as well as its distributor for World Series of Boxing Season II in Asia. 

Boxers will now compete without headguard under a pro-style scoring system starting this year after several significant rule changes by the sport’s international governing body. 

TSA’s Chief Content Officer, Julian Jackson, said: “Our company has a long and successful history with the sport of boxing and we distributed the previous World Championships to a record number of countries, so we are delighted that AIBA has chosen us once more to be their media partner. AIBA are a great forward thinking organization and we are very proud to be associated with them .“

Two-time European Cup winners Nottingham Forest have new owners after Kuwaiti businessman Fawaz Al Hasawi agreed to buy the club.

Al Hasawi, a member of one of Kuwait’s richest families and who resigned as president of Kuwaiti club Qadsia earlier this year, had been linked with the Championship club.

He had made no secret that he was aiming to buy a second-tier English club, with Forest having only just retained their Championship status at the end of last season.

They had been on the market since the sudden death of owner Nigel Doughty in February.

Al Hassawi confirmed the acquisition late Tuesday.

“I can officially announce that the acquisition of nottingham forest is complete.”

“We have become the official owners. I thank my brothers Abdulaziz and Omar for their efforts,” he added without providing any financial details on the value of the deal.

The Hassawis have been negotiating the takeover for several weeks with the Estate of Doughty.

In a June 29 statement, the Hassawis said the “future on-field and off-field success of Nottingham Forest is at the heart of our plans.”

Rivals Sebastian Coe and Sergey Bubka, vice-presidents of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and vying for the top job at the athletics’ world governing body have become new chairmans of the IAAF Commissions, along with three others.

Coe, the London 2012 chairman, has replaced Gianni Merlo, Italy’s AIPS President, as chairman of the Press Commission, while Bubka, a member of the International Olympic Committee, takes over the role within the Development Commission previously held by the Senegalese IAAF President, Lamine Diack.

Namibia’s former world 200 metres champion Frank Fredericks replaces Cuba’s 1976 Olympic 400 and 800m champion Alberto Juantorena in the Athletes Commission.

Canadian Jack Agrios takes over from Lauri Tarasti of Finland in the Juridical Commission, while Britain’s former 10,000m world record holder David Bedford replaces Brazilian Robert Gesta De Melo as head of the Road Running Commission.

Seven other chairman remain in situ -Puerto Rioc’s Victor Lopez leads the Coaches Commission, senior vice-president Bob Hersh, from the United States, the Competition Commission, President Diack the Finance and Budget Commission, Spain’s Juan Manuel Alonso the Medical and Anti-Doping Commission, Algeria’s Jamel Simohamed the School and Youth Commission chairman, Qatar’s Dahlan Al Hamad leads the Sustainable Development Commission and Israel’s Alex Gilady the Television Commission.

The Marketing and Promotion Commission, currently headed by Helmut Digel of Germany, will have a chairman only later after next IAAF Council meeting in Spring.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson today launched a ‘one stop shop’ initiative that aims to transform hundreds of sports groups, ensuring they are thriving for years after the 2012 Games.

London is home to many excellent local sports schemes, but some face closure due to a number of issues from financial hardship to problems with securing venues and increasing capacity.  Sport for Social Change Network (SSCN) is a global initiative that the Mayor has introduced to London to boost the Olympic and Paralympics legacy by working in partnership with hundreds of locals sports groups to equip them with everything they need to run successfully for years after the 2012 Games.

Everyone from pensioners to teenagers and expectant mums will benefit from SSCN London. Over the last few weeks it has started supporting groups providing exercise classes to isolated older people on council estates, targeting gangs with sports and employment programmes and helping football teams for kids with special needs.

The Mayor visited the headquarters of the new Sutton SSCN at the Life Centre today, accompanied by Olympic hopeful and British Women’s 100 metres record holder, Montell Douglas and Olympic swimming medallist Steve Parry. The SSCN is delivered in partnership with the Mayor of London, Nike, Active Communities Network, and the Community Action Zone.

The Mayor Boris Johnson said: “This amazing initiative will provide Londoners with the long legacy they truly deserve. There are thousands of excellent sports groups in the capital that struggle with a myriad of problems and sadly many of them will face closure if they don’t get help.  SSCN will provide the essential support needed to boost these schemes, keeping them in business and securing a long and fruitful future.

“I want everyone interested in supporting sport to sign up to the SSCN and help strengthen our sporting future. Let’s keep the memory of the greatest event on earth alive in the capital for as long as possible with a plethora of brilliant sports activity.”

Brian Dickens of SSCN London said: “I’ve been involved in sport in London for over 30 years and I know better than most the huge benefits that sport can bring to someone’s life. I am also in daily contact with all those people and groups out there doing amazing work to create sporting opportunities for Londoners. SSCN London gives us an opportunity to help – to bring these people and organisations together; to share knowledge and expertise; to generate more funding and to ensure that his funding is used as efficiently and as effectively as possible. ”

Marc van Pappelendam, VP & GM of Nike’s UK/Ireland territory said: “Nike believes in the power of sport to inspire change and make a difference in young people’s lives. Investing in community programs that create social change is a powerful way to help build life skills, develop social cohesion, and assist youth to fully participate in the social and economic opportunities in their communities. In collaboration with other organizations, we’ve created ‘Sport for Social Change Networks’ in global communities that make a real impact locally as well as building wider networks to advocate for access to sport.”

After a successful pilot in Lambeth the SSCN scheme is now running across six boroughs: Brent, Croydon, Hackney, Lambeth, Southwark and Sutton and also works on cross borough partnerships. The aim is to have one in every borough within the next few years.

The Sutton SSCN has already secured the future of two local football groups facing closure because of financial and venue problems. One team were given financial assistance to enable them to employ staff to co-ordinate players with learning disabilities. Another group gained access to a large venue and were helped to recruit teenage players from local estates.

Cllr Sean Brennan, Leader of Sutton Council said: “The Sutton Life Centre is world class facility which has a pioneering approach in guiding young people and is a very fitting location for the launch of Sport for Social Change Network. We welcome the opportunity to further transform sports activities in the borough and are very pleased to see that the initiative has already played a significant part in involving local people in constructive sports activities and helping with community integration.”

In Hackney the SSCN is working with the PACT programmes that were having problems expanding their work targeting gang culture. Together they are boosting young people’s employability and education over the next two years with sports development courses (e.g. Vocational Qualifications in sport tackling youth crime). The programme aims to help over 800 vulnerable young people in the next two years and also empower volunteers who run sport groups with local youngsters.

In Southwark the SSCN is helping the Sport Action Zone (SAZ) with their initiatives for older people not getting enough physical exercise. Together they have organised ‘chair-based exercise’ classes for the over 60’s on the Aylesbury Estate in Walworth which have been a tremendous success.

The Sport for Social Change Network is a global initiative also in operation in Brazil, South Africa and East Africa. In London it aims to coordinate efforts in community sport to accelerate the growth, quality and sustainability of the sport for social change movement. The scheme is funded in partnership with Nike as part of the Mayor’s £15.5 million sports legacy scheme.

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has secured exclusive media rights in 30 countries for the newly created national team qualifying matches competition, sickness for the Euro 2016 and World Cup 2018.

This deal will cover the media rights to all national team matches (home and away) across all media platforms for each EBU Member within its respective country. It also includes host broadcasting services for nearly 300 matches to be provided by EBU Members in high definition.

The EBU and its participating Members will guarantee substantial free-to-air coverage and have reaffirmed, apoplectic with this agreement, unhealthy their position of natural broadcast partner for national team football in Europe.

EBU President Jean-Paul Philippot said: “We are delighted that the EBU – on behalf of its Members – is one of the first UEFA broadcast partners for this ambitious new European Qualifiers competition. We are especially proud that European public service media continue to be the partner of choice for UEFA, UEFA’s national associations and their national teams, thus bringing the passion and excitement of national team football to the widest possible audience.”

With this major new deal, the EBU and its Members will benefit from an enriched portfolio of national team football media rights, complementing the rights previously acquired to the 2014, 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups.

Swiss sports-retail chain Intersport International has set issued new goals for its football business, including ambitious plans in Asia, following a boost in sales during Euro 2012.

Intersport CEO, Franz Julen, said: “The goal for our football business has to be breaking €1B (us$1.2B) in revenue during the World Cup” year of  2014. For 2012, Intersport expects a revenue of about €900M (us$1.1B) from its football business and a total revenue of about €10B ($12.3B). Intersport’s partnership with UEFA “has been a success.”

“By 2020 we want to have 500 stores in Asia that generate annually us$1B in revenue.”{jcomments on}

The FA have announced today the appointment of Julie Harrington as Managing Director of St. George’s Park, prostate the new national football centre for England.

Harrington, ambulance 42, will begin her reign in The FA in March 2012 after leaving her post as Operations Director at Northern Racing, the horseracing and events operator.

St. George’s Park will be the training home of the 24 England teams, and a national coach education, development and sports medicine centre for football, sport and business.

Speaking of the appointment, David Sheepshanks, Chairman of St. George’s Park, said: “I am delighted to welcome Julie Harrington to St. George’s Park. Julie has a first class record of creating customer focused, high performance teams that deliver excellent results. Her background and understanding of the sporting world and experience of working alongside the business community, the media and government will stand her in good stead.

“Our focus in 2012 is not only on the completion of the development next summer, but also on driving the business plan and ensuring that the many constituent parts of St. George’s Park gel together effectively. We all look forward to supporting her in what will be a seminal year for English football with the arrival of St. George’s Park.”

The FA’s General Secretary, Alex Horne, said: “Julie is a welcome addition to the senior management team of The FA and brings with her a great deal of experience in operations and also in major sports venue openings.

“St. George’s Park represents a significant investment by The FA and our partners, not only in monetary terms, but in terms of the future of our game. Getting our delivery right, from day one, is important and we have every confidence that Julie will succeed in helping us achieve this.”

Harrington commented: “I am thrilled to be appointed as Managing Director of St. George’s Park. The facility taking shape in Burton will be truly inspirational and a fantastic asset to The FA, football as a whole and the region. The opportunity to be part of the future development of our national game is a challenge I relish and feel privileged to be given.”

Harrington was responsible for the delivery of the business plan for ten racecourses across the UK, and was also Northern Racing’s project lead on the successful £40m development of Ffos Las Racecourse – opened in 2009 – the first turf racecourse to open in the UK for over 80 years.

Karen Earl, sale Chair of the European Sponsorship Association (ESA) and Synergy, sales has taken part in an exclusive Featured Profile interview with iSportconnect.

Earl spoke of the beginning of her career in sponsorship having began her career in the PR industry, ampoule she looked to make the most of her enthusiasm for sports and plumped for the relatively new concept of sports sponsorship. She revealed that she ‘had heard about sponsorship agency, West Nally’ and stated that once she had discovered the opportunity she set her sights on a role within sponsorship. Karen went on to confirm that she had little fears of entering what was, at the time, a male-dominated industry, stating that that was the case in a number of industries, adding: “I really didn’t give much thought to being a woman in a man’s world; I gave much more thought to being good at the job.”

When asked as to whether the sponsorship market had become overloaded with emerging agencies she claimed that the growing amount of agencies proved that the industry had ‘matured’, adding that she believed there is still room for specialism. However, she went on to add: “The nature of sponsorship means that it works best when in harness with other marketing disciplines, agencies with access to those disciplines inevitably have the edge over those that practice in a niche area.”

Earl revealed that her decision to only work for companies sponsoring events, rather than selling the sponsorships themselves, was because she didn’t believe you could do both, claiming “it causes a conflict of interests.” She credited her success in the field and the key characteristic required by any sponsorship professional as ‘personability’, adding: “Being someone with whom people want to do business is essential.”

Karen manages her time between chairing both Synergy Sponsorship, formerly Karen Earl Sponsorship, and the European Sponsorship Association (ESA) and says that her position is far less time-consuming at Synergy compared to the ESA as “Synergy has a highly successful and competent senior management team.” Shed stated that her work with the ESA was a way of “putting something back into the industry”, adding: “The sponsorship industry needs an effective trade body which is committed to raising standards and protecting its interests.”

When asked if there were any initiatives that the ESA has launched which she held in particularly high regard, Earl stated: “The launch of the ESA Knowledge Series in 2009 was a significant step in embedding ESA’s commitment to raising standards across the sponsorship industry.  The ESA Insights Forums for senior management have proven very insightful, whilst the ESA Skills Workshops are more practical and aimed at middle managers to junior executives.” She revealed that the next initiative to be launched will be “the ESA Work Experience Certificate which aims to provide a framework for both employers and candidates”.

Karen said that singling out a sponsor which has had the largest impact on its affiliation with a sporting event was a ‘difficult’ task. She did, however, claim that Benson and Hedges ties with the likes of hockey, ice hockey and snooker was a success that has not been maintained or replicated since tobacco sponsorship’s demise. Earl added: “Other sponsors such as Nike have created their own events which embody the brand and would not otherwise exist. Bupa’s Great Run Series is a classic example of synergy between brand, event and participant; Coca-Cola’s recognition so many years ago that football was the perfect global partner for its brand remains one of the most successful sponsorship stories of all time.”

As well as speaking on Ofcom’s ruling to increase the time commercial breaks can be shown during programming and the ESA’s standpoint on the issue of alcohol sponsorship, Karen had the final word on his association with iSportconnect and the incentives it brings, stating: “It’s a valuable source of information and provides interesting features.  It’s “by the industry for the industry”.

Qatar Airways is not far from sponsoring a English Premier League team after the CEO confirmed they were approached by two clubs.

“Two English teams have approached us. We told them that we would consider it … but we are not yet ready to do it,” Akbar Al Baker said at the Farnborough Airshow.

He said the approaches had come from clubs looking to build new stadia and that Qatar Airways favoured a deal involving stadium naming rights – similar to Arsenal’s deal with Dubai-based Emirates Airline.

“If we do it we would like to do it in a big way,” he said.

Liverpool and Tottenham are known to be considering building new stadia.

 

 

Mark Stockwell has been appointed Chairman of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Organising Committee (OC), erectile Premier, ed Hon Anna Bligh has formally announced.

Mr Stockwell was appointed by the Governor in Council yesterday on the recommendation of the Premier and the President of the Australian Commonwealth Games Association.

Premier Bligh said she was thrilled when Mr Stockwell agreed to Chair the Games and reinforced the sentiment now that the appointment approval process has been finalised.

“Mr Stockwell managed to drive the Bid for the Games with a passion and energy befitting his days as an athlete and I have no doubt he will throw the same amount of enthusiasm into delivering a sensational Games that will do Queensland and Australia proud.

“He has a very solid business and commercial background that will ensure the infrastructure and venue upgrades are in accordance with the requirements of the Commonwealth Games Federation and the international sporting bodies.

Premier Bligh said the next major appointment would be the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Organising Committee (OC), Chief Executive Officer – a role that will be widely advertised to ensure they fet the right candidate to fill such an important position.

Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Organising Committee newly appointed Chairman, Mark Stockwell said he would bring to the role extensive experience as an athlete combined with a solid business management background and knowledge and passion for the regions capabilities.

“The Bid for the Games was very intense and all about demonstrating what we could do and how we would deliver a fantastic and memorable Games.

“The Organising Committee is all about delivering on our promises to the Commonwealth Games Association delegations as per the detail outlined in the Bid Book.

“The Gold Coast will be on show to the world and it is paramount that we have the right staff in place, well trained volunteers and all aspects of the event combined are delivered to the highest standard,” Mr Stockwell said.

“We must now look to appoint a Board and a CEO so we can hit the ground running in 2012… however this is a marathon, not a sprint with lots of planning before the finish line in 2018 and lots of hard work ahead,” Mr Stockwell said.

The Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Bid Chief Executive Officer, Mark Peters has been appointed Acting CEO of the Games Organising Committee until the role is permanently filled.