The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Coordination Commission for the London 2012 Games concluded its seventh visit to the British capital today, for sale following three days of meetings with representatives of London 2012 and its partners.

With a little over a year and a half to go until the London Games, generic the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (LOCOG) remains on track as it transitions from planning to the operational phase of its preparations, with test events starting in earnest next year.

Bigger Picture
In addition to receiving updates on the progress made since its last visit in July, the Commission, led by Chairman Denis Oswald, visited a number of the venues, including Wembley Arena, Earls Court, Hadleigh Farm, the Royal Artillery Barracks and the new velodrome being built in the Olympic Park. These visits allowed the Commission to witness firsthand the progress being made on the London 2012 project and its legacy.

“We can see the pieces of the puzzle falling into place now, and the big picture is rapidly becoming visible,” Oswald said. “Preparations are advancing at an astonishing rate and LOCOG, the ODA, and their partners should be congratulated for the high quality of the work they are producing across this complex project. The continued support of the British government for the Games has also been key to the progress made since our last visit, and they should be thanked for the efforts that they have made in these challenging times. This underlines the British people’s strong connection to sport and to the Olympic Games in particular.”

London 2012 Organising Committee Chairman Sebastian Coe said: “We are entering a new phase of delivery, where we will be testing our plans right across the project on a range of sports events over the next 18 months. These testing opportunities are an important part of our journey to hosting a great Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012.”

Client Perspectives
With the London Games drawing nearer, the Commission held a series of workshops aimed at examining London 2012’s plans from a client perspective to better understand what each group can expect to experience at Games time. The sessions looked at the plans from the perspectives of the athletes, spectators, International Federations, National Olympic Committees, media, the International Paralympic Committee, marketing partners, workforce, and others. Technical meetings were also held on subjects ranging from communications and branding to technology and ceremonies.

An unforgettable welcome awaits visitors to London in 2012 thanks to the innovative Look of the Games programme outlined by LOCOG and the Mayor of London’s office during the visit. The Commission was impressed by how the programme would be rolled out across the city, and, while a lot of planning remains to be done, it was confident that this would greatly add to fans’ Olympic  and Paralympic experience in 2012. The Commission also received updates on the successful launch of both the London 2012 volunteer programme and ticketing prices in recent months, and welcomed LOCOG’s plans to ensure that families of athletes participating at the 2012 Games will be able to secure tickets to events featuring these athletes.

The Commission was also presented with London 2012’s matrix of test events for the months leading up to the Games. The test events are integral in the journey to preparing the services, operations, venues and related infrastructure, so that they are running smoothly by Games time. The events provide an important testing ground to ensure that pre-Games planning is workable and to allow improvements and changes to be made, where necessary, ahead of the Games.

Chelsea’s Champions League triumph has plagued the other three English teams in the competition as they will be financially hit.

The split of UEFA television money based on where each qualifying club finished in the Premier League will now be changed to reflect the fact Chelsea are in the group stage as champions.

Normally, as domestic champions Manchester City would get 40% of UEFA’s ‘market pool’ pot of TV money totalling around £12million, second-placed Manchester United 30% (£9m) third-placed Arsenal 20% (£6m) and the fourth-placed club 10% (£3m).

Instead, City and Chelsea will each receive 30% (£9m), United 25% (£7.5m) and Arsenal 15% (£4.5m.)

UEFA said the figures would be confirmed by their executive meeting in July.

Mansfield Town have announced the appointment of Carolyn Still as their new Chief Executive Officer making the 29-year-old the youngest in the country in that position.

Ms Still has succeeded Steve Barker, who has accepted a new position within One Call Group, Chairman John Radford’s company.

A politics graduate from the University of Durham, Ms Still brings a wealth of experience to her new position developed through the fashion industry where she worked alongside the Chief Executive and Chief Financial Officer in two of the world’s largest luxury goods companies, Bulgari SpA and Gucci Group. 

Speaking to mansfieldtown.net, Ms Still said: “It’s a great privilege for me to be offered the chance to lead this football club. I intend to add vibrancy and fresh ideas to our approach off the field. Having attended numerous fundraising events, organised by the club’s supporters groups, I am well aware of the passion and enthusiasm that the fans have to see the Stags succeed. 

“I want to wake sleeping fans with a lot of different initiatives by liaising with them and finding what they want.
Much work has been done to develop relationships with key businesses in and around the area, and we must continue to work hard to ensure that our off-the-field commercial activity increases in an attempt to make the club self-sustainable.

“The club must continue to forge close relationships with the local community, businesses and supporters and it will be my job to ensure that these are strengthened to maximise both our revenue and our position in the local community. ‘We have a fantastic team both on and off the field and I am pleased to accept this role during a time when there appears to be a real buzz around the place.”

The International Triathlon Union (ITU) has announced record that television coverage distribution of the ITU World Triathlon Series 2012, underscoring the sport’s continued increase in popularity.

In 2012, television exposure increased by 18%, with broadcast duration reaching over 1,000 hours for the first time.

The World Triathlon Series accumulated 5.43 billion contacts in 2012 – up 168% from when it began after the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

“Triathlon is a dynamic sport, with constant lead changes and surprise finishes,” ITU President and IOC Member Marisol Casado said.

“It’s unpredictable nature provides exciting entertainment for viewers watching from home.”

According to the broadcast analysis, which was conducted independently by IFM Sports, the seventh stage of the 2012 WTS series in Yokohama proved to be the most widely viewed race of the year, with almost 1.2 billion contacts calculated.

Together, WTS online properties also generated more than five million impressions.

The increase in television numbers was possible through commercial deals with 22 broadcast partners to show the WTS races live, while 40 TV partners aired ten 52-minute magazine programs in more than 160 countries.

“The ITU World Triathlon Series is a robust media product, which emphasises the global popularity of triathlon through broadcasting,” said Upsolut CEO Christian Toetzke.

“The strong numbers are a result of the positive and effective TV marketing cooperation between Lagardère subsidiaries, IEC in Sports and Upsolut.”

The ITU World Triathlon Series enters its fifth year, each stage will once again be transmitted live to an international TV audience of more than 160 countries, as well as streamed online.

The 2013 season, which kicks off in Auckland on April 6, is expected to attract record-high numbers of amateur triathletes throughout the eight-race series, in addition to the world’s best elite triathletes. The Grand Final races will be held at the iconic Olympic venue in Hyde Park, giving all athletes the opportunity to compete on the same stage as the 2012 Olympians.

 

 

Leading fans group, Spirit of Shankly, has publicly challenged the Liverpool owners to publicly explain their strategy for the club.

 

Spirit of Shankly, who led the protests against the despised former regime of Tom Hicks and George Gillett, have written to principal owner John Henry and chairman Tom Werner. The group have asked for some clear direction and communication from Fenway SportsGroup to dispel the growing perception among some fans that the club is “in disarray”.

 

As the Reds’ search for a manager continues, the SOS said: “Confusion and chaos seems to reign and no one is coming out of this with much credit, particularly the football club’s image and brand.”

 

Their letter continued: “We need clear and pro-active communication, a confident message about the club’s plans that breeds confidence amongst supporters that we are moving in the right direction.

 

“Instead, we have silence and a lack of information or understanding on decisions being made.”

 

The letter makes reference to the worst days of Hicks and Gillett’s tenure when fans felt they had no voice as decisions were taken by American owners who had no representative based at the club on a local level.

 

“As supporters we have seen all too clearly what a lack of communication from absentee owners leads to,” it added.

 

“Ultimately supporters remain in the dark once again about the plans for this football club moving forward.

 

“We find ourselves experiencing deja vu, where boardroom decisions lead to more questions than they answer.

 

“We ask that you speak with supporters – engage with a true representative cross section of supporters and work with supporters to provide solutions to our current problems.”

Paul Bittar has been hired as the new Chief Executive of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), the governing and regulatory authority for British Racing.

He will join the BHA from his current position as Chief Strategy Officer at Racing Victoria, the principal authority governing racing in the State of Victoria, Australia. Prior to Racing Victoria he was Chief Executive of New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing. He will take up his appointment at the BHA in January 2012.

Paul Roy, Chairman of the British Horseracing Authority, valued the appointment.

He said: “Paul Bittar is a racing enthusiast through and through. He combines keen management and financial skills with love for the sport and a well-informed understanding of the challenges that British Racing must overcome at this time. After a prolonged and painstaking search, the selection team was unanimous in putting him forward for the job.”

Bittar, 41, was born and raised in Australia. He is a qualified accountant and has worked in racing management since 2000, where he had four years as Commercial Manager at Racing New South Wales. In 2004/5 he worked in Great Britain as Project Manager at one of the Authority’s predecessors, the British Horseracing Board (BHB), after which he was recruited as Chief Executive of New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing. He worked in New Zealand until 2009, during which time he successfully re-structured NZTR whilst delivering a significant expansion of both the racing calendar and international broadcast of New Zealand racing in conjunction with the New Zealand TAB and leading totalisator operator Tabcorp. In 2009, he joined Racing Victoria in the newly created role of Chief Strategy Officer, with responsibility for areas including media and broadcast rights, relations with the betting industry, industry funding and planning.

Speaking today of his appointment, Bittar said: “It is a tremendous honour for me to be appointed Chief Executive of the British Horseracing Authority, the sport’s spiritual home. My priority on taking up the role will be to work with the Board and stakeholders to secure a sound business footing for the industry whilst further enhancing its world-leading racing programme and standards of integrity and welfare. I’m looking forward to both the challenge and the pleasure of working in British Racing again.”

Paul Bittar will take over the Chief Executive’s role from Chris Brand, who has been Acting Chief Executive since the departure of Nic Coward in March 2011.

Paul Roy commemorated the former chief executive. He said: “Chris has fulfilled the commitment he made to the BHA earlier this year, when he announced his intention to leave the Authority once a new CEO was appointed. He has done an excellent job as the BHA’s chief operating officer and more recently as Interim CEO. The Board and I thank him wholeheartedly for his dedication and hard work and wish him every success for the future.”

Paul Dixon, Chairman of the Horsemen’s Group, said: “I am confident that we have found the right person for this role. Paul is familiar with British Horseracing from his time with the BHB and he has much firsthand experience and knowledge regarding the needs of owners, trainers, breeders, jockeys, stable staff and others who work in our great sport.”

English Premier League champions, Manchester City, on Wednesday were named champions of the league for value for money for their fans, according to the ING Direct Value table.

 

The bank chart, which compares club season ticket costs with Premier League performance and entertainment value, put the Abu Dhabi-owned club ahead of Wigan.

ING placed QPR, who just avoided relegation, at the bottom of the table while West Bromwich Albion took third place in the league.

 

The report’s compilation was overseen by Dr Steve Kelly from the University of Huddersfield, an expert in sports and club finance and structures.

 

The value league was compiled by comparing season ticket prices with points earned, and with a bonus for goals scored, deemed to affect fans’ enjoyment of the game.

 

Just under half of fans felt they received good value for money in the 2011-12 season and were seriously thinking about whether or not to renew their season ticket for the next campaign.

 

It said more than half of Premiership teams froze or lowered their season ticket prices this year in an attempt to retain fans.

 

Arsenal captain Robin Van Persie topped the “best value player” poll, followed by Newcastle United striker Demba Ba and Tottenham’s Scott Parker.

 

Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who bought the Manchester club in 2008, has invested nearly $1bn to help lead it to glory this season.

 

However, the team’s success has come at a cost and it announced losses of £194.9m ($307.4m) for the 2010-11 financial year, which represents one of the biggest ever reported loss by an English Premier League club.

FIFA soccer’s governing body have hired Walter De Gregorio to become their new Director of Communications & Public Affairs.

De Gregorio will takeover the role from Nicolas Maingot, who had been Acting Director, on October 2011. He will assume the role of his deputy.

De Gregorio background includes him studying history and political philosophy and over the last 20 years he has worked as a journalist, a columnist, and in management positions for various national and international newspapers.

De Gregorio has dual Swiss-Italian nationality, has two children and lives in the Zurich area.

FOX Soccer have announced they will broadcast five Confederation of North, ambulance Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) events.

Added are the 2015 CONCACAF Women’s World Cup Qualifying, treat 2013 CONCACAF Men’s Under-17 and Under-20 Championships and 2014 CONCACAF Women’s Under-17 and Under-20 Championships. First up is the Men’s Under-20 CONCACAF Championship in Puebla Mexico, impotent with live coverage that begins Monday, Feb. 18 at 6:30 PM ET.

These additions, along with the CONCACAF Champions League and 2013 Gold Cup scheduled later this year, cement FOX Soccer as the preeminent U.S. destination for the region’s best soccer competitions.

“We are thrilled to add five different and unique CONCACAF competitions to FOX Soccer beginning this month,” said David Nathanson, Executive Vice President and General Manager of FOX Soccer. “Not only can viewers follow the U.S. Women for another exhilarating quest for a seventh consecutive FIFA World Cup appearance, but they’re also able to witness many of the region’s emerging young stars.”

“Our expanded relationship with FOX Soccer in the United States is a tangible example of the growing popularity that our competitions are experiencing within our region“, said the President of CONCACAF, Jeffrey Webb. “We are hopeful that this comprehensive coverage model will serve as the benchmark for future years.”

herbal helvetica, anesthetist sans-serif;”>Manchester United has remained the world’s most valuable football brand with a brand value of $853 million despite a dissapointing Premier League season wherein it lost the title to Manchester City, according to brand valuation company Brand Finance.

However, the valuation firm has warned that shrewd commercial management and commanding Champion’s League performances by Bayern Munich could see United unseated from the top spot of the Brand Finance Football 50 in the near future.

German football club FC Bayern Munich climbed to the second spot with a brand valuation of $786 million representing a 59 per cent increase over the last year. The success in Germany and presence in the final of the Champions League has been bolstered by financial nous.

Bayern Munich pipped Spanish giant Real Madrid, which has slipped to third spot with its valuation decreasing by seven per cent to $600 million.

“However Bayern needs to start building its brand in emerging markets or they will be left behind by relying too heavily on their domestic fan base,” commented head of Sports Brands Dave Chattaway.

Also witnessing a decrease in its brand valuation is Spanish club FC Barcelona, whose brand valuation shrinked by eight per cent to $580 million.

AC Milan, the only Italian club to make it to the top ten, has a valuation of $292 million.

Italian and Spanish clubs fared badly this year, affected by the economic turmoil in their home markets. Attendances are down due to high unemployment and uncertainty.

Clubs in both countries must continue to look abroad for a steady stream of commercial and broadcasting revenues, capitalising on strong brands, Brand Finance said.

Joining Bayern Munich in the top ten table is FC Schalke 04, which has seen its valuation zoom by 97 per cent to $266 million. The club has moved to 10th position from 12th position last year.

Champion’s League triumph secures another season in Europe for Chelsea but despite two trophies the club stays fifth with a brand value of $398 million due to a poor Premier League performance.

Arsenal and Liverpool share sixth and seventh spot respectively with a valuation of $388 and $367 million.

Meanwhile, the huge investment in local rivals, Manchester City, has finally yielded a Premier League victory. With Sir Alex Ferguson reaching the end of his career and the Glazers still paying off debts, the club may struggle to maintain the squad it needs to stay at the top.

The huge investment by Sheikh Mansour of Abu Dhabi, estimated at $1.5 billion, is beginning to pay off for City. The club has matched United on the field and though still in its shadow in terms of Brand value, it is catching up rapidly. At $302 million, the Man City brand is worth nearly double what it was in 2011.

Brand Finance CEO David Haigh said, “This year’s study shows that even football isn’t immune to the Euro crisis, with Spanish and Italian teams being hit hardest. The two top teams operate different marketing strategies, Bayern prioritising its domestic fan base whilst United concentrates on global opportunities.”