Infront Sports & Media has appointed Stefan Krauss as the new Managing Director of its Infront Austria, thereby strengthening its international management team winter sports.

Stefan Krauss will take up his new position on 1 January 2012. Following the full integration of Infront Austria into the Infront Group, current Managing Director Dr Stefan Seykora has taken the decision to pass over full operational duties from 30 June 2012 due to personal reasons. He will then join the company’s Advisory Board. This will ensure continuity of experience and maintain the company’s excellent relationships with its key clients.

Stefan Krauss holds almost 30 years of experience in winter sports, as athlete, coach, official and marketing expert. He joins Infront from the German Ski Federation (DSV) where he has been involved as Managing Director of DSV Marketing GmbH since May 2008. Previously, the former professional ski athlete worked for nine years as General Secretary and Sport Director for the Bobsleigh and Luge Federation of Germany (BSD).

In a parallel role since 2006, Stefan Krauss also occupied the position of Vice President Marketing for the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (FIBT) and has been a member ex officio for the FIBT Executive Committee since 2002. Through all his positions he has contributed significantly to the sporting and commercial success of the respective organisations and has built an extensive network within the world of winter sport.

Stefan Krauss will head an experienced team of over 20 employees and will direct all central
projects of the Vienna and Lustenau based Infront subsidiary. Properties include the marketing of the IBU World Cup and the IBU World Championships Biathlon, as part of Infront’s longstanding partnership with the International Biathlon Union. He also takes on the lead for marketing the Vierschanzentournee (Four Hills Tournament) based on the company´s partnership with the Austrian Ski Federation (ÖSV) and the DSV. As one of the centres of excellence for winter sports marketing, Infront Austria (formerly APF Marketing GmbH) is an important pillar of the Infront Group.

Bruno Marty, Infront’s Executive Director of Winter Sports, said: “In recent years, Dr Stefan Seykora has successfully and innovatively contributed to Infront Austria. Together with his long time partner and co-Managing Director Volker Schmid he significantly advanced the company´s integration into the Infront Group and has aided the continuous development of the comprehensive event and partner portfolio. We want to thank him sincerely for his commitment.”

“Stefan Krauss is a proven expert in the global winter sports circuit and an ideal successor. Thanks to his many years of marketing experience and his great passion for sport, he is a perfect fit for Infront and will significantly strengthen our international team in the development and successful implementation of our long-term winter sports strategy. We wish him a successful start in January.”

Stefan Krauss added: “I am very excited about working in such an important position for the world’s leading marketing company in winter sports. Together with the already well-established team at Infront Austria, I will continue to work with existing and new partners in a reliable and innovative way. A high quality standard in the collaboration, but also the development of great relationships will always be in focus for me.”

Dr. Stefan Seykora said: “Following the successful integration of the former APF Marketing GmbH into the Infront Group and more than 20 years of fulfilling business and expansion, it is time for me to stand down. I proudly look back over the many achievements and friendships I have gained from Infront and in the world of sport. After a well deserved break, I will take up new and exciting challenges in the coming year. I thank all colleagues, customers and partners for the great collaboration.”

Michael Beloff, order QC, allergist today heard an application from Salman Butt’s new legal representation for an adjournment of the full hearing into the spot-fixing charges against three Pakistan cricketers, also including Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif.

Mr Beloff, the Chairman of the ICC Anti-Corruption Tribunal, following a lengthy telephone hearing and having received written submissions, has ruled that Mr Butt’s application is denied and as such, the full hearing will take place as scheduled from 6-11 January 2011 in Doha, Qatar.

The ICC Code of Conduct Commissioners are nominated by the Members countries while their allocation to a tribunal is by the Chairman of the ICC Code of Conduct Commission.

The ICC will make no further comment on this matter at this time.

Die Verbraucherorganisation foodwatch hat DFB-Präsident Wolfgang Niersbach anlässlichder Fußball-Europameisterschaft aufgefordert, die Zusammenarbeit seines Verbandes mitFerrero zu beenden. “Ferreros Marketingstrategie zielt darauf ab, Süßigkeiten als sportlich-leichte Zwischenmahlzeiten zu bewerben”, erklärte Matthias Wolfschmidt, stellvertretenderGeschäftsführer von foodwatch.

“Es ist unverantwortlich, wenn der DFB dazu beiträgt, dassein Sportereignis wie die EM dazu missbraucht wird, gerade Kindern möglichst viele Kalorienanzudienen.”

Durch die Zusammenarbeit mit Ferrero verstößt der DFB auch gegen seine eigene Satzung.Darin heißt es, Zweck und Aufgabe des Fußballverbandes sei es, “gesellschaftspolitischeAspekte mit den Möglichkeiten des Fußballs angemessen zu unterstützen” – explizit auchdurch “die Förderung gesunder Ernährung”. foodwatch verwies auf das Problem von

Übergewicht und Fettleibigkeit bei Kindern. Es sei bekannt, dass Kinder zu viele Süßigkeiten verzehrten, so Matthias Wolfschmidt: “Da passt es nicht, wenn der DFB im Widerspruch zu seinen gesundheitspolitischen Satzungszwecken den Steilpass für Ferreros Junkfood-Marketing liefert.”

Der Deutsche Fußballbund unterstützt Ferrero insbesondere durch Lizenzprodukte wie Sammelbilder der Nationalspieler als Beigabe zu Süßwaren und durch offizielle DFB-Artikel als Prämien bei der aktuellen Aktion “Fan Connection”, bei der Verbraucher rund um die EM auf zahlreichen Ferrero-Produkten Punkte sammeln und in Prämien tauschen können. foodwatch hat die Prämien-Aktion in einem Internet-Video aufs Korn genommen und drin nachgerechnet:

Für ein T-Shirt – das so genannte “DFB Fan-Trikot” – sind 100 Sammelpunkte erforderlich. Um diese zu erreichen, müsste ein Verbraucher beispielsweise 500 Kinderriegel verzehren.

Damit hätte er…

– 59.000 Kilokalorien,

– 5,5 Kilogramm Zucker, umgerechnet rund 1.800 Stück Würfelzucker,

und

– 3,65 Kilogramm Fett, so viel wie in 18 Päckchen Butter

..zu sich genommen. Um die Ferrero-Kalorien wieder abzutrainieren, müsste er mehr als 60

Fußballspiele über 90 Minuten absolvieren – oder anders gesagt: Er müsste an allen Spielen der Europameisterschaft teilnehmen, von der Vorrunde bis zum Finale, und das gleich zwei Mal hintereinander.

Niall Quinn has left his job as chairman of Sunderland to focus on a new role at the English Premier League club with the club’s owner Ellis Short taking over his previous position.

Quinn, will “spearhead international development on behalf of the club” while owner Ellis Short takes over as chairman. Quinn insisted that the new role at Sunderland represented “a great opportunity for us to make the club stronger”. Quinn told the club’s official website: “I’m delighted that Ellis has agreed to support the plan. He’ll be a fantastic chairman and taking this role on speaks volumes about his ambition for the club.”

American Short, who acquired a 100% stake in the club in May 2009, said: “I can assure our fans that it’s the same group of people continuing to lead the club. With financial fair play rules coming into effect it is essential for the long-term success of the club that we develop interests on a global scale and there’s no-one better than Niall to sell the ethos of Sunderland to an international audience. He has been keen to drive this change for some time and I agree that it’s the way forward for us now.”

Sunderland CEO Margaret Byrne added: “Niall is widely known and hugely respected throughout the world of football. His profile, coupled with his vast knowledge of the game and the business, means he is perfectly placed to bring Sunderland to the forefront internationally. Trips to territories such as Vietnam, India, Abu Dhabi and Africa are taking place in the coming months.”

COMMONWEALTH Games Bronze medal winning weightlifter Zoe Smith has had her funding temporarily suspended by the sport’s governing body British Weight Lifting.

The 16-year-old London-based lifter has had her personal funding withdrawn until at least the end of January – although she will continue to have available support services such as physiotherapy and nutritional guidance.

British Weight Lifting staff became concerned about her commitment after she arrived at a recent training camp overweight and with no training programme.

Her lack of commitment to a structured programme was one of the key reasons why she did not take part in the European Junior Championships in November.

After careful consideration, cialis ed the BWL World Class Programme decided they could not continue to support an athlete who was not committed to following a structured training programme or ensuring they stabilised their body weight.

BWL Performance Manager Fiona Lothian said: “Zoe is an amazing talent but we all know that any athlete with talent still has to work hard if they are to realise their true potential.

“On World Class Programmes athletes are funded not only because they are good, sale but because they are willing to work hard to become even better.”

The decision to withdraw her personal funding will be reviewed after the Tri-Nations Tournament on 12th February, check and will be reinstated if training has been consistent and she has been working with the nutritionist.

Additionally, Zoe is required to commit to five training sessions per week of at least 90 minutes, and work with the World Class Programme nutritionist to ensure an optimal body weight, and be back lifting agreed weights at the Tri-Nations Tournament on February 12.

Digital sports video news agency SendtoNews has announced a multi-year worldwide digital partnership with NASCAR, coinciding with NASCAR’s season-opening crown jewel event, the 55th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Daytona 500 on February 24 . 

Through the agreement, SendtoNews receives worldwide rights to distribute NASCAR race highlights and other event content to thousands of member news outlets via its News Partnership Network.

“NASCAR has chosen SendtoNews to be a key part of its digital communications strategy, which is a great addition to our powerful assortment of content,” said SendtoNews CEO Greg Bobolo. “This deal enables SendtoNews to guarantee our media and advertising partners complete highlights of NASCAR and multi-year access to one of the largest and most engaged audiences in pro sport.”

As it already does for its major sports properties, SendtoNews will distribute accessible, high-quality HD highlight packages leveraging NASCAR content for the needs of local and international digital media, beginning with the Daytona 500.

“We’re always thinking about ways to offer fans more NASCAR content, no matter where they are. This partnership allows us to better reach fans in communities across the country and enhance the coverage of our sport at the local level,” said Marc Jenkins, Vice President, Digital Media at NASCAR. “After fully vetting the category, we feel confident that SendtoNews’ flexible platform provides the most turnkey solution in the local content space and the most powerful way to distribute our content to local outlets.”

Laut “Annual Review of Football Finance” von Deloitte stieg der Gesamtumsatz deseuropäischen Fußballs in der Saison 2010/11 um 4 Prozent auf einen Rekord von 16,9Mrd. Euro. Die europäischen “Big Five”-Ligen Premier League, Bundesliga, PrimeraDivision, Serie A und Ligue 1 generierten mit 8,6 Mrd. Euro über die Hälfte (51%) desGesamtumsatzes. Die Premier League erzielte das größte Wachstum und erreichte 2,5 Mrd.Euro. Die Bundesliga behauptete ihren Platz als zweitumsatzstärkste Liga – sie verzeichneteeinen Umsatzanstieg um 5 Prozent auf 1,746 Mrd. Euro. Umsatztreiber der Primera Divisionwaren einmal mehr die beiden Top-Clubs Real Madrid und FC Barcelona, deren Erlöseum 93 Mio. Euro (+11%) gestiegen sind, während die anderen 18 Primera-Division-Clubseinen Rückgang von 2 Prozent verzeichnen mussten. Die italienische Serie A konnte ihreUmsatzerlöse auf 1,553 Mrd. Euro stabilisieren (+1%). Die Ligue 1 erfuhr als einzige “BigFive”-Liga in 2010/11 einen 3-prozentigen Umsatzrückgang auf 1,040 Mrd. Euro.

“Der zusätzliche Champions-League-Platz ab der Saison 2012/13 und die Steigerungder Erlöse aus der nationalen Medienvermarktung ab 2013/14 um 50% werden dasbeeindruckende Wachstum der Bundesliga weiter begünstigen”, erläutert Stefan Ludwig,Director Sport Business Gruppe bei Deloitte. “Die Bundesliga bleibt somit ärgster Verfolgerder Premier League und hat sie bereits in den Bereichen Zuschauerzahlen, kommerzielleErlöse und Profitabilität überholt.”

Bundesliga und Premier League waren erneut die einzigen “Big Five”-Ligen, die in derabgelaufenen Saison operative Gewinne erzielen konnten. Die Bundesliga verbesserte ihrBetriebsergebnis um 33 Mio. Euro (24%) auf 171 Mio. Euro und ist damit zum dritten Mal inFolge die profitabelste Liga vor der englischen Premier League mit einem Gewinn von 75Mio. Euro.

Sie erzielte mit über 800 Mio. Euro in der Saison 2010/11 die mit Abstand höchstenkommerziellen Erlöse innerhalb der “Big Five”, rund 216 Mio. Euro mehr als die PremierLeague. Erstmals kamen in der Saison 2011/12 im Schnitt mehr als 45.000 Besucherzu den Bundesligaspielen, damit etabliert sie sich als Fußballliga mit dem höchstenZuschauerschnitt weltweit.

“Die Bundesliga findet weiterhin eine sehr gute Balance zwischen wirtschaftlichemWachstum und den Fan- und Partnerinteressen. So profitieren Fußballinteressierte, aberauch Sponsoren von der Beibehaltung der ARD Sportschau und die Fans im Stadion vonden günstigen Ticketpreisen”, so Stefanie Vogel, Expertin der Sport Business Gruppe vonDeloitte.

advice helvetica, capsule sans-serif;”>Jin-Sun Kim, prescription former Governor of Gangwon Province, has been appointed head of the organising commitee for the PyeongChang 2018 winter Games

The Korean Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Kwang-sik Choi broke the news today in Seoul. Kim is expected to be formally elected next week at the inaugural general meeting.

Kim was nominated by South Korean President, Myung-bak Lee, as Special Ambassador for the PyeongChang 2018 bid and he worked on behalf of  the government to use his valuable international experience promoting the bid to his network of global sporting community contacts.

Kim has served three consecutive terms (1998, 2002, 2006) as Governor of Gangwon Province and was the guiding force behind the past two PyeongChang bids for the winter Games. Under his term they engineered the Dream Program which has reached out to youth around the world.

He has a broad knowledge of the cities due to serving as mayor of Gangneung and Bucheon as well as vice-governor for administrative affairs.

The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series will again be televised in 16 one-hour shows on ESPN2 and ESPN2HD, stuff with coverage from select NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series national events, cough it was announced today.

The popular NHRA Sportsman Spotlights, symptoms focusing on NHRA’s Member Track network, will be showcased as part of the race-coverage telecasts.

The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series coverage will air on ESPN2 and ESPN2HD on a tape-delay basis as part of NHRA’s relationship with ESPN, in its second decade as the exclusive home of NHRA Drag Racing. All 16 telecasts will air on Saturday or Sunday. The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series has a long-standing tradition of serving as a highly-competitive developmental arena for the future stars of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.

Returning as anchor of the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series telecasts will be long-time NHRA announcer Dave Rieff. Rieff has been involved for many years with NHRA coverage on ESPN2 and ESPN2HD. The color analyst role for the shows will be filled by a rotation of two veteran NHRA announcers, Alan Reinhart and Bill Stephens. Reinhart, whose announcing career spans more than two decades, has been the lead public address announcer of Lucas Oil Series racing at national events and brings extensive knowledge of the series and its competitors. Stephens has been involved with NHRA on the ESPN telecasts for many years and returns to the sport in 2013 both on-site as a public address announcer and in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series telecasts. ESPN2 is now available in nearly 100 million households.

The popular NHRA Sportsman Spotlight segments will continue in 2013. The segments will showcase unique and interesting stories from NHRA Member Tracks in each of the sanctioning body’s seven divisions as well as focus on the different racing programs available for the weekly NHRA enthusiast. Two new faces will be a part of the special feature in 2013. Lewis Bloom, currently involved in the NHRA Mello Yello telecasts on ESPN and best known as “Stat Guy,” will split duties with Reinhart, as they will visit the member tracks and share their reports with viewers during the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series telecasts on ESPN2. 

The latest annual review of football finance by analyst Deloitte has revealed that Premier League clubs are spending an enormous amount on player wages with the statistic reaching an all-time high.

The report showed increase in wages outstripped the growth in revenues.
It has resulted in a wages/revenue ratio of 70 per cent in the Premier League – a record figure having crept up from the low-to-mid 60s five years ago.

Wages went up by £201million in 2010-11 to almost £1.6billion, a 14% rise, and overall revenues rose by 12% to £2.27billion. This was mostly driven by a rise in income from the new TV deals, especially from overseas rights.

Alan Switzer, director in the sports business group at Deloitte, said: “If the wages to revenue ratio is 70% or higher it’s very difficult to make an operating profit.
“In our view it is too high as a league and the clubs need to be edging back to the low 60s. Every 1% that it drops should increase operating profits by £20m to £25m.”

The wage rises at some of the bigger clubs have been offset by significant rises in commercial income at some sides, including Manchester United, Liverpool and Manchester City.

The figures are for the 2010-11 season so are the last ones before UEFA start taking them into account for their financial fair play (FFP) calculations where clubs in European competition have to break even.

Switzer said Manchester City and Chelsea faced the greatest challenges in conforming to the FFP rules.

“Chelsea and Manchester City are the clubs which have recorded the biggest losses so they are the two which have the most to do, and to be fair to them they have been pretty public about needing to take action,” he added.
“A significant number of clubs around Europe have some distance to travel on the road towards compliance.”

The Deloitte report does not cover the most recent season, but it does show the effect of the 50% tax band coming into play – the 92 league clubs paid nearly £1.2billion in tax, up 20%.

The report also shows almost half of top-flight clubs had a reduction in matchday revenue reflecting the fact that many have been cautious about raising ticket prices during the current economic climate.

Also combined pre-tax losses among Premier League clubs were £380m, while transfer spending increased by £210m (38%), to a record level of £769m.

While Premier League clubs took a financial hit the Bundesliga remained Europe’s most profitable league with operating profits of £154m, a 24% increase. In the Premier League, overall operating profits decreased by £16m to £68m.