The ICC Chief Executives’ Committee (CEC) will meet for its next quarterly meeting in Dubai on 30 November 2010. The main objective is to consider the new Future Tours Programme Agreement (2012-2020) and the accompanying league rules.

The Chief Executives and their respective FTP managers will work towards implementing the new FTP and the Test and ODI leagues. Following the CEC recommendations in September, price the new international cricket structure was approved by the ICC Executive Board in October.

Haroon Lorgat, clinic the ICC Chief Executive who chairs the CEC, therapy said: ‘The restructure of international cricket has been a significant and strategic piece of work which now requires a new FTP Agreement incorporating league rules and regulations to be discussed and approved.’

With less than three months to go to the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, the CEC will also receive an update on final plans and preparations before the start of the event. CEC will also further consider the design of ICC strategy for the period 2011-2015.

Mr Lorgat said: ‘The present ICC directors and chief executives have recognised their essential role in shaping the future strategy of the ICC and the game.’

The CEC comprises the chief executives of the 10 Test-playing Members and three representatives from the ICC Associate and Affiliate Members. It is chaired by the ICC Chief Executive. The Chairman of the ICC Cricket Committee was also in attendance.

Haroon Lorgat                                     ICC Chief Executive (chairman)

Clive Lloyd                                         Chairman of the ICC Cricket Committee

 

James Sutherland                                Australia

Manzur Ahmed                                   Bangladesh

David Collier                                      England and Wales

N Srinivasan                                        India

Dr Justin Vaughan                              New Zealand

Zakir Khan                                          Pakistan

Gerald Majola                                     South Africa

Nishantha Ranatunga                         Sri Lanka

Dr Ernest Hilaire                                 West Indies

Ozias Bvute                                        Zimbabwe

 

Associate and Affiliate Member representatives

John Cribbin (Hong Kong)

Warren Deutrom (Ireland)

Francois Erasmus (Namibia)

Resurrection Fighting Alliance have announced organisational, pharmacy promotional and event plans for 2013 along with the signing of a television distribution deal with AXS TV.

Soares plans for the up-start mixed martial arts promotion to host up to 10 events this year.

“I am honored and excited to be in business with AXS TV and to have this national television deal in place for 2013, allergist ” said RFA president Ed Soares. “I’m already so far ahead of where I wanted to be at this time – we have plans to do up to 10 fights this year – and with this major TV deal in place, I think we have established that RFA offers aspiring athletes tough competition in fights that reach a national audience.”

Soares has appointed Sven Bean as RFA’s Chief Operating Officer. Bean has 15 years of experience in fight promotions, with over 100 successful kickboxing and MMA shows to his credit. He will work with Soares to identify new talent for RFA and will be involved in all aspects of live event planning and execution.

“I am proud to announce Sven Bean as COO and lead executive in charge of fight operations for RFA,” said Soares. “Sven is one of the most experienced and accomplished fight promoters in MMA. He is a trusted professional who shares my passion for MMA and my vision for the huge potential of RFA as a star-building league for the sport. With a TV deal in place and so many events planned this year, Sven will be central to RFA’s success.”

In addition, Soares has recruited former UFC Director of Public Relations Jen Wenk and her StarPR Las Vegas company to spearhead the PR efforts for RFA.

“I’m honored to join RFA and to be working with Ed Soares, someone that I have known and respected for years,” said Wenk. “While Ed was managing the career for the most accomplished athlete in MMA, I was managing PR for the most accomplished fight promotion in the world. I am excited to join forces with Ed and to help build RFA into a vibrant MMA promotion and as a home for the sport’s rising stars.”

Qatari independent broadcaster, Al Jazeera Sport (AJS), has confirmed it may bid for the domestic TV rights to the English Premier League, ahead of launching the beIN Sport network in France this week and its August arrival in the US.

“We are studying whether there is room for another sports channel there [the UK],” Nasser al-Khelaifi, director of Al Jazeera Sport, is quoted as saying by Reuters.

“There is a lot of opportunity in the world for sports channels,” he added. “We are going to look at all the opportunities in Europe. We are going to study each market one by one, and if there is room for another channel, then we will go.”

With 15 pay TV and two free to air channels broadcast in Arabic and English, AJS is already the most watched sports network in the Middle East and North Africa. But this past year AJS has also been seeking European football rights for television audiences around the globe.

French Ligue 1, Italian Serie A, German Bundesliga, UEFA Champions League and UEFA Euro 2012 coverage has already been snapped up for the French TV market, and US TV rights to Spain’s La Liga, Serie A and the French Ligue 1 are reportedly either sealed or in negotiation, along with football action from Latin America.

Now the Qatar-based broadcaster is studying tender documents and market conditions to broadcast the English Premier League to its home audience. The last deal for what is considered the hottest TV property in football cost News Corp affiliate Sky and ESPN a whopping £1.782 billion (US$2.9 billion) between them, and a three year rights package for the UK – beginning with the 2013-14 season – is currently up for auction. The English Premier League is expected to make its selection in June.

It remains to be seen if a foray onto Sky’s well established turf could prove successful in the UK, however competitors are certainly taking the gas-rich Gulf state’s interest seriously, as Qatar signals its intent as a global sporting powerhouse ahead of hosting the World Cup in 2022.

“An Al Jazeera bid is a realistic option,” Ross Hair, managing director ESPN UK said in February. “They have done something very interesting in France in buying first division football against the incumbent satellite broadcaster Canal Plus and we’ve also looked at what they’ve done in other markets.

“You can draw parallels with the upcoming auction in the UK. Al Jazeera have the ambition to grow further in sport and into other markets,” Hair added.

In France, AJS’ two new channels will reach a potential 14 million cable, satellite and IPTV homes, and cost subscribers 11 euros a month. As well as football, beIN Sport will air golf, basketball, and provide some coverage of the London 2012 Olympics.

Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, beIN Sport is reportedly in talks with Imagina US, a Miami-based production company that would provide studios for the broadcasts of the European football matches Al Jazeera acquires in the US.

Sochi 2014  Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games Organising Committee President and chief executive Dmitri Chernyshenko has claimed only 20 per cent of the staff required can be recruited from within the city.

Chernyshenko was speaking after Sochi 2014 signed further transport and personnel agreements, as the International Business Forum in the city comes to a conclusion.

“Sochi is experiencing a shortage of skilled workers for the Games, only 20 per cent of potential employees [in Sochi] are qualified enough,” he said.

“This is not a unique situation in Russia – we are facing unprecedented challenges.”

Sochi signed deals with Kelly Services from the the United States, Adecco from Switzerland and Russian company Exect Business Training to handle recruitment and staffing during the Winter Olympic Games.

Kelly will take charge of finding permanent staff, Adecco will deal with temporary recruitment and Exect is responsible for training services.

Despite his solemn analysis, Chernyshenko remained upbeat and, with the new deals signed, he sees a very bright future for Sochi.

He said:”Adecco has done Olympic Games from Sydney to London and knows better than we do the difficulties of skills shortages. Thousands of people must be moved here and convinced to settle. If we do this, it will make Sochi the most popular place in Russia, with all kinds of people speaking all kinds of languages.”

Adecco Group Russia’s director general Natalia Dolzhenkova said: “I am sure Adecco’s great experience and expertise in hiring and providing temporary staff will make it possible for bright and talented people to find a job in the Sochi Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2014 – and make it truly unforgettable.We are proud of our status as a supplier,” added Natalia Matusova, vice-president of Kelly Outsourcing and Consulting. Our knowledge and experience will prove to be of significant value in the quest to achieve the goals facing the Sochi 2014 Games.”

Exect Business Training will train approximately 25,000 volunteers and 5,000 other personnel in the build up to the Games, with around 187,500 staff needed to ensure Sochi is able to organise a successful Olympics and Paralympics.

Just an hour before these deals were agreed, Sochi 2014 signed further transport and personnel agreements.

Chernyshenko put pen to paper on an agreement with Sweden’s Scania and GAZ Group, a company that is a joint cooperation between Ford and Russia, for the provision of buses during the 2014 Games.

GAZ Group’s Nikolay Odintsov said: “The first Games experience that GAZ had was during Moscow 1980. Being a supplier for the Sochi 2014 Organising Committee is so important for us because the agreement symbolises the continuity of traditions and confidence in our company.”

His views were mirrored by Scania’s managing director Hans Tardell, who said it was “a great honour” to be selected as a supplier to Sochi 2014.

Sports business journalism internship – London

Employer: iSportconnect

Salary: Expenses

Location: Battersea, physician London

The world’s largest sports business platform, iSportconnect has an exciting opening in our editorial department. We are looking for a bright and enthusiastic intern to help with all aspects of content on the site.

The role will include writing and sourcing news stories, conducting interviews on the phone and in person, moderating the communities by adding discussions, video interviews, updating our social media pages and helping with other editorial content.

Applicants need to demonstrate an ability to work quickly and effectively, helping the team to keep on top of the fast moving sports business industry. The confidence to speak to high-level sports executives is a must, so communication skills, both written and verbal are essential. A keen interest in all sports is also vital.

Interning for iSportconnect will give you the chance to learn on the job, meet important people in the sports sector, get your work published and work in a vibrant office in a great location in London.

Requirements:

• The applicant should have a degree in journalism or relevant field. Previous work experience is also desirable.
• Good knowledge of a variety of sports, including the business side of the industry.
• Strong writing, researching and communication skills
• Comfortable using all forms of social media
• Ability to shoot and edit videos will work strongly in your favour

How to apply:

To apply send a cover letter and CV to steve@isportconnect.com

ONE World Sports, the English-language sports network with exclusive world-class competitions from around the globe, has entered into a licensing agreement with the Nippon Television Network Corporation to bring Japan’s most successful baseball team, the Yomiuri Giants – current Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) champion and holder of 22 NBP Championship titles – to millions of baseball fans in North America.

The Giants are Japan’s oldest and most popular baseball team, and are known widely as “The New York Yankees of Japan.”

The landmark agreement provides ONE World Sports exclusive North American rights to broadcast 72 Giants 2013 regular season games via television and broadband, from March 29 through September. The NPB season, and its rules, mirror those of U.S. Major League Baseball (MLB). ONE World Sports will deliver upwards of three Giants games per week in primetime.

“This groundbreaking agreement gives baseball fans in the United States the opportunity to follow the action throughout the season of the most popular Nippon Professional Baseball team — which has produced some of the world’s most accomplished baseball players,” said Alexander Brown, President and CEO of ONE World Sports.

Japanese professional baseball began with the founding of the Yomiuri Giants in 1934 and, since the beginning, the Giants have dominated — winning more pennants and Japan Series than any other team. The team is possibly best known as the home for nearly three decades – as player and manager – of legendary slugger Sadaharu Oh, but more recently has served as busy recruiting territory for MLB.

“We are delighted that the Yomiuri Giants now have the chance to be viewed by American sports fans on ONE World Sports,” stated Yukiko Kimishima, Divisional Vice President, International Business Development. “There has always been a strong connection between the Nippon Professional Baseball and U.S. Major League Baseball, and this new agreement allows the team great exposure in the United States. Japanese and Americans share a love for baseball, and we know that the American audience will enjoy following our team throughout the season.”

Glasgow Rangers could face the unimaginable possibility of having their titles being stripped according to Scottish Premier League chief executive Neil Doncaster.

The SPL are continuing its probe into the administration-hit club’s use of EBTs (Employee Benefit Trusts) and if players were paid outside of the contracts lodged with the authorities.

Doncaster has admitted that if the case goes against Rangers, the SPL has the option of withdrawing titles the club has won.

“In any disciplinary investigation we must go through a chain of events. The lawyers investigate and bring a report back to the Board,” Doncaster told Scottish newspaper The Daily Record.

“If they think there’s a case to answer, the Board must decide how to progress. They can hear it themselves, through a sub-committee or appoint an independent commission.

“If there’s a case which is prosecuted, there could be sanctions if proven. These are unlimited according to the rules.

“There are 18 different sanctions that can be applied by the SPL.”

When asked to clarify if one of those options was ‘withdraw or withholding of an award or title’, Doncaster confirmed: “That’s one of the rules.

“The nub of the issue is our rules say all payments to players must be made within an SPL contract.”

See what Neil Doncaster had to say in his exclusive iSportconnect interview here>>

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Bill Neukom has announced retirement as the managing general partner and chief executive officer of the San Francisco Giants leading to his successor being named in the form of Larry Baer.

Neukom, 69, who previously was general counsel for Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) and president of the American Bar Association, will be replaced at the end of 2011 by Larry Baer, the club’s president and chief operating officer.

Neukom, a Giants general partner since 2003, will serve as chairman emeritus of the club next season, the team said today in a statement. Baer, 54, has been COO since May 1996.

Neukom plans to focus on the World Justice Project, which he founded in 2006 to strengthen the rule of law worldwide. He also plans to teach at his alma mater, Stanford Law School.

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.