Channel 4 has announced that it will show coverage of the next two Paralympic Games, the forthcoming winter games in Sochi and the 2016 summer games in Rio.

The Channel, which scored big viewing figures for its coverage of the London 2012 Paralympics, has reportedly committed to showing over 45 hours of Winter Paralympics footage from Sochi, and a minimum of 200 hours from Rio.

Sir Philip Craven, chairman of the International Paralympic Committee, said he was ‘delighted’ that their relationship with Channel 4 was set to continue.

“With London 2012, Channel 4 created a blueprint for how a commercial broadcaster can raise the profile of Paralympic sport and its athletes to new levels,” Craven told The Guardian.

“They reached record audiences, in particular of young people, identified and developed some fantastic new presenting talent, and played a significant role in delivering seismic shifts in attitudes and perceptions towards people with an impairment in the UK.”

The British Paralympic Association congratulates Channel 4 on their appointment as UK host broadcaster for the 2014 and 2016 Paralympic Games.

Tim Hollingsworth, CEO of the British Paralympic Association said: “Whilst this is clearly huge news for the Paralympic movement internationally, as it shows other broadcasters around the world that there is a real market for Paralympic sport, for us in the UK it demonstrates that 2012 really was a ground breaking year. The Paralympic movement in our country has never been stronger and we’ve always said we wanted 2012 to be a launch pad to developing it further. So to have our broadcaster in place so far ahead of the next two Paralympic Games and with a commitment to cover events in the build up to them is a fantastic place to be.

“Our thanks go to the IPC for working hard on securing this and our congratulations to Channel 4 for winning the rights against stiff competition. Their dedication and passion for the Paralympics is clear for all to see and we look forward to working with them over the next four years to carry on the job that we have started so successfully in London 2012.”

The Women’s Professional Soccer league has folded after three seasons as the remaining five owners announced all operations have been suspended permanently.

This follows attempts to resolve a dispute that had seen the league cancelled in January with hopes it would return next year.

Atlanta Beat’s owner T. Fitz Johnson said: “We sincerely regret having to take this course of action.”

Thomas Hofstetter, CEO and president of Sky Blue FC, said: “We are proud of what WPS has accomplished, having attracted the highest quality players in the world to play in the best women’s league, as well as the progress women’s soccer has enjoyed over the past three years.”

The dispute started in October 2011 when league officials tried to terminate South Florida team, magicJack, owned by Dan Borislow.

In January 2012 it seemed the league had settled their legal issues with Borislow but the deal fell apart before the league was cancelled.

The WPS and Borislow have now announced a confidential out-of-court settlement has been reached.

The league has had a chequered history after starting with seven teams in 2009.

Franchises in Los Angeles, St. Louis, Chicago and the Bay Area folded before teams from Philadelphia, Atlanta and western New York were added.

The league had six clubs last season and was preparing to play in 2012 with five, which required a waiver to be sanctioned by U.S. Soccer, after the South Florida franchise was terminated.

UCI have announced thay will continue their long-term cooperation in Japan with the NHK Global Media Services.

Under the latest agreement, discount NHK Global Media Services will have exclusive rights to broadcast the UCI Road World Championships, bronchi the UCI Track Cycling World Championships and the UCI Track Cycling World Cup Classics in Japan in 2013 and 2014.

For the first time ever, order Japanese television viewers will have the opportunity to watch the UCI Track Cycling World Championships live on the Speed Channel as the action unfolds in Minsk. The live broadcasts will be complemented by UCI edited highlights magazines and news programmes.

The UCI is delighted to have secured this long-standing partnership for the next two years and looks forward to its continuing cooperation with NHK Global Media Services.

Charles Green has said he is committed to Rangers “for the long haul” as he tried to reassure fans of the Glasgow club.

Speaking to RangersTV the former Sheffield United chief executive accepted his consortium face a difficult task but he is focused on getting the club back on a sound financial footing.

“It’s been the longest week that I have ever endured. Progress is being made but there are huge hurdles to overcome both from the media point of view because there has been a lot of mistrust, doubt and scepticism which is understandable.

“There are also a lot of regulatory issues to overcome and the huge financial hurdles. If you look at my duties over the last five days – it seems like a month – they are the three key areas that have been occupying my time.

“All I can do is speak openly to try to make myself available. I have tried to speak with supporters groups and interact with the media.

“I have never experienced anything like this in my lifetime. It’s a great asset of the club that the fan base is so strong, so intense and so willing to get behind the club but it is something that took me off guard.

“All I am trying to do is be open and honest and I think people respect that. They don’t want the lies and the distrust that they experienced over the last few years.”

Some Rangers’ fans remain troubled by the exclusive deal Green signed with former owner, Craig Whyte, whose shareholding he bought for £1.

But Green said: “The contract was signed by Craig Whyte and witnessed by the lawyers and advisors. That contract between Craig Whyte and Sevco, the bid vehicle, is binding. The only way that the contract will terminate is in the event of the CVA not being approved.

“Mr Whyte’s transfer of shares to Sevco is conditional upon that but otherwise it is irrevocable.

“We are here for the long haul regardless of the situation. If someone wanted to turn a fast buck there would be a lot quicker and easier ways of doing it rather than investing in Rangers in its current situation.

“I would be disappointed if fans wondered why we wanted to invest in Rangers because they know better than me that it’s one of the best clubs in the world with a fanatical supporter base and it’s testimony to them that they are still all here after all they’ve gone through.”

The Pittsburgh Steelers have appointed Kevin Colbert to become the franchise’s first General Manager (GM) in their 78-year history.

He was promoted from director of football operations, a position he had held since he was hired by the Record holding six-time Superbowl champions Steelers in 2000.

Like a lot of franchise moves, this one was done under the radar. The Pittsburgh Post Gazette reported the promotion simply was inserted into the team media guide under Colbert’s bio, with no elaboration except to note Colbert is in “his first year as the team’s general manager.”

During his previous 11 seasons with Pittsburgh, Colbert helped assemble teams that went to three Super Bowls, winning two; won six division titles, made seven playoff appearances and had eight winning seasons.

A native of Pittsburgh, Colbert, 54, came to the Steelers from Detroit, where he was the Lions’ pro scouting director for 10 years. He also was a college scout for the Dolphins.

 

Former Portsmouth owner Balu Chainrai has submitted a bid to buy back the club, which could bring them out of administration within the next six weeks.

Portsmouth were relegated from the Championship this season and will play their football in League One but the South Coast club have bigger worries on their mind by looking for a new owner since entering administration in February for the second time in as many years.

And joint administrator Trevor Birch, of PFK Accountants & business advisers, has now revealed that Chainrai’s Portpin are the only group to have proposed terms for a Company Voluntary Arrangement.

Birch said: “PKF has not received bids from any other potential buyers and we do not expect any new bidders to emerge before the club runs out of money.

“The Supporters’ Trust is working hard to make a proposal but as yet is not in a funded position to make a bid.

“We’ve made it clear from the start that a new owner would need to demonstrate that it cannot only fund a CVA that is acceptable to creditors, but also cover the club’s ongoing operating losses.

“Only Portpin has been able to give us the necessary assurances that the funding will be in place. This is important because at some stage it will have to give The Football League those assurances too.

Portpin has made an offer to buy the club. The offer will form the basis of a proposal for a CVA that, in the circumstances, is likely to give the best possible deal for creditors of Portsmouth Football Club (2010) Ltd and provide the most realistic opportunity for protecting the club’s financial position going forward and avoid liquidation.

“We are aiming to send details of the proposed CVA to creditors next week. Creditors will then get an opportunity to vote on the proposals at a meeting to be scheduled for early June. If the CVA is accepted, it will pave the way for Portpin to acquire the club by early July.

“However, there is still a lot to do before we get to that stage and we are not taking anything for granted. PKF will now work together with Portpin to finalise the business plan to satisfy the Football League that Portsmouth Football Club has a sustainable long-term future.

“This is still likely to involve further cost-saving measures including player sales and the renegotiation of contracts with the top earners to bring the club’s costs in line with the League One average.

“Portpin management and PKF have been working with the manager Michael Appleton to make preparations to ensure that the club is in the best possible position for the season ahead. Portpin has full trust in Michael’s ability to be a successful manager.

“Nobody wants to see this much-loved club collapse into either liquidation or administration again so it essential that all parties work together to bring stability back to Fratton Park. It is the least that fans, staff and players deserve after the turbulence of the past few years.”

Chainrai, owner of Portpin, said: “I always said I would not let the club be liquidated. I’m a businessman but I realise that the club will only have value if it is successful. I now want to turn things around at Portsmouth Football Club and see the club regain its rightful position.

“The success of this goal can only be achieved if all parties with a vested interest in the club’s business work together.

“Let’s not be under any illusions though: we are planning to take on a club with severe financial problems that cannot be fixed overnight.

“I don’t have a magic wand but many important elements – a proud history, passionate supporters and one of the country’s top managers – are already in place and provide a strong platform on which we hope to build stability.

“We will work with the Football League and the PFA over the next couple of weeks to demonstrate our commitment to securing a brighter and stable future for Portsmouth Football Club.”

Olympic Gold Medallist Bob Beamon jumped into a new career as the new chief executive of Art at the Olympians Museum and Gallery at the Al Oerter Center for Excellence in Fort Myers in Florida.

Cathy Oerter the wife of the late four-time Olympic champion in the discus throw Al Oerter, praised the American just before he took the post.

“My late husband, Al, had known Bob since the early 60s,” she said.

“I know Bob will continue to cultivate Al’s passion for arts and sports to motivate and encourage others to achieve their best.”

Beamon broke the long jump world record in the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City by jumping 8.90 metres, one of the most famous performances in the history of the sport.

The achievement went unchallenged for 23 years until Mike Powell broke it in 1991, making Beamon the second longest holder of the record behind Jesse Owens who held the record for 25 years from 1935 to 1960.

Beamon post athletic career went on to promote athletics to youngsters with former Governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger, as well as hosting the South Florida Inner City Games and the Bob Beamon United Way Golf Classic.

He has since been elected into the USA Track & Field and US Olympic hall of fames, and served as the director of the athletic development at Florida Atlantic University, and the associate athletic director at Chicago State University.

“It is a tremendous honour to carry on the legacy of the great Al Oerter, the legendary four-time Olympic gold medal discus thrower,” Beamon said.

“I’m looking forward to working with the board, donors, volunteers and the community to maximise AOTO’s strengths while promoting the Olympic ideals and values.”

Rangers potential new owner Charles Green has revealed the identities of two members of the Sevco consortium set to take over Rangers.

The former Sheffield United chief executive had been relectant to unveil the names of his associates but on Friday he announced them.

Green told Rangers’ official website: “I can now provide two names, as I have clearance to do so on their part, of investors who are on the list.

“One guy is Jude Allen, who is an Indonesian investor, and the second is a lawyer from the Middle East, Mazen Houssami.

“These two are very prominent in their areas.

“It’s a great opportunity for us to build on their experience, their connections in those regions, because we want to take the Rangers brand into these areas.

“There are other names but, for today, they are two very prominent businessmen who are backing the football club.

“And, in addition to these two previous names, there is also a Singapore family trust.”

treat helvetica, ambulance sans-serif;”>Havas Sports & Entertainment (HS&E), abortion  global brand engagement agency of the Havas Group, has appointed a new Senior Vice President Sports for Havas Sports & Entertainment US in the form of Mark Rothenberg.

Rothenberg will be responsible for developing HS&E’s sports offering in the United States while based in New York, further developing the network’s sports expertise and brand engagement credentials with Havas Media US agencies, including MPG & Havas Digital. Rothenberg will also collaborate with Havas agencies Euro RSCG and Arnold.

Rothenberg’s position will help strengthen HS&E’s presence in the US, already established through HS&E’s social experience agency Cake New York, led by Adrian Pettett, and with HS&E Miami, managed by Manuel Reis, whose strengths lie in award-winning brand content projects for North America and LATAM. Havas Sports & Entertainment US currently works for a variety of clients including Pedigree, Carnival Cruise Lines, Dior, Havaianas, Volvo, Puig, Sears, and Yahoo!

With more than 25+ years experience in sports, lifestyle and entertainment marketing, Rothenberg joins the agency from Two River Consulting (TRC), a marketing consultancy specialized in strategic planning and integrated marketing communications development.

Prior to TRC, Rothenberg  was Executive Vice President of Marketing for Cox Enterprises who purchased the agency he founded, Lifestyle Marketing Group (LMG), a leading marketing agency specializing in sports marketing, event marketing, sponsorship sales and sponsorship portfolio analysis. He also helped establish Saatchi & Saatchi’s sports marketing network, having worked with many blue-chip companies including General Motors, Hewlett Packard, Johnson & Johnson, Gillette and Mars among others.

Rothenberg’s extensive experience in Olympic marketing initiatives representing the United States Olympic Team, Atlanta, Seoul and Barcelona Organizing Committees as well as Olympic sponsors, such as General Motors, Bristol Myers, and Xerox, will provide additional senior resource,  support the network’s already strong client base, and help grow HS&E’s footprint both domestically and globally.

Maria Luisa Francoli, CEO of Havas Media North America and MPG Global, said: “As our clients continue to look to us to provide seamless media solutions across channels, our focus on integrated sports and entertainment solutions is a natural fit,” said Francoli.

“Mark is a great talent whose expertise in sports marketing is coupled with his holistic approach to meeting business challenges. I look forward to his immediate contributions to all of our clients,” she added.

Rothenberg said:“I am excited to be joining Havas Sports & Entertainment’s global network, which offers strategically sound and best in class creative brand engagement experiences. It is great to join an agency with a strong client base that is committed to delivering innovative work based on insight, solid research and measurement, be that ROI or ROO. I am looking forward to growing our sports offering within the US marketplace and drawing on HS&E’s global expertise and experience.”

Lucien Boyer, President and CEO of Havas Sports & Entertainment said, “ I am confident that Mark’s expertise and solid background in the American sports marketplace will make this further push into sports in this region a success for Havas Sports & Entertainment. We are excited to have Mark on board –  our teams across the US and global network look forward to collaborating on many new projects.”