The BBC have replaced Channel 4 as the UK broadcaster of the 2013 IAAF World Championships in Moscow.

The 2013 championships will be the first of three on the BBC with deals in place for Beijing 2015 and London 2017.

Channel 4’s Martin Baker said the move “reflects the changing nature of both broadcasters’ sports portfolios”.

Channel 4 made a deal in March to be the sole terrestrial broadcaster of UK horseracing between 2013 and 2016.

“Since the deal for the 2011 and 2013 World Athletics Championships was agreed in 2010, Channel 4 has acquired the rights to the major events of UK horse racing and the BBC has announced that it will broadcast the 2015 and 2017 World Athletics Championships,” the channel’s director of commercial affairs explained.

London saw off competition from Doha to stage the 2017 event,after pulling out of the race for 2015 because of uncertainty over how the Olympic Stadium would be used in the wake of the London 2012 Games.

Director of BBC Sport Barbara Slater said the agreement demonstrated the corporation’s commitment to athletics, guaranteeing a major championship every year until 2017.

“Added to the Commonwealth games in Glasgow in 2014 and the Rio Olympics in 2016 it will take the BBC audience on an athletics journey from London 2012 to London 2017.”

German Bundesliga soccer team Hamburg have parted company with club president Bernd Hoffmann and Katja Kraus, appointing Carl Edgar Jarchow and Hoachim Hilke, formerly of of sports marketing agency SportFive.

Joachim Hilke is a former board member of the club and will take over the duties of Kraus and be responsible for marketing and communication.

The move comes just three days after HSV sacked coach Armin Veh following the 6-0 loss against Bayern Munich.

A note on the club’s official website from chairman Otto Rieckhoff reads: “As successor to Bernd Hoffmann, Carl Edgar Jarchow will come in, Katja Kraus has been replaced by Joachim Hilke.

“The explanation of the Supervisory Board is that Hoffmann and Katja Kraus are no longer heads of HSV. This decision was made on Wednesday (16/03/11). Bernd Hoffmann, Katja Kraus and HSV have parted amicably. The Board thanked Mr. Hoffman and Ms. Kraus expressly for the excellent work done for the club and wishes them both personally and professionally, all the best for the future.”

Sky Sports have sealed a eight-year deal with West Indies Cricket to show England’s next four tours to the Caribbean.

The agreement features all Test, ODI and Twenty20 international matches played in the region until 2020.

England will next visit the West Indies in 2014, with further trips to follow in 2015, 2017 and 2019.

Barney Francis, managing director of Sky Sports, said: “Sky’s first televised cricket was from the West Indies in 1990 and this deal further shows our commitment to overseas cricket by providing four more live England cricket tours from the Caribbean.

“As recent ICC World Twenty20 champions, West Indies are always exciting to watch and very popular with our viewers. This adds more depth to our live scheduling and means Sky Sports has never offered greater depth and breadth of coverage nor a stronger line-up of live sport for our viewers to watch at home or on the move.”

 

Henrique Meirelles, the former president of Brazil’s Central Bank was officially appointed to head the Olympic Public Authority yesterday, March 14, the agency set-up to coordinate preparations for the 2016 Olympics and Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Meirelles will coordinate Government policies and public works projects for the Games for the new body, , Autoridade Pública Olímpica·(PDB), having helped to oversee Brazil’s biggest economic expansion in decades.

Meirelles accepted the nomination after meeting with President Dilma Rousseff on Monday and as head of the Olympic Public Authority, will have a staff of roughly 170 and manage a multi-billion dollar budget. 

The PDB was the idea of former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and is modelled on the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) set-up by London after it won its bid to host the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics. The new body is set to have a budget of up to US$18bn.

Meirelles, who was part of the delegation that presented Rio’s bid to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) at its Session in Copenhagen in October 2009, stated: “My job will be to coordinate efforts of all levels of government to ensure the Olympics are the success that Brazil and the whole world expects.

“The event will be symbolic of Brazil’s capacity to fill the new space it has created for itself in the world.”

Meirelles stood down from his role with the Central Bank in December following eight year in charge, a period which coincided with the incredible economic growth of Brazil.

“This is a project that can change the world’s perception of Brazil,” he added.

“The Olympic Games have the capacity to change Rio de Janeiro.”

Ten Sports, ambulance one of the world’s premier sports channels, has extended its support to the 18th edition of Aircel Chennai Open as the exclusive official broadcast partner. 

The channel has bagged exclusive rights of telecasting the tournament in India. Ten Sports will bring LIVE tennis action as the world’s best tennis players converge in Chennai to display their talent and win the coveted title. Ten Sports’ comprehensive coverage will be telecast from December 31, 2012 through to January 6, 2013.

Atul Pande, CEO Ten Sports, commented on the deal: “We have enjoyed a strong and fruitful association with the Aircel Chennai Open and are very excited to be strengthening it further. Once again, we have kept our promise to bring the finest international events to Indian audiences. Tennis has a huge fan following across the region and our association with the Aircel Chennai Open will give a fantastic opportunity to millions of tennis fans to experience thrilling tennis action from the comfort of their homes.”

Speaking about the tournament’s association with Ten Sports, AshuJindal, COO, IMG Reliance said: “In taking tennis to millions of homes across the world and giving aficionados a brilliant opportunity to enjoy the action live, Ten Sports has played an important role in popularizing the tournament and the sport in different markets. We are pleased to continue our partnership with Ten Sports as official broadcaster of the 18^th Edition of the Aircel Chennai Open.”

M.A. Alagappan, President of Tamil Nadu Tennis Association said: “We are glad to welcome Ten Sports as the Official Broadcaster of the 18^th edition of the Aircel Chennai Open. Ten Sports definitely enjoys wide reach in the region and we are sure their exclusive LIVE coverage of the event will help tennis fans to witness the game from start to finish.”

German sportswear brand PUMA have announced that Franz Koch has been promoted from his role as head of global strategy to replace Jochen Zeitz as the new chief executive officer of the  firm next month.

Koch’s intentions are expected to be to push the company’s e-commerce website in an effort to increase annual turnover to over US$5.5bn by 2015.

Former CEO Zeitz is leaving his role in order to oversee the sports lifestyle division of Puma’s owner, French retail group PPR SA, which also owns luxury fashion brands such as Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent, having been appointed to the position at PUMA 18 years ago at the age of 30.

32-year-old Koch told Wall Street Journal: “We’ve gone through tremendous changes in the last three years,” adding his intention to “just focus on the long-term strategic plan”.

PPR acquired a controlling stake in PUMA four years ago, with Zeitz having attempted to close the gap to market leaders Nike and Adidas. Sales reached $3.3bn in 2005, but the company registered disappointing revenues of $3.75bn last year with Zeitz blaming tough trading conditions.

A statement from PUMA read: “Franz Koch…has been responsible for the long-term strategic group development and management of special projects such as portfolio optimisation, process re-engineering as well as mergers and acquisitions. Moreover, he co-ordinated and helped execute the company’s restructuring program in 2009 to lay the foundation for sustainable growth following the economic crisis.”

Puma’s brand ambassadors include Jamaican sprint king Usain Bolt and various leading soccer stars, and the company also has partnerships with a number of national teams.

Ice Hockey’s Red Bulls Salute – European Trophy Finals is set to be aired in Central and Northern Europe as well as the United States following a number of broadcast deals.

The international sports marketing company Infront Sports & Media, acting as the event’s media and marketing partner, has secured a significant amount of free-TV coverage. Overall, the Red Bulls Salute – European Trophy Finals, taking place in Vienna (Austria) and Bratislava (Slovakia) from 13 to 16 December 2012, will be broadcast in more than 30 countries.

The Red Bulls Salute is the final tournament of the European Trophy which in 2012 saw 32 teams from seven European nations compete for the final of the club-level European tournament in ice hockey. The quarter finals start this Thursday and feature the following teams: Luleå Hockey (SWE), Brynäs IF Gävle (SWE), HV71 Jönköping (SWE), Tappara Tampere (FIN), UPC Vienna Capitals (AUT), Eisbären Berlin (GER), HC Slovan Bratislava (SVK) and Färjestad BK Karlstad (SWE). The winner will be played out in the final game to take place in Bratislava on Sunday.

For the first time ever, Infront managed to bring the Red Bulls Salute to the United States, with ESPN broadcasting live. In addition, coverage will be provided in Sweden, Norway and Denmark (Viasat), Finland (MTV3), the Czech Republic (Nova Sport), Slovakia (TV Markiza/Nova Sport), Switzerland (SSF) as well as in Austria and Germany (Servus TV). Additionally, an agreement for international news coverage has been sealed with SNTV.

On the marketing side, a central sponsorship opportunity for the emerging competition has been taken over by Henkel with its brand “Ceresit” (adhesives). As a Premium Sponsor, the brand will receive a comprehensive presence across the Red Bulls Salute. Furthermore, Henkel branding has been integrated on all print and online promotional material. 

Bruno Marty, Infront’s Executive Director Winter Sports, said: “The level of international media coverage achieved for an emerging competition like the Red Bulls Salute reflects the strong fan interest and future potential of international club ice hockey. It also illustrates the boost a cross-national competition – not only on national team, but also on club level – can provide for the sport.  Infront is eager to contribute its expertise and network in order to build upon these promising sportive and commercial foundation in the future.”

Formula One racing team Force India has recruited Sadie Wigglesworth as its head of sponsorship acquisition and media, with an aim to redefining and developing its commercial approach.

Wigglesworth joins the team from Aston Martin Racing and in her seven years with the prestigious sportscar team, she has been responsible for acquiring and managing a wide range of sponsors and partners, including several well-known blue chip companies.

A graduate of St. Andrews University, she started her career at the Vintage Sports Car Club before being headhunted to a senior account management role within the Subaru World Rally Team at Prodrive and subsequently  went on to set up the marketing department within the newly-formed Aston Martin Racing team in 2005.

Wigglesworth said: “I am delighted to join the Team that offers an outstanding commercial opportunity for global companies wishing to enter the Indian market place. This October, the inaugural Indian Grand Prix will take place at the Jaypee International Race Circuit near Delhi, offering even greater scope for companies not currently known in India to penetrate the market. With an Indian business development service for prospective sponsors’ already in operation, we are poised to bring a totally fresh dimension to sporting partnerships.”

Team principal Dr. Vijay Mallya added: “With a strong technical package and the added incentive of the Indian Grand Prix, we believe that we are expanding our potential as a strong sponsorship prospect. F1 offers a proven global marketing platform, with viewing figures, media coverage and brand visibility only rivaled by the Olympics and the World Cup. Within that global base, Force India also offers a unique opportunity to venture into one of the most dynamic and fast-growing economies in the world. Sadie and her team will build on these solid principles to take Force India to the next stage of our commercial development.”

Cricket Australia (CA) today announced that the Rose Bowl Series between the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars and the New Zealand White Ferns will be live streamed on cricket.com.au.

The series includes four One Day Internationals (ODIs), abortion all of which will be played in Sydney, sale starting today (Wednesday) at the SCG.

CA’s Executive General Manager of Marketing, Digital & Communications Ben Amarfio said he was excited to be able to provide fans with the opportunity to support women’s cricket.

“We are extremely proud of the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars, particularly their recent victory in the ICC Women’s Twenty20 in Sri Lanka, and we want to provide cricket fans with the opportunity to see them in action via our website during the Rose Bowl Series,” Amarfio said.

“Cricket Australia is dedicated to increasing female engagement and ensuring that cricket is a sport for all Australians.

“The Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars are fine ambassadors for women’s cricket and role models for the next generation of players and fans,” Amarfio said.

SportAccord, mind the umbrella body for 104 international sports federations, has appointed Vincent Gaillard as its new director general.

Gaillard will join from Coca-Cola on July 1, where he has been involved with the strategic planning and operational delivery of Olympic Games and FIFA World Cup sponsorships since 1998.

Vincent Gaillard has previously held different sports marketing roles with the National Basketball Association (NBA), BBDO Advertising and Adidas.

SportAccord has been without a director general since Nolvenn Dufay de Lavallaz stepped down last year and president Hein Verbruggen spoke of the appointment: “SportAccord is a rapidly developing organisation and the range of projects and services is increasing.

“We are convinced that with his professionalism and profound experience, Mr Gaillard is the best person to support SportAccord in facing the challenges that arise thereof. He will bring the perfect skill-set and leadership that SportAccord needs today.”

Gaillard added: “I am looking forward to joining SportAccord at such an important moment in the development of the organisation. SportAccord is a dynamic structure with enormous potential, leading several ambitious initiatives for the benefit of the international sports movement.”

Gaillard continued: “One of my main tasks will be to consolidate recent developments and, at the same time, further develop multi-sports games and various other initiatives. But our focus will always remain to unite and support the SportAccord members.”