IMG Media, a division of IMG Worldwide, has agreed a deal to market the Barclays Premier League’s media rights for the next three years in Serbia, Bosnia, Croatia, Slovenia, Macedonia, Montenegro and Kosovo.

IMG won the rights to the 2013/14, 2014/15 and 2015/16 seasons in competition with broadcasters and other media businesses.

Victor Blundell, Senior Vice President for IMG Media, said: “The Barclays Premier League is extremely popular in these countries with several players from the region plying their trade in the English top flight.

“Having sold the rights in the region for the current three year cycle, we know the market very well and we are delighted to renew this property again with the Premier League.”

Richard Scudamore, Chief Executive of the Premier League, said: “We are extremely pleased that IMG Media has chosen to invest in our broadcast rights in the Balkans.

“We are confident they will distribute the best Barclays Premier League action in a comprehensive and innovative manner to our fans in the region.”

Wie das Magazin Sponsors berichtet, ist für die Deutschen die Ukraine als Co-Gastgeber deram 8. Juni beginnenden UEFA EURO 2012 ungeeignet. Das ist das Ergebnis einer Studie.

42,3 Prozent der befragten Deutschen gaben an, dass die Ukraine, die das Turniergemeinsam mit seinem Nachbarland Polen ausrichtet, derzeit nicht als Austragungsortder Fußball-EM geeignet ist. Dennoch sind 47,9 Prozent der Meinung, dass die Spiele derEURO 2012 wie geplant in der Ukraine stattfinden sollten. Das ergibt sich aus einer vomMarktforschungsinstitut Promit erhobenen Umfrage.

Das Ergebnis der Umfrage lässt sich vor allem auf die politische Lage in der Ukrainezurückführen: Aufgrund des schlechten Umgangs mit der inhaftierten Ex-RegierungschefinJulia Timoschenko wird in der Öffentlichkeit seit Wochen über einen politischen Boykott derEURO 2012 diskutiert. Eine Verlegung der in der Ukraine geplanten Spiele sei aber laut demEM-Organisations-Komitee kein Thema.

Sebastian Coe has been awarded the position of companion at the new Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (IMSPA).

This is in recognition of his significant contribution to the UK’s sports and physical activity industry, particularly his role in London’s Olympic and Paralympic bid and his subsequent work as chair of London 2012. 

IMSPA, which secured chartership status from the Royal Privy Council earlier this year, is the first professional body with the potential to unite all of the one million sports and physical activity experts in the UK, providing leadership, support and empowerment across the sector, officials claim.

In acceptance of the award, Coe said: “I am honoured to become a companion of IMSPA, which marks a real milestone for the sports and physical activity sector in the UK.

“By bringing together the skills and expertise of everyone in the industry, we will be in an incredibly strong position to ensure that the legacy of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games will be felt throughout the UK for many years to come.”

The announcement of the double Olympic 1500 metres champions award will provide a huge boost to IMSPA’s membership drive and the launch of its partnership packages.

Almost 30 organisations have already signed up to become partners of the Institute over the last month alone, including several big industry names such as DC Leisure and Lifetime Training Group, as well as national governing bodies such as the Amateur Swimming Association (ASA).

Sean Holt, IMSPA’s chief executive, said: “We are really pleased that Seb has taken on the role of ambassador for IMSPA, recognising the importance of the institute in professionalising our sector. Delivering the Olympic legacy by developing the sector’s workforce is one of our core objectives, so it’s fantastic to have Seb on board.”

Ein Abend der Superlative, an Spannung kaum zu überbieten – aber ohne Happy-End fürden FC Bayern München beim “Finale dahoam”. SAT.1-Experte Franz Beckenbauer: “DasGlück war diesmal auf der Seite von Chelsea, obwohl der FC Bayern das Spiel eigentlich injeder Phase in der Hand hatte.”

All-Time-SAT.1-Rekord nach elf Jahren geknackt: Überragende 59,3 Prozent der 14- bis49-Jährigen über 120 Minuten (inkl. Elfmeterschießen) beim UEFA Champions-League-Finale am Samstagabend in SAT.1. In der Spitze verfolgten bis zu 20,38 Millionen den 5:4-Sieg der “Blues” im Elfmeterschießen. 70,1 Prozent erreichte das Elfmeterschießen – besterSAT.1-Wert seit Sendestart! Insgesamt sahen 16,77 Millionen Zuschauer ab 3 Jahren (55,3Prozent Markanteil gesamt) das zweite CL-Finale der Bayern innerhalb von zwei Jahren.Das Endspiel in München war die quotenstärkste Fußball-Übertragung aller Zeiten in SAT.1(Bestwert bislang: WM-Qualifikation Ukraine – Deutschland am 10.11.2001 mit 55,1 Prozentbei 14-49J und 14,02 Mio. im Schnitt)

Über 13 Stunden sendete “ran” live aus München – die größte und längste Fußball-Übertragung in SAT.1. Mit sensationellen 30,4 Prozent (14-49J) sicherte sich SAT.1 dieTagesmarktführung am Samstag – der beste Tagesmarkt seit dem 21.5.1997 (UEFA Cup-Finale Inter Mailand – FC Schalke 04).

Bereits die Vorberichterstattung ab 18:30 Uhr mit Johannes B. Kerner und FranzBeckenbauer erzielte 20,2 Prozent Marktanteil, nach Ende der Partie erreichte dieSpielanalyse – trotz der Niederlage der Bayern – immer noch sehr gute 35,2 ProzentMarktanteil.

In der Saison 2011/2012 erzielte “ran” mit den Liveübertragungen der UEFA ChampionsLeague im Schnitt 25,5 Prozent (Z 14-49 J) sowie 25,2 Prozent der Gesamtzuschauer. Eswar die beste Champions League-Saison für SAT.1 aller Zeiten.

Jean-Marc Badan, arthritis the previous FAI Sports Director and Deputy to the Secretary General, health has been promoted to the new Secretary General of the FAI the International Air Sports Federation.

He will formally take up his appointment in Lausanne, sale ed Switzerland, on 1st October 2011.

Following the announcement in July of the resignation of Stephane Desprez, the FAI Executive Board started a comprehensive recruitment process, and evaluated a number of highly qualified applicants.

During the last Executive Board meeting which took place this weekend in Arcinazzo, Italy, the FAI Executive Directors have unanimously decided to select Jean-Marc Badan as the new FAI Secretary General. 

Jean-Marc Badan, 47, joined the FAI more than 9 years ago, after having flown as an airline pilot for more than 10 years with the former Swissair Airlines. Amongst his activities as a volunteer, he has been a member of the Board and Vice President of the Aero Club of Switzerland, as well as Chairman of the Gruyere Airfield (SUI). He therefore has an extensive knowledge of the aviation industry, the Air Sports environment and more particularly of the FAI infrastructure and governance.

Dr. John Grubbström, FAI President, commented: “Over the past few months the FAI has been engaged in a new management and change process. With the appointment of Jean-Marc Badan, we are very confident that the FAI is now ready to take another major step in bringing the FAI forward.”

On learning of his appointment, Jean-Marc Badan said: “I am very pleased and proud to be taking over this challenging position at the FAI. The FAI and Air Sports not only have a glorious history, but still have a lot of potential for developing new and exciting events in the future. I hope that the experience I have gathered over the past years, especially during the preparation of the 2009 FAI World Air Games, will be of value to all our air sports and members worldwide. I am looking forward to continuing to work with the FAI Family and really believe that, by joining our efforts, we are ready for take-off !”

The FAI Executive Board is convinced that Jean-Marc Badan will contribute promoting air sports throughout the world and further strengthen the FAI’s public profile in the sporting and aviation communities.

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.