Mark Abberley has been appointed by the Amateur Boxing Association of England (ABAE) as their new permanent chief executive.

Paul King has been replaced having held the position of chief executive since March 2005 on a long term secondment from Liverpool City Council.

Abberley will begin at the end of next month and will assume responsibility for the delivery of the ABAE’s Whole Sport Plan to increase and sustain participation in amateur boxing and drive excellence.

The 43-year-old has over 20 years’ experience in Sports Management and has spent the last two years as a regional cluster manager in the David Lloyd Leisure Group.

He is also chairman of Archery Great Britain’s Performance Group, a non-executive director of GB Handball and an advisor to Goalball UK but he will vacate these roles to focus exclusively on his responsibilities with the ABAE.

Abberley stated: “This is a great opportunity to work in a fantastic sport that has a proven track record of delivering huge benefits to people and communities.

“I look forward to bringing all of my experience in both Olympic sport and membership based sports businesses to help develop amateur boxing and build on the success it has had in recent years in growing participation and producing talent.”

Despite Abberley’s appointment, King was heavy favourite to retain the role of chief executive but withdrew his application to take up the position on a permanent basis because of the fall-out from his unsuccessful campaign to challenge C K Wu for the Presidency of the International Boxing Association (AIBA).

After failing to topple the powerful Wu, King spearheaded an attempt to postpone last year’s AIBA Congress held in Almaty last October in a move that has seen the ABAE come under investigation from the AIBA Disciplinary Commission.

Abberley’s first task will be to build bridges with AIBA and Keith Walters, the chairman of the ABAE, is confident the new chief executive has the skill to succeed in the role, stating: “Mark’s combination of skills, experience and passion for the sport made him an outstanding candidate.

“I have no doubt that under Mark’s leadership; the ABAE will be successful in enabling the sport of amateur boxing to flourish in England.”

Sportsnet have announced it has inked a six-year deal with the Tour de France for the Canadian multimedia rights to the prestigious race, beginning in 2014 and continuing through to 2019.

The new deal includes exclusive national rights for television, plus digital and mobile devices during all 21 stages of the world’s most popular cycling race.

“The Tour de France is the ultimate event in cycling,” vice-president of finance and sports programming of Rogers Media Navaid Mansuri said in a press release. “We are thrilled to partner with the Amaury Sport Organization for the exclusive Canadian rights for this world-class event, which solidifies our commitment to providing fans with premium cycling content across multiple platforms and strengthens Sportsnet’s already robust portfolio of cycling programming.”

The announcement comes just days after it was announced that Sportsnet signed a new agreement to broadcast the inaugural Tour of Alberta, which is Canada’s first major international stage race.

“We’re excited to partner with Sportsnet to bring the Tour de France event to cycling enthusiasts in Canada as we do in 190 countries,” said Amaury Sport Organization general manager Yann Le Moenner. “Cycling is one of the most popular sports in the world and this agreement will contribute to reinforce the unique connection between Tour de France and its Canadian fans.”

Sportsnet is now the exclusive Canadian broadcaster of cycling’s Grand Tours, comprised of the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a Espana.

Former Sun sports editor Brian Alexander has now been hired to work on Sepp Blatter’s campaign for re-election as President of FIFA, physician having left the BBC last month after receiving “tempting offers” to establish his own media consultancy, doctor with City and sports PR firm Square 1 and London Olympic organisers LOCOG among his first clients.

Alexander told sportsjournalists.co.uk: “Completely out of the blue, I was invited to Zurich yesterday and am engaged by Sepp Blatter to run his campaign for re-election on June 1.”

Alexander, 53, is the former Sun, Mail on Sunday, Evening Standard and South London Press sports editor.

Since joining the BBC in 1997, he built up an impressive reputation for his story-breaking, including launching Sportsweek, hosting Late Night Live and Weekend Breakfast, and winning a Sony Radio award.

Most recently, Alexander interviewed Blatter, whose profile in Britain reached a a new low last year over England’s failed bid for the 2018 World Cup.

World Rally Championship’s (WRC) promoter, Red Bull Media House and the sportsman media group, have confirmed Host Broadcast Services (HBS) will produce the television content for the 2013 Championship.

The renowned Swiss company, a subsidiary of Switzerland-based sports marketing firm Infront Sports & Media, will work closely with Finnish operation FilmWorks throughout the upcoming season. 

HBS has a reputation for innovation and high quality having produced the FIFA World Cup between 2002 and 2010. It is regarded as one of the top sports production companies in the world thanks to its innovation and high-quality output. It plans to introduce a number of technological highlights into its WRC production, including the use of on-board cameras and camera-equipped helicopters.

Starting from January’s legendary Rallye Monte-Carlo, round one of the 2013 WRC title race from 15-20 January, HBS will produce a daily news programme and a 26-minute highlight show from each event. On the final day of every rally, HBS will also produce a 52-minute show.

The 2013 WRC totals 13 rounds on asphalt, gravel and snow. Leading drivers taking part include Mikko Hirvonen, Jari-Matti Latvala, Sebastien Loeb, Sebastien Ogier, Mads Ostberg and Dani Sordo.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) have announced that following the resignation of its director general Urs Lacotte last week through ill health, advice the body have appointed Christophe De Kepper as his replacement.

Lacotte had taken up the role in 2003 after François Carrard left the IOC and will continue to assist the IOC as needed during the transition.

Chief of staff, Belgian Christophe de Kepper joined the IOC in 2001 when Jacques Rogge was elected President.

De Kepper was previously director of the European Olympic Committee’s (EOC) liaison office with the European Union (EU).

A lawyer by training, his experience in the sports world also includes service as an expert on the development of an EU sports policy for the European Commission and as assistant to the Legal Director of the Belgian Olympic Committee.

TVG, America’s Horseracing Network, will add the upcoming 71-day Santa Anita winter race meet to its broadcast schedule, with coverage available to the most homes in the meet’s 76-year history.

“Having the Santa Anita meet on TVG will provide a significant boost for California racing,” said Tony Allevato, TVG executive vice president. “Along with airing the races on the most widely distributed horse racing television network in the country, we have secured major programming blocs on a number of Fox Sports affiliates, including FSN Prime, FSN West and Fox Sports San Diego. As a result, Santa Anita racing will enjoy wider everyday household distribution than at any time in its history, and will be available in more than 45 million homes.”

The Santa Anita meet runs from December 26-April 21, and features 41 graded stakes, highlighted by the Grade I, $750,000 Santa Anita Handicap (March 2), and the Grade I, $750,000 Santa Anita Derby (April 6).

“Offering a rich history and tradition, the Santa Anita winter meet helps kickoff the racing season in grand style,” said Allevato. “TVG is thrilled to bring our fans all the action, as we begin the most extensive television coverage of California racing available,” said Allevato.

In addition, to celebrate its new Santa Anita coverage, TVG will launch the “California Dreamin’ Betting Contest,” a promotion that will award six weekly cash prizes and a grand prize trip to California that includes attendance at one of the state’s four biggest racing events.

Charlie Brooks, sale communications director for Nike Western Europe, rx has moved to the sports brand’s US headquarters to take up a global role from Nike’s head office in Oregon from next week.

Brooks becomes Nike’s global communications director for football and Olympics as well as for the firm’s affiliate brands, anabolics namely Converse, Umbro, Hurley, and Cole Haan.

Brooks’ will be replaced in his current role heading up the Western Europe communications team by Teresa Rione, who moves over across from Nike’s Spanish office.

A former Olympic athlete having competed in the 100m for Spain, Rione has previously been head of PR for Nike in Spain, and more recently head of communications, corporate and consumer for the Central/Eastern Europe region.

Rione, who will be based full-time in Nike’s London office from the end of April, heads up a team of two Western Europe Senior PR managers – Luca Danovaro (football) and Jo Taylor (Nike sportswear).

Ryan Greenwood will continue to lead corporate and consumer PR for the UK with UK PR managers Claire Parnell (football/rugby/men’s Training) and Simon Wainwright (Nike sportswear/basketball/action sports) reporting in to him

ESPN and Euroleague Basketball have announced a new agreement hosting live and delayed coverage in the UK.

The relationship between ESPN UK and Euroleague Basketball started in 2010 with television coverage of the 2010 Final Four and since then coverage has expanded with each season.

Under the new agreement fans will be able to enjoy Turkish Airlines Euroleague with a weekly “Game of the Week”. ESPN’s coverage begins on 27 December, with the tipoff of the Top 16 phase of the competition when Montepaschi Siena faces Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv at 7:45pm.  ESPN’s coverage will continue through the Top 16 phase, the Playoffs and reaching its pinnacle with coverage of the 2013 Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four, hosted this season at The 02 Arena in London from May 10 – 12.

In addition to games, ESPN UK will air the weekly Euroleague Basketball Magazine show and will televise the documentary series “Basketball Cities presented by Turkish Airlines” later this season.

This agreement reinforces Euroleague Basketball’s efforts to expand the visibility of the Turkish Airlines Euroleague following a long-term strategy to grow the league and the sport in the United Kingdom.

Andrea Bassani, Euroleague Basketball’s Chief of Television and New Media Rights Officer, said: “We are very happy to continue collaborating with ESPN in the UK and Ireland markets, guaranteeing the best platform for Euroleague Basketball in the UK.  One of our main goals this season was to find an ideal partner to broadcast the Euroleague games in the UK, where we are bringing our signature event, the Final Four. We are convinced that through this agreement with ESPN UK and the upcoming Final Four in London our basketball will prove to be something that sports fans in the United Kingdom enjoy immensely.”

Simon Potter, senior director of programming and production, ESPN EMEA, “We’re very happy to continue to add to the variety of top sport that we offer to fans in the UK and Ireland, and feel that basketball fans now know ESPN is the home for hoops in the UK and Ireland – with the Euroleague joining the NBA and NCAA coverage.”

A press release from AEG Europe, owner and operator of The O2 Arena, London, announced that the leading sports and entertainment company have appointed Jay Marciano as its President and CEO.

Marciano will begin his new role on May 9, reporting directly to AEG Europe’s Board of Directors, and joins the company from his previous role as President of New York-based Madison Square Garden Entertainment [MSGE].

In his new position Marciano will utilize his extensive live entertainment and facilities experience to oversee all activity in the European region incorporating AEG Facilities’ 20 music and entertainment venues located in nine European markets, including The O2, London; O2 World, Berlin; O2 World, Hamburg; Ericsson Globe, Stockholm; SECC New National Arena, Glasgow; Ahoy Rotterdam and the ULKER Arena and Turk Telekom Arena in Istanbul.

In addition he will be overseeing other divisions of AEG Europe including AEG Europe Ticketing (Outbox), AEG Global Partnerships – Europe, AEG Live Europe and AEG Europe Development.

Marciano will also oversee some of AEG Europe’s more diverse businesses which include Thames Clippers (the London river boat service) and European sports franchises such as German ice hockey clubs Eisbaren Berlin and Hamburg Freezers as well as the Swedish Hammarby Sports Association which owns and manages Stockholm soccer club, Hammarby Fotboll.

Under Marciano, all of AEG’s European businesses will be run by one central management team.

Marciano oversaw bookings and productions at world renowned venues including Radio City Music Hall, Madison Square Garden, WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden, the Beacon Theatre and the Chicago Theatre during his six year career with MSGE. He also directed a rebranding initiative for the company resulting in numerous acquisitions and partnerships.

Marciano previously served as Chief Strategy Officer at AEG Live in Los Angeles from March, 2003 to March, 2005 where he was responsible for the development and overall operations of AEG Live’s regional offices and the company’s music festival division, as well as being part of the team responsible for conceiving and designing The O2.

Tim Leiweke, President and CEO, AEG Global said: “I’ve had the personal and professional pleasure of working with and knowing Jay for many years and I believe that there is no one in the world more qualified to lead AEG in Europe. His exceptional skills and experience with facilities and content for these facilities is recognized as being one of the most unique and extraordinary in the industry.

“It was critical for us to find a person of his stature that can manage our facilities division, our content division, our entry into the ticking industry as well as our sports and development divisions across Europe. Jay was our first choice and we are exceptionally lucky to have him back working for us at AEG Europe.”

On leaving MSGE to join AEG Europe, Marciano added: “I’ve had six wonderful years at Madison Square Garden Entertainment. It has been a privilege to work with such an extraordinarily talented and dedicated team, and the decision to leave was not taken lightly.

“However, the opportunity to move to London and work with AEG Europe and at The O2 was too good to resist. AEG Europe is a dynamic commercial operation and The O2 has proven to be one of the world’s most successful venues. I look forward to contributing to their continued growth and success.”

Australian Rugby League has secured a new international television deal that will guarantee access to key markets including the UK, mind USA, therapy Asia and the Pacific.

The five-year agreement with IMG Media will ensure fans overseas have world-wide access to all Telstra Premiership matches as well as State of Origin, erectile Test matches played in Australia, AAMI City-Country and the Harvey Norman All Stars.

The partnership covers free-to-air television, subscription television, IPTV, mobile, in-ship, in-flight and gaming rights, as well as access to the NRL Films archive.

“What’s exciting for Rugby League fans around the world is that we now have in place a range of different options for them to watch matches across television and digital mediums,” NRL Interim Chief Executive, Mr Shane Mattiske, said.

“To have guaranteed television exposure in key markets such as the UK, USA and Pacific is really significant for growing the game’s international exposure.

“As IMG Media finalises deals in markets around the world we will be able to confirm the processes in which fans will be able to tune in to watch all the excitement of the Telstra Premiership and the best representative contests in sport, including State of Origin.”

Mr Chris Guinness, Senior Vice-President, Head of Asia Pacific, IMG Media, said IMG Media was committed to increasing Rugby League coverage across international markets.

“We are very excited about extending our relationship with the NRL over the next five years,” he said.

“The relationship has evolved from traditional international TV distribution to a complete 360 degree involvement covering all aspects of the NRL’s international media assets and we look forward to working closely with the NRL in this new exciting era.”

The international rights do not include NRL properties in Australia and New Zealand, nor do they include World Cup matches or Tests overseas.