Adidas Announced as Official Sponsor of 2017 AIBA World Championships

The International Boxing Association (AIBA) has confirmed a deal with global sports giant Adidas to become the official sponsor of the 2017 AIBA World Championships in Hamburg.

In collaboration with Adidas Global, the 2017 World Championships will receive online coverage with all communications relayed across the brand’s official channels in 70 countries.

Worldwide, exposure will be achieved through innovative social media activations, new digital platforms and special offers, beginning in advance of the start of the competition and continuing long after the final gold medal has been awarded.

The complete partnership deal includes the provision of gloves, bandages and uniforms for athletes and volunteers.

The tournament will take place from 25 August to 2 September at the Hamburg’s Sporthalle Arena.

AIBA President Ching-Kuo Wu said: “Signing with a company of Adidas’ stature is a testament to AIBA’s new proactive approach towards sponsorship and the global reach and popularity our sport is enjoying.

The participation of such a major international brand reflects the hard work of the entire AIBA Family since the beginning of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Cycle.”

IAAF Names First Head of New Integrity Unit

The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) named Brett Clothier as the first head of the independent Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU).

Clothier, coming from eight years in charge of the Australian Football League’s integrity unit, will join the newly formed board chaired by former World Anti-Doping Agency chief David Howman.

About the appointment, Clothier said: ” I am excited by the opportunity to lead the AIU in rebuilding athlete and fan confidence in how we manage threats to the sport. I look forward to working with athletes and all members of the athletics community.”

The IAAF has spent the last two years trying to rebuild its reputation after the corruption of Lamine Diack was revealed in 2014 and 2015.

Diack and his advisers were in command of athletics between 1999 and 2015, but are now under a criminal investigation in France for bribing officials, covering up positive drug tests and manipulating votes.

The AIU replaced the IAAF’s -house anti-doping department and will be responsible for all aspects of the drug-testing programme, as well as guarding against corruption and all other forms of cheating.

IAAF boss Lord Coe said: ” The Athletics Integrity Unit sits at the epicentre of the IAAF’s integrity reforms and today’s announcement is the final brick in athletics’ robust wall of ethical defences.”

David Beckham MLS franchise in Miami moves closer with final land purchase

By Christian Radnedge – 

David Beckham’s plan for a Major League Soccer franchise in Miami has moved up a gear after securing the land needed for a proposed stadium.

Miami-Dade County commissioners voted on Tuesday to allow the former player’s group Miami Beckham United to purchase the final three acres of a nine-acre plot where the franchise will be based.

The group will pay $9million for the final acres, having already purchased the other six acres for $19m.

A 25,000-seat stadium is planned on the site for a franchise which has been Beckham’s pet project for more than four years now in trying to bring an expansion MLS side to Miami.

Tim Leiweke, one of the partners in Beckham’s goup, said he’s hopeful a team could even start playing in the stadium by 2020.

“Miami is ready,” said Leiweke. “We are committed. And the city and the county have now taken the necessary steps for us to control our own destiny for a privately financed, world-class soccer stadium for Major League Soccer.”

The construction costs are projected to be around $220m, which Leiweke confirmed will come from private funding and that there will be no public money involved.

“We are not here to take money from the county or the city,” he said. “We will pay for this project ourselves, privately, we will pay property taxes and we will be good neighbours.”

A significant obstacle to overcome is the fact that Miami has not yet been awarded a franchise by the MLS.

Beckham’s 2007 contract with Los Angeles Galaxy gave him the right to start an expansion franchise for $25m, and four years ago he earmarked Miami as where he would want set up a team.

“We look forward to working with the Miami community to bring our vision for the neighborhood to life,” Miami Beckham United said in a statement.

“Our loyal fans in Miami and around the world have been waiting for this moment for years, and we’re thrilled that we’re getting closer to our kick-off.”

MLS officials responded positively to this week’s news and will be in Miami on Wednesday to tour the planned site.

SportAccord Convention Official Signing Ceremony Takes Place in Thailand with Host City Bangkok

SportAccord Convention confirmed that the official signing ceremony took place today with Host City ‘Bangkok’ for the 16th edition of the Convention to be held from 15 – 20 April 2018.

The signing event was carried out at the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) building with Nis Hatt, Managing Director of SportAccord Convention, H.E. General Tanasak Patimapragorn, Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand, and H.E. Mrs Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, the Minister of Tourism and Sports of Thailand.

“Hosting the SportAccord Convention in Bangkok enables us to reach out to all the International Sport Federations and those organisations involved in the business of sport to share our sports tourism vision as well as enabling delegates to experience all that Thailand has to offer,” said Mrs Kobkarn.

Commenting on Bangkok becoming the next Host City, Nis Hatt said, “SportAccord Convention is delighted for the Convention to come to Bangkok, Thailand, and our host should be commended for their dedication and passion in bringing the Convention here, which in turn will support both the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT), and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) in their future development goals”

The overarching theme for the sixteenth edition of the SportAccord Convention will focus on marketing and sponsorship with further details being revealed once registration opens in June.

The Convention will also see new initiatives including a 3-day sports festival where all International Federations along with their National Federations will be invited to take part.

In addition, the event is being promoted as a ‘family affair’, thus making Thailand the vacation destination for delegates and their families in 2018.

Bangkok was announced as the next Host City during the spectacular SAC2017 Opening Ceremony in Aarhus, Denmark, this year’s European Capital of Culture.

Vivo Becomes FIFA Official Smartphone Sponsor

Vivo was presented today as FIFA’s official smartphone sponsor under a sponsorship agreement that will run until 2022 and include the next editions of the FIFA World Cup in 2018 and 2022.

The announcement was made today in Beijing at the historical and iconic Imperial Ancestral Temple in the presence of Vivo Executive Vice-President Ni Xudong and FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura.

The Vivo logo will appear during every match on pitch advertising boards, match tickets, media releases and other key promotional platforms.

The agreement includes special marketing activations such as the right to select guests to be a Vivo phone photographer during pre-match player warm-ups. Vivo will also gradually introduce a customised FIFA World Cup phone that will offer a unique experience for football fans around the world.

Ni Xudong explained: “As a global sponsor of the FIFA World Cup, Vivo hopes to strongly associate itself with the football spirit and show consumers all over the world Vivo’s creative, joyful and international brand image. In the meantime, Vivo will bring more personalised, energetic and youthful elements to the FIFA World Cup experience and the game of football.”

Speaking about the new agreement, FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura said:

“Football and technology are coming closer by the day, on and off the pitch, and it is a great moment to start a partnership of this nature with the leading global smartphone brand.”

Vivo’s previous involvement in sport includes the title sponsorship of the Indian Premier League cricket competition and a strategic partnership with the NBA to become NBA China’s official mobile handset sponsor.

Telstra Signs Broadcast IP Network Deal with Fox Sports

Telstra has announced that its media-focused IP network, designed to transmit simultaneous channels of uncompressed linear contribution video, will be used to help broadcast live content for Fox Sports at “the lowest possible latency”.

Under the long-term deal with Fox Sports, Telstra’s Distributed Production Network (DPN) will be used to transmit equipment control signals, audio feeds, and raw camera footage across the network back to remote production hubs in Sydney and Melbourne, sometimes from up to 3,500km away.

The DPN is aimed at being “fully operational” by March 2018 Telstra said, and will support more than 500 top tier live sporting events per year by connecting 29 stadiums across the country with these production hubs.

“Telstra’s DPN is designed to help our broadcast customers meet the rapidly growing demand for live content by offering access to our high-capacity, low-latency and multi-tenant network of scale,” head of Telstra Broadcast Services Trevor Boal said.

Telstra earlier this year similarly launched a system for broadcasters to deliver both live and file-based media content worldwide with its Global Media Network, utilising a “geographically diverse dual path ring” to ensure that data traffic is automatically diverted when there are network disruptions.

Thomas Weikert Retains ITTF Presidency After Election Victory

Thomas Weikert was elected president of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) at its Annual General Meeting in Düsseldorf, Germany.

Weikert won by 118 votes to 90 after campaigning on a Manifesto focused on delivering value and growth for the whole sport in every part of the world.

Weikert is the incumbent ITTF President and he inherited the position in 2014. Today’s Presidential election is the first he contested against a challenger.

Speaking after the result was announced, ITTF President Thomas Weikert, said:

“It has been a great privilege to serve Table Tennis as ITTF President since 2014 and my plan is to work in true partnership with the National and Continental Federations so together we can fuel the development of our sport.

“With the plans and proposals I have recommended, I believe Table Tennis will enter an exciting new phase of global growth that sees the creation of more players and fans.”

Würenbacher Announced Beer Partner of Borussia Dortmund in China

Würenbacher announced a two-year partnership with Borussia Dortmund as the club’s official beer partner in China.

The partnership was announced upon BVB winning the DFB-Pokal on Saturday, 27th June 2017.

The official partnership launch event will be held in Shanghai on 1st June with BVB legends Kalle Riedle and Lars Ricken in attendance.

Würenbacher beer originated in Germany and is still brewed there. It also launched six different types of beers according to Chinese consumers’ preference to match their need.

Zhao Yuning, Vice President of Würenbacher said: “It’s a hugely exciting time to partner with one of the most famous clubs in the Bundesliga, Borussia Dortmund. We believe that our sponsorship will deliver a great result for the brand and I’m certain Borussia Dortmund provides Wurenbacher with the platform to move to new heights.”

Benedikt Scholz, Head of International and New Business of Borussia Dortmund said: “Our great fanbase in China is one of the reasons why Wurenbacher identified us as the ‘perfect fit’. Our IP and social media channels will give Würenbacher an ideal platform upon which to continue its growth in their desired regions.”

Former Liverpool Chief Executive Ian Ayre resigns from 1860 Munich after one month

Former Liverpool FC Chief Executive Ian Ayre has resigned from his post as general manager of 1860 Munich just four weeks after joining the German club.

1860 Munich were relegated to the third tier of German football after a match marred by crowd trouble.

Ayre told reporters: “I can confirm that with regret this morning, Tuesday 30th May 2017, ahead of the play-off fixture, I resigned from my position as managing director as a result of off-field issues at 1860 Munich.

“Unfortunately, during my short eight-week tenure I have found an organisation in which the shareholders are not aligned with a common interest, nor have a shared vision for the future of the club. Consequently, although an approved budget for next season was established, there remains significant disagreement between various shareholders, at a crucial time making it impossible for me to continue in the role.

“I have said in the past that Hasan Ismaik is hugely passionate about this club and has invested heavily in making it a success. However, this investment will not bear fruit unless all shareholders align behind shared objectives for the future with respect for each other. Currently this is not the case.

“I feel extremely disappointed to have to step away from this great opportunity and the staff I had the pleasure to work with and I truly hope that the shareholders of this club find a solution that allows its fans the opportunity to see this club back where it belongs at the top of German football.”

Juventus Signs Deal for Home Ground Naming Rights With Allianz

Allianz Stadium is the new name of Juventus’ home ground after the club signed a naming rights agreement with Allianz and Lagardère Sports, holders of the facility’s naming rights.

Starting on 1 July 2017, the stadium will be known as the Allianz Stadium of Turin for six seasons until 30 June 2023, joining the Allianz Family of Stadiums first created in 2005, which features Munich’s Allianz Arena, Sydney’s Allianz Stadium, Allianz Park in London, Nice’s Allianz Riviera, Allianz Parque in Sao Paulo and Allianz Stadion in Vienna.

“It’s with great pleasure that we welcome Allianz into our family of partners for a deal as special as this one – the naming of our home,” declared Giorgio Ricci, Co-Chief Revenue Officer and Head of Global Partnerships and Corporate Revenues at Juventus.

“The arrival of a global giant in the insurance sector such as Allianz is further testament to how Juventus has established itself as a first-class international institution, whilst enriching a stadium that has played a significant role, since its inauguration in 2011, to creating history with six legendary Scudetto titles celebrated within its walls.”