Top ESPN production executives are scheduled to meet with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) broadcasting executives in Madrid today, March 9, the latest signal that ESPN is interested in bidding for the ’14 Sochi Winter Games and ’16 Rio de Janeiro Games.

ESPN Vice-President of International Development Rob Simmelkjaer, the net’s point person on the Olympic bid, Senior Vice-President of Content Mike Pearl and Coordinating Producer Bill Bonnell are making the trip in an effort to demonstrate that ESPN can handle the Olympic Games and to discuss what their production plans would be.

ESPN’s pitch centres around televising the Games in real time rather than on a delay. Pearl brings a lot of Olympic production experience to the table, having worked on six Olympics, including as Executive Producer for three on CBS and ABC.

Sources have said that Fox and NBC also have gone through similar meetings. The ESPN delegation is meeting with Olympic Broadcasting Services Managing Director & CEO Manolo Romero and IOC Vice-President Television & Audiovisual Rights Vincent Chupin.

IOC Finance Commission Chair Richard Carrion, the organization’s lead negotiator for the broadcast rights, has said that the IOC hopes to have finalized a deal by July.

It historically has hosted negotiations near its headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland. The IOC is definitely accepting bids on the ’14 and ’16 Games; it is considering expanding the bidding process to include the ’18 and ’20 Games as well.

The world soccer governing body, FIFA has issued a warning to suspend Portugal’s national sides and clubs from international competition should the country’s federation fail to approve new statutes that conform with the organisation’s rules.

The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) is hoping to pass the statutes in a vote later this month, March 19, after its regional associations rejected them in previous assemblies because they feared losing influence at national level.

FIFA’s media office told Reuters: “Should that [approval] not be the case, the associations committee would refer the case to the FIFA emergency committee for possible sanctions, including suspension.”

A potential suspension would put the national side’s 2012 European Championship qualifiers at risk and exclude the country’s top clubs, such as Porto, Benfica and Braga, who have qualified for the last-16 round of the Europa League, from UEFA competitions.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter added: “We are worried about the situation in Portugal. The Portuguese federation has to approve the statutes.” 

The Portuguese government, which insists on the rule changes, has already reprimanded the FPF for not resolving the problem and terminated sponsorship contracts.

The new statutes would transfer significant voting power from regional associations to the country’s leagues, players’ unions, referees and coaches.

The FPF board released a statement, saying: “We are making another appeal to our members’ sense of responsibility on March 19, so we can avoid grave damage to Portuguese football.”

Electronics giant Sony has completed the acquisition of UK based, sports tracking technology company Hawk-Eye.

 

Financial terms of the deal which has seen Hawk-Eye snapped up by Sony have not been released, with the Japanese electronics giant hoping to utilise technology originally developed for military use in its sports broadcasting.

 

Hawk-Eye is used for the popular, newly integrated challenge system in major tennis and cricket tournaments, becoming a household name in the process. The technology and has also been used in soccer and snooker with a debate over its use in the former having existed for a number of years.

 

Naomi Climer, Vice-President Sony Europe, commented, “Hawk-Eye is recognised globally for its innovative solutions for resolving close calls in critical sporting situations, particularly in cricket and tennis where they have developed a worldwide reputation.”

 

“Players, officials and sports fans have all appreciated the accurate and entertaining way in which Hawk-Eye has integrated its technology into these key sports,” added Climer.

 

“Hawk-Eye presents Sony with the opportunity to acquire a small, innovative company with unique knowledge and excellent growth and synergies potential.

 

“It is an ideal complementary offering to Sony Professionals existing portfolio of solutions for stadiums, venues and broadcasters, as well as bringing in specific expertise around managed services and sports software solutions engineering.

 

“We see strong opportunities on the technological, business and marketing levels to further Sony’s leadership and engagement in the sports and broadcasting industry.”

The takeover includes all intellectual property, software solutions and engineering capabilities and Hawk-Eye and all of its staff will now join Sony Professional.

The report also confirmed that expenditure over the four-year period was $3.56bn, $105m over budget due to additional investments in soccer development and a $31m overspend on the 2010 World Cup.

FIFA’s annual profits have grown steadily from $49m in 2007 to $202m in 2010, while the ruling body’s reserves have reached $1.28bn.

Director of finance Markus Kattner stated: “FIFA is financially strong and dependent on the World Cup. This illustrates the necessity for FIFA to build up and have sufficient reserves to decrease its dependency on the World Cup.”

Additionally, FIFA announced that the places assured to each soccer region for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil will remain the same as in 2010. Under that format, Europe is guaranteed 13 spots, Africa will have five, Asia will have four and Central and North America will have three.

South America – in addition to Brazil qualifying automatically as host – will have four spots. South America, Asia, Central and North America and Oceania were also given a half-berth, meaning one country from each region will qualify for a two-legged playoff series for an opportunity to advance as one of the final two qualifiers. The play-off series will be decided by an open draw in future, rather than pre-arranged pairings.

The FIFA Executive Committee also confirmed the host nations for a number of major youth international tournaments. The 2015 Women’s World Cup and 2014 Under-20 Women’s World Cup will be staged by Canada, the 2013 Under-20 World Cup will be hosted by Turkey and the 2015 Under-20 World Cup will take place in New Zealand.

It was also decided that the 2013 Under-17 World Cup will be held in the United Arab Emirates, the 2015 Under-17 World Cup will take place in Chile, the 2012 Women’s Under-20 World Cup will be staged in Uzbekistan and the 2014 Under-17 Women’s World Cup will be hosted by Costa Rica.

An agreement was reached before the midnight (ET) expiration deadline of the current collective bargaining agreement (CBA) to extend the labour talks for a further 24-hours, between the National Football League Players’ Association (NFLPA) and the League to avoid a potential lockout for at least one more day.

The League-owned NFL Network reported the extension on negotiations beyond the original deadline of midnight eastern time on Thursday to the same time today, Friday 4 March.

Both parties have been in negotiations with a federal mediator over the past week after talks over how to divide the NFL’s US$9 billion annual revenues had reached stalemate. Other key issues include the expansion of the regular season to an 18-game schedule, a rookie wage scale and pensions for former players.

The announcement of an extension came just hours after US President Barack Obama urged the warring sides to reach a deal without the need for political intervention.

Speaking at a press conference at the White House, Obama stated: “We’ve got owners, most of whom are worth close to a billion dollars. You’ve got players who are making millions of dollars. My working assumption at a time when people are having to cut back, compromise and worry about making the mortgage and pay for their kids’ college educations is that the two parties should be able to work it out without the President of the United States intervening.”

Gladstone Dainty, President of the USA Cricket Association, is attempting to arrange another set of matches involving New Zealand later this year, with the potential of staging in New York. 

Dainty told ESPNcricinfo: “We’re very seriously looking to do something in August. We don’t have another [team] yet, but we’re looking to do something in August.” 

USA hosted New Zealand and Sri Lanka in Florida last May for a pair of Twenty20 games that took place shortly after the conclusion of the World Twenty20 in the West Indies. 

While matches may again be played in Florida, New York could also become a viable option after Dainty revealed plans to install a turf wicket at Brooklyn’s Floyd Bennett Field. A USA XI played two matches against a West Indies XI captained by Brian Lara at the same ground in 2006. 

Dainty added: “We’re still working on getting this facility in New York going. I’m hoping that it’ll be ready by August.”

The Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC), which recently gave English Premier League soccer club West Ham their support as preferred bidder for the Olympic Stadium, has appointed Victoria O’Byrne as its new chief of media and external affairs.

O’Byrne has left her post as a consultant at the Institute for Public Policy Research, after working as director of internal affairs for the company, in order to join the OPLC.

Additionally, O’Byrne has also held communications roles in and around government over the last ten years, most recently working as special adviser to Tessa Jowell MP, where she was responsible for the then minister’s London and Olympic briefs.

Her responsobilities will now involve leading the Olympic Park Legacy Company press, public affairs, and website operations, working with executive director for marketing and communications, Karen Webb.

According to UK Junior Heritage Minister John Penrose, the government owned bookmaker, The Tote will continue to split its profits equally with the taxpayer after it is sold.

The company was set up 83 years ago to provide racecourse punters with alternatives to illegal bookmakers and ensure money went back into the sport and currently injects half its profits into racing.

However, calls were launched in the UK House of Commons for the dividend to be increased with the coalition likely to sell the Wigan-based company, which employs more than 4,000 staff, later this year.

Penrose stated: “There have been various comments that 50% isn’t enough and it ought to be 100% of the proceeds going to racing – but that isn’t where we are.”

Last year, Chancellor George Osborne promised to secure value for taxpayers while recognising the support the Tote gave to the industry, he said.

Mr Penrose added: “Given the state of the national finances, it’s going to be extremely hard – in fact, completely impossible – to argue we should be doing more than a 50-50 split.”