Sepp Blatter, the president of world soccer’s governing body FIFA, says that the organisation has reserves of US$1.2bn after last year’s successful World Cup in South Africa.

Blatter told African football administrators that the financial results has increased from those of the previous 2006 World Cup hosted by Germany. He said more details of its success will be published next week in FIFA’s annual report.

The figure has seen a rise of $140m after FIFA began the World Cup year with reserves of $1.06bn.

Blatter was opening the Confederation of African Football assembly where he said the continent should be proud of organising the World Cup and said it had helped Africa gain pride and confidence.

The 13th edition of the Sports Merchandise Exhibition (SMEX), set to take place at Wembley Stadium on Monday 14th March, is shaping up to be biggest yet.

In keeping with tradition, SMEX 2011 will continue to provide the very best platform from which to find brandable products or services to increase the merchandising opportunities within any sporting club.

With over 120 manufacturers and distributors exhibiting at the event, combined with nearly 700 key decision makers and buyers from over 22 sports, SMEX 2011 is a unique opportunity to meet face-to-face and see the very latest innovative merchandise products and services available today.

The event has broken all previous records with 1,000 ticket requests to be at Wembley Stadium this March.

From the Premier League finest clubs down to the important grassroot teams, this year’s Sports Merchandise Exhibition is proving the place to be. If you are looking for:

• * Branded Merchandise
• * Corporate Gifts
• * Retail Products
• * Promotional Ideas
• * Give Away Gifts
• * Staff uniforms
• * Hospitality Products

Or are in charge of:

• * Increasing Revenue
• * Marketing
• * Increasing fan interaction
• * Security Systems
• * Retail Development
• * Buying the mascot costume

You should be at the show.

To request your free ticket please visit www.smexevent.com

If you have any questions regarding the show, please call SMEX on +44 (0)20 7798 8500

The Soccerex European Forum have announced that the Italian FA, medicine Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio, will be giving a special presentation at this year’s event, 30-31 March, Manchester.

The presentation is titled “Development or innovation- which strategy fits best for the future of a modern FA?” and will feature a presentation by Michele Uva, Chief Development Officer, Italian FA, on the strategic options open to an FA in the modern football environment.

Michele, former Lazio and Parma GM, stated: “With so many of the football world in attendance, Soccerex is the ideal place for us to discuss the future of modern FA’s. It will also provide us with the opportunity to network with the many federations, leagues and clubs in attendance.”

The announcement comes ahead of the final price deadline for the event this week, the last chance for delegates to receive a discount on what will be an exciting two days.

Recent announcements made in the last fortnight have already confirmed a hugely strong line-up including brands such as Nike, Konami, Facebook, UEFA, Adidas, Intersport, Warned Bros and many more, as well as the announcement that the legendary former Manchester United and Manchester City striker, Denis Law will be opening the event.

The exciting conference agenda covers topics such as the success of the German football model, financial equality, commercial challenges to differing sized clubs, the use of technology in football, digital media and fan interaction, sponsor and rights holder relationships, and Eastern Europe’s upcoming tournaments and market development.

Leading sports marketing agency Sportfive has appointed Shaila-Ann Rao, formerly of French broadcaster TF1, as the chief operating officer of the company’s International Business Unit, based in Geneva.

Rao will begin her role at Sportfive from the March 1 after building up an impressive track record in the media business. During her 12 years at leading French commercial broadcaster TF1 she actively participated in and led the acquisition of rights to key sports properties in football, rugby and Formula One.

Rao will now be responsible for managing legal, compliance and quality in her new role, and will be involved in the strategic planning of the International Business Unit and its future acquisitions.

Chief executive of Sportfive International, Vincent Tong Cuong stated: “We are delighted to welcome Shaila-Ann on board. I have every confidence that she will use her vast experience to add great value to our international business.”

The Board of Control for Cricket in India Wednesday released the schedule for IPL Season 4, which will see last year’s winner Chennai Super Kings taking on Kolkata Knight Riders in the first match at M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai on 8 April.

IPL season 4 will have ten teams playing a total of 74 matches at 13 venues over 51 days, which will run till 22 May, when the grand finale will be held.

As reigning champions, Chennai Super Kings have the right to host the Opening match of the season, and to provide the venue for the Final.

In other news, the newly-formed IPL franchise known as Team Kochi have unveiled their new identity as the Indi Commandos, revealing their new team logo in the process.

That was the title the franchise first uploaded on its official Facebook page. The name the franchise had initially posted had neither state nor city moorings.

A second posting was the released which read: “The full name of the Kochi IPL page is “INDI COMMANDOS KERALA!” The earlier mentioned name was just for your immediate information! “

The franchise explained the thought behind the naming, stating: “‘INDI’ stands for an independent Indian cricket team that will go ahead to win a billion hearts. ‘COMMANDOS’ stands for an elite fighting squad, renown for attacking with speed, stealth and deadly power.”

President of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), cycling’s world governing body, Pat McQuaid refused to comment on the recent decision to clear Alberto Contador, Spain’s three-time Tour de France champion of doping charges.

The case could well drag on four several months if taken to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and McQuaid stated: “I can’t – and don’t want to – give a personal opinion until the whole affair is finished, and it’s not finished yet.”

The Royal Spanish Cycling Federation (RFEC) cleared Contador of doping allegations after the Spaniard tested positive for the banned substance Clenbuterol upon winning last year’s Tour de France.

Last month, the RFEC’s Disciplinary Committee proposed a one-year suspension but Contador has consistently maintained his innocence, claiming the substance was in some contaminated meat, and appealed, successfully, and the ban was lifted.

But the UCI and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) both have the right to appeal themselves against that decision, in which case the CAS will rule.

McQuaid added: “We still have to get the documents from the Spanish federation about their decision not to sanction Contador translated, and then we’ll discuss it with WADA.

“We’re yet to receive the full documentation, but once we get that we’ll have 30 days to decide whether we appeal or not.”

UEFA has insisted it has taken into account the spending ability of fans in Ukraine and Poland in confirming the prices of tickets for Euro 2012 which will go on sale for the entirety of next month.

Ticket prices have been aimed at the general public, with the lowest priced tickets costing half of the equivalent tickets in Austria and Switzerland’s Euro 2008 with wide ranging prices are in place from Eur30 (US$40.60/£25.25) to Eur600 ($811.33/£505).

UEFA released a statement, saying that its aim was to “put in place a transparent and fair ticketing policy with the aim of offering affordable prices for all 31 matches”, adding: “The purchasing power of local citizens has been taken into account when deciding on prices and the cheapest tickets will cost 50% less.”

The statement continued: “Residents of Poland and Ukraine will also be able to pay in their local currency, either via credit card or by domestic bank transfer, whereas international applicants will need to pay via credit card and in euros.”

The lowest price tickets in the ‘category three’ price range for the final of European international soccer’s showpiece event are at a highly affordable Eur50 ($67.60/£42).

In other news, European soccer’s governing body have appointed Contact Center as an official ticketing customer services provider for the event, responsible for first line general public support for next summer’s European Championship.

Contact Center, the biggest call centre firm in Poland, will provide customer services to all general public customers who may have questions concerning the ticketing process. The service will be available on working days from 08.00 to 20.00 in six different languages; English, Polish, Ukrainian, Russian, German and French.

Uefa’s agreement with Contact Center does not include the sale of match tickets, which will be carried out exclusively through the official ticket portal in the Euro 2012 ticketing section of UEFA.com.

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Related Dicussion: UEFA financial fair play rules by Michael Cunnah

Annecy 2018 Winter Olympics Bid committee and International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Guy Drut their efforts to be awarded the rights to stage the event are gaining momentum just at the right time, with the bidding race with Munich and PyeongChang ending at the IOC Session in Durban on July 6.

The French city’s bid has been regarded as the underdog of the three competitor’s for some time and was rocked further when former chief Edgar Grospiron resigned due to an apparent lack of funding.

However, since businessman Charles Beigbeder took over the bid has made decent strides in asserting itself as a contender once again having gained remewed support and financial backing, most significantly from the French government.

The first challenge for the ‘new campaign’ is the current visit of the IOC’s evaluation commission which is making a first stop in Annecy before going on to PyeongChang next week and then Munich at the end of the month.

On assessing Annecy’s prospects after its mini French revolution, Drut said: “We will need a bit of luck and team spirit to show the IOC members both that we can do it – and that we want to do it.

“With the new chairman and a new atmosphere the bid has becomes more solid and we have put in place the structures to sell it as well as possible – above all to the IOC members and the Olympic family and to the other National Olympic Committees.

“The first test after the evaluation commission visit will be SportAccord in London when we will be in front of the whole Olympic family.”

Drut confirmed that the bid planned only essential construction to minimise environmental disruption. He said: “There will ne no new roads, we don’t need any. We will use what is already in place. Our goal is to stage a ‘natural’ Games which is why we are trying not to build anything new unless we really need it, such as the Village.”

Major League Baseball (MLB) giants the New York Yankees have lowered the luxury tax placed upon them by more than US$7m. It was announced on 21 December that the tax placed on the side stood at $18m this year, the sides lowest since 2003 and significantly less than last year’s total of $25.7m when the Yankees won the World Series.

The Yankees also lowered their expenditure on players this year by $12m, slashing the payroll by $5m in the process.

Looking ahead to his 2011 payroll, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said: “Atta baby. And right now we’re in the $170s”.

The season-ending payroll information and tax was obtained by The Associated Press. The Boston Red Sox are the only other MLB side to have to pay the luxury tax this year, oweing $1.5m, having exceeded the payroll threshold for the first time since 2007. Cheque’s must be paid to the league’s commissioner’s office by January 31.

American Express have teamed up with the National Basketball Association (NBA) to become a key marketing partner in a new multi-year deal.

The credit card company will also support USA Basketball, the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) and the NBA Development League under the terms of the new agreement.

The deal is not the first of its kind between the two parties after the NBA did previously have a long-standing marketing partnership from 1995 to 2005. A multi-year contract has been confirmed though the exact duration and financial details behind the deal were not disclosed.

As the league’s official credit card partner, American Express will offer card members special deals and access to games and other events.

Courtney Kelso, vice-president of global sponsorships and marketing at American Express stated: “From the array of spectacular young talent, to the growing international market, enthusiasm and excitement with the NBA is at an all-time high

“We’re proud to be the official credit card partner of the NBA to provide our card members with access to tickets and unique experiences with the NBA, USA Basketball, Women’s NBA and NBA Development League to enhance their passion for the game,” Kelso added.