THE FOREST Studio becomes iSportconnect creative partner

Sports business portal iSportconnect.com has agreed a creative partnership with The Forest Studio, for their visionary creative approach, and deep connection to sports.

 

THE FOREST is an independent, ideas-based graphic design agency based in the heart of London. Passionate about all aspects of design, their talented team will tailor bespoke solutions that are right for brands. Working closely with clients throughout the creative process, not only are they accessible and approachable but they will ensure that briefs are delivered effectively and accurately, on time and on budget.

 

iSportconnect CEO Sree Varma commented, “We’re excited to be working with a top creative partner in the process of achieving isportconnect’s goals & objectives . The Forest understands the vision of iSportconnect and we’ve got great things planned to engage our community and The Forest would play an integral part in this.”

 

The Forest’s work with iSportconnect has already kicked off with the launch of iSportconnect new logo and the HTML newsletter design. The Forest would also work on the branding identity, corporate literature, Presentations and exhibition stands.

 

The Forest Studio’s Creative Director, Karl Hudson said: “We are thrilled to be working with isportconnect. Not only are we part of this exciting venture with Sree and his team but hopefully our partnership will open even more doors and allow us to achieve our goal of being the leading creative agency within the sports sector.”
Now a well established design studio with a broad range of clients from a number of different sectors, THE FOREST have been described as “Ingenious, Inimitable and Innovative …”, with “Fantastic creativity and attention to the smallest detail…” and constantly produce “Design with passion…”

 

THE FOREST is a member of the Design Business Association and their clients include: Leaders in Football, NFL, GlaxoSmithKline, The Institute for Sport, Parks & Leisure, Football Superstars, Lewis Silkin LLP, 110%, Careers in Sport + Leisure, pmp legacy, SportGrads, Football Federation Australia, Alexander Ross, BASL, SPL Banter, Professional Players Federation, Sungard and CSC Media.

 

For further information, please call  +44 (0)20 7099 1812 or visit http://www.theforeststudio.co.uk/

Olympic Park to rival Silicon Valley in UK PM’s vision

UK Prime Minister David Cameron has unveiled plans to transform London’s East End into one of the “world’s great technology centres”.

Firms including Google and Facebook are to invest in the East London Tech City, he said in a speech.

He hopes the area, which includes Olympic Park, will challenge California’s Silicon Valley as a global hub for technology.

Mr Cameron made his announcement in Shoreditch, east London. The initiative reflects his plan to create private sector jobs to fill the hole left by public sector spending cuts.

In a speech to businesses and entrepreneurs, Mr Cameron said: “Right now, Silicon Valley is the leading place in the world for hi-tech growth and innovation.

“But there’s no reason why it has to be so predominant.

“Our ambition is to bring together the creativity and energy of Shoreditch and the incredible possibilities of the Olympic Park to help make east London one of the world’s great technology centres.”

He said the response from international technology firms and venture capitalists to the government’s proposals had been “overwhelming”.

F1 Teams agree to cost-cutting measures

F1’s cost-reducing programme, discount the Resource Restriction Agreement (RRA), has been extended through to 2017 after teams agreed to new terms.

The current agreement, that was set to expire in 2012, includes a clause limiting each team to spending just Ä40 million on external services. The cap was set to reduce to Ä20 million in 2011, but Auto Motor und Sport said the teams have agreed to set the limit next year at Ä30 million. Moreover, team staff numbers were set to be capped at 350 people, reducing to 280 a year later, but have now been set at 315.

“The good news is that the teams have agreed to extend the duration of the RRA,” Formula One Teams’ Association chairman Martin Whitmarsh confirmed. “In doing that, there’s been some adjustment, so it’s been agreed in principle and everyone has signed up to that. In some areas it’s been tightened, in some areas it’s been slackened.”

The existing agreement also limits things like staff numbers at grands prix, the use of wind tunnels and CFD, and track testing.

“I think there was a danger that we wouldn’t be able to extend it [the agreement],” continued Whitmarsh.

“I think all the teams took a sensible approach to come together and to agree to extend it for a long period of time.”

Ferrari, meanwhile, confirmed that the new agreement will be in place until 2017.

National Grid extends deal with Special Olympics GB

The United Kingdom National Grid has extended its deal as the premier partner of Special Olympics Great Britain for a further three years, it has been announced.

Special Olympics Great Britain is the country’s largest sports organisation for athletes with learning disabilities.

The partnership began back in 2007 as part of National Grid’s community and employee programme.

As part of the extended agreement, National Grid will provide significant funding for Special Olympics Great Britain, as well as continuing to expand its employee volunteer programme.

The Special Olympics Great Britain team are due to take part in the Special Olympics Summer European Games in Warsaw, Poland, from 18 to 23 September.

Arizona Cardinals’ University of Phoenix Stadium Becomes First NFL Venue with LED Lighting

University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, viagra order AZ has installed high performance LED stadium lights from Ephesus Lighting, Inc., the leader in providing LED lighting solutions for sports facilities.

According to Amy Casper, CEO of the Syracuse-based company, the facility will be the first NFL venue to illuminate the playing surface exclusively with LED lighting.

In addition to serving as the Arizona Cardinals’ home field, University of Phoenix Stadium is also the site of the Super Bowl on February 1, 2015, the Pro Bowl on January 25, 2015 and the Fiesta Bowl on New Year’s Eve 2014. Yesterday, September 21st, the Cardinals hosted the San Francisco 49ers in the first game played under the new lights.

“We are excited that so many sports and entertainment venues have seen the light and made the switch to LED lighting over the past two years,” said Mike Lorenz, President of Ephesus Lighting. “The feedback from fans, players and broadcasters at venues all across North America who are using our LED sports lighting reinforces that LED is the premier lighting solution for sports and entertainment venues.”

The University of Phoenix Stadium installed just 312 Ephesus Stadium fixtures to replace more than 780 metal halide fixtures. The new lights will use just 310,000 watts of energy as compared to the 1.24 million watts needed to power the previous system. On average most venues experience a 75% reduction in overall sports lighting energy consumption in addition to reduced load on the air conditioning system to offset the heat generated by metal halide lights.

“We are excited about replacing our metal halide fixtures with state-of-the-art Ephesus LED lighting fixture,” said Peter Sullivan, General Manager and Regional Vice President for Global Spectrum at University of Phoenix Stadium. “As the host venue for the 2015 Super Bowl, we look forward to demonstrating the benefits of LED technology to a global audience.”

“We selected Ephesus after careful consideration of all the other available options. We are confident that their solution will improve lighting for the athletes, fans and broadcasters, all while reducing energy consumption and eliminating conventional sports lighting maintenance expense,” explained Sullivan.

Indian Open to Join European Tour in 2015

The European Tour will return to India in 2015 when the Indian Open joins The Race to Dubai for the first time. 

Taking place from February 19-22, allergist at a venue to be confirmed soon, ailment the US$1.5million event will be co-sanctioned with the Asian Tour. It will be promoted by India’s leading sports management company, hospital Nimbus Sport, which has extended its partnership with the Indian Golf Union (IGU) to manage and promote the Indian Open from 2015 to 2017.

The tournament, which has been played since 1964 and was won last year by Bangladeshi Siddikur Rahman, will offer the chance for Indian golfing talent to compete against some of the leading players from The European and Asian Tours.

Keith Waters, Chief Operating Officer and Director of International Policy for The European Tour, said: “We are delighted to announce the Indian Open will be part of The Race to Dubai in 2015, and we look forward to returning to India, following five editions of the Avantha Masters from 2008-13.

“Golf is a sport that is continuing to gain popularity in India and this is an important market for The European Tour, so it is significant for us to be part of the country’s national Open, along with the Asian Tour, with whom we enjoy such a strong relationship across many events. We are grateful, therefore, to the Indian Golf Union and Nimbus Sport and we looking forward to working together over the coming months.”

Kyi Hla Han, Chairman of the Asian Tour, said: “The Indian Open has long been one of the most prestigious national championships on the Asian Tour, attracting the Tour’s best players from across the region.

“With the inclusion of The European Tour as a sanctioning partner from 2015 onwards, the Indian Open will continue to provide the galleries and television viewers with a world-class spectacle of golf as our top players will now enjoy the opportunity to take on the top stars from The European Tour in India.”

FIA Clears Russia’s Sochi Autodrom to Host First F1 GP

The FIA has cleared Russia’s new Sochi Autodrom to host its first Grand Prix later this year after a detailed evaluation.

The evaluation, led by race director Charlie Whiting, looked at the circuit and the venue itself, built on the site of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games.

“The circuit is in extremely good condition and will be issued with a licence,” he said in a Sochi news release. 

“Everything has been done according to the plans – the kerbs are very good, the verges, the guardrails, the walls – everything is in an extremely good condition. Everything has been done to the highest standards and I’m extremely pleased. 

“I can say without hesitation that the circuit is ready 60 days in advance, which is very rare really.”

Whiting said that it is now unlikely he will need to make a final inspection closer to the date of the inaugural 2014 Formula 1 Russian Grand Prix, which will take place on October 10-12.

“I don’t know at the moment, but it should not be necessary,” he explained. “What I’ve seen today gives me complete comfort that the circuit will be entirely ready when I come back for the Grand Prix.”

Promoter Sergey Vorobyev added: “We were ready for Mr. Whiting’s visit and we want to congratulate our builders who have made this positive verdict happen. We were confident that FIA would appreciate the efforts made by our team to implement the technical details that have been so highly reviewed by Mr. Whiting today.

“Now that Sochi Autodrom has received a licence, everything else is up to the organisers of the events and as such we are working intensely on ensuring that all aspects of the event are fully prepared. It is our aim to make this a truly unforgettable event with the comfort and enjoyment of our guests at the forefront of all our efforts.”

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IMG Strikes Representation Deal with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga

IMG have announced today a deal with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France to represent the tennis player in worldwide marketing and management.

Tsonga, allergist currently ranked World No.15, prostate has a career high ranking of World No.5, achieved week of February 27, 2012.

The Le Mans native finished 2013 in the Top 10 for the third year in a row. Tsonga has 10 career ATP titles and has been the finalist at the 2008 Australian Open and the 2011 ATP World Tour Finals in London. He has reached the semifinals of the 2013 Roland Garros and the 2011 and 2012 Wimbledon.

“We are thrilled that Jo-Wilfried chose IMG to represent him. He is a terrific player and a great person, and we look forward to strengthening and growing his global brand on and off the tennis court,” said Fernando Soler, Managing Director of IMG Tennis.

Tsonga will be managed by Carlos Fleming whose athlete management portfolio includes seven-time Grand Slam Champion Venus Williams, NFL stars Cam Newton (Carolina Panthers), Colin Kaepernick (San Francisco 49ers) and Victor Cruz (New York Giants), and reigning US Open Women’s Golf Champion, Michelle Wie.

Tsonga joins IMG Tennis’s roster of stars which includes Novak Djokovic, Maria Sharapova, Li Na, David Ferrer, Kei Nishikori, and John McEnroe, among many others.

ECB Provides Financial Boost to European Cricket

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have given a financial boost to ICC Europe and the Associate/Affiliate members by increasing their cash support to a record £480,000 in 2014.

In addition to this cash support, ECB will invest in coaching programmes to support the members of coaching associations amongst the 5,000 active coaches now qualified in Europe outside of England and Wales.

The Associate and Affiliate Members of ICC Europe are supported by the ECB Regional Training Team and the Howzat coaching resource has been translated to support the continued expansion of cricket throughout the continent.

To underpin the proposed new opportunities being offered for High Performing Associates and Affiliates by the changes within ICC, ECB is providing the resource to qualify 22 European coaches on the Level 3 programme and 15 coaches on the Level 4 programme.

CB Chief Executive David Collier commented: “ECB has been excited to see the excellent progress made in the expansion of cricket throughout Europe and by European Teams in global events.

“The participation of both Scotland and Ireland in the forthcoming ICC Cricket World Cup reflects well on the leadership of cricket in Europe and the number of active coaches in Europe will further expand the game’s participation in future years.”

Buffalo Bills’ Cheerleaders Suspend Operations Following Lawsuit

The Buffalo Bills’ cheerleaders have suspended operations following a lawsuit from five former cheerleaders.

The suit filed a lawsuit Tuesday claiming they were underpaid and mistreated.

The lawsuit, filed in state Supreme Court, says the cheerleaders worked hundreds of hours for free at games and were subjected to groping and sexual comments at mandatory public appearance. One said they had to take a jiggle test so their boss could see how firm their bodies were.

The former cheerleaders also allege that the “Jills” are wrongly classified as independent contractors and are subjected to policies that violate the state’s $8 per hour minimum wage law and other workplace rules. The civil action, which seeks unspecified back pay and legal fees, names Stejon Productions Corp., which assumed management of the Jills in 2011, along with former manager Citadel Communications Co., and the team.

The lawsuit is third filed this year against an NFL team by cheerleaders. The Oakland Raiders and Cincinnati Bengals also have pending wage battles.

Lawyer Frank Dolce, who represents the five cheerleaders, said the decision to suspend operations won’t affect his case because it addresses past complaints.

Dolce, however, did question Mateczun’s motives, saying her decision to suspend the squad was unnecessary.

“If they cease operations, they will blame the lawsuit for the destruction of the Jills, when that was not intended at all,” Dolce said, noting there is not much money at stake in the lawsuit.

“We love the Bills. We love the Jills,” he said. “We do not love the travesty of its management that has occurred over the last few years.”