Mercedes-Benz Become Open Championship Partner

Mercedes-Benz have extended their ties in sport and with golf in particular having agreed to become official partner of the Open Championship. The automotive company are already committed to relationships with The Masters, the PGA Championship and the 2012 Ryder Cup.

The company, at present is associated with three of the four major golf tournaments as the exclusive automotive partner.

Mercedes-Benz Cars Vice President Brand Communications, Anders Sundt Jensen stated: “Our global golf strategy is based on the principle of ‘The best or nothing’. The Open Championship complements this strategy, and therefore with our brand perfectly.”

“We want to make use of this major golf tournament in particular for our various marketing activities as well as customer care measures. In addition, we will also link the MercedesTrophy, a worldwide premium amateur series, with The Open Championship, for example the programme ‘Drive to the Major’, a global competition to win the opportunity to qualify to play at the Monday Foursome.”

Mercedes-Benz UK President and CEO Wilfried Steffen added: “The company will provide the exclusive chauffeur service at the major championship and together with The R&A will also provide communications support for the entire tournament.”

Cameron May Withdraw Plans for UK Schools Sports Funding Cut

Ahead of a visit to the Olympic Park next week, Prime Minister David Cameron is set to make a key decision on the plans to cut US$260m funding to UK school sports.

It is believed that Cameron is set to make a U-turn on the plans put forward by Michael Gove which have been strongly contested by many of Britain’s top athletes. Although the decision may well be withdrawn it is thought to be unlikely as to whether the funding will reach the previous $260m total.

Talks on the subject with the British Olympic Association are understood to be still ongoing. The plans have caused criticism in sporting circles since their announcement in October following the Government’s Comprehensive Spending Review.

Baroness Sue Campbell, chair of the Youth Sport Trust, a children’s sports charity, has described the proposals as “devastating news for the future health and well-being of our young people”.

Fifa row has “harmed” England 2018 bid

England’s 2018 World Cup bid has been “significantly harmed” by a newspaper investigation into the bidding process, says a key member of the campaign team.

A member of the Fifa executive committee previously claimed there would be no backlash against England.

But it now seems the Sunday Times probe into two members of the committee has left England with a mountain to climb ahead of the vote on 2 December.

“It has significantly harmed England’s bid,” a senior member told BBC Sport.

With four weeks to go to the decision, England’s bid team has not given up all hope of turning the situation around.

But senior sources say that the prospect of any future media investigations into the conduct of Fifa officials – including a potential Panorama programme on the BBC – could be fatal for their chances.

One member of the bid team told the BBC: “The question is: can we recover from this? Fifa members feel they are being persecuted by the British media.

“It isn’t dead and the next two or three weeks will be delicate but England’s bid has been damaged and it’s going to take a lot of hard work to repair that damage.”

One move being considered by England’s bid is to ask all the editors of the national newspapers and broadcasters to write to Fifa declaring their support for the 2018 bid.

The Fifa president Sepp Blatter signalled the start of a backlash against the British media last Friday when he said: “One can ask whether such an action is appropriate, trying to set traps for people. It is a deeply rooted problem [with the English media].

“Who is benefitting from this situation and who is being harmed, we are asking ourselves why did it happen and why did it happen specifically by English journalists? We are looking at that.”

And the head of the Asian Football Confederation, Mohamed Bin Hammam, has used his blog to attack the British media. He wrote: “Is it ethical to use unethical methods to protect the ethic? How will we clean dirty laundry by using dirty water?”

Eric Boullier appointed as Renault F1 Managing Director

The Renault Formula One team has announced that Eric Boullier, cough Team Principal since 5 January 2010, will take over the role of Managing Director with immediate effect following the departure of Bob Bell.

Gérard Lopez, Chairman of the Renault F1 Team, said: “We would like to thank Bob Bell for his contribution to the performance of the team and for helping see us through a period of transition since Genii Capital became a shareholder in the Renault F1 Team.

“We are entrusting the post of Managing Director to Eric Boullier and we have every confidence that, under his leadership, we will achieve our racing objectives. Throughout the 2010 season, we have been assessing what is required to continue improving our level of competitiveness and we believe we are well positioned for the challenges ahead.”

Eric Boullier, Team Principal and Managing Director, added: “Since the beginning of the season, the Renault F1 Team has demonstrated its ability to react to a need for change.

“The results of the tremendous efforts made have been immediately apparent on the race track. Today, we have a competitive car and an incredibly motivated team. I am proud of the trust being placed in me to continue this good work, and I will make every effort to ensure the Renault F1 Team returns to the front of the grid as soon as possible.”

Big name speakers announced for Rugby Expo 2010

A number of high profile speakers have been announced for the Rugby Expo 2010 conference, including Mark Evans, the CEO of Harlequins, and General Manager of the Rugby World Cup, Ross Young.

Also due to speak at the event is Tom Hill, Sponsorship Director at Manchester United, Paul Kimberley, Commercial Director for Rugby Football League, and Dan Lyle, Tournament Director for the USA Sevens.

Rugby Expo brings together professional and grass roots clubs, leagues and national associations, international federations, major brands and broadcasters.

The first conference in 2008 attracted more than 1,000 attendees and 45 exhibitors.

This year’s event will be held on 9 and 10 November at the RHS Lawrence Hall, Westminster.

Woburn to Host 2016 Women’s Open Championship

Woburn has been announced as the host for the 2016 Women’s Open Championship.

While previous Championships have been held on the Duke’s Course, it will be the Marquess Course that will host the 2016 Championship. This marks not only the 40th edition of the Championship, but also the 40th anniversary of the opening of Woburn Golf Club.

Forming part of the Woburn Estate, home to the Duke of Bedford, Woburn Golf Club is one of the UK’s premier golf facilities, boasting three world class Championship golf courses. The Marquess Course is the most recent of the three courses, opening in 2000, and it has hosted two European Tour events, but never a women’s Major.

Shona Malcolm, the LGU’s CEO commented, “We are all looking forward to returning to Woburn for the 10th time. With so much shared history, Woburn is a very fitting venue at which to celebrate the Championship’s  40th anniversary. The Marquess Course will provide a fresh challenge for the players and fits perfectly with our commitment to ensuring the world’s best women players showcase their talents on the world’s best golf courses.”

Simon Sasaki, Corporate Executive Vice President, Ricoh Company Ltd. concluded, “We have been the title sponsor of the Ricoh Women’s British Open since 2007 and one of the many attractions of this historic tournament is taking our clients to the many wonderful venues that the LGU and IMG have secured. We think Woburn will be the perfect place to celebrate the events 40th anniversary with all its heritage and its proximity to London.”

JMI Sports Secures Lucrative Marketing Rights to University of Kentucky Athletics

JMI Sports has secured lucrative multimedia marketing rights over University of Kentucky’s athletics and campus in a new 15-year, $210 million agreement.

“This partnership reflects the fact that the University of Kentucky is a national brand with the largest and most loyal fan base in all of intercollegiate athletics,” UK Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart said. “The size of this partnership – and our partnership with an emerging force in college sports in JMI Sports – will enable us to maintain and grow as one of the country’s few financially self-sustaining programs, allowing us to continue to provide incredible educational opportunities to more than 450 young men and women as well as continue to partner with the university in unique and distinctive ways.”

“It is critically important that our athletic program remain not only financially self-sustaining, but is also positioned to continue to be an aggressive partner in our academic efforts,” University of Kentucky President Eli Capilouto said. “Nowhere else in the country is an athletics program more essential to building a thriving public, residential, research university. This partnership with JMI Sports helps ensure those contributions are strengthened.”

Last year, Capilouto and Barnhart announced the UK athletics department was paying for $65 million of a more than $100 million Academic Science Building – an unprecedented partnership between academics and athletics in American higher education.

JMI Sports is an innovator in sales, marketing, and project management services to universities and professional teams. Kentucky will be JMI Sports’ first client for which it will serve as its multimedia rights holder, but its leadership has substantial experience in sports business. 

“We are delighted to be partnering with the University of Kentucky,” Moores said. “Erik, Tom and I would like to thank President Capilouto, Mitch Barnhart and the entire UK administration for the confidence they have placed in JMI Sports. We are enthusiastic supporters of higher education, recognizing the many important roles these institutions play in our society. We look forward to working with UK to build the most innovative and successful multi-media venture in the country.”

JMI Sports’ college clients include the Southeastern Conference, Alabama, North Carolina, Oregon, Auburn, Colorado, Duke, Syracuse and many more.

“We are very impressed with JMI Sports and excited to begin working with them,” Barnhart said. “Their work with many of our peers in college athletics and the experience of their team will make them an excellent long-term partner for UK Athletics and a valued part of the Big Blue Nation.”

Donald Sterling Opts Against Selling LA Clippers

With Donald Steling’s tenure as LA Clippers owner seemingly coming to an end, Sterling has backtracked on earlier comments and decided against selling the NBA franchise. 

Sterling was banned for life by the NBA in April over a leaked recording of racist remarks he made.

Then, on May 30, Sterling sued the NBA and its commissioner, Adam Silver, seeking at least $1 billion in damages, just as the league tentatively approved a deal by his estranged wife, co-owner of the franchise, to sell the club for $2 billion to former Microsoft Corp chief executive Steve Ballmer.

Besides the lifetime ban, Silver also fined Sterling $2.5 million, the league’s maximum penalty.

Sterling’s attorney, Maxwell Blecher, on June 4 told reporters his client had agreed to the sale to Mr Ballmer and had decided to drop his legal action against the NBA.

But Sterling has decided against letting his NBA franchise which he has owned for 33 years. 

In a statement carried by NBC News, Sterling said he had been treated unfairly and must defend his rights to privacy and due process.

“From the onset, I did not want to sell the Los Angeles Clippers. I have worked for 33 years to build the team … I intend to fight to keep the team,” NBC News quoted the 80-year-old Sterling as saying on Monday.

Sterling also said in the statement that he was extremely sorry for the hurtful comments he made in private, and that they were made in anger and jealousy.

But he said he believed Silver “acted in haste by illegally ordering the forced sale of the Clippers,” banning him for life, and imposing the fine.

“The action taken by Adam Silver and the NBA constitutes a violation of my rights and flies in the face of the freedoms that are afforded to all Americans,” Sterling said.

“I have decided that I must fight to protect my rights. While my position may not be popular, I believe that my rights to privacy and the preservation of my rights to due process should not be trampled.”

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Williams Show Revenue Increase in Latest Financial Accounts

Williams Grand Prix Holdings PLC (WGPH), the parent company of Formula 1 team Williams Martini Racing has announced its financial results for 2013, with income increased by 25%. 

The company’s income grew from £105.8m in 2012 to £132.4m in 2013, thanks largely to what WGPH describes as “a special non-recurring sponsorship payment, which drove an increase in Formula One income to £108.5m (2012: £86.4m)”. It is likely that it relates to the departure of Pastor Maldonado and his backer PDVSA before the end of Williams’ sponsorship deal with the Venezuelan oil company. 

Williams was also able to boast an overall profit of £12.0m before interest and tax, up £6.9m compared to 2012. The figures do not take in to account the sale of the Williams Hybrid Power and Williams Technology Centre in Qatar in early 2014. 

Team principal Sir Frank Williams said the results were very positive for the company despite a poor F1 season for the race team last year. 

“Although 2013 was a difficult season for the team on the race track, we report these full year results at a time of much optimism for the Williams Group,” Williams said. “We have started the 2014 Formula One season well and hope we can continue to improve our performance. 

“We made good progress commercially through the winter months and Williams continues to attract an enthusiastic and very loyal group of partners and fans. These annual results demonstrate that we continue to manage our business in a fiscally responsible way and provide the foundation from which we can continue to grow.”

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NASCAR’s Swan Racing Announce Restructuring

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team Swan Racing has announced it has restructured the company with Anthony Marlowe merging his ownership of the No. 26 team into BK Racing.

The No. 30 team has been sold to John Cohen of XxxTreme Motorsports, which will operate the team going forward and intends to compete with veteran driver J.J. Yeley. Stephen “Bones” Lane will serve as crew chief and be joined by several other former Swan Racing crewmembers.

Team owner Brandon Davis issued the following statement: “I want to first thank our employees, fans, and others in the NASCAR industry for their patience and understanding over the past several days while we work out the future of Swan Racing.

“As previously stated, the team is restructuring due to a lack of additional funding. However, over the past couple weeks we worked tirelessly to find an alternative to ending operations. Fortunately, we were able to find a home for the No. 26 team and the No. 30 team thanks to Anthony Marlowe and Jonathan Cohen respectively.

“Anthony and Jonathan are both young and ambitious NASCAR enthusiasts. It is important to keep them in the sport for the long term. I am very relieved to know that the Nos. 26 and 30 teams will be in good hands and will continue to compete the remainder of the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. Most importantly, most of the team members have the opportunity to continue their employment in the sport and to support their families. This was critically important to me.

“Swan Racing is exploring any and all options to keep Parker Kligerman on track throughout the season. We are encouraged by the response we have received from interested parties. Parker continues to be one of the most talented young drivers in NASCAR. He brought this racing team one of its strongest results in his first race with us, and we are certain of his success in the future.

“I respect Brandon Davis and everything he has done for the Swan Racing Company,” said Marlowe. “Looking forward, my mission is to ensure Cole Whitt races in every NASCAR Sprint Cup event this season. I am thrilled about the No. 26 team merger with my new partners at BK Racing. My friend Ron Devine and the BK Ownership group really stepped up to enable me to keep the No. 26 on the track. Cole and Randy are off to an auspicious start in 2014 for a new Cup Team and we are gearing up for Richmond. In addition to the No. 26 team’s performance so far this year, the new ‘win and you’re in’ system and qualifying rules were motivating and positive factors in my continued investment in NASCAR.”

“I’ve always had a good relationship with Brandon and always said if we can help each other or work together when the time is right that we should do it,” said Cohen.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity Anthony Marlowe is giving me to continue the NASCAR Sprint Cup season,” said Whitt. “I want to thank Brandon Davis and everyone at Swan Racing for the opportunity they gave me to race for the team.”

“Although it’s unfortunate we are having to scale back, I look forward to the future and the exciting things that I’m confident we will accomplish at Swan Racing or with another team,” said Kligerman. “I value the relationship that I’ve had with Brandon Davis and am very grateful for him giving me an opportunity to compete in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Whether I continue to race with Brandon and Swan Racing or end up with another team, I will always give it my all on and off track to be the best I can be.”