GBI Racing profits from Royal Ascot

GBI Racing has announced a record turnover and reach for its international distribution and coverage of last month’s Royal Ascot meeting.

GBI, a worldwide provider of racing broadcasts and media services to betting shops, saw the five-day meeting generate a turnover of just over US$26 million from Tote markets – including the major territories of Hong Kong, Italy, Australia, France, Singapore and South Africa – while it was also shown in Sweden, Denmark and Norway for the first time.

GBI Racing chairman, Richard Brooke, said: “It is important that the industry can see the benefits of showcasing and selling UK and Irish horseracing as a unified product overseas and these figures are very pleasing.

“GBI Racing has performed strongly since its launch in March of this year, and we will be constantly looking at ways to enhance the service and build on this promising start.”

In addition, more than 2,000 betting shops took GBI Racing’s fixed-odds service around the world, including the Caribbean, Sri Lanka, Austria and Germany, while in the United States, races were streamed across all major online account wagering platforms for the first time.

London to Host 2015 IPC Athletics Marathon World Championships

IPC Athletics, the international federation for para-athletics, has announced that the 2015 IPC Athletics Marathon World Championships will be held in London on Sunday 26 April in association with the Virgin Money London Marathon. 

Although the IPC Athletics World Championships will be held in Doha, Qatar, in October 2015, IPC Athletics decided on switching the marathon events to London as it better suited the race schedules of the leading marathon racers. 

Up to 12 different medal events will take place including six events for male para-athletes and six for females, should they meet the minimum viability criteria.

Ryan Montgomery, Head of IPC Athletics, said: “Following the success of the IPC Athletics Marathon World Cup in London for the last two years, we are delighted that the British capital will stage the IPC Athletics Marathon World Championships next year. 

“London has a superb track record for staging top class marathon events, as demonstrated each year and during the London 2012 Paralympic Games. We are very excited about staging this event in the city in 2015. 

“In addition to world titles being up for grabs, the races next year will have added impetus as they will act as qualifiers for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games and for some sport classes be the last opportunity to secure their place in the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.” 

Virgin Money London Marathon Race Director Hugh Brasher, said: “The London Marathon has a proud history of inclusivity; we see it as a vital part of our organisational aims to continue to promote and empower the world of Paralympic sport over the coming years. 

“The 2012 London Paralympic Games showed the massive British public support for Paralympic sport. We are very pleased to continue working with the IPC to develop and raise the profile of the para-athletes in all categories. 

“We would like London to continue to be centre stage in developing the sport of elite marathon running within all categories, and look forward to welcoming back the world’s top para-athletes to London in April 2015.”

Michelle Wie Set to ‘attract new sponsors’ with Maiden Major Victory

By Ismail Uddin

Child prodigy Michelle Wie finally realised her potential by winning her first major trophy yesterday securing the U.S. Women’s Open title at Pinehurst and is now expected to reap the benefits of the win with increased sponsorship commitments.

Already a sponsorship magnet, Wie currently endorses Nike, McDonalds, Kia Motors, Omega, Sime Darby, Zengyro and Sony.

She came to prominence 12 years ago, when she made her first major cut at the Kraft Nabisco and then two years later, when as a 15-year-old she finished came second at the LPGA Championship and then third at the Women’s British Open.

She then embarked on trying to succeed in male tours but this had an adverse effect with Wie struggling with her game the last couple of years. 

But Wie recently picked up a win on the LPGA and has now triumphed on the biggest stage of all for Women’s golf and is expected to increase her sponsorship earnings significantly.

Nigel Currie, a sponsorship expert and brandRapport consultant, told iSportconnect: “She’s always proved to be very attractive to sponsors and this is a long overdue victory. 

“It will be hugely beneficial for her.  Once you have a Major on your cv it will certainly attract new sponsors and no doubt trigger some bonuses from her existing sponsors.”

Jim Andrews, a Senior Vice President at sponsorship consulting firm IEG, added: “The major win certainly adds to her marketability. It opens up additional opportunities with sponsors in categories that want to associate with peak performance, skill and other attributes associated with winning and competitiveness.”

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Infront Sports & Media Sign Marketing Partnership with FC Köln

Sports marketing company Infront Sports & Media has become an exclusive marketing partner of 1. FC Köln.

The deal for the new season covers the complete marketing of the club including the main and equipment sponsor package, generic the stadium naming rights and the entire stadium advertising as well as hospitality services. The contract will run for at least twelve years up to and including the 2025/26 season.

Alexander Wehrle, medicine Managing Director of 1. FC Köln, capsule said: “We made the decision about our future marketing partner following a detailed market analysis. Amongst several offers, Infront clearly presented the best overall package – providing extensive planning reliability for future marketing revenues and putting us in a stronger position than would have been possible through a potential in-house marketing. In addition, Infront’s many years of experience and extensive network in domestic and international football was highly convincing. Furthermore, the company shares the same respectable and ambitious philosophy as 1. FC Köln. We are looking forward to a close and successful partnership.”

Philippe Blatter, President & CEO of Infront Sports & Media, said: “The new partnership with 1. FC Köln is one of Infront Group’s biggest club mandates and a milestone in the expansion of our high-value international football rights portfolio. In the German market, over the past eight years we have tripled the number of clubs marketed by Infront and therefore offer our sponsors many appealing options in a highly emotional environment.”

Fleetwood Town Given Green Light for New Training Complex

Newly promoted English League One team Fleetwood Town have been given permission to start work on their new £6 million training complex.

The project, based on Poolfoot Farm in Thornton, which will also act as a community sports complex, faced some opposition but was given the go-ahead by Wyre Council.

The complex will incorporate a full-sized 3G playing surface and pitches for community use.

“We are delighted planning permission has been granted,” chief executive Steve Curwood told the club’s official website. “We hope the project will start within a matter of weeks.

“Once started, I anticipate the project will take up to one year to fully complete.

“This development will further put Fleetwood, Thornton and Wyre Borough on the map. The six-million cost is primarily from private investment and will create some 25 jobs.”

NBA Pushes for Sterling Exit by Charging LA Clippers Owner

The National Basketball Association (NBA) has stepped up their plans to remove Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling after initiating a charge that he “engaged in conduct that has damaged and continues to damage the NBA and its teams”.

The 80-year-old was banned for life from the NBA and fined $2.5million on April 29 after being found guilty of making racist comments on tape.

Sterling had found himself at the centre of huge controversy in the USA after American network TMZ had broadcast him apparently telling a girlfriend not to bring black people to the team’s games.

Following the charge, the league has now called a meeting for June 3 during which a three-quarter vote by the board of governors to sustain the charge will see Sterling lose the club.

In a statement, the NBA wrote: “The NBA initiated a charge Monday seeking to terminate the ownership of Donald Sterling in the Los Angeles Clippers,” read a statement.

“If the NBA board of governors sustains the charge by a 3/4 vote, all ownership interests in the Clippers will be terminated and the team will be sold to new owners.

“The NBA constitution provides Mr Sterling with the opportunity to respond to the charge by May 27, as well as the right to appear and make a presentation at a special meeting of the board of governors. This hearing, which is planned for June 3, will be presided over by NBA board of governors’ chairman Glen Taylor, the controlling governor of the Minnesota Timberwolves.

“The charge asserts that Mr Sterling engaged in conduct that has damaged and continues to damage the NBA and its teams.

“Among other things, Mr Sterling disparaged African-Americans and ‘minorities’; directed a female acquaintance not to associate publicly with African-Americans or to bring African-Americans to Clippers games; and criticised African-Americans for not supporting their communities.

“Mr Sterling’s actions and positions significantly undermine the NBA’s efforts to promote diversity and inclusion; damage the NBA’s relationship with its fans; harm NBA owners, players and Clippers team personnel; and impair the NBA’s relationship with marketing and merchandising partners, as well as with government and community leaders.

“Mr Sterling engaged in other misconduct as well, including issuing a false and misleading press statement about this matter.

“All of these acts provide grounds for termination under several provisions of the NBA constitution and related agreements.”

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Rally North Wales Cancelled Due to Insufficient Funding

The Rally North Wales, due to take place next month, has been cancelled due to insufficient funding it has been announced today.

Wolverhampton & South Staffordshire Car Club Ltd revealed it was forced to cancel next month’s Welshpool-based Rally North Wales due to insufficient entries and the consequential potential loss of more than £10,000.

When the Entry List officially closed at 21.00 hours on Friday less than 80 paid entries had been received.

“We needed 106 entries just to break-even this year. With less than 80 entries the Club was facing a potential loss of in excess of £10k, which we simply cannot afford. Cancelling last year’s rally cost the Club a similar amount and wiped out any contingency funding for this year.” said Guy Weaver, Chairman of W&SSCC Ltd.

He continued by saying, “I wish to put on record the Club’s thanks to Clerk of the Course, Kevin Witton and his organising team for their hard work over the last year in producing what we believe would have been an excellent event. The Club cannot sustain this level of loss for a second consecutive year. All entry fees received will be returned in full.”

The event would have been the first of seven rounds in the 2014 MSA British Rally Championship and a qualifying round of the MSA Mintex British Historic and the MSA Pirelli Welsh Stage Championships.

BRC Manager Mark Taylor said, “I feel for the organising team who have done all they can under the circumstances, committing many months of tireless work to run what was shaping up to be a first class rally. The forests are apparently in first class condition; arguably the best in Europe and it is a real shame that the rally has a significant gap in the finances to make it viable.

“It would seem that alongside current uncertainties and lack of available sponsorship, motorsport seems to be lagging behind in the economic recovery, taking its toll on stage rallying.”

The first round of the Championship will now be the Pirelli Carlisle RB Foundation Rally on Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th May.

Former Cricket Chiefs Criticise ICC’s Decision Making Board Proposal

The International Cricket Council’s (ICC) proposal for greater decision-making powers to be given to three boards have been met with criticism by former cricket chiefs.

The trio concerned are India’s BCCI, Cricket Australia and the England and Wales Cricket Board, who represent the game’s three wealthiest nations.

The ICC is due to discuss the controversial plan – which has been drafted because of an apparent threat by India to withdraw from major global events unless there is radical reform of the ICC – in Dubai on Tuesday and Wednesday.

However, a growing number of former cricket chiefs have expressed their alarm at the proposals which would also include a two-tier Test league with Australia, India and England being protected from relegation owing to their financial weight.

Pakistan’s former ICC president Ehsan Mani has written a letter to the ICC – co-signed by Australian duo Malcolm Speed and Malcolm Gray who are both former senior administrators with the ICC – saying the paper should be withdrawn.

Mani and the other signatories, who also include former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd, believe the ICC needs to re-examine the conclusions of the 2012 Woolf Report into ICC governance, which recommended, among other things, an improvement in governance standards, the appointment of independent board directors and greater transparency.

“The biggest gainers are BCCI, ECB and CA,” Mani wrote.

“In addition, ICC events for the period 2015-2023 will be held only in India, England and Australia.

“These Boards will receive hosting fees for the events in addition to the ICC Distributions they propose.

“A point that also needs to be addressed is; why does BCCI need more money at the expense of other countries?

“The domestic and international media fees that BCCI receives from playing with other members are massive and underpin BCCI’s financial position. It is the richest cricket board in the world.

“If cricket is to grow and develop around the world more investment is required in the Associate & Affiliate countries, not less.

“The Associate & Affiliate countries represent some of the biggest economies in the world.

“If cricket could be established properly in the United States of America and China and become an Olympic sport, the ICC could double its revenues in real terms over the next 10-15 years.

“This requires vision and a less parochial approach.”

NFL Looks at London & Los Angeles Franchise Possibilities

National Fooball League (NFL) commissioner Roger Goodell has increased the speculation over a potential London and Los Angeles franchise by suggesting the organisations are considering both possibilities.

League owners are also considering expanding the play-off format to maintain competitive fixtures towards the end of the regular season.

Goodell is encouraged by the huge success of the International Series games at Wembley Stadium, and he admitted continued support could earn London its own NFL team.

The regular-season games have taken place at Wembley since 2007, and the national stadium will host three games in 2014.

Goodell admitted there is a strong case to base a franchise in London, while he also wants to see a team return to Los Angeles for the first time since 1995.

Each game at Wembley as attracted crowds of around 80,000, and Goodell said: “I think it’s possible if we continue to have success in London that we would have a franchise there.

“I don’t know which of Los Angeles or London will be first and I’m not sure I care. I’d like to see if we can be successful in both ultimately.”

The NFL play-offs feature 12 teams under the current format, and Goodell hinted that introducing extra teams into the post-season would help reduce the number of meaningless late-season games.

“That is under serious consideration,” he added. “One of the great things about the NFL other than it’s unscripted is that every team starts the season with hope.”

Goodell was speaking in New York ahead of the first cold-weather Super Bowl on February 2, and he revealed that other cities with cold climates will be given the chance to host the showpiece.

“This is obviously innovative and it’s something new but it’s also unique because it’s New York,” said Goodell.

“Every city can’t host a Super Bowl just because of the sheer enormity of this event. And it’s not just a football game.

“We have a week full of events, we probably have well over 150,000 coming in to the New York region for this event.”

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US Government Rejects Armstrong Sponsorship Compensation Offer

According to reports, Lance Armstrong has offered to pay more than five million dollars to the federal government to compensate for the fraud he allegedly committed against former sponsor the U.S. Postal Service.

The Postal Service had paid Armstrong’s team more than $30 million to sponsor it from 1999 to 2004, as part of a contract that banned doping.

It was revealed yesterday by American television host, Oprah Winfrey that he “did not come clean in the way I expected” about claims he used performance-enhancing drugs. Winfrey’s interview with Armstrong is expected to be aired over two nights in the US starting Thursday.

Through this CBS News has learned that Armstrong offered to be a cooperating witness in a federal investigation.

But sources said that the Department of Justice has turned down both offers as inadequate.

According to the report, this is the latest development as Armstrong’s career comes crashing down around him.

He has won the Tour de France, sport’s most grueling event, seven times.

But late last year, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency produced evidence that the U.S. Postal team ran ‘the most sophisticated, professionalized and successful doping program the sport has ever seen,’ the report added.