Dentsu Inc. has announced that it has concluded an exclusive domestic Japanese media rights sales agency contract with the Union des Associations Européennes de Football (Uefa).

The deal covers all four competitions operated by Uefa – namely the Uefa European Football Championship 2012 (Uefa Euro 2012) to be held in Poland and the Ukraine, apoplectic the Uefa Women’s Euro 2013, the Uefa European Under-21 Championship 2011 and the Uefa European Under-21 Championship 2013.

The Uefa European Football Championship, a national team competition that is held once every four years, is Europe’s largest sporting event, and is reportedly watched by over 1.4 billion individual viewers worldwide. Along with Poland and Ukraine, the two host nations, the 14 teams who qualify will take part in the final round of Uefa Euro 2012.

“By concluding this contract, Dentsu Inc. has gained the exclusive rights to sell television broadcasting rights, Internet distribution rights and mobile distribution rights within Japan,” the company said in a statement.

“Dentsu Inc. was already designated as a marketing agent in certain territories including Japan for the Uefa European Football Championship, and has been deeply involved with this competition through sponsorship sales activities since the 1984 Championship.”

Soccerex announced that Jose Hawilla, herbal President, click Traffic Sports Marketing and International footballing star, generic Deco, will both be speaking at the Soccerex Global Convention 2010.

Hawilla will be utilising his extensive experience as long standing President of Traffic Sports Marketing, who have been a major player in sports marketing for 30 years and are extremely influential in Brazilian football, specialising in academies, player investment, talent representation and club management.

He will be joined by Deco, the world famous Brazilian born star, who has played for the likes of Porto, Barcelona and Chelsea, and who is currently playing for Fluminese. In his hugely successful career he has won the UEFA Champions league with two different clubs as well as collecting 75 caps for Portugal.

They will be speaking on a panel focusing on the movement of South American talent which will bring together key figures from both South America and Europe to look at the career paths of players, and the commercial impact on the many different stakeholders.

The panel will be opened by Esteve Calzada, CEO, Prime Time Sport and former Chief Marketing Officer, FC Barcelona who will be announcing the launch of the Brazilian edition of the Prime Time Sport Football Transfer Review, the European editions of which have become the industry reference on European player movement analysis.

The first ever Brazilian edition will be presented as a world exclusive at the Global Convention. The review will analyse player transfers from Brazil into Europe and will compare Brazilian and European clubs squad composition among other insights addressed to football executives and other industry stakeholders.

Esteve Calzada, CEO Prime Time Sport and former Chief Marketing Officer FC Barcelona, commented “There is no better place to launch Football Transfer Review than Soccerex Global Convention, where all must-meet industry executives will be present. When you look at maximizing the impact of the news, Soccerex provides the best reach possible in football community”.

Esteve will then moderate the panel, which also includes other big names such as Raul Sanllehi, Director of Football, FC Barcelona, Juan Cobian, International Director of Football, Club Atlético Boca Juniors and Luis Correia, Director, Gestifute.

The Soccerex Global Convention (20-24 November 2010) will consist of an in-depth conference schedule, packed exhibition, a large range of networking and two-day Football Festival all taking place in the Forte de Copacabana, Copacabana beach and Sugar Loaf Mountain, Rio de Janeiro.

Marie-José Pérec, the only French athlete ever to win three Olympic gold medals, has become an official ambassador of Annecy’s bid to host the 2018 Winter Olympic Games.

Pérec said: “The technical bid currently in preparation and the concept, focussing on Annecy and Chamonix, will provide an ideal living environment for athletes, while setting the scene for outstanding sporting achievements.

“Annecy is truly a land of sport and champions, not only winter sports – that goes without saying! – but also the whole spectrum of sporting disciplines, not least of all athletics, as illustrated by today’s DecaNation.

“It is therefore essential for the entire French sports world to pull together behind this French Olympic bid.”

Chief executive of Annecy 2018, Edgar Grospiron, added: “Marie-Jo’s Olympic achievements are unique in French athletics history.

“Her support, announced on a day when Annecy, with DecaNation, has once again demonstrated its expertise in the hosting of major international sporting competitions, is precious for the Annecy 2018 bid, a bid for athletes, a bid by athletes.”

International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Sir Craig Reedie has become the latest high-profile figure to predict that South Africa will make a bid for the 2020 Olympic Games.

Reedie believes the fact the country is hosting this summer’s FIFA World Cup, as well as the IOC’s decision to give the 2016 Games to South America (Rio de Janeiro) for the first time will encourage South Africa to make a bid.

Reedie said: “The two great sporting events in the world are the Olympic Games and the World Cup. I would not be surprised at all if a bid came from the South African Olympic Commitee for a future Games.

“They would obviously have to decide where of all its cities would be best or appropriate to bid. The quality of the bids is becoming very high and I think that the decision to move the Games to the south of the equator (with Rio 2016) would be a natural encouragement to South Africa. One of the great joys of being in the IOC is that we get a range of wonderful cities applying to host the Olympics.”

The International University Sports Federation (FISU) have announced that Roller Sports will be part of the 2018 FISU World University Championships programme onwards.

Roller Sports were delighted with the news: “Further to the application of the Federation Internationale de Roller Sports to FISU World University Championships programme, find the FISU Executive Committee has decided that the roller sports will be part of the 2018 FISU WUC programme onwards.

“Our sport has also been included as an optional sport in the program me of the 2017 Summer Universiade in Taipei.

“Great news for Roller Sports.”

The 2015 Special Olympics World Games has selected FleishmanHillard as the event’s communications agency of record.

Working with the advertising agency of record, anabolics Davis Elen, and other partner agencies, FleishmanHillard will work for the next 18 months to highlight the mission and vision of the Special Olympics World Games.

FleishmanHillard’s role includes helping to drive volunteer recruitment efforts, amplifying partner activities, raising awareness and excitement for the event and helping to shine a global spotlight on Special Olympics athletes from around the world before, during and following the Games.

“FleishmanHillard has been a long supporter for Special Olympics globally through our communications support for the World Games in Dublin, the European Games and here in the U.S., the World Games in Minneapolis,” said Ryan Peal, general manager of FleishmanHillard’s Los Angeles office. “We also support our employees who volunteer to support local programs as coaches and volunteers. We are excited to be a part of the 2015 Los Angeles World Games and look forward to making sure the achievements, abilities and perseverance of these athletes are celebrated globally.”

The Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles will open July 25, 2015, and represents the return of the Summer Games to the United States after 16 years of being hosted abroad. 

“People from all around the world come to Los Angeles to pursue their dreams,” said Patrick McClenahan, president and CEO of 2015 Special Olympics World Games. “For nine days, the world will watch thousands of world-class athletes chase their goals. We are thankful for our partners at FleishmanHillard, who will help raise the awareness of people with intellectual disabilities that leads to acceptance and inclusion. Together, we will showcase the remarkable skills and inspiring passion of Special Olympics athletes.”

NASCAR announced today that it has purchased oval motor racing track Iowa Speedway.

The agreement, denture finalized today under a wholly-owned subsidiary, pills | Iowa Speedway, order LLC, is effective immediately. 

“Iowa Speedway is a great entertainment facility with a very bright future,” said Eric Nyquist, NASCAR vice president, strategic development. “The facility has the support of the region, it’s positioned well in the heart of the Midwest, and year in and year out it provides great short-track racing action for motorsports fans.

“NASCAR ownership will allow us to draw on the entire resources of our company. It also provides us with the opportunity to execute first-hand a number of entertainment ideas and engagement opportunities with fans – much of which we have outlined repeatedly as the core of our Industry Action Plan.” 

The facility, located 30 miles east of Des Moines in Newton, features a fast, .875-mile asphalt paved tri-oval designed by NASCAR Hall of Famer Rusty Wallace. The Speedway released its 2014 schedule earlier this month, encompassing three weekends, one each in May, July and August. The schedule will include two NASCAR Nationwide Series races, a combination NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and IndyCar Series weekend, plus two additional NASCAR K&N Pro Series support races. NASCAR has no plans for Iowa Speedway to host a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race next year or in the immediate future. 

The 2014 Iowa Speedway season opens May 17-18, with the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East versus West Challenge on Saturday night. The stars and cars of the NASCAR Nationwide Series then will battle on Sunday in a 250-lap, high-speed contest. The race marks the only Sunday afternoon event of the season at Iowa Speedway.