With two years to go until Rugby Sevens makes its Olympic Sevens debut at Rio 2016, Brazilian boys and girls are getting into Rugby in record numbers, the International Rugby Board (IRB) has revealed.

Rugby participation has grown by 25 per cent since 2011 and, in 2013 alone, more than 9,000 boys and girls in Rio and Sao Paulo were introduced to the sport via the IRB’s Get Into Rugby mass-participation programme.

Meanwhile, Rugby’s preparations to ensure a successful Olympic debut are progressing with the qualification process now in place, unprecedented interest and engagement and a strong development programme underway to grow Rugby in Rio and across Brazil. In a further boost, Brazil men’s and women’s teams will both qualify automatically for Rio 2016.

IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset led the celebrations: “We are excited about Rugby Sevens’ Olympic Games debut and maximising the opportunity of competing on the world’s greatest sporting stage to reach out and inspire and engage new audiences and participants around the world.”

“As we reach the two years to go milestone, we are confident of delivering in partnership with all stakeholders memorable, competitive, and ultimately successful Rugby Sevens competitions at the Rio 2016 Games that the Olympic movement, Rio and Rugby will be proud of.”

Lapasset added: “The IRB, in partnership with the Brazilian Rugby Federation, continues to drive sustainable participation growth in Brazil. In the last year more than 9,000 boys and girls have been introduced to the sport via a variety of development initiatives.”

“To sustain the phenomenal growth, teachers, coaches and referees are being trained in Brazil and the IRB invested more than US$400,000 in both development support and high performance initiatives over the last year to grow participation while increasing competitiveness of the men’s and women’s senior national teams.”

Poultry producer Moy Park has selected global sponsorship activation and event management agency, RPMC, to activate its headline sponsorship for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

RPMC shall look after Moy Park’s international guests and VIP’s; sourcing accommodation, transport, flights and unique venues for their Business Leaders Forums. RPMC will also put together detailed activity programmes with a range of great dining options for the guests.  This is part of a wider agreement between RPMC and Marfrig, the parent company of Moy Park, that includes ticket and logistics management within Brazil.

RPMC’s appointment brings the agency’s total activation to 7 official sponsors and partners ahead of the FIFA World Cup in Brazil, commanding over 50% of the total sponsors at the tournament.

Stephen Hall, CEO of RPMC, commented:  “We are delighted to be working with Moy Park at the 2014 FIFA World Cup™ in Brazil. RPMC have vast experience within football welcome the opportunity to act on behalf of another great sponsor at the world’s greatest football event.”

RPMC’s current client roster includes Budweiser, McDonald’s, Emirates, Coca-Cola and Sony. 

Euroleague Basketball have signed a new landmark broadcast deal with FOX International Channels (FIC) for the 21st Century FOX company to broadcast the Turkish Airlines Euroleague in Europe and Africa in a new four-year deal.

The main components of the deal will allow the American based network with exclusive rights to broadcast live games and highlights on FIC channels in different European markets, buy cialis as well as non-exclusive rights in Sub-Saharan Africa. 

Italy and Poland will become the first FIC Europe’s markets to benefit from the deal, exclusively broadcasting live games involving their respective local teams: Montepaschi Siena and EA7 Emporio Armani Milan in Italy; and Stelmet Zielona Góra in Poland. In addition, FIC have acquired the exclusive rights to the remainder of the week’s games. 

Basketball fans in Sub-Saharan Africa will also be able to watch their favourite Euroleague action, with at least one weekly game set to be broadcast live on the region’s sports channel, Setanta Africa (currently in the process of being acquired by FIC). 

This new broadcasting agreement with FIC is the latest move by Euroleague Basketball to help spread the ‘I Feel Devotion’ motto – the league’s official motto – throughout Europe and beyond. Euroleague games are currently broadcast at least weekly to nearly 200 countries on five continents.  

Andrea Bassani, Chief Television & New Media Rights Officer, Euroleague Basketball, said: “We are delighted to welcome an organization the size of FIC to Euroleague Basketball through this multi-territory agreement. We are sure that the fans will enjoy elite basketball with FOX’s’ typical high-end production standards in a season that will reach its climax with the Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four in Milan, Italy – one of FOX Sports’s territories, and a prime event for FIC to showcase its top quality basketball coverage.” 

Diego Londoño, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of FOX international Channels Europe & Africa added: “Over the course of this year, sports content has taken on an increasingly pivotal role in FIC’s European and African portfolio. But this exciting deal with Euroleague elevates our sports coverage to another level. It not only broadens the variety of content we offer to our passionate sports fans around the world, it also reinforces FIC’s total commitment to offering the most diverse, high-quality television content to meet the demands of our sophisticated global audience.”

Formula 1 have revealed their draft calendar for the 2014 season with Mexico City set to host a race for the first time since 1992 while New Jersey, whose debut was postponed this season, is again absent from a draft 21-race calendar sent to teams and broadcasters.

The governing body, International Automobile Federation (FIA), has to approve the calendar at a world motorsport council meeting in Croatia later this month but if approved than the calendar will be biggest yet.

The previous record is 20, with 19 held this year, and most of the teams are reluctant to go above that number because of the stresses imposed on personnel such as engineers and mechanics.

Mexico, a new grand prix in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi and South Korea all have asterisks against their slots indicating they are subject to contract and track approval by the governing body.

India has been dropped as previously announced, with hopes for a comeback in 2015, while Austria is due to make a return after an 11-year break with a race at Spielberg on June 22.

Mexico’s absence has been even longer, with the last Formula One race held at the capital’s Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in 1992 and won by Britain’s Nigel Mansell.

The country currently has two Formula One drivers in McLaren’s Sergio Perez and Sauber’s Esteban Gutierrez and has been pushing hard to get back on the calendar for some years.

The race would be the first leg of a double-header with the U.S. Grand Prix held in Austin, Texas, with the races on November 9 and 16 before the finale in Brazil.

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The Jacksonville Jaguars today introduced a new brand identity as they look to revamp the organisation. 

“To be a success in business or life, order you have to stand for something and hold yourself accountable to the principles you believe in,” Khan said. “The Jacksonville Jaguars will not be casual in this responsibility, which we owe ourselves, our fans and the Jacksonville community.

“From this day, the Jacksonville Jaguars will live a brand mission of being proud, bold and committed in everythingmwe do. Our new logo and campaign theme are the first initiatives of what will be many examples of bringing this philosophy to life. A new era for the Jaguars begins today.”

Highlighting the new brand identity is a vibrant redesign of the team’s time-honored Jaguar logo that has adorned the team’s helmets since opening NFL play in 1995, as well as a refinement of the Jacksonville Jaguars logotype and the introduction of military-inspired secondary logo. The brand identity will be brought to life in 2013 under the theme “Stand United,” which universally speaks to the new era ahead for the team and the rallying spirit of Jaguars fans for nearly two decades.

“The new brand message, logo treatment and campaign theme we are introducing today will be critical components to the ongoing revitalization of the Jaguars franchise,” said Jaguars President Mark Lamping. “Change is exciting and it is certainly ahead for all of us.

“But, we were careful to remain faithful to the values that Jaguars fans and the Jacksonville region have embraced since Day One, and the result is a new look and approach that we feel will make an immediate and lasting impact. We are grateful for the role the NFL played in this process, as no one understands better than the NFL the importance of balancing tradition with an eye to the future.”

The new visual identity system is the result of several months of collaboration with the NFL, incorporating specific insight from our fans in 2012 and in recent years.

“It was important to evolve the logo, in collaboration with the Jaguars, in a manner that recognizes the team’s existing brand equity, embraces the organization’s strong values, and undeniably reflects the directionof the team and the community of Jacksonville,” said Jaime Weston, Vice President Brand and Creative, NFL. “It was a terrific experience for the league to work with an enthusiastic and pioneering franchise like the Jaguars. The new logo will play a major role in the Jaguars’ vision and mission to be proud, bold and committed.”

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