UEFA has today announced that it has concluded a number of media rights deals for UEFA EURO 2012 and 2016 sales outside of Europe. These agreements reaffirm the UEFA European Football Championship as a compelling global property with significant interest and viewership outside of Europe. They further reflect UEFA’s continued long-term strategy to achieve the best possible media platform in individual markets by dealing directly with local broadcasters or, if and when appropriate, by using sports marketing agencies. The deals also include media rights for the 2011 and 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Championship as well as for the UEFA Women’s EURO 2013.

The mix of contracted partners provides an broadcast platform, delivering a combination of free to air and pay TV coverage and ensuring extensive distribution of these competitions. The media rights licensed include, live and delayed broadcast windows and, thanks to the platform neutral approach undertaken by UEFA, internet and mobile rights for all matches.

Commenting on the agreements, UEFA Director of Marketing, Guy-Laurent Epstein, said:

“We are extremely pleased to enter into long-term partnerships with these major broadcasters. This secures a depth of top quality coverage and gives the UEFA EURO 2012 and 2016 final tournaments extensive distribution in ex-Europe, thus ensuring even greater promotion of European football throughout the world.”

These direct deals add to the existing relationships with Al Jazeera Sport in the Middle East and North Africa region and Globo TV in Brazil. Media rights in the United States of America, the Caribbean and Canada as well as free-to-air rights in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding South Africa) are yet to be awarded.

This announcement also follows the appointment of SPORTFIVE for selected territories in Asia and Oceania, and Dentsu in Japan, for media rights sales of UEFA EURO 2012.

The media rights deals announced today are:

Central and Latin America

Mexico              OTI

Venezuela         Meridiano TV

Rest of Latin America (excluding Brazil)       Televideo Services

Sub Saharan Africa SuperSport International

Asia

Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam                Astro

Indonesia          RCTI and Indovision

Zimbabwe Football Association CEO, Henrietta Rushwaya has been fired after a probe into match fixing allegations against the Zimbabwe national soccer team found she was the “core central point” in the scam which involved referees, players and journalists.

ZIFA board member Ndumiso Gumede was assigned to lead a probe into an unsanctioned trip by the Warriors to Thailand and Malaysia in December last year.

A disciplinary tribunal found her guilty on charges of mismanagement and insubordination among others.

But match-fixing charges against her relating to the national team’s Asian tour last December had been withdrawn pending further investigation.

Rushwaya was suspended by the organisation in July, after she facilitated the national team’s trip to Thailand, Syria and Malaysia in December last year.

“The disciplinary panel found her guilty of the charges levelled against her and as a result, the penalty for that is dismissal,” said labour judge Custom Kachambwa.

She was also found guilty of securing a loan from the Sports and Recreation Commission that could not be accounted for.

Meanwhile, the match-fixing scandal – which implicates a string of the country’s top players, coaches and administrators – has yet to be heard.

In sworn statements, Zimbabwe players and officials recently said they were paid between $500 and $1,500 to throw matches for an Asian betting syndicate on a trip to Thailand and Malaysia.

The International Rugby Board (IRB) have announced today that the organisation will undergo a major rebrand and will be known as World Rugby from November 19, 2014.

The new brand, including a new logo, will be launched at the IRB World Rugby Conference and Exhibition in London on November 17-18.

Global Rugby participation has boomed by more than two million to 6.6 million players over the past four years, driven by the commercial success of Rugby World Cup, the IRB’s development strategies and record investment, strong and vibrant Unions and Rugby’s re-inclusion in the Olympic Games.

The rebrand will have no impact on Rugby World Cup 2015 branding or positioning, which will remain as it is with its iconic logo throughout the current event cycle.

IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset said: “Rugby continues to thrive, reach out and engage new audiences and participants in record numbers and the IRB has been at the heart of that growth.”

“We are committed to furthering that growth beyond our traditional family and fan base with a public that expects to be entertained, informed and interacted with. This move is more than just a name change, it is a mission statement.”

IRB Chief Executive Brett Gosper added: “In a crowded global entertainment and sporting marketplace, the role of the IRB has evolved from Game regulator to Game inspirer.”

“With this we must continue to appeal to those who know and love the sport and its heritage, while attracting, engaging and inspiring those who have no connection with the sport across multiple cultures and languages around the world.”

“World Rugby collectively has the ingredients and tools to do just that. Rugby’s global appeal is founded and positioned on its unique character-building values and inclusive ethos and we want everyone to feel connected with the sport and Rugby’s ongoing success story.”

“World Rugby clearly aligns our name with our mission and allows us to organise new and existing consumer facing properties in a way that they will be more impactful and more appealing to the sport’s growing global fan base.”

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BMW have selected agency TRO to activate their sponsorship of the 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles, viagra 40mg Scotland between the 23th and 28th September 2014.

As Official Car Partner, BMW has enjoyed an excellent partnership with the PGA European Tour and the Ryder Cup since 2006. TRO was responsible for delivering the event experience on behalf of BMW at the 2010 Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor.

The project involves the design, build and event management of the BMW Lounge, an interactive brand experience in the Tented Village and management of the BMW courtesy car service.

Michael Wyrley-Birch, chief operating officer TRO EMEA commented: “We’re delighted to have been selected to support BMW with the delivery of an exciting and interactive brand experience at this year’s Ryder Cup. We have worked with BMW for over 20 years and are proud to have produced some of their most high-profile sponsorship activations, including the PGA Championship at Wentworth, which we’re delivering for the 10th time this May.”

He added TRO will also be delivering its tenth sponsorship activation for the brand at the PGA Championship at the Wentworth Club in Surrey on 22-25 May.

Manchester City’s hopes of expanding their stadium have been officially granted after planning permission was approved. 

The Premier League club want to increase both ends of the 47,670-capacity arena by 6,250 and add up to 2,000 additional seats around the pitch.

Manchester City Council confirmed that a planning application to add up 14,500 extra seats at the Etihad has been approved allowing City to boast one of the largest Premier League stadiums at 62,170. They stadium will only be in the shadow of Manchester United’s Old Trafford.

It will be the club’s second major construction project in quick succession following the building of the £200m City Football Academy adjacent to the stadium.

Current Premier League Stadium capacity:

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Former Los Angeles Lakers Shaquille O’Neal has revealed he has purchased a minority stake in the NBA’s Sacramento Kings, despite the fierce rivalry he had with the team in his playing days.

Kings majority owner Vivek Ranadive was introduced to ‘Shaq’ through fellow investor Mark Mastrov, who combined with O’Neal to introduce his 24 Hour Fitness gyms to Florida after the centre was traded to the Miami Heat in 2004.

“I wanted to find somebody to add to the ownership group who truly represented 21st century basketball, who represented my vision of NBA 3.0,” Ranadive said.

“The most iconic person on the planet was Dr. O’Neal.

“Dr. O’Neal and I spent a day at my house shooting hoops, hanging out with my kids, and just talking about how to create the franchise of the 21st century.”

Sports network ESPN recently labelled Sacramento last in its annual ranking of NBA, NFL, NHL and MLB franchises, and O’Neal is looking forward to rising up in the future.

“Worst is at the bottom, which means you can’t get no worser. There’s no such things as worser, which means we can only get better. And we will get better.”

‘Dr. O’Neal’ – who holds a doctorate degree in education – is enthused about the prospects of returning the Kings to its former glories, but the television identity must first win over the Sacramento fans.

The Lakers eliminated the Kings from the 2002 playoffs in one of the most controversial series in NBA history, which involved a referee who was later sentenced to prison on match fixing charges.

Prior to the 2002-03 season, O’Neal referred to the Kings as the “Sacramento Queens” but now says he only made the remark because he is “an expert at marketing.”

“What interested me in this deal is the new vision, the new Kings, the new everything,” O’Neal said.

“I’ve always wanted to be part of something like this. It’s going to be great.”