Mehr als 100 Vertreter des internationalen Motorsport versammelten sich zum ersten International Motorsport Summit von Sport&Markt, Repucom und der Nürburgring Automotive GmbH am Nürburgring.

Sport 1 Moderator Wolfgang Rother führte durch das Programm, das vom Geschäftsführer der Nürburgring Automotive GmbH Jörg Lindner eröffnet wurde. In seiner Rede machte der Tourismusexperte klar, dass man eine Event-Plattform wie den Nürburgring erfolgreich betreiben kann und dass sein Unternehmen trotz der aktuellen Auseinandersetzungen mit dem Land Rheinland-Pfalz den Pachtvertrag bis 2040 erfüllen will.

Anschließend gaben Sport+Markt Vorstand Marcel Cordes und Repucom Geschäftsführer Danny Townsend einen Überblick über den Sponsoringmarkt weltweit. Mit mehr als 40 Milliarden Dollar Marktumfang und einem prognostizierten Wachstum von 5 bis 10% in den nächsten zwei Jahren, ist die Sportbranche weiterhin klar ein Wachstumsmarkt.

Die Herausforderungen der modernen Motorsportindustrie sahen die beiden Experten in den fragmentierten Märkten mit vielen Serien, Veranstaltern, Vermarktern und Rechteinhabern, der ökologischen Problemstellung, den fragmentierten Medienmärkten, die es immer schwieriger und diversifizierter machen, die Zielgruppen umfassend zu erreichen, sowie der Planung und dem Controlling von Sponsoringinvestitionen.

Den Vormittag rundete ein Vortrag von Ben Pincus, SVP Business Development EMEA von Just Marketing International ab, der einen Einblick über die Herausforderungen in der Sponsoring-Aktivierung gab. Die Fähigkeit Sponsoren zuzuhören und ihre Problemstellungen zu erfassen, eine umfassende Evaluierung zu liefern und die Fans nicht aus dem Auge zu verlieren, sind für ihn die wichtigsten Eigenschaften, die Agenturen in der Sponsoringlandschaft künftig mitbringen müssen.

Mit viel Zeit für Networking und neue Kontakte ist der International Motorsport Summit der Auftakt zu einer jährlichen Veranstaltungsreihe, die sich im internationalen Motorsportmarkt etablieren wird. Weitere Informationen folgen Morgen im nächsten Newsletter.

Italian Olympic Committee (Coni) president Gianni Petrucci has critisized Turin giants Juventus for seeking to have their match-fixing punishment reversed.

Juventus registered a claim of 444 million ($599m) Euros against the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) in a local court in the aftermath of the 2006 Calciopoli scandal.

According to reports from Italy, Juve claimed the amount stating that they were mistreated by the FIGC over the match-fixing scandal.

Juve were stripped off two Serie A titles after being charged guilty of match fixing in 2006, which were given to Inter Milan. Moreover, the Old Lady were relegated down to the second division, Serie B.

But ever since Juventus have tried everything in its power to see their punishments overturned.

They have filed appeals with Coni’s National Court of Arbitration for Sport (TNAS) and European football governing body UEFA, while their latest attempt was to bring a case in a local Italian court in the Latium region.

Now that TNAS has declared itself unable to judge on Juve’s claim, Petrucci has had enough.

“I don’t like what’s happening in top-level football at the moment, it’s an illness of legal doping,” he said at a press conference in Rome.

“Top-level football will lose the respect of public opinion if it continues like this. I’m talking about a part of top-level football (Juve), a part that believes it’s cunning.

“I’m not having a go at lawyers but right now they’re trying to make everything possible.

“We’re in the hands of too many lawyers. I’m not saying that we don’t have the right to appeal to the courts, but we’re going beyond every level of sporting justice.

“There’s a lack of respect for the rules and for ethics. The arrogant and domineering must not prevail.

“I’m talking about a part of top-level Italian football because we’re witnessing something that’s never been seen before.

“Unfortunately they don’t accept the results on the pitch any more but as long as I have a voice to defend our rules, I’ll do so.

“The (football club) presidents knew that when they entered the world of sport: theirs is the money, the rules are ours!”

Asked about Juve’s latest appeal in the courts, Petrucci pleaded with the Italian giants to come to their senses.

“Where’s the sense in continuing? Taking a step backwards would mean taking two forwards,” he said.

“After this latest decision, what’s the point in continuing? Those with more intelligence put it at the service of others. I’m making an appeal but maybe those serve no purpose any more.”

Juve have never accepted the fact that they were stripped of two titles and still include the 2005 and 2006 scudetto crowns in their list of honours — although this is not recognised by the football authorities.

What particularly rankles is that although the 2005 title remains unassigned, the 2006 crown was awarded to runners-up Inter Milan.

“I don’t know if it was right to award that title to Inter, it’s not up to Coni to say so,” added Petrucci.

“However, the rules were respected and for Coni that’s the end of the matter. Those who want to re-open (the case) create problems for the serenity of Italian football. Nowadays you live on your credibility and your curriculum.

“It’s not true that whoever shouts the loudest is right. That’s enough, we’ve put our faith in a group of wise people to make a stand against the arrogance of a part of football.”

This topic has brought on a huge debate on iSportconnect’s discussion Serie A match fixing scandal- the aftermath. Leading figures Umberto Gandini – AC Milan Director, Michael Cunnah – iSportconnect board member and Steven Falk – Director of Star Sports Marketing have all waded in with their theories.

The prize fund afforded by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) for the professional circuit of men’s tennis will surpass US$90m by 2014 according to chairman and president Adam Helfant.

The increase in prize funds include a 9 per cent rise in each of the next three years for the nine Masters 1000 events, which take place in cities such as Cincinnati, Paris, Rome and Shanghai. In addition, the season-ending World Tour Finals event will see a 30 per cent increase in prize money, with the amount available to the eight participating players set to rise from $5m to $6.5m over the next three years. The world’s top 12 players will also receive a bonus pool rise of 33 per cent, from $6m to $8m in 2014.

However, due to the fact that the four annual Grand Slams – the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open – are governed by the International Tennis Federation rather than the ATP, prize pots for these events will not be affected.

Much of the success of the ATP in recent years has been placed on the head of executive chairman and president Adam Helfant, who is set to leave the association in its healthiest ever position having announced that he will be moving on at the end of the year.

Helfant stated: “We are privileged to be experiencing a golden era in men’s professional tennis. It is fitting that the commitment and excellence of the players is recognised and rewarded in this way. We are very pleased to have reached this agreement that reflects the fact that business across the ATP World Tour is stronger than ever.”

Fernando Aguerre has been re-elected unopposed as President of the International Surfing Association (ISA) at the ISA 50th Anniversary World Surfing Games in Punta Rocas, Peru.

Aguerre will continue to lead the sport’s global development in what will be his eighth term as President. 

After promoting the unique culture and youthful values of the sport as ISA President for the past two decades, Aguerre will continue to use his energy and passion for Surfing as the driving force behind its continued worldwide growth.

The ISA Annual and Biennial General Meetings also saw the appointment of two new Vice-Presidents with New Zealand Olympic Windsurfing Gold Medalist and IOC Member, Barbara Kendall MBE, and two-time ISA Stand-up Paddle [SUP] RacingWorld Champion, Casper Steinfath, joining the ISA leadership structure. Kendall and Steinfath join Aguerre and the other two ISA Vice Presidents, Karin Sierralta (Peru) and Layne Beachley (Australia), on the ISA Executive Committee.

In his re-election speech, Aguerre praised the election of Kendall and Steinfath as a key moment in the development of the ISA. He also highlighted the positive social impact of the ISA’s activities, how the introduction of groundbreaking wave pool technology will play a ‘game-changing’ role in the future of the sport and how this, alongside the sport’s global youth appeal, will play a key part in the ISA’s drive for Olympic inclusion.

Speaking after his re-election, Fernando Aguerre, ISA President, said: “Electing Barbara Kendall to Vice President means that the ISA has gained a very experienced Olympic voice. It also means the ISA continues in its commitment to gender equality in Surfing, ensuring that the make-up of the governing body’s Executive Committee is a minimum of 40% female.

“Casper Steinfath is respected by his peers in the Surfing and SUP Racing community around the world, not just because of his Surfing abilities, but also because he is somebody we can count on. He has a diverse background, speaks five languages and he will be a great ambassador for the ISA.

“Athletes are central to how the world of sport, including the IOC, operates and it’s great that we now have a young, active athlete in the Executive Committee to spread the message of Surfing. Surfing speaks directly to young people. The unique culture and youthful values are the embodiment of our sport and we must harness this youthful energy and use it as a driving force behind our ambitions.

“With the new wave technology that is about to transform Surfing we are presented with a wonderful opportunity to take the sport to new territories. People who have never even been to the ocean will have the opportunity to Surf on consistent, high performance waves. This development really is a game changer for Surfing and combined with the sport’s global, youthful appeal, it can drive us towards the goal of Olympic inclusion.”

Barbara Kendall MBE, ISA Vice President and IOC Member, said: “Surfing and the ocean have always been a huge part of my life and I am thrilled to be able to give something back to the sport in this way. The ISA is at a very exciting stage of its development and I’m delighted to be able to contribute to this important journey. With its young fans and global appeal, Surfing can continue to grow and realise its ambition of joining the Olympic Sports Programme.”

Casper Steinfath, ISA Vice President and Professional Surfer, said: “This is a big honour for me and one I will embrace. I believe Surfing and SUP with their youthful values, have a unique way of connecting with people all over the world. As a competing athlete and a role model, I have a responsibility to express the true values of Surfing. I am now looking forward to taking on this additional role with the ISA and helping to take the message of Surfing and SUP to young people all over the globe.”

All hope is not yet lost for Bradford Bulls as London-based businessman Richard Lamb has revealed he will renew his bid to buy Bradford Bulls after the Super League club fell back into administration. 

The Rugby Football League’s decision on Tuesday to impose the maximum six-point deduction on the club for breaching its insolvency regulations for the second time in two years prompted the prospective new owners to walk out.

Mark Moore, chairman of Bradford Bulls 2014 Ltd which agreed a sale with the administrators last Friday, withdrew his offer and launched a scathing attack on the RFL for placing the club in special measures, thereby preventing them from signing any more players. 

The RFL responded by blaming Moore’s failure to go through with a £300,000 offer to previous owner Omar Khan for the club’s latest crisis.

That left Leeds-based accountant David Wilson running the club once more but the RFL remains confident of finding new buyers.

RFL director of standards and licensing Blake Solly said: “There are still two bids on the table that the administrator can have a look at.

“We’re also working with a number of other parties who contacted us in the last 28 days expressing an interest in the club. We will be working with the administrator to try and ensure the club has a viable and solvent future.”

Lamb, who was involved in rugby league commercially during the 2013 World Cup, confirmed he is still keen to acquire the club and has offered to provide staff to help organise Sunday’s home game against London Broncos.

“My desire has not changed from last week,” Lamb tweeted. “To lead your great club.

“I am waiting for David to come back to me, hopefully by the end of this week.

“I have told him if the club needs support at the weekend with staff and personnel I’d bring some people up from London to help.”

Moore claimed in his farewell tirade that the points deductions means relegation for the Bulls is “almost a certainty” but Lamb says he has no issue with the sanctions and insists that a drop into the Championship would not be fatal.

“If that’s the rules of the governing body, then you have to take it,” he said.

“Hopefully, if we are successful, we can make sure that this season we perform as strongly as we can.

“If it resulted in the club going into the Championship, then – as we’ve seen in Premiership rugby and a number of other sports – as long as you run the club effectively and efficiently, then you can return, in this case, to Super League in the following season.”

Leading sports marketing group Infront Sports & Media have appointed Dog Digital to provide digital and technical consultancy it has been announced today.

Infront will be working with Dog Digital (Dog) from its UK and Singapore offices on a range of projects, including redeveloping the Infrontsports.com website, developing digital platforms and branding for Infront owned sports events in China and Europe, and on enhancing Infront’s global digital communications strategy through digital PR, SEO and social media.

Dog was initially appointed to develop digital platforms and branding for a series of 10k running events in Asia but was subsequently invited to extend their proposal.

Discussing the appointment, Dejah Meldem, Director of Digital Media at Infront Sports & Media said: “Ensuring we have the very best digital products to support our events, services and communication is absolutely paramount to Infront’s ongoing growth strategy so I am very pleased to confirm our new partnership with Dog Digital. Both the Europe andAsia teams at Dog impressed us with their sophisticated and joined-up approach as well as their sports marketing experience.”

Rory Patience, Business Development Manager – Sport at Dog Digital, said: “Partnering with Infront on this international venture will really allow the creative and technical expertise from all our offices to come to the fore. Branding, scalable digital platforms and cross-channel marketing strategies are just the beginning of the journey and we’re looking forward to delivering digital experiences that set Infront and its sporting events apart as best-in-class on the international stage.”

Dog Digital already has a significant sports client portfolio and created a dedicated in-house team for the sector in 2013. The last 12 months alone has seen the creative agency win and deliver campaigns for UEFA Europa League & Champions League, Lucozade Powerleague, SportScotland and Scottish Swimming. The agency has also completed web development and marketing campaign work with London 2012 Olympic Games, Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and the Ryder Cup in conjunction with VisitScotland.