London 2012 Organisers (LOCOG) have revealed that thousands of people who were allocated London 2012 tickets have had their cards declined, meaning those tickets have now been allocated to others and the new recipients will have the money debited by the end of Friday.

A second phase of ticket sales takes place on June 24 and up to a million more will be released next year when venue capacities are confirmed, though these will only be offered to those who missed out the first time around.

In an interview with BBC Breakfast, LOCOG Chairman Lord Coe defended the Olympics ticketing process, saying people should not be “coy or naive” about the funding provided by businesses.

There has been indignation over tour operators, including Thomas Cook, that are now offering Olympics packages with tickets at significantly higher prices.

Coe said: “The corporates are responsible for about 8% of the tickets, the high-end ticket packages are actually only 1% of tickets.

“The corporates in large part pay for the Games, we shouldn’t be coy or naive about that. Twenty five per cent of the operating budget for the staging of the Games comes from ticket sales, and the corporates are probably collectively contributing about £1.5bn to what we’re actually doing.”

Major US satellite radio station, Sirius XM have agreed an exclusive contract with English soccer giant Manchester United to broadcast the club’s matches in America on a multi-year contract.

Subscribers of the New York-based company will be offered live commentary of every Premier League game for the Red Devils via the club’s official matchday broadcast.

The station obtains the rights to stream matches live online on the Sirius and XM Radio websites under the terms of the agreement, as well as on the Sirius XM mobile application.

“This agreement demonstrates the enduring strength of the club internationally. We are very proud to have Sirius XM as our first satellite radio broadcaster in the US” said Manchester United chief executive David Gill.

He added, “This is an exciting arrangement as we know how passionate our fans are in the United States and now they can catch all the match action live on Sirius and XM.”

Sirius XM’s president and chief content officer, Scott Greenstein added: “Manchester United is one of the most famous and widely followed sports franchises in the world and we’re thrilled to offer our listeners access to every one of their Premier League matches.

“Fans across the US will be able to tune in to live play-by-play through their radios, through their computers and through the SiriusXM App. No matter where you are in the US, you won’t have to miss a minute of Manchester United football throughout the season.”

Richard Davies will resign from his post as ATP properties CEO at the end of 2010, announced the ATP.

The position has been held by Davies since 2004 which saw him responsible for the company’s sponsorship sales. Amongst his achievements in the role includes and instrumental effort in securing Corona Extra as the Tour’s global premier partner.

ATP executive chairman and president, Adam Helfant spoke of Davies decision: “We thank Richard for his many contributions to the ATP over the past six and a half years. Richard will be missed and we wish him the very best.”

Recent developments at the have seen the organisation heed to the cry of an increased rest period by many of the games professionals. ATP announced that the men’s tennis calendar will be shortened by two weeks from 2012 to allow the players a seven-week off-season.

Football’s governing body, FIFA, has demanded that the Nigerian Government withdraws its ban on the national team playing any international football for the next two years by this evening.

Nigeria’s President, Goodluck Jonathan, has imposed the ban after the team’s poor performance at this summer’s World Cup in South Africa, but under strict FIFA rules, any interference in footballing matters from a country’s government is not allowed.

FIFA stated on Friday that it would give the Nigerian Government until Monday (today) to reverse the ban, or face an even lengthier one.

Yesterday it was revealed that the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) had fired its president, Sani LuLu, and vice-president, Amanze Ugbulam, as well as a member of the Federation’s technical committee in a bid to overturn the ban.

In a NFF statement it said executive committee members “passionately appeal to the president…to reconsider the earlier action of government to withdraw all the national football teams from CAF (Confederation of African Football)/FIFA competitions for two years.”

FIFA Secretary, Jerome Valcke, said the ban threatened the whole set-up of international football. “If the Government of Nigeria do not back down, we will suspend Nigeria and the decision will be taken in the next 48 hours. We have been severe with France, why would we not be toward Nigeria?

“We have 208 members and and if one of them goes against our constitution and the system, then the whole footballing pyramid is in danger.”

 

The PGA TOUR announced today that Champions Tour President Mike Stevens is leaving the PGA TOUR effective Jan. 1, 2015.

It was also announced that Greg McLaughlin, currently Senior Vice President of PGA TOUR Championship Management, is transitioning into the role.

Now 56 years old, Stevens felt that after a 35-year career in professional golf, both as a Tournament Director at the RBC Heritage and Senior Executive roles at the PGA TOUR, the time was right to make a change and tendered his resignation this week.

“Mike has done an exemplary job in leading the Champions Tour since 2008. Mike brought fresh ideas and enthusiasm for the Champions Tour and we are grateful for all of his contributions and wish him all the best as he transitions into the next phase of his life,” said PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem.

“We are extremely pleased to have someone of Greg’s quality to step into the role,” added Finchem. “Greg brings great experience, as both a tournament director and administrator. This perspective will ensure future growth and success of the Champions Tour.”

“I’ve had a great 35-year career in professional golf, first as Tournament Director at the RBC Heritage and then serving in an executive role with the PGA TOUR,” Stevens said. “Having said that, I just feel the time is right to pursue other opportunities.

“I have had the privilege to work with a dedicated staff on the Champions Tour and take great pride in the growth we have achieved. I firmly believe the Champions Tour is well positioned for the future.  I would like to thank Commissioner Finchem, Ed Moorhouse and Charlie Zink for the opportunities they’ve given me and their support throughout my career.  It’s been an honor to have worked at the PGA TOUR.

“I look forward to working with Greg McLaughlin for the remainder of the year and I am confident that he will be able to continue the important initiatives that the Champions Tour team has developed over the last seven years.”

McLaughlin joined the PGA TOUR in June, 2014 after serving as President and CEO of the Tiger Woods Foundation for 14 years. In addition to running the Foundation, McLaughlin oversaw the three tournaments run by the organization – Quicken Loans National, Deutsche Bank Championship and the Hero World Challenge.

Prior to joining the Tiger Woods Foundation in 2000, McLaughlin was the Tournament Director at the Northern Trust Open, The Honda Classic and BMW Championship.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to work with the players and staff of the Champions Tour to continue to help grow this unique and exciting tour,” said McLaughlin. “Mike has done a wonderful job over the past seven years and I look forward to continuing those efforts in growing the Champions Tour.”

The current back-to-back Investec Super Rugby champions, medstore Chiefs, denture have entered a high performance partnership with Japanese rugby club, the Kobelco Steelers.

The Chiefs exclusive Japanese partnership agreement will provide a long-term and mutually beneficial relationship for the Chiefs and the Kobelco Steelers.   

The arrangement will involve rugby high performance development exchanges between the two rugby clubs.  The Kobelco Steelers coaches and players will visit the Chiefs during the Investec Super Rugby season and Chiefs coaches and team management staff will head to Japan during the Kobelco Steelers’ season. 

Chiefs Rugby Club CEO Andrew Flexman said “This is an important relationship for us as we believe it provides genuine value for both the Chiefs and the Kobelco Steelers.  From a Chiefs perspective it aligns with our strategic objectives around fostering international relationships and continuing to develop our brand globally.”

The Jeep brand will debuts a new on-air advertising campaign on Saturday, January 18, to coincide with the X Games Aspen 2014.

In addition to the thirty-second national television commercial, the campaign consists of print, digital and social extensions.  For the 11th year, the Jeep brand is returning to Aspen as the exclusive automotive sponsor of the world’s premier winter actions sports event. The popular X Games Aspen will take place Thursday, January 23 through Sunday, January 26 at Buttermilk Mountain at Aspen/Snowmass. 

“Both the Jeep brand and X Games Aspen demonstrate what is possible when we face challenges with determination and passion,” said Olivier Francois, Chief Marketing Officer, Chrysler Group LLC.  “The ‘Snow Miser’ campaign reflects that even the coldest, most extreme elements of nature can bring out the best in us.”

“The Jeep brand has been a proud sponsor of the ESPN X Games Aspen for 11 years.  It is a collaboration that reaches a core consumer audience – those who share a desire for excitement and adventure,” said Mike Manley, President and CEO – Jeep Brand, Chrysler Group LLC.  “In addition to the custom content produced specifically for this signature event, our new 2014 Jeep Wrangler Polar Edition will be prominently featured on site during the games, allowing our consumers to engage with us in a way that is a natural fit for the Jeep brand.”

Creative efforts were developed by GlobalHue, based in Southfield, Mich., the Jeep brand’s lead advertising agency.

Global sports marketing agency, allergist Infront Sports & Media, buy cialis has revealed its acqusition of B2RUN GmbH & Co. KG, which organises the B2RUN running championships, from previous owner, consulting firm actori.

B2RUN operates a number of running championship which includes ten events each year and attracts approximately 5,000 companies, including numerous blue chip brands. In total, over the course of 2013, the number of participants, mobilised by their employers, increased to over 100,000 (+22 per cent compared to the previous year). The figure made B2RUN the largest running series in the German-speaking region and under Infront’s tenure the series will continue to expand both nationally and internationally over the coming years.

For 2014, a new event has already been added to the roster, scheduled to take place in the city of Bremen. Thanks to the support of SV Werder Bremen, a long-term partner of Infront, the race will culminate with the finish in the Weser Stadium. The Bremen event will take the B2RUN series to a new total of eleven events – starting on 15 May in Dortmund and ending with the final on 3 September in Berlin’s Olympic Stadium. For sponsors the B2RUN platform provides options to be involved across the entire season as industry exclusive B2RUN Competence Partners. In addition, Infront will market an exclusive Presenting Partner package which will provide diverse activation options and high visibility before, during and after the events.

Philippe Blatter, President & CEO of Infront, commented: “The enthusiasm for endurance events is on the rise worldwide, holding high appeal due to their experiential character. In terms of sponsors, we are also registering an increase in demand for platforms that provide direct customer engagement in the sporting environment. The acquisition of B2RUN, the market leader of company runs Europe-wide, is therefore a strategic decision and logical next step for Infront. The aim is to establish the B2RUN brand in new cities and countries in the short term as well as integrate sponsors in the most versatile way.”

Dr. Stefan Mohr, Managing Director of actori, added: “We have developed B2RUN into one of the most popular event brands in Germany over recent years. In many cities the runs are a fixture in the event calendar. Infront, with its global network and expertise in sports marketing, is ideally positioned to expand B2RUN internationally – as well as set new standards in the marketing of endurance sports.”

Following the acquisition, B2RUN will be fully integrated into the Infront Group. The existing management team – led by Managing Director Sebastian Wirtz – will remain unchanged, continuing to steer operations from Munich together with their experienced staff.

Sebastian Wirtz, Managing Director of B2RUN, said: “With its experience and international team, Infront will support us with further strengthening the B2RUN brand and its resonance in the economy and society. We see a continuing trend for companies to more actively promote health and sportive recreation for their employees. B2RUN has anticipated and addressed this direction early. Together with the Infront team, we will be able to continue this success story and expansion path.”