The Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee has announced the appointments three new organising committee members who will commence their duties in January 2016.
Yusuke Sakaue has been named as the Tokyo 2020 Vice Director General, click Toshiro Yonemura as Chief Security Officer and Hikariko Ono as Spokesperson.
More info HERE.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has confirmed the appointment of Olivier Niggli as its next director general.
Niggli will officially take up the role in June and replace New Zealander David Howman, who’s the 13-year stint will come to an end.
The Switzerland-based Niggli will move up from his current role as chief operating officer and general counsel at WADA, where he also served as the organisation’s legal director and chief financial officer from 2001 to 2011.
The decision was made at WADA’s Executive Committee meeting in Colorado Springs.
The Committee are also expected to discuss the recent report by the Independent Commission into the doping scandal involving Russia.
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Ahead of the Soccerex Global Convention 2015, Soccerex has confirmed the final line up of event partners and supporters.
Brands such as Qatar’s leading communications company Ooredoo, market leader in enterprise application software SAP and leading international media like Eurosport have all signed up for the three day football business event.
The Soccerex Football Festival – 5th – 6th September, the Old Granada Studios – will take place in partnership with Marketing Manchester and with the support of Global Games, Football Freestyle Federation, Urban Cage Soccer and UK Footgolf Association.
The Soccerex Global Convention then kicks off at Manchester Central Convention Complex on 7th September with programmes of conference content, exhibition stands and networking activities over the next three days.
The Convention is held in partnership with Marketing Manchester and with the support of international event host partner The Asian Football Development Project (Asian Forum).
Other event partners include global insurance experts, Lockton, and leading sports broadcaster talkSPORT as well as FIFA Master Alumni who will be the academic supporter to the Convention. Major Events International (MEI) will be the commercial supporter of the event.
The Convention is staged with the institutional support of LaLiga, The Football League, French Football Federation, Ligue de Football Professionnel and the European Sponsorship Association (ESA) and can count on the support of international legal experts Pinsent Masons, logistics specialists DB Schenker International, leading global hoteliers, Radisson, world’s leader in visual communications Getty Images, Sports PR, communications and sponsorship activation consultancy Macesport, production distribution company Boulder Creek International, leading international law firm Maples and Calder, LawInSport, industry’s leading international sports business and financial advisory firms APC Sports Consulting Limited , Mobile Media Content, Red Touch Media USA, UK Trade & Investment, Qatar Stars League, Qatar Football association and Football Medical Association.
The Convention will consist of a number of top companies giving in depth insights into the business of football with the likes of Matchvision, Pro Soccer Development, Solive, Tifosy, Social Chain and Triple IT all having presentation slots for what is widely acknowledged as the world’s leading football business event.
Soccerex CEO Duncan Revie commented: “We are very proud to work with our host partners Marketing Manchester and all the different event partners and supporters of the Global Convention. We are very grateful for their immense support, without which we would not be able to deliver the events we do”.
Following recent partnerships with Nivea and Hugo Boss, Liverpool FC has announced that it is looking to expand into more “unique categories” that are less typical for sports marketing.
While the club is right in looking to innovate its partnership strategy, the approach cannot be considered unique. It reflects some significant shifts we’re witnessing across the sponsorship sector.
Substantial growth in TV revenues, seismic shifts in technology, and the availability of sophisticated data have re-shaped the way rights holders approach sponsorships from both a commercial and strategic point of view.
The recent announcement that the Premier League will be without a title sponsor starting in the 2016-17 season is a perfect illustration of the impact television revenues are having on clubs’ commercial priorities.
Given the rate at which broadcast revenues have grown in recent years, Barclay’s title sponsorship of the Premier League was becoming less significant with each renewal.
The competition between Sky and BT Sport has pushed the value of the latest deal, which kicks in for the 2016-17 season, to £5.1bn, a staggering 70% increase on the current contract.
Add another £3bn, which is expected from the International Rights, and we begin to see how a £40m Barclays sponsorship divided by 20 teams starts to fade in significance.
It currently accounts for only 2.5% of the overall revenue so it would require a substantial investment from Barclays or another brand, widely reported as Guinness, to pique the clubs’ interest. That was always highly unlikely given that the value they are likely to generate from the retained premium inventory would exceed their share of title sponsorship.
Premier League clubs have greatly benefited from the League’s foresight to build a global brand that now reaches all corners of the globe. Developments in technology have provided clubs with an ideal opportunity to capitalize on their popularity and connect with fans wherever they may be around the world.This is great news for their brand partners.
Liverpool FC’s announcement to take on a more regionalised approach with ‘non-traditional’ categories is a direct consequence of this change. Looking at the value and commercial benefits these partnerships can deliver; it’s easy to understand why they’re so commonplace.
From the club’s perspective, international TV deals coupled with major developments in digital have allowed them to build large and engaged audiences around the world. Thinking global and acting local gives clubs the opportunity to develop regional deals which are better positioned to deliver mutual benefits.
Localized sponsorship allows clubs to use the strengths and activation initiatives of their partners to grow affinity with local fans.
From a brand’s point of view, while they may have a global footprint, their marketing and communication strategies are often driven by local needs. We work with many global brands and it’s incredible how priorities may differ across products and categories depending on the market.
Former England international football David Beckham and his partners’ hopes of launching a Miami Major League Soccer franchise were given a significant boost as they were granted persmission to build a new 25,000 seater stadium.
Full story HERE.
Chinese commercial property company Dalian Wanda Group has completed the acquisition of sports marketing company Infront Sports & Media.
The deal is valued at approximately €1.05 billion ($1.2 billion).
Full story HERE.
The International Automobile Federation (FIA) have announced that Germany has been removed from the Formula One race calendar for the 2015 season.
The race was in jeapordy for a while amid uncertainty over which circuit would stage the race this year, allergy which has alternated between Hockenheim and Nürburgring since 2007.
Officials of both circuits expressed concerns that time was running out with the race due to take place on the weekend of July 17-19.
Ultimately a decision could not be reached with F1 Chief Bernie Ecclestone.
A short statement by the FIA read: “The German Grand Prix has been withdrawn as the CRH and promoter did not reach agreement.”
This decision now means that the 2015 Formula One season will be shortened to 19 races.
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The PGA Tour has confirmed that the 2021 President’s Cup will be staged at Quail Hollow Club.
The venue will host the tournament for the first time.
Read more HERE.
International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman Narayanaswami Srinivasan has been cleared of corruption charges regarding the Indian Premier League (IPL).
A report by an Indian Supreme Court panel cleared Srinivasan, denture the owner of IPL franchise Chennai Super Kings, apoplectic of betting and match-fixing.
During the investigation 69-year-old Srinivasan was forced to step down as the president of India’s cricket board (BBCI).
The report said: “This individual was not involved in match-fixing activities. This individual was not involved in scuttling investigations into match-fixing.”
Srinivasan became the ICC chairman in February and took up the position in July while the investigation was already taking place.
Judge Mukul Mudgal headed the panel and was appointed by the court last year to look into match-fixing and betting scandals in the IPL.
He submitted its findings earlier this month but they only became public today.
The British Basketball League (BBL) has signed a partnership with sports data and media content company Sportradar.
The deal will result in a 50 per cent rise in the number of live games covered by BBL TV, abortion the league’s online streaming platform.
BBL TV was launched in October 2013 and debuted in the 2013-14 league season.
Also as part of the deal, hospital Sportradar becomes the BBL’s preferred betting data partner for the 2014-15 season.
BBL fans will benefit directly from the partnership with Sportradar committing to increase the number of games covered this season by BBL TV from its previous 30 to 45.