President of the International Cycling Union (UCI) Pat McQuaid has suffered a serious set-back in his attempts to be re-elected after Swiss Cycling withdrew their nomination.

The Irishman failed to gain a nomination from his home federation, Cycling Ireland, and must now rely on a back-dated change in the election legislation if he is to be able to run against British Cycling President Brian Cookson.

The Asian Cycling Federation backed a motion that proposed candidates be nominated by any two federations, instead of just their domestic federation and this will now be debated in Florence.

If this motion is approved it would be back-dated to the current campaign, but if it is not approved McQuaid will not be able to run, paving the way for a new UCI President for the first time since 2006.

Rival Cookson said in a statement: “This latest development is of real significance to the Presidential election process. It leaves Mr McQuaid in a very difficult position, particularly when viewed alongside his failure to receive a nomination from his own national federation as required under the constitution of the UCI.”

Cookson continued by questioning the validity of McQuaid’s nominations from Thailand and Morocco.

“It also places further question marks against his other ‘nominations’ whose validity is in serious doubt and remain a matter of genuine concern to many in the cycling world,” said Cookson.

“The important principle in any democracy is that you must respect the rules as they are, not how you’d like them to be. My hope remains that we have a democratic process based on the rules of the race when it started rather than those made up half way through.”

Court case

One reason for Swiss Cycling withdrawing their nomination is a legal challenge they faced regarding their nomination.

Reports suggested the federation feared losing the Zurich court case and therefore being left with £70,000 worth of legal costs – a fee that could bankrupt the organisation.

A statement from Swiss Cycling read: “The director of the Swiss Cycling committee returned to the decision of May 13, 2013 concerning the appointment of Pat McQuaid and yesterday decided to withdraw the nomination of Pat McQuaid for his re-election as president of the UCI. Consequently, the arbitration requested by the three members of Swiss Cycling is cancelled, since there is no reason.”

McQuaid has faced significant pressure in his Presidential role, with the Lance Armstrong doping scandal sending shockwaves throughout the sport and damaging public opinion.

Jamie Fuller, who McQuaid believes instigated the legal challenge against the Swiss nomination and who owns sportswear firm Skins said: “This should finally signal an end to Mr McQuaid’s quest for re-election. Mr McQuaid should now accept that the writing is on the wall and stop this ridiculous charade. His latest stunt of attempting to introduce retrospective changes to the UCI constitution reflect a man who is both delusional and despotic; his arrogance knows no bounds.

“His fellow countrymen in Ireland had second thoughts when they withdrew their endorsement and now the Swiss have done the same. I would hope that, by now, Mr McQuaid is getting the message.”

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IceArizona AcquisitionCo LLC has finalised the purchase of the Phoenix Coyotes from the National Hockey League (NHL).

IceArizona is a group of several business leaders from across North America and Renaissance Sports and Entertainment LLC will act as their managing partner.

George Gosbee, therapy Chairman and Governor of the Coyotes said: “We are extremely pleased to have finalised the transaction with the NHL and to take ownership of the Coyotes franchise.

“We extend our sincere gratitude to NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly for their hard work and commitment to the Coyotes franchise and our great fans here in Arizona. We also thank the City Council members and residents of the City of Glendale for their tremendous support.

“Finally, patient  to our fans and partners in the Valley, thank you for your continued loyalty, commitment and patience for the Coyotes. The future looks bright for our franchise.”

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman believed the new owners would allow for a ‘stable, long-term future in Glendale.’

Bettman added: “We thank the Coyotes’ devoted fans for their patient, perseverant support. We are extremely pleased that a positive resolution has been achieved for the fans, the city, the Coyotes and the League.”

Here to stay

Incoming CEO and Alternate Governor, Anthony LeBlanc commented: “The Coyotes are here to stay and we will continue to work hard on and off the ice and have a strong presence in our community.

“Our ultimate goal is to bring a Stanley Cup championship to our tremendously resilient, passionate and dedicated fan base here in the Valley.

“We have a lot of work to do and we can’t wait to get started.”

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Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti has said there is ‘nothing to worry about’ at Inter Milan despite the Serie A club handing over documents to the police.

Finance officials in Italy ordered several Serie A clubs, including Napoli, AC Milan and Juventus, to hand over documents as they investigated alleged tax avoidance.

Moratti told Inter’s official website: “It was a request for documents.

“It was something they’ve done with about 40 clubs, so I understand how it could happen to us.

“It’s clear they must have good reason to go round all the clubs. I don’t do their job, so we will just have to wait and find out what’s going on.”

He went on to add that documents had been taken ‘that were of interest, just like they’ve taken them from Napoli and from AC Milan and so on and so on.

“These things happen. There’s nothing to worry about.”

Lazio, Fiorentina, Sampdoria and Parma were amongst the other Serie A clubs visited by the Italian Guardia di Finanza, whilst Bari, Siena and Palermo were amongst the high-profile Serie B clubs to be targeted.

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How much should you invest in its development?

If like most people your answer is ‘I don’t know’, try the following test. 

Compare the asset value of your organisation (financial, physical, talent etc) with its sale value as a going concern. The difference is ‘goodwill’. In a sports organisation, this equates to the value of your brand. For most sports clubs, this is its single most valuable asset.

It is surprising then that many organisations treat their brand so casually. An impressive set of brand guidelines are developed showing the preferred font size, colour palette and crest positioning to use. The agency fee is settled and it’s job done until the next CEO arrives. 

 But, a brand is so much more than a set of design rules. It reflects the culture, history and traditions of the organisation. It both defines and represents its values. So how should a sports club manage its brand?

Here’s a quick action plan:-

• Undertake a comprehensive review of the club’s vision, values, personality and behaviours. This will ensure they match the brand image the club wishes to project 

• Interview the club’s key stakeholders. This will identify the club’s unique brand essence, i.e. the description that most closely encapsulates the ethos of the club 

• Maintain and update the brand style guidelines regularly (including the content, form, variations & delivery platform)

• Establish an approval process to police the guidelines. Often a collaborative approach works more effectively than waving the big stic

• Develop a communications plan to launch and implement the guidelines successfully

And don’t forget. Putting aside a modest annual budget to keep the brand up-to-date and relevant can be much more cost-effective than a total re-design carried out every 10 years.

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About Steven Falk:

A graduate in Psychology from Manchester University, Steven started his career in the motor industry before taking an MBA at Warwick University Business School. There followed commercial roles at Astra Zeneca, United Utilities, Great Universal Stores and MBNA Bank where he worked on a range of assignments in the UK, Eastern & Western Europe, North America and Asia.

From 2001 to 2009, Steven was Marketing Director at Manchester United Football Club. Steven served as a member of the Executive Committee of Manchester United and a board director of Manchester United Foundation, the club’s charitable trading arm. In January 2010, he launched Star Sports Marketing, a specialist sports marketing consultancy. 

For a confidential conversation on how Star Sports Marketing can help you to devise and implement an effective brand strategy. Visit www.starsportsmarketing.com or email steven.falk@starsportsmarketing.co.uk 

Steven Falk’s 

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A number of varied and conflicting elements come together to influence an individual’s decision as to which football club to support. It is odd therefore that most football clubs choose to treat their fans as if they were a single, sick homogenous group.

For UK fans, there is a familiar logic in maintaining the ritual of belonging to a club. This is a lifelong commitment often made at an early age and enduring through gut- wrenching failure and glorious triumph alike. Tribal loyalty of this kind is immutable, irrespective of team performance or the machinations of the clubs’ directors. But as with any belief system, it is the product of a long established ethos of shared norms, attitudes and values. Mostly confusing and often contradictory, particularly when extended to cover other cultures, it is unsurprising that few clubs have made a real effort to understand their fans’ true motivation and to act towards them accordingly.

The main justification given for supporting a particular football club is the influence of close relatives and traditional family orientation. Perhaps this is not surprising in a culture where football has been the national sport for well over a hundred years and where there is a strong indigenous league featuring clubs whose commercial image and brand reach projects far beyond the limits their company size would suggest.

What then of supporters who live in countries? In the USA for example, football competes for supporters and share of wallet with a hierarchy of national sports each boasting its own historic traditions, leading clubs and star players. Conversely, certain Asian countries have a strong local affinity for EPL football. The reasons for this support can vary by territory but are generally linked to the recent availability of EPL TV broadcasts; the strong brand image projected by certain EPL clubs in terms of their on-pitch success and the celebrity of the players; and the frequency with which leading EPL clubs tour and play matches in the region.

Other reasons for supporting a particular club can be more locally influenced. Consider the level of support (estimated at 70% of all football fans in the country) extended to Manchester United by their South Korean fans. This is because of:

• – the live broadcast of FAPL & ECL matches (albeit in the early hours local time)

• – the enduring success of the team over an extended period
• – the colour of the team kit and the nickname “Red Devils”, (both identical to those of the South Korean national team)
• – the recruitment of JS Park, South Korea’s iconic player and national celebrity Of course, the club’s affiliation with strong local sponsors, the establishment of local language media, the presence of a café bar franchise, the availability of a strong membership & financial services programmes and regular tour matches also helps.

Only when EPL clubs begin to research, understand and address the cultural and motivational differences (as well as the similarities) between their fans in different countries will they present their clubs in the most socially and commercially effective way. This means offering fans the opportunity to consume club content and cultivate a sense of belonging in a way that meets their local needs and aspirations. In return, clubs adopting this more enlightened approach will reap the reward of cementing the relationships with their fans for the long-term with all the potential for commercial advantage this will bring.

Star Sports Marketing has the experience and capability to help your organisation frame research to understand your fan base at home and abroad. Contact steven.falk@starsportsmarketing.co.uk for an informal conversation on how our approach can add value and insight to your business. {jComments On}

The Supreme Court has ruled that parliament must vote to trigger Britain leaving the European Union.

In the June 2016 referendum, the British population voted 52% to 48% in favour of a British exit from the European Union. However, the new ruling has decreed that Article 50 – the formal process for announcing an intention to leave the European Union – cannot be triggered without the approval of Parliament.

The Supreme Court ruled by a majority of eight to three to reject the Government’s proposal to trigger Article 50 without consulting Parliament.

The ruling may hold up the British process for leaving the European Union, with the Government previously having pledged to have triggered Article 50 by March.

Brexit could have substantial impact on British sport. Players from the European Union would have to receive a work permit to play Premier League football, which are only awarded after the passing of strict criteria. Other factors would include the transfer of underage players potentially being ended, and quotas for amount of non-British players in matchday squads could theoretically be introduced.

Location: Tokyo, Japan

Closing Date: January 23, 2017

Overview:

Purpose & Overall Relevance for the Organisation:

The role of a Social Media and Community Manager is to drive ongoing consumer engagement through the management of community activity across all relevant digital channels and platforms.  Deliver value to our communities through engaging content delivered via our social media platforms and leverage these platforms to create great relationships with our consumers.

Key Responsibilities:

• Own the publishing, moderation and ongoing engagement to relevant social platforms, in alignment with the global social media standards and guidelines
• Follow the global launch plans around key stories and content for the brand digital platforms – provide input to global team on local / regional adjustments needed
• Engage the community actively and responsively, both in relevant outside communities and existing own channels – monitor consumer conversation in real time (reacting to queries, resolving negative experiences and identifying areas relevant for further brand engagement and enhancement)
• Ensure all content is fully optimized across relevant channels via tagging, linking and rapidly implementing any new social media technology
• Seek out and participate in relevant category conversations that are happening in the social media space – flag for opportunities for further engagement and interaction
• Follow and manage the editorial calendar of the category and ensure a seamless long-term consumer journey across all channels
• Curate the markets’ content to ensure all deliverables are of the highest quality
• Copywriting of global posts and coordination with Digital, PR and Campaign Leads for campaign maximization
• Build outreach initiatives to strengthen the brand personality and voice within the industry
• In partnership with the Digital Analytics team, analyze relevant metrics to measure the impact of social media activities and amend strategies based on learnings and patterns
• Attend weekly/bi-weekly category team meetings to share analytics, sentiment and conversation report

 

How to apply: visit https://jobs.adidas-group.com//job//333503401/?feedid=138901&show-splash=1&utm_source=jumpinsport.com

As Host City’s most successful conference and exhibition yet closes in Glasgow, illness the organisers announce an extra event in Beijing in May for the Asian market

Leading Figures from the world of sport governance and major event ownership convened in Glasgow on Monday and Tuesday for the Host City 2016 Exhibition and Conference to discuss how to attract and host secure and engaging sports, buy business and cultural events.

It was also announced that an additional “Host City Asia” event will take place in Beijing in May 2017. 
“In its third year, discount Host City conference and exhibition is firmly established as the leading international meeting of cities and sports, business and cultural events. We are delighted to see Host City continuing to grow in Glasgow, Scotland,” said Matthew Astill, CEO of Cavendish Group.

“In response to incredible market demand, we are pleased to launch an additional Host City Asia event in Beijing on 16th and 17th May 2017, where international event owners and suppliers will meet Chinese and Asian hosts and investors.”

Speaking at Host City 2016, Wang Dong, Vice President of Chinese sports media company Alisports: said “This is the spring of the Chinese sports industry… we want to get more people involved in the beauty of sport.”

Host City is the largest and fastest growing international meeting of its kind. At the third edition, the topics of future major events and integrity of sport were high on the agenda.

In his opening keynote address heading up a list of world-class speakers, Sir Craig Reedie CBE, IOC member and president of the World Anti-Doping Agency talked about how in an ever-more competitive field, hosting events is a “very active place” in contrast to the major multi sports events like the Olympic Games and the Commonwealth Games who, he said, have struggled to attract bid cities in recent years.
During the first panel discussion on the topic “What does future hold for major events?” Dimitri Kerkentzes, deputy secretary general, BIE (World Expos) said: “World Expos cannot be viewed from home. They must have participation and support from the public… We need to ensure that the event will benefit people from the host cities, and that it doesn’t leave white elephants behind.”

Simon Clegg CBE, Chief Operating Officer, World Expo Dubai 2020 highlighted the large ticket sale expectations and expansive physical set-up of World Expo Dubai 2020.

Francesco Ricci Bitti, President, ASOIF (Association of Summer Olympic International Federations) said: “The tangible and intangible impacts of sporting events on the community are very important.
We need to be cautious about the fairness of the bidding process.”

He also commented that the level of flexibility afforded by the new bidding rules set out in IOC’s Agenda 2020 programme of reform needs to be carefully considered, saying “Changing venues from the bid book is taking it too far.”

Sarah Lewis, Secretary General of the international Ski Federation (FIS) and the Association of Olympic International Winter Federations (AOIWF) said: “It is necessary to maximize the usage of existing facilities that would change the focus on having compact events. Compact events are convenient but don’t offer the best legacy opportunities”. She said “multi-city and multi-country events may be the future”.

Paul Bush OBE, Director of Events, VisitScotland said: “The benefits of hosting major events are both hard and soft. The soft benefits, which you have to articulate very carefully, are becoming very important.

“The importance of transparency in the bidding process is crucial right now and is growing every year”.
The issue of good governance was further explored in the following panel session on “Has sport lost its integrity and how can it win confidence back?”

Dr. Bridget McConnell CBE, Chief Executive, Glasgow Life said: “A city’s values must shape and drive what you bid for and how you do it. If you lose public confidence in sport integrity you lose countries and cities bidding.”

When asked whether cities would turn their back on hosting events that can’t prove their integrity, she said “I can certainly say this of Glasgow. We would not want to be connected to any sport that had major controversy associated with it”.

Yves Le Lostecque, Head of Sport, European Commission said “In Europe we are defending values and we have to promote them. Integrity and governance are key parts of the EU mandate for sports. Our member states are keen to have the values maintained and we can help through policy cooperation and financial support.”

Adam Pengilly, IOC Member, VP of International affairs, International Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation (IBSF) said: “Sport has an inherent value. The Games is loved all over the world… but sports politicians are sometimes lowly viewed.”

He also said “the perception of sport as a utopia needs to be changed. We need to be more realistic when looking at it”.

Risto Nieminen, President, Finnish Olympic Committee said: “We need to create standard for doping control that spans across all countries” and added “business and entertainment are not the basis of sport. Instead, inspiration, well-being, optimism, and happiness.”

Ignacio Packer, Secretary General of children’s rights charity Terre des Hommes said: “The sport sector is opening up increasingly to the human rights sector”. He also questioned the tendency to limit the definition of “success” in hosting events to financial outcomes. “We believe that success is about people”. Ignacio also commented on his participation at the Host City Conference saying “I like coming to Host City because I am not with usual colleagues. I learn a lot here.”

The delegates, which included several IOC members, were also addressed by senior figures involved in bidding for the 2024 Olympic Games from Budapest, Los Angeles and Paris.

The Host City brand began life in China in 2003 as a bilingual magazine for the Beijing Organising Committee of the Olympic Games. The Deputy Mayor of Beijing in 2009 presented the CEO of Cavendish Group with the “Great Wall Friendship” award in recognition of Host City’s role in bringing foreign technology content to China and creating an Olympic infrastructure partnership.

Cavendish Group is also known as the owner of the ICC (www.internationalcapitalconference.com), China’s largest outbound investment event that is now in its seventh edition.

Host City’s Editorial and Conference Director Ben Avison said: “China is investing $850bn in sports by 2025 and is looking for global partners to develop its entertainment and cultural sectors. Host City Asia provides the platform to connect the international industry with this booming market.”

Euroleague Basketball and IMG have announced that fans in Spain will continue to enjoy the competition after they renewed agreements with both TV3 Catalunya and Telefonica Movistar to broadcast the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague for the coming seasons.

The ongoing commitment and investment from both broadcasters comes at the start of a new and exciting era that promises their viewers more EuroLeague games than ever before with all of the continent’s top teams playing each other for the first time in European club basketball history.

“Just like Spain has great teams and great fans, we have great television partners whom we are thrilled to keep working with as we take unprecedented steps forward for our sport in Europe,” Jordi Bertomeu, Euroleague Basketball President and CEO, said. “It all comes down to how well our fans are served, and we know from experience that the viewers of Telefonica Movistar and TV3 Catalunya will get to see the EuroLeague at its best going forward.”

TV3 Catalunya has been a broadcast partner of Euroleague Basketball for more than a decade. As the host broadcaster of FC Barcelona Lassa home games, TV3 Catalunya commands a devoted audience to its region’s top club.

Telefonica Movistar has been broadcasting EuroLeague games since buying Canal Plus in the middle of a three-year contract with Euroleague Basketball.

Standard Life Investments has extended its sponsorship deal with the Ryder Cup golf competition to the 2018 competition in France.

Standard Life Investments initial agreement, sale which covered the 2014 Ryder cup competition at Gleneagles and the recent Ryder Cup at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Minnesota, herbal marked the first time the competition had partnered with a company on both sides of the Atlantic.

Nuala Walsh, global head of marketing and client relations at Standard Life Investments, said: “The Ryder Cup continues to reflect and complement our commitment to fostering team spirit in order to deliver performance excellence.

“Following the 2016 contest at Hazeltine National in Minnesota, and our close partnership with the European Tour, we are thrilled to announce an extended commercial agreement for The 2018 Ryder Cup.”

Keith Pelley, chief executive of The European Tour, the managing partner of Ryder Cup Europe, said: “The Ryder Cup is one of the most prestigious events in sport and Standard Life Investments both share and exemplify our values of integrity and the pursuit of potential.