27 International Sports Federations (IFs) have agreed to collaborate on content for the Olympic Channel.

The creation of an Olympic Channel was one of the key recommendations of Olympic Agenda 2020, drugs aiming to provide a new way to engage young people and core fans in the Olympic Movement, allergist while also promoting the Olympic values on a consistent basis.

The Channel will broadcast live sports events, news and athlete stories, as well as historical Olympic footage and official films from the IOC’s archives. 

IOC President Thomas Bach said: “The Olympic Channel will mark a major shift in how the Olympic Movement connects with young people all year round.”

“The International Federations have embraced the Olympic Channel and we look forward to working with them on the exciting programming and promotional opportunities. The newly formed Olympic Channel team is making steady progress, with the emphasis on ensuring the product is right and the quality of the programming matches our ambition. We look forward to announcing the 2016 launch date in the coming weeks.”

Mark Parkman, General Manager of Olympic Channel Services added: “Preparations for the launch of the Olympic Channel are on course and the announcement of these cooperation agreements with our IF partners is another important step forward. We expect to make further announcements regarding collaborations with other IFs and stakeholders in the near future.

“Content production has begun, the technology and platforms are being tested, and there is a growing sense of energy and excitement here among the Olympic Channel team as we prepare for launch this year.”

Dr Klaus Schormann, President of UIPM, said: “The IOC President Dr Thomas Bach has established the Olympic Channel with his Executive Board and the Olympic movement, and we at the UIPM are very happy to join this initiative.”

“First of all we would like to say congratulations on this idea and secondly we are very pleased to be a close media partner of the IOC in this important project.”

“I think the sport created by Pierre de Coubertin should always, to underline the fact we have belonged to the Olympic movement from the beginning, be very close to all the things that the IOC President and his Executive Board decides.”

“So we are very happy to be part of this exciting initiative and we are looking forward to being involved in a spirit of close cooperation.”

The Olympic Channel team is currently working with the IFs to create innovative partnerships, including live event coverage, highlights, magazine shows, news coverage and original programming.

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FIFA presidential candidate Gianni Infantino will immediately seek to appoint a non-European Secretary General if he wins the election to become the next president of FIFA.

At a press conference in London, the Swiss outlined an 11-point action plan for his first 90 days as FIFA president if he is elected and revealed that he wouldn’t hire a European as the new FIFA Secretary General to replace the fired Jerome Valcke, indicating instead that he’d like an African to fill the role.

Speaking to reporters in London he said: ”What we want to do is open the doors of FIFA administration. I am convinced the general secretary of FIFA should not be European. Why not an African?”

“There are many capable people in Africa, we have to open the doors of FIFA to men and women from all over the world.”

Among his action plans, Infantino will also seek to consult with key commercial partners to bring trust back to the market and launch the process for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

“For too long the scandal and corruption that has engulfed FIFA has taken centre-stage and I believe my proposals will help put Football back in the spotlight where it belongs,” Infantino said.

“I will continue to work tirelessly to restore trust in FIFA and create a trustworthy governing body that governs, grows and nurtures the game in a responsible and accountable way”

The 45-year-old UEFA secretary general was supported at the press conference by famous football figures such as Jose Mourinho, Fabio Cappello, Roberto Carlos and Luis Figo.

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iSportconnect, here the world’s largest global private network of sports business executives, is delighted to announce Peter Coates, chairman of Stoke City F.C., as the first confirmed panellist for the first London Directors’ Club of 2016.

The London Directors’ Club will be taking place on 16^th March and will be the first of many iSportconnect events this year.

The Directors’ Club enjoyed a hugely successful year in 2015 with a record eight events staged, which included new territories such as Moscow and Mexico City. The event will continue its growth in 2016 across further key global markets.

Peter Coates is one of the most successful businessmen in the UK and is the current chairman of both English Premier League club Stoke City and of one of the world’s leading online gambling companies, Bet 365, which is owned by his family.

Coates, a Stoke native and a boyhood Stoke City fan, initially purchased a majority stake in his favourite football club in 1989. As chairman, Coates oversaw the club’s promotion to the Premier League in 2008, their first appearance in the top flight of English football for 23 years.

During their time in the Premier League, the club finished runners-up in the FA Cup in 2011 and consequently made a return to European football in the 2011-12 season and have firmly established themselves as a Premier League club.

Peter has been a long standing council member of the Football Association and has become one of the most respected people in the game.

iSportconnect Directors’ Club events are a gathering of exclusively invited director level delegates, partaking in a BBC Question Time-style discussion with a panel of well-established executives from the sport business industry.

Followed by networking, the discussion is held without press and under Chatham House rules, allowing for an open and free flowing debate.

Each Directors’ Club event offers an unrivalled opportunity to meet with some of the most influential people in international sport & sponsorship. These events are a testament to the “think global, act local” approach to doing business.

iSportconnect chairman Michael Cunnah said: “I am pleased that Peter is going to join us and is the first panellist confirmed for this Directors’ Club event. I have known Peter for many years, he is knowledgeable and articulate. He will be well worth listening to and I look forward to welcoming him.”

Save the date: 16 March 2016

Invitation Policy: The iSportconnect Directors’ Club is an invitation only event open exclusively for CEOs, chairmen and director level executives from governing bodies, sports teams and sponsorship brands.

To register your interest please contact Elyse Gallacher at elyse.gallacher@isportconnect.com.

Event Partners:

                 

        

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Japanese game developer Konami has secured the the official UEFA Euro 2016 video game licence.

The deal sees the two parties enhance their partnership, denture with Konami currently holding the exclusive use of the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League competitions.

Read more HERE. 

The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) has confirmed the appointment of Martyn Phillips as its new Group Chief Executive.

Phillips, adiposity 46, was previously the CEO of home improvement retail company B&Q.

Full story HERE.

 

 

 

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Martyn Phillips unveiled as new @WelshRugbyUnion Group Chief Executive http://t.co/WQDPsdZdlx pic.twitter.com/Ogak4IKZMx

— Welsh Rugby Union (@WelshRugbyUnion) July 7, 2015

 

 

 

David Allen, the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s (UFC) senior vice president and general manager of Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), has stepped down from his position after just six months in the role.

Allen decided to resign due to ‘personal reasons’, according to UFC.

More info HERE.

By Christian Radnedge

With just a few months to go until the start of the 2015 Rugby World Cup, the tournament has signed up Dove Men+Care as the official male grooming supplier. 

The announcement is yet another in a long line of commercial parternships, which should mean that England 2015 is the most successful edition of the tournament to date. 

World Rugby Chief Executive Brett Gosper said: “We are delighted to be welcoming Dove Men+Care to Rugby World Cup’s growing family of major global commercial partners.

“The appointment of another brand sector leader with a passion for rugby to our record-breaking commercial programme is great news for the sport and further underscores the strength of the Rugby World Cup brand in the global sponsorship marketplace.”

Callum Galloway, Dove Men+Care Brand Manager: “The addition of one of the world’s most prestigious major sporting events to our sponsorship portfolio is extremely exciting for both Dove Men+Care and Unilever as a whole. Having established our commitment to rugby over the last few years, this partnership with Rugby World Cup 2015 is a natural extension of our existing relationships with the English, Irish, Scottish and Welsh Rugby Unions.

“We very much look forward to the next few months and an association that will widen our exposure to consumers through a full digital and social engagement programme, including ticket-win opportunities while offering deodorants and shower gels to all 620 participating players.”

This latest deal adds to the anticpation for England 2015 which is expected to be the best-attended and most-viewed World Cup.

That fact shows why it has so much value for potential sponsors. The challenge for World Rugby will be if they can carry the commercial momentum from this year into the next tournament in Japan in 2019, where it is not a traditional rugby market. 

SportAccord Convention is pleased to announce Penceo returning as a Delivery Partner for this year’s World Sport & Business Summit taking place from 19-24 April 2015 at the Sochi Expocentre, capsule Sochi, viagra 60mg Russia.

Penceo provides sports entities with web development and IT support, as well as digital marketing strategy development. More recently, the company added video production and video marketing to its portfolio, and provided animation services for the SportAccord Convention Sochi announcement video.

Founder and Managing Partner, Pascal Willoughby-Petit said: “We are proud to be a partner and supporter of SportAccord Convention in their endeavor to bring together the sports community.

We have been working within the sports industry for over ten years and our company has truly grown to cater for its specific needs.”

Penceo’s new division will also offer services such as live and electronic news gathering (ENG) production, special filming, educational videos, as well as live graphics for sports.

Commenting on the contributions made by Penceo, Nis Hatt, Managing Director, SportAccord Convention noted, “Penceo have supported SportAccord Convention in the lead-up to the World Sport & Business Summit with ongoing website development and advertorial design.”

Penceo have produced a video on the importance and impact of video communications and this is available for viewing in the SportAccord Convention eMagazine, The Preview.

At this year’s SportAccord Convention, Penceo will also be offering delegates and organisations, the opportunity to have their voice heard and take part in video testimonials. This will take place close to the Penceo exhibition stand.

The SportAccord Convention World Sport & Business Summit, now in its 13th year, is a unique opportunity for key decision-makers in sport to engage with business leaders across 25+ industry sectors.

The 6-day event features a 3-day Conference, dynamic exhibition, LawAccord, City Forum, the SportAccord Convention Village and Sports Demo Zone, the SportAccord Sports Awards, as well as hosting the annual general meetings of governing bodies of world sport.