Verizon confirms 4.83 billion dollar buyout of Yahoo
Verizon have confirmed a $4.83 billion buyout of Yahoo, marking end of an era for company that once defined the internet.
Founded in 1994, Yahoo was one of the last independently operated pioneers of the web. Many of those groundbreaking companies, like the maker of the web browser Netscape, never made it to the end of the first dot-com boom.
But Yahoo have been in decline for some time, with Facebook and Google dominating the online landscape. The company was worth $125 billion at its peak.
It’s believed that Yahoo will be folded into AOL, a longtime competitor that Verizon bought last year.
Video: Doping in Olympic Sport
Healthspan Elite, anesthetist the UK’s leading supplier of high-quality vitamins and supplements for professional sport, recently hosted a roundtable discussion in London, covering the issue of Doping in Olympic Sport.
The panelists debated the use of performance enhancing drugs in athletics and the issues facing the sport ahead of the Rio Games later this year. Panel members discussed the alternatives for athletes looking to gain a competitive edge, through nutrition, training and education.
Healthspan Elite is the Nutrition Partner to elite sporting bodies including Team Sky, Southampton FC, British Sailing, Scottish Rugby, Sport Wales and The English Institute of Sport.
Roundtable chaired by:
– David Slemen, MD of Elite Performance Partners and ex professional rugby union player
Featuring:
– Nicole Sapstead, CEO, UK Anti-Doping
– Kelly Sotherton, Olympic Medalist and Commonwealth Champion
– Wendy Martinson OBE, Registered Dietitian & Sports Nutritionist
– Chris Fisher, Head of Healthspan Elite
The videos can be viewed below:
Doping in Olympic Sport Part 1
Doping in Olympic Sport Part 2
Doping in Olympic Sport Part 3
Doping in Olympic Sport Part 4
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FIFA Hands Eight-Year Bans to Blatter and Platini
The FIFA Ethics Commitee has banned FIFA president Sepp Blatter and UEFA president Michel Platini for eight years from all football-related activities following the conclusion of an ethics investigation.
Both men were handed provisional 90-day suspensions after a Blatter made a “disloyal payment” of £1.3 million to Platini in 2011.
Despite them both denying any wrongdoing, pharmacy viagra they have now been found guilty and the bans come into effect immediately.
As well as the ban, erectile Blatter was fined 50, malady 000 Swiss francs (£34,000) and Platini 80,000 Swiss francs (£54,000).
A statement released by the Independent Ethics Committee said: “Mr Blatter, in his position as President of FIFA, authorised the payment to Mr Platini which had no legal basis in the written agreement signed between both officials on 25 August 1999.
“Neither in his written statement nor in his personal hearing was Mr Blatter able to demonstrate another legal basis for this payment.
“His assertion of an oral agreement was determined as not convincing and was rejected by the chamber.”
In its investigation, the Ethics Committee found that: “The payment to Mr Platini had no legal basis in the written agreement signed between both officials on 25 August 1999. Mr Platini’s assertion of an oral agreement was determined as not convincing and was rejected by the chamber.”
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Japan Sports Council Unveils Two Potential Designs for Olympic Stadium
By Christian Radnedge
The Japan Sports Council has revealed the two competing designs for the new Tokyo Olympic Stadium for the 2020 Games.
The winner of the tender rights to construct the stadium will be chosen this month.
Although the two companies involved have not been identified, therapy from the pictures released it is clear the designs are much more understated than the original scrapped plan by British-Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid, which had to be ditched in July because of escalating costs.
The two designs for the stadium are known simply as design “A” and design “B” at this stage.
Design “A” has a somewhat flat roof and is surrounded by distinct greenery, whilst design “B” features tall glass walls around its oval shaped outline.
Speaking to the Japan Times, architect and critic Takashi Moriyama said: “Both designs use wood in their construction materials, and I think that’s an interesting aspect.
“I think the idea of using wood in large structures may globally impact architecture.
“Personally I like design B because it allows people to enjoy walking around the facility or gather,” Moriyama added.
“I like it also because it carries over the atmosphere of the old National Stadium.”
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Momentum Starts to Build with Second Stadia Masterclass at Lord’s Less than a Week Away
The iSportconnect Stadia Masterclass is now just a few days away and anticipation is certainly building for this hugely popular event.
The second edition of the Stadia Masterclass, which is again undertaken in partnership with global design practice Populous, will take place on 11th November at Lord’s, The Home of Cricket.
The confirmed panellists for the event are:
– Roy Westwood, Creative and Innovations Director, Levy Restaurants
– Emma Taylor, Head of Marketing, Tottenham Hotspur FC
– Simon Jordan, Co-Founder and Principal, Jump Studios (A Populous Company)
– Cathy Long, Head of Fan Engagement, The Premier League
– Nicholas Reynolds, Senior Principal and Founder of Populous Activate
– Christopher Lee, Senior Principal and Managing Director, Populous
The theme of the event will be “engaging fans at home and around the globe – creating a physical and digital place for your tribe or community”.
The Stadia Masterclass will be a unique environment for delegates to come together and discuss best practice and the changing nature of stadia and how we engage with sport and events, both at the ground and remotely.
Populous, with their partners Jump Studios, will explore how stadia and the spaces inside and outside of them are designed to create the platforms for engaging with your communities and fans, at all levels.
iSportconnect chairman Michael Cunnah said: “We are really looking forward to this event and the intriguing discussions it will facilitate. A group of expert panellists have been assembled who are best placed to give their thoughts on the ever-changing nature of stadia design and the challenges of meeting the needs of fans.”
Populous is a global design practice with over 30 years’ experience in the sport and entertainment industries. In addition to being the only architects to work on three Olympic Games, Populous has designed iconic sports facilities like Wembley Stadium, Emirates Stadium, Royal Ascot, Silverstone race track and the O2 arenas in London, Dublin and Berlin.
More information and panellists will be announced soon.
The Stadia Masterclass is an exclusive, invitation only event.
To register your interest, please contact: Elyse Gallacher at elyse.gallacher@isportconnect.com
In partnership with:
Hosted by:
Event Partners:
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Winners Announced for Inaugural TV Sports Awards
Eurosport were the big winners at the inaugural TV Sports Awards ceremony which took place last night at the Yacht Club de Monaco.
The pan-European TV channel was awarded the title of Best Sports Broadcaster, impotent while CEO, medstore Peter Hutton, was named Media Executive of the Year and parent company, Discovery, secured the award for Best TV Rights Deal for its agreement with the IOC for pan-European rights to the Olympic Games from 2022.
The new awards event, which was hosted by Guido Bagatta and Sky Sport News presenter Kate Abdo, featured an array of sporting legends, including former FIFA World Player of the Year Luís Figo and Italian World Cup winning captain Fabio Cannavaro.
The ceremony coincides with the annual SPORTELMonaco event and winners were decided by the votes of SPORTEL attendees.
Other victors on the night included digital consultants Omnigon, who picked up the award for Best Digital Media Project for their development of the official mobile app for the 2015 Rugby World Cup, and the Amaury Sport Organisation, who were recognised with the Best Live Event Coverage prize for their TV production of the Tour de France.
Co-organised by SPORTEL and Play for Change, the inaugural ceremony was held in support of Play for Change, a global sports charity dedicated to the provision of life changing opportunities for children and young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.
A special Play for Change award was also presented to football star Rio Ferdinand to recognise his contribution in creating the Rio Ferdinand Foundation, an initiative that engages and supports young people in disadvantaged communities through positive activities, mentoring, training and development of skills for employment and business.
Marie Le Page, Director for Play for Change, said: “We are thrilled to announce such a host of worthy winners for the inaugural TV Sports Awards. Play for Change uses sport and education as a driver of social change and the TV Sports Awards has been a fantastic opportunity to raise awareness of our work to an influential audience. The evening celebrated the best of the sport media industry but also reflected on the power of sport in helping to change the lives of disadvantaged communities and children.
“It has been a fantastic occasion and a pleasure to host world-renowned sportsmen and sportswomen plus some of the most important stakeholders in the sport and media industry at the ceremony. The live auction helped us raise a significant amount of money for those in need and we hope to make the ceremony even bigger and better next year.”
The full list of TV Sports Award 2015 winners is as follows:
Best Sports Broadcaster
– Eurosport (Discovery)
Best Live Event Coverage
– Amaury Sport Organisation for the Tour de France
Best Digital Media Project
– Omnigon Rugby World Cup App
Best TV Rights Deal
– Discovery and Eurosport agreement for European rights of the Olympic Games
Media Executive of the Year
– Peter Hutton, CEO, Eurosport
Play for Change Award
– Rio Ferdinand, Rio Ferdinand Foundation
For more information, visit www.tvsportsawards.org.
Wasps and Two Circles Extend Partnership
English rugby union club Wasps have extended their partnership with data-driven sports agency Two Circles.
The two parties will continue a relationsip that first began in 2013.
Read more HERE.
NFL Hires Microsoft’s Levin as First Chief Content Officer
The National Football League (NFL) has confirmed the appointment of Jordan Levin as its first chief content officer.
The former vice president of Microsoft Corp.’s Xbox Entertainment Studios will be responsible for the development and implementation of content for the league.
Full story HERE.
ITTF and ATTU Sign Affiliation Agreement
The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) and the Asian Table Tennis Union (ATTU) have signed an affiliation agreement to bring the ATTU under the ITTF’s umbrella.
Read more HERE.