IFs Discuss Trends in Digital and Technology Within Sports at Another Successful Masterclass in Lausanne

iSportconnect, in partnership with ASOIF, staged another insightful and hugely impressive Digital Media and Technology Masterclass in Lausanne on Monday .

Dynamic speakers and a room full of people open to fresh ideas, ensured the second edition of the Digital Media and Technology Masterclass in the Swiss city was a rewarding day for all participating executives from International Federations (IFs).

Representatives from major IFs from the world of sport attended the event, which included; AIBA, ATOS, FIBA, FINA, FIVB, IAAF, FEI, FIH, IJF, FISA, ITTF, ITF, NOC*NSF, Rio 2016, Russian Olympic Association, SportAccord, World Archery, WTF and many more.

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The focus was on current trends and developments within the industry, with first hand feedback from experts in the sector and discussions on the future of digital and technology within sports.

The programme featured a strong group of speakers, including Thomas van Schaik – Manager of Marketing and Commerce at the Dutch Olympic Committee (NOC*NSF), Emanuele Perotti Nigra – Director of Technology and Information at the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), Andrew Oram – TV Manager at the International Hockey Federation (FIH), Nikki Symmons – Digital Coordinator at FIH, Motasem El Bawab – Digital Marketing Manager at the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB), Alex Chamberlen – Managing Director of Omnigon UK and Mike Laflin – CEO of Sportcal.

As former global brand director at Adidas and now working with the Dutch Olympic Committee, Thomas van Schaik shared his experience of what it is like to switch from a big brand to a national organisation and if there is anything that can be transferred.

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With over 20 years of global strategic marketing, social media and public relations expertise in sponsorship, media and business, Thomas von Schaik had a wealth of knowledge to share with the attending IF experts.

It also turned out that a number of IFs are currently exploiting new opportunities in the digital world and in technology. Emanuele Perotti Nigra shared his experience from the IAAF World Championships in August in Beijing and identified the lessons that can be applied to smaller events.

In addition, Andrew Oram and Nikki Symmons from the FIH explained how they are leveraging the Hockey Revolution that will transform the way the sport is shown on television, both on the pitch and behind the scenes. How to work with CRM and data – an important and at times challenging day-to-day job for all IFs – was showcased by Motasem El Bawab from the FIVB.

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For those IFs which rely rather on the support of agencies in digital and technology, Alex Chamberlen from Omnigon shared valuable inside knowledge on how to achieve remarkable things on small budgets whilst avoiding certain landmines when hiring an agency.

He also provided some good tips how to make an agency work harder. Omnigon is a digital consultancy with clients in the sports, media and entertainment industries.

Mike Laflin from Sportcal also made a presentation about their freshly released Global Sports Impact report 2015, focusing on the influence of different IFs in media, including social.

Commenting on the event, ASOIF Executive Director Andrew Ryan said: “This was a refreshing experience with excellent speakers sharing their insights and experience. The digital landscape is changing daily and innovative technologies enable unprecedented ways of presenting and experiencing sport. The dynamic in the room was great and I am sure everybody takes home some exciting new ideas.

“We are keen to continue our partnership with iSportconnect to organise such an exclusive event for International Federations again next year.”

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Giving his thoughts on the event, iSportconnect Founder and CEO Sree Varma said: “It was a wonderful event which definitely lived up to our expectations. The speakers were amazing and really shared some interesting experiences and showcased their work. I’m sure our delegates learnt a lot from this event and found it beneficial, which is what our Masterclass events are all about.”

Speaking after the event, Emanuele Perotti Nigra said: “The sessions were very enriching, with a lot of things to learn and a good share of knowledge amongst the participants.”

The next Digital Media and Technology Masterclass will be held in London in 2016, stay tuned to iSportconnect for announcements of all of our upcoming events.

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Los Angeles Outline Financial Plans for 2024 Olympics in Bid Proposal

Officials for the Los Angeles 2024 Olympic Games bid have revealed financial details in a 218-page proposal made public on Tuesday, which outlines a cost of $4.1 billion to be spent on staging the Games.

The proposal also contains projections for revenue, with an estimated $4.8 billion from ticket sales, broadcast rights and corporate sponsorships generating a $161m surplus.

Los Angeles, who hosted the Olympics in 1932 and 1984, is seen as the favourite U.S. city to be put forward by the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) to host the 2024 Games after Boston pulled out of the running.

”In Los Angeles, the spotlight is always on. We have the resources, experience and secure environment to share the biggest events with the world,” the proposal states.

The Los Angeles City Council is expected to vote this Friday on a proposal which would give L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti the power to secure agreements linked to the city’s bid.

Under the terms of the proposal, the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum would get an $800 million renovation and the University of Southern California, which plays its football games at the Coliseum, would invest $500 million for the renovation.

USOC has until 15 September to submit a bid to host the Games and decide on a host city with the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The host city will be named in 2017.

Paris, Hamburg, Rome and Budapest have already confirmed they will be submitting bids in September.

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Media: the 4th Estate in Anti-Doping – Ben Nichols, WADA

By Ben Nichols, medstore WADA Senior Manager, order Media Relations and Communications

As the global anti-doping community becomes more and more accustomed to the anti-doping rule changes that took effect on 1 January with the introduction of the 2015 World Anti-Doping Code, try there continues to be a great deal of reflection on the direction that clean sport is taking.

Since they were agreed on by both sport and government in Johannesburg 18 months ago, and more so since they were introduced at the start of this year, the enhancements to the rules have been widely reported by media across all continents.

This has helped foster a greater understanding of where the focus now lies in anti-doping, and how the changes are being enacted: above all, through collaboration and transparency.

Greater collaboration that brings all partners – whether they be anti-doping organizations, athletes, laboratories, or indeed media – together in the fold was the underlying theme throughout WADA’s Anti-Doping Organization Symposium that was held in Switzerland in March.  

During the Symposium, there were discussions on anti-doping organization-laboratory relationships; how athletes can confidently speak up about doping and finally overcome what was once known in the sport of cycling as the “omerta”; an interview from renowned New York Times reporter, Juliet Macur, with the most outspoken of clean sport proponents, Betsy Andreu; panel sessions on how anti-doping organizations can develop partnerships; and, an engaging discussion on how media can help the work of anti-doping organizations and vice-versa.

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All of these topics pointed towards a world of anti-doping in which so much more can be achieved through sharing ideas, assisting each other and being transparent about the challenges faced and the solutions needed to counter them.

It is the latter discussion panel, between the media and anti-doping organization representatives, that signaled so well how far we have progressed in anti-doping. We have moved on significantly from the early days when an underlying distrust existed between journalists and the anti-doping community.

An era, in which the anti-doping community was perceived by some as a “closed shop”. As was agreed by members of the panel in Lausanne, there is now much better understanding of the rules and processes that organizations work with – and of course the importance of athlete rights that underpin those processes – and this has resulted in improved interaction between the two communities.

If sport, government and athletes are seen as the three estates central to clean sport, then surely now media could be considered the fourth estate.

As the title of the WADA Symposium media panel would suggest, and as was confirmed by the consensus view of the panel members, media most certainly have an impact on the work of anti-doping organizations.

Historically, and as recent events have shown, the media has played a role in not only educating the public on anti-doping, but equally importantly, bringing doping scandals to the public’s attention. As with any societal issue, the anti-doping community needs doping scandals from time to time to help shine a light on areas where problems may exist or may need further investigation; the recent BBC Panorama documentary in the UK is just one example of this in action.

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Investigative journalism plays a part in ensuring that sport doping scandals become visible, but revelations must be backed up by concrete evidence and facts that can be used by anti-doping organisations if they are to prove more than just good television.

It is interesting that in Germany, an anti-doping department was initiated within the broadcaster ARD in 2007, giving its journalists greater funding to investigate doping stories. Initiatives such as this are to be welcomed, as they allow doping to be scrutinized and the efforts of anti-doping organizations to be highlighted.

Of course, when it comes to the complex area of anti-doping, what is seen as being in the public interest must, importantly, be balanced with the rights of the athletes. It is every athlete’s right, following a positive test, to have their “day in court” outside of public display, or, ultimately, by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

All athletes are innocent until or unless proven otherwise through the established legal process and World Anti-Doping Code rules.

It was this area of public interest and the anti-doping process that was the subject of extensive debate during the media panel at WADA’s Symposium. It is important that the public realize that anti-doping organisations are not hiding behind ‘the process’ as a reason for not revealing an athlete’s identity following a media ‘leak’, it is simply right and fair for the athlete that these organisations are able to carry out their work without having to react to abundant rumour and speculation.

The Editor of Inside the Games, Duncan Mackay, one of five participants in the media panel, alluded to the fact that there was a much greater understanding of anti-doping rules today than in years gone by, and, importantly, the transparency and working relationship between anti-doping and media communities had vastly improved.

This is true. Indeed, the World Anti-Doping Code rules today give the responsible organization a degree of flexibility when it comes to publicly reporting an anti-doping rule violation. They may announce an athlete’s asserted rule violation after a B Sample confirmation, but they must announce the rule violation no longer than twenty days after the final hearing decision.

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There are two other areas where media can really have an impact on the anti-doping cause. Firstly, in reporting instances of doping publicly at the appropriate time, and with the athlete having a fear of being “named and shamed”, the media can help significantly in deterring athletes and their entourage from doping in the first place.

WADA believes that, in many instances, the thought of being announced as a doper would strongly dissuade athletes from contemplating doping.  In other words, the risk would outweigh the reward.

Secondly, media can also play a role in promoting the positive initiatives in anti-doping. We are beginning to see this more and more. Athletes across the world – through bodies such as the WADA Athlete Committee and through Outreach initiatives – are communicating the clean sport message to thousands of current and aspiring athletes. 

They are letting them know, not only what their rights and responsibilities are, but why doping is dangerous and wrong; and, that there is a better way:  the clean sport way.

Sports Social Network, Sportlobster, Unveil Apple Watch app for Launch

Leading sports social network, no rx Sportlobster, asthma has unveiled an Apple Watch app, order which will be available from Friday to coincide with the launch of the Apple Watch.

One of only a small number of sports apps developed for the launch of the Apple Watch, the new Sportlobster app will enable the wearer to receive live football goal updates, red card alerts and final scores tailored to their own preferences.

Push notifications, meanwhile, will be broadcast straight to the wearer’s wrist via the app, allowing them to stay up-to-date with all the latest sports news and scores, without the need to check their phones.

Following shortly after the launch of the app, Sportlobster will also introduce NBA content, including fixtures, results, notifications and the opportunity for users to predict and engage with other NBA fans.

The launch of the Apple Watch app marks a significant development for Sportlobster, which launched only two years ago. The platform, which up until this point has been available via iphone, android and web (mobile responsive), is designed to offer a one-stop-shop to sports fans.

Attracting more than two million registered users worldwide since its inception, the platform allows sports fans to read the latest sports news, make match predictions, share content, follow their favourite sports stars and join sporting ‘fanzones’, all customised to their own preferences.

Sportlobster_AppleWatch2Ahead of the launch of the Apple Watch, Sportlobster’s team of technology and innovation specialists were given the unique opportunity to work closely with Apple in order to develop a bespoke version of the platform for the watch.

“For us, there was a clear synergy between the Apple Watch consumer and the Sportlobster audience.” said Andy Meikle, co-founder and CEO of Sportlobster.

“This is a consumer base which is young, tech savvy, and likes to be kept up to date with cutting edge news and technologies. Moreover, many of these consumers will undoubtedly be keen sports fans. So for us, this was the perfect audience to open our product up to.

“When it came to determining the functionality of the app, we knew that we needed to offer something which enabled sports fans to interact with other fans.

“We knew that the product we developed had to be simple, yet engaging, and that it needed to provide fans with a multitude of opportunities, regardless of where in the world they were or what they were doing.

“The end result is an Apple Watch app which we believe sports fans will love. It brings consumers closer to the action, allows them to interact and engage in debate, encourages them to make predictions and, perhaps most importantly, provides them with a reliable source of information when they’re on the move.

“It is incredibly exciting for us, as a relatively young start up business, to feature on a device which consumers all over the world have been waiting a long time for.

“For us to have the opportunity to sit alongside major international apps, which consumers globally are avid users of, is credit to just how far Sportlobster has come in a very short space of time.

“We look forward to unveiling the app and to seeing how sports fans respond to it.”

Gloucester Rugby Record Profits For 4th Year in a Row

English Rugby Club Gloucester Rugby has announced a fourth consecutive year of profits.

The club revealed its latest set of accounts this week, bronchi revealing a turnover of £12m, up 3.7% on the previous year, whilst returning a pre-tax profit of £512k, up nearly 68% on the previous year. 

The results were achieved whilst the team invested record levels in the coaching, playing and support staff, as well as developing the rugby environment at the Hartpury Training Centre and investing in a number of projects at their Kingsholm stadium. 

CEO Stephen Vaughan said: “It has, of course, been a challenging 12 months. There has been a significant amount of movement in playing department personnel and that naturally can cause unrest. However under David Humphreys’ guidance, I believe we are putting in the right foundations to deliver success in the long term.

“From a business perspective, the economy has shown signs of improving but we have had to continue to work hard to remain competitive on and off the field.

“These results have been achieved despite what was a tough season on the field of play. For the club to increase turnover and profit reflects the hard work of everyone at the club, and is also thanks to the continued magnificent support of our sponsors and supporters who have been first class in every respect.  

“Success on the pitch is what drives us and is why we are here. So it is crucial that we continue to compete financially with the richest clubs in England when it comes to the playing and support personnel, so we will be working even harder to ensure we can generate the revenues to do just that moving forward. 

“We have a record number of quality sponsors, hospitality revenue was the highest it has been since the Mira Showers stand was built in 2007 and our loyal Club Members remain the bedrock of the club. 

“With Rugby World Cup 2015 on the horizon, and Kingsholm hosting four matches, Rugby Union is on the verge of a very exciting time and we hope that Gloucester Rugby will continue to be at the very heart of it.”

Chairman Ryan Walkinshaw said: “I’m delighted that we’ve been able to deliver another set of positive financial results. 

“Once again, we’ve shown that you can compete at the highest level of club rugby and still deliver a profitable business. Despite finishing below where we would expect to last season, we have shown that a good business model and strong leadership, allied with great support from fans and sponsors allows us to sustain our solid footing as a truly self-sustainable club.

Co-owner Martin St Quinton added: “We’re committed to continuing this good work and, with David Humphreys and his coaches and players, we have a high quality group of people at the club. 

“I believe that we are putting the building blocks in place that over time will put Gloucester Rugby back where we belong, challenging at the top end of the Aviva Premiership and giving our supporters a team to be proud of.”

AS Roma Unveil Plans for New 52,000 Capacity Stadium

Serie A club AS Roma have unveiled plans for a new 52, viagra 000 capacity stadium called the Stadio della Roma.

Roma hope to have the stadium opened for the start of the 2016/17 Serie A season and have based the structural design on the Colosseum, viagra 40mg with similarities in the stadium’s exterior.

The stadium, cough which will have the potential to increase to 60,000 seats, will also have a 360-degree video screen running across the rooftop.

The news means that Roma will move from their current ground, the Stadio Olympico, which they share with fierce rivals Lazio.

AS Roma Chairman James Pallotta said: “We have worked exceptionally hard over the past two years and particularly in recent months in collaboration with Mayor Marino and his administration in developing this stadium project for AS Roma, the City of Rome and our great fans.

“The city and fans deserve this a world class stadium. We are confident the Stadio della Roma will be among the best in the world and a key driver for the club’s continued success.”

The Stadio della Roma will offer a variety of venues for music and entertainment, including a 500-person stage in the AS Roma themed Restaurant, a 5,000 seat outdoor amphitheater, and a 13,000 seat amphitheater within the Stadium.

The club’s CEO Italo Zanzi took to the club’s official twitter account to add that the cost of the stadium would be around the €300m mark.

Pallotta also said that they hoped the stadium would help make the club one of the top three in the world.

Importantly for football fans, there will be no athletics track, which will provide a better atmosphere and view.

(picture courtesy of Stadio della Roma) 

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ICC Suspends Nine Bangladesh Premier League Players for Corruption

The International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) have announced that an investigation by the ICC’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit has led to nine individuals being charged with breaching the BCB’s Anti-Corruption Code.

The charges are in relation to an alleged conspiracy within the Dhaka Gladiators to engage in match-fixing and spot-fixing during the 2013 Bangladesh Premier League, as well as failures to report illegal approaches.

The relevant individuals have been issued with charge letters today and both the ICC and the BCB have stressed that those charges remain innocent until proven guilty. The identities of those charged will not be revealed until disciplinary proceedings have concluded, in accordance with the BCB’s Anti-Corruption code.

Seven of the nine individuals have been charged for fixing-related offences, and two charged for failing to report corrupt approaches that were made to them/ Those facing match-fixing charges have been provisionally suspended and are banned from all cricket activities until the case has been resolved.

All charged have 14 days to indicate whether they wish to plead guilty or to defend themselves in a full hearing. Those who plead, or are later found, guilty for the fixing offences could receive a suspension lasting five years to a lifetime, or one to five years for failing to report a corrupt approach.

ICC Chief Executive, David Richardson, said: “The evidence uncovered is a grave reminder of the need for the sport to remain vigilant against the continuing threat of corruption, and for players and support personnel to take personal responsibility for protecting the integrity of the game”

BCB President Nazmul Hassan added: “The BCB is committed to a zero-tolerance approach towards corruption in the sport and has demonstrated its resolve to deal robustly with such matters by engaging the services of the ICC and its ACSU.”

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Chinese AC Milan takeover set for 13 December completion

The Chinese consortium planning to buy Italian football club AC Milan have stated they expect to conclude the deal by Dec. 13.

The club, who has been owned by Silvio Berlusconi’s Fininvest group for over 30 years, said the takeover would value the club at €740m ($817m), including €220m of debt.

“The advisors’ board of AC Milan, who met today, have determined, at the request of the shareholders Fininvest S.p.A, to call an assembly of shareholders for the day of Dec. 2, 2016, for a first sitting and, if necessary, for the day of Dec. 13, 2016, for a second sitting,” read a statement on AC Milan’s website.

“The assembly will be called to determine, among other things, the composition of the social organs in order to consent Fininvest S.p.A to fulfill its obligations taken with the signing of a preliminary contract, the object of which was the sale of their entire shareholding in AC Milan.”