Location: Zurich, cough Switzerland

Closing date: 20th November 2016

Overview:

In order to lead our Marketing Services Department we, the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), are seeking an entrepreneurial and flexible   Your Duties Commercialize the association rights (e.g. marketing partners, licensing and brand) Establish, develop and ensure quality of commercial partnerships and rights delivery Define new strategies and visions and support Sales in important negotiations (i.e. sponsoring rights) Coordinate with all other divisions LOC’s and third parties regarding commercial matters Actively develop the association’s additional events and new commercial opportunities and deliver commercially oriented services Growth or optimize profits from commercialization of the association’s marketing rights as well as from partners, joint venture activities, licensing and brand Manage approximately 40 – 50 employees (4 – 6 direct reports) and foster inter- divisional relations Adhere to cost budget Our Requirements University degree or similar higher education 5 – 10 years executive line management experience in international sports marketing or marketing industry Perfect knowledge in English and extended skills in at least a second language (French, Spanish or German) • Proven negotiation/sales track record and knowledge of legal aspects of rights commercialization and Management/Leadership skills in international environment Broad, international network with key persons in the sports marketing or marketing industry A person of vision and integrity who sets high quality standards   Click here to apply

Tottenham Chairman Daniel Levy has welcolmed the idea of NFL and Premier League games being played at their new stadium on the same day.

Spurs have begun work on a new 61,000-seater stadium that will be the largest top-flight ground in London and offer purpose-built facilities for NFL.

Tottenham have already announced a 10-year partnership to host two NFL games a year at the new stadium, which is due to be ready for the 2018/19 season,

Levy told ESPN: “I don’t think it’s something we’d want to try for our first game, but that is certainly realistic. How exciting the idea of having the two biggest leagues in the world from a television perspective – fantastic – play on the same day.”

NFL executive vice president of international Mark Waller added an NFL-Premier League doubleheader is a real possibility.

“One of the idle thoughts we have at the moment is, would you really be able to play an NFL game and an EPL game on the same day as a doubleheader?”

“It wouldn’t be absolutely out of the question. I don’t think you’d want to do it on a regular basis, but on a unique feature, that might be a really interesting idea.”

Corona Extra and the Los Angeles Rams have announced a new sponsorship deal to name Corona Extra as an Official Partner of the Los Angeles Rams.

Highlights of the deal include sponsorship exclusivity in the imported beer category for Corona Extra; prominent in-stadium signage; use of the Rams’ logos and other marks on packaging and point-of-sale; sponsorship of stadium Replay Feature bumpers; in-stadium and gameday activations; and presenting sponsorship of the new party zone Corona Beach House experience on the east side of the stadium.

Corona Extra will serve as the presenting sponsor for Rams’ season-opener on August 13, prostate which will be the first Rams game in Los Angeles in 22 years and will feature exclusive Corona gameday videos. 

“We couldn’t be more proud to help welcome back the Rams to their hometown of Los Angeles, anabolics ” said Jim Sabia, shop chief marketing officer for Corona Extra and Constellation Brands beer division. “Corona Extra has been teaming up with Angelenos each football season to find their gameday beach, and we can’t wait to cheer on the Rams with fans in their homes and in the stadium this year.”

“As we return home to Los Angeles and kick off the season on August 13, we are pleased to team with Corona Extra to enhance the gameday experience for our fans,” said Mike O’Keefe, Los Angeles Rams vice president of corporate partnerships.  “Corona Extra is a brand that resonates with people across this dynamic and diverse region and we are excited to work with them to celebrate our fans’ passion for Rams football.”

By Christian Radnedge

FIFA announced on Monday that the extraordinary elective congress to elect a new president will take place on February 26, 2016, before Sepp Blatter was showered by dollar bills by a television “comedian” in the following press conference. 

Blatter was addressing the media after a special meeting of the executive committee to determine the date of electing a successor to the 79-year-old who last month announced he was to “lay down his mandate” in the wake of two corruption investigations.

But before he could speak to the assembled reporters in Zurich, a British TV “comedian” stood before Blatter and said he was from the North Korea 2026 bid team before throwing what appeared to be dollar bills over the president’s head.

Blatter left the room while organisers cleared the debris.

Once set up again, Blatter revealed that FIFA was to enter a new reform process following on from the one that began in 2011.

Speaking about his decision on June 2nd just days after winning reelection for a fifth term in office, Blatter said: “I had to do something very special and I did it. In footballing terms, I kicked the ball out of the field to stop something.

“This is what I did on 2nd of June when I say I put my mandate at the disposal [of national associations] but I am still the elected president and I speak to you as the elected president.”

The decisions taken by the executive committee included enhanced security checks for new members, term-limits and a disclosure of FIFA officials salaries. However, Blatter refused to reveal his salary when asked. 

Despite making veiled hints in recent media reports that he could stand for re-election yet again, Blatter confirmed that once and for all he would not be FIFA president following the congress in February. 

“I will not be a candidate for the election in 2016,” he said. “I have put my mandate at disposal and there will be an election for a new president, I insisted on that so we can have a new president.

“I cannot be the new president because I am the old president.”

Meanwhile, major FIFA sponsors such Coca-Cola and McDonald’s in adddition to pressure groups such as Transparency International and the International Trade Union Confederation have stepped up demands for “independent reform of FIFA led by an eminent person.”

Blatter revealed that a task-force will be set up to implement reform and will be lead by an independent chairman.

The New FIFA Now campaign group had called on former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan to lead the charge for change at world football’s governing body.

However, a spokesperson for the Kofi Annan Foundation appeared to pour cold water on the invitation. 

“We are aware of some discussions and speculations but in actual fact Mr Annan has not been formally approached by any side on this matter, nor does he plan to widen the scope of his already busy schedule,” Bijan Farnoudi said. 

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has confirmed it is suspending its recognition of SportAccord and withholding funding.

The IOC released a statement yesterday outlining that they will continue their ongoing and direct relationship with the International Federations (IFs) and other members of the Olympic Movement.

The full statement read:

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will continue its ongoing and direct relationship with the International Federations (IFs) and other members of the Olympic Movement. We encourage and support them in all the initiatives being taken to restructure their representation following the serious internal problems of SportAccord.

By Christian Radnedge

The International Olympic Committee has confirmed to iSportconnect that it will discuss the issue of SportAccord president Marius Vizer’s resignation at their executive board meeting in Lausanne next week.

At the weekend, symptoms Romanian Vizer announced he was stepping down as head of the international body following criticism of his controversial comments at the SportAccord convention in Sochi earlier this year.

Despite seeking peace talks with IOC president Thomas Bach, check Vizer stood by his comments in his resignation letter and said: “Today, the system working behind the doors is dictated by nobility titles or family inherited titles, or by members appointed for life and I hope that in the future, the basic criteria of the system will be dictated by the achievements in sport, professionalism, performances, fair-play, transparency and the courage to express the truth.”

He also confirmed that he will be withdrawing from the IOC Coordination Committee for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

The IOC’s Director of Communications Mark Adams told iSportconnect: “We have been informed of the resignation. We will continue our on-going work and consultation with the International Federations and other members of the Olympic Movement.

“The topic will be discussed at the IOC Executive Board next week.”

The IOC’s meeting in Lausanne will take place on Sunday and Monday.

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The last year has delivered an absorbing and unforgettable twelve months of sport for both the committed and casual fan, cough central to which has been a sports technology industry that continues to expand at an impressive rate.

No longer the domain of major corporations, troche 2014 has seen the diversity of the sector’s organizations grow further still, illness with start-ups and SMEs as influential and prevalent as their larger contemporaries.

Institutions including governing bodies, telecommunications providers, bookmakers and airlines now have a hand in the sector and their work is being seen at the Sports Technology Awards, an event established to recognize the increasingly important role that technology plays in sport.

The diversity and calibre of individuals on the STA judging panel indicates that more than ever, the business community is seeing the value and importance of sports technology. Consisting of Olympic athletes, international referees and officials, coaches and clinicians as well as specialists from technology, business and national governing bodies, the awards has attracted names including David Dein, Marlon Devonish, Bill Sweeney, CEO of the British Olympic Association and Alex Trickett, Head of Sport UK at Twitter.

Technology has been likened to a steamroller and with every judge possessing a vested interest in the sector they have chosen to ride it instead of forming part of the road.

‘The kind of things that have been great have been that people will put a GoPro on anything that moves,’ said Richard Ayers, STA judge and CEO of digital specialists, Seven League.

‘The oculus rift is a really fantastic thing and I love what Spidercam is doing.

‘However data is where I think it is really fascinating and I will be interested to see what people do with capturing data and then using it to integrate with the fan experience.’

Putting the fan at the centre of future innovation is a vision shared by St. George’s Park chairman and fellow judge, David Sheepshanks.

‘The advances that are most important for the game are for the fans. That is where I really hope people are going to continue to concentrate their energies, in bringing new advances that improve the spectator experience both in the stadium and outside it. I want technology to be really fan-centric.’

Year-on-year the pool of technology on offer to both professional clubs and the public expands.

Apps, player trackers, training aids and administrative tools are just a handful of examples currently available. However of all of these, 2014 has been the year of wearable technology.

Its market goes from strength to strength with global revenue predicted to spike from $1.9bn in 2013 to $2.8bn in 2019. The accessibility, not to mention affordability, of the technology which in years gone by was reserved only for elite athletes has contributed to its mass appeal.

‘Wearable technology is one of the fastest-growing and exciting areas within sports tech today,’ says Andy Mallinson, Managing Director of social content marketing platform and STA sponsor, Stackla.

‘The ability to monitor and effectively analyse key components of health and fitness used to be the preserve of elite athletes. Now however, simply-designed and affordable wearable devices have revolutionised the way we track our fitness and activity levels.

This insight is not only invaluable, but also extremely interesting.’

Sports technology is constantly developing, a fact that excites all those with an eye on the sector. Increasingly technology has come to represent the progressiveness and ambition of the sports it revolutionizes and predicting where it will head next presents countless possibilities.

The pace at which it evolves means it pays to keep informed, one reason why the Sports Technology Awards is so well supported and embraced by its judges and the wider community.

For more information on the Sports Technology Awards, visit www.sportstechnologyawards.com.

The National Basketball Association (NBA) has announced that Jan Menneken has been named NBA Associate Vice President, sickness Germany, health Nordics and Central Europe.

Based out of the NBA’s Europe, discount Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) headquarters in London, Menneken will report to Marc Armstrong, NBA Vice President, Global Marketing Partnerships and Emerging Markets – EMEA.

Menneken’s role will involve acquiring new marketing partners in the region while also working across TV, digital, events and licensing to further grow the NBA’s business throughout Germany, the Nordics and Central Europe.

“We are excited to welcome Jan to the NBA EMEA team,” said Armstrong.  “Jan’s long-term experience and extensive network in the sports industry will play a key role in the continued growth of our business in these markets.”

“I am delighted to join the NBA and look forward to building on the league’s popularity by developing new business opportunities and contributing to the game’s growth,” said Menneken.