Birmingham, therapy Alabama has been chosen to host the 2021 World Games.
The decision was announced by International World Games Association (IWGA) President José Perurena.
It beat off competition from Lima (Peru) and Ufa (Russia).
Read more HERE.
One Year to Go Until Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games
Today marks the one year to go point until Toronto hosts the 2015 Pan Am Games.
Toronto and 15 other municipalities across southern Ontario will welcome athletes, artists, visitors and dignitaries from 41 countries and territories in 365 days.
Free community celebrations are taking place over the next four days across the Greater Golden Horseshoe region, including a two-day festival in the heart of downtown Toronto on Friday, July 11 and Saturday, July 12.
The Cisco Toronto 2015 Countdown Clock was also revealed in Toronto’s Nathan Phillips Square.
Saäd Rafi, chief executive officer of the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games Organizing Committee (TO2015): “In just one year from today, Toronto and Ontario will host the biggest international multi-sport event ever held in Canada.
“It’s a massive undertaking, unlike anything we’ve ever done before, and our communities are ramping up their preparations and excitement with a host of fun and family-friendly festivities that will give everyone a chance to experience right now what the Games will bring to our region next summer.
“I invite everyone to come out and help celebrate!”
To read a full interview with Rafi and learn more about Toronto 2015, click here
Madison Square Garden Reveals New Features as Part of Billion Dollar Renovation
Madison Square Garden has revealed the features of the stadium’s three-year, $1bn renovation project.
Described as a “transformation” of the iconic venue, new features include two “Chase Bridges” that run high above and parallel to the event floor, a revamped Chase Square 7th Avenue entrance, complete with two 600-square-foot video screens and a new GardenVision scoreboard.
Other improvements include new suites, food options and renovated concourses.
James Dolan, the Garden’s executive chairman commented: “We knew the world’s greatest fans deserved a complete state-of-the-art experience.
“This true transformation is for everyone. We wanted our athletes to have upgraded locker rooms, training and video rooms.
“We wanted our entertainers to have the best dressing rooms, the best sound, the best lighting and acoustics.”
The Chase Bridges are being described as the most unique aspect of the arena revamp, with the 10th floor being connected by them.
The bridges will block some fans’ view of the scoreboard, however they will not block the court and there will be three 145-inch monitors on the bridges for those who cannot see the new GardenVision scoreboard.
“The question we get asked by everybody who comes up [here] is how can the crowd see the game?” Garden president and CEO Hank Ratner said of the seats behind the bridges. “And you will see that there is not the slightest bit of obstruction to what is going on [down] on the floor. What we did for the people who are sitting there is [put three] 145-inch GardenVision [monitors] on the bridge.”
Former New York Knicks and Rangers captains Willis Reed and Mark Messier were there at the unveiling, as well as a number of other former players.
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Sergio Garcia Criticised by Sponsor for Tiger Woods Comments
Sergio Garcia’s biggest sponsor, TaylorMade-adidas, is to consider its association with the golf player in the aftermath of his controversial comments about Tiger Woods.
After a recent dispute over the world number one’s alleged gamesmanship, Garcia joked that he would invite Woods for dinner to clear the air and serve him fried chicken.
TaylorMade-adidas said: “We discussed with him that his comments are clearly out of bounds. We are continuing to review the matter.
“Sergio’s recent comment was offensive and in no way aligns with TaylorMade-adidas Golf’s values and corporate culture.
“We have spoken with Sergio directly and he clearly has regret for his statement and we believe he is sincere.”
Woods said the remark was “wrong, hurtful and clearly inappropriate” on his Twitter account.
Speaking exclusively to iSportconnect, sponsorship expert and Director for brandRapport, Nigel Currie said he was suprised the sponsor had become involved so early on in the case.
Currie said: “It certainly is unusual for a sponsor to get involved so early in a developing story. Normally sponsors would remain quiet for several days to let the initial fall out subside. In this case they have become involved relatively early in proceedings.
“It has further raised the profile of the story when you would expect them to want it to disappear from the media.”
A problem for Garcia’s attractiveness
Currie also stated that Garcia could have problems attracting sponsors in the future. He added: “I think it will be damaging for him. He has some good high profile sponsors but he is no longer seen as the up and coming new star and establishing new partners may not be as easy for him as it would have been a few years ago.”
Garcia apologised for his comments at a press conference yesterday. He is not expected to face disciplinary action.
He said: “I obviously was caught off guard by the question but I understand my answer was totally out of place and I can’t say sorry enough.
“Most importantly I want to apologise to Tiger. I don’t have his phone number but I’ve called his manager. He didn’t pick up but I left a message saying I would love to talk as soon as possible telling him how sorry I am and say it was a bad comment.”
German F1 Grand Prix in Doubt
The German Grand Prix faces an uncertain future after F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone ended negotiations with the Nurburgring track over the 2013 race.
The Nurburgring was scheduled to host this year’s event, allergy as Hockenheim held it in 2012, anabolics but the track has now run into financial trouble which means there are no guarantees that it could fund the Grand Prix.
Ecclestone told German newspaper Der Spiegel that a deal could not be agreed. He said: “After due consideration of their proposal we believe it is regrettably not financially acceptable, so we have terminated our negotiations.”
A deal could yet be struck with Hockenheim, though if the race does not go ahead it is likely that there will only be 18 races in the F1 calendar this year as no venue has been announced for the European Grand Prix on 21 July.
Marketing & Communications Manager – London Irish Rugby Club
Location: Sunbury-on-Thames, seek UK
Closing Date: 31st October 2016
Overview:
Key responsibilities:
Result Areas:
• Development and approval of impactful, strategic marketing plans;
• Successful brand positioning, management, and development;
• Driving greater supporter/customer centricity, market understanding, insight and segmentation;
• Successful and effective delivery of all marketing, communications and promotional activity
• The development of a leading marketing and communications capability;
• Excellent senior stakeholder management internally and externally.
Responsibilities:
• Leading the development of market-focused business planning;
• Developing and delivering the LI marketing, communications and brand strategy;
• Developing and implementing budgeted and timetabled marketing and communications plans for all markets;
• Delivering outstanding segment and market specific communication programmes;
• Developing and rolling-out effective product and proposition positioning/messaging;
• Efficient and impactful usage of the marketing and communications budget and resources;
• Ensuring that the Club’s key communications’ responsibilities including media relations, photography and image library, London Irish TV, social media, match day programme, crisis communications and website are delivered to the highest standards;
• Driving maximum value from the usage of third party suppliers;
• Embedding a culture of creativity and innovation within the marketing and communications department;
• Developing strong and effective relationships with key business partners;
• Management and control of marketing-related risks and the compliance with all relevant regulations;
• Budgetary ownership, allocation, management and tracking;
• Regular and ongoing market analysis and reporting;
• Driving the Club to constantly enhance the supporter (customer) experience;
• Embedding rigorous commercial disciplines and procedures within the marketing and communications team;
• Leveraging a supporter (customer)-relationship-management approach to enhance communication programmes through greater targeting and personalisation.
Experience
• Successful experience of managing high quality and effective marketing and communications teams;
• Hands-on experience of effectively investing a marketing and communications budget;
• Relevant experience of marketing and communications within the leisure or entertainment sectors in this country and Europe, ideally;
• Proven experience of working in a multi-cultural and international environment;
• Knowledge of professional sport, ideally rugby union;
• Analytical mind, able to use data to inform decision making;
• Commercial and creative within a business context;
• An effective and persuasive communicator;
• A team player who is comfortable working within a close knit team;
• A relevant marketing, communications or business qualification is desirable.
Preferred Skills and Behaviours
• Commercial acumen;
• Understanding of both commercial and sports markets and industry;
• Energy and passion for working in sports marketing and communication;
• Demonstrates both creative and operational thinking and judgement;
• Acts as a role model in embodying core club values and culture;
• Resilient and ability to adapt to changing business needs;
• Possess drive, motivation and acute attention to detail in ensuring all commercial opportunities to the Club are captured and explored;
• Committed to meeting the expectations of all customers, valuing the provision of high-quality customer service;
• Ability to organise events and activities, tracking timescales, plans and financial resources;
• Emotionally intelligent and able to interact with others effectively;
• Showing awareness of goals and standards, is able to follow through to ensure quality and productivity standards are met;
• Ability to take the initiative and achieve greater than expectations.
Mercedes-Benz renew partnership with The Open
The Open will once again be sponsored by Mercedes-Benz, asthma the car company have announced.
Mercedes-Benz will be the “Official Car and Official Patron” of The Open.
The company have been involved in golf sponsorship for the past twenty years.
Rickie Fowler is a global Brand Ambassador for Mercedes-Benz and will wear the Mercedes star for the first time during the U.S.Open Championship 2016.
The 27-year-old golf professional has been a Brand Ambassador of Mercedes-Benz for the U.S. market since 2013.
Chinese group close to buying AC Milan
A Chinese group are reportedly close to taking over Italian giants AC Milan.
It comes after its fierce Milan rivals Inter signed a deal with Chinese conglomerate Suning Holdings Group, who now own 68.55% of the club.
Italian press are reporting that a bid will take the shape of owning 80 per cent of the club for a fee of around €750m, including €240m of debt.
Robin Li is alleged to leading the bid, he co-founded the Chinese search engine Baidu.
Milan’s president, Silvio Berlusconi, has apparently agreed to the deal, which will include him staying as President, as well as significant investment in the squad.
It continues China’s investment in football, both domestically and oversees. The Chinese Super League is attracting some of the world’s biggest teams, and various clubs around Europe are being bought by Chinese investors.
Premiership Rugby and NBC Sports Sign Landmark Multi-Year Broadcast Deal
Premiership Rugby has agreed a new three-year media agreement with NBC Sports in America.
The partnership will kick off on March 12 on the NBC Sports Network (NBCSN) with live coverage of the first-ever Premiership Rugby match in the USA when the London Irish take on the Saracens at the Red Bull Arena in New Jersey.
NBC Sports Group’s coverage of Premiership Rugby will begin in full with the start of the 2016-17 season in September.
“This new agreement with NBC Sports Group is an historic milestone for us,” said Mark McCafferty, Chief Executive at Premiership Rugby.
“It takes the Aviva Premiership Rugby brand to a bigger audience than we have ever had in the US.”
Jon Miller, President, Programming, NBC Sports and NBCSN said: “Our multi-year partnership with Aviva Premiership Rugby is an expansion of our well-documented commitment to the sport and growth of rugby in the US.”
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Register Now for World Football Forum Early Bird Discount!
The World Football Forum is the key annual event for the main players of the global football industry: the personalities who guide, herbal influence and govern the world’s game.
Taking place in Paris during EURO 2016, ed the central theme of the World Football Forum in 2016 is the ‘New Geography of Football’ – the high-growth new markets for the international game.
Leading the pack of emerging football powerhouses of the 21st Century is China, however from the upcoming FIFA World Cup™ Host Nations Russia and Qatar, through India and South-East Asia, across the African continent and the Americas, the geography of football is changing fast.
The World Football Forum will offer the first chance to chart the opportunities and the challenges ahead for the international football industry in these exciting new regions for the world’s favourite game.
Register now to benefit from the 30% early bird discount.