Adrian Bevington departs Aston Villa role

Aston Villa Football Club have confirmed that iSportconnect member Adrian Bevington has decided to leave his advisory position with the Club.

Bevington joined the Club to review and evaluate the managerial position and playing staff at Villa Park in March.

Aston Villa Chairman Steve Hollis said: “I’d like to place on record my thanks to Adrian for his contribution and professionalism.

“Over a short period of time, he has provided a great deal of football knowledge and experience – both to the Club and to me personally.

“Adrian gave me his word he would remain with the Club until the end of the season. Now that time has come we wish him well for the future with his various football commitments.”

Bevington’s departure follows the resignations of both David Bernstein and Mervyn King earlier this year.

Adrian Bevington added: “I explained to Steve Hollis a few weeks ago that I would not be looking to take on a full-time role with the Club, but agreed to remain as an advisor until the end of the season.

“I know how hard Steve is working on a number of levels and I hope he can conclude the ownership and managerial positions very soon.

“There is a huge amount of work ahead for Aston Villa FC. A Club of its size with its great support should be competing at the higher levels of the Premier League, not in the position it currently finds itself.

“To move forward, now more than ever, it is crucial the Club makes the right calls on the big decisions it is faced with.”

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PDC Inks First TV Deal With BBC for Champions League of Darts

The Professional Darts Corporation has sealed its first ever broadcast deal with the BBC to air the inaugural Champions League of Darts tournament in 2016.

The eight-player tournament will be held on September 24-25 at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff to kick off a new era for the sport on free-to-air television.

Read more HERE.

Countdown To The UK Sponsorship Awards 2016 – One Month Until The Final Deadline!

There’s just one month to go before the final deadline for entering the 2016 UK Sponsorship Awards (UKSA), medstore the industry’s largest and most prestigious awards event.

The exact deadline is January 15, 2016 with the event itself held at the London Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square on March 22, 2016.

As in previous years, the 2016 Awards will celebrate the best campaigns across areas such as sport, media, the arts, community and PR.

But this year there are a number of new categories designed to reflect current trends within the business, says UKSA organiser Rosemary Sarginson: “Anyone who works in sponsorship knows that this is a business that has a good track record on gender equality. So it seemed right that we ought to reflect that fact in our Awards event. The result of that is our new ‘Empowering Women Through Sport’ Award. We want this category to showcase the great work being to promote inclusion and equality for women and girls.”

Also new this year are two categories designed to celebrate rugby union sponsorship and the Best Use of Celebrity Endorsement.

“After the success of the recent 2015 Rugby World Cup, we wanted to reward those brands that have done an outstanding job of partnering the dynamic sport of rugby union, both in terms of the commercial benefits they have realised and what they have given back to the sport” says Sarginson, “As for celebrity endorsement, our view is that the relationship between talent and sponsorship has become one of the most potent forces in 21st century brand communications.”

Although the basic format of the UKSA event has stayed the same in recent years, the organising team has made a point of shaking up the categories: “In recent years we have introduced awards for entertainment, digital activation, innovation, sustainability and best consultancy,” says Sarginson. “Our commitment to the future of the business was also the driving force behind the creation of the Barrie Gill Award for the Most Promising Young Sponsorship Executive, named after one of the industry’s most popular figures, now sadly gone.”

One of the toughest parts of any Awards event is making sure companies and organisations of all shapes and sizes have a fair chance of winning: “It’s easy to fall into the trap of favouring sponsorships you’ve heard of,” says Sarginson, “But we challenge our judges to look beyond the headlines at the substance of entered campaigns. No matter how big or small, campaigns are judged on the basis of the clarity and insightfulness of their objectives, the creativity and effectiveness of their execution and the strength of results.”

To ensure the most democratic result possible, the Awards also contain categories geared specifically towards small-to-medium sized enterprises. “If you look at our categories you’ll see numerous way in which we have created an inclusive format,” says Sarginson.

“Sport, Brand and Consultancy are split into two price bands, for example, and there are also categories for low budget, first timer, grass roots, education and community, all of which open the door to more tailored campaigns.”

One other important category is the Personality of the Year, which rewards the person deemed to have made the most significant contribution to the sponsorship industry in the last year. “The final decision is made by the judges,” says Sarginson, “but we ask for nominations from the industry.

So if you’d like to put someone’s name forward please email rosie@sponsorship-awards.co.uk with your nomination and reasons why. The more input we can get from the industry the better the Awards will reflect the quality of its work.”

Simply register your interest by emailing: info@sponsorship-awards.co.uk

PGA Renew Asbri Golf Sponsorship Deal

Golf accessory brand Asbri Golf has agreed a new three-year agreement with the PGA.

Under the terms of the deal the company will continue its sponsorship of the Welsh National PGA Championship, cialis having title sponsored the tournament for the last two years.

Read the story HERE.

Olegario Vazquez Raña Re-Elected as ISSF President

Olegario Vazquez Raña has been re-elected as International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) President.

The ISSF General Assembly voted for Mr. Olegario Vazquez Raña from Mexico to remain at the helm for a ninth consecutive term.

Raña received 165 votes, asthma beating the only other candidate Sheik Salman Al Sabah of Kuwait, who collected 128 votes.

President Raña, who was first elected in 1980, will continue in the role for another four years.

“Thank you for your loyalty and for your trust.” Mr. Olegario Vazquez Raña said.

“You have given me the opportunity to reaffirm my commitment to all sport shooters of the world and to this sport family that I love.”

“You can be certain that for the upcoming four years, changes and developments will continue.

“We will keep on working on our agenda, to make us stronger, to reach more athletes all around the world, so that our beloved sport will become more attractive to people and more solid in the Olympic movement.

“I am convinced that with your support the next four years will be really productive, because if we are united the future of our sport will be bright.”

Doha Named as Hosts For 2019 IAAF World Championships

Doha has been chosen to host the 2019 IAAF World Championships, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Council announced today.

Doha, Qatar, was selected by a vote of Council over Barcelona (Spain) and Eugene (USA) for the right to host the 17th edition of the IAAF World Championships.

“I am sure that in Doha we will have a wonderful edition of the World Championships. I am convinced they are committed through sport to developing their country and their community, and they are doing the right things,” said IAAF President Lamine Diack.

Sheikh Saoud Bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, the Doha bid leader said: “It’s a privilege and honour to have the trust of the IAAF.

“I am very delighted that these championships are going to be for the first time in the region. I’m confident that with the support of the IAAF we will organise one of the best World Championships,” he added.

Dahlan Al Hamad, Qatari Athletics Federation President and an IAAF Council member added: “This is a great moment for me as the president of the Qatari Athletics Federation, and as a Qatari. We have dreamed about organising such an event for a long time and, on behalf of the Qatari athletics final, we would like to thank the IAAF Council and IAAF Family for giving Qatar the chance to host one of the most prestigious championships.

“We have always delivered what we have promised, such as in 2010 when we had the World Indoor Championships. Since that time we have committed to working hand in hand with the IAAF to optimise their globalisation philosophy,” added Dahlan Al Hamad.

Dave Castell & Jennie Price Confirmed as Panellists For London Directors’ Club

iSportconnect, the world’s largest private network for sports business professionals, is delighted to announce Dave Castell, Microsoft Global Head of Marketing and Brand Partnerships, Entertainment and Sport England CEO Jennie Price as panellists for the Directors’ Club which returns to London on 26th November.

This will be the final Directors’ Club of 2014 and along with Abu Dhabi and Dubai, will be the third Directors’ Club to be held in November, displaying the growing success of the event.

Castell joined Microsoft in April Heading up the Global Marketing and Brand Partnerships function and teams for Entertainment (lead by global personal radio and music product MixRadio), after previously holding the same position at Nokia Entertainment.

Castell was also the Head of Europe at Nokia Entertainment prior to that.

Jennie Price has been at Sport England since 2007. Since joining as Chief Executive, she has successfully implemented a new strategic approach to investing in community sport, which has resulted in the highest number ever of people playing sport regularly in England.

She has just launched a major new campaign focused on addressing the gender gap in sports participation.

Prior to joining Sport England, Jennie was the founding Chief Executive of WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) which was established by Government in 2000 and more than doubled the UK’s recycling of household waste in less than five years.

Castell and Price will be joining Crystal Palace Chairman Steve Parish, who was previously confirmed as the first panellist for the event.

Originally starting in London, 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 industry.

Followed by networking, the discussion is held under Chatham House rules, allowing for an open and free flowing debate.

The event will be followed by a Christmas Dinner. The venue for the event and the dinner will be announced soon.

Michael Cunnah, Chairman of iSportconnect, said: “We are delighted to welcome Dave and Jennie on board for our next Directors’ Club in London.

“Dave has great experience working for one of the biggest companies in the world in Microsoft and Jennie has been hugely successful in her seven years heading up Sport England and it will great for us to get their insight working in these sectors.”

Save the date: 26th November 2014

To register your interest contact: sylvia-line@isportconnect.com

Invitation Policy: 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.

Social Media Policy: The iSportconnect Directors’ Club follows Chatham House rules and therefore all content must be kept inside.

We encourage delegates to tweet pictures and use our hashtag #iSCDirectorsClub but please do not quote panellists.

To watch highlights of previous iSportconnect Directors’ Clubs click here.

iSportconnect are hosting two Directors’ Clubs in the Middle East this week. The first taking place in Abu Dhabi today (10th Nov) and  another in Dubai on Wednesday (12th Nov).

www.microsoft.com 

www.mixrad.io/

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Blatter Officially Runs For FIFA Presidency

Fifa president Sepp Blatter has officially confirmed that he will stand for a fifth term in charge of world football’s governing body in an election in May 2015.

“I have announced to the Executive Committee…that I will accept the demands of different associations and federations (to stand for election) to serve FIFA for a fifth mandate, ask ” said Blatter.

The 78-year old has been president of FIFA for the past 16 years, but has received criticism in recent months from European football chiefs.

There is also the controversy surrounding the 2018 and 2022 World Cups and how the host nations were chosen.

UEFA president Michel Platini was keen to challenge Blatter for the presidency, but the chances of the Swiss being re-elected grew increasingly after Platini opted not to stand for election.

“First of all I’m not running – I’m at their disposal. FIFA is a service and I want to go on serving,” said Blatter.

“I have been contacted, I have been asked just before the (pre-World Cup) congress in Sao Paulo by five if the six confederations saying ‘please stay and be our president’ because, at the time at least, they say we have no other candidate.”

The presidential election will be held at the next FIFA congress in Zurich on May 29, 2015, with candidacy bids open until January 29.

Blatter’s only challenger is currently Jerome Champagne, a former FIFA deputy secretary general from France.

Champagne and Michael Garcia, the former US federal prosecutor in charge of investigating allegations of corruption into the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bids, have been among those who called for the Garcia Report to be published this week.

Blatter however, claims there has been “no request” from any FIFA member to publish the report in full.

Hans-Joachim Eckert, chairman of FIFA’s adjudicatory chamber, is expected to make a statement on the findings in early November and will decide whether it will be published.

FIFA to ban third-party ownership

Sepp Blatter also announced today that FIFA has agreed to ban third-party ownership (TPO) of players.

The Swiss said a working group will be set up to implement the ban which would come into effect following a ‘transitional period’.

“We took a firm decision that TPO should be banned but it cannot be banned immediately there will be a transitional period,” said Blatter at a news conference at the Executive Committee.

European football’s governing body UEFA previously warned that they would ban TPO unilaterally if FIFA did not act.

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Roof Planned for Home of U.S. Open

The United States Tennis Association (USTA) will reveal plans tomorrow for a retractable roof over the centre court at Arthur Ashe Stadium as part of a major overhaul of Flushing Meadows, the home of the U.S. Open.

In recent years, bad weather has caused chaos with the tournament’s schedule, and the last five men’s finals have had to be moved to Monday.

USTA have called a press congerence for Thursday, where the plans will be announced in full. As well as the new roof, two stadiums will be built at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre.

Only last year, the USTA ruled against a roof, citing logisitical issues. The Arthur Ashe stadium opened in 1997 and is the biggest tennis stadium in the world, housing 22,500 spectators. The stadium’s sheer size has posed the main obstacle to a roof in the past – the USTA previously stated a roof would be “technically complex and financially challenging”.

This year’s U.S. Open begins on 26 August, and the official final day falls on a Monday for the first time. This is unique amongst the four grand slam events, and the change has been criticised by the ATP, the men’s governing body.

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Bell Maintain Exclusive NFL Mobile Deal

canada viagra helvetica, buy sans-serif; font-size: 13px;”>BCE and Bell Canada have now finally settled their differences and upon further review Canada’s broadcast regulator has decided to drop its case against the broadcaster’s exclusive mobile deal with the National Football League.


BCE and its Bell Canada division were locked in a dispute with the CRTC over its deal with the football league, which allows it to exclusively offer games to its smartphone customers. The regulator ruled in December that BCE had gained an unfair advantage through the exclusive deal, and ordered it to make the games available to rival Telus Corp under “reasonable terms.”

 

It was also concerned about a similar deal BCE had with the National Hockey League, but the broadcaster renegotiated with the league in December and is now willing to share that content for the right price. Last month, however, it told the CRTC it couldn’t do the same with the NFL games because it wasn’t allowed to under its existing contract – something the league backed up with a sternly worded letter to the commission.

“The commission now has confirmation from the NFL that Bell has no right to sub-license the content at hand to a third-party mobile service provider,” CRTC secretary-general John Traversy wrote in a letter to BCE. “The commission also notes that the NFL has expressed opposition to amending the current agreement with Bell. In light of the circumstances, the commission is satisfied with Bell’s follow-up report.”

The company will continue to offer games to its smartphone users, and said when the contract comes up for renewal it would be open to a less exclusive agreement. The NFL, however, said it prefers to do one-on-one deals with broadcasters around the world.

Neither the NFL nor BCE would say when the contract expires.

“[We] engaged in a competitive bidding process for mobility rights in Canada that included several wireless providers in the market,” wrote Hans Schroeder, senior vice-president of media business strategy and development for the NFL. “It was our belief that this model, which is one we have used in countries throughout the world, is the best model for offering this set of rights in Canada.”

 

 

Edited By Marc Sibbons