Hong Kong to Host ‘biggest ever’ Rugby Sevens Tournament

The Hong Kong Rugby Football Union has launched the ‘biggest ever’ Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, with 28 teams competing in 70 matches over three days.

23 of the 28 teams will also compete in the men’s competition at the Rugby World Cup Sevens in Moscow in June.

Sixteen of the teams in Hong Kong (the current 15 core teams and Asian champions, Hong Kong) will compete in the main competition, while 12 regional qualifiers will look to keep alive their hopes of gaining core team status on the 2013/14 Series by finishing in the top four of their competition and book a place in the promotion / relegation play-off finale in London in May.

Of those 12 sides, Jamaica and Brazil will make their Hong Kong debuts.

Conor O’Malley, coach of Jamaica, said: “The excitement the guys shared with me when they heard that we were going to Hong Kong was that this is like their World Cup. And some of them even compared it with going to the Olympics, so it is really a big thing for them.

“We would normally have 17 players trying out for the team but this year we’ve had 37 wanting to be a part of this team. They are in good spirits and very excited to be here.”

As Asian champions, Hong Kong line up in the main 16-team competition with matches against Fiji, Canada and Spain. Their coach, Dai Rees, said: “It’s a fantastic opportunity for us and we are in with the big boys. It’s great for the local support and it’s great for Asian rugby.

“I was talking with Serevi recently and he told me it is the best time to get Fiji, first game. I’m not so sure about that, but we will be looking forward to it.

“They’ve only got three players who’ve played in Hong Kong before, so who knows?”

The news follows the announcement that the Hong Kong event will break broadcasting records for the tournament, with 144 countries broadcasting the event.

Sales Coordinator Manager – adidas

Location:  Mexico City, price sale Mexico

Closing Date: 2nd October

Purpose:

  • – To offer reliable, relevant and competitive service levels (according to Global best practice standards) to customers (Sales Departments) and smooth interaction with all Marketing Departments, while establishing the most effective and efficient framework for the Sales Coordination organization.
  • – To passionately lead the Sales Coordination organization in identifying, developing and implementing strategies for the profitable growth of the adidas Group brands.

Key Accountabilities:

  • – To ensure smooth interaction of all go-to-market functions and availability of key sales tools along the process.
  • – To establish an appropriate organizational framework for the Sales Coordination organization jointly with the Sales Director in line with the Global organizational blueprint.
  • – To ensure sales staff is enabled to apply best practice standards in daily work by ongoing know how availability and training.
  • – To ensure development, facilitate smooth operations and contribute to continuous improvement of Retail Space Management solutions.
  • – To ensure Visual Merchandising services are provided to all doors with Retail Space Management solutions.
  • – To ensure Technical Representative service is provided to all key retailers who sell technical products from the adidas group doors.
  • – To ensure transparency on excess inventories and allocation to Sales Departments with highest possible net sales and margins without disturbing regular distribution.
  • – To maximize net margin of remaining excess inventories foreseen for Clearance without disturbing regular distribution.
  • – To staff most suitable persons in direct report positions in alignment with the Director Sales and Director Human Resources.
  • – To lead team and foster performance culture within his team.
  • – To develop, train and retain key talents.
  • – To manage all reports as an integrated team by setting team objectives, targets and guidelines.
  • – To ensure smooth cooperation of all direct reports along all interfaces.
  • – To measure progress on defined KPIs.
  • – To monitor all reports.
  • – To monitor and report on customers and competitors sell-through and activities, and propose/initiate/take actions.
  • – Deliverables of sub functions OTIF (on-time in full).
  • How to Apply
  • Click HERE to apply

LG Electronics partner with Australian eSports team

LG Electronics Australia (LG) today announced its partnership with Dire Wolves, order a leading eSports team based in Australia.

As the official sponsors of Dire Wolves, unhealthy LG will arm Dire Wolves team members with a veritable arsenal of its latest premium monitors to use at upcoming competitions. The LG Dire Wolves will also be representing LG at PAX (Melbourne, vcialis 40mg 4th-6th November), an international exhibition show which brings in enthusiasts to professional gamers.

 Read more HERE.

Peter Nelson Lands Top Job at HBO Sports

HBO Sports has officially named Peter Nelson as executive vice president following the departure of Ken Hershman in October. 

The appointment represents a huge rise in the HBO Sports department for Nelson who joined HBO Sports in August 2011 as director of programming.

He will oversee the network’s boxing franchise as one of his key responsibilities.

Read more HERE.

Manchester City Record First Profit of Sheikh Mansour Era

English Premier League club Manchester City have reported a profit of £10.7m for the 2014/15 season. 

It is the club’s first profit since Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed took over in 2008.

The club posted a record annual revenue of £351.8m, with no financial debt.

Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak says the club are fulfilling the strategy set out by the owner when he took over which was “a strategy predicated on long-term sustainability and the ongoing development of momentum year after year.”

“Once again, the season saw the Club operating with zero financial debt,” said Mubarak.

“Our transition to profitability has been a long planned milestone – one targeted and worked diligently towards since His Highness Sheikh Mansour’s acquisition of the club in 2008. As a result, to put things in their simplest terms, we are now a profitable business with no debt and no outstanding restrictions.”

City CEO Ferran Soriano hailed the news as a “historical step” in the club’s journey, but says they are not happy about a season without trophies and wants to see the club adding silverware to the financial success off the pitch.

“These consistent results indicate we are doing a lot of things right, but they are not enough. We will never be happy about a season without trophies. The priority and the focus of our work is to convert more of these opportunities into titles in the years ahead.”

“The financial model and the strategic investment is proven to work. Manchester City is now a profitable, self-sustainable club competing at the highest level in world football.”

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New Partners and Sponsors are Signing up for HOST CITY 2015

The organisers of HOST CITY 2015 are delighted to see new partners and sponsors signing up for what is set to be the largest EU-based gathering of event destination markets, generic international federations, pills viagra event owners and rights holders, and suppliers.

In addition to HOST CITY 2015’s supporting partner, Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, new sponsors that have joined include World Wrestling Entertainment, Bern Tourism, Rock-it-Cargo and UK Trade & Investment – with more partners and sponsors coming soon.

HOST CITY 2015 creates a truly unique opportunity for the world’s leading hosting destinations to exhibit alongside the most attractive and lucrative events in the worlds of sports, business and culture.

The format of the conference and exhibition and the layout of the state-of-the-art Technology and Innovation Centre in Glasgow are optimised to create maximum opportunities for delegates to network with other senior attendees and engage with the event partners and sponsors at the numerous exhibition stands.

Rights holders will meet cities that are looking to host their events and build long term relationships. Hosting and bidding destinations will showcase the capabilities of their cities and venues to an audience of event owners.

The exhibition is built around a world class conference with an outstanding VIP speaker and panel debate programme. Recently confirmed speakers for HOST CITY 2015 include: Sir Craig Reedie, Vice President, IOC; Marisol Casado, President and IOC Member, International Triathlon Union; Dr Bridget McConnell CBE, Chief Executive, Glasgow Life; and Panos Protopsaltis, Director of Transport, Baku 2015.

They will be joined by leading figures from organisations including Viacom (MTV European Music Awards), European Commission (Capitals of Culture), BIE (World Expos), Commonwealth Games Federation; leading figures from the world’s greatest cities including Rio, Tokyo and Beijing; as well as world experts in the key industries of broadcasting, security and infrastructure.

PrivatAir and iSportconnect Extend Official Business Aviation Partnership for 2014

iSportconnect and PrivatAir have officially announced the extension of their current partnership, cialis which sees the Swiss-based aviation firm continue as iSportconnect’s Official Business Aviation Partner for the whole of 2014.

PrivatAir, order the leading business aviation company, generic offers a distinct tailor-made service and have over 35 years’ experience in the aviation sector. The firm prides themselves on the safety, reliability and discretion they offer to customers, who receive access to a full range of business jets around the globe.

The deal with iSportconnect, the world’s largest private network for sports executives, will build on the original partnership agreement that was established in June 2013. PrivatAir will benefit from high quality brand communications through the iSportconnect.com platform, a website that provides all the latest news, features and community discussions for sports business professionals. PrivatAir will also advertise at the renowned iSportconnect Directors’ Club event, where a distinguished panel of sports executives hold a Question Time style debate in front of other top-level business delegates. The partnership will also see iSportconnect provide business introductions for PrivatAir.

Sree Varma, CEO and Founder of iSportconnect said: “Our partnership with PrivatAir is a very strong one and I am delighted that we will continue to work together in 2014. PrivatAir provides a wonderful service to the business world and the extension of our relationship means iSportconnect can introduce them to more companies.”

Nathalie Beuchard, Director Charter Sales for PrivatAir added: “PrivatAir is very happy to remain as iSportconnect’s Official Business Aviation Partner. The first phase of our partnership has been productive and we are looking forward to taking it further in 2014.”

Also read: Populous, the World’s Leader in Stadia Design Partners with iSportconnect

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CFR Cluj Appoint KPMG to Attract New Investors

Romanian football club CFR Cluj have appointed KPMG to assist the club in finding new investors.

Current owner Árpád Pászkány has invested over €100m ($132m) since purchasing the team in 2001 and is now on the hunt for a financial partner to further bolster the team.

Pászkány has now asked KPMG’s Sports Advisory Services to help find the investment and he said: “Thanks to the participation in European level competitions and earnings achieved on player development and transfers, we run a profitable business.

“We got close to the European elite, and now we want to take a stable place amongst them. For that step, however, we need one more push.”

Andrea Sartori, the head of KPMG’s Sports Advisory Services, added: “The acquisition of a successful football club in an emerging market with a significantly lower barrier to entry, offers the opportunity to benefit from the exposure and earnings associated with the participation to European competitions – particularly the Champions League – at a much lower cost.”

Initial interest has already come in from China and the Middle East according to the KPMG statement.

Cheltenham Unveil £45 Million Development Plans

The Jockey Club have announced plans for a £45 million ($68.19m) major redevelopment of Cheltenham.

The proposals include building a new state-of-the-art grandstand, which would include annual members’ facilities, general public viewing areas, private boxes and Royal Box facilities, to replace the historic stands currently in place.

The main development is expected to begin after the 2014 Festival to be completed ahead of the 2016 Festival, subject to planning permission.

The plans also include improvements for owners and trainers, as well as enhancements to the customer experience, such as multi-tiered viewing of the parade ring and elevated walkways for improved accessibility.

The race programme at Cheltenham will be unaffected by the construction work.

Paul Fisher, Group Managing Director of Jockey Club Racecourses, said: “Cheltenham Racecourse is not only one of The Jockey Club’s crown jewels, we recognise it is the home of Jump racing and one of the great theatres in British sport. It is vital we continue to invest in its appeal, the experience it offers and its success, for the good of British racing.”

Head of Strategy – ECB

Location: London, denture UK
Closing Date: 13th September
Overview:
The ECB is building a new strategy team which will work across all aspects of the ECB’s business to provide strategic support to the Board, sale CEO and Leadership Team. The strategy team will act as an “internal consultancy” and the Head of Strategy will lead that team and be responsible for:
  • – providing strategic analysis and research to ensure that ECB’s Senior Management understands future trends and the changing market dynamics in sports, decease entertainment and media;
  • – strategic business planning to help set the ECB’s priorities and to monitor delivery against them;
  • – communicating the ECB’s strategy and priorities internally and externally;
  • – supporting the Chairman and CEO in delivering a more strategic approach to Board engagement, to help secure Board support for key plans; and
  • – undertaking bespoke strategic projects for the CEO and others and working with teams across the ECB to provide strategic insights and thinking to key projects.
The successful candidate will work with the ECB Leadership Team to ensure that the organisation is strategic in its approach and prioritises its activity effectively
.
Expertise
– This role requires the following skills:
  • – A minimum of five years working in corporate strategy or strategy consulting;
  • – A strong understanding of how the media, entertainment and sports industries operate;
  • – Proven track record of strategic thinking, planning and execution that has demonstrably had an impact;
  • – Strong analytical skills with the ability to assimilate complex information and extract relevant information from a variety of sources and synthesise into clear and concise analysis;
  • – The ability to work on a variety of projects and timelines simultaneously;
  • – Excellent written, powerpoint and excel skills;
  • – Passionate about working in sport with a good knowledge of the structures of cricket in the UK and internationally.
  • – The ability to push boundaries whilst working collaboratively and diplomatically with colleagues, building effective long-term working relationships.
– A passion for cricket is desirable, but not essential.
Impact and Influence
– This role will sit at the heart of the ECB’s work, influencing decisions made by the Board and Senior Executives. This will require the successful candidate to show:
  • – Strong inter-personal skills with the confidence to liaise with much more senior colleagues;
  • – Excellent communication and influencing skills, including influencing at senior levels of an organisation;
  • – Ability to exercise mature judgement;
  • 1 – the ability to work independently and to be a self-starter, showing both initiative and the the ability to see ideas through; and
  • 2- highly driven with a strong work ethic and the desire to be part of a fast paced dynamic environment.
3 -This is an exciting opportunity to be at the heart of the work of cricket’s National Governing Body as it looks to drive the growth and success of cricket in England and Wales.
How to Apply

Click to apply HERE