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  • Line Up Sports Media Entertainment is formally launched

    • Line Up is a consultancy business specialising in the sports, entertainment and media sector with particular emphasis on sport. Line Up was formed in 2010 by David McHugh and Maeve Buckley. In combining our talents, as well as our experience, commercial contacts and relationships, we feel we have developed a compelling business proposition. Line Up is based in Dublin, but with operational capacity in the UK. We have one person as an office-based support, and also work on a project basis where relevant with other industry experts. We thus ensure that we work with senior people, whose experience we know and value, and with whom we get along.

  • Line Up launches in UK and Ireland - Sport Business

    • Article on launch of company in Sports Business - see this link http://www.sportbusiness.com/news/182711/line-up-consultancy-launches-in-uk-and-ireland?utm_source=sbinsl&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=dec09

  • Aileen Morrison crowned Vodafone Triathlete of the Year

    • http://www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/athletics-morrison-sets-sights-on-london-2474917.html

  • Leinster Host Leicester, Ulster Face Northampton

    • The match-ups in this season's Heineken Cup quarter-finals were confirmed on Sunday evening, with Leinster set to host Leicester Tigers in a repeat of the 2009 final and Ulster facing a trip to Northampton Saints. Leinster, who topped Pool 2 and qualified as the second-ranked team overall, have met Leicester Tigers on ten previous occasions in the Heineken Cup. They have five wins each. The Blues got the upper hand when the sides clashed in the 2009 final at Murrayfield, with Jonathan Sexton's 70th-minute penalty steering them to a famous 19-16 win. Leicester, who currently top the Aviva Premiership, defeated Leinster in quarter-final ties in 2002 and 2005. For their first quarter-final since the 1998/99 season, Ulster will relish the task of going to Northampton to try and end Saints' unbeaten run in this season's competition. The reward for the winners of the Leinster v Leicester and Northampton v Ulster games is 'home country' advantage in the semi-finals. The draw for the semi-finals was made this evening. Northampton's squad includes ex-Ulster back rower Roger Wilson, whose side secured the number one seeding after London Wasps' dramatic round 6 win over defending champions Toulouse. The French giants are away to Biarritz Olympique in the last-eight, in what is a repeat of last season's final. Munster's conquerors, Toulon, will travel to Perpignan in the second all-French tie. The quarter-final matches will be played over the weekend of April 8 to 10. Meanwhile, Munster are one of the three Heineken Cup pool runners-up to qualify for the Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-finals. Tony McGahan's men are away to French side Brive in the knockout stages of European club rugby's second tier tournament. If they win that match, they will have a home semi-final against either Harlequins or London Wasps. Brive lost to Leinster home and away last season and are currently third-from-bottom in the Top 14 table. However, they did manage to go unbeaten during the pool stages of the Amlin Challenge Cup, claiming a notable double over Sale Sharks. The Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-finals will take place over the weekend of April 8 to 10. 2010/11 HEINEKEN CUP QUARTER-FINALS: Northampton Saints v ULSTER LEINSTER v Leicester Tigers Perpignan v Toulon Biarritz Olympique v Toulouse 2010/11 AMLIN CHALLENGE CUP QUARTER-FINALS: Stade Francais v Montpellier Brive v MUNSTER La Rochelle v Clermont Auvergne Harlequins v London Wasps

  • McFadden set for Six Nations call-up as injury crisis deepens

    • FERGUS McFADDEN is in line for a senior call-up ahead of next week's Six Nations opener against Italy as Ireland's injury crisis deepened yesterday. Three more players were ruled out of the early stages of the tournament yesterday, with prop John Hayes (groin), No 8 Jamie Heaslip (ankle) and winger Shane Horgan (knee) out of the Italy game and rated very doubtful for the following week's clash with France. Horgan's injury adds to coach Declan Kidney's back three concerns, with winger Andrew Trimble already ruled out with an arm injury, full-backs Rob Kearney and Geordan Murphy on the long-term casualty list and doubts over Tommy Bowe pending the results of a medical examination on a knee injury. It could open the door for the in-form McFadden, the centre who has excelled on the wing for Leinster this season and was deemed very unlucky not to make Kidney's senior squad last week. Instead, McFadden was included in the Wolfhounds squad to take on Scotland 'A' in Netherdale on Friday night and, whether he is withdrawn from that squad to train with the senior squad in Limerick or gets the chance to make a further impression, the 24-year-old looks poised to come into the equation. There are further concerns over Ulster hooker Rory Best and flanker Stephen Ferris, who are battling rib and knee injuries respectively, while Munster hooker Jerry Flannery had already been ruled out of the Italy and France games. "It may not look good, it's a few more injuries than we would have liked, but it's a chance for other guys," said Ireland defence coach Les Kiss.

  • Eurosport aces new Australian Open deal

    • Australian Open tennis action will remain on Eurosport for five more years after the broadcaster struck a new deal with Tennis Australia. The 2012 Australian Open will mark the beginning of a new agreement to carry the Grand Slam to more than 56 countries and 121 million homes across Europe. The deal will extend the pan-European broadcaster’s support of the tournament to more than two decades. “This new agreement ensures that viewers in Europe will continue enjoying live extensive coverage of the Australian Open for many years to come,” said Tennis Australia CEO Steve Wood. “Eurosport have once again shown their commitment to our tournament and together we will strive to raise the profile of tennis – both as a televised sport and by generating grassroots interest,” he added. Laurent-Eric Le Lay, Eurosport Group chairman and CEO, said: “Holding exclusive media rights for Europe, Eurosport will showcase this premium event on Eurosport, Eurosport 2 and HD versions. Multi-court service will be further developed on the Eurosport.com network and its mobile services.” This year’s Australian Open concluded on Sunday with Novak Djokovic beating Andy Murray in straight sets in the men’s final.

  • Lee Byrne to sign three-year Clermont Auvergne contract

    • Wales full-back Lee Byrne will sign a three-year deal with Clermont Auvergne at the end of the season. Byrne had a year to run on his Ospreys deal but the region will get compensation from Clermont. The Byrne move comes less than a week after fellow Osprey James Hook also announced a move to France - signing a three-year contract with Perpignan. Along with Gavin Henson (Saracens) it now means three Lions backs have left or are leaving the Liberty Stadium. But the Ospreys had indicated they would be open to offers for the 30-year-old. Asked in January if the Ospreys would be prepared to let Byrne leave, the region's coaching director Scott Johnson admitted: "We'd have to look at it. "We don't get him for the large part of next year anyway with the World Cup." Although Byrne will be a loss, he has not been in his best form since returning from a broken thumb sustained playing for Wales in the autumn internationals and is set to lose the Wales number 15 jersey to Hook for the Six Nations opener against England on Friday, 4 February. The Ospreys do have full-back cover. The experienced Barry Davies has worn the number 15 shirt in Byrne's absence, and Gareth Owen has been tipped as a potential star of the future. Byrne joined the Ospreys from close rivals Llanelli Scarlets in 2006 and signed a new four-year contract at the Liberty Stadium in 2008. -Taken from BBC.co.uk

  • OCI scholarship adds value to Aileen Morrison's programme

    • Irish Triathlete Aileen Morrison was in Olympic House to discuss her Olympic Scholarship for London 2012. Aileen has emerged as Triathlon Ireland's most exciting London 2012 Olympics prospect after a number of excellent results in 2010. Her 5th place on home soil at the Waterways Ireland ITU European Championships in Athlone was the best result ever by an Irish triathlete. Aileen is pictured with Martin Burke OCI sports director who manages the programme. In round 5 of the 2010 ITU World Championship Series in Hamburg Aileen claimed a bronze medal, finishing just seconds behind Sweden's Lisa Nordern and Australia's Emma Moffatt. The result is the greatest achievement by an Irish triathlete to date. A Derry girl, who was discovered within the Triathlon Ireland Age Group racing scene, Aileen trains in Lisburn, is coached by Chris Jones and works very closely with the staff of the Sports Institute of Northern Ireland. Aileen receives athlete funding from Sport Northern Ireland and the Irish Sports Council but the scholarship will allow her to add value to her programme and qualification for the Olympic Games in London. The OQS process for Triathlon means that Aileen has to use the best 14 results from the world championship series of races between- June 2010- 31st May 2012. Therefore Aileen has to travel extensively to competitions around the world at great expense Chris Jones Performance Director Triathlon Ireland believes is responsible for the Triathlon programme, with Aileen being the sports highest ranked athlete.

  • FIFA upholds bans on disgraced duo

    • FIFA's appeals committee has upheld bans on Amos Adamu and Reynald Temarii, two executive committee members who were suspended in the wake of a newspaper sting ahead of December’s World Cup vote. Nigeria's Amos Adamu had appealed against a three-year ban imposed for corruption while Reynald Temarii, from Tahiti, had contested a one-year ban. Both were implicated in a Sunday Times investigation ahead of December 2, when Russia was selected as the host of the 2018 World Cup and Russia was awarded the hosting rights for the 2022 tournament. “The FIFA Appeal Committee, under the chairmanship of judge Larry Mussenden (Bermuda), has confirmed the decisions taken by the ethics committee on 17 November 2010 regarding the bans on Reynald Temarii and Amos Adamu – who were at the time FIFA vice-president and FIFA executive committee member – for a breach of the FIFA code of ethics,” read a statement from FIFA. Three former FIFA ethics committee members – Slim Aloulou, Amadou Diakite and Ahongalu Fusimalohi – also had their suspensions reduced but the decisions upheld.

  • Super Bowl smashes US TV records

    • For the second year in a row, the National Football League (NFL) Super Bowl has set an all-time record for a TV audience in the United States. With an average of 111 million viewers, Fox's broadcast of Super Bowl XLV on Sunday between the Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers became the most-watched show in US television history. The Packers’ 31-25 victory surpassed last year's Super Bowl, which pulled in 106.5 million viewers and eclipsed the series finale of M*A*S*H, which drew 106 million in 1983 and established a record that stood for nearly three decades. The 46.0 rating was equal to Super Bowl XXX as the highest-rated NFL title game since Super Bowl XX (48.3), while the total number of viewers over the age of two years old was 162.9 million. The record viewing figures were registered for a game that could be the last one for the foreseeable future, if current discussions over a new collective bargaining agreement fail to prevent a lockout. Meanwhile the NFL has admitted that it knew last week there were problems with the installation of temporary Super Bowl seating sections at Cowboys Stadium, but “just ran out of time” to fix them. Four hundred people were forced to give up their seats on Sunday due to the problem, but the NFL has already said it would offer those unlucky fans refunds of triple the face value of their tickets.

  • J.P. Morgan seals Premiership Rugby partnership

    • J.P. Morgan Asset Management has signed up with Premiership Rugby to act as a new commercial partner of the league’s 12 clubs. The sponsorship, which will run until the end of the 2012-13 campaign, has been unveiled after the asset manager’s successful first year of supporting the Premiership Rugby 7s Series, a summer tournament involving the 12 Premiership Rugby clubs. The new partnership includes commercial rights to a groundbreaking new grassroots 7s cup for under-14s and also sees the continued sponsorship through to 2013 of the Premiership Rugby 7s Series. “J.P. Morgan Asset Management has proved to be a fantastic sponsor and supporter of our new Premiership Rugby 7s tournament which has given fans the opportunity to see some fast running rugby entertainment and experience the party atmosphere of 7s combined with the quality of Premiership Rugby talent on four Fridays in the summer,” said Jon Varney, Premiership Rugby’s commercial director. Roger Thompson, J.P. Morgan Asset Management’s head of UK, added: “We believe that our extended partnership not only strengthens our involvement with sevens rugby in the UK but also acts as a platform to engage with rugby fans.”

  • Adidas to continue kitting out Spain

    • Adidas has extended its kit partnership with the defending UEFA Euro 2008 and 2010 FIFA World Cup winning Spanish national football team through to December 2018. The sportswear giant sealed the extension ahead of schedule, with the existing agreement due to run until the end of 2014. The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and Adidas have been partners for the past 30 years. “We are very proud and excited to announce the extension of our successful partnership with the RFEF,” said Adidas CEO Herbert Hainer. “Adidas is the global leader in football and Spain is currently the strongest team in the world which makes this partnership a perfect fit.” RFEF president Angel Maria Villar added: “This agreement allows us to count on the support of Adidas, which is without doubt the leading football brand. We are going to continue our partnership with them to support the world of football in every aspect.” Adidas is already the official sponsor, supplier and licensee of the FIFA World Cup. Source: sportbusiness.com

  • West Ham wins Olympic Stadium race

    • West Ham United is set to be confirmed on Friday as the preferred bidder to take over the London 2012 Olympic Stadium, according to the BBC. Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) executives have reportedly decided that the offer from West Ham, which pledged to retain the stadium’s running track, is a better solution than the rival bid from Tottenham Hotspur. An OPLC board meeting will take place on Friday, and if West Ham’s selection as preferred bidder is ratified, the proposal will then pass to London Mayor Boris Johnson and government ministers Jeremy Hunt and Eric Pickles for ratification. London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe is among those who have called for the running track to be maintained in line with promises made to the International Olympic Committee back in 2005, when London secured the Games rights. Earlier on Wednesday, Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) president and CEO Tim Leiweke claimed that West Ham’s plans would leave the stadium “broke in 10 years”. AEG has backed Tottenham’s proposal to demolish the stadium and build a football-specific venue on the same site. In an effort to fulfil a commitment to ensuring an athletics legacy in London, Tottenham and AEG also pledged to revamp the Crystal Palace athletics stadium. Leiweke also confirmed that AEG-owned Major League Soccer franchise the Los Angeles Galaxy is in the process of forming a strategic alliance with Tottenham. “We have an existing relationship now with Tottenham where we are beginning to think outside the box on football and how we do things together in football,” he said. Source - sportbusiness.com

  • FA announces Twitter crackdown

    • Players have been warned by the Football Association (FA) in England that the governing body will crack down on improper comments on Twitter and other social networking sites. Ryan Babel last month became the first player to be punished for comments made on Twitter when he was fined £10,000 for posting a mocked-up picture of referee Howard Webb wearing a Manchester United shirt after his team, Liverpool, lost at Old Trafford in the FA Cup. Babel has since moved on to Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga. “The FA has issued clarification to participants relating to the use of social networking sites, including, but not limited to Twitter, Facebook and internet blogs,” read a statement from the FA. “Participants should be aware that comments made on such sites may be considered public comment, and that further to FA Rule E3, any comments which are deemed improper, bring the game into disrepute, or are threatening, abusive, indecent or insulting may lead to disciplinary action.” The statement added: “Comments which are personal in nature or could be construed as offensive, use foul language or contain direct or indirect threats aimed at other participants are likely to be considered improper.” Players have also been warned that although they may believe their postings are only visible to selected people, they could still end up in the public domain. “Consequently, care should be exercised with regards to the contents of such postings,” the statement added. “In addition, we would remind participants that social networking postings could also lead to civil proceedings being brought by affected parties.” Source - SportBusiness.com

  • IOC inspection team lands in PyeongChang

    • International Olympic Committee (IOC) inspectors arrived in PyeongChang on Monday to continue their tour of the candidate cities in the race to host the 2018 Winter Olympic Games. Having moved on from Annecy in France, the IOC will carry out an inspection of the South Korea city’s facilities before heading to Munich in Germany next week. PyeongChang missed out in the tenders for the 2010 and 2014 Winter Games, but Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Choung Byoung-gug believes the city will have learned from the previous setbacks. “The government will provide full support for PyeongChang to succeed in its third attempt,” Choung told The Korea Times. “The past two failures will serve as a good basis in fully preparing for the inspection, and we will make sure we win the bid this time.” Gunilla Lindberg of Sweden, who is leading the 14-person IOC delegation, praised Annecy’s bid at the weekend. “I think the bid committee of Annecy has listened to the comments from the IOC that were made in June and it has been a big improvement of the bid, especially in not having so many competitions venues as it was proposed,” Lindberg said. Annecy’s new bid CEO Charles Beigbeder, who was installed in January, added: “The IOC's call on June 22 resonated in our valleys and mountains. We had to change or go home. In our mountain culture, we don't give up. We stayed and changed lots of things.” Source - Sport Business

  • London Olympic schedule unveiled

    • The 17-day event schedule for the London 2012 Olympics has been revealed by organisers of the Games ahead of the start of ticket sales on March 15. Sunday, August 5 promises to be the most exciting day of the Games, with the 100m athletics final, marathon and 400m final taking place. The first action will be women's football in Cardiff, Glasgow and Coventry on July 27, two days before the official opening of the Games. Prepared over two years and co-ordinated with the International Olympic Committee and international federations, the 44-page schedule covers all 26 Games sports and more than 640 sessions and will be e-mailed to the 2.2 million people who registered with London 2012 for ticket information. Tickets begin at £20, while the top tickets for the opening ceremony will cost £2,012. A total of 6.6 million tickets will be on sale for a six-week period from March 15. Tickets for the Paralympic Games, which follow the Olympics, will go on sale on September 9. “Families up and down the country can now plan their summer of 2012,” said London organising committee chairman Sebastian Coe. “The schedule showcases brilliant and exciting sport every single day, over 19 days, with 302 medals on offer.”

  • Bahrain officials vow to deliver safe Grand Prix

    • Bahrain Grand Prix officials have pledged to deliver a safe race next month despite fears from Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone about growing unrest in the country. Bahrain International Circuit CEO Sheikh Salman bin Isa Al Khalifa vowed to do everything possible to ensure the event goes ahead as planned from March 11-13 after at least two protesters died in anti-government protests. “The safety of all Bahraini nationals, expats and overseas visitors is a priority at all times in the kingdom and, at the Bahrain International Circuit, our focus at the present time is on delivering another successful event in the form of the Bahrain Grand Prix,” said Al Khalifa. “We are monitoring the situation very closely indeed in association with the relevant authorities, and will respond appropriately to any further developments,” he added. Expressing his fears, Ecclestone said: “The danger is obvious isn't it? If these people wanted to make a fuss and get worldwide recognition it would be easy, wouldn't it? You start making a problem on the start grid in Bahrain and it would get worldwide coverage.”

  • ECJ protects ‘crown jewels’ sporting lists

    • The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has ruled that European Union states are allowed to reserve major sporting events such as the FIFA World Cup for free-to-air viewing on a so-called ‘crown jewels’ list. On Thursday, the ECJ upheld the European Commission's decision to approve a request from the UK and Belgium to ensure World Cup matches are blocked from being snapped up by pay-TV platforms. The UK had also asked for broadcasts of the UEFA European Championships to be protected under the same legislation. EU rules allow member states to prohibit the exclusive broadcasting of events they judge to be of major importance to society, and the ECJ ruled that these major football competitions fall into that category, despite challenges from FIFA and UEFA. “In those circumstances, the Court holds that the Commission did not err in finding that the United Kingdom's categorisation of all World Cup and Euro matches and Belgium's categorisation of all World Cup matches as 'events of major importance' for their societies are compatible with European Union law,” the court stated. In a statement, UEFA said: “UEFA is disappointed to learn about today's judgement by the General Court of the European Union. UEFA will now study the decision in detail in order to decide on next steps.” A European Commission spokeswoman claimed that several other countries had drawn up similar lists of games they wanted to reserve for free-to-air television, including Austria, Finland, France, Germany and the Republic of Ireland. Such an approach is also already used in Australia, which recently adopted a new ‘anti-siphoning’ list to prevent pay-TV broadcasters from acquiring exclusive rights to certain sporting events. Source - Sport Business

  • TVE and TV3 renew Champions League rights

    • TVE and TV3 have renewed a deal to carry UEFA Champions League action in Spain from 2012-15. State broadcaster TVE and TV3, a regional public network in Catalunya, tabled a joint bid for the free-to-air rights in Spain after Digital+ acquired the pay-TV Champions League package for the same three seasons. The free-to-air rights comprise the 16 first-choice live matches on Tuesdays as well as the UEFA magazine programme and highlights on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. TVE's website, www.rtve.es, and TV3's www.tv3.cat and www.esport3.cat online platforms will also be able to air action. "In the current rights cycle, both TVE and TV3 have shown commitment to elevate the UEFA Champions League's position even further as forerunner in club football worldwide," said UEFA Events marketing director Guy-Laurent Epstein. "We are pleased to continue our relationship with both broadcasters for the UEFA Champions League," he added. "The high quality of their programming will ensure that Spanish fans will continue to enjoy watching the top European teams competing on the highest footballing stage." Source - Sport Business

  • Political instability costs Bahrain F1 opener

    • The opening Grand Prix of the Formula One season in Bahrain has been called off after a wave of anti-government protests in the country forced Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa to forfeit the hosting rights to the event. F1 rights holder Bernie Ecclestone admitted last week that the race scheduled for March 13 was in doubt after mainly Shi'ite protesters took to the streets of the capital of Manama to demand political reform. Following Crown Prince Salman’s announcement on Monday, Ecclestone said that no decision had been made on whether the race could be staged later in the year, but the opening Grand Prix of the campaign will now take place on March 27 in Melbourne, Australia. “At the present time the country's entire attention is focused on building a new national dialogue for Bahrain,” read a statement from Crown Prince Salman. “After the events of the past week, our nation's priority is on overcoming tragedy, healing divisions and rediscovering the fabric that draws this country together.” He continued: “I would like to extend my personal gratitude to Bernie Ecclestone for his support and understanding”. Ecclestone said it was “sad” that Bahrain had withdrawn from the race, but added: “We wish the whole nation well as they begin to heal their country. We look forward to being back in Bahrain soon.” Bahrain has hosted Formula One races since 2004 at a state-of-the-art US$150 million circuit in the desert south of Manama. It remains unclear whether Bahrain will host a race this season, but the scheduling could be difficult as the packed 2011 calendar had originally been expanded to a record number of 20 races. Source - Sport News

  • NHL toasts new beer sponsor in record deal

    • The National Hockey League (NHL) has announced a record seven-year sponsorship agreement with SABMiller’s MillerCoors and Molson Coors subsidiaries in the United States and Canada, respectively. Under the terms of the deal, reportedly worth US$375 million, SABMiller has acquired exclusive association rights in the NHL’s beer category, starting with the 2011-12 season. While Molson Canadian will be the lead brand on the NHL alliance in both countries, Coors Light will share some of the sponsorship assets in the US and Canada. The deal means that Anheuser-Busch and Labatt’s will see their respective agreements in the US and Canada come to an end in June. In the National Football League (NFL), MillerCoors was replaced as the official beer sponsor by Anheuser-Busch’s Bud Light last May. “This partnership with Molson Coors and MillerCoors will be groundbreaking for the NHL and our fans,” said John Collins, the NHL’s chief operating officer. “Molson Canadian is an iconic brand with a rich hockey heritage and Coors Light has a track record of connecting with sports fans in innovative and effective ways.” Collins added: “The combination of unprecedented support of our clubs and TV rights-holders with activation across the NHL's comprehensive portfolio of marketing and media assets will create great opportunities for both brands.” In addition to becoming the official beer sponsor of the NHL, Molson Canadian will gain the same distinction for key League events such as the NHL Face-Off, NHL Winter Classic, NHL Heritage Classic and NHL All-Star. Source - Sport Business

  • Bwin’s Real sponsorship comes under attack

    • Spanish bingo hall, casino and betting outlet operator Codere has gone to court to challenge Real Madrid’s shirt sponsorship deal with online gaming giant Bwin. Codere is raising a claim at the Madrid Commercial Court that Bwin’s advertising contravenes competition laws in the country. Codere’s claim has stated that “Bwin carries out unfair advertising, competing unfairly in Spain with authorised operators such as Codere”. Bwin's name first appeared on Real's shirt at the start of the 2007-08 season, and in 2009 the two parties agreed an extension through to 2013 reportedly worth in excess of Eur20 million per year. Online betting companies that have struck shirt sponsorship deals have run into opposition in several European countries in recent years, including France and Germany, although the legislation against such firms is gradually being relaxed. “Authorised gambling operators in Spain are not permitted to advertise or may only do so subject to stringent restrictions and after obtaining authorisation from the authority,” read a statement from Codere. “Neither are authorised operators able to operate games through the internet, although they have the necessary technology and expertise to do so, since these games are prohibited in Spain and in some cases may be activities liable for prosecution in the context of criminal law,” the statement added. Source - Sport Business

  • Iran in London Games boycott threat over logo

    • Iran has threatened to boycott the London 2012 Olympics after claiming the Games' logo is “racist”. Bahram Afsharzadeh, the secretary general of Iran's National Olympic Committee sent a letter to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) claiming that the emblem resembles the word ‘Zion’ – a biblical term for Jerusalem. The letter also urged other Muslim states to oppose the “racist logo”, but a statement from the IOC said: “The London 2012 logo represents the figure 2012, nothing else.” Afsharzadeh, in his letter to IOC president Jacques Rogge, stated: “There is no doubt that negligence of the issue from your side may affect the presence of some countries in the games, especially Iran which abides by commitment to the values and principles.” A statement from the London Organising Committee (LOCOG) said: “(The logo) was launched in 2007 following testing and consultation. We are surprised that this complaint has been made now.” Source - Sport Business

  • MyVideoRights scores Premiership Rugby deal

    • Premiership Rugby, the top flight of rugby union in England, has sealed a licensing agreement with digital rights management agency MyVideoRights. The deal gives MyVideoRights the distribution rights for Premiership Rugby’s content as well as the opportunity to generate advertiser-funded revenues from social media platforms including YouTube, DailyMotion and Metacafe. The agreement has also seen Premiership Rugby licence to MyVideoRights the “Aviva Behind the Badge” weekly online show as well as weekly highlights and archive footage. Additionally, under the terms of the contract, MyVideoRights will be responsible for controlling unauthorised use of Premiership Rugby content on these sites. “Many of our fans are logging onto a wide range of social media sites, such as YouTube, to watch rugby, so we’re pleased to enter into this innovative partnership with MyVideoRights to provide consumers with our legitimate, high quality coverage,” said Premiership Rugby commercial director Jon Varney. MyVideoRights CEO Ashley MacKenzie added: “Social media platforms are delivering the vast majority of video views today and are increasingly responsible for generating video viewing on owned and operated websites. It makes clear commercial sense for rights holders to put their content where the audience and fans are.” Source - Sport Business

  • Wimbledon to undergo 3D revolution

    • The climax of this year’s Wimbledon Championships will be broadcast live in 3D to selected cinemas around the world for the first time, it has been announced. The All England Club, which organises the tennis grand slam, has struck a “multi-year” deal with Sony to air the men’s semi-finals as well as the finals in both the men’s and women’s tournaments. The 3D coverage will be produced in partnership with the BBC, the host broadcaster of the tournament, and will also be offered to international broadcasters. Sony will also work with theatrical distribution partner SuperVision Media to take the action into cinemas. “Wimbledon is renowned for its heritage and sense of tradition,” said All England Club CEO Ian Ritchie, who said the deal would be particularly useful for engaging younger audiences. “At the same time we are always looking for ways to improve the presentation of The Championships by successfully blending that tradition with innovation.” Sony Europe president Fujio Nishida added: “With the Live 3D Wimbledon experience available in hundreds of 3D cinemas across the world, many more people will be able to enjoy one of the world’s most iconic sporting events as though they were actually at Wimbledon.” Source - Sport Business

  • Bahrain set May 1 deadline to confirm F1 grand prix plans

    • Organisers of the postponed Bahrain Formula One grand prix have been given until May 1 to decide whether or not they will be able to stage the race later in the 2011 calendar. The season-opening race was originally scheduled to take place this coming Sunday, but the Kingdom of Bahrain last month withdrew from hosting the opening round due to the instability caused by a political uprising in the country. The opening race of the campaign will now take place on March 27 in Melbourne, Australia. However, following a meeting of the World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) in Paris on Tuesday, motorsport’s governing body, the FIA, released a statement to confirm that the Bahrain Motor Federation has been instructed “to communicate by May 1 at the latest if the Bahrain Grand Prix can be organised in 2011”. Formula One Management (FOM) chief executive officer Bernie Ecclestone has previously indicated his willingness to seek a new date for the Bahrain race, and last week he said: “If they want the race then we want to be able to supply it for them. If there is peace in Bahrain, we will be there.” A release on the FOM website stated: “On May 1 Bahrain’s Crown Prince – HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa – is expected to inform the FIA about the possibility of hosting a race in the country, and then together with Formula One Management, the FIA will make a final decision about a new slot for the race during the 2011 season.” The statement added: “Formula One group CEO Bernie Ecclestone had hoped a new date could be settled on before the season got underway, but given the circumstances, it was mutually agreed that a final decision would be made in May.” Source - Sport Business

  • Tweet nothings players barred from twitter

    • RUGBY: THE IRELAND rugby players have been instructed not to post messages on social media sites like Twitter before tomorrow’s Six Nations showdown with Wales, writes John Harrington. They’ve also been told they can’t engage with their online “followers” in the 24 hours after the match either. The decision comes after a number of players, including Jamie Heaslip and Cian Healy, had testy exchanges on Twitter with critical Irish fans after the narrow victory over Scotland. Brian O’Driscoll caused a bit of a stir too when he posted a message one fan had sent him telling him he should retire from the game gracefully, but now all such exchanges have been banned. “The squad has agreed not to tweet around match time,” confirmed team manager Paul McNaughton yesterday. “We haven’t banned tweeting generally, but around match time the squad have agreed to extend the period of time when there will be no tweeting. “We don’t see it as a big issue, but there was a lot made of some of the correspondence between some of the players and some of their followers. “We are developing the policy anyway because it will have to be a fairly rigid one in terms of the World Cup. Not so much in what they say to fans but in terms of commercial arrangements.” Source - Irish Times

  • Key highlights Rugby World Cup contingency plans

    • New Zealand Prime Minister John Key has suggested that Auckland and Dunedin could host more Rugby World Cup matches if earthquake-hit Christchurch is unable to stage games. Last week New Zealand Rugby World Cup Minister Murray McCully revealed that AMI Stadium in Christchurch had suffered significant damage in the February 22 disaster, while the city’s infrastructure has been devastated by the quake. The final decision on Christchurch’s involvement in this year’s competition lies with International Rugby Board (IRB). Reports emerged over the weekend that the IRB was likely to move matches from Christchurch to Auckland, but Key told The Press that no decisions have been made, although he predicted a decision on the matter “within the next 10 days if not sooner”. "Certainly, if we have to go to plan B there are alternatives in New Zealand,” said Key. “I don't think there is any need for us to consider games outside New Zealand.” He added: “We've had offers from Australia to host games, but I can't see why that would be necessary. Quarter-finals are only being played at this point in Christchurch and Wellington so there are alternatives in both Auckland and Dunedin. Dunedin has some logistical issues in terms of accommodation issues down there but it's still a possibility.” Source - Sport Business

  • Christchurch loses Rugby World Cup matches

    • Seven Rugby World Cup matches scheduled for Christchurch will have to be relocated to other venues in New Zealand after February’s devastating earthquake, organisers of the tournament confirmed on Wednesday. AMI Stadium in Christchurch was slated to host two quarter-finals plus five pool matches, but a report stated that there could be no guarantees that repairs to the venue and the city’s infrastructure would be finished by the start of the competition in September. The quarter-finals will be switched to Eden Park in Auckland, but it has not yet been decided which venues will host the group matches. Dunedin, Nelson and Invercargill are in the running to stage the relocated games, but two of the fixtures could end up taking place on the North Island. “Yesterday we were informed by Stadium Christchurch operator VBase that it could not guarantee that the extensive repairs required could be completed in time,” said International Rugby Board chairman Bernard Lapasset. “That information, coupled with a thorough review of every aspect of hosting the 2011 Rugby World Cup in the city, means that tournament partners have been left with no choice but to make the difficult decision to reallocate the seven matches due to be played in Christchurch,” he added. New Zealand's Rugby World Cup Minister, Murray McCully, added: “There is also the risk of new testing exposing fresh problems and causing further delays. While complete turf replacement is required, it is theoretically possible in a six-month period. (However) the risks are relatively high, especially if there is damage to the complex drainage of storm-water systems underneath the turf.” Source - Sport Business

  • Argentina and Uruguay target centenary World Cup

    • The governments of Argentina and Uruguay have confirmed that they will support a joint bid for the 2030 FIFA World Cup. A bid from the two countries has long been on the cards and has the emotive pull of coinciding with the centenary of Uruguay’s staging of the inaugural World Cup in 1930, a tournament the host nation won by defeating Argentina 4-2. Argentina also triumphed on home soil in 1978 and the Foreign Ministers of both countries have now placed their full support behind a tilt at 2030. “We have agreed to set up a bi-national committee to support the initiative together with the national football associations to promote the candidature of Argentina and Uruguay for the 2030 World Cup," said Argentina's Foreign Minister Hector Timerman, in quotes reported by Reuters. Argentina Football Association president Julio Grondona has welcomed the news, but has warned that the financial considerations of staging a World Cup would need to be studied carefully. “I believe that we can be well-placed to host it, we will just have to see what demands are put on us," Grondona told Argentine newspaper La Nacion. "We would not hold a tournament which will enslave our country. If the demands are more than we can meet, it is best not to go through with it.” Source - Sport Business

  • UEFA to centralise TV rights as Platini secures second term

    • Michel Platini hailed UEFA’s centralisation of media rights for national team matches after securing his second term as the president of European football’s governing body on Tuesday. The former France captain and coach became UEFA president in 2007 after beating Sweden's Lennart Johansson in a bitter election contest. His confirmation as the head of European football through to 2015 came as little surprise following December’s announcement that he would stand unopposed. Speaking at the UEFA Congress in Paris, Platini stated he would not rest on his laurels in his promotion of the European game, adding that the fight against crowd violence and match-fixing and the implementation of the financial fair play regulations would also be high on his agenda. However, in the most significant announcement from Tuesday’s Congress, the UEFA chief outlined that the first element of his drive to promote national team football would be the centralised sales of media rights for the qualifying matches of national team competitions. Platini stated that all 53 UEFA member associations have now signed a mandate to implement centralisation, adding that the move would benefit the smaller nations. He said: “I believe in this centralisation project because it is a football project, not a commercial one. It is a project aimed, above all, at protecting and developing national team football. What is more, the knock-on effect will be guaranteed revenue for each association.” In another eye-catching development, Platini announced that the UEFA Executive Committee will invite a woman to participate in its future meetings, in order to promote female presence within football organisations. Platini said: “Women have a lot to offer to the development of the game and it is a first step towards a better representation in decision-making bodies.” Source - Sport Business

  • IMG in boxing legend Ali’s corner

    • Muhammad Ali Enterprises (MAE), which represents the commercial portfolio of the legendary heavyweight boxer, has announced a multi-year agreement with IMG Licensing. The licensing arm of global sports, fashion and media giant IMG Worldwide, will act as the exclusive representative of the former fighter’s brand in Europe and Asia. “IMG Licensing is honoured to be entering into this partnership with MAE,” said Bruno Maglione, executive vice-president and global managing director of IMG Licensing. “Ali’s inspiring personal journey, his achievements both in and out of the ring and his devotion to humanitarian efforts are all material for branded concepts and product ideas,” added Maglione. Ali, widely considered to be the finest boxer of all-time, has undertaken many fundraising missions to raise food and medical supplies to millions of people in recent years. Kelly Hill, vice-president of licensing for MAE, added: “IMG is clearly the leader in sports licensing of all kinds, but what attracted us most is their proven track record in developing new and innovative licensing concepts that leverage the characteristics of brands and iconic personalities outside of the natural core competency.” Source - Sport Business

  • Etihad scores sponsorship extension with Harlequins

    • Etihad Airways has signed a three-year extension of its sponsorship deal with London rugby union club Harlequins, prolonging the relationship through to June 2014. The partnership with the Aviva Premiership team began in 2007 and was extended for a further year after the initial three-year contract ended. Under the terms of the deal, the Abu Dhabi-based airline’s logo will remain on the front of the team’s shirt while the East Stand of the Twickenham Stoop will continue to be called the Etihad Stand. Etihad Airways CEO James Hogan welcomed the extension, saying that the partnership “has exceeded expectations and provided both parties with fantastic brand exposure on a global level”. He added: “We look forward to hosting more community events in the coming three years and welcoming the Quins’ playing and coaching staff back to Etihad’s home base of Abu Dhabi.” Harlequins CEO Mark Evans said: “Our relationship with Etihad Airways has been an excellent one for the last four years and we are delighted to have secured the airline’s support going forward for the next three seasons.” Source - Sport Business

  • Microsoft unveiled as Rugby World Cup sponsor

    • Microsoft New Zealand has been unveiled as an official sponsor of the Rugby World Cup later this year. Under the terms of the deal, Microsoft’s software and cloud product services, such as Windows 7, Microsoft Office 2010, Windows Server, SQL Server, SharePoint Server and SharePoint Online, will be available to the tournament’s key stakeholders. Microsoft Silverlight technology will also offer a content distribution system for fans watching online. Other official sponsors of the tournament include Brancott Estate, Toshiba and Land Rover while Emirates Airline, MasterCard, Heineken, ANZ, DHL and Société Générale are worldwide partners. The competition will run from September 9 to October 23 in New Zealand. “The appointment of a world leader in the software and technology field further underlines the enormous attraction and prestige of the tournament in the global sporting calendar,” said Bernard Lapasset, chairman of Rugby World Cup Limited and president of the International Rugby Board. Paul Muckleston, managing director of Microsoft New Zealand, added: “Rugby World Cup 2011 is set to be the biggest international sporting event in New Zealand’s history, from both an economic and tourism point of view. The number of international visitors anticipated to attend the tournament means as Kiwis this is our chance to showcase our country. Microsoft is very proud and excited to be involved.” Source - Sport Business

  • Rio 2016 launches ceremonies tender

    • The organising committee for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro has launched a tender to recruit a company that will be responsible for delivering the opening and closing ceremonies at the Games. Rio 2016, which says it is looking "to hire a mega-events production company" through the international selection process, has invited bidders with experience of previous Olympics to register on the official Games website, www.rio2016.com. The chosen production company will also be involved in delivering events at the Olympics' "live sites" in Brazil and at 15 international locations, the Olympic and Paralympic Torch Relay, the medal ceremonies, the reception of the delegations at the Olympic and Paralympic Villages and the sports presentations during the Rio 2016 Games. However, the "creative aspects" of the ceremonies and other large-scale public events during the Games will be restricted to Brazilian talent that will be identified in a future selection process, according to Rio 2016. The selection process will be open to Brazilian and international bidders and the establishment of consortia will be allowed to enable two or more companies to combine their qualifications in order to meet the criteria. Rio 2016 also stated that the winning bid would be required to establish a branch office in Brazil and assure professional qualification and development of Brazilian talent as a legacy of the Games. "The ceremonies will convey images of Brazil that will be remembered forever all around the world, and it is critical to partner with a top level organisation in their production," said Leonardo Gryner, CEO of the Rio 2016 organising committee. "This is why we will select highly qualified suppliers, and work with the best Brazilian and international professionals." Source - Sport Business

  • Aileen Morrison wins European triathlon event in Turkey

    • Northern Ireland Olympic hopeful Aileen Morrison has won the ETU European Cup triathlon in Antalya, Turkey. The Derry woman, who is currently 21st in the world rankings, saw off runner-up Mateja Simic of Slovenia and Germany's Anne Haug. Morrison led the swim and biked in the lead pack and then kicked, along with Simic, from the lead group with about two kilometres to go in the run. The Irish competitor beat her Slovenian rival in the sprint for the tape. Morrison won Ireland's first triathlon medal at the World Championships in Hamburg last year when she took bronze. This was Morrison's first event of 2011 and she is due to race again in the ITU World Cup event in Japan on 17 April.

  • ICC cuts Cricket World Cup to 10 teams

    • The International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed on Monday that its showpiece tournament would be reduced in size from 14 teams to 10 from 2015, with smaller cricketing nations set to miss out on a place at the Cricket World Cup. The ICC has announced that associate nations – such as Kenya, Canada, Ireland and the Netherlands – will not be involved in the 2015 or 2019 editions of the Cricket World Cup, with the tournament reserved for the ICC’s 10 full members. Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, West Indies and Zimbabwe will be the only teams competing at the event. The 2011 tournament, which was won by co-host India on Saturday, featured 14 teams and took 43 days to complete, prompting criticism that it was too long. The 2015 edition will be held in Australia and New Zealand. However, in better news for smaller nations the ICC World Twenty20 event, held every two years, is being expanded from 12 to 16 teams. ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat also said on Monday that he was pleased with the implementation of the Umpire Decision Referral System (DRS) at the World Cup. “DRS was successful,” he said, according to AP. “It has improved umpiring standards by more than 5%. There has been no blatant errors or no complaints from teams over decision that could have affected the outcome of the match.” Source - Sport Business

  • FIA chief suggests F1 contract changes

    • FIA president Jean Todt has outlined he will look to renegotiate the commercial agreement motorsport’s governing body has with Formula One - a deal that was brokered by his predecessor, Max Mosley. Former Ferrari CEO Todt succeeded Mosley at the helm of the FIA in October 2009 and is seeking to make changes to an agreement signed back in 2001. Under Mosley's stewardship the FIA had approved a 100-year deal with Bernie Ecclestone's SLEC Holdings concerning the broadcasting and commercial rights to F1. However, Todt has now stated that the current contract does not reflect F1's place in today's world. His words come as Formula One's key stakeholders prepare to enter negotiations to draw up a new Concorde Agreement, with the commercial contract that governs the sport set to expire at the end of 2012. "I will make sure that everybody realises that since the (100-year) agreement has been signed and now times have changed, technology has changed," Todt told The Financial Times. "Fifteen years ago you didn't have all the sophisticated electronics you can enjoy today when you watch the TV. All that has a cost. Definitely we need to take that in consideration because I must make sure that the funding for the FIA is correct. Our costs are greater than they were 10 years ago. Evolution has a price." Meanwhile, Todt has refused to be drawn into a war of words with Ecclestone. The F1 supremo recently labelled the Frenchman as a "poor man's Max", in reference to his predecessor, while he also reportedly described the FIA as a "joke". However Todt stated: "It is important not to overreact. I feel with confrontation, unless it is necessary to achieve a result, you lose time. I prefer to achieve results with harmony rather than confrontation." Source - Sport Business

  • Women ski jumpers win Olympic battle

    • Women ski jumpers yesterday won the right to compete in the Winter Olympics after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced the sport as one of six new events on the Sochi 2014 Games programme. The news, which was unveiled at a media briefing during the SportAccord Convention in London, will come as a huge boost to athletes who have fought a long-running battle for inclusion alongside their male counterparts. Women’s ski jumping was not included in the programme for last year's Vancouver Games and the lead-up to the event saw athletes unsuccessfully sue organisers on the grounds of alleged gender discrimination. The IOC’s announcement leaves Nordic combined as the only event without male and female participation and Lindsey Van, one of the most prominent figures in the calls for Olympic status for women’s ski jumping, has hailed the decision. "I am thrilled the IOC decided to add our sport," said the 2009 ski jumping world champion, in quotes reported by Reuters. "Women's ski jumping has been growing for the past 10 years, but inclusion in the Olympics is what our sport needed to take the next step.” Along with women’s ski jumping, ski half-pipe (men and women), biathlon mixed relay, figure skating team event and luge team relay have also been added to the Sochi 2014 programme. The decision to include the new events was based on a report presented by the Olympic Programme Commission (OPC) to the IOC Executive Board in Acapulco in October. Five other events – ski slopestyle (men and women), snowboard slopestyle (men and women), and Alpine team parallel competition – are subject to a further feasibility study with a decision expected by June. Source - Sport Business

  • Kroenke set to seize control of Arsenal

    • American tycoon Stan Kroenke is set to complete a takeover of Arsenal, ending a long-running battle over ownership of the Barclays Premier League club. Kroenke has agreed to buy the shares of Danny Fiszman and Nina Bracewell-Smith, it was confirmed on Monday morning. The acquisition will take Kroenke's stake from 29.9% to around 63% and past the 30% threshold that would trigger an automatic takeover bid as well as the 50% that would give him legal control of the club. Kroenke has now offered Arsenal shareholders £11,750 per share for the remaining shares. He already owns the National Basketball Association's Denver Nuggets, the National Hockey League's Colorado Avalanche and the St Louis Rams of the National Football League. Arsenal is listed on the London Plus Exchange, and in a statement released to the market, Kroenke said: "We are excited about the opportunity to increase our involvement with and commitment to Arsenal. Arsenal is a fantastic club with a special history and tradition and a wonderful manager in Arsene Wenger. We intend to build on this rich heritage and take the club to new success." Kroenke was already Arsenal's largest shareholder and a director while the next largest shareholder, Russian businessman Alisher Usmanov, had not been invited onto the board of directors despite having increased his stake last month to around 27%. Arsenal Supporters' Trust board member Tim Payton welcomed the news, but added to The Associated Press: "The Arsenal Supporters' Trust (AST) hopes that fans will still have a role in Arsenal's structure," Payton said. "Arsenal is the last major club with supporters able to own shares and we know Kroenke has previously praised this arrangement." Source - Sport Business

  • Durban earmarked for 2020 Olympic bid

    • Durban is being lined up as South Africa’s candidate for the 2020 Olympics due to the “economies of scale” presented by the city, according to the country’s National Olympic Committee (NOC) president, Gideon Sam. Port Elizabeth and Johannesburg have also expressed an interest in staging the Games, but with South African government approval required before the NOC can submit a bid ahead of the International Olympic Committee’s September 1 deadline, Sam declared that Durban was the most likely candidate. “The economies of scale will tip it in the direction of Durban but that final decision has to be taken,” he told The Associated Press. South Africa, which has never hosted the Olympics, has targeted the 2020 Games after last year’s FIFA World Cup in the country. “If we don't win on the Olympics, there is 2022 for the Commonwealth Games.” The Italian capital of Rome is the only city to officially enter the running for the 2020 Games, although Madrid, Dubai, Doha, Istanbul and Tokyo have been linked with a bid. Source - Sport Business

  • Eircom unveiled as new Gaelic Football sponsor

    • Eircom has replaced telecommunications rival Vodafone as the new lead sponsor of the Gaelic Athletic Association’s (GAA) All-Ireland Football Championship. The initial agreement will run for three years with the option of extending the deal. Although financial details have not been disclosed, it has been reported that the arrangement is worth at least Eur3.6 million to the GAA, which operates the hugely popular domestic competition in Ireland. “It is another major boost, not only to the GAA Football Championship, but to the association as a whole, that we are entering into an exciting partnership with a company possessing a profile and pedigree such as Eircom's as the start of this year's competition comes into sharp focus,” said GAA president Christy Cooney. “Like us, Eircom reaches into communities all over Ireland and we are enthused about the prospect of working with our new partners in an imaginative and proactive way as part of our ongoing efforts to generate even more interest in our games,” Cooney added. The marketing campaign is expected to focus on how Eircom's technology can enrich the fans' enjoyment of the GAA’s leading Gaelic football competition. Source - Sport Business

  • Rugby World Cup to try out 3D broadcasts

    • Rugby World Cup matches will be aired in 3D for the first time later this year after Auckland-based 3DLive was installed as the official 3D broadcaster of the tournament in New Zealand. 3DLive will deliver a special feed of the semi-finals, third-place match and the final, with the action set to be carried in cinemas and at big screen events across the host country and Australia. The 3D feed will also be available to global broadcast partners. Rugby World Cup Limited chairman Bernard Lapasset hailed the news as “a significant development” for the tournament and said that it illustrated the International Rugby Board’s “commitment to ensuring that rugby fans around the world are able to enjoy the latest broadcast technology”. “Over four billion television viewers enjoyed the last Rugby World Cup,” he added. “In a sport where innovation and tradition go hand in hand we will give rugby fans a new viewing dimension that will enhance their experience of a tournament that continues to reach out to more men, women and children through all media platforms.” Sky New Zealand has already said they intend to offer the available matches in 3D. Sky New Zealand CEO John Fellet told ONE Sport: “While we are still working through the technical and operational requirements it is our intention to offer these 3D matches to Sky subscribers.” 3DLive director Ronel Schodt added: “3D technology offers a stunning new perspective to traditional 2D rugby coverage. You really do feel as if you're in the front row of the stadium. It's an experience that's as close as you'll get to being at the live match.” The tournament will run from September 9 to October 23. Source - Sport Business

  • PREMIER TRAINING DESTINATIONS LAUNCHES IN EUROPE

    • Premier Training Destinations, a new business organizing training camps for sports clubs and associations, and promoting top class hotel and training venues across Europe to sports clubs and associations, was launched today. Premier Training Destinations has its head office in the UK, while representing venues across Ireland, Wales, Scotland and England, with a number of warm weather venues in Portugal and Spain, and further east, under negotiation. Premier Training Destinations (www.premiertrainingdestinations.com) is the brainchild of Martyn Wilson and Maeve Buckley, both well-known figures in the sports marketing industry in Ireland, UK and Europe, and is a joint venture between their two respective companies.

  • Study highlights airport problems for Brazil World Cup

    • Only two of 13 airport terminal construction projects are on schedule to be completed by the start of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, according to a research group backed by the country’s government. Brazil’s Institute for Applied Economic Research, Ipea, stated that a third airport might be ready for the tournament “if everything goes right”, but the shortage of air travel provisions would cause transport problems for fans. “The situation is such that it's increasingly unlikely that these projects will be ready on time,” said Carlos Campos, one of the authors of the study, according to Reuters. Ipea criticised state-owned airport authority Infraero, which it said “has a low level of efficiency in the execution of investment programs”. Even if all 13 airport upgrades were to be ready on time, 10 are expected to be operating over capacity by the time of the World Cup, Ipea added. Fourteen of Brazil's 20 largest airports are already operating at more than 80% of capacity. Around US$900 million has been budgeted by Infraero to upgrade the country’s airports ahead of the competition, with the World Cup expected to attract up to one million visitors. In addition to the 13 airports being upgraded for the World Cup, a brand new airport in Natal, another World Cup host city, still has no firm date for completion. Source - Sport Business

  • Deadline closes for London Olympics tickets after late surge

    • The deadline to apply for tickets for the London 2012 Olympics had to be extended last night after the website was overwhelmed due to a late surge in applications. Potential customers who had pre-registered to buy tickets faced long delays to complete their transactions after the official Ticketmaster site failed to cope with the last minute rush just before the midnight deadline. The website suffered problems for about 20 minutes from 22:30, but London 2012 responded quickly by extending the deadline by one hour to 01:00. In spite of the late glitch in the system, the deadline has now closed for the 6.6 million tickets after a six-week window for applications. "Some people experienced temporary delay in accessing the Olympic ticketing site following a surge of applications around 22:30 this evening," a London 2012 spokesman told the Daily Telegraph before the deadline closed last night. "This surge has now evened out and the system is working normally," the spokesperson added. "Applications were still being processed during this period. We apologise for any inconvenience this delay may have caused and the ticketing system will remain open until 01:00." Meanwhile, the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (LOCOG) has confirmed that people without sufficient funds in their bank accounts to pay for tickets will not have their orders cancelled immediately. A LOCOG spokesman said the organisation would "attempt on more than one occasion" to get funds from any rejected Visa card accounts. Source - Sport Business

  • Olympic partner Samsung signs up Beckham as ambassador

    • Football superstar David Beckham has been recruited by worldwide Olympic partner Samsung to act as a global brand ambassador for the London 2012 Games. Samsung, which holds the exclusive rights in the wireless communications equipment category for the Olympics, will use the Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder in promotional campaigns across various platforms. Beckham, who has played for Manchester United, Real Madrid and AC Milan and holds the record for the number of appearances by an outfield player for the England national team, was born in London and played a key ambassadorial role in the city’s winning bid for the 2012 Games. “David has been actively taking part in a number of initiatives to help young people around the world to enjoy a better life, while Samsung’s London 2012 marketing campaign will also place great importance on the value of engaging youth,” said Gyehyun Kwon, Samsung’s vice-president and head of worldwide sports marketing. “To this end, we’re delighted that David will be supporting our goal to extend the Olympic Games spectator experience to fans throughout the world using our leading smart mobile technology.” He added: “David Beckham is a global sports icon who is helping to raise the profile of the London 2012 Olympics and attracting more of us to watch and to actively participate in the Games. We are very excited about the new partnership for our customers and fans of the Olympic Games and we’re looking forward to working with David across the range of London 2012 marketing initiatives we will be pursuing until the end of 2012.” Beckham, who remains one of the most marketable footballers in the world despite being in the twilight of his career, said: “I'm very proud to be part of the team that brought the Olympics to my home city, London. It is one of the greatest events in the world. Working with a globally respected brand, like Samsung, our aim will be to help more and more people to enjoy and share the excitement of the London 2012 Olympic Games.” Source - Sport Business

  • NBA’s Goldschmidt named as new RFU chief commercial officer

    • National Basketball Association (NBA) executive Sophie Goldschmidt has been named as the new chief commercial officer of the Rugby Football Union, the governing body of rugby union in England. Goldschmidt, who is currently the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) senior vice-president for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, is expected to take up her new role by the middle of July. The role of chief commercial officer was created following the RFU’s restructure in January, and Goldschmidt will be responsible for all commercial activities including sponsorship, business development, media rights and all joint venture operations. “We said in January that we would like to assemble a talented and experienced new executive team to help the RFU drive the next phase of growth,” said RFU chief executive officer John Steele. “Sophie will bring a new dynamic and innovation to our already successful commercial program with her global and extensive experience and we look forward to welcoming her to the team.” Prior to joining the NBA, Goldschmidt worked for the Women’s Tennis Association, where she developed commercial programs such as the landmark Sony Ericsson title sponsorship. Goldschmidt will play a crucial role in the years leading up to the Rugby World Cup in England in 2015. “I am thrilled to be joining the RFU,” Goldschmidt said. “Under John Steele’s leadership it is clear the RFU is committed to ensuring it is in the best possible place for the 2015 Rugby World Cup and beyond.” Source - Sport Business

  • Brazil World Cup commercial portfolio boosted by Liberty Seguros

    • Insurance company Liberty Seguros has been unveiled as the latest National Supporter of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. Liberty Seguros will receive extensive marketing rights allowing the firm’s logo to be directly associated with the event as the ‘official insurance provider of the 2014 FIFA World Cup’. Nescau and Itau have already been announced as National Supporters of the tournament. “It gives us great pleasure to welcome Liberty Seguros to our sponsorship family for the 2014 FIFA World Cup,” said FIFA marketing director Thierry Weil. “The fact that so many Brazilian brands are showing such great interest in the event years before it is due to arrive in the country highlights what football and the FIFA World Cup means to the people of Brazil.” Luis Maurette, Liberty Seguros’ CEO, added: “We are looking forward to playing our part in welcoming the FIFA World Cup back to Brazilian soil for the first time since 1950 and are sure that our involvement in the tournament will have a great impact on our business within Brazil. We firmly believe that this sponsorship will bring us closer to our consumers.” Source - Sport Business

  • London 2012 organisers unveil torch relay route

    • Organisers of the London Olympics have confirmed that the torch relay before the Games will start in Land’s End on the south-western tip of England and travel as far as northern Scotland on an 8,000-mile journey. The majority of the 8,000 torchbearer places will be made available to the public through the organising committee and the three presenting partners of the relay – Coca-Cola, Lloyds TSB and Samsung. The Olympic flame will arrive from Greece on May 18, 2012 and the relay will continue for 70 days until the torch ends up at Olympic Park in London for the opening ceremony of the Games on July 27, 2012. However, there will be no international relay after protestors caused chaos during the build-up to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China. “The Olympic flame will shine a light right across every nation and region of the UK and showcase the very best of who we are and where we live,” said London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe. “The first locations on the route confirmed today give a flavour of the reach the Olympic torch relay will have around the UK and how extensive the opportunity for starting to celebrate the London 2012 Olympic Games will be.” International Olympic Committee (IOC) executive board member Craig Reedie told AFP that he did not expect a repeat of the violent scenes that disrupted the international phase of the torch relay ahead of the Beijing Games. “People used the torch as an opportunity for protest when it should really be an opportunity for peaceful celebration,” said Reedie. “That's why the decision was taken by the IOC to make it a domestic relay only and I think that can only benefit London and Britain.” According to London 2012, the relay aims to go within one hour's travel time of 95% of the British population, and the journey will take the torch the islands of Guernsey, Jersey, the Isle of Man, Shetland, Orkney and the Isle of Lewis. Source - Sport Business

  • Starting gun fired on 2020 Olympics bidding

    • The International Olympic Committee (IOC) fired the starting gun on the bidding process for the 2020 Olympic Games on Monday. The IOC, a week later than initially scheduled, sent out letters to the world’s National Olympic Committees (NOCs) to invite applications to host the Games. The deadline for NOCs to submit an applicant city to the IOC is September 1. The IOC stated that nominated cities will then be required to submit their application files and guarantee letters to the IOC by February 15, 2012. The host city will be elected on September 7, 2013, during the IOC Session in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The Italian capital of Rome, which edged out domestic rival Venice, is the only city to be confirmed as an applicant city so far, but South Africa and Japan are expected to table bids, with Spain, France, Dubai, Qatar, Azerbaijan and Turkey also having expressed an interest. The USA has indicated it will not table a bid for the Games, with a bid for the 2022 Winter edition more likely, and with Rio de Janeiro hosing South America’s first Olympics in 2016 and therefore no obvious rotation in place, the race for the Olympics in 2020 promises to be more open than ever before. Source - Sport Business

  • Heineken toasts Champions League extension

    • Heineken International has agreed a three-year extension to its sponsorship of the UEFA Champions League. The beer brand’s deal extends its association with the Champions League until the end of the 2014-15 season, and the announcement comes just a day before FC Barcelona and Manchester United clash in this year’s final at London’s Wembley Stadium. As part of the new agreement, Heineken receives enhanced digital rights and becomes the exclusive presenting partner for delayed match highlights available on www.uefa.com. In addition, the contract broadens global broadcast and event rights to encompass Germany, a market previously excluded in the original agreement. Heineken will also be the only official sponsor with TV break bumpers during the whole season outside Europe during Champions League matches, while the deal continues to include a range of commercial activities from the previous contract. Alexis Nasard, Heineken’s chief commercial officer, said: “The sponsorship plays an important role in fuelling the continued growth of the Heineken brand around the globe. It reinforces brand strengths in those European markets where Heineken is well established and builds brand equity in key markets for the company, particularly in the developing world. This agreement is in line with our strategy of concentrating on few large high quality properties to get the maximum benefit from our investments.” David Taylor, UEFA Events S.A. CEO, added: “We are very pleased that our long term partner Heineken has chosen to extend its involvement with UEFA’s flagship club competition for a further three years. Their continued commitment confirms what a strong partnership we share. The support for the promotion of the UEFA Champions League on a global level by such a prestigious international brand, particularly with a view to this week’s exciting final to be played at Wembley stadium, is highly valued.” Source - Sport Business

  • Scholes announces retirement

    • Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes has announced his retirement from football with immediate effect. The 36-year-old helped his club to a record-breaking 19th league title this season, but his last appearance was in the UEFA Champions League final defeat to Barcelona. Scholes will now remain at Old Trafford as a member of Sir Alex Ferguson's coaching staff from the beginning of next season. The former England international had been a bit-part player over the last campaign and it was rumoured that he had grown frustrated. Scholes said: "I am not a man of many words but I can honestly say that playing football is all I have ever wanted to do and to have had such a long and successful career at Manchester United has been a real honour. "This was not a decision that I have taken lightly but I feel now is the right time for me to stop playing. "To have been part of the team that helped the Club reach that 19th title is a great privilege."

  • Mosley slams Bahrain’s return to F1 calendar

    • Max Mosley, the former president of the global governing body of motorsport, has criticised the decision to reinstate the Bahrain Grand Prix to this year’s Formula One calendar. The FIA, which is now led by Mosley’s successor Jean Todt, announced on Friday that its World Motor Sport Council had decided the Sakhir race could take place on October 30, with the inaugural Indian Grand Prix shifted to December 11 to accommodate the change to the schedule. Bahrain was slated to be the opening race of the campaign, but was postponed due to political unrest in the country. F1 commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone told The Guardian on Saturday that “unusual circumstances” led to the decision to reintroduce Bahrain to the calendar, and added: “It went through the World Council. The FIA sent people out there to check on the situation, they came back and reported everything is fine.” However, Mosley warned that the decision to bring Bahrain back to the schedule “will cost Formula 1 dear”. He wrote in the Daily Telegraph: “Surely the line has to be drawn when a sporting event is not mere entertainment in a less-than-perfect country, but is being used by an oppressive regime to camouflage its actions.” Mosley added: “If a sport accepts this role, it becomes a tool of government. If Formula 1 allows itself to be used in this way in Bahrain, it will share the regime's guilt as surely as if it went out and helped brutalise unarmed protesters.” Mosley continued: “By agreeing to race there, Formula 1 becomes complicit in what has happened. It becomes one of the Bahrain government's instruments of repression. The decision to hold the race is a mistake which will not be forgotten and, if not reversed, will eventually cost Formula 1 dear.” Source - Sport Business

  • Ferrari extends Puma partnership

    • Puma will continue to be the official licensing partner for Ferrari-branded products and the official supplier of the marque’s Formula One team after the two parties announced a contract extension on Wednesday. The sports-lifestyle brand has collaborated with Ferrari for the past six years and although the exact length of the new deal has not been disclosed, a joint-statement claimed the agreement would run for “a further long-term period”. Under the terms of the contract, Puma will continue to develop Ferrari-licensed footwear, apparel and accessories for global distribution, and the two partners will develop a complete new collection to be presented at the end of this year. Puma’s special race wear will also be designed to benefit Ferrari drivers Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa as they compete for the coveted Drivers' and Constructors' Championships. Ferrari is currently third in the Constructors’ Championship standings. “We have enjoyed a very successful relationship with Puma over the past six years, and we are very happy that this will continue long term,” said Ferrari chairman Luca di Montezemolo. “Their commitment to product design, development and race wear technology is unrivalled in the industry, and they continue to impress us on all counts.” Puma chairman and CEO Jochen Zeitz added: “To extend a relationship with the most prestigious brand in the automotive industry and the most popular and successful team in Formula One is of great benefit to us in both a commercial and reputational sense. The Ferrari-licensed product development we have undertaken so far has been very successful, and the plans we have for the coming years are equally exciting.” Source - Sport Business

  • United supporters group would “cautiously welcome” flotation

    • The Manchester United Supporters Trust (MUST), a group campaigning for an end to the Glazer family’s control of the club, would “cautiously” welcome a flotation of the Barclays Premier League giant. A report in The Sunday Times suggested the Glazers, who acquired the club for £790 million in 2005, have held talks with a number of investment banks about listing the Premier League champion on the Hong Kong stock market. There is speculation the flotation could value the club at £1.7 billion, and MUST chief executive Duncan Drasdo told The Manchester Evening News that the flotation "could be an opportunity for supporters to once again share in the ownership of their club". Drasdo called for a full IPO listing, "signalling a clean exit for the Glazers", and added that the valuation "would have to be realistic - something closer to £1 billion rather than the £1.5 billion that the Glazers seem to feel is possible". In March, United parent company Red Football Joint Venture Ltd. announced a record £104.7 million fiscal-year loss due to costs related to swapping a long-term bank loan for a bond last year as well as lower income from player sales. Drasdo also called for available shares to be "available to all Manchester United supporters and floated on the UK market to maximise accessibility". He continued: "Many supporters would hate to see the Glazers walk away with a huge profit, but it isn't about them." The MUST chief executive added: "It is about what is best for Manchester United - the club and its supporters. If we wish to persuade the Glazers to go for a full flotation then a million Manchester United supporters standing together, represented through MUST, could present a compelling argument." On Monday, Bloomberg reported that United chief operating officer Edward Woodward, a former banker with J.P. Morgan Chase, has been discussing ways of cutting financing costs. The club, in keeping with all investment-related reports, has stated that it will "not comment on speculation". Source - Sport Business

  • Budweiser toasts FA Cup sponsorship deal

    • After months of speculation, Budweiser has finally been unveiled as the new lead partner of the FA Cup, the most famous domestic knockout competition in world football. The beer brand, which has become the first American title sponsor of the famous tournament, has sealed a three-year deal that is reportedly worth up to £8 million per year. Energy company E.ON had sponsored the competition for five years through to the end of the 2010-11 season, which saw Manchester City beat Stoke City 1-0 in the final last month. Budweiser, despite being a new name in English football, has been the official beer of the FIFA World Cup since the 1986 tournament in Mexico. Budweiser’s parent company, Anheuser-Busch InBev, has also been a commercial partner of numerous major league sports in North America, with the firm signing a renewal of a multi-year deal to support Major League Soccer earlier this year. The FA Cup will be known as ‘The FA Cup with Budweiser’ for the next three years, and Football Association general secretary Alex Horne outlined the international ambitions underpinning the deal at the ceremony to mark the agreement on Thursday. “Like the FA Cup, Budweiser has a proud heritage and a long history of being involved in football,” he said. “Furthermore, given the global reach of this sponsorship, we will see the FA Cup promoted around the world like never before which is great for the fans and the players.” Horne added: “The FA Cup is already a much-loved competition around the world and we look forward to building on that passion with Budweiser.” Anheuser-Busch InBev chief marketing officer Chris Burggraeve said: “AB InBev is a long-standing supporter of football around the world. We share The Football Association’s ambitions to showcase the tournament globally, uniting the millions of fans around the world who anticipate The FA Cup each year.” The agreement was negotiated by the FA’s sponsorship team, led by Peter Daire, who said: “Being able to work with a brand like Budweiser, with its scale and marketing expertise, is a great boost to the FA Cup and I look forward to making the partnership a success for both parties, and most importantly, for fans and competing clubs.” Source - Sport Business

  • Corruption investigation dropped as Warner quits FIFA

    • Jack Warner has quit as a vice-president of FIFA just weeks after promising a “football tsunami” of revelations in response to his suspension from the global governing body for alleged corruption. Warner, who is an influential politician in his homeland of Trinidad & Tobago and was also serving as the head of the Caribbean Football Union and the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) prior to his ban, announced his decision to step down in a letter to FIFA’s ethics committee. Earlier this month FIFA hired FBI director Louis Freeh to investigate bribery claims against Warner and Mohamed Bin Hammam, the president of the Asian Football Confederation. However, following his decision to end his association with FIFA, the ethics committee immediately dropped its follow-up investigation into his conduct. “Mr Warner is leaving FIFA by his own volition after nearly 30 years of service, having chosen to focus on his important work on behalf of the people and government of Trinidad & Tobago as a Cabinet Minister and as the Chairman of the United National Congress, the major party in his country’s coalition government,” read a statement from FIFA. “As a consequence of Mr Warner’s self-determined resignation, all Ethics Committee procedures against him have been closed and the presumption of innocence is maintained,” FIFA added. Warner and Bin Hammam were suspended from FIFA on May 29 after Chuck Blazer, who worked as CONCACAF’s general secretary under Warner for two decades, claimed the pair tried to bribe Caribbean voters to vote for Bin Hammam in the recent FIFA presidential election. Following Bin Hammam’s suspension, incumbent Sepp Blatter was re-elected unopposed to the helm of the governing body. Warner told Bloomberg that he was quitting FIFA because he had lost “enthusiasm” for the job. “The general secretary that I had employed, who worked with me for 21 years, with the assistance of elements of FIFA has sought to undermine me in ways that are unimaginable,” he said. “I’ve been hung out to dry continually and I’m not prepared to take that.” Warner added that “all this would never have happened” had he made public a promised declaration for Blatter in May and he also insisted that gift-giving during lobbying had been a part of FIFA’s culture for years. “It’s not unusual for such things to happen and gifts have been around throughout the history of FIFA,” Warner said. “What’s happening now for me is hypocrisy.” He continued: “At the end of the day I don’t want to be seen to be vengeful. I am saying over time history will judge Mr Blatter...I don’t know who’s a friend and who’s a foe...In retrospect possibly my friends, who I thought of as my friends, have been foes and possibly my foes have been friends. In fullness of time I’ll be able to see better who was foe and who was friend.” Source - Sport Business

  • Aileen Morrison aiming for top spot in Spain

    • Elite Irish triathletes will look to make a big impression in the European Championships in Pontevedra, Spain this weekend. With the elite women hopping into the warm water of the Lérez river at 12:30pm and the males getting under way at 7pm local time on Saturday (25th). Derry native Aileen Morrison will be hoping to better the 5th place finish she achieved in this event last year, which took place in Athlone. Morrison is currently the top ranked Irish triathlete and is well on course for Olympic qualification. She will enter this race seeded 5th which will provide an advantageous start position amongst the favourites. Morrison said “The European Championships are an event I aim to do well in every year. Last year on home turf I just missed out on the podium, but I feel I am in better shape this time around. It will be very tough in Spain on Saturday but I’m hopeful I can improve on last year’s placing.” Two Irish athletes are competing in the elite men’s field with Bryan Keane looking to make a comeback to top level action after he suffered a major setback in his hopes for Olympic qualification when he was hit by a car while out training, resulting in a shattered knee cap and 10 weeks in a leg brace. The forced lay off from running has allowed him to focus on bringing his swimming to a higher standard, which could result in him making the all important front pack for the bike leg. The newest entrant into elite ranks, Conor Murphy, will have a good opportunity to test himself against the best Europe has to offer. Murphy has had a good run of Top 10 results in the British Triathlon Super Series, which will serve as the perfect preparation for this Saturday. Along with the senior elite athletes, three talented juniors Russell White, Chris Mintern and Gavin Doran will be travelling to Portevedra. White has mixed it with the seniors previously, including competing against 2006 world champion Tim Don in the British Triathlon Super Series recently, placing 12th overall and 4th in the British Junior Championships. This result was a particularly impressive comeback following a stress fracture in the left shin had meant White was out of action for a number of weeks. Meanwhile Mintern has been racing closer to home posting a 4:08 1500 meter time, and securing 2nd in the Aviva All-Ireland Schools’ Track and Field 2011 Championships. If he is in contention after the swim and bike he will be hoping to use his strong running ability to post a good result. The final member of the junior squad, Gavin Doran, placed 2nd in the Junior National Championships in May and had a comfortable win the Tribudrgh Sprint Triathlon, leading from start to finish. Some 50 Age Group Athletes will also be representing Ireland and looking to bring back a hall of medals to rival that achieved in last year’s European Championships.

  • South Africa “ready” to host Olympics – Rogge

    • International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Jacques Rogge believes South Africa is “ready” to host the Olympics even though the country’s government recently claimed that the nation would not bid for the 2020 Games. In May, the South African government surprisingly announced it would not support an Olympic bid, preferring instead to concentrate on the delivery of “basic services to all South Africans”. However, there is increasing speculation that the original decision could be reversed and Rogge, speaking in Durban after the conclusion of last week’s IOC Session, highlighted the country’s capabilities as a potential future host of the Olympics. “I respect the decision of the government to focus on other tasks, but I felt a genuine desire, speaking to politicians and the president (Jacob Zuma), that they want to bid in the future,” Rogge told a news conference. “South Africa proved during the World Cup that they are ready for a major event. As a nation they are ready to host the Olympic Games.” South African National Olympic Committee (SASCOC) chief executive Tubby Reddy said that he expected Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula to lead a campaign to have the 2020 Games decision reversed. “Minister Mbalula is still lobbying his colleagues and maybe it will change,” Reddy said, according to Reuters. “It seems that this is the opportune time to at least bid, there are no guarantees that we would win, but everything points in that direction.” He added: “The IOC president has gone on record as saying that there is no reason why we cannot bid (and) President Zuma said the same thing after the World Cup. Personally I think the government will come back and say 'no' simply because they said no in the first place because of different priorities and that has not changed. Perhaps 2024 is more realistic.” The Italian capital of Rome is so far the only city to confirm its bid for the 2020 Games, although Tokyo in Japan is close to confirming its candidature. Additionally, the Turkish city of Istanbul “will bid” for the Games, according to IOC Executive Board member Richard Carrion. National Olympic Committees have until September 1 to nominate applicant cities for the Games.

  • MasterCard swings into action with sponsorship of The Open

    • MasterCard has been signed up as an official global commercial partner of The Open Championship in Britain, the oldest golf major in the world, in a four-year deal. As a patron and the official card of The Open, MasterCard is expanding an existing relationship in golf, with the company already sponsoring the PGA Tour, PGA Champions Tour and Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando as well as a number of leading golfers. Financial details of the new agreement have not been disclosed, but the deal will run from The Open in 2012 through to the 2015 edition. MasterCard, which is also a sponsor of the UEFA Champions League and the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, struck the deal with the R&A, the organising body of The Open. The contract was unveiled just days before the start of The Open Championship 2011 at Sandwich in Kent, with this year’s edition running from this Thursday to Sunday at Royal St George’s Golf Club. “We are immensely proud to become a global partner of The Open Championship and thrilled to have the chance to bring golf fans from across the world closer to the game,” said MasterCard chief marketing officer Alfredo Gangotena. “Our association with The Open Championship is a unique opportunity to offer our cardholders priceless access and experiences around the most historic tournament in golf.” Mike Tate, director of the R&A, added: “MasterCard’s expertise and commitment to heightening the fan experience and long-standing association with golf across the world make it a natural partner for the R&A and The Open Championship.” The annual tournament is attended by 200,000 spectators each year and enjoys global media exposure in more than 187 countries. Source - Sport Business

  • Adidas extends Argentina kit partnership

    • German sportswear giant Adidas has extended its commercial partnership with the Argentine Football Association (AFA) through to December 2022. Adidas, which first linked up with the AFA on the global stage at the 1974 FIFA World Cup in West Germany, will continue to provide the official kit for the Argentina national football team. Adidas has been a regular partner of the AFA since the early 1970s although Le Coq Sportif supplied Argentina’s kit for a spell in the 1980s while Reebok was the national team’s provider from 1999-2001. “We are very proud and excited to announce the extension of our successful partnership with the Argentine Football Association,” said Adidas CEO Herbert Hainer. “We are very much looking forward to continuing our successful partnership and to supporting the AFA in their preparations for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil and beyond.” AFA president Julio Grondona added: “We appreciate the continuity and the confidence of Adidas. It contributes to building an unbreakable bond with the AFA. This agreement fully satisfies AFA and brings important values to continue to develop football in Argentina. The AFA is committed and will continue wearing the shirt with pride all around the world.” Adidas is already the official sponsor, supplier and licensee of the World Cup and kitted out 12 teams at last year’s World Cup in South Africa, including Spain and host nation South Africa. In Latin America, Adidas sponsors the national federations of Colombia, Mexico, Paraguay and Venezuela as well as Argentina. Hainer also recently outlined Adidas’ plans to use the Olympic Games in London next year to generate £100 million pounds of sales in the UK and snatch market leadership in the country from arch rival Nike. “We want to achieve market leadership in the UK by 2015 at the latest,” he said. “The Olympics is definitely a pillar for that.” Source - Sport Business

  • Mike Ross Joins Line Up Team

    • We are delighted to welcome Mike Ross to the Line Up team. Mike is a world class player who has become a pivotal member of both Leinster and Ireland set-ups since his arrival from Harlequins in 2009. Line Up will be responsible for Mikes PR and Commercial activities in Ireland. Line Up will be doing this in partnership with Justin Paige from JPA Worldwide.

  • Seasons Best by Morrison

    • Ireland’s Aileen Morrison put in a stunning performance in the last World Championship Series race of 2011 placing 4th in Yokohama, Japan. Morrison beat some of the world’s best on her way including 2011 World Champion Helen Jenkins. The 1500m swim in Yokohama bay was led by Lucy Hall and World Champion Helen Jenkins with Morrison also having a fine swim to exit in 3rd just 16 seconds down on the leaders. Morrison was soon joined by a group of about 25 who worked hard to pull back the two early leaders on the 40km bike leg. Heading out for the 10km run Morrison was in contention and ran sub 35 minutes to sprint to the line for 4th place, just 4 seconds off the podium. Morrison’s best performance at this level is a 3rd place finish in Hamburg last year however her performance had dipped this season. This display shows Morrison is back to her best and is an encouraging sign less than a year out from the London Olympics. “I’m delighted with the result, it’s exciting to see all the hard work with my coaches paying off.” Morrison said afterwards. Triathlon Ireland High Performance Coach, Chris Jones commented after the race “Aileen is back to the highest level after a very difficult year with some small setbacks. Training has been consistent since the European Championships and she gained huge confidence from solid performances in London and Beijing.” “Yokohama is testament to how hard she has worked to get back to full fitness and once again shows her potential as a world class athlete.” With renewed confidence in her abilities, Morrison will now move to Florida for a training camp in preparation for the Huatulco World Cup in Mexico before finishing the season off in Korea. Morrison will then enjoy a short break before building towards the 2012 London Olympics.

  • Aileen Morrison finishes 4th in Mexico

    • Olympic hopeful Aileen Morrison finished fourth in the 2011 Huatulco ITU Triathlon World Cup in Mexico. Morrison completed the triathlon in 2.14.27, 1 minute 35 seconds behind winner Juri Ide from Japan in a time of 2.12.52. Ranked 11 in the women’s Olympic ranking for London 2012, the Derry women completed the 2-lap 1.5km swim in 19.05, heading into the first transition in 4th place. After the tough 40km cycle Morrison was positioned in 5th place heading into the 10km run. Aileen completed the 40km cycle in 1.15.45 and the 10km run in 38.15 for an overall time of 2.12.52. Ten different nations were represented in the top ten. For a full list of results log onto: http://www.triathlon.org/results/results/2011_huatulco_itu_triathlon_world_cup/5999/

  • Best Ever Finish for Aileen Morrison secures Olympic Spot

    • Aileen Morrison saved the best until last, in her ultimate race of the season Morrison finished 2nd in the ITU World Cup race in Tongyeoung. It was her best finish ever in ITU World Cup race to date, finishing second to France’s Jessica Harrison. 41 competitors competed in the event, as the water temperature was below 20 degrees the athletes were required to wear a wetsuit for the 2 lap 1.5km swim. Danish athlete Line Jenson was first out of the water however her lead was short lived as the chasing pack quickly caught her on the first lap of the 40km cycle. Heading into the 4-lap 20km run, the leading group included 12 athletes. Winner Jessica Harrison finished 28 seconds ahead of Morrison who completed the triathlon in 2.01.09. It was a good day all round for the Derry triathlete not only was it her best finish but this result moved her up to 15th in the International Triathlon Union rankings earning her an automatic place for the London Olympics. With 60 automatic spots in London, Morrison is now certain to remain in the top 60 even if she does not compete in any further qualifying events ahead of the Olympic Games in London next summer. This was Aileen’s last race of the season; her next race is scheduled for April 2012 in Australia.

  • New Zealand win the 2011 Rugby World Cup

    • After 6 weeks of 20 nations competing for the greatest prize in rugby, the All Blacks were crowned Rugby World Cup champions. In the closest final every in world cup history, New Zealand defeated the France 8-7. New Zealand’s victory was secured by two unlikely All Black heroes prop Tony Woodcock and 4th choice out half Stephen Donald. Woodcock scored a try in the first half however Weepu was unsuccessful with his conversion kick. New Zealand lead 5-0 at half time, in the second half Bath’s new signing Donald’s secured a penalty. Thierry Dusautoir’s converted try brought France to within a point of New Zealand however the All Blacks had done enough to secure victory and win the William Webb Ellis Trophy for only the second time. Celebrations will continue in New Zealand this week as the team has confirmed that they will do a number of parades to thank their fans including one in Christchurch who had the disappointment of being unable to hold any world cup matches due to the earthquake early in the year. Following the world cup New Zealand finish number one in the IRB world rankings while Ireland finish in sixth.

  • Monaghan Signs for Gloucester RFC

    • Shane Monaghan has announced that he will be leaving Rotherham Titans to Join Gloucester at the end of the season. The former Leinster and Connacht Centre has signed a new 1 year deal that will see him move from Championship to Premiership rugby for 2012/13.

  • Morrison back to World Triathlon series

    • The 1st event of the 2012 World Triathlon Series took place in Sydney last week, Morrison finished 28th despite being 4th out of the water after the swim. All eyes now turn to Japan where she will race this week in whats proving to be a great start to her 2012 preparation! Follow her on http://blog.aileenmorrison.com/#home and @aileenmorr Good Luck!

  • Kearney Wins Leinster Player of the Year 2012

    • Rob Kearney has been awarded the 2012 Leinster player of the year award as voted by his peers. Its a huge honor and is a credit to his hard work and ongoing contribution to the team success. This weekend he will play his 117th game for the Province against Clermont in The Heineken Cup 1/2 Final.

  • Silver in Ishagaki

    • It was Aileen's second visit to Ishagaki in two years and her second silver Medal! Ranked no 4 going into the race, and with one eye on Kathy Tremblay who finished 6th place finish in Sydney WTS the previous week, but its was fellow canadian Sarah-Anne Buralt, whom she ended up having a tactical battle with. 20 seconds out but valuable World Cup points in the build up to London 2012!

  • Kearney scoops double award at IRUPA dinner

    • Congratulations to Line Up's Rob Kearney on winning the 2012 IRUPA Supporters Player of the year and Players Player of the Year awards for 2012. It has been an excellent season for Rob and with focus now turning the the Pro 12 semi Final V Glasgow and the Heineken Cup Final against Ulster, a rest is still a fair way off with a Summer tour of NZ to follow in June. Many Congratulations Rob, You are a great ambassador for your sport and indeed us!

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