 The British Olympic Association announced that it will deliver
the Team GB Ambition Programme at the London 2012 Games with the help of Prince William,
Kate Middleton and Prince Harry. They will be Official Ambassadors for Team GB and
Paralympics GB at London 2012 Games.
Roger Federer rediscovers his mojo as he returns to winning from by claiming the crown at
the season's final tournament. This came after Roger won his first ATP title for 10
months in front of a home crowd at the Swiss indoor tournament. The All Blacks win the
Rugby World Cup beating France in the finals in Auckland, New Zealand. LA Galaxy beat Thierry
Henry's New York Red Bulls to make it to the finals of the Major League Soccer Western
Conference. England has a suprising win against top national team Spain at
Wembley. Shares in mobile gambling specialist, Probability dropped 16 percent after
William Hill's takeover bid collapsed. Cable saved the day for Comcast following its
acquisitions of NBC and Universal Pictures. Revenues rose by 5 percent to US$14.3
billion.
NBA players and owners have put the whole season on hold as the dispute runs and runs and
runs...... A sigh of relief as London picks up
the 2017 IAAF Worlds beating Doha. And things are
hotting up as Nurullayeva is appointed to lead Baku's Olympic bid. The
2018 Commonwealth Games have been awarded to the Gold Coast in Australia. The Aussies
easily beat off their competition - the Sri Lankan city of Hambantota. Twenty year-old Brit Tom Lewis was forced to withdraw
form the Castello Golf Masters in Spain following a attack of influenza. Andy Murray's long run of
wins came to an end in Paris. Foreign investors - the Venus Group Fund Management
Company of Singapore may not get consent to build the floating river park on the River
Thames planned for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. And Sochi, Russia - the
city hosting the 2014 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games may also be refused building
consent for their London 2012 Ice Extavaganza at Marble Arch due to concerns over traffic
chaos. Perhaps London planners should consider the logistics before announcing
events such as these to the press? Formula One may be the game of the rich and famous,
but some counties are failing to bring in the crowds - and they include, China, Korea and
Turkey. And as the US withdraws from the 2012 Series is F1 losing its charismatic edge? Major League
Baseball (MLB) has announced a new five-year Collective Bargaining Agreement with the MLB
Players Association, ensuring labour peace through to 2016 in baseball’s richest
league. The
story of the future of the London 2012 Stadium has reached a 'sort of' conclusion since
London won the right to host the 2017 World Athletics event. This means that the
track stays... but whether there is a life for a football team is yet to be determined;
particularly as the venue will be retaining its 60,000 seats. And the losers? - the tax
payers who will continue to pour money into the site. Three times Breeders Cup
Mile winner, Goldikova is retiring. The use of the whip in horse-racing remains up for
discussion as the British Horseracing Association finds its new rules have to be relaxed
in order to keep the runners and riders 'on course'. World Champion,
Casey Stoner capped a successful season by winning the final Moto GP race in
Valencia. Jenson Button agrees a new 'multi-year' contract with McLaren. The US media
have described the Philadelphia Eagles as the 'Dream Team' and the first in line to lift
the Superbowl XLVI, Vince Lombardi trophy. No pressure then! The Rugby World Cup
in New Zealand may not be of any interest to the majority of Americans, but let's not
forget that a 'format' of mens and womens rugby is one of the latest editions to the
Olympic Games in 2016 in Rio. Only four women featured in The Power List 2010 Top 50
published by Sport Magazine. Sad - but true! The RFU generated increased revenues in the last
12 months growing from £112 million to £136.3million. Operating profit for the year
increased by £14.8 million to £40.6 million and retained profit for the year of £8.7
million, compared favourably with a loss of £1.1 million in 2009-10. In a statement, the
RFU cited increases in broadcasting, sponsorship and hospitality for its positive results.
The
debate over whether cabbies in London should charge an extra 20 percent during the London
Games continues to be just another discussion on the 'transportation' agenda. Honda
will remain the official automotive partner of the National Hockey League (NHL) in the
United States for a further three years. Lamine Diack has been overwhelmingly re-elected
as president of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) No news
regarding kidnapped Venezuelan baseball star, Wilson Ramos who was taken from his family
home.
England cricket Captain, Andrew Strauss criticizes the 'toothless' ICC and their attempts
to halt match-fixing. Training camps form an essential component of
winning titles and tournaments. As Euro 2012 comes ever closer, the England team
will be found at the Hutnik Municipality Stadium in Krakow. Hopefully an incident free
retreat! and finally, Marco Simoncelli died in a fatal accident at the Malaysian
GP; RIP
spotlight on:  The World Press
The Third World Press Briefing took place in London in
October with several hundred delegates honing their knowledge on the latest operational
logistics for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The event formed part of the IOC's
transfer of knowledge initiatives that assist upcoming host cities on how best to ensure
operations go smoothly.
Sessions included information on international
arrivals and departures; press transportation between Russell Square - the primary Central
London pick-up/drop-off hub and location of the majority of press accommodation - and the
Main Press Centre located in the Olympic Park; the Ceremonies and Torch Relay; logistics
and on-time deliveries for those based at the MPC; details of the Olympic and Paralympic
News Service; and a briefing on the Paralympic Games that demonstrated by example how
classification of Paralympic sports/athletes are calculated.
Delegates inspected the Games venues and expressed
concern about the density of traffic and general transportation logistics. And while
security always remains at the top of everyone's agenda, the international media seemed
less concerned with the level of security and more concerned with how long it would take
to get through security in order to do their job!
hot spot:  and hitting
the hotspot and sweet spot - Bud Light
Platinum!
Super Bowl XLVI is the
46th annual celebration of all things 'Super Bowl'. It will be held on February 5, 2012 at
Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. This will be the first Super Bowl to be played
in Indianapolis. This will also be the fourth time that the Super Bowl is held in a
cold-weather city. Previous 'cold' events were located in the following cities: Detroit,
Michigan's - Super Bowl XVI and Super Bowl XL; and Minneapolis's - SuperBowl XXVI.
And one of the products associated with
the event will be Bud Light Platinum - the new higher alcohol version of Light, and the
brewer's biggest beer launch in at least two years. No need to cool the brew this time
round! The beer - set to debut in early 2012, will contain 6% alcohol by volume and 137
calories, compared with 4.2% ABV and 110 calories for regular Bud Light, (as reported by
Ad Age).
AB InBev holds the exclusive beer advertising rights
for the Super Bowl; and the brand is expected to use it as part of its high profile
marketing campaign. Described as having a "sweeter taste," providing
drinkers "an upscale light beer option as a companion to their social agenda."
The brew will be sold in special blue-glass bottles.
So watch out for some ad-break action and a new 'blue' companion!
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hot shot(s): take
on the Commonwealth Games
Tunku Imran of Malaysia has officially succeeded
Michael Fennell as president of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF).
The appointment of 63-year-old Imran, who is a member of the International Olympic
Committee and has been the CGF’s vice-president for 11 years, represents the first
change to the top position in 17 years.
Imran was the only candidate for the role after 76-year-old Fennell announced he would not
seek re-election. Fennell has become the CGF’s honorary life vice-president.
“I'm absolutely delighted and proud to be the seventh president of the Commonwealth
Games Federation,” said Imran, a two-time executive board member at the International
Cricket Council and a former national squash champion in Malaysia.
In addition, South African Olympic Committee (SASCOC) president Gideon Sam was installed
as one of two CGF vice-presidents with Canada’s Bruce Robertson taking up the other
position. “I am looking forward to helping the Commonwealth Games movement go from
strength to strength and making sure that it is afforded due recognition in the sporting
arena,” said Sam, who was a high-profile sports administrator in swimming and
triathlon before being appointed to the helm of SASCOC.
Following some serious dramas in Delhi, the CGF executives might look forward to a
drama-free Games in Glasgow Scotland in 2014....... or will they?
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sidelines: to own or not to own...that is the question?
As the costs of
broadcasting major sporting events reach new highs, the American market is taking a new
and perhaps more considered approach to what assets may prove the most profitable by
exchanging broadcasting revenues for ownership of a loss-making franchise.
The Dodgers filed for bankruptcy in June and Fox Sports is considering participating in an
auction for the bankrupt Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team with a view to covering their
bases and generating additional revenues.
Troubled News Corporation bought the team in 1998 only to sell it in 2004 to Frank McCourt
for US$421 million; after acquiring the TV rights until 2013.
McCourt intends to sell the team as a way of resolving a court fight with Major League
Baseball over how best to get the club out of bankruptcy. And if Fox buy the team
for US$ One billion, it may prove to be a massive cost saving for the Corporation as the
TV rights deal is valued at around US$ 3 billion.
From a financial perceptive owning a
team seems to make sense but there are two major issues: managing a successful team
is never a slam dunk; and will these kind of deals significantly reduce the overall value
of game? In summary: Major League Baseball
(MLB) has objected to the plans proposed by the Los Angeles Dodgers to auction their media
rights and they have asked a bankruptcy court to authorize the sale of the team.
fashion icon.....
 Is London still cool
Britannia? or just Great?
From June 21, 2012 to September 9, 2012 London
will be celebrating culture with the London 2012 Festival . But what's on the
program?
According to LOCOG:
It's the hottest ticket of the year – the
most exciting festival the UK has ever seen - bringing more than 10 million opportunities
to see 1,000 performances and events with leading artists from all over the world coming
together for this unique event to celebrate London 2012.
Whether you love dance, music, theatre, fashion, food, art or film - it's happening all
around the UK, with many free events suitable for families.
So what's the Cultural Olympiad?
Since 2008, the Cultural Olympiad has been inspiring
creativity in all forms of arts and culture, especially among young people.
It has included a wide range of events - from local projects to large-scale performances
across the UK. So far, 16 million people have taken part; and The London 2012
Festival is its finale.
There will be countdown events that will run before
the Festival opens. Tickets are available now for some events; and some will come online
in 2012. Some events are free and others involve putting your hand in your pocket!
Confused. Hardly suprising!
The Cultural Olympiad is defined as taking the culture of the host Olympics and
Paralympics City and showcasing it around the world from the day after the Paralympics
ends to the start of the next Olympic and Paralympic Games using organizations such as The
British Council to promote the events.
Still confused?
Well there should be a lot to do in 2012 in London
and other host cities; but the general consensus is that the current line-up of events may
be too elite. And, as ambush marketing has the affect of curtailing the enthusiasm and
initiatives of the broader general public and the Small and Medium size companies it is
difficult to assess whether these events will be oversubscribed or half-empty. Transport
may yet again play its role in the success of the Games' cultural programs.
home and away: A way forward for
doping offenders.
The Danish Sports Confederation (DIF) has abrogated
rules forbidding former doping offenders from representing Denmark in the London 2012
Games.
DIF said the decision was a reaction to last month's landmark ruling by the Court of
Arbitration for Sport (CAS) that an International Olympic Committee (IOC) ban on convicted
drug cheats was "invalid and unenforceable".
DIF Chairman, Niels Nygaard confirmed that the Sports
Confederation had taken the decision as a 'natural consequence' of the CAS ruling.
The IOC's Rule 45, created in June 2008
barred any athlete who had received a doping suspension of more than six months from
competing in the next Olympic Games. However, the new CAS ruling that followed a joint
request for arbitration filed by the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) and the IOC
itself will likely entail the reinstatement of a number of athletes including the likes
of US athlete, LaShawn Merritt who will now be in a position to defend his Olympic
400 metres title at London 2012.
Whatever your view of doping, the rules regarding the reinstatement of elite athletes
should be universal across all countries competing in the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The British Olympic Authority have particularly strong views on the subject with a number
of high profile individuals preferring the lifetime ban scenario. But it is also apparent
that the CAS ruling might force the BOA to re-think its regulations and include the likes
of 100m sprinter Dwain Chambers and cyclist David Millar by allowing them to compete in
future Olympic Games. Meanwhile the DIF Board - in their capacity as a National
Olympic Committee - has the authority to select participants for the Olympic Games..
This not only raises the debate over drugs. It also looks at the Olympics as a sporting
event, determined to create the very best in competition. And by allowing athletes
who have had drug bans to compete, it could raise the level of competition.
And don't be suprised if there is a re-thinking on the false start current rulings which
created the 'Bolt Debacle' at the Track and Field World Championships. But whatever
the outcome, practical 'considerations' will always form part of the decision-making
process.
sport culture:
the London Film Festival sports movies reviews
 Perhaps one of the funniest films in the whole festival - of which there were
around 400 films - was the delightful Curling King. This movie lent a light relief
from some of the more 'hard core ' insights into human emotions.
Set in the world of competitive Scandinavian sport,
this delightful movie takes a character with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder who makes the
giant leap to return to professional sport in order to raise the money for a vital
operation for his ex-coach.
Each of the characters, directed by Ole Endresen,
have their own unique eccentricities and it is the rhythms of this bizarre collection of
individuals from a small town that makes this move a perfect gem.....and they say that
sports movies cannot be funny!
And equally funny, but tackling a much more serious
topic is the film We Have a Pope. The story masterfully takes the subject of
electing a new Pope, when none of the candidates wants the job.
This satirical look at the Papacy is tackled with
such finesse that nobody can deny the legitimacy of the story.
The idea that no-one wants the top job may have more
than an element of truth to it as Director Nanni Moretti - who also takes on the cameo
role of a a skeptical psychotherapist - has risked rebuke from the real world of the
Catholic church.
One delightful touch to the story is how sport acts
as a distraction during the waiting game of the election. Cardinals are divided into
world regions to take on teams in a game of Papal Volleyball. And there is no
denying the competitive nature of the members of the Catholic Church as they bide their
time waiting for the white smoke to appear.
Truly entertaining and no doubt with a very
large helping of the truth! No wonder the process always takes so long! And
perhaps a morality tale for many prospective sports teams' managers!
And sports action may have been in short supply in
the 55th London Film Festival but there were two movies - one documentary much in the
style of the handheld and another reminding us of the very dark times of apartheid .
Otelo Burning takes a sharp and incisive look at the
townships during the late nineteen eighties in South Africa as the process of Nelson
Mandela's release became more of a reality than just a remote possibility. Two
township boys join a friend to take on the sport of surfing - an opportunity for them to
leave their impoverished homes and enjoy the world of competitive and potentially
lucrative sport.
But amidst their ambitions to better themselves,
Otelo leaves his younger brother behind and the young curious boy becomes a victim of his
own innocence.
Riding the waves represented the only chance of
freedom from the townships; but the dangerous world in which these kids lived turned
opportunity into a cruel disaster. A beautifully shot film by Director, Sara Blecher.
In sharp contrast, the documentary DragonSlayer follows the professional career of Josh
'Skreech' Sandoval. The veteran skateboarder in his twenties appears to have
lost his edge as he and his friends highlight the American financial crash as they
effectively display their skills by setting up 'squats' around abandoned swimming pools
across the US as they hone their techniques.
This story of lost hope juxtaposes the dwindling
career and hopelessness of Skreech's addiction to drink and drugs with the demise and
decline of the American dream.
A clever depiction of the USA that might possibly
just be seen as a cult skateboarding movie. Check it out!
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starting blocks:  don't fall for 'mis-sold' corporate hospitality!
Keith Prowse, the UK’s most
prolific suppliers of official hospitality, has put out a warning to the UK’s
corporates to be mindful of being mis-sold corporate hospitality.
The World Athletics Championships
2017, the latest addition to the UK’s Golden Decade of Sport, has spawned a flurry of
activity by unscrupulous suppliers seeking to cash in. Telesales calls offering men’s
100 metre final corporate hospitality packages have already been received by corporates
according to Keith Prowse MD, Andrew Hodgkins. “As yet the official suppliers have
not been appointed. Any purported ‘corporate hospitality packages’ are therefore
speculative and should not be purchased under any circumstances. The rights holders of
every event will have key official suppliers and authorized suppliers who are appointed
for their business integrity and ability to fulfil their obligations.”
For corporates who are considering
corporate hospitality packages during the Golden Decade of Sport, Keith Prowse has issued
guidance on purchasing packages: summarized as follows:
Always buy from a supplier who is
accredited as an ‘official’ supplier. Do not be fooled by the telesales call
that offers ‘a table that has just become free, as a client has just
cancelled’.Ask the source of the tickets which make up the corporate hospitality
packages. Check the cancellation policies that have been put in place by the
hospitality provider. Do not be taken in by spectacular photography and costly looking
brochures. Be price conscious, low prices does not necessarily mean value for money. Read
the contract and check exactly what is included in the corporate hospitality package.
Ask for the locations of the facilities that make up the package. They should all be
close by; be very wary of having to leave the grounds for lunch! (except Wimbledon!). And
if you have any doubt at all, ask for previous client recommendations and endorsements;
and note that the hospitality industry is unregulated.
Perhaps it should be!!
______________________
life after: test events
 
As part of the program to ensure that all Olympic and
Paralympic events run smoothly, the venues test out a selection of elite competitions to
ensure that the venues and operations will run smoothly during the 2012 Games. The
latest venue under scrutiny was the exhibition venue Excel. Hardly a designer dream,
this box-like venue is home to a string of exhibitions throughout the year. But few
events will cast such scrutiny over the management of this venue as the officials of the
Sports Federations and the International Olympic Committee.
So it was off to Excel to see how well sport would compliment the venue.
shortsandsports sports checked out two events: Table Tennis and Fencing.
The Table Tennis 'Hall' was filled with a substantial number of spectators who had the
privilege of watching the World Number One going through his paces with remarkable ease.
The venue was brightly lit - as you would expect, but it lacked atmosphere as the athletes
demonstrated their elite talents, with matches on two courts at the same time.
The tone of the sport was quite formal and very polite and although it was exciting to
watch the test event, spectators were relatively sedate throughout. Excel will have
to pull out all the stops to get a Games atmosphere out of this particular space.
But the fencing proved to be a different story. Similar to a catwalk show with light
highlighting the runway, the two fencers covered the distance in their attempts to score
points. The lighting made the spectacle dramatic and exciting and instead of the
usual Mexican wave it was a sympathetic operatic mood that was cast across the two
adversaries as the action played out.
And to this editor's suprise the Americans were the
stars of this particular show!
______________________
-> back home  |
Kate Middleton, Prince William and
Prince Harry join the the London 2012 team. And Federer gets his mojo back!
