European Athletics, the rights holder for events including the biennial European Athletics Championship, has created a new company to market its activities, through a joint venture with Tridem Sports.

European Athletics Marketing, based in Switzerland, will act as a service company for commercial strategies and sales activities, including sponsor account management and rights delivery.

Its first priority will be to develop the sponsorship programmes of European Athletics’ major events and work with local organising committees to optimise event revenues.

The company will also actively look for partnerships for European Athletics’ other activities and programmes, including the European Athletics Convention, Young Leaders programme and a new “Running for All” initiative to position European Athletics as the natural authority for running on the continent.

The new company is a joint venture with Swiss-based sports marketing agency Tridem Sports. European Athletics is the main shareholder of the new company and will maintain ownership and control of its commercial properties.

“We are confident that this new company will help us create additional values and revenues from our events and activities,” said European Athletics president Svein Arne Hansen.

“Tridem brings to the table expertise and know-how in sales, marketing and event implementation, and has the experience in networking and developing relationships with business companies.”

Tridem founder and CEO Christian Pirzer said, “We are pleased about this new joint venture with European Athletics, our first big project outside of winter sports. It will help to develop the commercial programme of athletics in Europe. It is our second joint-venture company with a major Olympic sport after the successful implementation six years ago of FIS Marketing AG with the International Ski Federation.”

The 2016 European Athletics Championships takes place in Amsterdam from 6 to 10 July and tickets are now on sale. 

The 2018 European Athletics Championships will take place in Berlin to coincide with swimming, cycling, rowing and triathlon events in Glasgow as part of the 2018 European Sports Championships.

With just over a month to go before the FIFA presidential election, candidate HRH Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein met with His Holiness Pope Francis at The Vatican on Thursday to discuss the global development of football and how to promote peace and social responsibility through sport.

In the private meeting, Pope Francis and Prince Ali discussed the challenges and opportunities around developing football globally. They also talked about how sport and football can help to promote peace and social responsibility. 

“I have been greatly inspired by Pope Francis’s work to use sport to build bridges between people of differing faiths and cultures,” said Prince Ali.

“Pope Francis is a true innovator in this regard; it was a great honour to meet with him not only in his capacity as the leader of one of the largest faiths in the world, but also in his capacity as a much-admired champion for peace, tolerance and inter-faith dialogue and understanding. Our discussions were very fruitful and we share a common vision of using sport as a force for good in the world.”  

Pope Francis is a football lover and supporter of Buenos Aires-based team the Saints of San Lorenzo. Before the 2014 FIFA World Cup, he published a video message in which he described football as “a game and at the same time an opportunity for dialogue, understanding and reciprocal human enrichment”.

Last year, the Vatican hosted an interfaith charity football match to promote peace, in which he welcomed past and present greats of the football world for the high-profile game at the Vatican.

Prince Ali is said to be a direct descendant of the prophet Mohammed.

The development of football is a key concern of Prince Ali, who has been vice president of FIFA since 2011. In January 2012, he founded the Asian Football Development Project (AFDP), a non-profit youth commission headquartered in Amman, Jordan.

The AFDP works to develop football across Asia with a focus on youth development, empowering women, social responsibility and the protection and evolution of the game. AFDP led the successful campaign to lift the ban on head scarves in football.

Prince Ali has worked to promote unity and develop football since becoming President of the Jordan Football Association in 1999. In 2000, he founded the West Asian Football Federation (WAFF), of which he is president. WAFF’s members are Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Saudi Arabia.

The president of FIFA will be elected on May 29th.

The Asian Football Confederation and the International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS) on Friday signed a wide-ranging partnership agreement to strengthen safety and security in Asian football.

The agreement will strengthen existing safety and security regulations, develop training programmes and help assess safety and security within the AFC Member Associations.

The partnership agreement was signed by the presidents of the two organisations after the AFC Congress in Bahrain. 

“Safety and security is a top priority for the AFC, a basic requirement for any football match to take place. The AFC does everything within its powers to protect players, officials, coaches and spectators across Asia,” said Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, who was reelected as AFC president on Thursday.

“The ICSS is at the forefront of safeguarding sport and this agreement is a significant step forward in enhancing safety and security practices within the AFC and our Member Associations.”

ICSS president Mohammed Hanzab said: “As sport and major events continue to increase in size and complexity, I would encourage other football associations and confederations to show the same proactive leadership as the AFC in sport safety and security to confront the new threats that sport now faces.

“This partnership with the AFC represents a significant milestone for the ICSS and builds on our growing portfolio with various sports organisations and other major events rights-holders around the world.

“As one of the fastest growing and most diverse football regions in the world, Asia is an important platform for the ICSS to showcase our expertise, as well as providing us with a unique opportunity to work on some of the world’s largest major sport events and venues.”

As part of the agreement, the ICSS and AFC will develop safety and security regulations within the framework of FIFA international guidelines. 

The partners will also deliver training programmes educate security officers within AFC Member Associations, including ‘Train the Trainer’ programmes.

They will also develop key requirements for the security design of sport infrastructure, security operations for clubs and international matches and tournaments taking place in AFC Member Associations

The growth of a professional network of security personnel will be supported, to ensure the appointment of qualified staff for clubs, international matches and tournaments.

Current safety and security documentation and reporting tools for clubs, international matches and tournaments taking place within the AFC will be reviewed.

ICSS will also provide safety and security assessments in collaboration with or on behalf of the AFC.

New security threats are emerging, but football is failing to take on board the experiences of other major events.

To tackle this growing problem, international standards are needed to train and educate sport safety and major event security managers, according to Helmut Spahn, director general of the International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS). 

“Training and educating those who look after our safety and security in sport is a major responsibility for any major event organiser or sport venue operator. However, at the moment, it is clear that many clubs, leagues and associations do not provide enough opportunities for their safety and security managers to learn from other sports and major events,” he told delegates at the European Stadium and Safety Management Association (ESSMA) Summit.

To encourage the development of an international standard in training and educating within the sport safety and security management industry, the ICSS has developed the first International Advanced Studies Programme on Sport Safety and Security Management with SRH University Heidelberg.

“With many new and emerging threats now facing sport, as good practice the ICSS would encourage clubs, leagues and associations across all sports to enrol on courses like this and provide more opportunities for their safety and security workforce to learn about emerging trends and techniques developing within the industry.”

The ESSMA Summit, hosted in Munich on 27th and 28th January 2015, was supported by the European Professional Football Leagues (EPFL), European Club Association (ECA) and the ICSS. 

The conference attracted delegates from FC Barcelona, FIFA, Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid CF, Arsenal FC, Wembley, Manchester United, Liga de Futbol Profesional, ACF Fiorentina, AS Monaco FC and Dallas Cowboys.

“The challenge of securing major sport events and international venues has never been greater and once again the ICSS has added considerable knowledge and experience to the event, as well as their cutting-edge expertise in sport safety and security. This has been of enormous benefit to our members,” said Dimitri Huygen, managing director of ESSMA.

“The ICSS is continuing to play an important and active role in leading the development of the sport safety and security industry. On behalf of ESSMA, I look forward to continuing our work with the ICSS, as well as other organisations including the ECA and EPFL.”

Luis Figo on Wednesday put himself forward as a candidate for the presidency of FIFA, promising to improve the organisation “deteriorating” image and remove its association with “scandal”.

Announcing his bid with just one day to go before the deadline, Figo joins Prince Ali of Jordan, Jerome Champagne and David Ginola as a challenger to FIFA president Sepp Blatter. 

"I look at the reputation of Fifa right now and I don't like it. Football deserves better.

"In recent weeks, months, and even years, I have seen the image of Fifa deteriorate,” Figo told journalists. 

"If you search FIFA on the internet, you see the first word that comes out: 'scandal.' Not positive words. It's that we have to change first and try to improve the image of FIFA. Football deserves much better than this.

"I've been talking with so many important people in football – players, managers, president of federations – and they all think that something has to be done.

The brand image of FIFA’s most valuable product, the World Cup, is at risk, Figo said.

“Last year was the World Cup, I was in Brazil and I saw the reaction of all the fans regarding the image of FIFA and I think something has to be changed.

"Change in leadership, governance, transparency and solidarity, so I think it's the moment for that."

All candidates will need to show the support of at least five nominating member associations in order to validate their presidential campaigns. 

FIFA’s Harold Mayne-Nicholls, who led the evaluation commission for, and questioned the outcome of, the controversial 2018 and 2022 World Cup bidding procedure has said he may also enter the race.

The 42-year old footballing legend played for Barcelona, Real Madrid and Inter Milan, winning FIFA World Player of the Year award in 2001 and the Ballon d'Or in 2000.

FIFA requires presidential candidates to demonstrate that they have worked as “a board member, committee member, referee, assistant referee, coach, trainer [or] any other person responsible for technical, medical or administrative matters in FIFA, a Confederation, Association, League or Club”.

The president will be elected on 29th by FIFA members. Support for incumbent President Blatter is said to be very strong. 

Five more European broadcasters have signed contracts with the Baku European Games Operations Committee (BEGOC). 

The new deals, with public broadcasters RTVE (Spain), ERR (Estonia), LTV (Latvia), RTV Slovenija (Slovenia), and subscription-based Sport TV (Portugal), mean that the first European Games will be broadcast in at least 47 countries. 

More than one billion viewers worldwide will now be able to watch Baku 2015 on television.

“It is important that as many people as possible are able to share in the inaugural edition of the European Games this summer,” said Simon Clegg, chief operating officer of Baku 2015.

“With 130 days to go until the Opening Ceremony, these new deals are a great step in achieving that aim.”

The contracts include daily coverage commitments or a minimum number of sport competition hours to be screened during the Games. 

Spain’s RTVE will screen the opening and closing ceremonies live, as well as providing extended competition coverage throughout the Games. 

The network will also air a series of ‘Road to Baku’ programmes focusing on preparations for Baku 2015, while Sport TV will cover the Games on a dedicated 24-hour channel to be broadcast in their home market of Portugal, as well as in Mozambique and Angola.

RTV Slovenija, Latvia’s LTV and Estonia’s ERR have also committed to extensive coverage of the Games. 

“These agreements will bring the inaugural European Games to tens of millions of viewers across Europe and beyond,” said Charlie Wijeratna, commercial director of Baku 2015.

“All of these broadcasters are Olympic rights holders for Rio 2016, and bring with them a wealth of experience in broadcasting major sports events.

“A key part of Baku 2015’s commercial offering has been our ability to secure broadcast agreements, and I’m delighted that we’re continuing to deliver on this objective. This announcement shows that we are continuing to raise the profile of the event across the continent.”

Baku 2015 will take place from 12 – 28 June 2015, featuring 16 Olympic sports and four non-Olympic sports. More than 6,000 athletes from across Europe will be representing their nations over 17 days of competition.

Eleven of the sports will offer qualification opportunities for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Those sports include Archery, Athletics, Boxing, Cycling, Shooting, Swimming, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Triathlon, Volleyball and Wrestling.

The BEGOC will organise and run the Games in cooperation with the European Olympic Committees (EOC), who awarded Baku the Games in December 2012.

SportAccord Convention is pleased to announce its collaborative partnerships for this year’s edition taking place from 19-24 April 2015 at the Sochi Expocentre in Russia. The World Sport & Business Summit is the foremost global gathering owned by sport.

Gold Partners include: The Combat and Strength Sports Confederation of Kazakhstan; Macau Sport Development Board who are supporting the Convention for the eighth consecutive year; as well as Sport Event Denmark who are also returning this year.

Silver Partners include: Aggreko, City of Edmonton, Eurosport, EventScotland and Qatar Olympic Committee, with the Commonwealth Games Federation joining once again as a Bronze Partner.

Euronews will be supporting the Convention in 2015 and continue to generate buzz around the SportAccord Member sports with the Sports United weekly-show in conjunction with SportAccord. Additionally, Taishan Sports Equipment Company, who signed a ground-breaking partnership agreement with SportAccord, will be in attendance too.

Nis Hatt, Managing Director, SportAccord Convention said, “As the Convention broadens its role, it is important to encourage involvement from both the sport and industry sectors. We’re pleased that our committed partner organisations, new and existing, will be working with us to deliver a rewarding Convention for our delegates.”

The World Sport & Business Summit creates a unique opportunity for exchange between key decision-makers from International Sports Federations and business leaders from innovative and fast-growing companies across more than 20 industries.

The SportAccord Convention Conference Programme promises to encourage lively discussion with ‘Legacy’ being this year’s theme. Panel discussions include debate on: The truth about Legacy; and addressing current issues including: The Sporting Future Today – How technology is changing the game plan.

"There are so many important areas of interest for our attendees, and during this Conference Programme, we can focus on the specific implications for International Sport Federations and the wider Sport Family." noted Nis Hatt.

Presentations delivered by leading experts will spotlight trends and opportunities, including: The Athlete Brand and Role Model Revolution; as well as covering issues around sport morality, social responsibility, transparency and authenticity when it comes to managing an organisations’ reputation before it becomes the legacy.

Nis Hatt concluded by saying: “The SportAccord Convention World Sport & Business Summit provides a unique platform for bringing together the world of sport and industry.”

For further information about SportAccord Convention or to reach Partner Organisations, please contact Jenny Edmondson, Media Relations Officer:Jenny.Edmondson@sportaccordconvention.com Tel: + 44 203 289 1690

The uncertainty surrounding the timings of the 2022 World Cup is set to continue until 24th February and the country is able to host at any time of year, according to the Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SC). 

The World Cup traditionally takes place during the northern hemisphere’s summer months, during which the European football leagues take a break.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) president Sheikh Salman bin Abraham Al Khalifa of Bahrain’s earlier this week asserted that the World Cup would take place in the winter, preferably November and December 2022, and that "the matter is resolved."

But Nasser Al-Khater, the executive director of communications and marketing at the Qatar 2022 SC is reported to have said a press conference at the Doha’s Aspire Zone: "Look, first and foremost we are confident of hosting the World Cup anytime of the year. 

“It is also no secret that the peak tourism timing is November and December.”

According to Inside World Football, Al Khater said “There is a meeting of the task force on the 24th of February. What we understand is that a final decision will be recommended during that meeting. It's the last meeting of the task force to discuss a winter or a summer World Cup."

Qatar’s summer months reach blistering heats of over 50 degrees centigrade and many observers have commented on the risks of hosting football matches in these conditions. 

The SC says it has the cooling technology to overcome these challenges. 

“We believe the methods and principles [of cooling] are a solution for many countries that will host the World Cup and other events in the future,” Al Khater said.

“Utilising this technology on such a large scale and having to think outside the box, we are really providing optimal climate conditions."

The SC also told press that Qatar’s venue infrastructure projects are on schedule, with five stadiums under construction and two more set for an imminent design launch. 

Al Khater also faced questions about FIFA’s investigations into the manner in which Qatar was elected as World Cup host.

"It's important to highlight it's an investigation into the bidding process of 2018/2022, but also into individuals," he said.

"Everyone coins it as an investigation into Qatar, which is absolutely false and incorrect. We are happy with judge Eckert's conclusion. At times it was a bit harsh, but, you know this is a World Cup and you will always have criticism and negativity."

The presidents of the world’s 209 Football Associations will elect the president of FIFA at the FIFA Congress on 29 May. 

With FIFA’s continental “confederations” holding great sway over voting intentions, and with all of these confederations bar UEFA said to be supporting Sepp Blatter, the incumbent president looks set to secure a historic fifth term. 

Candidates must state their intention to run for president on 29 January, with the support of five nominating member associations. Are there any serious challengers in the mix?

Sepp Blatter

Nationality: Swiss

Age: 78

Announced campaign: 26 September, 2014

Core message: Says he is on a mission to complete the reform process initiated in 2011

Strengths: FIFA President since 1998, seeking a fifth term. Retains strong support of the majority of FAs outside Europe. Five of FIFA’s six continental Confederations are said to be backing Blatter: AFC (Asia), CAF (Africa), CONCACAF (North and Central America and Carribean), CONMEBOL (South America) and OFC (Oceania).

Challenges: FIFA enduring external pressures and the emergence of Prince Ali of Jordan as a challenger demonstrates that internal discontent is not limited to Europe.

Jerome Champagne

Nationality: French

Age: 56

Announced campaign: 26 September, 2014

Core message: To remove elitism and global imbalance from the administration of football.

Strengths: Says he is close to gaining the five required nominations.

Challenges: Time is running out and a host of other, more outspoken candidates have emerged.

Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein

Nationality: Jordanian

Age: 39

Announced campaign: 6 January 2015

Core message: Reform of FIFA, increasing transparency. 

Strengths: Experience as vice president of FIFA, president of Jordanian Football Association and president of West Asian Football Federation. Has backing of the English FA. The only challenger to Sepp Blatter from outside Europe.

Challenges: Has yet to confirm whether he has the number of nominations required. His message of reform is echoed by those of other candidates who have since entered the race. 

David Ginola

Nationality: French

Age: 48

Announced campaign: 16 January 2015

Core message: To restore democracy, transparency and equality to FIFA

Strengths: Has the support of pressure group ChangeFifa but has yet to declare the support of any FAs.

Challenges: Ginola’s campaign is financially supported by bookmaker Paddy Power, yet FIFA rules prohibit candidates “being associated with betting, gambling, lotteries and similar events”. 

Michael van Praag

Nationality: Dutch

Age: 67

Announced campaign: 26 January 2015

Core message: To normalise, modernise FIFA and regain public trust. Presenting himself as the only credible opponent to Blatter.

Support: Has the required five nominations, including support from Scotland.

Challenges: Other European candidates offering a message of reform and transparency could split the vote, if they gain the required nominations. Support outside Europe is limited.

Luis Figo

Age: 42

Nationality: Portuguese

Announced campaign: 28 September 2015

Core message: To repair FIFA’s public image.

Support: Has the required 5 nominations.

Challenges: A recently retired footballer, he lacks experience in football administration.

Mario Vázquez Raña, former IOC member, president of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) and publisher, has died aged 82. 

A member of the IOC from 1991 to 2012, Vázquez Raña played a central role in promoting sport and the Olympic Movement in his home nation of Mexico, the Americas and around the world. 

“Mario Vázquez Raña dedicated a great part of his life to Olympic sport”, said IOC President Thomas Bach. “He served over decades with great commitment as President of PASO, even until his last moments.”

He headed the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) from 1979 to 2012, and was chairman of the Pan American Sports Organisation (PASO) from 1975 until his death – during which time he has also president and director of Latin America’s largest newspaper company, Organización Editorial Mexicana. 

Vázquez Raña was also president and director general of Cartones Ponderosa from 2001-2015, owner of United Press International from 1985 to 1988 and president of the board of directors of the Hermanos Vázquez Company from 1960 to 1980. 

A keen sportsman, Vázquez Raña participated in shooting competitions at the national and international level, going on to become president of the Mexican Shooting Federation (1969-1974) and the American Shooting Confederation (1973-1979). He was also vice-president of the Mexican Sports Confederation (1973-1976) and president of the Mexican National Olympic Committee (1974-2001).

Vázquez Raña’s roles within the IOC included appointments as Executive Board member, Chairman of Olympic Solidarity (2002-2012) and president of the Organising Committee for the 114th IOC Session in Mexico City (2002). 

He was also a member of a number of IOC Commissions: Olympic Movement (1990-1999); Preparation of the XII Olympic Congress (1990-1994); Apartheid and Olympism (1990-1992); IOC 2000 Executive Committee (1999); Marketing (2000); IOC 2000 Reform Follow-up (2002); and 2009 Congress (2009-2010).

“He had outstanding merit within the Olympic Movement and we will always remember him as a great Olympic leader. The Olympic flag at the IOC headquarters in Lausanne will be flown at half-mast in his honour,” said president Bach. 

The IOC also expressed its deepest sympathies to Mario Vázquez Raña’s family.