Columbia College Adds Five New Sports
Starting in the fall of 2012, Columbia College will double its NAIA sports teams adding women’s soccer, men’s and women’s cross country and men’s and women’s golf. These teams join the college’s highly successful men’s soccer, men’s and women’s basketball and women’s softball and volleyball teams.
“This is an exciting time for Cougar athletics,” said Bob Burchard, director of Athletics and head men’s basketball coach. “The steady growth of the college combined with continued support from the community made this an easy decision. We can’t wait to carry on our winning tradition with five new teams.”
Women’s soccer and the cross country teams will join the fall lineup while the golf teams will play in the spring — golf is the first men’s spring sport offered at the college. The soccer team will use existing facilities on campus while the golf and cross country teams will hold competitions at local golf courses. The college is currently filling necessary coaching positions and plans to aggressively recruit student-athletes throughout the year. Read more
Canadian Solar Is Official Exclusive Partner of German Soccer Clubs – Hannover 96 and 1. FC Nuremberg
Canadian Solar announced that the Company is now the official exclusive sponsor of German top-league soccer teams Hannover 96 and 1. FC Nuremberg.
By this commitment, Canadian Solar will become part of one of Germany’s oldest sports, rich in tradition. Both new partnerships were arranged by SPORTIVE.
Canadian Solar is proud to join Hannover 96 and 1. FC Nuremberg as their official sponsor starting in the 2011/2012 season through to the end of the 2013/14 season. In return, Canadian Solar will receive dedicated marketing, hospitality and advertising privileges. Among other activities, Canadian Solar’s logo will be prominently displayed on stadium signage, interview boards, the official team photo and other advertising spaces at all top league home games.
“Soccer is one the world’s most dynamic and most popular sports. The sport is clearly number one in Germany, which guarantees high visibility for our brand. Canadian Solar is active in the north and in the south of Germany, and we are proud to be associated with two leading professional teams representing both parts of the country,” said Dr. Shawn Qu, Chairman and CEO of Canadian Solar.
Ranking fourth in the 2010/2011 top league season, Hannover 96 delivered its best season in the club’s history positioning it to return to the European soccer theater after 19 years. Their successful and inspired game has delighted the entire Hannover region. “Canadian Solar is a good match to Hannover 96: modern, innovative and creative as well as competitive and market-oriented. I am pleased about this partnership, which reveals how important and attractive the brand Hannover 96 is for nation-wide operating companies,” said Martin Kind, General Manager of Hannover 96. Read more
Equatorial Guinea is Ready to Host 2012 Africa Cup of Nations
Equatorial Guinea has completed 97% of the infrastructure projects needed to host 2012 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN), which will open in Malabo on January 21.
In an interview with BBC, Minister of Youth and Sports Ruslan Nsue Obiang, who is also chairman of the organizing committee, pointed to the country’s success in delivering infrastructure projects for the recent African Union Summit, and said that Equatorial Guinea continues its efforts to upgrade and enhance infrastructure in the country as it gets ready to co-host the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) with neighboring Gabon.
Minister Obiang pointed out that Equatorial Guinea is experienced in holding events of this magnitude. “With the African Union Summit that was held last month, you could see the hotel capacity we have in Malabo.” He continued to say Equatorial Guinea and Gabon have always enjoyed good bilateral relations and the two parties have been working well together to host the CAN 2012.
Equatorial Guinea’s soccer coach, Henri Michel, has been leading the team throughout this year’s competitions and will continue to train the team for the upcoming CAN 2012. Read more
Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12 Competitors to Test the Power of Inmarsat FleetBroadband in the Rolex Fastnet Race
Three competitors in the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-2012 are using this year’s Rolex Fastnet Race as an opportunity for their media crew members (MCMs) to practice broadcasting high-definition television (HDTV) and rich multimedia content to the world’s media via the Inmarsat satellite network.
Inmarsat is providing communications throughout the round-the-world challenge with its FleetBroadband service, the leading voice and broadband data service used by vessels from pleasure cruisers to super tankers. Competitors in the upcoming race will be the first to have access to the new ‘red button’ safety service on FleetBroadband. In addition, the race is endorsing IsatPhone Pro, Inmarsat’s new global satellite phone, by including it in the boats’ safety kits.
Groupama 4, skippered by French sailing legend Franck Cammas, UAE entry Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing with a core of Volvo Ocean Race veterans led by Ian Walker, and Chinese entry Team Sanya skippered by 2008-09 winner Mike Sanderson, will all be treating the Rolex Fastnet Race as if it were a short leg of the Volvo Ocean Race, making it the perfect scenario to not only show off the boats but their equipment too.
Yann Riou, MCM onboard Groupama 4, said, “The DNA of today’s Volvo Ocean Race is increasingly based around moving images. The role of the Media Crew Member is to be able to transmit images as well as commentary from the boats and build a strong story around the race. The opportunity to put the equipment to the test, as well as my preparation as a broadcaster and photographer, in the Rolex Fastnet is invaluable.”
In recognition of the role broadcast media plays in bringing the excitement of the race to billions of spectators and delivering millions of dollars in valuable media coverage for race sponsors, Inmarsat will again present its Media Crew Member (MCM) Award of 1,000 Euros (US$1,358) on each leg of the race, plus a 10,000 Euro (US$13,585) prize for the best overall contribution to race coverage. Read more
UFC Event on Aug. 6 Expected to Boost Philadelphia Regional Economy
The Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission expects a major Ultimate Fighting Championship event on Aug. 6 will generate millions of dollars in regional and state economic benefits.
The Rashard Evans vs. Tito Ortiz bout will headline the UFC card Saturday at Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Center.
Philadelphia’s UFC event, combined with a similar event at Pittsburgh’s Consol Energy Center June 26, could generate between $6 million and $8 million in total economic activity, based on a study of similar events in New York. Attendance in Pittsburgh exceeded projections by 3 percent.
“With these two well-known fighters in the main event, we project ticket sales for Philadelphia to total about 12,000,” said Greg Sirb, executive director of the State Athletic Commission. The commission, which oversees boxing, mixed martial arts and professional wrestling in Pennsylvania, is part of the Department of State.
Sirb has promoted Pennsylvania for UFC events since the sport was legalized here in 2009. He believes Pennsylvania is the first state other than Nevada to attract two UFC events in the same summer. If these dates are successful, Sirb expects more UFC bouts and their overnight visitors will come to Pennsylvania in the future.
“Hotels, restaurants, bars, and other service businesses near the venue will see large increases in business,” Sirb said. Estimated ticket sales of 12,000 would be expected to generate between $4 million and $5 million for Philadelphia’s economy; the 7,000 attendees projected for Pittsburgh were expected to mean between $2 million and $3 million for that area. Read more