Olympics - U.S. television rights battle set to rage

Published>Sat, Sep 25 10 08:32 PM

Describing the Olympics as the last refuge of family viewing in the United States, Dick Ebersol, the head of NBC Universal Sports, said on Friday the network is ready to battle for American broadcast rights to the 2014 and 2016 Games.

International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Jacques Rogge had signaled earlier on Friday that after several false starts the IOC was finally prepared begin negotiating a deal for the 2014 Sochi Winter Games and the 2016 Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro.

A fragile economic climate in the United States had prompted the IOC to delay the start of negotiations.

The IOC president told Reuters in July that bidding could be put off until after the 2012 Olympics in London because of the uncertainty of the American economy.

But with the U.S. economic picture improving the IOC said negotiations could start before the end of the year.

"Jacques said a month or two after the Games in Vancouver it would be in 2011 and Carrion (Richard Carrion a member of the IOC executive board who will oversee negotiations) said in the summer he hoped it would be in the first quarter," Ebersol told reporters after delivering the keynote address at the U.S. Olympic Assembly.

"So what Jacques said today was in keeping with what they said all along."

Competition for the U.S. television rights is expected to be fierce with NBC, CBS, ESPN-ABC and Fox all expressing interest.

Broadcasting rights are the IOC's biggest source of revenue for the IOC. NBC paid $2.2 billion for the exclusive rights to the Vancouver and London Olympics.

Ebersol said, his network is ready to begin negotiations whenever the IOC wants and is feeling lucky about NBC's chances of retaining the property.

"You have no choice," said Ebersol. "You go by what they say and when they want to do it.

"I have been so lucky for such a long period of time that I'm going to just keep rubbing my rabbit's foot."

Source: Web Search

No CWG tourists so far in renovated DU hostels

Published>Sat, Sep 25 10 08:28 PM

New Delhi, Sep 25 (IANS) There had been innumerable protests when Delhi University (DU) students were not permitted to move into their hostels as these were to be renovated for the tourists who were expected to visit the city for the Commonwealth Games. However, with the Oct 3-14 event just eight days away, the hostels are still awaiting their first guests.

Around 100,000 foreign and domestic visitors were expected to be in the Indian capital during the Games.

To partly meet the demand, around 2,700 hostel rooms across DU were renovated to house the Games' guests from the overseas and across the country. The custodians of the college hostels in North Campus, home to top colleges like the St. Stepehn's, Hindu, Ramjas and Kirori Mal, say the refurbished rooms will benefit the students in the long run but are not in demand for the Games.

The University Grants Commission (UGC), which is funding the project under the aegies of the human resource development ministry, told the hostel authorites to start expecting guests by Sep 15.

'The idea of the organisers to renovate DU hostels and leave a Games' legacy for the college was right. But I think the organisers expected too much out of the international community. We have not received a single guest so far and amid all the negative publicity of the Games, there is little chance of room demand picking up,' Chandrachur Singh, professor and warden of Hindu College, told IANS.

'It is fair to say that the decision to house the guests in DU has backfired. There are few visitors coming and they have other options too.'

In fact, the students were told to vacate the hostels to accomodate the tourists until the Games are over, sparking a joint protest from the students and teachers of the university.

The Hindu College were given Rs.10.8 million ($240,000) crores by the UGC for upgradating its 120 hostel rooms. In Ramjas College, the renovation of 60 hostel rooms cost Rs.17.1 million because these required more work.

Ramjas College warden Tanvir Aeijaz said he has got no response from the Games organisers on when the guests are expected.

'I had to arrange for the catering inside the hostel but apparently there are no takers for the facility. It does not bother me much as the hostel is now in a much better shape. The students have suffered a lot staying on their own for the last three months. But I am happy they will get a good accomodation after the Games,' Aeijaz added.

The single rooms are priced at Rs.500.

Some 7,000 athletes and officials from 71 countries and territories are expected to attend the Commonwealth Games.

Source: Web Search

Button aims for 'podium-finish' aggression in final five races to retain F1 title

Published>Sat, Sep 25 10 08:18 PM

Marina Bay (Singapore), Sep 25(ANI): Reigning Formula One champion Jenson Button has vowed to be aggressive in the final five races of a thrilling championship title battle.

Button is bidding to be the first Brit to defend the drivers' crown, and he also knows that he cannot afford another 'Did Not Finish' if he wants to pull it off.

With 165 points, the 30-year-old is currently 22 points behind championship leader, Red Bull's Mark Webber (187 points).

"The most important thing for all of us is to finish in front of all the others who are fighting for the championship. But if you look at this season it means that you have to be on the podium every race from now on," The Sun quoted Button, as saying.

"None of us can be consistently fifth now. We have to be consistently in the top three. I am going to be aggressive in these remaining races. But it has to be a controlled aggression. If you have a 'Did Not Finish' it's very difficult to win the title."

"I can't have another DNF towards the end of the year. But, then, no driver can. And if you're not aggressive, you're never going to fight for the title. I am 22 points behind, so I have got to go for it. There is no other way, but I am excited about it," he added.

Button will begin his challenge with Sunday's Singapore Grand Prix. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Mike Fennell okays games village

Published>Sat, Sep 25 10 08:12 PM

New Delhi, September 25 (ANI): Commonwealth Games Federation President Mike Fennell on Saturday said that he was satisfied with the preparations in the athletes village, adding that it is a far cry from the unsatisfactory situation earlier.Fennell said that the cleaning work in the Village was being done over the last few days.Fennell also expressed happiness about more teams now promising of their participation in the mega event.

Source: Web Search

No CWG tourists so far in renovated DU hostels

Published>Sat, Sep 25 10 08:08 PM

New Delhi, Sep 25 (IANS) There had been innumerable protests when Delhi University (DU) students were not permitted to move into their hostels as these were to be renovated for the tourists who were expected to visit the city for the Commonwealth Games. However, with the Oct 3-14 event just eight days away, the hostels are still awaiting their first guests.

Around 100,000 foreign and domestic visitors were expected to be in the Indian capital during the Games.

To partly meet the demand, around 2,700 hostel rooms across DU were renovated to house the Games' guests from the overseas and across the country. The custodians of the college hostels in North Campus, home to top colleges like the St. Stepehn's, Hindu, Ramjas and Kirori Mal, say the refurbished rooms will benefit the students in the long run but are not in demand for the Games.

The University Grants Commission (UGC), which is funding the project under the aegies of the human resource development ministry, told the hostel authorites to start expecting guests by Sep 15.

'The idea of the organisers to renovate DU hostels and leave a Games' legacy for the college was right. But I think the organisers expected too much out of the international community. We have not received a single guest so far and amid all the negative publicity of the Games, there is little chance of room demand picking up,' Chandrachur Singh, professor and warden of Hindu College, told IANS.

'It is fair to say that the decision to house the guests in DU has backfired. There are few visitors coming and they have other options too.'

In fact, the students were told to vacate the hostels to accomodate the tourists until the Games are over, sparking a joint protest from the students and teachers of the university.

The Hindu College were given Rs.10.8 million ($240,000) crores by the UGC for upgradating its 120 hostel rooms. In Ramjas College, the renovation of 60 hostel rooms cost Rs.17.1 million because these required more work.

Ramjas College warden Tanvir Aeijaz said he has got no response from the Games organisers on when the guests are expected.

'I had to arrange for the catering inside the hostel but apparently there are no takers for the facility. It does not bother me much as the hostel is now in a much better shape. The students have suffered a lot staying on their own for the last three months. But I am happy they will get a good accomodation after the Games,' Aeijaz added.

The single rooms are priced at Rs.500.

Some 7,000 athletes and officials from 71 countries and territories are expected to attend the Commonwealth Games.

Source: Web Search

Delegates from Africa raise cleanliness issue at Village

Sat, Sep 25 10 07:22 PM

New Delhi, Sep 25 (PTI) After officials from Australia, United Kingdom and New Zealand termed the Games Village "unlivable" a few days back, it is the turn of delegates from African countries who today complained of the poor standard of cleanliness at the residential zones there. A delegation of foreign diplomats from Commonwealth nations today visited the Games village to inspect the facilities at the sprawling campus. While some were quite satisfied, some were not. Officials from Mauritius, Mozambique and Uganda were heard complaining to a senior Organising Committee official about the standard of cleanliness at the Village. The complaining officials, however, refused to be identified when asked about any specific complaint. "I don''t want to comment on anything now. The work is still going in some of the flats and we have been promised our grievances would be addressed," said a Mauritian official who did not want to be identified. The Games Village had recently received lot of negative publicity after some countries complained about the poor standard of cleanliness and hygiene at the residential areas. Asked about the state of cleanliness at the Village, Organising Committee chief Suresh Kalmadi said, "Some work is still going on but everything would be completed soon. There was some waterlogging but today being a sunny day water had receded and rest has been pumped out. Hope sunny days lie ahead." PTI SAP PDS

Source: Published>

Butt will not apologise for his match-fixing allegations

Sat, Sep 25 10 07:12 PM

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt will not apologise or pay any compensation for alleging that England players were engaged in match-fixing, an official source close to the chief said.

"The ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board) not only wants an unconditional apology from Butt but also financial compensation for (damaging the reputation of) its players," the source said on Saturday.

"The letter states that the PCB should also compensate the ECB for the damages it suffered during the ODI series after Butt's remarks."

The source added that the PCB Chairman was adamant he would not apologise for his remarks -- in which he said there had been "loud and clear talk in bookies' circles that some English players were paid enormous amounts of money to lose (the third one-dayer) -- and told his legal advisors the PCB would not pay any compensation to the ECB.

Butt made the allegations after the International Cricket Council said it was investigating the third ODI for suspicious "scoring patterns" by the Pakistan team.

PCB media manager Nadeem Sarwar told the "Jang" newspaper that there was no question of Butt apologising because he had not accused the English players of match fixing.

"Everyone should listen carefully to what the chairman said in his interview he never directly accused anyone of match fixing," Sarwar said.

The ECB could not be reached for comment.

Pakistan test captain Salman Butt and his team mates Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif had been suspended after an investigation into a newspaper report that they had arranged for no-balls to be deliberately delivered in the fourth test at Lord's.

Source: Published>