Thursday, 5th July 2007

RESULTS

Source: The Guardian UK, 5th Jul 2007
Chile and Mexico were jeered off the pitch after a dismal 0-0 draw at the Copa America on Wednesday but made no apologies for their performances. The result suited both teams as Chile qualified for the second round with four points from three games and Mexico, already through, guaranteed top spot in Group B with seven.

Source: Int. Herald Tribune, 5th Jul 2007
A sluggish Brazil limped into the Copa America quarterfinals Wednesday, beating Ecuador 1-0 on a disputed penalty by Robinho. After a scoreless first half, and with Ecuador threatening, Giovanni Espinoza was whistled for grabbing Robinho, who fell to the ground in the 56th minute. The Real Madrid striker buried the penalty awarded, making him the tournament's top scorer so far. Brazil finished second in Group B, setting up a quarterfinal rematch Saturday in Puerto La Cruz against Chile, which it beat 3-0 on a hat trick by Robinho. Ecuador went home without a win despite having fielded much of the same squad that helped it qualify for the past two World Cups.


THIS WEEK

Thu, 5th Jul 2007
Copa America 2007: Group C - USA v Colombia, Barquisimeto
Copa America 2007: Group C - Argentina v Paraguay, Barquisimeto

Sat, 7th Jul 2007
Masters Football: Central Masters
Copa America 2007: Quarter-final 1, Maracaibo
Copa America 2007: Quarter-final 2, San Cristobal

Sun, 8th Jul 2007
AVP Crocs Tour: Seaside Heights Open, Final Day
Copa America 2007: Quarter-final 3, Maturin
Copa America 2007: Quarter-final 4, Barquisimeto


DID YOU KNOW…?

Mobile operators China Unicom and China Mobile have started giving out free beer to entice new subscribers, the Financial Times reported. China Unicom got the ball rolling in the city of Suiqian in Jiangsu province, offering 12 bottles of local beer to anyone who signed up for a subscription that requires a US$13 down payment. China Mobile responded by upping the ante to two crates of beer per person.

"It's an odd thing. The China mobile market is a duopoly, but they act as if there are 10 competitors fighting it out," said Duncan Clark, managing director of telecoms consultancy BDA China. The speed of China Mobile's response suggests that it will give no ground to its smaller rival. In other parts of the country, it already leads the way in promotions, handing out a selection of towels, umbrellas, cooking oil, woks, washing powder and mosquito repellent to users who make downpayments.

The promotions are a means of bypassing government controls on telephone tariffs. China Mobile accounts for two-thirds of the country's 477 million or so mobile phone users. Source: China Economic Review, 5th Jul 2007


SPORTS SHORTS

* A documentary tracing the 7-year history of Beijing’s preparations to stage next year’s Olympic Games is being made. Wang Hui, deputy director of organising committee’s media and communications department, said: ‘The film tells what happened with preparatory work for next summer’s Olympics and progress in Beijing’s urban development and management since July 13, 2001, to the time we will stage the games.’ The film is to be released in July next year ‘as a gift to the Olympics.’ Source: Sportcal, 4th Jul 2007

* Vietnam's top player Nguyen Tien Minh has leapt 19 places to become 40th in the world ranking by the Badminton World Federation. He now has a good chance of gaining automatic entry into the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Minh is the only Vietnamese player placed in the main round of the Thailand Badminton Tournament Open which is being played this week. Source: Vietnam Net, 3rd Jul 2007

* Malaysia's reputation is the concern on Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said's mind in the conflict between Malaysian officials in the Badminton World Federation. Azalina was disappointed by friction between BWF Deputy President Datuk Punch Gunalan and Chief Operating Officer, Ganga Rao, and said it should not have happened as Malaysia's image was at stake. Although her Ministry had no powers over the BWF, she hoped Punch Gunalan and Ganga to resolve their problem before Malaysia's image is further tarnished. Source: Bernama MY, 3rd Jul 2007

* Zee Sports and Ten Sports have announced that the Ten Sports’ ad sales team will also sell commercial time on Zee Sports. Zee Sports’ team will continue to market all ground sponsorship opportunities including Indian football. Ten Sports’ ad sales team has wide experience in on-air sales in India, marketing properties such as India Tour of Pakistan 2004 and 2006, WWE, US Open, Uefa Champions League, etc. The initiative is seen as the first significant step towards Zee Sports/Ten Sports becoming integrated. Source: Indian Television, 4th Jul 2007

* After breaking its distribution deal with STAR India, Neo Sports Broadcast has decided to float a new bouquet for distribution on cable and DTH. Former Zee Turner CEO, Arun Poddar, has been appointed as president to head the distribution business. For the initial three months, Neo Sports Broadcast will concentrate on getting the maximum distribution reach for its two channels — Neo Sports and Neo Sports Plus. “We will later expand our bouquet. Source: Economic Times IND, 4th Jul 2007

* The Russian city of Sochi has been elected as the host city for the XXII Olympic Winter Games in 2014. The announcement has just been made by IOC President Jacques Rogge in Guatemala City, where the IOC members are meeting. Sochi was elected in the second round of voting with 51 votes against 47 votes for PyeongChang. The goal of Sochi 2014 is to deliver Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games of unsurpassed excellence for the athletes, the Olympic family, the Paralympic family and the world. Source: IOC Official, 5th July 2007

* Veteran Brazil striker Romario will join FIFA's technical and development committee. The 41-year-old will be the first Brazilian on the committee, which is in charge of analyzing the sport and proposing improvements. Brazilian Soccer Confederation president Ricardo Teixeira said Romario was chosen to travel with him to Switzerland end July to deliver Brazil’s guarantee of meeting the list of requirements to host the 2014 World Cup. These include ensuring visa and customs entry for foreigners and construction or renovation of stadiums. Source: Int. Herald Tribune, 2nd Jul 2007


MORE NEWS

Elsewhere/Rights: Orange Can't Compete with Canal Plus for French Soccer

French telecom company, Orange France, is out of the running for television rights for French soccer’s top-tier Ligue 1 from 2008-09 onwards. Patricia Langrand, director of content at Orange, told that it was ‘impossible’ to compete with incumbent rights holder, Canal Plus, who is paying €600 million ($817.4 million) a year until the end of the 2007-08 season to show the league.

At present, Orange France has just over 1 million subscribers to its television via ADSL subscription service, which already broadcasts live sport such as tennis’ French Open. Langrand insists that Orange is only interested in mobile rights for Ligue 1, rights they hold until the end of the 2007-08 season in a two-year, €29-million-a-year deal.

The tender for the rights to the French top-tier league will be issued in November the LFP, has already said that there is no reason why the league and the clubs should accept a drop in television rights value. Record value of the present agreement was inflated by the pay-television rivalry of Canal Plus and TPS but the two eventually merged after Canal Plus agreed to pay €1.8 billion for the rights over three seasons. Source: Sportcal, 4th July 2007