Cookson: Olympic Channel Means "Added Value" to Cycling -- Federations Focus

(ATR) Brian Cookson, head of the International Cycling Union, tellsATRthat Olympic Broadcasting Services has opened a "good dialogue" with fed leaders about inclusion in the Olympic Channel.

"My colleagues in marketing and communications have met with the Olympic broadcasting people and we're absolutely confident that we're going to get something good out of this new arrangement," Cookson says.

The cycling chief spoke withATRlast week in Washington D.C. in the backdrop of the 2015 ANOC General Assembly. When asked whether he knew of a format set up for the potential Olympic Channel, Cookson said it is too early to say.

"The important thing is that we've got a good dialogue going and that they understand the different branches of our sport," he added.

"We're considering what the potential is, what other arrangements we have in place, what events are already on the calendar, and what added value this new opportunity can bring to us.

"I'm hedging my bets a little bit here because I think we're still at the beginning of the process of talking this through and understanding the implications."

On Oct. 29, during day one of the ANOC General Assembly, OBS chief executiveYiannis Exarchos gave a presentation on the Olympic Channel.

"This channel will be an amplifier of Agenda 2020 reforms and Olympic values," Exarchos said during his address to the assembly. "The world is changing and we need to change with it.

"We must strengthen how we connect and engage with athletes, fans, spectators, and our Olympic partners."

Exarchos also said that theimpact of social media is a "reality that the sports world cannot afford to ignore" going forward.

"The Olympic Channel needs to have a digital heart," he added. "We need to produce original content relevant to young people."

Cookson echoed Exarchos' sentiments to ATR. "You've got so many more different opportunities to present your sport to the world, in ways that are nontraditional.

"There's an explosion of ways that you can follow sport and an explosion of ways in which you can transmit information, statistics, and so on."

The UCI head also told ATR that aside from talks with OBS, cycling leaders are updating the way cycling is broadcast now.

"We're tryingto give live coverage from cameras on the bikes, right in the middle of the peloton.

"We saw some fantastic head camera video from the World BMX Championships with Stephanie Fernandez who won the gold medal and it was brilliant to see."

The efforts help cycling leaders "engage with the fans much more effectively," Cookson said.

Exarchos and Cookson both hope that new broadcasting outlets like the Olympic Channel will garner year-round attention for the Olympic Games.

"Seventeen days are not enough," Exarchos said.

Cookson told ATR that he thinksthe Olympic and Paralympic Games should not be thought of as something that takes place in one month, in one year, every four years.

"When you think about the cost of something like an Olympic Games, don't just think about the cost for those 17 days. Think about the impact you can have on your city, on your nation, and on young people."

Qatar Keeps FIBA 3x3 Tournament Through 2020

The Qatar Basketball Federation has signed a deal with FIBA guaranteeing the FIBA 3x3 All Stars tournament remains in Doha for the next five years.

Doha hosted the first edition of the season-ending event in 2013, offering the largest prize purse of the season with $120,000 up for grabs.

"We are delighted to renew our partnership with the Qatar Basketball Federation," FIBA Secretary General and IOC member Patrick Baumann said.

"The event has quickly become a local favourite and shows the unlimited potential of 3x3 basketball. Signing until 2020 is the symbol of the great plans we have for the young urban discipline. We hope it [2020] is the year 3x3 is played for the first time at the Olympic Games," said QBF President H.E. Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.

IOC President Visits FEI Headquarters

IOC president Thomas Bach made an official visit to the headquarters of the international equestrian federation (FEI) this week to discuss themes and topics of Olympic Agenda 2020.

Bach praised the federation on the high-level of compliance with 40 recommendations outlined by Agenda 2020.

"Olympic Agenda 2020 is the strategic road map for the future of the Olympic Movement and it is impressive to see how compliant the FEI and equestrian sport already are with many of the recommendations. We have targeted gender equality as a key goal of Agenda 2020 and equestrian sport has always been at the forefront on this, with men and women competing against each other for the medals," Bach said in a statement.

FEI president Ingmar De Vos offered the federation's full support of Agenda 2020 to president Bach.

"We are confident that we tick many of the Agenda 2020 boxes, and we’re working hard to add the tick to the missing ones. We are pushing the boundaries, while respecting the traditions of our sport," said De Vos.

New Website for Baseball Softball Confederation

After months of collaboration, the World Baseball Softball Confederation launches a new website, wbsc.org.

The new site includes a side by side homepage presentation of the two sports as well as subsites dedicated to each of the two sports.

"This new website is a symbol of a new era and journey together that leads to a very bright future for the growth and long-term partnership of baseball and softball," says WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari.

The launch of the new website comes just days before the first games in the new Premier 12 baseball tournament that takes place in Chinese Taipei and Japan from November 8 to 21.

Written byNicole Bennett

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