Shorts: Biathlon, Commonwealth Games, Pfl
Warner Bros. Discovery has agreed a multi-year broadcasting deal to secure the rights for all the International Biathlon Union (IBU) events, starting this season.
The deal encompasses 44 countries and territories across Europe and the Asia-Pacific region and means viewers watching on Warner Bros. Discovery platforms will be able to view all of the men’s and women’s IBU events.
The deal covers the majority of Europe but only highlights will be available for viewers in the UK.
The IBU World Cup starts in Kontiolahti, Finland on 29th November and the next edition of the annual Biathlon World Championship set to take place in Oberhof, Germany on 10th February 2023.
Warner Bros. Discovery Vice President, Sports Rights Acquisitions and Syndication, Trojan Paillot, said,“Our deep winter sports heritage and expertise has seen us bring the biggest moments in biathlon to fans for more than 30 years. We also possess a proven track record of engaging wide audiences around the best winter sports events, such as reaching a record number of viewers for an Olympic Winter Games, while telling the stories of winter sports events and athletes all year-round as part of the most comprehensive live content offering.
“We are pleased to agree a new long-term partnership with the EBU to ensure the world’s best biathlon events remain on our channels and platforms for the widest possible audience to enjoy for years to come.”
Commonwealth Games England has announced that Francesca Carter-Kelly will be Team England’s Chef de Mission for the Victoria Commonwealth Games in 2026.
Carter-Kelly, who was Deputy Chef de Mission for Sport and Athletes at Birmingham 2022 and currently serves as Commonwealth Games England’s Director of Sport and Performance, follows in the footsteps of Mark England OBE, who was Chef de Mission for Team England at Birmingham 2022.
She will also be Chef de Mission at the 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad and Tobago, having previously been Chef de Mission for Team Great Britain at the Winter World University Games in Russia in 2019, and overseeing the development and delivery of Team England’s preparation camp for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Francesca Carter-Kelly, commented, “I am honoured to have been appointed as Chef de Mission for the Victoria 2026 Games cycle having held the role of Deputy at Birmingham 2022, our most successful Games ever. The future is incredibly bright for Team England and I’m excited to be part of it as Chef de Mission and seeing the athletes in action; firstly at the 2023 Youth Games and then for Victoria 2026.”
Rugby League Commercial, the organisation set up to reshape the governance and grow the commercial opportunities within the sport, has revealed that Peter Hutton will be among the three external non-executive directors who complete its inaugural board.
The board will be led by Frank Slevin, whose appointment as chair was announced in August.
Also joining the board of six is Simon Johnson, the current chair of the Rugby Football League (RFL); and Ed Mallaburn, IMG Media’s head of sport.
The Professional Fighters League (PFL), the US-based mixed martial arts (MMA) series, has appointed Julia Boyadjieva as vice president of international event operations.
She will also serve as general manager of PFL Europe, the new regional league recently launched under a joint venture with international subscription sports streaming service DAZN.
Boyadjieva has more than 18 years of experience planning and executing high-profile sports and entertainment events. She joins PFL from top motor racing series Formula 1 where she served as head of promoter relations.
