BOA Opens New HQ; Sportel Marks 20th Anniversary

The British Olympic Association’s new headquarters on Charlotte Street can accommodate more than 70 staff. (BOA)British Olympic Association Moves Across the Thames

(ATR) The British Olympic Association moves into new offices in Central London, a change that could help its bottom line.

The BOA opened for business Monday in modern offices on Charlotte Street in London’s West End after sellingits property on the other side of the River Thames that had served as headquarters for 27 years.

The new offices can accommodate more than 70 staff, and the BOA is sharing the space with the British Paralympic Association.

Estimates suggest that the BOA received around $7 million for its share of the sale.

The BOA had occupied four houses in a Georgian terrace that was subject to strict planning controls and did not permit significant alterations to suit modern office needs. Those former offices lacked Tube links and the other amenities to be found at the new location, which is close to Oxford Street’s shopping district.

Property company Minerva is managing a massive redevelopment in Wandsworth and has acquired the entire terrace, including the former BOA offices, a neighboring building owned by rock star Mick Jagger and another property which the BOA co-owned.

The BOA is renting its new offices. IOC member Princess Anne will attend the Oct. 20 official opening ceremony for the BOA’s Charlotte Street offices.

The BOA’s annual Gold Ball is to be staged at the Natural History Museum in London Oct. 29, with 50 Olympians among the guests. All the $600-a-place tables were sold out within days of going on sale earlier this year.

Sportel Marks 20th Anniversary

Sportel, the annual international sports convention for television and new media in Monaco, opened its 20th anniversary conference on Monday.

It was created by Georges Bertellotti under the High Patronage of His Serene Highness the late Prince Rainier III and continues under the HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco. Two other men were also important for Sportel: GAISF general secretary Luc Niggli and Gilles Noghès, director of the Monaco Tourist and Convention Authority, who also named the event and designed its logo.

At the first Sportel in 1990, 82 companies exhibited. Last year, around 2,500 delegates representing over 1000 companies from 80 countries visited Prince Albert II of Monaco at Sportel on Monday. (Heinz-Peter Kreuzer)the conference. Organizers of this year’s event, running from Oct. 12-15, expect numbers to be down from 2008 due to the global economic crisis on sport.

IOC member from Monaco, Prince Albert, said Sportel had established itself as the foremost international congress for executives working in sport and television. Its success has allowed the event to develop in other countries with the launch of Sportel America, Sportel Dubai and Sportel Asia, he added.

“The Principality of Monaco is proud to have created Sportel. I would like to thank the IOC and its presidents, Juan Antonio Samaranch and Jacques Rogge, for the constant support of the initiative,” he said. The IOC officially recognized Sportel under the presidency of Samaranch in 1997.

No Time to Waste for Delhi 2010 Organizers

An independent panel will monitor progress for the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games that are less than a year away amid concerns over the slow pace of venue construction.

Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) Mike Fennell said that Delhi 2010 has made a "great deal of progress" but time is still an “enemy” of the Games. Fennell said the new panel will track progress to ensure organizers meet new deadlines.

The CGF chief toured facilities this past week ahead of the CGF Congress that concluded Monday. The Games take place next year from Oct. 3-14 with 6,000 athletes competing in 17 different sports.

“I have no doubt that the 2010 Games can still be great Games, provided all corrective measures are taken and there is no further slippage,” Fennell told reporters. “Every single CGF delegate is impressed with India's hospitality. We feel that the venues will be ready in time, but there cannot be slippages.”

The Commonwealth Games Coordination Commission, which also monitors the Games, will return to Delhi for another review in December.

Briefs...

… The Italian Olympic Committee has dropped its doping case against Juventus defender Fabio Cannavaro after learning that the positive result was caused by the use of cortisone to treat a bee sting.

… NBC Sports and U.S. Figure Skating reached an agreement to broadcast the 2009 International Skating Union Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series. It marks the first time since 2003 that nearly all the Grand Prix Series events will appear on network television.

With reporting from Steven Downes, Heinz-Peter Kreuzer and Sam Steinberg.