Trainers Cause Row For Adidas And Nike Ahead Of The 2012 Olympics
The relationship between sportswear giants Nike and Adidas is at a low at the moment, with the two companies at loggerheads over their sponsored athletes wearing their competitor’s clothing during the Olympic Games in London this summer.
Usually there is something of a gentleman’s agreement over issues such as this, but the rivalry between Adidas and Nike is growing so fierce that no such deal has been struck ahead this year’s Games.
Adidas is an official sponsor of the Olympics, The British Olympic Association and the provider of kit for Team GB, while Nike is the supplier and sponsor of the US team. The row surrounds Nike-sponsored athletes having to wear Adidas trainers and tracksuits during the opening ceremonies and any medal ceremonies they attend and Adidas-sponsored athletes wearing Nike.
Rule 40 of the Olympic Charter states that athletes cannot appear produced by companies that clash with official sponsors, with team members signing agreements to wear official national kit. Exempt from this ruling is footwear, which is classed as equipment, so Converse uk sponsored athletes can wear Converse trainers, Adidas sponsored; Adidas, and so on.
The situation can be equated to a celebrity that is paid to promote French Connection being seen in an official capacity wearing a rival brand’s clothing. For the two weeks of the Olympics, it would be OK if it happened, but both Nike and Adidas are resisting allowing the athletes they sponsor to sign agreements to wear official national kit.
Team GB athletes that are currently affected by the row include Mo Farah, Paula Radcliffe and Mark Cavandish. Some commentators have speculated that if the two companies do not come to some form of compromise before the games begin, some of the world’s greatest athletes could be barefoot when they step onto the podium.
The situation is further complicated by Adidas’s position as an official sponsor of London 2012, as they have the power to prevent athletes sponsored by other sportswear firms from appearing in s during the Games. There are some exemptions to the rules that allow this, however, and Nike will try to initiate these exemptions so it can make the most of its deals with some of the world’s leading athletes before and during the Olympics.
Business analysts await with baited breath to see if the row escalates and whether there will be any more twists and turns in this ongoing saga.
TV Viewers Increasingly Influenced By Social Media Report Says
The amount of television viewers in the UK that use social networking platforms like Facebook and Twitter to discover new shows is almost a fifth of the total viewers that watch television, a new report has shown.
Channel 4 announced this week that it is to launch a potentially game-changing TV catch-up experience, to be titled 4seven, which will be a TV channel that makes the Channel 4 shows that have been most widely discussed online over the past seven days available to watch.
What this means is that active and widespread discussion of programmes aired on Channel 4 and possibly More4 and E4 could ensure that they are shown again on 4seven so viewers who missed the original running and cannot access online catch-up services like 4oD will get another chance to see that week’s most popular programmes. The amount of discussion and the nature of the responses could help shape the running order, look and feel of the channel.
Coming on the same day as 4seven was announced, PR and social media agency Diffusion released the second part of its Social TV Trends report, which revealed that 17 percent of TV viewers in the UK utilise social media to find new programmes. This rises to 39 percent among 18-24-year-olds, possibly Channel 4’s key demographic.
For the report, British viewers were asked what the key things that would make them discuss a TV programme online were. It was discovered that an extra 17 percent would discuss a show if they saw their friends were doing so too. This figure was far greater than those who said that online competitions or promoted social networking messages would prompt them to get involved.
Diffusion said that this suggests broadcasters must “think a little longer and harder” about their social TV campaigns, and not just rely on Twitter hashtags and Facebook ads.
Tom Malcolm of Diffusion stated the company’s belief that TV networks need to embrace the power of online communities if they want viewers to engage around their programming.
“These real-time, online discussions of TV shows on social media mark the end of the water-cooler effect and a fundamental change in the way Brits watch, share and interact with TV,”
“Although a number of broadcasters have invested heavily in Facebook advertising to boost viewing figures, the new research highlights that most effective means of boosting viewing figures is discussion generation which is aided by strong community management and influencer engagement.
“Advertising alone is no longer enough; the social television viewer is increasingly looking for third party endorsement and it’s vital that broadcasters get their audiences talking about their shows positively online.”
TV viewers who want to take advantage of the opportunities digital TV allows are advised to visit a price comparison site like Digital Choices. This sites allow you to check your HD options by postcode, read guides and articles that impart advice as well as reviews from customers already signed up to each service.
Patagonia’s Unique and Beautiful Ecosystems are the Future, not Industrialisation!
Patagonia was once counted amongst the most distant and mysterious corners of our vast globe. Perched at the foot of the ancient Andes, only accessible by 322km of mostly unpaved roads the community of Cochrain lay on the outskirt of civilisation where the traditional gaucho pastoral lifestyle persisted unchanged, overshadowed by the epic glacial mountain ranges . But recently this town has found itself at the centre of a debate that will not only define the future of Chile, but represents an issue that may have an impact on the way we all view our globe.
The issue that has sparked such heated conflict is the planned construction of a US$ 10 billion hydro electric damn project, known as HidroAysen. The impact of such a project will be monumental. The Chilean government hopes the vast damn project will allow Patagonian towns to take advantage of the Baker and Pascua rivers in order to generate 2,750 megawatts of power. Inevitably this means further investment and development of industries, revolutionising Patagonia into a modern, capitalised society.
Is this what Patagonia needs?
Thousands have been up in arms, protesting through the streets of Chile’s capital Santiago and across Patagonia, they not only unhappy about the threat to Patagonia’s unique and breathtaking ecology, but they are wary of the very prospect of industrialisation, after witnessing its impact across the western world.
Maria Ester Quijanes, a member of Cochrain city council is concerned by the social divisions created by an industrial society. Although she agrees that energy independence could be positive for the economy, she is highly concerned that the projects would lead to increased social imbalance, only benefiting those who can change to suit the new economy and leaving others behind, generating a new under-privileged class.
Many believe in the possibility of an alternative solution to Chile’s problems, organisations such as Conservacion Patagonica suggest tourism could be the way forward; through preserving Patagonia’s traditional ways of life and developing national parks. The regions stunning environment and unique ecology mean that Patagonia holidays are already popular in Argentina and towns like Cochrain could easily follow that example without facing the difficult social issues of industrialisation.
Many claim that such an outlook would have benefits beyond simply Cochraine but the globe, saving the ecology and giving people from the developed west the opportunity to go on a Patagonia trek or by taking advantage of their southerly position to fly and cruise Antarctica could provide an invaluable educational resource to people from all over the world that might otherwise get caught up in city living.
Patagonia faces a decision to either profit industrialists and model their society after all the rest of the sprawling western world, or they might potentially take a new route, an option to preserve their traditions, protect their environment and maybe teach the rest of the world a lesson.
Household Boiler Insurance Too at Risk of Failure
A recent study has shown that due to current cold weather conditions there is a high risk of thousands of condensing heating systems failing. Freezing temperatures that may return this month could very possibly affect the external drain away pipes that are imperative to most homes. This particular type of boiler system is extremely common with the number of households increasing significantly in the last five years. In April of 2007 it even became a legal requirement that all gas boilers must be condensing in England and Wales. At present there is wide spread concern over the systems that are so popular.
In the worst case scenario, of which is feared, freezing pipes will prevent the draining away of liquid waste leading to the clogging up of said condensate. This will result in the boiler failing to perform and eventually cutting out. It is of crucial importance that when taking out a condensing boiler that household boiler insurance comes hand in hand. This process is actually very straightforward and can save you a lot of money in the long run in the likely event that you do at some point have a fault with your boiler. Often when buying a new boiler or replacing an old one you will be offered this wise cover. At this point you can also be given the choice to have the engineer install a new boiler or an alternative option such as private help.
Martin Egan, national property claims manager at Direct Line home insurance, said: “With the arctic weather hitting the UK, we are predicting an increase in boiler failures due to condensing drain away pipes freezing. The problem can be resolved by effective insulation of the pipe, which homeowners can do themselves and save having to call an engineer out. If the plastic pipe from the boiler is in an outside area and is not insulated, it is likely to be frozen and, if isn’t already, it is likely to as the cold weather persists.”
To find the best business energy prices or help with home affairs always ask friends and family for their advice. Shopping around for deals online is also a good idea.
Sky Enters Online Television Market
The satellite broadcaster BSkyB, owned by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp group has announced it is to enter the internet television market after it was revealed that uptake of its satellite subscription service has slowed over the last year. The announcement means that Sky content will be offered to UK households that currently do not subscribe to Sky TV packages, a figure close to 12.5 million.
Sky’s internet television service would be a direct competitor to YouView, a online television service due to launch later this year that has the backing of the BBC, ITV and BT, among others.
Customers that sign up to the new service will have a range of price plans to choose from. These will include unlimited access or ‘pay-as-you-go’. This will be the first time that Sky has offered its television content without a contract. The announcement should please consumers in the UK that balk at the monthly subscription fees that Virgin Media and Sky charge. These charges can be found on HD coverage checker and price comparison websites such as Digital Choices.
BSkyB chief executive Jeremy Darroch said: “When you are trying to sell to people who have already taken a view on pay-TV and have said ‘No thanks’, you can’t keep going back to them with the same proposition. You have to offer them what they want.”
When asked if he thought satellite subscriptions to Sky had peaked, Mr Darroch stated his belief that they hadn’t but added: “Each subscriber that you get now is going to be harder than the last one.”
Sky’s internet TV service should be launched later this year and is the second announcement the broadcaster has made this week, with the addition of BBC iPlayer and ITV’s catch up to its online Sky Anytime+ service confirmed on Monday (30 January 2012). The move is seen by industry analysts to be a direct response to US company Netflix investing in the UK market, as well as a challenge to Amazon’s online service Lovefilm.
The digital film rental market grew 9 percent last year (2011) according to IHS Screen Digest, making up roughly half of all movie rentals in the UK, currently a £400 million industry.
Sky’s uptake of new subscribers slowed in the business quarter ending December 2011, with figures down almost 20,000 from forecasted sales of 58,000 the company hoped to achieve. However, Sky’s profits went up by over a quarter in the 6 months leading to 31 December 2011, with the broadcaster posting a pre-tax figure of £597 million.
The new service comes as the number of people signing up to Sky’s traditional pay TV services slowed. It added 40,000 TV customers in the second quarter to December 31 – missing analysts’ consensus forecasts of 58,000 and down on the 140,000 net additions in the same quarter the previous year.
Sky’s pre-tax profit rose by more than a quarter to £597m in the six months to December 31, swollen by £30.5m that was netted from the break fee paid by News Corp following last year’s aborted bid for the pay-TV provider.
First-half revenues rose by 6 per cent year-on-year to a record £3.4bn and diluted earnings per share helping shares rise 2.8 per cent to 684p.
Melbourne Bikefest 2012
Going on holiday in February or March is a great way for UK residents to dodge the low domestic temperatures and bring a sense of sunshine back into life. Cycling enthusiasts can kill two birds with one stone by visiting Australia, where February falls in high summer and the Melbourne Bikefest gets into gear from mid-month until the middle of March.
Although it’s difficult to pick favourites from the action-packed festival calendar, Riverslide Skate Park in Alexandra Gardens, Melbourne, will play host to the noteworthy Bikefest BMX Jam on Saturday 17 March. Some of the city’s most skilled BMX riders will take part in a big boy’s bicycle ballet directed by two of its most celebrated choreographers, Byron Perry and Antony Hamilton. The first half of the show will feature some snazzy simultaneous film sequences showing the riders en route to the skate park, and the second half will consist of a choreographed live performance to remind BMX enthusiasts why they do what they do.
Budding artists with an interest in two-wheeled transportation will also have the chance to win back some of their holiday spending in the Chasing Rainbows poster design competition that runs throughout the month. Entrants must submit designs that include key information about the 2012 UCI Track World Championships and the official world championship ‘rainbow’ stripe. An expert panel of judges will then select five finalists, the foremost of whom will win $1000 in cash and publicity by featuring in an outdoor media campaign promoting the main event.
While February sees some of the highest rates of snowfall at home, it is one of the warmest months of the year down under. Coupled with the fantastic cycling events that make up the Melbourne Bikefest, sunny skies make Melbourne the perfect destination for a winter getaway. Instead of the customary cheap February flights and discount B&Bs in New York , take a cycling-themed trip to Melbourne this year. Flights might cost more, but the smarter shopper can make great savings by booking accommodation through wimdu.co.uk .
Ashley HomeStore Predicts Furniture Trends 2012
American retailer Ashley HomeStores has recently released an exciting top 10 list of furniture trends for 2012. Its list of predictions includes the burgeoning popularity of storage beds among adults, the increasing appeal of mini-office writing desks, and the proliferation of enormous coffee tables – although whether this will prove to be more prescient or premature remains to be seen.
Ashley HomeStores expects sectionals to rise in popularity, owing to “family rooms, more entertaining at home and fashion-forward, younger shoppers”. High-performance leathers and fabrics form part of their contemporary appeal, along with versatile pieces that perform multiple functions in the home, such as comfy ottomans .
Better mattresses may also feature in many bedroom makeovers, as returning holidaymakers yearn for the plush beds of their boutique hotels. Rather than stressing an abundance of pillows, the modern bed should be as sleek and streamlined as possible for maximum stylistic effect.
Another interesting theory put forward by Ashley HomeStores is that console seating will grow in popularity along with big-screen TVs. In particular, “the console loveseat is the rising star”, as the type of functionality that was once reserved for top-end entertainment sofas becomes available in a more convenient size for cosier home owners. We’re not quite convinced these futuristic furnishings will replace elegant designer chairs in every home, but we may be proved wrong.
On the other hand, the prediction of upsizing coffee tables makes perfect sense. Ashley HomeStores attributes this to increasing numbers opting to eat dinner on the sofa rather than the kitchen table, but we think working on laptops and relaxing with tablet computers are equally significant causes. Although a large coffee table can be clunky and cumbersome in a small lounge area, those with larger lounges will find few reasons to object to a convenient super-sized coffee table.
Heating Insurance Cost Worry For Consumers Hit By Cold Snap
As weather fronts from Siberia continue to hit Britain, a survey conducted by Santander Insurance has revealed that almost a quarter of residents hold concerns about the weather causing damage to their homes.
The cold snap is predicted to continue into the coming weeks, with most of the UK already experiencing sub-zero temperatures and biting winds. With this protracted spell of cold weather comes worries that heating bills could be higher than many people have budgeted for. Many people are also concerned that basic heating insurance policies may not be adequate if this extreme weather damages heating systems in households with little or no disposable income. Those with a new heating system have less to worry about, although some form of cover is advised if the system’s warranty is due to end in the near future.
In total, the survey shows that almost three quarters of UK adults worry more about property maintenance issues during the colder months of the year. Concerns over personal safety also increase during this time as almost a quarter of respondents stated they held fears about injuring themselves when out in public or being involved in an accident while driving or travelling as a passenger in a motor vehicle.
Santander’s Head of Marketing; Steve Burton said: “In winter many people have more concerns and fears due to darker nights and the effects of harsher weather conditions. People are concerned about a wide variety of risks from the effects of adverse weather or their ability to pay the bills during the winter, but in some instances there are steps that can be taken to reduce the level of risk.
“We would urge people to ensure their homes and cars are adequately protected by security measures and also by comprehensive insurance cover, so that at least they have some peace of mind that they are financially protected should something bad happen to them.”
In a bid to help consumers pay their energy bills this winter, many suppliers have announced they are to cut the price of everything from domestic gas to commercial electricity tariffs . This news will not be welcomed by those who recently signed up to fixed-price energy deals, as any lowing of price by their energy provider will not encompass these reductions.
Stay in a serviced apartment in Bangkok for a percentage of its true value!
2012 has so far been consistent with previous years’ economic straits. Regular holidaymakers have become quite disillusioned by the lack of affordable foreign accommodation to suit their recently changed means. Many feel pressure to backpedal on traditional holiday plans as they feel unable to afford extravagant hotel stays anymore. Fortunately this age of thrift, while bringing with it tight pockets, has also seen the rise in demand of affordable digs that equate to quality experienced. This different kind of accommodation is not only much cheaper but often results in a more exciting adventure than initially expected.
The idea of creative solutions for tourists on a budget is not an entirely new one. These have ranged from the uncomfortable, for example couch surfing or camping, to riskier pursuits such makeshift hostels in an overly friendly locals’ spare room! Some brave travellers found success (by success I mean they lived!) with these gutsy ventures. But for us not so brave holiday-starved folk a safe, affordable and unconventional opportunity has arisen.
It is now possible to find and book a diverse range of luxury and alternative accommodation in cities all over the world through one secure online base. Whether you are looking for contemporary apartments for a short trip to Barcelona, serviced apartments in Bangkok or a charming bed and breakfast in Prague, new website Wimdu has made connecting with locals and finding a bargain easier than ever. It also brings peace of mind to nervous holidaymakers, by keeping safe a record of data concerning the transfer of money and other transactions.
Accommodation on Wimdu has ranged from hay-stuffed stables to spare bedrooms on boats and even entire apartments, often in well sought after, central locations especially in cities; Wimdu allows you to see all offers in Dublin here. One Sussex woman advertised her donkey’s usual dwelling to weary travellers seeking the authentic Christmas experience! More typically, accommodation consists of a spare room in the host’s own home, meaning there are plenty of opportunities to glean an inside perspective on the real town and learn about the must-do activities that never make it into mainstream tourist guides.
So if you need to tighten your purse strings but also want to have a memorable adventure it is now possible to find this in one up to date database.
‘Tangerine Tango’ is the Colour of the Year for Home Design
Colour is one of the most important elements in any home, so choosing wisely is essential to ensuring both fashionable status and long-term appeal. This year, worldwide authority on colour the Pantone Color Institute announced the perfect contemporary colour is ‘Tangerine Tango’, a shade of orange “with a lot of depth to it” according to Leatrice Eiseman, Pantone’s executive director.
“Reminiscent of the radiant shadings of a sunset, Tangerine Tango marries the vivaciousness and adrenaline rush of red with the friendliness and warmth of yellow, to form a high-visibility, magnetic hue that emanates heat and energy.” continued Eiseman.
Not so long ago, orange was considered a substandard colour in fashionable circles – one to be avoided by the conscientious wearer or designer. However, in the past few years, its popularity has soared, allowing fashionistas everywhere to don orange garments and celebrate the vibrant colour without provoking contempt. This year orange has gone mainstream and will surely feature in some of the year’s most influential design catalogues, not to mention online furniture outlets like the Fashion For Home website.
Tangerine Tango is not a particularly lurid shade of orange so it has many exciting applications in the home. It could make a high-impact wall or carpet colour for a warm, relaxing space. Tangerine tones mix well with lime and moss green, so this can be an exciting colour scheme for a room – think muted lime carpets and tangerine tango comfy settees. Alternatively, tangerine tango makes an excellent colour for crockery in your kitchen and can help to create a warm and cosy dining space. Other potential pairings include eggplant, plum and burgundy – but steer clear of black as this dreaded combination can recall bats and jack-o-lanterns. As with any interior design colour choice, be sure to test tangerine tango thoroughly before deciding to use it in your living space.