Zug, Switzerland, 9 January 2015 – Infront Sports & Media and the International Ski Mountaineering Federation (ISMF) signed an agreement, which will see Infront support the ISMF as a media production and distribution partner. The international sports marketing company is to offer 4x10 minute highlight programmes on the ISMF World Cup to media worldwide as well as a magazine programme for the ISMF World Championships event. The programming will be produced in HD to the highest international standards, transmitting the unique features of Ski Mountaineering and enhancing the presence and awareness of this sport.
ISMF Ski Mountaineering is broken down into five disciplines including Team, Individual, Vertical, Sprint and Relay. The 2015 ISMF World Cup is scheduled from 10 January to 26 April and will be held in France, Andorra and Italy. The ISMF World Championships will be held in Verbier, Switzerland from 5 to 12 February 2015. In April 2014 the ISMF obtained provisional recognition from the IOC and is aiming for full Olympic recognition in the near future.
Handling the media production and distribution, the project is a pilot for both Infront and the ISMF with a view to considering a more comprehensive partnership in the future.
The magazine programming offers race footage as well as results and standings, background on the event location, insight into training sessions, athlete profiles and background coverage – all with English commentary. The distribution strategy is global, with a particular focus on countries where World Cup events are being staged.
Bruno Marty, Infront’s Executive Director Winter Sports, said: “This is a turnkey moment for the sport of Ski Mountaineering with its long-standing heritage, as the ISMF is moving toward growing its reach, joining the Olympic program and professionalise its commercialisation. This emerging sport discipline takes place in a picturesque mountain setting and offers a captivating combination of endurance and high-tech. Our goal is to bring these elements closer to the fan and TV viewer. By creating an attractive serial broadcast product, we enable broadcasters to diversify their programming and open up new audiences to winter sports.”
Armando Mariotta, ISMF President, said: “Infront is the leading company in international winter sports marketing, with long-standing experience from representing the majority of Olympic federations and sports on a global level. With its global broadcast network and media production capabilities, it is the ideal partner to help us establish our sport within the Olympic family, convey Ski Mountaineering’s unique features to a greater winter sports audience and enhance the commercial appeal of our World Cup and World Championships events.”
The International Ski Mountaineering Federation (ISMF) is the world governing body of Ski Mountaineering based in Lausanne (CH) and Villanova Mondovì (Italy). As a non-profit association it co-ordinates and promotes all matters in respect to the sport and its competitions, consisting of 33 National Federations from Europe, Asia and North America. The ISMF Series of events includes the World Cup held annually, the ISMF World Championships held biennially on odd years and the Continental Championships also staged on a biennial basis held on even years. For further information please visit www.ismfskievents.com
Infront Sports & Media is the most respected sports marketing company in the world, managing a comprehensive portfolio of top properties. Led by President & CEO Philippe Blatter, Infront covers all aspects of successful sporting events – including distribution of media rights, sponsorship, media production and event operation – and has won a reputation for its high standards of delivery. As the number one player in winter sport and with a leading role in football and summer sports, Infront enjoys long-lasting partnerships with 160 rights-holders and hundreds of sponsors and media companies. Headquartered in Zug, Switzerland, Infront has a team of 600 experienced staff working from 25 offices across 12 countries, delivering 4,000 event days of top class sport around the world every year.