CAF and LOC to sign marketing and broadcast rights

Accra, Nov 21, GNA 96 The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is to sign a marketing and broadcast rights contract with the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) of Ghana 2008 in Cairo, Egypt on Wednesday, December 20.

Habuba Suleiman, Communications and Public Relations Director of CAF told the GNA Sports in Accra that the contract is to empower the LOC to undertake some marketing decisions ahead of the biennial fiesta. The contract, which will also include that of merchandising, will outline all the rights Ghana can derive as hosts of the competition. The rights are owned by the international marketing firm, Sportfive. The Director said Ghana is within the time frame for the competition in terms of its infrastructure development.

Habuba was a resource person at the first CAF / Ghana LOC Media Seminar, which marked yet another milestone on the roadmap towards the 2008 Tournament, organized at the Labadi Beach Hotel last weekend. When asked to comment on the country's readiness to host the Championship against current media apprehensions, he asked, 93Will we be signing that contract with the LOC or gone ahead with last Saturday's symposium if we had plans of taking the championship from Ghana=94?

"The four concerns raised by CAF, though genuine had actually been taken care of by the timetable presented by the LOC. It is our expectation that by the next inspection all these issues will have been addressed."

The LOC in partnership with CAF organized a first - ever Media Seminar for the local media on the Nations Cup modus operandi. This, he said demonstrates the LOC's pro-activeness, especially coming after its seminar with the LOC of Germany 2006 FIFA World Cup and its participation in Egypt 2006 ACN as observers.