Fifa signs up with Olympic Channel

Football governing body, FIFA has become the 36th International Federation (IF) to sign a co-operation agreement with the Olympic Channel, marking an end to an extensive period of negotiations between the two organisations.

The partnership which was announced on Wednesday covers news access and content licences to promote football within the Olympic Movement.

This latest announcement follows October’s news that six international federations, including the International Cycling Union (ICU), had signed agreements with the Olympic Channel.

Football has had a presence on the Channel, which represents the most successful element of the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Agenda 2020 reform process, since it was launched in August.

This included moments such as Neymar scoring the winning penalty in the Olympic men’s final against Germany at Rio 2016, which earned Brazil their first-ever football gold medal at the Games.

Officials from the Olympic Channel have always remained confident of striking deals with governing bodies such as FIFA, despite the fact that they do not need the coverage provided as much as other sports within the Olympic world.

Mark Parkman, general manager of the Olympic Channel, said: “Football is one the most popular sports on the planet, and we are excited to work together with Fifa to amplify the excitement of football at the Olympic Games as well as emphasise the deeply rooted cultural aspects of ‘the beautiful game’ through the Olympic Channel.”