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Brazil, Belarus sign deals for Fifa World CupBrazil, Belarus sign deals for Fifa World Cup
MUMBAI: Infront Sports And Media which is football’s governing body Fifa’s marketing agency has announced that it has made further deals for the 2006 World Cup broadcast rights. In India the event will air on ESPN Star Sports (ESS).
In Brazil, there are two further agreements with dedicated sports channels, which complement the existing contract with TV Globo. These are with the pay-TV channels, Bandsports and ESPN Brasil. They have both acquired the non-exclusive right to broadcast all 64 matches, live and delayed.
In addition to these new agreements, TV Globo will provide extensive coverage in Brazil on the free to air platform. Furthermore, TV Globo has confirmed that it will sub-license the rights to its pay television arm, Globosat. This means that the final configuration of coverage in Brazil, an important football market for Fifa will consist of at least one terrestrial network and three pay operators.
The Belarus National State TV& Radio Company /BYBTRC has signed with Infront for a substantial package of Fifa World Cup rights and productions. The package includes all 64 matches as well as the rights to the Official Preview Series of the event which is being produced by Infront Sports & Media in association with FIFA. The agreement also includes the 2005 and 2006 Fifa World Player Galas.
BYBTRC is the state broadcaster in Belarus and was the official broadcaster of the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan in Belarus. The rights it has purchased are the Free-TV and Radio rights.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
