Poland To Host 2028 Edition of The European Athletics Championships

Silesia has been confirmed as the host venue for the 2028 edition of the European Athletics Championships on the first day of the European Athletics Council Meeting in Birmingham.

Poland has been a regular host of major European Athletics championships over the last decade, including the 2017 European Athletics U23 Championships, 2021 European Athletics Indoor Championships and the 2019, 2021 and 2023 European Athletics Team Championships.

However, this will be the first time that the European Athletics Championships will be held on Polish soil in the event’s 92-year history. The 2028 European Athletics Championships will be held from 3-8 June in the Silesian Stadium, one month before the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

The 2028 European Athletics Championships will be the biggest athletics event prior to the 2028 Olympic Games and will also offer athletes an excellent chance to secure qualifying standards and ranking points on the road to Los Angeles.

“We are delighted to confirm the 2028 European Athletics Championships will be held in Silesia. This marks a historic moment as it will be the first time Poland has hosted our flagship event. Silesia has consistently demonstrated its capability to deliver world class competitions, with strong regional support and organisation from the Polish Athletic Association underpinning the successful staging of events such as the 2021 and 2023 European Athletics Team Championships, the 2021 World Relays as well as the annual Kamila Skolimowska Memorial,” said European Athletics President Dobromir Karamarinov.

He added: “This will be the fourth time the European Athletics Championships will take place in the same year as the Olympic Games and it is not an exaggeration to say that Silesia 2028 will provide us with a glimpse into the future. Indeed, eight athletes who won titles at the 2024 European Athletics Championships in Rome went on to win gold medals just a few weeks later at the Paris Olympics.”

European Athletics CEO Christian Milz said: “Over the past decade, Silesia has established itself as one of Europe’s leading hosts of major athletics events, consistently delivering competitions of the highest standard. This demonstrable track record, and Silesia’s excellently detailed bid for the 2028 European Athletics Championships, gives us confirmation that Silesia will stage a championships of the very highest quality in 2028.”

Poland is the sixth most successful nation in European Athletics Championships history with 59 gold medals and 185 medals in total. It is far from inconceivable that Poland could win their 200th medal in European Athletics Championships history during Silesia.

Reacting to the historic announcement, President of the Polish Athletic Association, Sebastian Chmara said: “Poland has never before hosted Europe’s premier outdoor athletics event which makes today’s decision by European Athletics a truly landmark moment.

“We are launching an ambitious and exciting project that will become a flagship for Polish athletics in the years ahead. Together with our key partners — the Silesian Voivodeship and the Ministry of Sport and Tourism — we are fully committed to delivering a world class event that will inspire athletes, engage fans across Europe and showcase the very best of our sport.”

Riot Games Inks Partnership With OMODA

OMODA will team up with VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) EMEA, the top-tier regional competitive circuit, and Game Changers EMEA, the premier women’s competitive league. Together, the two pioneers bridge virtual and physical worlds, delivering an immersive experience that fuses technology, culture, and passion for young users worldwide.

In the digital age, Esports has long transcended mere competition to become one of the most dynamic sports and cultural symbols, serving as a core pillar of social currency for engaging with younger generations. It carries unique game worldviews, a fearless and upward-spirited Esports ethos, and community-specific trendsetting cultural icons, offering global Gen Z a home where they can express their passion, showcase their individuality, and celebrate with like-minded peers.

VALORANT, developed by Riot Games, has become a globally acclaimed FPS title, backed by its fair and inclusive competitive system and cutting-edge visual aesthetics. VCT EMEA and Game Changers EMEA, competitive leagues for the game, are highly influential esports tournaments watched by hundreds of thousands gamers globally. The competitive spirit they convey—self-transcendence, fearless competition and teamwork—strikes a deep chord with the core values of contemporary youth.

This partnership is further strengthened by the foundational strength of the VCT ecosystem—a meticulously architected league renowned for its accessibility and sustainability. As VCT EMEA evolves to welcome an even broader and more diverse pool of talent, its commitment to inclusive growth aligns seamlessly with OMODA’s own journey of global expansion and boundary-pushing innovation.

OMODA&JAECOO

As The World’s Leading Crossover Brand, OMODA goes beyond just cars—it is committed to creating a trendy lifestyle that integrates technology, culture, and passion. With a global perspective, the brand delves deep into youth communities, accurately identifying the spiritual aspirations and cultural preferences of the new generation. This collaboration with VCT EMEA and Game Changers EMEA embraces esports culture—something young people are passionate about—as a link to achieve deep alignment between the brand and young users.

Aligned Ideals, Practicing the Faith of Boundary-Breaking

Breaking boundaries and marching forward fearlessly is the core shared belief of OMODA and VCT EMEA, as well as the spiritual cornerstone of their cross-sector collaboration.

VCT EMEA is driven by innovation, defining new esports trends. OMODA takes breakthrough as its attitude, rejects the constraints of mediocrity, and creates exclusive mobility symbols for global young people who refuse to be ordinary with forward-looking technology and cutting-edge aesthetics. Together, they are redefining the intersection of esports and mobility through a boundary-breaking approach.

As a core strategic model under the OMODA brand, the CYBER MECHA OMODA 4 takes the lead as the trendsetting vehicle for this cross-industry collaboration. Its CYBER MECHA design aesthetics, high-performance cockpit, and extreme performance capabilities perfectly carry the pioneering core of both the brand and VCT EMEA, extending the passionate competition of the virtual world into real-world mobility.

This cross-industry collaboration is not a simple co-branding effort. Rather, it represents OMODA’s use of esports as a pivot to build a multi-integrated cross-circle brand experience ecosystem that combines “esports + automotive + culture”, further strengthening emotional connections with the new generation of users—turning the passionate competition of the virtual world into a real-world trendsetting mobility lifestyle.

As the pioneering vehicle for this vision, the OMODA 4 delivers deep integration across three dimensions. In terms of exterior design, OMODA 4 adopts the globally original CYBER MECHA design language, forging Cyber Lightning headlights and Mecha Flow. Its sharp geometric lines and futuristic light effects align with VCT EMEA’s aesthetic, creating a two-way visual resonance between the car and the league.

Inside the cockpit, OMODA 4 features the class-leading Cyber Carry mobile cockpit that supports seamless wireless gamepad connection. Paired with a high-definition large screen and surround sound, it comes equipped with game apps and further builds the Cyber Verse high-energy trendy play ecosystem – covering diverse scenarios such as mobile KTV and pet travel. This turns the mobile cockpit into young people’s second trendy hub and enables seamless integration of competitive passion with daily mobility.

In terms of performance, the OMODA 4 comes equipped with original sport modification kits. On top of that, the OMODA 4 ULTRA features a sport exhaust sound system and launch control, delivering rapid power response and ultimate handling for a “driver-car unity” experience, echoing the competitive thrill of esports where every moment counts and the pursuit of perfection meets the decisive instant.

When esports meets real-world mobility, and a pioneering automotive brand encounters a top-tier esports IP, boundaries are completely broken. OMODA will continue to connect with youth communities through diverse formats, leveraging cutting-edge technology, trendy design, and passionate spirit to create richer cross-dimensional experiences for global Gen Z users. Defy definitions, move forward fearlessly—OMODA and VCT EMEA join hands with young pioneers worldwide to push beyond limits and embrace the future!

WTA CEO Portia Archer Steps Down Amid Leadership Transition

Portia Archer has stepped down from her role as chief executive of the Women’s Tennis Association, less than two years after her appointment, as per Reuters.

The decision, effective April 20, was communicated by WTA Chair Valerie Camillo to staff, members, and stakeholders. While no specific reason was cited, Camillo confirmed that the organisation is currently working on a leadership transition plan, with further updates expected by mid-May.

Archer, who joined the WTA in July 2024, succeeded Steve Simon and was responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations and driving the organisation’s commercial and strategic growth, including expansion into new markets.

During her tenure, one of the most high-profile challenges Archer faced was addressing criticism surrounding the decision to host the season-ending WTA Finals in Riyadh. The move, initially agreed under her predecessor, sparked global debate but remained a key part of the WTA’s commercial strategy. The current hosting agreement runs through 2026, with discussions ongoing for future editions beyond the existing cycle.

Archer’s departure marks a significant leadership shift for the WTA at a time when the organisation continues to navigate evolving commercial opportunities and global positioning within women’s sport.

SMC Partners with Extreme H to Drive Sustainable Motorsport Growth in Saudi Arabia

The Saudi Motorsport Company (SMC) has entered into a strategic commercial partnership with Extreme H, marking a significant step in advancing sustainable innovation while reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s ambitions as a global motorsport hub.

Extreme H operates the FIA Extreme H World Cup, the world’s first hydrogen-powered racing series, featuring mixed-gender driver line-ups competing across three-day race formats in remote and environmentally challenging locations.

The agreement builds on an established collaboration between the two parties, with SMC having previously played a key role in the development of Extreme E, including hosting a flagship event in Saudi Arabia. That relationship now evolves into the hydrogen era through Extreme H.

Under the new partnership, both organisations will work together to expand the commercial footprint of the FIA Extreme H World Cup within the Kingdom, leveraging SMC’s local market expertise and Extreme H’s global platform. The collaboration is expected to unlock new opportunities for partners, rights holders and fans, while accelerating the integration of sustainable technologies across the motorsport ecosystem.

Genius Sports Strikes AI partnership with the Swiss Football League

Genius Sports Limited (“Genius Sports”), a global leader in real-time sports data, has struck an exclusive, multi-year technology and AI partnership with the Swiss Football League, the governing body of the Brack Super League and dieci Challenge League.

This agreement executes upon Genius Sports’ position as the operating system of modern sport as well as its innovation partnership with the European Leagues, which represents 18 members leagues and 46 professional competitions across the continent.

From the start of the 2026/27 season, Genius Sports’ data and AI platform, GeniusIQ, will be deployed in every 1st tier stadium – creating a single intelligence layer for tracking data, and commercial activation.

Swiss Football League coaches and analysts can harness Genius Sports’ Performance Studio, the world’s most advanced football analysis platform. Used by top teams in the Premier League, Ligue 1, Belgian Pro League and more, it applies advanced machine learning to the richest data set in football to provide unmatched insights across match preparation and analysis.

By deploying GeniusIQ, the Swiss Football League has created an incredible platform for future innovations across augmented broadcasts, semi-automated offsides technology and data-driven sponsor activations.

Genius Sports will also provide tracking capabilities and access to Performance Studio to multiple teams across the Swiss FA national team setup. 

“This partnership marks an important step in strengthening the data foundations of Swiss professional football,” said Claudius Schäfer, CEO of the Swiss Football League. “By providing our clubs with positional tracking data alongside event data and video feeds, we are enabling them to analyse the game in greater depth and support their sporting decision-making.”

“As the operating system of modern sport, Genius Sports is integral to how leagues worldwide run, grow and monetise their competitions,” Steven Burton, Chief Partnerships Officer at Genius Sports. “We’re delighted to partner with the Swiss Football League, executing on the vision set out with the European Leagues, and delivering industry-leading tracking and performance solutions across their competitions.”

Professional Triathletes Organisation Appoints Peter Hutton To Chairman As Chris Kermode Steps Down

The Professional Triathletes Organisation (PTO) has announced that Peter Hutton will become its Chairman, as Chris Kermode steps down.

The long time PTO Board member moves into the role on an interim basis as the organisation prepares for its next phase of global growth and builds towards the launch of the new Triathlon World Tour in 2027.

The former Meta Head of Sport and Eurosport CEO has been a member of the PTO board since December 2020, and brings a valuable combination of commercial, broadcast and digital expertise, alongside a deep understanding of the rapidly evolving social landscape.

The departing Kermode was appointed in 2022 and brought extensive experience and credibility to the PTO, helping establish the organisation through an important phase.

This transition comes as the PTO sharpens its focus on scaling the organisation following the acquisition of Challenge Family earlier this year and evolving its strategic partnership with the sport’s international governing body, World Triathlon.

Speaking about his appointment, Hutton said: “I want to first of all thank and congratulate Chris on his tenure as Chairman and the huge impact that he has made. From joining as an early board member and becoming Chairman in 2022, to then announcing the next phase of our growth with the Triathlon World Tour in December last year, his experience, positive energy and practical know-how have been invaluable to the organisation’s rapid progress.”

“With the PTO now entering an incredibly exciting phase as we prepare for significant growth and transformation through the launch of the Triathlon World Tour, I look forward to helping our growing team and our partners, World Triathlon, to take the sport mainstream.”

“A central part of that vision, beyond the 80+ events, is to grow the triathlon community worldwide, feeding them with a year-round calendar of enhanced live, linear and digital content. By doing so, we can create deeper connections with fans, bring new audiences into the sport, showcase the incredible athletes and unlock the full potential of triathlon as a global property.”

Kermode commented: “It has been a privilege to serve as Executive Chairman of the PTO and to support the organisation through such an important period of its development. I am proud of the progress that has been made in establishing the PTO as a credible and ambitious force within global sport.”

“I believe this is the right moment to step aside and allow the next phase of leadership to take shape. I am confident the organisation will continue to go from strength to strength as it builds towards 2027 and delivers on its long-term vision to transform the sport and take it mainstream.”

Sam Renouf, CEO of the PTO, thanked Kermode by saying: “On behalf of the Board and everyone at the PTO, I would like to thank Chris for the outstanding contribution he has made during his time as Executive Chairman. His leadership, insight and experience have been instrumental in shaping the organisation and setting us on a strong path for future growth.”

“As we prepare for the industry-changing launch of the Triathlon World Tour, we are delighted to welcome Peter as Chairman. Much of the PTO’s commercial appeal to partners and investors stems from pioneering a new model for professional sport – one that leverages emerging media to build a diversified business, rather than relying solely on traditional media rights. Peter’s leadership in these areas makes him an invaluable guide as we pursue our ambitions to grow the sport.”

Hublot Becomes E1’s Official Timekeeping Partner

E1, the world’s first all-electric raceboat Championship, announced luxury watchmaker Hublot has become the sport’s Official Timekeeping Partner.

Renowned for its bold design ethos and technical excellence, Hublot brings its Swiss craftsmanship and precision timekeeping expertise to E1’s close on-water racing.

The partnership brings together a shared passion for innovation, performance and design, as E1 continues to push the limits of motorsport and electric marine technology, racing across four continents.

Through this global partnership with the UIM E1 World Championship presented by PIF, Hublot will be prominently integrated across the season, delivering precision timing operations, alongside visibility on the Championship’s global feed shown in over 230 territories.

The partnership is set to make its Championship debut during the upcoming E1 Lake Como GP 2026 presented by Villa d’Este which takes place on 25 April.

The watchmaker will also activate within the exclusive E1 Ocean Club VIP hospitality offering, affording invited guests an elevated, luxurious race viewing experience including access to some of the Championship’s pilots and personalities.

The partnership reinforces E1’s position as a global platform for forward-thinking brands aligned with innovation, technology and high-performance engagement.

Alejandro Agag, founder and Chairman, E1, said: “Precision is not simply a feature of what we do at E1; it is the foundation. Hublot is built on the same belief. This partnership is a natural meeting of two global brands that refuse to separate ambition from performance. I look forward to what we will build together.”

Jamie Copas, Chief Executive Officer, E1 said: “This partnership brings together two brands that are redefining what is possible in their respective fields.

“Hublot shares our belief that innovation should be felt, not just measured, and that is exactly the experience we want every fan to have with E1. We are excited to have them alongside us and look forward to everything we will achieve together.”

Julien Tornare, Chief Executive Officer, Hublot said: “Hublot is delighted to partner with the E1 World Championship that provides the perfect platform for us to engage with our clients and our Hublotista community. We see E1 as an exceptional space for client activation, offering unique and unforgettable experiences that align perfectly with the spirit of our brand.”

Illegal IPTV Empire Dismantled in €43M Court Ruling

The Criminal Chamber of the National Court has handed down a judgment  against one of the largest illegal IPTV networks for offences against the market and consumers,  intellectual property, and money laundering, setting one of the largest compensation awards in the  history of Spain for an intellectual property offence. 

The case, opened years ago following an initial complaint by Nagravision, was driven forward thanks to the complaint and subsequent extension filed by LALIGA, which provided decisive purchase  evidence for the verification of the facts. Multiple companies later joined the judicial proceedings as  private prosecutors, such as Movistar Plus+, Mediapro, and Egeda, and the case was ultimately  resolved with the defendants accepting the joint accusation brought by the Public Prosecutor’s Office  and the rest of the private prosecutors. 

The investigation was carried out mainly by the Central Cybercrime Unit of the Directorate General of  the Police, as well as by the Intellectual Property Group of the Central Unit for Specialized and Violent  Crime (UDEV), with the support of Europol and Eurojust in international coordination. 

The judgment sets compensation of 12 million euros for the affected companies and more than 30  million euros in fines for money laundering. The network, led by the well-known ‘Dash, the Iranian’,  operated through channels such as rapidiptv.com, rapidiptv.net, and iptvstack.com, illegally  distributing football broadcasts, films, and series, including LALIGA content, to more than two million  people from servers spread across 13 countries on three continents. 

To launder that money, the organisation used payment gateways, cryptocurrency exchanges, shell  companies, and false invoices. Among the identified operations were the construction of a residential  building in Iran, the purchase of a property in Barcelona valued at 1.7 million euros, and the acquisition  of two high-end vehicles for 400,000 euros. The agreement includes the confiscation of all seized  assets and funds and the permanent shutdown of the domains. 

Javier Tebas, LALIGA’s president, stated “Audiovisual fraud is a scourge that threatens the survival of  an industry that is fundamental to the European economy, namely live sport. We are proud of this  exemplary sanction, which shows that piracy must be fought forcefully at every level, especially against  the organisations and mafias behind it.” 

This result demonstrates the relevance of LALIGA’s global anti-piracy strategy, which in the 2024/25  season succeeded in reducing piracy consumption in Spain by 60%. This set of actions, beyond strictly  judicial measures and operations with the State Security Forces and Corps, includes other pillars such  as education, institutional action, and technology.

ITTF and World Sports Photography Awards Launch Centenary Visual Archive Initiative

The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) has partnered with the World Sports Photography Awards to launch a special centenary photography project, celebrating 100 years of table tennis through powerful visual storytelling.

The initiative will run alongside the ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals London 2026, presented by ACN, and will feature a blend of iconic modern images, archival discoveries, and global fan participation.

At the heart of the project are the ITTF Centenary Photography Awards, which combine a professional photography competition with a worldwide search for historic images sourced from fans, families, former players, clubs, and member associations.

Professional photographers will be invited to submit images that best define each decade of the modern game, from the 1970s onwards, helping to narrate the sport’s evolution over the past 50 years. For earlier decades, particularly from the 1920s to the 1960s, the initiative will focus on uncovering and preserving rare archival photographs, encouraging communities across the world to contribute to the sport’s visual heritage.

Together, these two strands aim to create the most comprehensive photographic record of table tennis’s first century.

Petra Sörling said:
“Approaching our centenary gives us a chance not just to celebrate table tennis, but to recover and preserve memories and images from its history that might otherwise be lost. This project will honour the sport’s greatest photography while helping us discover unknown gems.”

The professional awards will be judged according to the standards of the World Sports Photography Awards by a panel jointly assembled by ITTF and WSPA. The archive initiative will further promote the digitisation and preservation of historically significant imagery.

Selected works from both categories will be showcased as part of the wider centenary programme.

Simon Burton added:
“Great sports photography does more than capture action. It preserves memory, emotion, style, and cultural change. We are proud to help ITTF celebrate its visual history in its centenary year.”

The Championships Finals will take place in London from 28 April to 10 May 2026, hosted at OVO Arena Wembley and Copper Box Arena. Marking 100 years since the first World Championships were held in London, this edition carries historic significance as the sport returns to its birthplace.

A total of 64 men’s and 64 women’s teams will compete over 13 days for the prestigious Swaythling Cup and Corbillon Cup, making it one of the most significant editions in the tournament’s history.

The awards will open in conjunction with the Championships via the World Sports Photography Awards platform and will remain open for entries until July 2026.

Founded in 1926, the ITTF represents 227 member associations worldwide and continues to drive the global growth of table tennis through development, engagement, and innovation as it marks its centenary year.

beIN SPORTS expands motorsport portfolio with FIA World Endurance Championship coverage

beIN MEDIA GROUP (‘beIN’), the global sports, entertainment and media group, has secured a multi-year deal to broadcast all races of the FIA World Endurance Championship in 35 territories across the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) and Asia Pacific (APAC). Fans will be able to watch all races live via beIN’s flagship sports network, beIN SPORTS, and beIN’s OTT platform TOD across the MENA region.

The 2026 season will span five global regions – Europe, North America, South America, APAC and MENA. The action begins in April with the 6 Hours of Imola in Italy, before moving through a European leg – including the 24 Hours of Le Mans taking place in June – and concluding with a run of international rounds across the Americas and Asia. The rearranged Qatar 1812km will take place in late October, ahead of the season finale in Bahrain. 

Richard Verow, Chief Sports Officer of beIN MEDIA GROUP said: “The addition of the FIA World Endurance Championship is another key moment in the evolution of our premium motorsport offering. We are delighted to offer our subscribers across MENA and APAC comprehensive coverage of one of the world’s most prestigious endurance racing series – including the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans – for years to come.”

Frédéric Lequien, CEO of the FIA World Endurance Championship said: “We are very pleased to have struck such a comprehensive and long-term broadcast agreement with beIN MEDIA GROUP to bring the excitement and energy of FIA WEC to fans throughout two key regions. These are exciting times indeed for our sport, and we look forward to introducing more people than ever before to the pinnacle of international endurance racing!”

The addition of the FIA World Endurance Championship strengthens beIN SPORTS’ position as the home of global motorsport – which includes Formula 1, MotoGP, FIA European Rally Championship, FIA World Rally Championship, FIM Superbike World Championship and Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters.

All races of the 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship season will be available to beIN subscribers across the following 35 territories: Algeria, Bahrain, Chad, Djibouti, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, UAE, Yemen, Brunei, Cambodia, East-Timor, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand.