Audi announce entrance to Formula 1

Audi enters the premier class of motorsport. From 2026, the premium brand will compete in the FIA Formula 1 World Championship with a specially developed power unit. The project will be based at Audi Sport’s facility in Neuburg near Ingolstadt. This is the first time in more than a decade that a Formula 1 power train will be built in Germany.

Audi announced its entry at a press conference at the Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps. At the event, Markus Duesmann, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG, and Oliver Hoffmann, Member of the Board of Management for Technical Development, answered questions in the company of Formula 1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali and Mohammed ben Sulayem, President of the International Automobile Federation (FIA). 

“Motorsport is an integral part of Audi’s DNA,” says Markus Duesmann. “Formula 1 is both a global stage for our brand and a highly challenging development laboratory. The combination of high performance and competition is always a driver of innovation and technology transfer in our industry. With the new rules, now is the right time for us to get involved. After all, Formula 1 and Audi both pursue clear sustainability goals.”

The key to getting involved is the world’s most popular racing series is the clear plan to become more sustainable and cost-efficient. The new technical rules, which will apply from 2026, focus on greater electrification and advanced sustainable fuel. In addition to the existing cap on costs for teams, a cost cap for power unit manufacturers will be introduced in 2023. In addition, Formula 1 has set itself the ambitious goal of being a carbon-neutral racing series by 2030. 

Actively Shaping Formula 1’s Transformation 

Oliver Hoffmann, Member of the Board for Technical Development, says: “In view of the major technological leaps that the series is making towards sustainability in 2026, we can speak of a new Formula 1. Formula 1 is transforming, and Audi wants to actively support this journey. A close link between our Formula 1 project and AUDI AG’s Technical Development department will enable synergies.”

From 2026, the electric power output for the power units, consisting of an electric motor, battery, control electronics, and a combustion engine, will increase sharply compared to today’s Formula 1 drive systems. The electric motor will then be nearly as powerful as the combustion engine, which has an output of about 400 kW (544 hp). The highly efficient 1.6-liter turbo engines run on advanced sustainable fuel – also a prerequisite for Audi’s entry into the series.

High Popularity in Key Markets and with Young Target Groups

Globally recognized, highly emotional, and technologically advanced – that’s how Formula 1 has met Audi’s exact requirements. The series holds races in all relevant markets of the brand. As a spectacular platform for the most demanding electrified racing cars in the world, it is of particular interest to car manufacturers. Audi is taking on the challenge of proving its “Vorsprung durch Technik” in this competitive environment.

The great interest in Formula 1 is global and the racing series is one of the sporting events with the highest reach in the world. In 2021, more than 1.5 billion TV viewers watched the races. Formula 1 is popular in key markets such as China and the USA, and the trend continues to rise – even among young target groups. On social media, Formula 1 is now experiencing the highest growth rates among the world’s most popular sports.

Neuburg Site to Develop the Power Unit 

The power unit will be built at Audi Sport’s state-of-the-art Competence Center Motorsport in Neuburg an der Donau, not far from AUDI AG’s company headquarters in Ingolstadt. “For the development and manufacture of the Formula 1 power train, we will build on the valuable expertise of our motorsport employees, continue to invest in our motorsports center, and also recruit highly specialized professionals,” says Audi Sport Managing Director Julius Seebach, who organized the entry into Formula 1 as part of Audi’s realignment of motorsport.

In Neuburg there are already test benches for F1 engine testing as well as for electric motor and battery testing. Additional necessary preparations are currently being made in terms of personnel, buildings, and technical infrastructure, with everything essential to be in place by the end of the year. A separate company was recently founded for the power unit project as a wholly owned subsidiary of Audi Sport. Adam Baker will take over the management of the company and thus the Formula 1 project as CEO. The trained engineer has held various senior positions for manufacturers and teams in motorsport. Before joining Audi in 2021, he worked for the FIA for three years.

Audi will announce a decision on which team they will be lining up with in 2026 by the end of this year.

Formula 1 Decision Governs Motorsport Focus

Audi Sport is pooling its strengths for the Formula 1 project and as a consequence is discontinuing its LMDh project. The motorsport division had recently suspended the development of the sports car for endurance racing. Alongside customer racing, Audi Sport will continue its innovation project with the RS-Q e-tron in the Dakar Rally. Next year, Audi’s aim is overall victory in the desert.

Whether the World Rally Championship, World Sportscar Championship, US motorsport, DTM, Le Mans, or Formula E – Audi Sport has set standards in many categories with numerous titles. “Formula 1 is the next major milestone in Audi’s motorsport history,” says Julius Seebach. 

Rolf Michl to succeed Julius Seebach

Audi’s entry into Formula 1 marks the conclusion of its motorsport restructure, but also the close of a formative period at Audi Sport GmbH. Managing Director Julius Seebach will join AUDI AG on September 1, 2022, and will take on a new strategic business area in Technical Development, reporting directly to the Executive Board.

Hoffmann, who, in his role as an Executive Board member also serves as Chairman of the Advisory Board of Audi Sport GmbH, would like to thank Seebach for his performance: “Julius stands for strategic foresight, consistent action, and sustainable results in challenging times.” Under his leadership, Audi Sport GmbH has repeatedly achieved record sales and earnings figures. Sales doubled with the RS model offensive and the all-electric RS e-tron GT was successfully brought to market.

In 2020, Seebach also assumed responsibility for motorsport at Audi and resolutely made it ready for the future. Under his leadership, the most complex racing car in Audi history was developed in record time: the RS Q e-tron for the Dakar Rally. Following its successful debut with four stage wins at the Dakar Rally in January, the Audi RS Q e-tron achieved its first overall victory in Abu Dhabi in March – the first triumph of a car with an electric powertrain in a desert rally. Entering Formula 1 is the successful conclusion of his work.

Starting September 1, Seebach will be succeeded by Rolf Michl, who has been Chief Operating Officer Racing at Audi Sport since February. Together with Dr. Sebastian Grams, he will form the Management Board of Audi Sport GmbH. Michl has a degree in business administration and is a long-standing member of the Audi Sport family. After holding various positions in marketing at AUDI AG and Audi Sport, he took over as Head of Product Marketing RS Models in 2016. After moving to Abt Sportsline as Director Vehicle Customization, he returned to Audi Sport GmbH as Head of Sales/Marketing in 2019. Michl has played a key role in shaping the company’s portfolio and sales successes over time. Hoffmann notes that “Rolf is an authentic leader and brings with him the experience he will need from motorsport and series production.” In addition to his positions in marketing, Michl was responsible for devising and implementing the Audi Sport TT Cup in 2014. 

ITF Annual Report finds more children picking up a racket for the first time

More young people are picking up a tennis racket for the first time, according to the latest annual reporting data released today by the world governing body of tennis, the International Tennis Federation (ITF), as the sport rebounds from the global pandemic. 

The ITF’s Junior Tennis Initiative – which introduces tennis to 14-year-olds and under – saw 213,212 children participating last year, up by 23.1% from 173,194 during the previous 12 months. Just over half of participants (51%) were girls across a record 142 countries where the initiative was delivered. 

A total of 6,090 school teachers and tennis coaches delivered sessions as part of the Junior Tennis Initiative in 2021, up 15.5% on 5,273 in 2020, while 3,570 primary schools and tennis clubs created playing opportunities for the youngsters, up 7.8% from 3,312 the previous year. 

The ITF initiative is the launch pad for many aspiring competitive players. It is highly encouraging, therefore, for the sport for competition entries amongst participating children to increase by 47.1% last year to 193,231, up from 131,375 entries in 2020. 

By comparison, at the highest level of global tennis, the Davis Cup enjoyed its highest participation in 20 years with 137 nations competing in the latest edition of the men’s World Cup of Tennis (four more than in 2019). The Billie Jean King Cup, the women’s World Cup of Tennis, attracted its highest participation ever, with 107 nations competing (14 more than previously). 

Global development of the game 

In research conducted by the ITF, their Global Tennis Report identified that Africa accounts for 2.2% of professional ranked players but by contrast has 6.4% of junior ranked players. Central America and Caribbean is responsible for 1.4% of professionals but 5.2% of junior ranked players. Asia is responsible for 14.9% of professional ranked players and 18.2% of junior ranked players; in South America it is 7.6% and 9% respectively; and in Oceania it is 3.4% and 3.8% – all indicating the global development of the game. 

The Report identified Europe as the region of the world with by far the most professional ranked players, representing 58.7% of the global total, and junior ranked players, 46% of the total. However, these statistics also highlight that Europe is the region with the greatest difference between the number of ranked professionals and juniors, and is one of only two regions globally responsible for a smaller percentage of junior ranked players compared to professional ranked players. The other is North America, where the difference is very small with 11.7% of ranked professionals and 11.4% of ranked juniors from the region. 

In terms of individual nations, the USA tops both lists, accounting for 10.1% of all professional ranked players, but slightly fewer junior ranked players (8.9%). Second for professional ranked players is France, responsible for 6.3% of the total, but it is third in terms of junior ranked players with 3.8%, behind Russia in second with 5.4%. India has the fourth most junior ranked players, 3.4% of the total globally, but the second most populous country in the world sits outside the top 10 for today’s ranked professionals (14th most in the rankings with 2%). 

David Haggerty, President of the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and Member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), said: 

“There are more than 87 million tennis players around the world and all of us at the ITF are committed to increasing participation levels even further. It’s vitally important that the game is for everyone; for all ages, genders, playing standards and physical abilities, and anywhere the game can be played, which we are working hard to ensure is everywhere, in one form or another. 

“Following the pandemic, to see more children picking up a racket as part of the ITF’s Junior Tennis Initiative is hugely rewarding and a sign that things are on a positive track for the future. At the very core of ITF2024, our strategy for sustainable growth, is developing the game globally and how we can support national tennis associations in delivering around the world. Together, with the right strategy, funding and commitment, I believe the future is very bright for our sport.” 

A decade of major investment in the world game 

The ITF also revealed today that it has contributed more than half a billion US Dollars over the last decade into tennis globally, in addition to the significant contribution of national tennis associations around the world. 

Between 2012 and 2021 the ITF invested $621.9 million – or £527.2 million or €623.9 million – to support all aspects of the game, including funding for staging major events such as the Davis Cup and the Billie Jean King Cup and their associated participation payments and prize money; tennis development programmes, grants and education costs; tours and player pathways, including the ITF World Tennis Tour (and Juniors), junior team competitions, UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour, Seniors tennis and Beach tennis; investments in integrity, science and technical aspects of the game; commercial development; and communications and marketing to promote the sport globally. 

Given the ITF’s mission is to deliver tennis for future generations, each year it reinvests approximately 90% of its income back into growing the sport and this level of investment is set to continue. This means that a growth in the ITF’s commercial revenues as it continues to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic and develop the game globally will produce more funding for tennis. 

In addition to the ITF’s reinvestment into the game, funding for the development of tennis is also provided by the four Grand Slam tournaments via the Grand Slam Player Development Programme (GSPDP). Since its inception in 1986, the programme has contributed more than $57 million to international player development. In 2021 the GSPDP delivered $1.12 million in support of talented players worldwide through grants, tournaments and touring teams. This investment was pandemic-impacted in 2021 but is expected to return to the pre-pandemic figure of circa $3 million in 2022. 

Annual financial snapshot 

The ITF’s newly published Annual Review containing its fully-audited 2021 financials confirmed that the international federation’s operating income in 2021 grew to $66.6 million from $35.6 million in 2020, having been impacted over the course of two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The last full year of pre-pandemic accounts was 2019, when the ITF generated operating income of $88.7 million. 

In 2021 the ITF increased operating expenditure – its investment in tennis – by 67.3% to $74.8 million from $44.7 million in 2020 as part of its journey back to recovery.  

In 2021 the ITF chose to draw on $5.5 million of its reserves in order to continue to deliver high levels of investment. The ITF has built significant financial reserves for such an eventuality through prudent financial management and at the end of 2021 still held reserves totalling $44.4m. 

The Covid-19 global pandemic cost the ITF more than $75 million in revenues over two years (2020 and 2021) when compared to 2019 operating income**. For example, the Billie Jean King Cup and Davis Cup generate vitally important revenues for the ITF to reinvest back into tennis. Those competitions taking two years to complete over the course of 2020 and 2021 reduced their financial contribution in this period, before they have returned to annual contests from 2022. 

Kelly Fairweather, Chief Executive Officer of the International Tennis Federation (ITF), said:  “It’s a source of real pride that the ITF has been able to contribute more than half a billion dollars to tennis globally over the last ten years. We are working hard to develop and support the health of the game around the world, for all abilities and ages to play, and for the enjoyment of more than a billion fans.

“It’s so important we remain robust financially to ensure strong grassroots funding right through to the highest levels of our sport, and we embrace innovative ways in which people can participate or engage with the game and its variants, from beach tennis to padel tennis. 

“I’m confident we’re on a growth trajectory as we recover from the challenges of the global pandemic and I’m proud of how the ITF team and the global tennis family is responding. Now, as one generation of heroes evolve into the next stage of their lives having made such an incredible contribution to our sport, the next is stepping up; whether that’s in the playground, on the podium or everything in between.” 

What is on offer for the Sports Industry at IBC

IBC is just around the corner and there is plenty going on for the world of sport, here is a breakdown of the events to look out for in Amsterdam.

Use the invite code MA22INTERS and you can get a free visitor pass as well as a 10% discount off the conference programme.

Click here to buy tickets

Technical papers: The immersive Olympics

09 Sep 2021, 16:00 – 16:45. E102, Conference

The breadth and diversity of sport and venue covered by the Olympics considerably magnifies the production challenge.  So, to add the complexity of immersivity is impressive.  In this two-paper session you will learn how 5.1.4 immersive audio was added and used across all sports, as well as the opening and closing ceremonies of the Tokyo 2020 and Beijing Winter 2022 games.  Our second paper adds VR.  With over 100 hours streamed of fully produced Olympic events from Beijing 2022, with graphics and commentary including live coverage of 6 sports, all in 8K VR – this is a masterclass on VR production. 

Simon Gauntlett, Director of Imaging Standards and Technology – Dolby Europe Ltd

Nuno Duarte, Senior Audio Manager – Olympic Broadcast Services

Sustainability in news operations

10 Sep 2022, 16.00 – 16.45 E102, Conference

Through being forced to implement remote capabilities in 2020, broadcasters have found new ways of bringing live content to viewers through powerful virtual production suites. Not only does this create technologically enabled efficiencies in workflows, but it allows for a smaller on-the-ground footprint. 

The speakers on this panel have delivered some of the largest sporting events in the last two years including the Tokyo 2020 and Beijing 2022 trialling new techniques in operational delivery. It’s good for the budget, it’s great for their carbon footprint. Hear how they do it and how these new methods of live production are changing the way control rooms exist in the content supply chain. 

Morwen Williams, Director of News Operations – BBC

Lucy O’Brien, Global CTO – EMG Media

Alex Dinnin, Director, Graphics and Innovation – Warner Bros. Discovery Sports Europe

Panel: New production trends delivering content everywhere

11 Sep 2022, 16:30 – 17:30

Content Everywhere Stage, Hall 5

The trend to virtual, remote and distributed production is accelerating. Cloud production is a reality, SaaS tools are on the rise, and the metaverse is on the horizon. New approaches are creating new opportunities for how and where content is created and new possibilities for how it is consumed. Production teams are tasked with creating more content more efficiently and for a wider variety of viewing experiences to increase engagement and ROI. This session will explore how sport continues to be the catalyst for the development and deployment of new content production workflows and will include wide ranging insights.

·      What production challenges still need to be overcome and what technologies are coming next?

·      How are workflows and business models changing?

·      How are scalable media workflows assembled in the cloud?

·      How can the cloud be leveraged to reach global audiences reliably and securely?

·      How are these technologies impacting the viewer experience?

Vinayak Shrivastav, Founder & CEO – Magnifi

Caspar Choffat, SVP Global Product – NEP Group

Valentijn Siebrands, Solutions Architect – M2A Media

TNW Talks @ IBC: Gaming & Sports

12 Sep 2022, 13:15 – 14:15

Innovation Stage, Hall 2

Technology is changing how we interact and experience sports, esports, and gaming experiences at lightning speed. Richer environments for the users not only enhance their journey but also unlocks a wider breadth of data analytics, marketing, and advertising opportunities. Advancements in gaming engines are accelerating the boom of the gaming market, already the largest entertainment vertical. There are nearly 3 billion gamers globally. It’s a heated competition to deliver the next-level experience: more real, more immersive. TNW Talks Gaming & Sports @ IBC will bring the investor, the innovator, and the emerging technology creator perspective to uncover the next disruptors in gaming and (e)sports. TNW editor Callum Booth will lead discussions on some of the most exciting developments in gaming and sportsincluding the latest in location-based entertainment, AI-generated content, immersive experiences and sound, 3D engines, and wearable technology. We’ll dive into how the world of NFTs, the metaverse, gaming, and sports collide and which technology will make the hype a reality. And how XR tech is converging real-world with digital sports and gaming experiences – and which advancements will make AR/VR a true game changer.

Freek Bijl, CEO & Co-founder, Mingle Sport

Victor Goossens, Founder & Co-CEO, Team Liquid

Arno Hermans, Business Initiator, Sports Vitality Hub

FIFA World Cup 2022 – Live Stream Dynamic Ad Insertion

10 Sep 2022, 17:30 – 17:50

Innovation Stage, Hall 2

As live sports migrates to streaming platforms, dynamic ad insertion is becoming more and more essential to teams, leagues, and distribution platforms for optimized monetization at scale. Equativ has been working with Belgian national broadcaster RTBF and their sales house RMB since the UEFA 2020 Euro Cup to bring addressable and programmatic advertising to fans watching on the RTBF Auvio service. At IBC, Equativ will announce the expansion of this relationship for the FIFA 2022 World Cup. Come discover how this technical and sales partnership benefits brands who want to target key segments of the sports watching audience using the Equativ ad server and SSP, and how broadcasters and operators can integrate these live SSAI and DAI services simply and quickly.

Andrew Rosenman, Global Product Marketing lead – CTV & Video – Equativ

World Table Tennis announce partnership with NFT Tech

A new multi-year partnership with NFT Tech will see World Table Tennis on the fast-track to the future as it looks to web3 to push the boundaries of fan experience.

NFT Tech, a leading technology company mainstreaming decentralised ownership, NFTs and the metaverse, will help World Table Tennis execute a web3 strategy that will engage the global fan base and reach the frontier of emerging technology.

The move will see fans firmly integrated in the direction of World Table Tennis as the experience of table tennis fandom is set to evolve.

“World Table Tennis has been researching and planning its entry into the web3 space for over 15 months now, studying and analysing ways in which we can create greater fan engagement through web3,” said Michael Brown, World Table Tennis Chief Financial Officer.

Table tennis followers can look forward to an initial phase that will put the likes of special ticketing, meet and greets, streaming access and more in the hands of fans through World Table Tennis’s new web3 platforms.

“The partnership with NFT Tech is the first major step on this journey. NFT Tech has proven to be a leader in the space when it comes to technology innovation in sport, which we believe is crucial when it comes to growing our sport,” said Michael Brown. “We believe that coming up with a web3 strategy will resonate with our core fanbase and their interests, while also attracting new fans to participate in the world of table tennis!”

For NFT Tech, the chance to form a partnership with World Table Tennis was an opportunity to be part of an electric global sporting community.

“I’m extremely excited for what we’ll be able to show off to the world,” said Adam De Cata, CEO at NFT Tech. “Table tennis is exploding in terms of global popularity and participation and World Table Tennis has been very forward-looking and progressive in leading sports technology innovation. We’re going to be able to build exciting multi-faceted experiences that further elevate fan and player engagement.”

With the WTT Series growing fast, fans will now not only have the action in the arena to look forward to but more opportunities to own and be part of the future of table tennis.

Member Insights: What is going on at Manchester United?

David Alexander, Managing Director Calacus PR, takes a look at the ongoing problems at Manchester United.

On the face of it, Manchester United’s victory against perennial title challenges Liverpool earlier this week may have come as some surprise.

After losing the first two games of the season to Brighton and then Brentford, protests and complaints about United’s owners, the Glazer family, reached boiling point yet again

Decimated by injury and having had a slower start to the season than in recent years under Jurgen Klopp, perhaps Liverpool were there for the taking, particularly with new Red Devils coach Erik Ten Hag needing to gamble with pressure already mounting.

Despite United’s win, the spotlight remains on the Glazers whose tenure has been indifferent to say the least.

Once the dominant force in the Premier League, they have not won the title since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013 and while investment into the team has been substantial, it appears to lack any coherent strategy.

United are blessed with one of the largest fanbases in the world, and the success they enjoyed during the Fergie years further built their reputation as one of the icons of world football.

The Glazers know this, and that even in times of relative struggle, the volume of fans attending matches or consuming their content and buying merchandise will continue to bring in significant revenues.

Back in June 2005, Joel Glazer gave the impression that he grasped the importance of the fanbase when he said: “Fans are the lifeblood of the club. People want to know what’s happening. We will be communicating.” 

Since then, fan fears have been confirmed with little communication from the family and the club gaining £660million of debt, withits average annual interest payments growing to £95million, more than a third of their annual revenues.

Old Trafford has also suffered, the iconic stadium is now an ageing shell with a leaky roof and rodent issues among the problems fans have faced.

Big name players come and go without any sense of progress and things got so bad that a fan protest led to the postponement in 2021 of arguably United’s biggest match of the season, the North West derby against Liverpool, with Old Trafford stormed and thousands more supporters blocking access to demand the Glazers sell the club.

In the aftermath of the abortive European Super League last year, executive vice-chairman Joel Glazer conceded that his family’s silence has given fans the impression that they do not care about the club. 

In a two-hour meeting with the club’s Fans’ Forum – arranged following the fallout of the European Super League – he said: “We always took the approach that we should stay in the background [and] let the manager, the players, the people at Old Trafford, be the ones out in front, communicating and talking.

“In retrospect, that was not the right approach and there’s a middle ground.

“Our silence wrongly created the impression that we don’t care, that we aren’t football fans, that we only care about our commercial interests and money. I can assure you nothing could be further from the truth.”

And yet the silences have continued.

United legend Gary Neville, who accrued over 600 appearances at the club, winning 23 major trophies, didn’t hold back in an explosive rant on the sorry state of affairs of his former club. 

He said: “There is a family in America that is letting its employees take the blame. They need to get on a plane to Manchester and explain what the plan is. We never will have the Glazers here.

“The only money that has been spent on players has been generated by the club. The Glazers have borrowed and used the revenue the club generates through its amazing fanbase. Us four (pundits) could buy the club tomorrow and spend the same money.

“My point is there has been a toxic culture at this club for the last 10 years since Alex Ferguson and (CEO) David Gill left. It’s a mess. And it cannot continue to go on. The embedded failure over a ten-year period has to come back to the owner

“They haven’t dealt with the football ground which is rusting. They need a billion (pounds) for the stadium and probably a few hundred million for the training facilities.

“They were cash rich a few years ago now they’re struggling. Something has to give.”

A recent report by Deloitte showed that the Glazers were the only Premier League owners to take dividends out of their club, with new Chelsea owner Todd Boehly impelled to include ‘anti-Glazer clauses‘ to stop him taking dividends out of the Blues for a decade.

With the club in such disarray, the Manchester United Supporters Trust released a firm statement which said: “As we’ve always said, a fish rots from the head. And the ultimate responsibility for the terrible state of our football club must lie with its owners, the Glazer family. 

“It is now for them and their management team to explain to United fans just why we are in this state, and what they are going to do about it. We’ve had some difficult times in the last decade, but this really does feel like rock bottom.”

“We’re being asked a lot about protests at upcoming games (including Liverpool) and as we have always said we will publicise any credible, lawful and peaceful protest so that our members have the information and can make their own decision as to whether they wish to take part.”

The Glazers’ failure to address fan concerns or share a vision and strategy to make the club competitive for major trophies once again compounds fans’ frustrations and unsurprisingly, only 4 per cent of Manchester United fans back the ownership of the Glazer family, according to a recent poll.

The only insight fans have had – and a limited one at that – was new CEO Richard Arnold meeting fans in the pub who admitted that last season had been a “nightmare” while agreeing that Joel Glazer needed to speak for himself.

The Glazers are reportedly considering selling a minority stake in the club, but leaving new coach Ten Hag to address issues that go far beyond his tenure or responsibility only serves to nurture the toxic narrative surrounding the club. 

The 1958 group staged a fresh protest against the ownership before arch-rivals Liverpool’s visit to Old Trafford and look set to continue until the culture around United is transformed.

With United’s status as one of the biggest clubs in the world enduring, it will be interesting to see whether the Glazers change their approach.

Whether the Glazers start talking to fans and media or keep hiding in the shadows remains to be seen, but no trophy in five years and a catalogue of strategic and communications disasters are creating headlines for all the wrong reasons.

Volleyball World agrees to multi-year partnership with ESPN in Latin America

Volleyball World has announced a three-year agreement with ESPN giving the trusted network exclusive broadcasting rights in Latin America for all FIVB and Volleyball World events until 2024.

The deal includes both indoor and beach volleyball and is the first-of-its-kind in the region, covering all of Spanish speaking Latin America including Argentina, Colombia and Mexico. Volleyball World will aim to use this historic partnership to further develop initiatives across the Americas and the sport’s Spanish speaking fan base.

The partnership was launched at the inaugural Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour events in Tlaxcala and Rosarito in Mexico and came to further prominence during the Volleyball Nations League, which was broadcast throughout the region.

In the coming weeks, fans will be able to tune in to the Men’s World Championship which will feature Argentina, Mexico and Cuba and the women’s competition that stars Argentina, Colombia and Dominican Republic – further enabling volleyball fans in Latin America to get access to the world’s major events.

Volleyball World CEO Finn Taylor said: “Partnering with ESPN to bring international volleyball and beach volleyball to Latin American fans is an important deal for Volleyball World and signifies the growing popularity of both sports around the world. This deal represents the significant growth in media rights value for volleyball in the region and allows new fans throughout Latin America to watch the very best volleyball and beach volleyball athletes for the next three years.”

FIVB President Dr Ary S. Graça F° said: “ESPN is the perfect strategic fit for helping to reach even more fans in Latin America where there is already a passionate fan base ready for more volleyball content. Volleyball World’s concerted efforts to build the profile of our sport in new and emerging markets is incredibly important to the long-term growth and success of volleyball.

“Of course, this profile building also goes hand-in-hand with the efforts of the FIVB to develop the sport worldwide. As the FIVB strives to provide national teams with the skills and knowledge to reach their full potential and become role models, Volleyball World is working with partners like the ESPN to showcase these heroes of the sport to millions of fans.”

APEX Capital welcomes six new athletes as investors

Investment firm APEX Capital announced today the addition of six new shareholders, from international professional football players to former Formula 1 drivers.

In addition to investing their own funds in the business, the athletes are excited to have an active approach in the company. One of the first initiatives is creating the “Athlete Council”, where all athlete-shareholders will meet the investment committee and discuss potential investments, validating what each company is trying to solve in the world of Sports, Media & Entertainment. The recent group of athlete-shareholders in APEX believe they can have a social-driven mission by battling the lack of visibility towards an athlete’s post career afterlife.

The new shareholders are a reflection of APEX Capital’s ongoing growth and progress.  Since launching in Febuary 2021, APEX has grown its funds under management, the firm has closed 12 investment deals including the early-stage investment in TMRW Sports co-founded by Tiger Woods and Rory Mcllroy. APEX has recently acquired a minority stake in X-SET, the fastest growing E-Sports Organization in the U.S. Apex now boasts a client base of over 50 professional athletes across different sports.

APEX is on track to become the go-to investor in the Sports, Media & Entertainment space. 17 months since launch date, 12 deals closed and a client-base of over 50 athletes, APEX decided to onboard strategic athletes as shareholders into the company.

António Caçorino (Founder & CEO) commented, “APEX Capital is quickly establishing itself as the go-to investor in the Sports, Media and Entertainment fields. The combined team of experienced investors and the athletes behind us allow APEX to be a differentiated investment company, who every founder welcomes to a cap table.”

“Founders and investors are quickly recognizing how strategic a successful athlete can be as an investor.  Athletes bring unique characteristics such as industry insight, competitive and winning mindsets, IP and large communities behind them.  At APEX, we understand this world better than anyone.”

APEX Capital is believed to be the first athlete-driven investment company that has a multi-sport angle. Both Europe and the U.S. have seen the rise of athlete-driven platforms backed by athletes from a single sport, usually in the same series, with the same background. The APEX-athlete community crosses athletes from Surfing, Football, Formula 1 and Formula E, Tennis and Golf. The collaboration between diverse athletes has proven to create value when it comes to investing in companies who are dedicated to shaping the future of Sports.

All six new shareholders have a vocal appetite for entrepreneurship and the business world. Said the Dutch Football star Siem de Jong: “We have experienced and learned a lot in our careers, it’s time to take those learnings beyond the pitch. Having athletes actively invested in companies is certainly very powerful, and it will empower athletes and allow them to navigate with more confidence in the business world. There’s a strong social mission embedded in APEX’s values, and our involvement reinforces that mission.”

Jan Vertonghen added “We’ve been actively investing for the past years, we have developed a healthy relationship with APEX investing on a deal-by-deal basis, but we decided it was more interesting to have full exposure to what APEX will do in the future and come onboard as shareholders. We strongly believe that athletes can be recognized beyond their performance, having an impact in the companies that we back and believe in. It will allow us to keep our minds sharp and healthy.”

World class motorsport athletes, Brendon Hartley and Tom Blomqvsit are part of the most recent athletes to become shareholders in APEX too. Bredon Hartley former Formula 1 driver for Alpha Tauri says: “Athletes are more aware of their brand value, their network and especially the struggles of the Sports and Entertainment industry. APEX has clearly nailed this thesis and has proven the concept of how much added-value athletes can bring into companies when actively invested in them. Athletes can learn a lot from this journey and get a sense of achievement outside their comfort zone and that social impact is very much present in the foundations of APEX.”

Tom Blomqvist who is currently testing for IndyCar in the United States commented: “Spending time here in the U.S. has allowed me to witness how some known athletes are tackling business activity outside their sport. Companies like APEX really empower athletes and this empowerment allows us to boost traction in our investments. Which is great for founders, investors, and athletes. APEX has a third of it’s portfolio in the USA and I wish to help increase the company’s footprint and sphere of influence in this market.”

Daley Blind (Ajax & Netherlands), Jan Vertonghen (Benfica & Belgium), plus brothers Luuk (PSV Eindhoven & Netherlands) and Siem de Jong (Former AJAX captain and Netherlands’ reference) join the firm as shareholders. The new group of investors also include former F1 driver Brendon Hartley (Toyota Gazzo Racing Europe) and racing driver Tom Blomqvist (Meyer Shank Racing Driver in the U.S.)

PFA and N3XT Sports launch digitalisation project

The Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA), the dedicated football players union in England and Wales, has appointed N3XT Sports to undertake a wide-ranging digitalisation project as part of work to modernise the organisation’s internal operations and its communications with PFA members.

N3XT Sports, a leading consulting firm specialising in the transformation and modernisation of the sports industry, has spent the past eight months working with the PFA to implement the union’s long-term digital strategy ahead of its rollout.

Plans include developing and implementing a member services platform, so that PFA members will be able to quickly and easily access services they receive from the union. The work will also simplify and improve the way member data is collected and managed.

The creation of a bespoke digital system to collate and process members data will allow the PFA to tailor and adapt the services it provides based on members’ needs. The union will also be able to use data analysis to offer targeted advice specific to members’ career journeys and milestones and ensure they receive timely, relevant and valuable information from the PFA.

The PFA’s CEO Maheta Molango said: “We want PFA members to see what the union is doing and how we can help them throughout their careers, both on and off the pitch. We also want to better understand the diverse needs of our former members and ensure they receive a more personalised experience every time they interact with the PFA. This project with N3XT is a critical part of that work.”

The organisation-wide project started in December 2021, when N3XT Sports completed a thorough and holistic assessment of existing PFA data to identify areas where the introduction of digital tools and solutions could help improve the organisation’s administrative processes. This included plans to transform the PFA into a paperless organisation and to create data dashboards to make the process of accessing PFA member services more efficient.

Mounir Zok, CEO of N3XT Sports, said: “We recognise the importance of this project, both for the digital transformation of the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA), and the wider sporting ecosystem, including tens of thousands of former and current professional football players. Our team at N3XT Sports is working diligently to ensure that, by taking this step, the PFA keeps pace with change and is able to provide its members with a modern, data-driven service.”

As well as improving how the PFA utilises member data, the digitalisation project will also include personal development for all PFA staff, with the creation of an ‘educational pathway’ focused on the implementation of new tools, concepts, and technologies.

The upskilling process aims to develop a data-driven culture at the PFA that will be at the heart of all
reporting, analysis and service provision. Everyone at the PFA will contribute to the project, including the internal team, the Operational and Players’ Boards and most importantly, the PFA’s members.

“When I joined the PFA, I set out my intention to take a player-centric approach to leadership,” Molango added. “After six months of work meeting and engaging with the membership, I prioritised this digital transformation project to ensure that we operate as a modern, data-driven and efficient organisation.

“However, this project is about outcomes, not technology. My commitment is to ensure that members can rely on the PFA to set the benchmark for leading member-based organisations in the sports world as a campaigning and representative union that is proactively at the heart of conversations about the future of our game.”

RealFevr and Beach Soccer Worldwide launch first digital collectibles

Portuguese startup RealFevr and Beach Soccer Worldwide will launch the first ever beach soccer digital collectibles globally on August 31, at 4 p.m. CET, with iconic moments from some of the sport’s biggest stars, such as French soccer icon Eric Cantona, Portuguese star Madjer – who is the official ambassador of the first drop – Brazil’s Filipe Silva, Switzerland’s Noël Ott, among others.

This drop is part of a three-year contract signed by Beach Soccer Worldwide and RealFevr through which they will create digital collectibles of key moments in the history of the sport.

This first RealFevr drop dedicated to beach soccer, titled “Drop #4: Summer Edition,” features not only beach soccer legends such as Madjer, Amarelle or Jorginho, but also former world-class soccer players such as the Frenchmen Eric Cantona, Laurent Blanc, Christophe Dugarry and Djibril Cissé, Brazil’s Júnior, Spaniards Emilio Butragueño and Míchel and German icon Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

Madjer, one of the most successful beach soccer players ever, is the new RealFevr ambassador. “It is an honor to be a part of this drop. Beach soccer is a sport full of unique and spectacular moments, so I am sure that the demand to collect some of them will be high,” said the former Portuguese national team star.

Madjer continued, “This type of digital asset is increasingly successful and I have no doubt that the same will happen with this drop. The partnership between RealFevr and Beach Soccer Worldwide will be another way to promote the sport of beach soccer globally.”

Promotion of the launch will be carried out by Beach Soccer Worldwide’s 27 ambassadors around the globe. The drop includes two types of packs – 4,851 RARE ($29 and 4 Collectibles) and 500 ULTRA ($139 and 10 Collectibles) – for a total of 28 unforgettable beach soccer moments between 1998 and 2021. The rarest collectibles in this drop are called UNIQUE, since there is only one copy, and will be from iconic goals of Cantona, Madjer, Filipe Silva and Noël Ott.

Periodically, new drops will be released and beach soccer fans around the world will be able to own a historic moment, purchasable with $FEVR, the RealFevr token. 

Since the summer of last year, RealFevr has released three pack drops: the first two focusing on some of the biggest names in soccer and video moments from the Portuguese league. The most recent release was made in partnership with Torino FC, which included everlasting moments from the Italian league and was also a sales success. In total, RealFevr sold more than 135,000 packs and all drops sold out within a 24-hour period.

Mass Participation World and Abbotts World Marathon Majors launch digital toolkit to inspire return to running

Today Mass Participation World (MPW) has designed a digital toolkit to help encourage participants to come back to in-person events.

MPW have been working in partnership with Abbotts World Marathon Majors to launch their #togetherwemove campaign.

This toolkit is partnered with an inspirational video that is designed at reminding runners about the joys of running alongside others.

Alongside the video, the toolkit also contains six images that are ready to go for social media and an email offering support. 

The video is the centrepiece of the campaign and was designed by UK-based agency Cravens. It is voiced by former World Champion middle distance runner Steve Cram, turned athletics commentator.

Phil Coverdale, Managing Director of Cravens, said: “The world is a better place when we move together. Having the opportunity to understand and communicate the wellbeing and wider benefits of Mass Participation Events has been a great experience for the Cravens team. It’s fantastic to see the #togetherwemove campaign up, running and helping make a positive impact!”

A study by MPW and other industry research showed that during the peak of COVID- 19, participating in outdoor activities was fundamentally safe. From more than 10 million participants, there were only five COVID-19 cases reported as a possible result of connecting with others at these events.

Chris Robb, CEO of MPW said, “Mass Participation World (MPW) is excited to be partnering with the Abbott World Marathon Majors to support the industry with the #togetherwemove digital toolkit at this challenging time. “One of our key missions is to facilitate global collaboration. We have no doubt that this initiative will help organisers to remind participants of the joy of participating together which in turn has the potential to positively impact the health and wellbeing of millions.”