| World Table Tennis Pte. Ltd. (WTT) has announced the appointment of Liu Guoliang as a new Board member. An extremely well-respected leader within the table tennis community and the current WTT Council Chair, Mr Liu Guoliang takes the position of WTT Board Member for better participating in the ITTF Group tasks. He will use his unparalleled experience to further boost WTT in its mission to transform table tennis and grow the sport worldwide. He commented, “As Chair of the WTT Council, I worked to ensure the entire table tennis family work in unison to make WTT a global success. Now, being a member of the Board too, it will be my honour to continue helping WTT strive for the benefit of our sport. It has long been my dream to make table tennis as big globally as it is in my country. I believe in the potential of our sport, and in WTT being the right vehicle to reach that goal.” This decision follows his election as ITTF Executive Vice President during the ITTF Annual General Meeting held in Houston, USA, on 24 November 2021. As Mr Liu Guoliang was entrusted with the “Commercial (WTT)” portfolio during the Executive Committee meeting held on 29 January 2022, WTT decided to appoint him to the Board. ITTF President Petra Sörling, who will be regularly invited to the WTT Board meetings, stated: “Mr Liu Guoliang is a legend of our sport who has demonstrated great leadership as President of one of our most successful Member Associations. He has the ITTF Executive Committee’s full trust as we know he will be instrumental for World Table Tennis.” Mr Liu Guoliang replaces Mr Matt Pound, Managing Director of WTT, who will be able to focus on day-to-day business operations and activities. The other board members of WTT – Mr Khalil Al Mohannadi, ITTF Executive Vice President, and Mr Steve Dainton, WTT Director and ITTF Group CEO – remain in their position. “I am delighted to welcome Liu Guoliang to the Board. I am convinced that, following our initial successes, he is the right person to help us reach the next level in our mission to make table tennis one of the leading sports in the world,” said Mr Al Mohannadi. “We are at a crucial moment as the sports industry is evolving after the pandemic hit us all,” added Dainton. “Having one of the most influential figures in table tennis that has been an athlete and a coach at the absolute highest level joining our Board now shows that WTT is ready to lead the whole table tennis community to new heights.” A legend of the sport, Liu Guoliang has won all the major titles both as a player and head coach of the Chinese men’s team. In 2018, he was elected President of the Chinese Table Tennis Association. In 2021, he was elected as an ITTF Executive Vice President. |
INEOS Hygienics partner with Lewis Hamilton
The UK’s fastest-growing hygiene solutions provider, INEOS Hygienics has collaborated with Formula One legend, Lewis Hamilton, to lead a national campaign called #Limitless.
Known for his endless drive, the aptly dubbed #Limitless campaign shows the Seven-Time World Champion amongst an infinite series of reflections – positioned to dramatise what life could look like with limitless potential, through staying fit and healthy.
Believing no one should ever miss a day of what keeps people at their best, the INEOS Hygienics campaign with the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team driver unveils a new range of hand washes to keep hands clean and protected – designed to ensure Britons are stronger and more resilient than ever before.
The record-breaking athlete is pictured wearing a striking red outfit whilst holding a bottle of INEOS Hygienics hand wash, created to ensure smart hygiene and high-performance.
Hamilton, who has teamed up with the British hygiene solutions powerhouse to launch their #Limitless campaign said “I believe as humans, we really are capable of anything, and I find putting good habits in place and creating routine helps me perform and be at my best”.
“The pandemic taught us all the importance of good hygiene. We were all washing our hands thoroughly and constantly sanitising surfaces.
“Being slowed down by sickness or fatigue isn’t an option for me – so hygiene has always been something that I have been very focused on. Even more so now.
“We all want to be able to live without limits – so we need to make sure we are looking after ourselves by washing and sanitising our hands, and INEOS Hygienics gives me and my team the tools we need to live life to the full; both on and off the track.”
As a trusted name in high-performance hygiene, INEOS Hygienics is Principal Partner of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula 1 Team, and backs Seven-Time World Champion, Sir Lewis Hamilton, teammate George Russell and their entire team with a smart hygiene routine – giving them the tools to live life to the full: both on and off the track.
Commenting on the partnership, Fran Millar, CEO of INEOS Hygienics said: “Have you ever imagined what life could be like if you were completely limitless?
“To never be held back by sickness, injury, fatigue, anxiety or stress. To get out of bed every morning knowing that each and every day you will perform at your very best?
“There is a palpable excitement this summer as the world is opening up quickly. Life is back on track, and INEOS Hygienics are on a mission to keep it that way.
“As a trusted name in high-performance hygiene, we believe that no one should ever miss a day of what keeps us at our best – and want to give people the tools to live life to the full.
“Lewis is the perfect embodiment of what it means to be ‘Limitless’. He constantly goes beyond the ordinary and practices a smart hygiene routine to never miss a day of what keeps him at his best.”
By bringing together the benefits of performance and science, INEOS Hygienics backs everyone to go beyond the ordinary and live a limitless life – without missing a day of what keeps them at their best.
Meet the Member: “It is going to inspire, it is going to entertain, and it is going to be the hottest ticket in town.”
Jane Fernandez is the COO (Australia) of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023. She spoke to iSportConnect’s Content Manager Alex Brinton from Sydney, just after the conclusion of the Women’s European Championships here in England.
When was the idea of hosting the tournament first come about and how did that process play out?
A number of years ago Football Australia always had hosting these major football events as part of their strategy. The Women’s World Cup was one of those.
And when I was working on the AFC Asian Cup, with my colleague, Mark Falvo, who’s the COO of Football Australia, we entertained the idea of bidding for the 2019 tournament.
We just weren’t ready. It wasn’t the right time. And they say timing is everything. And thankfully, we went forward and bid for 2023, and here we are today.
Both Australia and New Zealand are sports-mad countries. But football isn’t traditionally one of the biggest. How big is the fan base going to be for this tournament?
In Australia, football is the largest participation-based sport. There are over 2 million participants in our game here. And as you say, Australians and Kiwis are sports mad, we love going to major sporting events. We have a strong supporter base of those that are very proud of their countries, and really love watching international sport.
The other thing that we have here is that we’re both very multicultural. Over 300 languages are spoken, over 200 nationalities represented. And we saw during the Asian Cup that matches like Iraq v Iran can sell out stadiums.
It was just so, so exciting. It’s a true reflection of the multicultural nature of Australia and New Zealand as well. The supporter base will be huge, every person will have a second team and maybe even a third team. We’re confident of seeing all of the fans in the stands, singing in full voice and supporting every team, all 32 teams that are going to participate in this competition.
There are big challenges around two nations hosting a tournament – as opposed to one – how have you dealt with that?
The first challenge was the COVID pandemic. We actually won the bid during the pandemic Then we recruited our staff during the pandemic as well. So a number of staff, a large number of my heads of department, actually didn’t meet in the flesh until a year into the job.
It is going to be a tournament of firsts. The first time a FIFA Women’s World Cup will be held in the Asia Pacific region, the first time in the southern hemisphere and the first time it will have 32 teams, the best footballers in the world coming from 32 countries.
That brings with it the opportunity to increase participation, to really excite more girls and boys to lead active healthy lives, to put on their football boots, have a kick, and to really enjoy the game that we all love.
What exciting things can the fans expect when they attend games?
This FIFA Women’s World Cup will be the biggest event we’ve hosted in Australia since the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. This is going to be an absolute moment in time and people will have memories for a lifetime.
You know, I can see people saying ‘Where were you on the 20th of August 2023? When that winning goal was scored at Stadium Australia in the final of the FIFA Women’s World Cup.’
We will see the best footballers in the world taking centre stage, but it will also be a connection between sport, art, music and culture. We’re going to bring our cities to life through the FIFA fan festivals. So, fans can really taste football outside of the stadiums as well. This will be a huge community celebration and using football as the platform, as the tool to bring people together.
After the Euros, everyone is calling it a turning point, not just for women’s football, but for women’s sport. Have you got the same impression on the other side of the world?
We’ve been watching here and soaking it up, taking it all in, what an unbelievable tournament. I think women’s sport in Australia and New Zealand has really seen this growth, this momentum for a number of years now. I was lucky enough to be at the 2020 Women’s T20 World Cup final at the MCG. I remember sitting in the stands and really feeling then that this is an absolute turning point in women’s sport and in women’s major sporting events.
We’ve seen that growth across all sports, and specifically in football. We know that the Matildas are now such a household name, such a strong brand, attractingthousands of fans to games.
It does take time. But absolutely the momentum is 100 per cent behind it.
Is it the perfect time to be hosting a Women’s World Cup?
I believe this is absolutely the perfect time. As I said, you can see this growth is on an upwards trajectory. We’ve just seen 50,000 people attend the Morocco v South Africa match at the Africa Cup of Nations. This is the moment I think, and I really do believe that in the winter months next year, we’re going to see that this tournament will capture hearts and minds. It is going to take people to this next level of understanding and appreciation. It’s going to inspire, it’s going to entertain, and it’s going to be the hottest ticket in town.
A lot of brands have thrown their support behind women’s football at the moment. How much of a boost is that?
Investing in the game is absolutely critical for its success. It’s critical for its commercial sustainability. We know greater investment leads to a better product and a better outcome. For the first time FIFA has actually implemented a standalone commercial pillar for the women’s game. It’s fantastic that we’ve now got Visa onboard, we’ve got Xero onboard. And there’s more to come.
If lots of money does find its way into the women’s games, and it’s starting to, is that only a good thing?
I believe so. I believe it’s a great thing that smart investors got on board from the very beginning when this growth started. And you know, there are a lot more investors out there now who know that this is a great product. This is something that we want to be part of now. But they shouldn’t wait. They should get onside now, and really ride that momentum with us.
Both countries are in the fortunate position of having a large amount of sporting infrastructure in place already and you’ll be utilising some of each country’s biggest stadiums. How much of a statement is it that you’re going to use in places like Stadium Australia and the Cake Tin in Wellington?
They’re the most prestigious, the biggest venues. And they’re the venues that have held Olympic Games and amazing tournaments for other sports as well. I believe it is an absolute sign of the importance and the level at which we will be delivering the FIFA Women’s World Cup at.
I can’t wait to be there in the stands at the final at Stadium Australia with a full house. But I think it is a really important message that the competition will kick off here in Sydney on July 20 at our brand-new Sydney Football Stadium. It places the FIFA Women’s World Cup at the top of major sporting events, which is exactly where it should be.
The women’s T20 World Cup was hosted in Australia just before the pandemic it was a huge success for the crowd over 80,000 attending the final. So, there’s obviously great interest in women’s sport in the country. What does success look like for you from this tournament?
Our aim is always to continue doing better to take this tournament Beyond Greatness. We know in France, there were 1.1 million attendees, we want to take that to 1.5 million, we know the broadcast was over a billion, we want to continue to grow that let’s get to 1.2 billion.
I think ensuring that there is continual growth, continual investment in the FIFA Women’s World Cup, to make sure that we can take it to the next level. I think that’s what this is all about. It’s also about ensuring that the legacy outcomes are achieved through hosting the tournament. You know, the data, the numbers that are critical around viewership, and attendees, but also, the social and economic benefits are really critical as well.
What can the legacy of this tournament be both in the host countries and around the world?
Well, globally, FIFA are investing over $1 billion dollars into the investing in women’s football and the growth of women’s football. We have a target of 60 million women and girls playing football by 2026. So from a participation base, we want to absolutely continue to grow that right across the globe. We also want to make sure that we’re investing in the development of female leaders in football.
Football Australia and New Zealand Football are bringing their legacy plans to life. They are really focused on participation growth, with the target of getting to 50:50 by 2027.
The investment in facilities is another really important legacy outcome, and will have a real impact from hosting the tournament.
There’s the leadership pillar ensuring domestically, female leaders are developed to continue to be working in and leading the game. We want football to be the sport of choice for women and girls both on and off the pitch. So developing female leaders, coaches, referees, administrators is really, really critical.
Obviously, there’s a high-performance pillar. We want to keep investing in the development of the game. And then there is no better way to remind the world that Australia and New Zealand are open for business. So ensuring that from a tourism perspective and an International Relations perspective, we are front and centre and that is the power of football. That is the power of the global game.
It opens doors internationally. It’s a sport that the world plays and the opportunities are just endless.
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.
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.)