What Makes Sport for Good Work? Evidence, Design and Accountability

In this article, David Alexander of Calacus PR explores how the sport-for-good movement evolved in 2025—shifting from well-intentioned narratives to evidence-based, measurable impact for young people and underserved communities.

Organisations around the world are well aware of the power of sport to make a difference to society.

At the inaugural Laureus World Sports Awards, Nelson Mandela captured the idea simply: “Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand.”

That belief still matters. But in 2025, the conversation has moved on. The question is no longer whether sport can be a force for good in principle – it is whether sport

programmes can deliver measurable, repeatable outcomes for the children, young people and the disadvantaged who face the greatest barriers: displacement, trauma, exclusion, and disability.

This is the space where sport for good earns its credibility. At its best, it is not a soft add-on or a reputational line item. It is structured, intentional youth development, delivered through coaches and mentors who create

psychological safety, set expectations, build belonging, and teach transferable skills that travel beyond sports arena. Global institutions continue to build frameworks that treat sport as an enabler of sustainable development.

The IOC’s Olympism365 strategy, for example, positions sport as a practical contributor to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, projected to generate more than US$200m in value towards building a better world through sport.

The evidence for sport for good is becoming harder to ignore. Recent 2025 research reinforces a core truth: sport does not produce life skills by default.

Positive outcomes depend on programme design and delivery quality, particularly the role of trusted adults in creating “positive youth development” experiences.

A 2025 study examining sport-for development interventions found that these intentionally created experiences are strongly associated with growth in social-emotional learning, leadership development, and career and college readiness – especially for socially vulnerable youth.

Importantly, the field is also producing more robust evaluations. A 2025 randomised study of LiFEsports reported evidence of sport-based positive youth development programmes improving social skill development, underlining that well-built sport interventions can stand up to scrutiny, not just storytelling.

A 2025 review of school-based physical activity interventions for children and adolescents with disability assesses impacts across academic, cognitive and mental health.

It highlights how often disabled young people are still overlooked in mainstream delivery – a reminder that sport for good must be intentionally accessible, not accidentally excluding.

Calacus has put together a selection of case studies that showcase organisations that have invested time, resources and intent in making a difference through sport.

Yes, there can be commercial and reputational benefits.

But this white paper is grounded in a more important point: sport has the opportunity to create meaningful change – if programmes are designed for development, delivered with care, and measured with honesty.

Find the full white paper here.

City Football Group Divests Stake in Mumbai City FC After Six Years

City Football Group (CFG) has confirmed that it has divested its shareholding in Indian Super League (ISL) side Mumbai City FC, bringing an end to a six-year association with the club.

CFG acquired a 65 per cent controlling stake in Mumbai City FC in November 2019, marking the group’s expansion into Indian football and making the club its eighth addition to the multi-club network at the time. The partnership proved highly successful on the pitch, with Mumbai City FC winning two ISL League Winners’ Shields and two ISL Cup titles during CFG’s tenure.

In a statement released on December 26, Mumbai City FC confirmed that CFG has relinquished its majority stake, with the club’s founding owners set to assume full control moving forward.

“Mumbai City FC can confirm that City Football Group Limited (CFG) has divested its shareholding in the Club. The founding owners will assume full control of the organisation moving forward,” the statement read.

Reflecting on the partnership, the statement added: “Since 2019, CFG and Mumbai City FC have reached new heights – winning two ISL League Winners’ Shields and two ISL Cup titles, strengthening the Club’s football operations, and making meaningful contributions to the growth of the game in India.”

CFG noted that the decision followed a comprehensive commercial review, citing uncertainty surrounding the future structure of the Indian Super League as a contributing factor.

“CFG has made this decision following a comprehensive commercial review and in light of the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the future of the Indian Super League (ISL). This step reflects CFG’s disciplined and strategic approach—ensuring its focus remains on areas where it can have the greatest long-term impact.”

The group also expressed appreciation for those involved with the club, adding that it remains open to continued engagement in the Indian market.

“CFG remains proud of the achievements and deeply appreciative of everyone connected to Mumbai City FC – from players and coaches to staff, fans, and partners – and looks forward to continuing its relationships and partnerships in India in the years ahead.”

The move concludes a significant chapter in Indian football, with CFG’s involvement widely credited for raising professional standards and competitive performance at Mumbai City FC. Whether the group will re-enter Indian football through another club remains to be seen.

Paris Saint-Germain inks global deal with Beyond Developments

Paris Saint-Germain has announced a new global partnership with BEYOND Developments, a UAE-based real estate developer born in Dubai and at the forefront of shaping distinctive waterfront destinations. Under this multi-year agreement, BEYOND becomes the Club’s Premium Sleeve Partner until 2029, marking a collaboration that brings together two modern brands influencing the future of sport, design, and contemporary lifestyle.

The BEYOND logo made its debut on the Paris Saint-Germain jersey during the latest national match against Paris FC.

A partnership rooted in shared values

Paris Saint-Germain and BEYOND Developments come together through a shared belief in the power of culture to shape experience. Both operate beyond their core industries, engaging global audiences through identity, creativity, and a clear sense of purpose, and occupying a space where sport, lifestyle, and expression naturally intersect.

Since its launch in 2024, BEYOND has established itself as a design-led force emerging from Dubai, shaping waterfront destinations that prioritise human experience, natural integration, and contemporary living. Paris Saint-Germain, meanwhile, continues to extend its influence well beyond football, setting global standards through performance, style, and cultural relevance.

This partnership also draws meaning from the cities that define each brand. Paris and Dubai are among the world’s most recognisable urban centres, admired for different yet complementary qualities. Paris represents heritage, fashion, and timeless cultural influence, while Dubai reflects momentum, innovation, and a future-oriented outlook. Together, they symbolise cities that attract global attention, shaping lifestyle trends, inspire ambition, setting new standards for modern living and continually evolve.

Bringing these worlds together, BEYOND and Paris Saint-Germain form a collaboration that connects place, culture, and people. It is a partnership shaped by shared ambition and designed to resonate with audiences who seek experiences defined by creativity, character, and global perspective.

Richard Heaselgrave, Chief Revenue Officer at Paris Saint-Germain, commented: “This partnership with BEYOND Developments represents a powerful alignment between two brands that redefine excellence in their respective fields, with a shared belief that sport and design both have the power to inspire and elevate everyday life. BEYOND’s approach to creating meaningful spaces mirrors our own ambition to connect with people through passion, creativity, and emotion.”

Adil Taqi, CEO of BEYOND Developments added: “As we begin 2026, this partnership with Paris Saint-Germain sets a meaningful tone for the year ahead. It reflects our belief that great design and great sport share the same power. Both move people, shape culture, and create moments that stay with us. At BEYOND, we design destinations that evoke emotion and inspire connection. Paris Saint-Germain brings that same energy to a global stage. This collaboration allows us to engage audiences through a shared vision of creativity, performance, and modern living, while extending our presence to new communities around the world.”

Bringing Sport, Culture, and Community Together

Through this collaboration, BEYOND and Paris Saint-Germain will activate new touchpoints across sport, culture, lifestyle, and community engagement. These will include curated events, elevated fan interactions, access to players and Club Legends, and premium experiences designed to celebrate the universal language of passion and performance.

For BEYOND, the partnership serves as a natural extension of Dubai’s creative energy and global cultural influence. It reinforces the brand’s international presence while unlocking opportunities to engage diverse audiences across Europe, Asia, and MENA.

A New Chapter of Global Storytelling

This collaboration represents more than shared visibility. It reflects a deeper cultural exchange between Paris, Dubai, and the global communities connected to both brands. Together, BEYOND and Paris Saint-Germain aim to create moments shaped by passion, belonging, and human connection, resonating with fans who seek meaningful experiences both on and off the pitch.

With a global fanbase of 500 million supporters, including 235 million followers across social platforms, Paris Saint-Germain stands as one of the world’s most influential lifestyle and sporting brands. Coupled with BEYOND’s rising presence across the UAE, MENA, and international markets, the partnership marks a powerful new chapter in global engagement.

This collaboration brings together two brands shaping how the world experiences sport, lifestyle, and contemporary living, united by a shared commitment to creativity, community, and bold expression.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Comes to Netflix Games in New Interactive Football Experience

Fans can playa newly reimagined FIFA football simulation game exclusively on Netflix Games. The game, developed and published by Delphi Interactive, allows Netflix members to experience the emotion and drama of the tournament in its purest, most joyful form — in a format that’s fast to learn, thrilling to master, and built for anyone to jump in. Plus, you can play solo or with friends online: All you need is Netflix and your phone.

“The FIFA World Cup is going to be the cultural event of 2026, and now fans will be able to celebrate their fandom by bringing the game right into their living rooms,” said Alain Tascan, President of Games at Netflix. “We want to bring football back to its roots with something everyone can play with just the touch of a button.” 

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said, “FIFA is very excited to team up with Netflix Games and Delphi Interactive ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026. This major collaboration is a key milestone in FIFA’s commitment to innovation in the football gaming space, which aspires to reach billions of football fans of all ages everywhere in the world and will be redefining the pure notion of simulation games. Our reimagined game truly marks the beginning of a new era of digital football. It will be available for free to Netflix members and is a great historic step for FIFA.”

“Football is the biggest thing in the world,” says Casper Daugaard, Founder & CEO of Delphi Interactive. “As lifelong FIFA fans, we’re honored to help usher in the bold next generation and reimagine the future of the franchise. Our mission is simple: Make the FIFA game the most fun, approachable, and global football game ever created.” Andy Kleinman, President of Delphi Interactive, adds, “Together with FIFA and Netflix Games, Delphi is building a game worthy of the world’s favorite sport — a game that anyone, anywhere, can pick up and instantly feel the magic of football.” 

Millions of people already watch Netflix on their TVs, and now you can play games there too. The new FIFA game will join recently released titlesas part of a suite of games that Netflix members can find on their TVs, right alongside their favorite shows and movies, using their phones as a controller. 

Baller League’s Harry Hesp: Why Football’s Future Is Digital, Shorter and Creator-Led

In this in-depth conversation with iSportConnect’s Taruka Srivastav, Harry Hesp, Marketing Director at Baller League, explains how the fast-growing, digital-first competition is reimagining football for a new generation of fans. From its origins during the pandemic to its blend of elite small-sided football, creator culture, and broadcast innovation, Hesp outlines how Baller League is filling a gap in the traditional football ecosystem—without compromising sporting integrity. The interview also explores fan behaviour, celebrity involvement, technology, brand partnerships, and how the league is increasingly being recognised as a complementary pathway within the wider football landscape.

What gap in the football ecosystem did Baller League set out to fill, and how has that vision evolved since launch?

The idea for Baller League was originally conceived during COVID by Felix and his wife at their kitchen table. It came from the realisation that while traditional football is still loved, many matches have become less exciting. Felix had spent a lot of time in the US studying how American sports blend entertainment with competition and began asking whether football could do something similar without losing its soul.

Football is sacred, so change is always sensitive. But what people often forget is that the most played version of football globally isn’t 11-a-side—it’s small-sided football. Our vision was to give the most played version of the game a proper stage and make it exciting, competitive, and culturally relevant.

That’s why our matches are 30 minutes long with 15-minute halves, and why the final three minutes of each half feature “game changers” inspired by playground football—one-vs-one, three-vs-three, moments of jeopardy where a match can turn instantly. Even a team trailing by several goals can still fight back, keeping fans engaged until the very last second.

Beyond the format, we also wanted to address accessibility. Football doesn’t offer pathways for everyone. Many of our players are former professionals, academy dropouts, or talents who fell out of the system for reasons beyond ability. Baller League gives them a second chance.

The engagement data proves the gap existed. In just 16–17 weeks in the UK, we’re averaging over two million live viewers per matchday, with 585 million organic short-form views last season alone.

How do you balance sporting integrity with entertainment and culture?

Sporting integrity is non-negotiable. Everything inside the white lines is fiercely competitive, fast, and played by elite small-sided footballers. The football has to be real and consumable.

Where we innovate is off the pitch. That’s where creators, icons, and storytelling come in. For example, rivalries like SDS vs NDL aren’t just about the match—they’re built through off-pitch narratives, training clips, banter, and fan engagement.

We experiment with concepts traditional sport doesn’t—manager roundtables, creator-led storylines, immersive content. But once players step onto the pitch, it’s serious. That balance is what makes the product compelling.

What have you learned about fan behaviour as a digital-first league?

There’s a misconception that Gen Z lacks attention span—that’s simply not true. They’ll watch six or seven hours of live content if it’s engaging. Our matches are 30 minutes, but our live broadcasts run for five to six hours every Monday night, and viewership remains strong throughout.

What truly differentiates us is distribution. You can watch Baller League on Sky Sports, but also for free on YouTube and Twitch. You can watch with AngryGinge pitchside on Twitch, Simon Minter on his channel, or Sharky with SDS on YouTube.

We’re not pushing fans behind paywalls—we’re going where the audience already is. We treat our digital audience like a stadium of 100,000-plus viewers and engage them constantly: giveaways, chat interaction, live unlocks, and incentives. The audience isn’t passive—they’re part of the show.

What role do celebrities and creators play in the Baller League ecosystem?

It’s a genuine collaboration. Celebrities like Idris Elba didn’t just lend their name—he asked to own a team and is deeply involved, attending training sessions and engaging in tactics.

Managers like Nico and Sharky are constantly pushing boundaries, creating ultras, organising chants, designing kits, and building real club identities. Nico even organised 250–300 supporters in matching colours and rehearsed chants ahead of matches.

These managers care about winning. When they lose, it hurts. Former pros like Daniel Sturridge have told us it brought back real football emotions. From kit design to fandom culture, everything is co-created.

They bring audiences, but more importantly, they bring authenticity and passion.

How is technology and broadcast innovation shaping the league’s future?

Technology is central to what we do. Baller League is fully viewable in VR every week, making us one of the only football leagues in Europe offering that experience.

Our broadcast style blends traditional coverage with streamer culture—pitchside cameras, behind-the-player shots, referee interviews post-match, and live creator reactions. We behave like a broadcaster and an IRL streamer at the same time.

The appetite is clear. Last season alone, we recorded 585 million organic views. Even moments like referees explaining decisions live have sparked comparisons about what traditional football could learn from us.

How do you choose brand partners, and what kind of brands fit Baller League?

Authenticity is the key word. We partner with brands that genuinely fit our audience and culture. Nike is a perfect example—they enable athlete performance on the pitch while pushing innovation off it.

We work with brands like O2 not just for visibility but for meaningful activation. Seventy-five percent of our audience is aged 18–34—a demographic brands want to reach authentically. We ideate extensively with partners to ensure integrations feel natural, not forced.

Baller League isn’t just football—it’s a cultural platform.

How do traditional clubs view Baller League?

There’s no resentment—only curiosity and respect. Premier League players regularly attend matches, and clubs recognise that we complement, not compete with, traditional football.

In fact, some of our players have earned professional contracts after playing in Baller League. Others have returned to international football. That validates what we’re building.

We exist alongside traditional football, offering something different but equally meaningful—especially for younger fans.

Euroleague Basketball Appoint Sportian to Combat Global Piracy with AI-Powered Solutions

Euroleague Basketball has announced a new collaboration with the anti-piracy affiliate of Sportian to protect its competitions against piracy and boost the integrity of its international broadcast offering.

Using Piracy Guard services, based on technology from LALIGA, Euroleague Basketball will be able to automatically detect, report and remove illegal broadcasts across IPTV, web, and mobile app platforms.

Euroleague Basketball is one of the fastest growing properties in sport, posting record-breaking television, digital and attendance figures annually and attracting hundreds of millions of views of its regular season and Final Four phases.

Reducing piracy protects the flexible, modern, and dynamic viewing experience offered by its streaming service EuroLeague TV, while protecting the investment of its global broadcast partners and ensuring the league can continue to innovate in how it delivers the competition to fans around the world.

By collaborating with Sportian, the technology company formed from the joint venture between Globant and LALIGA, Euroleague joins a community of anti-piracy clients being in a stronger position to defend its intellectual property across broadcast platforms, aligning with other major sports properties to share best practices and agree collective procedures to stop the damage that piracy inflicts on the industry.

The new service will combine live alerts, 24/7 monitoring and real-time dashboards, enabling ultra-fast decision-making and helping to ensure that Euroleague continues to attract new revenues, benefitting clubs, and players.

Alex Ferrer Kristjansson, Chief Marketing Communications Officer of Euroleague Basketball, said: “Piracy undermines the sustainability of global sport by diverting revenues that should be reinvested into clubs, players, and fan experiences, while also presenting serious privacy and security risks for the users without their knowledge. By working with Sportian, we are taking a decisive step to protect our content, our fans, and our broadcast partners. This is not just about Euroleague Basketball, it’s about working collectively with other rights holders to protect the sports economy and ensure our competitions can continue to grow.”

Luis Ureta, Sportian CEO, added: “Protecting content rights is a cornerstone of any growth strategy in sport. Euroleague Basketball has invested in top-class streaming and broadcast offerings and we think it’s essential to protect such innovations, for the good of the whole industry. Our AI-powered services will help ensure that fans can continue enjoying these premium, secure viewing experiences, while the league and its partners safeguard the revenues needed to reinvest in the sport. Together, we are reinforcing the foundations for both business expansion and long-term fan engagement.”

Sportian provides proactive and reactive piracy protection to major sports and broadcasting clients around the world, including Serie A, MotoGP, LALIGA, Sky, ONE Championship, WorldSBK, Atresmedia and the Belgian Football Federation.

NWSL Appoints IMG to Manage and License Global Video Archive Rights

The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) has agreed a deal with IMG to exclusively manage and license the worldwide video archive rights for its leagues and competitions.

The agreement will see IMG manage all the NWSL’s archive footage and programming, including all matches from 2017 across the professional league, playoffs, NWSL Championship and NWSL Challenge Cup.

Established in 2012, the NWSL represents the highest level of professional women’s soccer in the United States. Gotham FC were crowned 2025 NWSL Champions, following a 1-0 win over Washington Spirit in the NWSL Championship match on November 22, 2025. The Kansas City Current captured this season’s Shield, setting a record by clinching the earliest win in NWSL History with five regular season games remaining.      

“Partnering with IMG to manage our global archive rights is an exciting step for the NWSL,” said NWSL Senior Vice President of Broadcast Brian Gordon. “This collaboration ensures our rich history is preserved and accessible with fans, broadcasters and storytellers around the world.”

Bill Hawes, Senior Director, Archive, IMG said: “IMG is working closely with the NWSL to help it unlock greater value from its competitions. We’re pleased to start our partnership with the NWSL to help storytellers bring the league’s biggest stories to fans, broadcasters and brands around the world through its archive rights. The NWSL has an incredibly compelling growth story with a rich archive of footage that captures the talent, passion and moments that have built today’s game.”  

IMG is home to one of the largest sports archives in the world with more than 500,000 hours of footage resulting from representation deals with The Premier League, World Rugby, The Wimbledon Championships, the R&A (The Open), DP World Tour, UFC, WWE, Bundesliga, Formula E and many more. 

Holger Rune Enters Performance Wellness with Launch of HVNR Health

Danish tennis star Holger Rune expands his universe beyond the court with the launch of his own limited edition Manuka honey, developed in collaboration with New Zealand brand Manuka Doctor. The Manuka honey marks the first product under Holger Rune’s new performance brand HVNR Health, which will soon introduce additional high-quality products focused on health, energy, and recovery.

For Holger Rune, the initiative stems from a desire to share his own experiences of keeping the body healthy and in balance – both through periods of illness and during recovery. The products are therefore based on the habits and solutions Holger uses in his own daily routine.

“I’ve experienced how small adjustments in everyday life can make a big difference to energy and overall well-being. When I started using Manuka honey, I noticed a clear difference in how my body responded to illness and recovery. The effect was so striking that I decided to make this unique type of honey available to others,” says Holger Rune.

Manuka honey is known for its natural antibacterial and antioxidant properties and is often highlighted for its ability to support the immune system. In collaboration with Manuka Doctor, Holger Rune aims to make Manuka honey more widely available.

A NATURAL COLLABORATION

Manuka Doctor is a family-owned company from New Zealand, and the partnership with Holger Rune marks the first time the brand has collaborated with a professional athlete.

“Holger Rune represents exactly what we believe in – energy, focus, and natural strength. His dedication to health and performance makes this collaboration a perfect fit,” says a representative from Manuka Doctor. The partnership consists of two honey variants: Everyday Boost (540 MGO) and Super Boost (1000 MGO) – both under the name Manuka Doctor × Holger Rune.

Tissot strengthens ties with FIBA by becoming official eFIBA partner

Tissot has expanded its support of FIBA and the global basketball community by becoming an official partner of eFIBA, starting with the upcoming Season 4.

The Swiss brand will benefit from a primarily digital presence, including being featured prominently across eFIBA’s social channels, as well as during all game-day streams and broadcasts.

The partnership will also spark the introduction of newly created features and assets, including TISSOT Clutch Time and a TISSOT MVP. This will be designed specifically for virtual basketball, with the aim of achieving a similar level of recognition as the iconic TISSOT Buzzer Beater.

The next season of eFIBA will culminate in the best national teams from around the globe battling it out to be crowned champions at the eFIBA Season 4 World Finals in Qatar in 2026.

Set to be held in one of the best-connected capitals on the planet, the showpiece in Doha will also see the eFIBA World Finals held in the Middle East for the first time.

By incorporating FIBA’s official esports property into its extensive portfolio, Tissot is building on an already outstanding relationship, having been a Global Partner and the Official Timekeeper of FIBA basketball since 2008.

Tissot also has a well-established history of supporting basketball as an NBA sponsor – including increasing its brand visibility in virtual basketball through their longstanding involvement with the NBA 2K franchise.

FIBA Media and Marketing Services Director General, Frank Leenders, stated: “We are very happy to expand our partnership with Tissot, underlining eFIBA’s significant growth over the past five years and its incredible potential.

“During this very successful evolution of eFIBA, we continue to embrace and drive innovation so we can provide a first-class experience for players and fans and build even stronger and long-lasting connections with new audiences. Importantly, eFIBA is now also showing its appeal to commercial partners by demonstrating how it can reach into new markets, yet at the same time, remain firmly connected to the sport of basketball.”

“We are excited to extend our long-standing partnership with FIBA by becoming an official partner of eFIBA. This move reflects our commitment to embracing the digital evolution of basketball and builds on our experience in virtual basketball through our partnership with NBA 2K,” said Sylvain Dolla, CEO of Tissot.

“Integrating our brand into eFIBA with bespoke elements such as TISSOT Clutch Time and TISSOT MVP, alongside the iconic TISSOT Buzzer Beater, is key. It enables us to bring the strong recognition we have in traditional basketball into the digital space,” he concluded.

Umar Kremlev Elected President of the International Backgammon Federation

Umar Kremlev has been elected the new president of the International Backgammon Federation (IBF) at an extraordinary congress of the organization held on December 12, 2025. Representatives of 38 member countries attended the meeting, and full members unanimously elected the new president for a five-year term, succeeding Tatyana Komarova, who stepped down.

Speaking to the delegates, Kremlev outlined ambitious plans for the development of IBF and the entire field of board games as a sport. According to him, the global goal is to create an international association that will encompass different types of board games and promote them among young people.

“Our task is not only to develop the International Backgammon Federation, but to create an International Association of Board Games. Children today play on their phones, and this does not help the development of their intellect; but if we promote board games among children, they will grow intellectually. We want our organization to take on greater social responsibility,” Kremlev stated.

Umar Kremlev emphasized that one of the federation’s priorities will be hosting major competitions at a high organizational level with attractive prize pools. According to him, the next Backgammon World Championship is planned with a prize fund of 2 million dollars, and continental tournaments will have approximately 500 thousand dollars in prizes.

The organization also intends to move to a more regular format of international competitions: “We want to organize international tournaments quarterly, thereby conducting qualification for the World Championship, which will be held every two years,” Kremlev noted.

Umar Kremlev also heads the International Boxing Association (IBA), where he has successfully implemented large-scale reforms, introduced prize money, and strengthened the sport’s position on the global stage. Now his successful management experience will also be directed toward developing backgammon internationally.

Having announced her resignation as IBF president, Tatyana Komarova will now fully focus on her work as Secretary General of the Russian Backgammon Federation. Her departure was a consequence of the rapid growth of the national organization: “The Russian Backgammon Federation is developing very quickly — today we already unite 70 regions. To maintain this pace and address strategic tasks within the country, I need to be fully involved in this process. Therefore, I decided to step down as IBF president so that the federation can continue moving forward under the leadership of someone who will take our sport to a new level,” Komarova emphasized.

Delegates noted that the election of Umar Kremlev opens a new chapter in the development of backgammon as an international intellectual sport. The conference took place on the eve of the IBF Arabian Grand Prix international tournament, which will be held in Dubai from December 13 to 18, 2025. About 200 athletes are expected to participate across five main disciplines, with an additional prize fund of 70,000 US dollars.

IBF is one of the youngest international structures in the backgammon world, but in just a few years it has managed to become one of the top three key organizations defining the rules of the game at the global level. Unlike many other associations, IBF develops both major formats — short and long backgammon — striving to transform the ancient game into a standardized sport. The federation creates unified rules, introduces rating and refereeing systems, organizes international tournaments, and expands its membership map. Today, IBF includes 40 countries.