EuroLeague and FanDuel extend Media Rights agreements until 2028

FanDuel, North America’s premier online gaming company, and Euroleague Basketball have announced a multi-year broadcasting agreement extending their partnership through 2028. Under the renewed deal, FanDuel will continue to broadcast EuroLeague games for free in the United States via FanDuel TV’s FAST channel FanDuel TV Extra and its OTT platform FanDuel TV+.

The renewed partnership, secured by Euroleague Basketball’s strategic partner IMG, builds on a successful collaboration that began in 2024. The expanded agreement will bring fans in the U.S. even greater access to Europe’s top basketball competition, airing 100+ games per season, including live coverage of selected EuroLeague Regular Season games every week, the Play-In Showdown, Playoffs, and the Final Four.

“We are extremely satisfied to renew this agreement, as FanDuel is a key partner in expanding our global footprint and delivering the rich tradition of European basketball to U.S. audiences,” said Alex Ferrer Kristjansson, Euroleague Basketball Marketing and Communication Chief Officer. “After a successful first season, FanDuel’s expanded coverage clearly shows the growing interest EuroLeague is generating among American fans.”

This renewal coincides with a period of growth for the EuroLeague. For the first time since the league format was established, 20 teams will compete, marking the debut of Dubai Basketball and further reinforcing the league’s global reach and appeal. The expanded broadcast coverage offers American basketball fans the chance to experience the competitiveness, intensity, and skill of Europe’s premier basketball league on a free-to-air basis, strengthening both FanDuel TV’s live sports portfolio and EuroLeague’s international visibility.

“We’re thrilled to extend our partnership with EuroLeague, which showcases some of the highest-caliber basketball in the world,” said Michael Shiffman, SVP and Executive Producer of FanDuel TV. “Bringing this premium content to our fans aligns perfectly with our mission. By making more than 100 EuroLeague games available on FanDuel TV Extra and FanDuel TV+, we’re giving fans in the U.S. an easy, and completely free way to watch and follow Europe’s premier league.”

In addition to FanDuel TV Extra and FanDuel TV+, select EuroLeague games will also air across FanDuel Sports Network and stream on the FanDuel Sports Network app, giving fans even more ways to watch.

SportAccord reveals compelling programme for IF Forum 2025

With less than two weeks until International Federation leaders gather at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne to navigate the challenges reshaping the global sports landscape, SportAccord today reveals a programme of high-impact panel discussions and world-class speakers for the IF Forum 2025.

The three-day event will be held from 27-29 October, themed around The New Global Reality in Sport: IFs in a world that refuses to stand still. It will unite 400 leaders from 120 International Federations along with guest speakers and exclusive IF Forum partners, who all bring experience and expertise to share with each other.

Keynote addresses will be delivered on Monday 27 October, followed by panel discussions and interactive sessions on Tuesday 28 and Wednesday 29 October.

Panels will examine critical topics including commercialisation and leadership in a fragmented world, ensuring sustainability in the growth of women’s sport, and strategies for International Federations to remain relevant year-round.

Prof. Dr. Uğur Erdener, President of SportAccord, commented: “The IF Forum represents a critical moment for International Federation leaders to come together and address shared challenges at a time of unprecedented change.

“The panels we have curated bring together speakers from a variety of backgrounds, and we are confident this will help International Federations to work together to shape a bright future for sport.”

The IF Forum 2025 will also hear a keynote address from Professor Simon Chadwick, a leading sports business academic and consultant, on sport’s role in an age of global disruption. This will examine the importance of sport in demonstrating resilience, unity and purpose, and the lessons it must learn to remain relevant, trusted and future-ready.

Speakers on panels include International Federation leaders, athletes and independent experts who will provide their insights to delegates.

The commercialisation, monetisation and leadership in the Age of Fragmentation panel will bring together leaders including International Table Tennis Federation President Petra Sörling, International Biathlon Union Secretary General Max Cobb, International Equestrian Federation Executive Director of Commercial, Marketing and Communications François Vergnol, World Flying Disc Federation President Rob Rauch and Giles Morgan Group Head of Sponsorship of Howden Group Holdings. They will explore how International Federations are adapting commercial strategies and digital engagement in an increasingly competitive landscape.

The discussion on women’s sport will feature prominent voices including three-time Olympic swimming medallist Pernille Blume, International Volleyball Federation President Fabio Azevedo, International Floorball Federation President Filip Suman, Lombe Mwambwa, Research Director at the Global Observatory for Gender Equality and Sport, and Midori Miyazaki, Executive Director of ISPS Handa. They will examine how International Federations can convert visibility into sustainable investment and long-term impact.

A dedicated session on how IFs can stay relevant year-round will spotlight strategies for maintaining audience engagement beyond major event cycles, featuring International Skating Union Jiao Li, Chief of Commercial and Marketing, International Canoe Federation Secretary General Richard Pettit, Brisbane 2032 Chief Sports Office Kit McConnell and RedTorch CEO Jonny Murch.

Moreover, the IF Forum will examine innovation and foresight for International Federations, exploring how they can anticipate disruption and build resilience.

The IF Forum 2025 will serve as a vital platform for dialogue and exchange among International Federation leaders, and the insights and momentum generated will lay important groundwork for the SportAccord Convention 2026 in Baku, Azerbaijan.

AC Milan Renews Partnership With Emirates

AC Milan and Emirates have announced the renewal of their historic partnership, which began in 2007. The airline will continue as the Official Airline Partner and Principal Partner of the Rossoneri, celebrating twenty years alongside the Club.

For years, Emirates has played a leading role in AC Milan’s growth journey, as a strategic partner capable of generating value both on and off the pitch. This bond has seen two iconic brands strengthen one another, enhancing their international prestige and becoming a bridge that unites fans and cultures under the banner of innovation, excellence and a global vision.

Maikel Oettle, Chief Commercial Officer of AC Milan, stated: “The renewal of our partnership with Emirates stands as testimony to one of the most historic and admired collaborations in football, a shared journey that looks to the future with ambition and vision. Emirates will continue to stand by our side, helping us strengthen the Club’s solid foundations and, together, connect new generations of fans around the world while creating unique experiences that go far beyond the pitch.”

Sir Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline said: “We are thrilled to extend our partnership with AC Milan. This collaboration, built on shared values and a mutual commitment to excellence, has created unforgettable experiences for millions of fans worldwide. Our deep-rooted relationship with Italy makes this extension a natural next step, as we continue to connect Milan and other Italian cities to the world through Dubai, while bringing Rossoneri fans across our global network closer to their favourite club and players.”

The renewal also underscores the strategic importance of Dubai and the Middle East, a key market for the Club’s future, where in 2023 Casa Milan Dubai was inaugurated, further strengthening the bond with Emirates.

Both international brands have long been connectors of cultures and communities, a shared vision that takes on special meaning in 2025 with the 25th anniversary of flights between Milan and Dubai: a route that has brought generations of Italians closer together while opening new opportunities for cultural and economic exchange.

Together, the two partners have created experiences that transcend the pitch, from memorable triumphs to special projects such as the Hall of Fame for the Club’s 125th anniversary. With this renewal, they reaffirm a commitment based on ambition and global vision, ready to write new chapters of shared growth.

Jacky Ickx The “Gentleman Driver” enters the history of the SPORTEL Awards

The SPORTEL Awards, the international cultural event that celebrates excellence in sports media and honours the most beautiful sporting emotions on screen, today unveils the recipient of the 2025 Lifetime Sport Achievement Award. The trophy will be presented to Jacky Ickx, an iconic figure in world motorsport, during the SPORTEL Awards Ceremony on Monday, 20 October 2025 at the Grimaldi Forum Monaco.
 

The Lifetime Sport Achievement Award honours an international athlete for his or her sporting exploits. This prestigious distinction pays tribute to outstanding careers that have left a lasting mark on history and on the collective imagination.
 

A driver of universal talent, Jacky Ickx spanned more than three decades of motor racing, excelling wherever speed was at stake. With 32 active seasons between 1961 and 1992, over 555 races contested and an extraordinary record of achievements, Jacky Ickx left his mark on every discipline he embraced. A two-time European Formula 2 Champion (1967 and 1970), twice Formula 1 Vice-World Champion, and winner of 8 Grands Prix, he established himself as one of the greatest talents of his generation

It is, however, in endurance racing that he truly entered legend: six-time winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, named Driver of the Century in this discipline, he boasts a record 46 endurance race victories and two World Endurance Drivers’ Championships with Porsche (1982 and 1983). Winner of the 1983 Paris-Dakar Rally and author of 40 stage wins in rally raid, he also shone in Can-Am, claiming the title in 1979.


Nicknamed the Gentleman Driver, Mr. Le Mans and the Rain Master, Jacky Ickx fascinates with his exceptional versatility, elegance and charisma. More than just a driver, he has become a benchmark, respected and admired throughout the world.
 

A man of action, he has also served as ambassador for leading automotive brands, notably Volkswagen and Porsche, and since February 2024 he has been brand partner of Genesis, the luxury label of the Hyundai group, which recently announced its entry into the World Endurance Championship.

“Presenting the Lifetime Sport Achievement Award to Jacky Ickx means paying tribute to much more than an exceptional record. It is about celebrating a unique career that spans generations and has shaped the history of motorsport. His passion, versatility and aura make him a truly unique champion, whose influence goes far beyond the circuits”, stated Marine Picoulet, Executive Director of the SPORTEL Awards.
 

Following Didier Deschamps in 2018, Alain Prost in 2019, Katarina Witt in 2023 and Nikola Karabatic in 2024, the SPORTEL Awards 2025 Lifetime Sport Achievement Award will be presented to Jacky Ickx, unanimously recognised as one of the greatest drivers of all time.

Alexis Ohanian Leads Ownership of LOVB’s New Los Angeles Pro Volleyball Team

League One Volleyball have announced that Alexis Ohanian and Seven Seven Six have entered into definitive agreements to lead the ownership group of its newest professional team, LOVB Los Angeles Volleyball. Building upon Southern California’s rich volleyball heritage, LOVB Los Angeles will become the league’s seventh professional team, debuting at the start of Season Three in January 2027.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Alexis and the Seven Seven Six team, true women’s sports champions who share our vision for the impact professional volleyball can have in the United States,” said Rosie Spaulding, President of LOVB Pro. “Their commitment strengthens the entire volleyball ecosystem, and marks an exciting new chapter for LOVB and the sport as a whole. We can’t wait to work with them to bring professional women’s volleyball to Southern California as we continue to grow the sport across the U.S.”

LOVB has developed a model unique to American sports: a fully connected national ecosystem that fuels participation, develops talent, connects grassroots volleyball to the professional stage, and engages and grows communities of volleyball fans. In Southern California, that ecosystem includes top ranked youth clubs including Team Rockstar and SC Rockstar (formerly Mizuno Long Beach and SCVC), Tstreet Inland Empire and the #1 club in Orange County, Tstreet Irvine. These clubs bring together 900+ girls and boys across the region who will have the opportunity to learn from their idols in the sport, as they train alongside and witness first hand an all new path to pro. 

“We’re excited to make LOVB the third jewel in Seven Seven Six’s LA sports family,” said Alexis Ohanian, Founder of Seven Seven Six, and Founding Control Owner of the NWSL’s Angel City FC and TGL’s Los Angeles Golf Club. “Volleyball is such a natural addition for Southern California, which has already proven how warmly it embraces new pro sports teams.”

LOVB’s approach to ownership groups has focused on bringing together the right owners for the right markets. LOVB’s ownership structure unites team and league equity, ensuring a shared commitment to long-term growth. Together, with its new Los Angeles partners, LOVB will continue to drive fandom, expand access and establish the future of professional volleyball in the U.S. 

“Los Angeles holds an incredible amount of volleyball currency,” said Stephanie Alger, Chief Growth Officer at LOVB. “From top youth clubs to high schools and universities, the region is a hotbed of talent and fandom. As we determined locations for our next professional team, Southern California was an easy choice – Los Angeles lives and breathes volleyball, and we could not be more excited to work with Alexis and the Seven Seven Six team to introduce LOVB Los Angeles in 2027.” 

Adidas and Euroleague Basketball Renew Partnership to Empower the Next Generation of Talent

Euroleague Basketball and adidas have announced the renewal of their long-standing partnership for the next four seasons, through the 2028–29 campaign. Building on more than a decade of collaboration since first joining forces in 2014, the renewed agreement highlights adidas’ position as a driving force in European basketball and deepens its commitment to shaping the sport’s future across both professional and grassroots levels.

As the naming partner of the adidas NextGen EuroLeague, adidas will continue to play a pivotal role in developing Europe’s rising stars, reinforcing a shared vision with Euroleague Basketball to grow the game from the grassroots up. The competition has become the benchmark for showcasing future talent, perfectly aligned with adidas’ dedication to creating opportunities for the next generation of players. Since 2022, adidas has further elevated its presence by introducing adidas-branded teams at each Qualifier, bringing together some of the most promising prospects from across Europe.

“adidas has been a fundamental partner in growing Euroleague Basketball for more than a decade, and together we have elevated both the professional and grassroots levels of basketball,” said Gawain Davies, Euroleague Basketball Chief Commercial Officer. “Their commitment to youth development through the adidas NextGen EuroLeague competition, together with their support across the EuroLeague, makes this collaboration unique. We are excited to continue this journey with adidas through the 2028–29 season.”

“At adidas, we believe the future of basketball belongs to the next generation,” said Cameron Mason, Senior Director of Sports Marketing Basketball at adidas. “Our partnership with Euroleague allows us to not only invest in young athletes but also celebrate the culture and rivalries that make the game so powerful. Together, we are creating moments that inspire players and fans alike across Europe.”

Beyond youth development, the renewed agreement will also spotlight initiatives that bring fans closer to the game, including the Rivalry Series, which elevates one key EuroLeague fixture each round by celebrating historic clashes and defining moments of the season across social, digital, and broadcast platforms, and continued adidas support of the EuroLeague Final Four, the pinnacle event of European club basketball.

How ANOC is supporting NOCs’ digital transformation

Andres Santi Gonzalez, ANOC’s Senior Project and Event Manager, shares how the ANOC Digital Content Hub is ensuring National Olympic Committees of all sizes are able to leverage events and connect with their fans.

When ANOC launched the Digital Accelerator Programme (DAP) in June 2021, our goal was to support National Olympic Committees to develop and enhance their digital communication capabilities. What began as workshops and training has evolved into something far more comprehensive, a complete digital ecosystem that provides NOCs with professional-grade content, distribution channels, and technical infrastructure to engage audiences worldwide.

The ANOC Digital Content Hub represents the latest evolution in this transformative journey. The Hub is a centralised platform that connects International Federations, Organising Committees, and NOCs, enabling seamless content sharing and distribution.

While some NOCs have large communications teams with sophisticated production capabilities, others operate with skeleton staff juggling multiple responsibilities. The Hub closes that gap by providing every NOC with access to the same quality content and distribution tools.

The results are encouraging. During the Palau 2025 Pacific Mini Games, seven Oceanian NOCs featured in the global top 10 for follower growth rate. Nauru achieved a 50.37% growth rate, Vanuatu saw 34.8% growth, and Tuvalu reached 25.09%. These figures represent NOCs with small teams connecting with their communities in ways that weren’t previously possible. This digital growth also enhances commercial viability, which is one of the DAP’s original objectives.

The programme has evolved through four distinct phases: upskilling and learning through handbooks and expert workshops; exchange and comparison via case studies and performance dashboards; services and content including photo programmes and video production; and finally, tailored content distribution through ANOC.TV, the Digital Content Hub, and AI-assisted highlights.

When we partner with International Federations or multisport Games, such as the upcoming Islamic Solidarity Games, NOCs benefit from comprehensive coverage without needing their own production teams on site.

The Olympic values resonate when people can connect with them. Digital engagement creates touchpoints that bring these values to life for new generations. A teenager in Vanuatu discovering a new national hero at a regional Games or a family in South America watching World Championship highlights builds and deepends last connections to the Olympic Movement.

The Hub’s role as a bridge connecting IFs, NOCs, and Organising Committees is particularly valuable during the period between Olympic Games, when maintaining audience engagement is most challenging, ensuring Olympic sport content remains visible year-round.

ANOC.TV, our OTT platform launched in 2023, exemplifies this approach. Every NOC can now create their own streaming presence and select events to broadcast, demonstrating consistent demand for Olympic content beyond the Games cycle.

Looking ahead, as AI technology evolves, we can offer increasingly sophisticated personalisation. As engagement analytics become more refined, we can help NOCs understand what resonates with their communities. As partnerships deepen, the volume and variety of available content will continue to grow.

The Hub is an equaliser, ensuring that NOCs of all sizes have professional tools to engage their audiences. When more NOCs can tell compelling stories about their athletes and share Olympic values with their communities, the entire Movement benefits.

The Digital Content Hub is ANOC’s commitment that size, resources, or geography will never determine who gets to participate fully in the digital Olympic Movement.

Netherlands Olympic Committee renews long-standing partnership with ATPI Sports Travel

ATPI Sports Travel, the specialised division of leading global travel and events management company, ATPI Group, has been selected as the Travel Supplier for the Netherlands Olympic Committee (NOC*NSF). This officially renews the long-standing partnership, which has been in place for over 20 years.

Under the renewed partnership, ATPI Sports Travel will be responsible for all travel arrangements related to TeamNL, including individual sports, corporate travel and full logistical support for deployments in the lead-up to and during both the 2026 Winter Olympics Games in Milan and the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. This also includes the transportation of designated sporting equipment. 

By bringing together innovative travel technology with an expert team skilled in coordinating efficient and seamless international journeys, ATPI Sports Travel will play a key role in supporting TeamNL’s performance over the next three years.

Hanneke van den Pol, Team Lead Games Operations at NOC*NSF, is looking forward to the renewed partnership: “We are pleased with the renewed partnership with ATPI and look forward to working together in the areas of accommodations, travel, and events. It feels reassuring to join forces again to ensure that TeamNL’s delegations to all multi-sport events are facilitated in the best possible way for our athletes and staff.”

With almost 30 years of experience working alongside high-profile athletes, international sports teams, organising committees and federations, ATPI Sports Travel brings a wealth of knowledge and elite sporting travel expertise to major sports events across the world every year. From the Olympic Games, FIFA World Cup and The Rugby World Cup to The Ocean Race, the company has built an acclaimed reputation in the sports travel sector for its bespoke solutions and around-the-clock support. 

Helen van Berkel, Managing Director at ATPI Sports Travel Benelux, added: “We have a long and rich history of working with world-class athletes, global sporting federations, professional teams and major sporting event organisers across the globe – none more so than the NOC*NSF, where we proudly served as a trusted partner to TeamNL for over 20 years.

“To be chosen once again as its Travel Supplier is a huge testament to our expert team and innovative approach to managing the complex needs of the sector. Not only does this partnership strengthen our global sports travel portfolio, but it also highlights the confidence our clients place in our first-class expertise.”

Spectatr.ai partners with Triple B Media to deliver AI-powered sports highlights

Spectatr.ai has partnered with Triple B Media to bring its AI-powered highlight tools to its sport channels.

Triple B owns and operates a number of niche sport platforms, including Billiard TV, ACL Cornhole TV and PowerSports World.

Spectatr.ai will supply its tools for automating real-time highlight generation, smart metadata tagging and personalised content delivery. This aims to allow users to distribute highlights globally in minutes.

“We envision AI as the great equalizer in sports, breaking barriers and creating fair, inclusive opportunities for all,” says Richa Singh, cofounder of Spectatr.ai. “Our goal is to drive sustainable growth and deeper fan connections worldwide. By partnering with Triple B Media, we’re turning this vision into a global reality, empowering sports organizations of every size to capitalize on next-gen AI, unlocking new opportunities for fan engagement, growth and revenue.”

Anthony Bailey, managing director of Triple B Media, added: “Innovation and delivering something unique to an increasingly discerning audience is so important in the sports content business these days. What Spectatr.ai is doing with its technology is a boon for not only organizations but sports fans as well. We’re thrilled to be partnering with them as we navigate the future of sports and technology.”

Sony Acquires STATSports Group to Bolster Its Sports Data Business with Athletes’ Performance Tracking Technologies

Sony Corporation (“Sony”) today announced that Sony welcomed STATSports Group (“STATSports”), one of the industry leaders in athlete monitoring solutions and performance analysis, into Sony’s sports businesses, with the acquisition through a majority share of STATSports.


Founded in 2008, STATSports offers solutions that empower over 800 of the world’s top sports clubs including Arsenal FC, Liverpool FC, and PSG, national football teams such as England and Portugal, New Zealand All Blacks and South Africa Springboks in international rugby, as well as NFL’s Washington Commanders and MLB’s LA Dodgers. STATSports also provides a range of products to grassroots clubs and individual athletes. With its accurate and reliable active tracking technologies including wearable devices with GPS, heart rate and accelerometer sensors, STATSports’ range of solutions provides more than 70 real-time metrics processed on-board for immediate feedback.

Sony’s sports businesses leverage sports data acquired through the marker-less optical tracking technologies of Hawk-Eye Innovations and KinaTrax, both Sony group companies, to deliver trusted solutions and insights for teams, athletes, and fans. The products include trusted officiating services and new forms of entertainment content by visualization technology of Beyond Sports, also a Sony group company.

The acquisition allows Sony to add STATSports’ state-of-the-art athlete tracking technologies and performance analysis solutions to its existing array of Sports technology solutions. This paves the way for a comprehensive optical and wearable tracking solution for teams and clubs across major sports, creating new opportunities for Sony’s sports businesses to leverage sports data in the performance analysis space, as well as to expand into new markets.

Rufus Hack, CEO of Hawk-Eye, Pulselive, Beyond Sports and KinaTrax stated: “This acquisition is a powerful step in our journey to build the ultimate sports data and analytics engine, by integrating STATSports’ state-of-the-art wearable technology with our existing optical solutions. This opens up a path for new applications in performance analysis, as well as officiating, and fan engagement, which enables us to deliver a more complete and valuable solution to our partners and the entire sports community.”

Alan Clarke, CEO and Co-Founder of STATSports said: “This is a landmark moment for STATSports. Since 2008, our mission has been to help teams and athletes reach their full potential through performance monitoring technology. Partnering with Sony allows us to accelerate that mission by integrating our wearable technology with Sony’s world-leading solutions. Together, we can set new standards in performance analysis, athlete development, and injury prevention, while also offering audiences new ways to engage with their favourite sports teams.”