ICC Appoint Wasim Khan As General Manager Of Cricket

Former Chief Executive of the Pakistan Cricket Board Wasim Khan has been appointed as the ICC General Manager – Cricket. The International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed the announcement on Friday.

Khan takes over as General Manager from Geoff Allardice, who had been served in the position for eight years before his recent promotion to ICC’s Chief Executing Officer. 

Khan has previously served as Chief Executive of the Pakistan Cricket Board, Leicestershire County Cricket Club and Chance to Shine and will take over the duties of General Manager from next month.

On his appointment as General Manager, he said, “I am honoured to be joining the ICC, I can’t wait to get started and work in partnership with our Members to strengthen and grow our sport. I’m particularly excited by the ICC’s commitment to the growth of the women’s game.”

“We were lucky enough to host a number of ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup matches at Leicestershire in 2017 which was such a significant moment in the history of the game. I look forward to playing my part in really accelerating that growth over the next decade.”

Allardice said, “I am delighted to welcome Wasim to the ICC. He brings an in-depth knowledge of our sport and its stakeholders and his firsthand experience of the international cricket landscape will be of enormous benefit as we implement the ICC global growth strategy and move forward into a new events cycle.”

Tyson Fury’s World Championship Title Bout Enters The Metaverse Eterlast And Queensberry Deliver “House of Boxing”, The First Global Web3 Platform Dedicated To Boxing Fans

2022: Eterlast, Europe’s leading sports & entertainment NFT (non-fungible token) studio, has announced a ground breaking partnership with Hall of Fame Promoter Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions. From this weekend boxing fans will be able to own digital collectibles from the Tyson Fury vs Dillan Whyte World Heavyweight title bout via “House of Boxing”, a new web3 platform where boxing NFTs can be bought, swapped or sold.

This exciting sports and tech partnership will also see Eterlast create unique NFT experiences using iconic moments from Queensberry Archives, including epic fights involving legends such as Frank Bruno, Prince Naseem Hamed, Ricky Hatton and more.

NFT’s offer a new and exciting way for fans and enthusiasts to engage with the sport, using the House of Boxing platform to own a tradeable digital asset of iconic moments.

Hall of Fame Promoter Frank Warren of Queensberry Promotions, said, “This is an exciting moment for a sports entertainment industry like ours. We’re offering a new way for boxing fans and enthusiasts to become more involved with the big personalities and historic moments from our great sport. Tyson’s fight this weekend will be momentous and those watching will be able to collect those key moments much like they would with a photo or a poster. In the long term we are using our vast archive of some of boxing’s greatest events to create exceptional experiences for fans.”

Joan Roure , founder and CEO of Eterlast, added: “Boxing is one of the most legendary sports, forged by unforgettable moments that have shaped the passion of millions of fans. House of Boxing is on the mission to become the go-to web3 platform for the global boxing community, where fans will be able to collect, play, and access unique experiences. We are thrilled to announce our partnership with Queensberry, as it signifies just the beginning of House of Boxing, which will include the WBC heavyweight championship fight Fury vs. Whyte. Together with Queensberry we expect to deploy to House of Boxing a vast range of historic and future fights, allowing the boxing community for the first time in history to become the owners of the moments they love”

The launch of House of Boxing is one of the first global sporting platforms that Eterlast will launch in 2022. It is powered by Immutable X, a carbon neutral layer 2 blockchain solution, making it seamless for buyers to trade on Eterlast.

Eterlast is advised by River Media – the sports media company that works with clients and properties across the sports and entertainment landscape.

BIG3 To Return To CBS This Summer For 12 Weeks

Today, the BIG3 announced CBS is returning as the league’s primary broadcast partner for the 2022 season. CBS will air 28 hours of live games across the CBS Television Network and stream live on Paramount+ throughout a 12-week season tipping-off June 18th.

“CBS is an institution,” said BIG3 CEO, Chris Hannan. “They only broadcast the best of the best, and we are thrilled to work with them again as we enter into our fifth season. They understand our vision, see the passion of our fans and players, and have been an instrumental part of the league’s growth. We are looking forward to once again broadcasting the world’s best FIREBALL3 with a first-class partner, and bringing the fire to our fans across the country this summer.”

“BIG3 is a unique and exciting brand of basketball,” said Dan Weinberg, Executive Vice President, Programming, CBS Sports. “The level of competition is incredible and the league continues to grow. We are pleased to have the BIG3 back on our network for the third straight year and are looking forward to all that the 2022 season holds.”

After having the 2020 season canceled due to COVID-19, the BIG3 returned to the court in June 2021 with a vengeance highlighted by a record-setting peak of 1,472,000 viewers during the Championship Game at Atlantis Paradise Island. Additions such as Jarrett Jack, Leandro Barbosa, and Dusan Bulut made a splash, with Jack putting up 29 points to lead his team to the 2021 Championship Title and earn the title of Rookie of the Year alongside Kevin Murphy. The legendary Julius “Dr.J” Erving was named Coach of the Year and Joe Johnson captured his second MVP trophy.

Last season also saw a tremendous lineup of corporate partners including Microsoft, Taco Bell, Verizon, PNC Bank, Facebook, Burger King, Zip Recruiter, and Monster Energy, who has already signed on for this upcoming season. Now in season five, the league continues to innovate, doubling the number of open tryouts, implementing several rule changes including lowering the minimum player age, and introducing decentralized team ownership that will provide fans with the chance to own a stake in the 12 teams in the league and includes ownership benefits such as VIP tickets, priceless game experiences, voting rights, and much more.

World Triathlon Opens Bid Process For Championship Series, World Cups, Para Triathlon And Multisport In 2023 And Championship Finals In 2024 & 2025

World Triathlon is pleased to announce that is now welcoming bids for the 2024 and 2025 World Triathlon Championship Finals, the 2024 and 2025 World Triathlon Sprint & Relay Championships and the 2025 World Triathlon Multisport Championships. Applications are also open for cities bidding to host a World Triathlon Championship Series, World Triathlon Cup, World Triathlon Para triathlon events, World Triathlon Multisport Cup or World Triathlon Winter Championships & Cup, all of them in 2023.

World Triathlon Championship Finals 2024 & 2025

Host Cities, with the endorsement of their respective National Federation, can now bid to host a World Triathlon Championship Finals in 2024 or 2025, the crown jewel of World Triathlon’s annual calendar. Previous hosts have included such cities as London, Budapest, Beijing, Auckland, Chicago, Gold Coast, Lausanne or Edmonton, with the next ones planned in Abu Dhabi in 2022 and Pontevedra in 2023.

The World Triathlon Championship Finals Host City will also welcome the annual World Triathlon Congress with delegates from up to 167 countries, making decisions on the future of the sport. The World Triathlon Championship Finals Host City can expect to attract an audience of millions of people from around the world. This includes international TV distribution of the live coverage, international mainstream TV and print media distribution, full coverage on Triathlonlive.tv and extensive social media presence.

Bids for the Championship Finals ’24 & ’25 have to be submitted before 30 August 2022, with the announcement of the Host Cities planned for 28 November 2022.

World Triathlon Sprint & Relay Championships 2024 & 2025

World Triathlon is also welcoming bids from Host Cities, with the endorsement of their respective National Federation, for a World Triathlon Sprint & Relay Championships in 2024 or 2025. The host of the inaugural edition of this event will be Montreal in June 2022.

The World Triathlon Sprint & Relay Championships creates an instant economic impact by bringing in a significant number of international tourists to the Host City, consisting of over 4,000 competitors, support teams, officials, family and friends. With the addition of local races, the number of competitors can exceed 8,000.

Bids for the Sprint & Relay Championships ’24 & ’25 have to be submitted before 30 August 2022, with the announcement of the Host Cities planned for 28 November 2022.

World Triathlon Multisport Championships 2025

World Triathlon is also welcoming bids for the 2025 edition of the World Triathlon Multisport Championships, a mega event that includes the World Triathlon Long Distance Championships; World Triathlon Duathlon Championships (Sprint and Standard); World Triathlon Cross Championships; World Triathlon Cross Duathlon Championships; World Triathlon Aquathlon Championships and World Triathlon Aquabike Championships.

The World Triathlon Multisport Championships are designed to provide a well organised event in all triathlon-related multisport disciplines, with a wide global reach and high-quality competitions for athletes.

Taking place over approximately 10 days, the World Triathlon Multisport Championships is more than just a sports competition for the athletes. It is also an important development opportunity from the grassroots to elite level, giving athletes from a wide range of Age-Groups the opportunity to race. The entire occasion is a visual spectacle designed to inspire and motivate, from the experienced to the newcomer. The estimated number of athletes participating at the championships is close to 4,500.

The deadline for presenting bids for the Multisport Championships ends on 30 August, with the selected city to be announced on 28 November, 2022.

2023 Season events

The World Triathlon Championship Series (WTCS) is the premier triathlon series and features the world’s best racing head-to-head in up to 10 races around the globe, including the flagship Championship Finals.

The World Triathlon Championship Series comprises Olympic Distance (1.5km swim, 40km bike and 10km run), Sprint Distance (750m swim, 20km bike and 5km run) and the new super-sprint format, and may include a Mixed Relay.

Elite triathletes now compete in these prestigious events in search of the World Triathlon Championship title. Since its launch in 2009, the profile of the World Triathlon Championship Series has grown rapidly, establishing itself as the pinnacle of Olympic and Sprint distance triathlon racing across the globe.

The hosting of Championship Series events offers cities opportunities to showcase their cities to millions of people via a live international television broadcast as well as to attract thousands of local, national and international guests and race participants. To date, annual on-site spectators for the Series events are upwards of 1 million.

The World Triathlon Cup competitions are the World Triathlon’s second-tier events, intended to provide a solid and professional base for triathletes pursuing entry to the World Triathlon Championship Series. These events are aligned with the World Triathlon Development programmes. They carry a substantial prize purse, have significant media, television and internet coverage and are also attractive for tourist destinations and major cities.

Cities hosting World Cup events can expect to attract an audience of millions of people around the world, including live internet streamings on Triathlonlive.tv and the distribution of features and interviews on all World Triathlon platforms, as well as international news distribution and international print media coverage.

The Para triathlon events open for bidding are the 2023 World Triathlon Para Series, the World Triathlon Para Cups and Continental Triathlon Para Cups.

Bids are also welcomed to host Multisport Cups in 2023. Following on from the success of the Multisport World Championships, the Multisport Cups will be held throughout the season, with events providing new opportunities for top Elite athletes to compete for prize money, as well as mass participation Age-Group races, in multisport disciplines outside of the standard and sprint-distance triathlons. To be considered to host such an event, organisers must offer two of the following events; Long Distance Triathlon (including Aquabike), Duathlon, Cross Triathlon, Cross Duathlon and Aquathlon.

For cities interested in hosting Winter events, bids are welcomed for the 2023 World Triathlon Winter Cups and Championships. Triathletes from all over the world will contest the winter sport over a 6km run, 12km mountain bike and 9.6km ski course.

Cities interested in hosting the 2023 World Championships, World Cup races and Para triathlon events in 2023 or Winter Triathlon events must submit their bid documents before 31 July, 2022. World Triathlon will review all candidatures and will announce the winning cities on 15 September 2022, after the approval of the Executive Board.

Scuderia Alphatauri Partners With Nutrition Company Ziba Foods

Scuderia AlphaTauri and FlexBox are pleased to announce the successful assignment of their Official Partnership to benefit Ziba Foods, a fast-growing, mission-led healthy nutrition brand.

Ziba Foods is a U.S.-based artisanal food company that specializes in heirloom and wild-grown dried fruits and nuts from the mineral-rich valleys of Afghanistan. With a passion for social enterprise and impact investing, FlexBox founder Henrik Nielsen has exercised his vision to support the livelihood of local women and farmers through a strategic investment in Ziba Foods.

“Given that Scuderia AlphaTauri is a globally known racing team which embodies a premium lifestyle-oriented ethos, I see them as a perfect platform to promote my latest endeavor with Ziba Foods. Together, we want to use their global platform to provide international visibility to healthy nutrition while helping to achieve sustainable social and economic stability in a developing nation” said Henrik Nielsen, Founder of FlexBox and Investor in Ziba Foods.

“Henrik is a real motorsports enthusiast, but he also has tremendous lateral vision and an ability to direct resources to where they are most needed,” Franz Tost commented on the assignment. “In many ways, Ziba Foods is everything that Formula One embodies: Inspired by the highest quality, respect, and fair play. Driven by excellence, innovation, and good health. We are grateful to Henrik for placing his trust in us and very pleased to welcome Ziba to the team.”

The AT03 cars will race with a revised livery to include the Ziba Foods branding on the front wing endplates and nose for the remainder of the 2022 Formula One season.

Microsoft And XBOX To Become New Partners Of The Atlanta Hawks

The Atlanta Hawks today announced a multi-year partnership with Microsoft Corp, including Xbox, that aims to provide opportunities and resources in underserved areas of Atlanta through sport, technology and community programming.

“We are thrilled to partner with Microsoft and Xbox and leverage their incredible technology with the next generation of Atlantans,” said Atlanta Hawks’ Senior Vice President of Global Partnerships Michael Drake. “As technology continues to evolve and play more of a role in the day-to-day lives of our city’s youth, we find it crucial to have an innovative community partner in Microsoft who shares a similar vision in how sports and technology intertwine.”

Microsoft believes in the opportunities that can be created by growing access to and passion for technology among youth. With their growing presence in Atlanta, they are committed to creating those opportunities throughout the city. That’s why Microsoft is particularly excited about the partnership with the Hawks with whom they will launch STEM and basketball-themed programming this summer as part of the Hawks’ community court summer tour.

“Seeing the passion for basketball in and around Atlanta, we’re excited to bring custom STEM-themed basketball camps to kids in the community to combine their love of the game and interest in technology,” said Jeff Hansen, general manager of strategic partnerships at Microsoft. Chris Munson, Senior Global Xbox Sports Partnerships Manager added, “At Xbox, our mission is to bring the joy and community of gaming to everyone on the planet. We are excited to partner with the Atlanta Hawks to bring to life our core message – Power Your Dreams – which not only celebrates the values of diversity and inclusion shared by Xbox and the Hawks, but spurs fans imagination when two creative teams come together.”

To tip off the partnership, the Hawks and Microsoft, partnered on providing a magical moment to one youth member from BlazeSports America, a nonprofit organization founded after the 1996 Atlanta Paralympic Games and a leader in the field of adaptive sports and recreation. Showing how anyone can be an athlete or a gamer, the Hawks and Microsoft provided a series of experiences to encourage the participating youth and his team to continue pursuing their dreams both on and off the court.

The experiences included an inspirational Teams chat with Microsoft employee and Paralympian Kim Robins, moderated by NBA Hall of Famer Dominique Wilkins, aimed at inspiring the team both ahead of their run at a national championship and beyond. Watch the video HERE. The Hawks will also team up with Microsoft on future community-related philanthropic initiatives throughout the partnership.

eSkootr Championship Announces Carbon Neutrality From Inception On Earth Day 2022

The eSkootr Championship™ (eSC) is proud to have reached carbon neutrality from inception, delivering on its aim of showcasing climate action, raising environmental awareness, and promoting best practice through sport.

eSC has worked to calculate and avoid emissions from the very beginning. Working with leading partners and renowned carbon footprinting and sustainability experts, eSC has calculated its inaugural season carbon footprint to include all Scope 1, 2 and the majority of Scope 3 emissions. 

Unavoidable emissions from 2021 including development and testing were offset through investing in two projects from the UN Carbon Offset Platform. The UNFCCC-recognised projects were chosen by the eSC leadership team based on their link with core elements of eSC’s sustainability approach: Renewable Energy and Community. In addition, these projects align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals also represented in the championship’s sustainability strategy, which will be announced in due course.

Energy 

In line with eSC’s commitment to only using clean energy at races, one of the projects selected will help to generate energy from renewable sources to be fed into the grid in India. The geographical location was chosen because of its link with micromobility, with data suggesting that two-wheel transportation constituted more than 80% of vehicle sales in India in the 2020/21 fiscal year.

Community

Linking to eSC’s aim to nurture equity and economic development in local communities, the other project of choice will help rural communities in Malawi to introduce a safer and more sustainable alternative to traditional 3-stone fires into thousands of households. The Malawi-based project is run by a UK charity named RIPPLE Africa, although most employees come from local communities. 

Dr. Cristiana Pace, Chair of eSkootr Championship™ Sustainability Commission, said:

“Motorsport has a crucial role to play in tackling the climate crisis – both on and off the track. With reaching carbon neutrality from inception eSC is demonstrating its commitment to measuring and reducing its environmental impact.

“The overall impact on the environment of electric scooters throughout their lifetime has been questioned, as well as the impact of sport events, and our aim is to share best practice to accelerate changes within the micromobility and sport industries and proactively contribute to the debate around sustainable practices and innovations. 

“In line with the Earth Day 2022 theme, ‘Invest In Our Planet’, eSC has not only invested in UNFCCC-recognised projects that contribute to global social sustainability and renewable energy, but is furthering the development of a number of innovative initiatives, which will be implemented throughout the series’ first season, starting from London in May of this year.”

Lucas di Grassi, eSkootr Championship™ Co-founder and Sustainability Ambassador, commented:

“Our vision for eSC has always been that it should act as a catalyst for inspiring and driving positive change through sport, with sustainability at its core. As a co-founder, as Sustainability Ambassador for the series, and as a passionate advocate for greater sustainability in motorsport and global mobility more generally, I am particularly proud that we can announce today that eSC has achieved carbon neutrality since inception.

“Showcasing climate action and promoting and enhancing best practice in sport will be central to every aspect of our championship and we look forward to demonstrating our commitment at the inaugural race in London next month.”

Hrag Sarkissian, eSkootr Championship™ Co-founder and CEO, added:

“eSC is a sport with purpose at its core. Being carbon neutral from inception has been a key focus for us and we are proud of the work we have done and will be doing to tackle the climate crisis. 

“Motorsport in particular has the power to test, explore and promote more sustainable transport options, and we are working closely with a number of industry leading partners to ensure our Championship is leading the way in environmental racing and technological knowledge transfer into consumer transportation for healthier, greener cities.”

Wimbledon Shows No Love For Russia

Olympic Games and international sports advisor and commentator, Michael Pirrie, analyses the Wimbledon ban and says it highlights the important role of sport in opposing Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Tennis continues to reflect the new and rapidly changing landscapes of international society better than any sport, with the Wimbledon ban on Russian players heralding the dramatic scale of change. 

The Wimbledon ban highlights overarching priorities of peace and security at the forefront of sport in the face of growing threats by authoritarian governments in a post-pandemic world.

Winds of change began sweeping sport into unchartered directions last year after Chinese Olympic and grand slam winning player Peng Shuai mysteriously vanished. She seemingly disappeared without a trace after allegations of sexual abuse were posted on her social media account against a former leading communist party figure.

The WTA immediately pulled out of highly lucrative long term contracts in China amid fears over the safety of players on the circuit.

Peng’s sudden reappearance in tightly controlled settings failed to ease concerns about her welfare, while leaders of several Olympic nations boycotted the Beijing Winter Games over China’s human rights record.   

While the boycotts did not prevent Olympic teams from participating in Beijing, China signed a controversial mutual support and cooperation pact with Russia in the countdown to its invasion of Ukraine.

Wimbledon announced this week that it has now made the difficult decision to ban Russian and Belarusian athletes from its competition this summer in the latest sanction to hit sport amidst a series of threats to global society.

“Criticism by Djokovic and others that the ban is extreme and politically inappropriate has lacked perspective and context.”

The ban follows the eviction of world number one, Novak Djokovic, from the Australian Open grand slam amid fears his unvaccinated presence could pose a risk to public health, safety and society.

Like the Djokovic drama, Wimbledon, has become a major news story internationally and, similarly to the Djokovic case, initial reaction to Wimbledon has been controversial because the ban is unprecedented. Criticism by Djokovic and others that the ban is extreme and politically inappropriate has lacked perspective and context.

It is also hollow and hypocritical, after Djokovic, who refused vaccination, challenged the Australian government’s right to protect its own borders from unvaccinated travellers, a primary transmission risk.

The absence of Russia’s tennis champion and world number 2, Daniil Medvedev from Wimbledon, will benefit Djokovic in his unrelenting quest to win a 21st grand slam, moving him potentially a momentous step closer to surpassing his nemesis Rafael Nadal and become the record title holder.

“The All England Club has refused to wave the white flag and surrender nor turn away from these alleged war crimes.”

Another critic, women’s tennis great, Martina Navratilova, indicating the ban confuses sport with politics, misses the point and harks back to previous times when the past was a foreign country where things were done differently.

https://twitter.com/ElinaSvitolina/status/1516759567824306182?s=20&t=NVr5ur8hDikL3u5KyCTwFg
Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina has been critical of any players from Russia or Belarus playing in competitions.

The Wimbledon ban on Russian and Belarusian players is a powerful reminder of how Putin’s depraved assault on Ukraine continues to shock the world.

Those who are dismissive of the ban may forget the bombing, murdering, raping, and mutilation of women, children and the elderly and other atrocities by Putin’s terrorist troops. The All England Club has refused to wave the white flag and surrender nor turn away from these alleged war crimes.  

“In the circumstances of such unjustified and unprecedented military aggression, it would be unacceptable for the Russian regime to derive any benefits from the involvement of Russian or Belarusian players with The Championships,” according to The All England Club and  Committee of Management.

While criticism of the Wimbledon ban was inevitable, the decision is an important moral victory that shows it is possible for sport to stand up to Russia.

While Putin has been a long time bitter critic of Britain, the ban heralds a major symbolic victory over the Russian dictator, focussing further international attention on the monstrous murder spree of countless defenceless people on Putin’s his orders. 

Despite pockets of disquiet and opposition, the Wimbledon ban is a win for the silent majority in the UK and wider world appalled by the destruction of so many lives. The Wimbledon ban also reflects the values of wider international society beyond sport. 

The annual tennis spectacular is one of the world’s most coveted and prestigious sporting showpieces, and a Russian win would be used as an unprecedented propaganda campaign by Putin who has long used sport to promotes Russia on the world stage.

This ban will be welcomed in many nations, including the tennis nations that have led much of the opposition against Russia – the UK, France, United States and Australia – and their allies.

As well as dividing, the ban will also galvanise the international sporting community in support of the Ukraine, a strong nation in tennis and other sports. If sanctions are to take their impact they need to be used by all. Although critics point to the injustice and suffering of Russian athletes impacted by the ban, the loss of ranking points and prize money seems little when compared to loss of life.

“Some Russian tennis players have made general statements for peace, but the failure to directly address or condemn the atrocities is believed to have disturbed international sporting figures.”

While several Russian players and athletes lead privileged and protected lives – 26-year old Medvedev has already notched up more than $23 million in prize money – thousands of young Russian soldiers have already died in the war.

Meanwhile, several young Ukrainian athletes have reportedly died on the front lines in defence of their homeland and loved ones, and many leading Russian sporting figures continue to prosper.

Some Russian tennis players have made general statements for peace, but the failure to directly address or condemn the atrocities is believed to have disturbed international sporting figures who are understood to privately support the Wimbledon ban and other protest gestures in solidarity with their Ukraine counterparts.

Michael Pirrie is an international major events and Olympic Games adviser and commentator.

Cricket NFT Platform Rario Raises $120 Million Series A Funding Led By Dream Capital

Rario, creators of the world’s first cricket NFT platform, today announced a $120 Million Series A funding round led by Dream Capital, the Corporate Venture Capital and M&A arm of Dream Sports. Rario currently has the largest share of cricket NFT rights globally through exclusive partnerships with 6 international cricket leagues and a roster of 900+ cricketers. With Dream Capital’s investment, Rario now gets access to Dream Sports’ 140 Million users, who will be offered FIAT-only products in India, with the potential to create the largest cricket NFT platform globally. Alpha Wave Global (previously Falcon Edge Capital) also participated in the round, and now joins existing investors Animoca Brands (Global leader in Web3 gaming), Presight Capital, and Kingsway Capital.

The Singapore-based company, founded in 2021 by IIT Delhi alumni Ankit Wadhwa and Sunny Bhanot, has recently signed one of the world’s largest cricket NFT deals; a multi-year exclusive partnership with Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers’ Association to create an Australian cricket metaverse of collectibles and gaming. Rario enables fans to engage as a community, giving them a chance to own a piece of cricket history through digital collectibles across player cards, video moments, and cricket artifacts. Through Rario, Indian sports fans can buy, sell, and trade NFTs through FIAT-only mediums — credit cards, debit cards, and bank transfers. Since 2021, Rario has sold over 50,000 NFTs to sports fans across 20 countries with the USA, UK, Australia, and India as its top 4 markets.

Dream Capital was incepted in 2020 to empower startups by following a multi-stage investment strategy ranging from US$1M to $100M ticket sizes, with a key focus on core sectors of Dream Sports such as sports, gaming, and fitness-tech. With Rario, Dream Capital’s portfolio grows to 9 companies and marks the foray of Dream Sports into the Web3 space. This is currently the largest investment by DreamCap, and also the single largest investment in the cricket NFT space globally. Commenting on this, Ankit Wadhwa, Co-Founder & CEO, Rario said, “Cricket is the 2nd largest sport in the world with more than 1.5bn fans globally. NFTs are creating new forms of engagement allowing fans to own and trade digital collectibles. Rario’s global cricket NFT ecosystem will be further strengthened by the 140M sports fans on Dream Sports.”

Speaking on the investment, Dev Bajaj, Chief Strategy Officer, Dream Sports, said, “DreamCap is glad to partner with Rario to help sports fans engage deeper with their favorite players and teams.

Web3 use cases in sports are transformational, and we are looking to back more startups in the space globally with innovative utilities of NFTs.”

AFL Announces Five-Year NFT And Metaverse Partnership With Animoca Brands

The Australian Football League (AFL) and Animoca Brands are excited to announce a 5-year partnership that will bring the power of NFTs and the open metaverse to the AFL and AFL Women’s (AFLW).

The agreement will see the first major Australian sporting league project in the Web3 space come to life, building on the strong heritage and proud audience of the AFL.

The AFL joins other world sporting codes who have launched NFT programs, including NBA TopShots, ICC Fancraze, Moto GP Ignite and UFC Strikeforce.  

By partnering with Animoca Brands, AFL taps into an extensive Web3 ecosystem, which will, over time, provide fans with immersive metaverse experiences in areas such as virtual reality, digital art and gaming.

The AFL, through its AFL Mint brand will release its first official licensed NFT ‘drop’ in the coming weeks. 

AFL Mint is the home of the NFTs for AFL fans to own their favourite moments from both the past and present decades.

Register now at AFLMint.com.au for exclusive first notification of the inaugural AFL Mint product drop.

AFL Mint products will expand to deliver rewards and real-world experiences via exclusive events and even reward fans for game days, including ticket upgrades, hospitality, experiential zones and exclusive merchandise. 

AFL Chief Executive Gillon McLachlan said the partnership was an exciting new chapter for Australian Football, AFL players and more importantly, the fans.

“Our aim is to continue to bring fans new ways of engaging in Australian football and by partnering with Animoca Brands, we will be playing in a digital space that is only getting bigger,” Mr McLachlan said.

“We are officially entering the Web3 space and excited to immortalise moments in time across our AFL and AFLW competitions.”

AFL Executive General Manager Customer and Commercial Kylie Rogers said partnering with Animoca Brands ensures fans are getting the best and most innovative offering possible.

“The AFL is excited to partner with Animoca Brands to take our game into the metaverse.” Ms Rogers said.

“Animoca Brands is at the forefront of the Web3 space and has partnered with a significant number of sporting organizations and international brands,

“We know we have the most passionate fans in the world, and we want to ensure our audience can continue to experience the game in different ways. We see the Animoca Brands partnership as key initiative in our continued evolution of fan engagement.”

“Through our AFL Mint brand, we will launch exciting new moments across our current Men’s and Women’s games, plus past greats and other product releases that will bring a unique fan experience we haven’t seen before,”

“AFL Mint will be the place to collect, trade, win and earn.”

Yat Siu, the Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Animoca Brands said: 

“I’m extremely pleased to partner with the AFL – Australia’s premier sport –  to deliver the AFL Mint. Australian rules football is a unique game and the AFL Mint is an opportunity to showcase it to the wider world while introducing existing fans to digital collectibles. This is a special project for us given our roots as an Australian company and we are honoured to bring the AFL and AFLW to the open metaverse.”AFL has announced a historic five-year NFT and metaverse partnership with Animoca Brands