Formula 1 To Race In Bahrain Until 2036 After Contract Extension

Formula 1 will continue to race in Bahrain until at least the year 2036, following an extension of the contract with the race’s promoter, the Bahrain International Circuit.

The Sakhir-based circuit first hosted Formula 1 back in 2004, and has provided some unmissable racing action over the years – not least in 2020, when two separate configurations of the track were used to host two separate Grands Prix.

The Bahrain International Circuit will also hold the 2022 Official Pre-Season Test, as well as the opening race of the season, the Bahrain Grand Prix, on March 18-20.

The promoter, meanwhile, has previously announced sweeping measures to increase the environmental sustainability of the event, with all the energy used by the 2022 Bahrain Grand Prix set to come from sustainable sources, aligning with both the Kingdom of Bahrain and Formula 1’s plan to have net zero carbon emissions by 2030.

Speaking of the bumper contract renewal, Formula 1 CEO and President Stefano Domenicali said: “I am delighted we will be racing at the Bahrain International Circuit until 2036 where more incredible racing and excitement will be on show to thrill our fans. Since 2004 we have had some fantastic races in Sakhir and we cannot wait to be back there for the start of the 2022 championship as we begin a new era for the sport.

“Bahrain was the first country in the Middle East to welcome Formula 1 and it has a very special place in our sport, and I personally want to thank HRH Prince Salman and his team for their dedication and hard work throughout our partnership and look forward to the many years of racing ahead of us.”

Sheikh Salman bin Isa Al Khalifa, Chief Executive of Bahrain International Circuit, said: “After 18 years of F1 racing, we are proud to have played a part in F1’s rich history and we now looking forward to continuing to build on that heritage well into the future. The growth and interest in Motorsport in Bahrain and the Middle East has significant momentum, with a new generation of fans embracing our great sport and we look forward to continuing that progress.”

Final Week To Enter Football Business Awards

The Football Business Awards will be returning on the 27th of May in London, celebrating the best of the footballing industry.

Football isn’t all about glitz and glamour. It’s about hard work, preparation and dedication. It’s about the organisation, planning and resourcefulness of the off-pitch teams, which allows extraordinary things to take place on the pitch. It’s about connection and commitment to communities. In the modern world – good football and good business – are inextricably linked.

iSportConnect is a proud partner of the 2022 Football Business Awards.

The extended deadline for entries is 18th February 2022 and the winners will be announced on 27 May at a lunchtime ceremony at the Brewery, London.

The categories celebrate the best across all aspects of the business of football including: technology; brand activation; fan engagement; professional services; digital and social media and sustainability.

View all categories and complete the intention to enter form to register your interest:

https://footballbusinessawards.com/categories/

EBU In Pioneering Agreement To Acquire Mediterranean Games Rights

Eurovision Sport and the International Committee of Mediterranean Games are delighted to announce their first-ever agreement for the EBU to acquire worldwide rights to distribute and broadcast the Oran 2022 Mediterranean Games in Algeria and the Heraklion 2023 Mediterranean Beach Games in Greece.

The Mediterranean Games is a multi-sport event that usually takes place quadrennially, and involves countries situated around, or very close to, the Mediterranean Sea. For these countries, the Mediterranean Games is among the most important multi-sport events after the Olympic Games.

The Mediterranean Games bring together the sports delegations of 26 Mediterranean National Olympic Committees which are members of the ICMG, competing in more than 25 disciplines.

Under the agreement, media rights for the Mediterranean Games and Mediterranean Beach Games are being centralised and commercialised for the first time, as part of a broader strategy by the ICMG to modernise the Games for the benefit of athletes and the individual sports.

Eight EBU Members have already confirmed their participation in broadcasting the events, with more to come. They are: RTSH (Albania); RTVA (Andorra); BHRT (Bosnia); CYBC (Cyprus); France Televisions (France); ERT (Greece); RTP (Portugal); and TRT (Turkey). The rights acquired exclude the rights in the respective host countries for the particular event, but both our Algerian and Greek Members, EPTV and ERT respectively, will be heavily involved in the production and domestic coverage of their home Games.

The 19th edition of the Mediterranean Games will be held in Oran, Algeria, between 25 June and 5 July, 2022.

Since 2012, a second multidisciplinary sports event, the Mediterranean Beach Games, has been held every four years. The third edition of the Mediterranean Beach Games is scheduled for 2 to 9 September 2023 in Heraklion, Greece.

Davide Tizzano, President of the International Committee of Mediterranean Games, said: “It is with great pleasure that we announce this new partnership of the ICMG with Eurovision Sport. It is the first time in the history of the International Committee of the Mediterranean Games that the media rights are being centralized and commercialized and, undoubtfully, this will be a great opportunity to promote our Games and make them more popular with the youth worldwide, highlight their importance in the sports world and strengthen even further our relation with our member NOCs and the Organizing Committees.

“I am very excited about this collaboration with the world’s leading alliance of public service media and I want to thank EBU for its support and for the confidence shown to the ICMG and our Mediterranean Games.”

Andreas Aristodemou, Head of Summer Sports Rights at Eurovision Sport, said: “Working with the ICMG in order to increase the profile of the Mediterranean Games via the EBU Members’ television, radio and online platforms was an opportunity we could not miss. A key parameter for the EBU is the fact that the Mediterranean Games is a unique multisport event that brings together athletes from European, African and Asian countries and this allows us to involve all our Mediterranean Members.”

The Mediterranean Games and Mediterranean Beach Games cement the EBU’s status as the home of multi-sport games, with its portfolio also including the second edition of the European Championships, scheduled to take place in Munich, Germany on 11 to 21 August, 2022.

Horizon Therapeutics plc Named Title Partner Of The Irish Open In Six-Year Deal

Horizon Therapeutics plc, the global biotechnology company headquartered in Dublin, has today been announced as the Title Partner of the Irish Open in a six-year deal which will begin with the 2022 Horizon Irish Open at Mount Juliet, from June 30-July 3.

The agreement, which was engineered through the Strategic Alliance between the DP World Tour and PGA TOUR, will herald in a new era for the island of Ireland’s national Open and underlines its status as a key event on the DP World Tour. The tournament will see a significant increase in prize money to $6 million, nearly double the amount on offer in the 2021 edition.

Founded in 2008, Horizon develops medicines for the treatment of rare, autoimmune and severe inflammatory diseases and is motivated by the idea that science and compassion must work together to transform lives.

The 2022 Horizon Irish Open will return to the stunning Mount Juliet Estate for the second successive season following a hugely successful hosting debut in 2021 – won in wire-to-wire fashion by Australian Lucas Herbert. This announcement adds to an exciting time for golf in Ireland, as it builds towards hosting the Ryder Cup in 2027.

Guy Kinnings, Deputy CEO and Chief Commercial Officer of the European Tour group, said; “We are thrilled to welcome Horizon as the new Title Partner of the Irish Open. It is a tournament which always holds a special place in the global golfing calendar thanks to its history, the world-renowned Irish fans and of course the many world-class players the island has produced.

“It is a sign of Horizon’s commitment to golf on the island of Ireland that they have committed until at least 2027 and we very much look forward to working with them. This agreement is just the latest example of how the Strategic Alliance with the PGA TOUR continues to benefit our membership.”

“Horizon has called Ireland home for nearly ten years and this partnership with the DP World Tour further solidifies our continued business and community commitment,” said Tim Walbert, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Horizon. “In addition to developing medicines, philanthropy is at our core. We have forged meaningful relationships in Ireland and know that serving as the Title Partner of this historic tournament will serve as a platform to positively impact the Irish and global community.”

First played in 1927, the Horizon Irish Open is one of the world’s most famous national opens, boasting former champions such as Seve Ballestoros, Sir Nick Faldo, Pádraig Harrington, Bernhard Langer, Rory McIlroy, Colin Montgomerie, José María Olazábal and Jon Rahm.

The 2022 edition will once again form part of the Open Qualifying Series, with the top three players not already exempt earning a coveted place in the 150th edition of the Open Championship, taking place two weeks later on the Old Course at St Andrews.

Image [Getty Images]

Washington Nationals And Terra Create First-Ever Sports Partnership With Decentralized Autonomous Organization

Club sponsorship will showcase Terra with plans to adopt use of cryptocurrency at Nationals Park

The Washington Nationals are proud to announce a groundbreaking partnership with the Terra community. Terra is one of the largest decentralized autonomous organizations (DAO) in the cryptocurrency industry and has experienced a meteoric rise as a market leader through its blockchain and DeFi ecosystem. The Nationals are a leading innovator in Major League Baseball, consistently introducing new technologies to enhance the fan experience. This partnership includes title sponsorship of the premier club space behind home plate at Nationals Park and establishes a foundation for future blockchain and cryptocurrency applications for fans. Terra will also be featured on in-stadium signage and will sponsor a five-part digital series that airs on Nationals social platforms.

“The Nationals continue to push the envelope,” said Mark D. Lerner, managing principal owner of the Washington Nationals. “We are excited to partner with Terra to name our most exclusive club and explore bringing powerful new fan experiences to Nationals Park, including the use of UST cryptocurrency to make purchases.”

As part of the agreement, UST could be accepted as a payment method at Nationals Park as early as next season.

The Terra protocol, which is governed by its vibrant community, is one of the largest decentralized and open-source public blockchains. With its suite of algorithmic stablecoins, such as UST, Terra is a rapidly expanding ecosystem that has recently seen explosive growth and real-world use cases.

“This first-of-its-kind partnership between a DAO and a sports franchise opens a new world of opportunities for bringing crypto and DeFi to the masses,” said Do Kwon, the founder of Terraform Labs. “By approving this sponsorship deal, the community has a new way to engage and educate the public, including the policy makers doing important work in Washington, D.C., about decentralized money and the burgeoning technology that underlies it.”

The Terra Club, formerly known as The Nationals Club, is the exclusive, climate-controlled indoor space located at field level directly behind home plate. The club offers all-inclusive food and beverages, featuring premium chef’s tables and a private bar with draft beer and house wine. Guests with tickets in the Terra Club can enjoy their meal in the dining room or take advantage of in-seat delivery of food and beverages while not missing a second of the action on the field.

Why Tata Communications Are Leading Innovation and Excellence in Media, Entertainment And Sports

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Spanning across various sports to every element of the media value chain, the video strongly highlights how we are leading innovation and excellence, delivering cutting-edge solutions that streamline media and content workflows.

From live events and broadcasting to motorsports and football – we deliver it all. The video highlights the various innovations and industry firsts we have to our credit, further strengthened by our capabilities, reach, and scale as a digital ecosystem enabler. Watch the video now to see how Tata Communications is #TrustedToWin!

Scuderia AlphaTauri Announce Flex Box As Official Partner

Scuderia AlphaTauri is pleased to announce a new global partnership with Flex Box Ltd. Our new AT03 will carry the coloured Flex Box logo on the front wing endplate, as well as on the nose throughout the entire season.

The Hong Kong-based company was founded in 2001 by Henrik Nielsen and is an international leader in the logistics industry with operations around the globe. Flex Box develops, manufactures, and ships containers from China directly to clients worldwide and are known for their innovative customer solutions thanks to their vast experience in the cargo industry. Based on the founder’s passion for racing, the company name is well established in the world of motorsports thanks to partnerships in various top-class categories. 

“I am very happy to welcome Henrik and his company to our team”, Franz Tost commented. “Logistics are a fundamental part of our sport, and it simply couldn’t exist without an exceptional infrastructure. Besides the obvious travelling to the races, we have constant demands for specialised logistic solutions such as transporting parts between our factory in Italy and the wind tunnel in England, receiving components from Japan or flying our cars around the world for sponsor events. Furthermore, it’s always a pleasure for me to work with people who are as passionate about racing as I am, and Henrik is a real motorsport enthusiast.”

The two companies will benefit from their past experiences of operating on a global scale, innovative spirit and managing logistical challenges, alongside their shared values of speed, efficiency, performance, and competitiveness.

Regarding the upcoming partnership, Henrik Nielsen commented: “We are delighted to join Scuderia AlphaTauri, the perfect partner to team-up with as we share the same ambitions and values.” 

Altrad Becomes Principal Partner Of Western Force

Altrad is pleased to announce that it has signed a four-year, agreement to become the Principal Partner of the Western Force, commencing from the start of the new-look 2022 Super Rugby Pacific and women’s Super W rugby union campaigns.

The Force are the pride of rugby union in Western Australia and have spawned a range of star Wallabies including Nathan Sharpe and homegrown products Kyle Godwin and Dane Haylett-Petty.

As Principal Partner, Altrad’s logo will be displayed on all of the Force’s home-and-away strips and training apparel.

The Force will also incorporate Indigenous designs into its playing strips for 2022, demonstrating values that are aligned to Altrad’s Reconciliation Action Plan.

Altrad is a global provider of industrial and asset integrity services, offering a range of cost-driven integrated solutions principally for the Mining & Minerals, Oil & Gas, Power, Water, Green Energy and Defence sectors. The Company has operated in Australia for more than 40 years and employs approximately 2,000 highly skilled men and women across the country.

Combining the expertise of construction and maintenance group Valmec (acquired late 2021), Altrad is now positioned with a new and unique best-in-class service for the Australian Market, to build, protect and extend the life of our client’s assets.

Altrad also manufactures, hires, and sells construction equipment globally and recently integrated RMD Kwikform, with offices in Australia and New Zealand. 

Altrad identified the Force as an ideal partner to advance it’s push to champion rugby’s ability to connect communities, cultures, and fans and to empower people to make more of their world.

Altrad’s global strategy is to support rugby at all levels from grassroots up to international level, make the game more accessible to First Nation junior players and support female and diverse participation.

As an advocate of increasing employment opportunities for people of diverse backgrounds, Altrad believes it can enhance this message and reach through our new association with the Western Force.

Commenting on the Western Force partnership, Altrad Founder, Mohed Altrad said:

“The Western Force is a team with a well-defined growth strategy and a strong alignment with our values and culture. We are excited about supporting this dynamic and ambitious organisation and assisting the Force teams achieve their sporting goals.

“As an employer of more than 2,000 highly skilled people across Australia, Altrad understand only too well the value of teamwork and integrity and the desire to achieve.

“We can’t wait for the Super rugby season to start – and the opportunity to cheer on the Western Force at its first home game on March 4.”

Commenting on the Force partnership, Altrad Asia-Pacific CEO Neil Sadler said:

“I am excited about this new partnership with a like-minded and well-led organisation that shares our value and commitments to encouraging diversity of participation at all levels – whether in the workforce or out on the field.

“I look forward to the many opportunities we will have to work together with the Western Force to learn and be inspired but also to share what makes Altrad such a great organisation.

“Everyone at Altrad wishes the Force teams the best of luck this year. We can’t wait for the opening games.”

Welcoming Altrad as Principal Partner, Western Force CEO Tony Lewis said:

“Securing a long-term Principal Partner of this stature with a world-renowned reputation for their exemplary humility and integrity is fantastic.

“The Western Australian economy is fuelled by the resources and utilities sector. The partnership with Altrad not only represents their commitment to rugby but demonstrates the importance of WA to the world economy.

“Altrad, like us, are passionate about rugby and the values that are entrenched in the fabric of the game. I can’t wait to see what this relationship can produce in the years to come.”

Castore Is The New Bayer Leverkusen Kit Partner Until 2027

Bayer 04 Leverkusen have a new strong partner at their side from next season: The British premium brand Castore have signed a kit partnership until 30 June 2027 and will supply kit for the Werkself and the women’s and youth teams at Bayer 04. In addition, Castore will also launch a Black and Red leisure range and have a presence as a partner at the BayArena and on all Bayer 04 channels.

Fernando Carro, CEO at the Werkself, is looking forward to the partnership: “We have found an innovative partner in Castore whose ambitions very much fit in with Bayer 04. Both the quality of the products as well as the digital and international approach of the company has impressed us. Together with Castore, we want to set new standards in the future primarily in the areas of sponsorship and target group activation.”

Tom Beahon, co-founder of Castore, said: “It‘s a significant step for us to start working in the German market with an internationally oriented club with such a history. When we set up Castore the vision of my brother and I was to see world-class athletes wear our products and now we have taken another important step in that direction. It’s an honour that Bayer 04 have chosen Castore. Our values and ambition of wanting to be the best go perfectly together.”

Castore was founded in 2015 and quickly established a reputation as a young and dynamic start-up in the premium sportswear sector. The brand has become well-known through a partnership with Wimbledon and Olympic winner Andy Murray who is now a shareholder in the company. In football, Castore partners with Rangers FC, Newcastle United and Wolverhampton Wanderers, and have also just launched a Formula One partnership with McLaren Racing. Bayer 04 will be the first club in the Bundesliga to have a partnership with the British company.

Betway And BLAST Premier Strengthen Ties Further With Partnership Renewed For Another Two Years

Leading esports tournament organiser BLAST Premier and online bookmaker Betway have announced a two-year extension of their partnership – taking the deal up until the end of the 2023 season.

Both brands will continue to create fan-favourite playable custom maps that challenge players and fans to compete on a global leaderboard, which have become a popular part of the partnership over the last 12 months. Furthermore, Betway branding will be shown across all seven of BLAST Premier’s events in 2022, including broadcast content integration, social giveaways and fan-led activations. 

The online bookmaker will also own the ‘Power Picks Prediction’ segment, which will feature on BLAST Premier’s global broadcast during the tournament.

Betway are ingrained in the BLAST Premier tournament circuit and wider Counter-Strike scene, with the online bookmaker owning a strong presence in the industry through partnerships with BLAST and other leading esports organisations such as NIP, BIG and G2 Esports, along with an unwavering commitment to all forms of CS:GO.  

The announcement signifies the third deal BLAST has renewed in recent weeks, following Coinbase, EPOS and CS.MONEY, as the tournament organiser continues to increase the value of its global partnership portfolio in line with future growth plans for 2022 and beyond. 

Oliver Clarke, Head of Brand Partnerships at BLAST, said: “We’re thrilled that Betway have committed to another two years with BLAST Premier, taking our partnership into a fifth year. It highlights the symbiotic relationship we’ve built over this time, with Betway playing an integral role in the BLAST Premier experience.

“Their unwavering support for esports and Counter-Strike in recent times is hugely commendable. We’re really looking forward to continuing to work closely with them to elevate the partnership further over the next two years, with added focus on premium content and fan-led experiences. ”

Adam Savinson, on behalf of esports at Betway, said: “Over the past three years, we have worked incredibly hard with the team at BLAST to create an innovative and synonymous partnership which leads the market within the esports sector. It brings me great joy to announce our renewal, and I look forward to taking our already successful partnership to even greater heights.”

BLAST Premier is the world’s leading Counter-Strike tournament series, hosting the best players and teams, offering opportunities to regions across the globe and crowning the world champions of CS:GO. Up to 32 of the world’s best teams take part in the seven BLAST Premier events across the year with a combined prize pool of $2,475,000 on the line.