The eSkootr Championship™ (eSC) has appointed Little Dot Sport, award-winning digital content agency Little Dot Studios’ recently launched specialist label, to help amplify the Championship’s social media content and engagement across all platforms.
Little Dot’s international presence, with offices around the world, will help build a global fan base. They have worked with some of the biggest brands, broadcasters, distributors and rights-holders in international sport, including Formula E, Eurosport, The FA and Extreme E, engaging and retaining an active audience with original and strategically re-versioned content.
As a brand-new sport, social media will play a vital role in building a fan base for eSC and driving anticipation for the upcoming season. Little Dot Sport will work with eSC’s in-house social media team to support and maximise the Championship’s Instagram, YouTube and TikTok channels, as well as looking to test and innovate on new and emerging platforms where there is an opportunity to connect with young audiences in new and interesting ways.
Little Dot has recently been verified as carbon neutral to Future Net Zero Standard since inception.
Hrag Sarkissian, eSkootr Championship™ Co-founder and CEO, said:
“As a global championship racing on different continents and with riders from all around the world, the opportunities for building an engaged international fan base through social media are incredibly exciting.
“Little Dot’s record for delivering premium and ground-breaking digital entertainment with world-famous brands makes them the ideal expert partner for eSC’s social media ambitions. Our shared vision for how we will reach, excite and educate to spread the word of eSC and the benefits of micromobility is extremely powerful, and Little Dot’s pioneering and data-driven approach will ensure long-lasting growth.”
Robbie Spargo, Director of Little Dot Sport, added:
“We’re delighted to partner with the innovative and ambitious team at eSkootr Championship™. Having seen the plans around the events, the broadcast product, and where the riders are coming from, we know we will be working at the cutting edge of sports entertainment content.
“More than this though, it is the alignment of our values that make this partnership such an exciting one for us. Having recently been certified as net carbon neutral since inception and having worked with other pioneering sports rights-holders with sustainability at their heart, we’re proud to support a sporting championship fundamentally built on this ethos.”
ATPI Australia, a part of The ATPI Group, global leader in travel management and events, today announces the acquisition of The Travel Authority Group.
With a significant presence in Sydney and a raft of established corporate travel clients, The Travel Authority also has operations in Perth (Western Australia) and on New South Wales’ northern coast. The Travel Authority portfolio includes clients across the marine and energy industries and the leisure and events sector, making the respected travel management company a strong strategic fit for ATPI.
Ian Sinderson, CEO, ATPI Group said:
“ATPI’s dedicated marine and energy, and mining and resources, divisions are growing in Australia and the acquisition of The Travel Authority cements our expansion in this region. With a strong corporate presence in Sydney and the servicing of marine customers in Perth, The Travel Authority team complements our existing Melbourne and Perth based operations, as well as bringing additional support and expertise to our team. The synergies do not end there; we are also excited to add a travel management company with our shared values for specialist and expert service in the Events sector, in which ATPI is a global leader.”
Peter Hosper, CEO, The Travel Authority, adds:
“We are excited to have found a like-minded partner that shares our vision. Despite the challenges of the last two years, The Travel Authority has achieved strong performance and by joining ATPI we collectively become a stronger united business with a renewed vigour and positive outlook. There’s a lot to look forward to.”
The acquisition sees ATPI develop its largest-ever office presence in the commercial capital Sydney, and further expands operations focused on the marine and energy industries in Perth and Fremantle. ATPI Marine & Energy is the dedicated division of the Group providing specialist travel solutions to the energy and shipping sectors. The Travel Authority brings additional capacity to service more clients across these complex industries.
As part of the ATPI Group portfolio, The Travel Authority will enjoy access to world-leading specialist technology including bespoke platforms built to service the specific needs of the energy and shipping sectors.
ATPI’s acquisition of The Travel Authority in early 2022 follows expansion in Europe in 2021 via the acquisition of German travel agency Hamburg Süd Reiseagentur GmbH. In addition, ATPI has grown its international footprint extensively over the last two years with the addition of new international service locations via partners across particularly Africa, South America and Asia.
The Executive Board (EB) of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) discussed again today the dilemma the Olympic Movement is currently facing after the breach of the Olympic Truce by the Russian government and the government of Belarus through its support in this.
The Olympic Movement is united in its mission to contribute to peace through sport and to unite the world in peaceful competition beyond all political disputes. The Olympic Games, the Paralympic Games, World Championships and World Cups and many other sports events unite athletes of countries which are in confrontation and sometimes even war.
At the same time, the Olympic Movement is united in its sense of fairness not to punish athletes for the decisions of their government if they are not actively participating in them. We are committed to fair competitions for everybody without any discrimination.
The current war in Ukraine, however, puts the Olympic Movement in a dilemma. While athletes from Russia and Belarus would be able to continue to participate in sports events, many athletes from Ukraine are prevented from doing so because of the attack on their country.
This is a dilemma which cannot be solved. The IOC EB has therefore today carefully considered the situation and, with a heavy heart, issued the following resolution:
In order to protect the integrity of global sports competitions and for the safety of all the participants, the IOC EB recommends that International Sports Federations and sports event organisers not invite or allow the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials in international competitions.
Wherever this is not possible on short notice for organisational or legal reasons, the IOC EB strongly urges International Sports Federations and organisers of sports events worldwide to do everything in their power to ensure that no athlete or sports official from Russia or Belarus be allowed to take part under the name of Russia or Belarus. Russian or Belarusian nationals, be it as individuals or teams, should be accepted only as neutral athletes or neutral teams. No national symbols, colours, flags or anthems should be displayed.Wherever, in very extreme circumstances, even this is not possible on short notice for organisational or legal reasons, the IOC EB leaves it to the relevant organisation to find its own way to effectively address the dilemma described above.In this context, the IOC EB considered in particular the upcoming Paralympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 and reiterated its full support for the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and the Games.
The IOC EB maintains its urgent recommendation not to organise any sports event in Russia or Belarus, issued on 25 February 2022.
The IOC EB has, based on the exceptional circumstances of the situation and considering the extremely grave violation of the Olympic Truce and other violations of the Olympic Charter by the Russian government in the past, taken the ad hoc decision to withdraw the Olympic Order from all persons who currently have an important function in the government of the Russian Federation or other government-related high-ranking position, including the following:
Mr Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation (Gold, 2001)
Mr Dmitry Chernyshenko, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation (Gold, 2014)
Mr Dmitry Kozak, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office (Gold, 2014)
The IOC EB welcomes and appreciates the many calls for peace by athletes, sports officials and members of the worldwide Olympic Community. The IOC admires and supports in particular the calls for peace by Russian athletes.
The IOC EB reaffirms its full solidarity with the Ukrainian Olympic Community. They are in our hearts and thoughts. The IOC EB commits to continue and strengthen its efforts for humanitarian assistance. Therefore, the IOC EB has today established a solidarity fund. In this context, the IOC expresses its gratitude to the National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and International Sports Federations that are already supporting Ukrainian athletes and their families.
The IOC EB, assisted by the IOC Task Force, continues to closely monitor the situation. It may adapt its recommendations and measures according to future developments.
The National Football League announced today that the Arizona Cardinals, Green Bay Packers, Jacksonville Jaguars, New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers will play international games during the 2022 season.
The Buccaneers, two-time Super Bowl champions, will play in the NFL’s inaugural regular-season game in Munich, Germany, while the Cardinals will play in Mexico City, where they hosted the league’s first-ever regular-season game outside the United States in 2005.
The Packers will make their first international trip, becoming the 32nd NFL team to play in London since 2007. The Saints will play in the UK for the third time, having won on two previous occasions. The Jaguars have previously announced that they will play a home game at Wembley Stadium in 2022.
“We are very excited to be staging five games outside the United States in 2022, and thank the clubs for their continued commitment to growing the sport internationally,” said Peter O’Reilly, NFL Executive Vice President, Club Business and League Events. “Our fans in Germany, Mexico and the UK can look forward to seeing some of the most iconic names and biggest stars in the League and enjoying an incredible series of events.”
Last year, as part of the League’s expansion of the regular season to 17 games, it was determined that, beginning with the 2022 season, up to four of the teams from the conference whose teams were eligible for a ninth regular-season home game would instead be designated to play a neutral-site international game each year.
Designated international teams in 2022:
Country
Stadium
Team
Germany (Munich)
FC Bayern Munich Stadium
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Mexico (Mexico City)
Estadio Azteca
Arizona Cardinals
United Kingdom (London)
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Green Bay Packers
United Kingdom (London)
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
New Orleans Saints
United Kingdom (London)
Wembley Stadium
Jacksonville Jaguars
Details of the dates, matchups and kickoff times will be confirmed as part of the full 2022 schedule announcement later this year.
As previously announced, Munich and Frankfurt were chosen to stage regular-season games in Germany over the next four years. The first game will feature the Buccaneers.
“We look forward to participating in the first regular-season NFL game in Munich, Germany later this fall as part of the International Series,” said Buccaneers Owner/Co-Chairman Joel Glazer. “This historic game will play a crucial role in the NFL’s efforts to grow its international footprint while allowing us to directly engage NFL fans in Germany.”
In Mexico, the Cardinals last played at Estadio Azteca with 103,467 fans in attendance, the eighth largest crowd in NFL history.
“In 2005 when the Cardinals hosted the first NFL regular-season game played outside the United States, we experienced first-hand the extraordinary support and incredible passion of our fans in Mexico,” said Arizona Cardinals Owner Michael Bidwill. “We know that has increased exponentially in the years since and are thrilled to return to Mexico City and Estadio Azteca in 2022.”
The Packers will become the 32nd NFL team to play in London since 2007.
“The Green Bay Packers are excited to make our international debut during the 2022 season,” Packers President/CEO Mark Murphy said. “Our fans in the UK and elsewhere in Europe have been eagerly awaiting an opportunity to see the Packers play in their backyard, and we know that many of our fans in the United States will travel to London. It will be an honor to represent the NFL, as well as Green Bay and the state of Wisconsin, internationally. This will be a great opportunity to introduce the Packers, as well Green Bay and our area, to an international audience and encourage fans in the UK to visit us in person at Lambeau Field.”
The Saints will return to London to play their first game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after having played at Wembley Stadium in 2008 and 2017.
‘It’s always an honor when we are selected to play in the United Kingdom,” said New Orleans Saints Executive Vice President/General Manager Mickey Loomis. “We have enjoyed successful trips in the past and look forward to representing New Orleans and our fans from around the globe. Clearly a lot goes into the planning and the logistics of a trip of that magnitude and we have already began making the necessary preparations and will continue to do so in the coming months.”
The Jacksonville Jaguars, who played at Tottenham last season, will return to Wembley Stadium for the first time since 2019, having played there for seven straight seasons.
“London has served as the Jaguars’ home away from home since 2013 but, traditionally, home field in London has meant Wembley Stadium,” said Jaguars Owner Shad Khan. “Wembley is a significant part of our identity and brand in London and throughout the UK. Most important, Wembley is where our Union Jax fans want us to play. Wembley is where our fans, including those making the trip from the US, want to be. After a three-year absence, the Jacksonville Jaguars are coming back to Wembley Stadium. We’re looking forward to the homecoming!”
“We have a great lineup of teams coming to the UK and Germany this year,” said Brett Gosper, NFL Head of Europe and UK. “Having the Packers become the 32nd team to play in London is tremendously exciting for the fans and a great sign of the League’s commitment to international games. The Saints have been long-time supporters of the UK, having volunteered to be the home team in the second year of London games in 2008, and we welcome them back. We are very excited to have a recent Super Bowl champion in the Buccaneers playing in Munich and thank them for ensuring that it will be a memorable launch of our series of games in Germany.”
The IRONMAN Group announced today that it will add to its 2022 IRONMAN global race calendar with the IRONMAN Israel Middle East Championship triathlon in Tiberias, Israel. This will be the first full distance IRONMAN event to take place in the Middle East and will be held on November 25, 2022.
With 75 qualifying slots available for the 2023 IRONMAN World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawai’i, the race is set to attract age group competitors, as well as elite level pros battling it out to be crowned the first ever Middle East IRONMAN Champion.
The course is fast and flat, also making it perfect for first timers or those who are going for a personal best.
Honorary President of the Middle East Championship, Sylvan Adams noted, “After the success of the IRONMAN 70.3 event last year, I am pleased to announce that the follow-up will see Israel host the full distance IRONMAN Middle East Championship in Tiberias, overlooking the spectacular and historically significant Sea of Galilee. As it is a regional championship, IRONMAN Israel will attract the finest athletes from all across our region and beyond. We are looking forward to welcoming thousands of athletes from neighboring countries to the beautiful Galilee for what will surely be an historic event.”
Course description
Starting and finishing in Tiberias, the race offers athletes a unique bucket list experience, steeped in historic and religious significance, and set against the breathtaking landscape of northern Israel.
Athletes will enjoy a warm 3.8km swim course in the Sea of Galilee with the sun rising from the east, over the Golan Heights, making it a picture-perfect setting for an unforgettable swim.
The 180km bike course, consisting of two laps, will lead athletes through the magnificent Sea of Galilee landscape, south of the city of Tiberias to Tzemach junction. From there they continue to the east and north side of the Sea of Galilee to Kfar Nahum.
Finally, athletes will run in the footsteps of ancient historical figures as they take on a fast and flat 42.2km run course, comprised of four laps. They will run along the western shore of the Sea of Galilee, from Tiberias to Migdal and eventually back towards the red carpet and onto the finish line. With multiple opportunities to spot your athlete, this course is a spectator’s dream, adding to the electric atmosphere of the race.
IRONMAN Israel Middle East Championship will take place on the same day as IRONMAN 70.3 Tiberias, which was held for the first-time last year.
Valencia CF and Cazoo have signed a multi-year agreement, that will see Europe’s leading online car retailer, which makes buying a used car as simple and seamless as ordering any other product online, become Main Partner and Shirt Sponsor of the club from the start of next season. From July 1st, 2022, Cazoo branding will feature on the front of the Valencia CF men and women’s shirts and throughout the Mestalla Stadium, obtaining significant visibility on televised football coverage on matchdays and on all digital platforms.
Cazoo currently sponsors other clubs such as Everton and Aston Villa in the Premier League and this deal will form part of an extensive marketing campaign by Cazoo when it launches in Spain in the first half of 2022 as it continues to rollout across Europe, following its recent launches in both France and Germany and its acquisition of Barcelona-based Swipcar.
Cazoo owns and reconditions its cars to the highest standard before offering them for delivery in just a few days and has thousands of cars available at any time. With customers able to purchase a car entirely online and have it delivered directly to their door, Cazoo has been referred to as the ‘Amazon of the used car market’.
Cazoo was founded in 2018 by renowned British entrepreneur Alex Chesterman and has already sold over 50,000 cars in the UK since its launch as consumers have embraced the selection, value, transparency and convenience of buying used cars fully online.
Cazoo has grown its team to over 4,000 across the UK, France, Germany, Spain and Portugal, and has been one of the fastest growing businesses in Europe. Over the past two years, it has been pioneering the shift to online car buying, and recently listing on the NYSE in August 2020, and has raised over $1.4bn to build out its brand and infrastructure as it looks to continue to transform the car buying and selling experience across the UK and Europe.
Alex Chesterman, Founder & CEO of Cazoo:
“We are very excited to be partnering with Valencia CF. We have been in talks with the club for a few months, and we’re pleased to be able to announce the partnership with such an historic club. They have a very passionate supporter base and following across Spain and have had great success in Europe and we are looking forward to engaging with the fans and local community to deliver the best car buying experience in Spain in 2022.”
Anil Murthy, President of Valencia CF:
“We are looking forward to partnering with Cazoo next season. Valencia CF will bring Cazoo to a large audience in Spain and beyond. This agreement positions Valencia CF even more as an international club that is attractive for big brands. We look forward to this exciting journey together.”
beIN SPORTS (“beIN”) will show the Vitality Women’s FA Cup for the remainder of the 2021/22 season in 24 countries across the Middle East & North Africa (MENA). The agreement with The FA will cover all remaining matches this season including live coverage of selected Quarter Final’s, both Semi Finals and the showpiece final at Wembley Stadium on 15 May.
beIN SPORTS coverage of the competition will start with this weekend’s clash between Liverpool and Arsenal, which kicks off at noon local time / 3pm Doha on Sunday 27 February. beIN SPORTS will broadcast the competition in Arabic and English further showing its commitment to boost viewership of women’s sport, through the beINSPIRED initiative.
The beINSPIRED project’s objective is to elevate the profile of under-represented sports globally and recognise the value that all sports, and women’s sport in particular, play in the international sports eco-system.
Commenting on the announcement, Richard Verow, Chief Sports Officer of beIN MEDIA GROUP said: “We are delighted to showcase the Vitality Women’s FA Cup on our channels in the MENA region, in line with our commitment to give maximum exposure to female athletes and talent – both on and off screen – and inspiring the next generation of athletes and fans.”
beIN now holds one of the largest portfolios of women’s sports rights in global broadcasting. In 2021, beIN SPORTS was the official broadcaster of the UEFA Women’s Champions League; CAF Women’s Champions League; the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics, Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, Paris 2024 Summer Olympics; every women’s tennis Grand Slam (Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon & the US Open) all across the MENA region; the WTA Tour, Billie Jean King Cup 2021 – the World Cup of Women’s Tennis – in Australia, France and MENA; the W Series in the US, Canada and MENA, a range of Paris Saint-Germain Féminine games in various markets; as well as key women’s events from handball, basketball, swimming and much, much more.
beIN SPORTS is also gearing up to broadcast the knockout stages of the UEFA Women’s Champions League in the coming months as the road to the Juventus Stadium on May 22 draws ever closer. beIN viewers will also enjoy the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022, displaying the best of European club and international football to beIN SPORTS viewers in MENA this summer.
South Florida Motorsports (SFM), have today announced a multi-year Founding Partnership with Red Bull for the Formula 1® Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix. The partnership will extend Red Bull’s presence at the event, which will be held for the first time on May 6-8, 2022.
The Founding Partnership between the two entities speaks to their shared commitment to Formula 1® and growing fandom both locally in the South Florida area and nationally in the U.S. Red Bull aspires to create unique experiences that will bring fans closer than ever to Oracle Red Bull Racing, Scuderia AlphaTauri and the sport in general. This will include numerous activations and hospitality opportunities around the Miami International Autodrome campus, allowing for new fans to learn about and engage with the sport.
“Red Bull’s commitment to Formula 1 is absolute, in the form of its championship-winning Oracle Red Bull Racing team and sister Scuderia AlphaTauri team. It has also created a staircase of young talent to the top of the sport for drivers including champions like Max Verstappen and Sebastian Vettel. We’re proud Red Bull has decided to commit to partnering with our event as a key element of its US and global brand activity.” said Jeremy Walls, Senior Vice President, Chief Revenue Officer of Hard Rock Stadium & Formula 1® Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix.
As part of the partnership, The Red Bull Energy Station – a custom, Miami-themed hospitality environment -will be constructed at Turn 11 of the unique 5.41km Miami International Autodrome, which is being built entirely within the Hard Rock Stadium campus. It will provide a unique and exciting experience of the world’s biggest annual sporting series via a trackside viewing platform.
The Austrian energy drink brand is synonymous with world class motorsport. Its team, Oracle Red Bull Racing, recently claimed the 2021 Formula 1® Drivers’ World Championship with Max Verstappen, who won 10 races during the 22-race season. In total, Oracle Red Bull Racing has achieved four constructors’ championship titles and five drivers’ crowns since it was formed in 2006.
Performance clothing brand Musto today announced the renewal of their long-standing commitment to the British Sailing Team as Official Clothing Supplier. Governed by the Royal Yachting Association, the British Sailing Team supports nearly 60 elite sailors on their performance pathway to compete at the very highest level of the sport.
Musto’s Olympic heritage can be traced all the way back to the 1964 Olympic Games when founder Keith Musto won the silver medal in the Flying Dutchman class. Ever since, the brand has continued to deliver race-winning performance and weather protection apparel.
Nick Houchin, Musto’s Head of Marketing commented: “We are proud to continue our relationship with the British Sailing Team. The four year partnership enables us to build upon our close relationship with the team, working directly with the sailors in the development of our high-performance dinghy sailing gear. We are engaging with the global sailing community from grassroots to Olympic level through our partnership with the international federation, World Sailing, and Musto’s support of the British Sailing Team is our commitment to inspiring current and future Olympic hopefuls on a national level.”
Musto first partnered with the British Sailing Team in 2009 and has been the team’s clothing supplier of choice for over a decade. Since renewing the partnership in 2017, Musto and the British Sailing Team have continued to combine their knowledge and expertise to ensure athletes are kitted out in the highest level of performance dinghy gear including the Sunblock Dynamic and Flexlite Vapour range.
“It’s really important to have the right kit in order to perform at our best, day in and day out,” commented Anna Burnet, Nacra 17, who raced alongside her partner, John Gimson, to secure Silver at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. “Musto worked with us to fully understand our requirements and have produced durable, flexible clothing that provides us with a level of protection like no other. The brand helps the British Sailing Team achieve those marginal gains so vital in securing a podium spot in each race.”
The British Sailing Team was instrumental in developing Musto’s new Spring Summer 2022 dinghy collection, offering feedback to Musto’s designers over a three year period, culminating in an updated Flexlite Alumin product family.
Ian Walker MBE, RYA Director of Racing, a double Silver Olympic medallist and Volvo Ocean Race winner, knows all too well the importance of quality clothing when pushing the limits of performance.
“Musto is the ‘go to’ brand globally across all types of sailing, from high performance to recreational, dinghy to offshore,” Walker commented. “The British Sailing Team aims to be the world’s best both on and off the water. Musto’s peerless knowledge and expertise will be invaluable as the British Sailing Team seek to further their dominance in Olympic class sailing. As the British Sailing Team continues to lead and inspire future generations of athletes, we work with Musto to help our sailors gain the inside edge over their rivals through innovative development from the world’s most trusted sailing brand.”
Musto also announced a ‘Lifestyle Ambassador’ partnership with leading British pro kiteboarder, Tom Court. Aged 30, Tom learnt to windsurf at an early age before turning his attention to kitesurfing in 1999. Ever since, he has been an enthusiastic kiter and quickly made his mark on the PKRA Kiteboarding world tour after winning the UK under 18s championship in his first year of competition. Tom is an International rider for Boards & More (Duotone) and is well known for his powerful riding style. Tom will be wearing Musto’s Marina and Evolution collections and showcasing the kit in action as he competes around the world.
The SportAccord Executive Committee met today and unanimously decided to cancel the SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit, 15-20 May 2022 in Ekaterinburg, Russia.
Many other federations and events are also looking at taking their events away from Russia, with the IOC even urging federations to move events away from the country.
The International Canoe Federation will hold talks with all stakeholders with a view to relocating canoe events planned for Russia this year, and to follow the IOC recommendations in terms of using flags and anthem.
ICF President Thomas Konietzko pledged the support of the international paddling community to the Ukrainian canoeing family during a telephone conversation with Ukraine Canoe Federation President, Igor Slivinsky, on Friday morning.
IFSC SUSPENDS WORLD CUP IN MOSCOW
Following a series of consultative meetings with different stakeholders today, the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) decided to suspend the IFSC Boulder and Speed World Cup scheduled for 1 to 3 April 2022 in Moscow.
World Curling Federation remove European Curling Championships 2022 from Russia
Perth, Scotland – After an emergency convening of the World Curling Federation Board, a decision was made to remove the hosting of the European Curling Championships 2022 from the Russian city of Perm.
