Tour De France Signs Santini And Hotchilee As Official Kit Supplier

Tour de France partners Santini and Hotchillee have signed a 3 year partnership, with Santini becoming the official kit supplier for the pioneering events company and their global cycling community.

The partnership means that Hotchillee’s flagship 3-day LONDON-PARIS, which is delivered officially with the Tour de France, will see amateur cyclists arrive in Paris the day ahead of the pros in Santini kit, the official jersey sponsor of Le Tour.

To celebrate the partnership Santini has designed a commemorative cycling jersey inspired by the French Air Force fly-over, which announces the arrival of the Tour de France peloton in Paris each year. The jersey will be worn by LONDON-PARIS riders as part of an exclusive TdF experience taking place on the final day of Le Tour, details of which will be announced later this month.

The LONDON-PARIS by Tour de France sees 450 amateur cyclists take on the iconic 3 day route to Paris, arriving at the Eiffel Tower on rolling closed roads the day before the Tour de France men’s finish and the new Tour de France women’s race.

LONDON-PARIS riders have the opportunity to watch both races on the iconic cobbles of the Champs-Élysées from trackside seating before staying in Paris at one of the official Tour de France team hotels.

2022 will be the first year riders can take part in The LONDON-PARIS by Tour de France on Road or Gravel, with a new off-road route added for the first time.

Sven Thiele, Hotchillee Founder: “Arriving in Paris on closed roads in a peloton of 450 still gives me goosebumps whenever I think about it. So riding into Paris as an official partner of the Tour de France, in the same official kit as Le Tour will be the icing on the cake.”

Julien Goupil, Media & Sponsorship Director at Amaury Sport Organisation: “We are delighted to build bridges between our partners Santini and Hotchillee to create synergies within the A.S.O. ecosystem. This collaboration will help the London-Paris by Tour de France to strengthen the Tour de France experience they will offer to their riders while providing them best-in-class cycling kits. It will participate to the development of the event and further establish the London-Paris by Tour de France as a one-of-a-kind event offering riders the unique experience to feel like Tour de France champions.”

Monica Santini – CEO, Santini Cycling Wear: “We are delighted to be partners of the Hotchillee community and to dress the amateurs at The LONDON-PARIS by Tour de France event. To celebrate the event, the riders will wear a special commemorative jersey, branded by Santini, during a TdF experience”.

Jon Sangan – Santini Custom UK Sale Director: “We are excited to partner with Hotchillee as their official clothing partner. Based on our eco friendly Karma Evo jerseys, Santini designers have created a unique collection for Hotchillee’s London to Paris flagship event. Riders will not only benefit from a once in a lifetime Tour experience but have a unique memento of their ride to cherish for years to come.”

Discovery In Talks With BT Group To Create A JV In UK And Ireland

Discovery, Inc. has entered into exclusive discussions with BT Group to create a new sport venture in the UK by combining its Eurosport business in the UK and Ireland with BT Sport.

The companies aim for the 50:50 Joint Venture to be operational in 2022 pending a definite agreement and regulatory approval.

The proposed UK venture would bring together BT Sport and Eurosport UK, which have extensive portfolios of premium sport rights, including the Olympic Games, Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, cycling Grand Tours, tennis Grand Slams, the winter sport World Cup season and Premiership Rugby.

“We are excited about this opportunity with BT Group to offer consumers a stronger and simplified combined sport offering in the U.K. and Ireland, and, more broadly, to advance our strategy of bringing sports and entertainment to more consumers on the platform of their choice,” said JB Perrette, President & CEO of Discovery Streaming & International. “We are aligned with BT Group on a shared vision to maximize the value and appeal of our respective UK sport assets, and we look forward to concluding a deal in the coming weeks.”

Discovery, Inc. entered the global sports media business in 2014 with its acquisition of Eurosport. Today, Discovery’s sports business – under the Discovery Sports banner – produces and distributes content to 130 million unique individuals a month across more than 200 markets and 20 languages outside the U.S. Discovery Sports’ consumer brands include Eurosport, Global Cycling Network (GCN), Global Mountain Bike Network (GMBN), Golf Digest and GOLFTV powered by PGA TOUR, as well as sports programming and content on discovery+ and Discovery’s free-to-air TV networks in Europe. The leading sports news and video site, Eurosport.com and its local country versions, engages audiences of more than 50 million sports fans per month.

Fast Studios To Launch Women’s Sports Network Streaming Destination

FAST Studios, the Los Angeles-based venture studio creating the next generation of premium media brands has unveiled its multi-million dollar plan to build the Women’s Sports Network – a free, ad-supported, 24/7 streaming destination where fans will find 100% women’s sports content featured around the clock. Stuart McLean, CEO of FAST Studios, made the announcement.

The Women’s Sports Network has confirmed participation from several leading organizations including the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA), U.S. Ski and Snowboard and World Surf League (WSL), in addition to collaborative support from the women’s sports media brand GoodSport and Empower Onyx, a minority-owned media company that celebrates the journey of Black women and girls through sports, with more launch partners to follow. The channel’s strategy is to be as inclusive as possible with rights holders, athletes and content producers to further raise the profile of women’s sports.

FAST Studios’ Women’s Sports Network Advisory Board includes respected leaders in women’s sports, including Carol Stiff, a 30-year veteran of ESPN and Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame inductee who has been instrumental in growing the profile of women’s sports media throughout her career; and Sophie Goldschmidt, CEO of U.S. Ski & Snowboard who recently served as CEO of the World Surf League (WSL) and previously held leadership positions with the NBA, Women’s Tennis Association, European PGA Tour and Adidas.

To complement the array of programming from its content partners, Women’s Sports Network will produce flagship daily and weekly women’s sports news, talk and highlights shows from a new, dedicated studio space in Los Angeles. Emmy Award-winning media executive Melissa Forman is advising the channel’s original programming strategy.

“Women’s sports programming has been too hard to find on TV for too long. Brands are telling us that they want to support female athletes, and they appreciate how brand-safe and relatable they are,” added Stiff. “When we launch, 50 years after Title IX started the ball rolling towards parity for women’s sports in America, the Women’s Sports Network will fill a void that has been plaguing brands and audiences alike.”

“There is a huge, under-served market for women’s sports on television. Currently, female athletes receive only 4% of sports media coverage despite making up 40% of all participants in sports,” said Goldschmidt. “The new Women’s Sports Network is primed for success with our initial slate of content partnerships with key sports organizations, deep relationships with brand marketers, and the growing demand for a premiere destination for women’s sports.”

With a billion dollar plus potential for the women’s sports category, per a recent Deloitte report, the free, ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) industry is expected to grow to $4.1 billion with 216 million monthly active users in the coming years, per nScreenMedia.

Sports Innovation Lab, a data and fan intelligence company whose research aims to unlock the untapped potential for sports organizations by tracking what fans do, watch, and buy, recognizes that fan behavior is changing rapidly. FAST Studios CEO McLean sits on the Sports Innovation Lab’s Fluid Fan Leadership Board, an executive network of industry leaders focused on the latest technologies and behavior trends that are currently redefining the sports and entertainment experience.

“Our groundbreaking Fan Project research has confirmed time and again that there is massive demand for women’s sports coverage – fans want to watch, but it’s not always easy to find women’s sports broadcasts and other women’s sports programming,” said Angela Ruggiero, CEO and co-founder of Sports Innovation Lab. “Our studies show that when women’s sports content is consistently scheduled and easy to find, the community – made up of both male and female viewers – tunes in. The Women’s Sports Network is a powerful step forward in making women’s sports content more visible and accessible, and we can’t wait to see sports fans rally around it.”

“For too long, the women’s sports industry has been seen through the lens of men’s sports, and that has led to a massive underestimation of the commercial opportunity,” said Stuart McLean, CEO of FAST Studios. “Our significant investment in the Women’s Sports Network, the outstanding team of partners we’re continuing to grow, and the cultural forces at play all combine to make this the most exciting new venture I’ve ever had the privilege to launch. We are so grateful to have so many visionary women embrace this mission and put their energy and expertise behind this new venture.”

Women’s Sports Network will debut in 2022 on major free, ad-supported streaming platforms. FAST Studios will manage programming, advertising and distribution as it does for its other channels. With the addition of Women’s Sports Network, FAST Studios is adding to its slate of OTT sports brands.

The company recently launched SpartanTV, a first of its kind 24/7 streaming channel, with Spartan Race – the world’s leading obstacle race and lifestyle wellness brand – and Air Force Special Warfare serving as an anchor sponsor, and Racing America, a 24/7 home for grassroots racing with live races and original content that includes a slate of news-driven shows, archival races and NASCAR Cup Series team content. Additional channels are already in the pipeline and will launch shortly.

FloSports Signs Tezos As Official Blockchain Partner

Streaming service FloSports has selected Tezos as its Official Blockchain in a multiyear technical partnership.

The partnership includes prominent branding in FloSports’ owned-and-operated events and other live streamed sporting events as well as development of non-fungible token (NFTs) fan experiences built on Tezos.

Tezos will become the Title Sponsor for Tezos Who’s Number One (WNO), FloSports’ popular owned-and-operated grappling event series. All points of the WNO brand will incorporate the Tezos logo: onsite activations, cobranded marketing materials, graphical wipes, in-stream graphic packages, and more.

Tezos will also serve as Presenting Sponsor for other wrestling, grappling, and motorsports events available on FloSports throughout the next two years.

This is the first sports streaming partnership for Tezos, an energy-efficient, open source blockchain for assets and applications. It will continue until the end of 2024.


Jason Ford, Senior Vice President, Integrated Partnerships, FloSports commented: We’re excited about this partnership and introducing entirely new audiences to the Tezos blockchain experience. Tezos will help demonstrate to our subscribers the benefits of blockchain technology while also helping us deliver unique and unforgettable fan experiences that will further strengthen our relationship with fans of our wide range of sports.”


Edward Adlard, Head of Business Development and Adoption added: Now more than ever, people are embracing blockchain technology as a powerful tool and Tezos’ energy-efficient design and ability to upgrade sets it apart from the rest. I am delighted to see FloSports join a rapidly growing list of brands that are using Tezos to revolutionize their industries; from gaming and art to grappling, wrestling and racing!”

World Taekwondo Championship 2022 To Take Place In Cancun

The World Taekwondo Council awarded the 2022 World Taekwondo Championships to Cancun and the 2023 World Taekwondo Cadet Championships to Sarajevo.

The decision was taken in a vote during today’s online extraordinary Council meeting which focused on restarting World Taekwondo Competitions. The Council considered bids from Baku (Azerbaijan), Beirut (Lebanon), and Cancun (Mexico) for the World Championships with representatives from each of the three cities delivering presentations during the meeting. Following the presentation an electronic vote was held and Cancun was awarded the Championships with 52% of the vote.

For the 2023 World Taekwondo Cadet Championships, Queretaro (Mexico) and Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina) presented their candidacies to the Council. Sarajevo was awarded the event with 92% of the vote.

World Taekwondo President Chungwon Choue said: “We are delighted to announce Cancun and Sarajevo as the hosts of the 2022 World Taekwondo Championships and 2023 World Taekwondo Cadet Championships respectively. Both cities presented very strong bids and we have no doubt they will deliver wonderful competitions. Mexico has a proud history in hosting excellent World Taekwondo events including World Championships and Grand Prixes and we are sure Cancun will build on this heritage. For Bosnia and Herzegovina, it will be the first time they have hosted a World Taekwondo event and we believe this will act as a catalyst for the further growth of the sport in the country. Today’s meeting showed how much interest there is in hosting World Taekwondo events and we are committed to restarting our competitions this year in a safe and successful manner.”

The World Championships had been scheduled to take place in Wuxi, China in April 2022 following the postponement of last year’s Championships due to COVID-19. However, Wuxi withdrew from hosting the event this year due to the ongoing pandemic and to protect the health and wellbeing of all athletes, officials and organizers.

On April 21-24, World Taekwondo will also host the World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships in Goyang, Korea. During the pandemic over the last two years, World Taekwondo has hosted the online Poomsae challenge series which has allowed grassroots athletes all over the world to engage in the sport.

During the Council meeting, President Choue announced the World Taekwondo Children’s Championships will be launched to engage young people in the sport. The Council also passed amendments to the competition rules for more dynamic and exciting competitions.

It was also explained that Kukkiwon has nominated Mr. Chunjae Park as their representative in the World Taekwondo Council as per the Statutes and he will be invited to the next meeting.

The next Extraordinary Council meeting will take place in Goyang in a hybrid format during the World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships.

Learning From The Best: How British Gymnastics Are Taking A Unique Approach To Developing Communication Skills

Alex McGregor, Performance Pathway Manager at British Gymnastics, explains why the organisation has invited a hostage negotiator to share wisdom on effective communication at this year’s Performance Symposium.

As Performance Pathway Manager at British Gymnastics, I believe it is essential to focus on developing our ‘soft skills’, such as communicating, in the same way that we would aim to develop the technical side of coaching. In order to support coaches to do this, we wanted to tap into the limitless expertise of professionals outside of gymnastics, because that outside perspective is invaluable to enhancing and evaluating sporting practices. Our aim is to understand and learn from other sports and industries, where communication is also pivotal, to be able to bring those skills back into our sport and ultimately enhance coaching practice.

“It is clear to us that providing a breadth of opportunity and focusing on what those with very different backgrounds can give you is the gateway to progress.”

That’s why as part of this year’s British Gymnastics Performance Pathway Symposium, we are giving a platform to speakers both inside and outside the sport – one guest a former Head of Greater Manchester Police hostage and negotiation team.

You might ask yourself what someone entirely removed from the sport can teach a gymnastics coach about coaching gymnastics. But over a number of years providing educational speaker events for the gymnastics community, it is clear to us that providing a breadth of opportunity and focusing on what those with very different backgrounds can give you is the gateway to progress. 

Our rationale behind educating coaches with the principles of communication and emotional intelligence is that every great athlete and coach team is underpinned by trust – that any working relationship is built by not just talking to each other, but by listening to each other and really understanding each others values and motivation.

In our efforts to provide the best and most innovative educational resources to our community, we have worked to bring in speakers across multiple disciplines. As well as a hostage specialist with 27 years experience in the police, we will hear from one of the UK’s leading Performance Psychologists, a Professor of Psychology at Loughborough University, and a Senior Coach Developer with a background in professional rugby.

“To have an open forum with communication experts in business and beyond is extremely beneficial to ensure our sport is constantly evolving and considering ways we can innovate.”

This is a collaborative approach in the truest sense. Not only are we looking to professionals outside of our specific disciplines to contribute to our sports’ development, this event is based on the interaction with our gymnastics community. As part of the symposium, everyone has the opportunity to ask questions, to evaluate and reflect on what has been learned, and speak directly with experts on how they can continue to improve and provide the best experiences possible.  

To have an open forum with communication experts in business and beyond is extremely beneficial to ensure our sport is constantly evolving and considering ways we can innovate. Gymnastics is considered a ‘foundation sport’ – in that it provides the basis for so many other skills, like communication, that can be reapplied to many aspects of life. 

Our sport is a fantastic opportunity for all to develop themselves both professionally and personally. British Gymnastics is committed to providing the best opportunities for everyone involved in our sport, and to complement discussions on best technical practice with wider skill sets. While considering how to gradually build up difficulty in a routine, or working on perfecting a dismount from apparatus, it’s just as vital to learn how to communicate effectively and reflect on your training process. 

“It’s just as vital to learn how to communicate effectively and reflect on your training process.”

With our performance pathway symposium focusing on communication, feedback and emotional intelligence this year, we are providing unique support that is helping our gymnastics community – with a little help from industry experts along the way. 

The British Gymnastics Performance Symposium is taking place online from 24th January – 11th February. You can find out more, see the schedule and register online here. Tickets cost £20 for British Gymnastics members and UK residents, but access is available to non-members and international guests also. More info on this can be found on the event page.

All sessions will also be recorded so that attendees can watch on demand at any time for their convenience over the next 12 months.

IMG To Provide Channel 4’s Betfred Super League Coverage

IMG has been awarded a two-year contract to provide Channel 4’s Betfred Super League coverage.

Super League rugby will be shown live on free-to-air television for the first time in its 26-year history after Channel 4 secured a deal initially to show ten live matches and Grand Final highlights for the next two years.

IMG will produce the live coverage of Super League on site from the grounds and is opening a new office in Leeds to work specifically on the Channel 4 live programming.

Channel 4 Head of Sport Pete Andrews said: “It was a very competitive tender process but IMG showed a vision that really stood out.

“And we were absolutely delighted when they revealed their plans to open a Leeds base. This chimes with everything Channel 4’s ambition – to help boost the production industry the Nations and Regions.

“I can’t wait for the coverage of our first live Super League game on 12 February when Leeds Rhinos take on Warrington Wolves.”

Barney Francis, Executive Vice President, Head of Global Production at IMG, said: “This is a great opportunity for us and we are delighted to be working with Channel 4 on live coverage of Super League, one of the action-packed sports of the summer.

“We are excited to be opening a new base in Leeds – right in the heartland of the rugby league world – which will enable us to tap into the production talent in the area. Going forward, we can also see a number of long-term strategic advantages for IMG to have a base in the region.”

IMG will be based in the offices of post-production company Sticks and Glass in the city centre and is currently in the process of hiring creative, production management and technical support.

Connor Ball Becomes Co-Owner Of LDN UTD

The Vamps Base Guitarist and Dancing On Ice Star Connor Ball who is passionate about gaming and helping others has become a Co-Owner of LDN UTD, the esports organisation that unites gaming and social issues.

Connor Ball, 25, an avid gamer and YouTube content creator is taking his passion for gaming to the world of business where he can support LDN UTD a force for good in the esports phenomenon, on their mission to combat social issues such as mental health, racism, knife crime, diversity, and loneliness.

Connor has personally invested in LDN UTD and will also be a member of the Strategic Advisory Board as the org seeks to continue to nurture and develop within the esports community. Connor’s role will include launching a metaverse project, leading events related to social issues, and creating content with LDN UTD’S talent.

LDN UTD unites professional esports and grassroots gaming with healthy lifestyle and social issues and has previously held physical and online campaigns around racism, knife crime, diversity, nutrition, loneliness and education, working with stakeholders including the Mayor of London, the Rio Ferdinand Foundation, Bloomsbury Football, Matchroom Sport, and charities including Street League. LDN UTD also develops incredible players from all backgrounds and offers them a platform to play at their best, whilst using professional rosters to amplify and raise awareness around the most important issues in the world today.

Oliver Weingarten Founder and CEO of LDN UTD; “Connor is not just an ardent gamer, he is passionate about the issues we address, and to bring him into the LDN UTD family as a Co-Owner is testament to his vision of what we can achieve. I’m really looking forward to having Connor input into the strategic direction of the business as we raise funds, develop our metaverse strategy, and continue to host engaging events for our community.”

The Vamps and Dancing On Ice star Connor Ball said: “As someone who has faced their own battles with mental health, I’ve suffered with generalised anxiety, panic attacks and depression and know the struggles my generation face. Esports has a massive opportunity to engage the younger generation and tackle social issues that impact us today and in the future. I’ve known the LDN UTD team for a while, love what they do, and it is rare to be able to have an opportunity to bring my passion of gaming together with doing good. That’s what LDN UTD does, that’s why I’m getting involved.”

Tottenham Hotspur Commits To Halving Its Carbon Emissions By 2030

Tottenham Hotspur has joined the UN Race to Zero, committing to halve its carbon emissions by 2030 and become net zero carbon by 2040.

On the same day, and for a third year running, the Club has finished top of the Premier League sustainability table produced by the UN-backed Sport Positive and published by BBC Sport.

A year ago, the Club became a signatory of the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework, which supports and guides sports organisations globally to achieve climate change goals.

The Race to Zero high ambition track was launched at last year’s COP26 and aims to rally non-state actors – including companies, cities, regions, financial and educational institutions – to take rigorous and immediate action to work towards achieving net zero carbon in line with the Paris Agreement, with transparent action plans and robust targets.

Donna-Maria Cullen, Executive Director, Tottenham Hotspur, said: “To have once again been named at the top of the Sport Positive League Table is fantastic recognition for the work that continues to be delivered across our organisation – now we must challenge ourselves to go further.

“Joining the UN Race to Zero is a significant next step on our journey and provides us with a clear pathway and emission reduction targets that we are prepared to meet.

“We look forward to working collectively with our staff, players, fans, partners and suppliers to achieve our goals.”

Sport Positive has systematically collated key environmental sustainability information for every Premier League football club into a table matrix. The categories reflect the environmental impacts of putting on a football match, and initiatives that are under way at clubs, put together in an easy and digestible format.

Two new categories were introduced this year – biodiversity and education – with more points awarded to clubs that are working strategically across all club sites and operations, have policies in place, and are engaging fans, staff and players in their work.

FIH Launches Bidding Process For Hockey Men’s And Women’s World Cups 2026

The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has launched the bidding process for hosting the FIH Hockey Men’s and Women’s World Cups which will be played in 2026.

The prestigious event, for Men like for Women, is the pinnacle of FIH events and is being played every 4 years. Both the Men’s and the Women’s World Cup involve sixteen teams amongst the best ones in the world.

The deadline for submitting the bids is 31 May 2022. The hosts will be decided by the Executive Board on 3 November and announced at the FIH Congress which will be held virtually on 4-5 November this year.

FIH CEO Thierry Weil said: “The FIH Hockey World Cup, for Men like for Women, means a lot to the global hockey community, in particular athletes and fans. Therefore, we’re looking forward to receiving numerous bids to host these prestigious events, which will capture the attention of all hockey fans around the world and where legends will be made!”

The next FIH Hockey Women’s World Cup will be played in July this year in Spain and the Netherlands, whilst the next FIH Hockey Men’s World Cup will take place in January 2023 in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela, India.