Navin Singh Appointed As The FA’s New Commercial Director

The Football Association [FA] has appointed Navin Singh as its new Commercial Director.

Singh joins English football’s governing body after five years with the prestigious United States Golf Association. As Chief Commercial Officer, he led the USGA’s global commercial strategy for its assets including the major men’s and women’s U.S. Open championships.

He was also responsible for securing worldwide broadcast and digital media rights packages across 190 countries, content production, OTT and mobile product launches, an extensive corporate partner programme and all aspects of fan engagement across ticketing, corporate hospitality, merchandise and licensing.

These responsibilities will all form part of his FA role where, reporting into CEO Mark Bullingham, he will lead on all aspects of The FA’s commercial strategy and play a key role in the organisation’s ongoing digital transformation. He will oversee a wide-ranging portfolio that includes all England teams, Wembley Stadium connected by EE, the Emirates FA Cup, the Barclays FA Women’s Super League and the Vitality Women’s FA Cup.

Navin Singh said: “It is a huge honour to be joining the Football Association. It is a world-class organisation that has a vital not-for-profit role in supporting the running of the game in England but also means so much to so many fans here and abroad through its historic teams, venues and competitions.

“I am excited to work with my new colleagues and our important commercial partners in supporting The FA’s ambitious new strategic vision – from helping our teams to be successful in major tournaments to building on our direct relationships with fans. I am also particularly excited by the commitment to women’s football and want to add to the considerable work being done to take it to the next level.”

Singh, who has volunteered as a youth football coach in his spare time, previously worked as vice-president of international content strategy for Scripps Networks Interactive, which saw his remit include global lifestyle media brands Travel Channel and Food Network amongst others. Before that he attained significant commercial and brand experience in senior roles across organisations including WWE, Wasserman Media Group and Golf Channel.

FA CEO Mark Bullingham said: “I am delighted to welcome Navin to our senior leadership team. He has superb credentials and a depth of knowledge in this digital age that will enable our commercial team to continue to thrive in a hugely competitive and fast-moving world. Crucially, Navin understands the role we have in protecting and promoting our sporting traditions while at the same time maximising commercial, broadcast and digital reach to support the important work we do across grassroots and elite football.

“He joins us at a very exciting time fo​r English football, with next year marking 150 years since the first-ever England game and our senior sides involved in two major tournaments in the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 on home soil and the men’s 2022 FIFA World Cup, as well as landmark FA Cup campaigns and our national football centre St. George’s Park celebrating its tenth anniversary.”

Formula E Launches Free ‘Unplugged’ Series On YouTube And Facebook

Formula E today has launched a new short-form episodic documentary series, Formula E: Unplugged, with all episodes  free to view on Formula E’s YouTube and Facebook pages at https://www.fiaformulae.com/en/watch/unplugged.

The 15-episode x 15-minute series takes viewers through Season 7 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, revealing what it takes to deliver international motorsport against the backdrop of challenges imposed by the global pandemic. 

Viewers will see how drivers, engineers, team crews and executives are pushed to the limit in Formula E’s first season operating as an official motorsport FIA World Championship. From the season opener in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia to the climax in Berlin via Rome, Valencia, Monaco, Puebla (Mexico), New York and London, the Formula E:  Unplugged cameras capture the triumphs and challenges of life in the Formula E paddock. 

Season 7 the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship attracted record-breaking international TV audiences for the live race broadcasts. Formula E: Unplugged delivers a new perspective with original content from the garages and  driver interviews in addition to racing action.

Aarti Dabas, Chief Media Officer at Formula E, said:  

“We are delighted to release Formula E: Unplugged, a new window into the world’s first all-electric motorsport. 

“Formula E: Unplugged offers an honest and unfiltered look behind the scenes at Formula E during its first campaign as an FIA World Championship. It’s about the people who make up our sport, with a spotlight on their stories from a unique season in motorsport. 

“Whether viewers are long-time fans of Formula E, motorsport followers curious about electric racing, or simply intrigued to find out more about our world, Formula E: Unplugged will offer a new perspective on our teams and drivers as they navigate the season on and off the track.” 

Season 8 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship begins in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, on January 28 and 29 and will feature 16 races in 12 iconic world cities including Jakarta, Vancouver, Mexico City and London before concluding in Seoul, South Korea in August. 

World Triathlon And SuperLeague Triathlon Launch Esports World Championship Series

World Triathlon and Super League Triathlon have announced a partnership to grow a global esports series that will crown the official triathlon esport World Champions. The partnership will see the formation of the Arena Games Triathlon powered by Zwift, a series of events giving opportunities to ranked athletes and national federations to participate and pursue the official World Championship title.

The partnership between World Triathlon and Super League Triathlon is the next step in growing the innovative concept of esports into a new and officially recognised discipline for triathlon. Fully in line with the International Olympic Committee’s aspirations to develop esports with its Olympic Virtual Series, it also taps into the strong growth of virtual participation that emerged during the pandemic.

The Arena Games Triathlon powered by Zwift, developed by Super League, is a unique format that marries real life and virtual racing and realises triathlon’s potential as an esport. Off the back of winning the prestigious Sports Industry Awards title for Cutting Edge Events and the Sports Business Award for Most Innovative Business Response to COVID 19, the Arena Games Triathlon will see both organisations working together to grow a global series that crowns an official World Champion.

Investing in cutting edge technologies, audiovisual content and incredible race scenarios that will generate wide engagement and awareness, World Triathlon and Super League will together help take the Arena Games Triathlon to the next level for the benefit of fans, athletes, national federations and all stakeholders.

The Arena Games Triathlon series builds on the existing MOU between Super League and World Triathlon and will continue to celebrate gender equality, clean sport and fair competition, providing new race opportunities to athletes with the aim of taking the format to the very pinnacle of the sport.

Marisol Casado, World Triathlon President and IOC member, said: “We are absolutely delighted with this partnership. Both organisations have been working hard and investing significant resources to evolve our sport, growing audiences, and giving the athletes the best stages on which to perform at their best. So it is only natural for both World Triathlon and Super League to invest and work together. I am absolutely convinced that the Arena Games Triathlon will be a fantastic event for athletes, broadcasters, sponsors and fans alike.”

Super League Triathlon CEO, Michael D’hulst, said: “This is a very exciting day for the sport. By partnering together, Super League Triathlon and World Triathlon are taking the next step in what has already been a very steep growth curve for the Arena Games. With this partnership, the sky’s the limit. This could well be the next Olympic triathlon discipline.”

“The Arena Games Triathlon powered by Zwift has already proved to be an award winning disruptor, recognised by athletes and the wider sports community, and with a growing appetite at the very top levels of sport to bring esport to a much wider audience, this is perfectly timed for the benefit of everyone in triathlon and to help deliver an even more exciting future.”

Super League Triathlon co-founder and Chairman, Leonid Boguslavsky, added: “When I was a kid I had a dream to create a new sport discipline. This is why I am very proud that we have created the Arena Games Triathlon format using innovative tech from Zwift. It will inspire many athletes as well as organisers to roll out this format to many countries and cities since it does not depend on weather or venue restrictions, and triathlon as a sport will grow much faster both for athletes and media.”

World Triathlon and Super League will collaborate on all aspects of Arena Games Triathlon powered by Zwift, including scheduling, participating athletes, involvement of national federations, promotion, broadcasters, host venues and amplifying the reach of the events. The first series will be announced shortly, with the first official World Champions set to be crowned in 2022.

National Women’s Soccer League And Nike Sign Partnership Renewal

The National Women’s Soccer League and Nike have signed a historic, long-term agreement that extends a partnership that began with the league’s formation nearly a decade ago.

“Since the beginning, Nike and the NWSL together have driven significant growth of this great game for all, in the U.S. and around the world, and we couldn’t be more excited to extend this foundational partnership well into our second decade of play,” said Marla Messing, NWSL interim CEO. “With this agreement, Nike is showing the world again what it means to support athletes, helping to grow the opportunities available for them to compete, and supporting the NWSL and its athletes in its effort to remain the premier destination for the world’s most elite players.”

The most substantial agreement in NWSL history, the partnership extension represents Nike’s significant committment to the sport, the NWSL and its players and clubs. Specific focus will be placed on elevating performance through research in footwear and apparel innovation, and growing engagement by highlighting athletes both on and off the field.

“Nike continues to champion long-term change in women’s sports,” said Becca Kerr, Nike VP and GM of North America Women’s. “Our ongoing partnership with NWSL and our continued investments in soccer through partnership and grassroots efforts are catalyzing action and progress to help drive that change.”

The NWSL has signed four new national partners in 2021 and currently counts eight of the most successful and innovative global brands among its sponsors. Nike’s renewal is an important milestone for the NWSL, and as it looks toward its 10th anniversary season, signals the league’s continued strength in the business of professional sports.

Huddle Agrees To Technology Partnership With Sporting Group

Huddle, the next generation iGaming technology provider, has signed terms to become an ongoing technology partner with the Sporting Group, one of the world’s leading betting and gaming operators, as it expands its B2B offerings in North America.

The partnership will see the disruptive AI and data-driven business work on a series of projects to further automate and drive more efficiencies and revenues across some of the Sporting Group’s main betting products and markets, with an emphasis on the US and Canada.

Huddle and its growing team of software engineering experts will focus on several of the Sporting Group’s US sports products and services as the operator expands its global reach into regulated and newly regulated states and provinces in 2022 and beyond.

Huddle represents one of the most forward-thinking and progressive companies in the rapidly changing betting and gaming industry, building advanced, proprietary technology solutions designed to unlock the true potential of data and create a wide range of automated products for iGaming operators.

Launched in late 2020, Huddle raised $3 million in venture capital seed funding. The business is building a series of automated products leveraging a microservices model – developing and deploying components, the first of which are trading, odds feeds and risk technology.

Huddle’s software is powered by proprietary algorithms and based on reactive architecture to help operators to reduce their operational cost across multiple jurisdictions, manage and optimise risk and thereby increase the profitability of their operations.

Sporting Group, part of Groupe FDJ, is one of the world’s leading names in sports betting technology and trading, with two principal divisions – a B2C operation, the pre-eminent sports spread betting company, and a rapidly growing B2B operation which supplies real-time pricing and sports trading capabilities to sportsbooks around the globe.

Francesco Borgosano, CEO and Co-founder, Huddle, said: “This is our first major technology partnership, with many to come in the weeks and months ahead. We’re thrilled to be working with such an incredible brand that has led the way in the betting industry for so many years and continues to grow and expand under Andy’s leadership.

“North America is a huge focus for the sector, with more states and provinces coming online every month. We have some of the brightest minds in advanced AI and data-driven technology combined with many years’ experience within some of the biggest betting brands and suppliers. Together, we are developing intelligence-based automated products that we believe will unlock the true potential for both brands and providers and we can’t wait to get under way with the Sporting Group.”

Andy Wright, CEO, Sporting Group, said: “The Huddle team are some of the sharpest and most progressive brains in betting technology and we’re delighted to be working in partnership with them as we continue to expand our sophisticated Trading and Risk Management services into the global sports betting market.

“I’m confident they will add significant value to us, as Sporting Solutions continues to move into new territories focussing on new products and innovation. I look forward to seeing some great things happen next year.”

FanDuel Expands Genius Sports Partnership To Include Official NFL Data Content And Fan Engagement Solutions

Genius Sports Limited today announced a new agreement with FanDuel Group to provide a range of official NFL data, content, media products and trading services.

In April 2021, FanDuel was selected as one of the NFL’s official sports betting partners. In the same period, Genius Sports became the league’s exclusive live streaming partner and distributor of real-time official play-by-play statistics, providing sportsbook partners including FanDuel with access to the NFL’s proprietary Next Gen Stats (NGS) data, and official sports betting data feed.

FanDuel, America’s #1 sportsbook and the largest mobile betting operator in the U.S., will implement Genius Sports’ NFL offering. Genius Sports represents the NFL’s legalized sports betting advertising inventory across the league’s owned and operated digital platforms. These assets alongside the NFL’s official data feeds, will create value for FanDuel across the full player lifecycle from player acquisition to pre-match and in-game betting, through to long-term customer retention. 

Alongside NFL content exclusive to Genius Sports, FanDuel will also have access to Genius Sports’ official data-powered in-play content and live trading solutions across multiple sports and thousands of live events. Genius Sports has exclusive official data partnerships with NASCAR, the English Premier League, LigaMX, Argentinian and Colombian soccer and hundreds of other leagues and federations worldwide.

“We are delighted to partner with FanDuel to help them create the most compelling and contextual sports betting experience possible,” said Mark Locke, CEO of Genius Sports. “With official data at its heart, this partnership enables FanDuel to better engage and monetize its customer base at every step of their journey. We couldn’t be more proud to be expanding our relationship with a clear giant of US sports betting in a way that entirely validates our long-held strategic vision.”

“We are always looking for ways to improve our product and the data opportunities gained via this agreement help FanDuel achieve that objective,” said Niall Connell, General Manager of FanDuel Group. “The new suite of offerings including official NFL data will enable us to better serve our customers and enhance America’s #1 Sportsbook.” 

BMW & PGA TOUR Announce Five-Year Extension For BMW As Title Sponsor Of The BMW Championship Through 2027

BMW, the PGA TOUR and the Western Golf Association announced today a five-year extension for BMW to remain the title sponsor of the TOUR’s second FedExCup Playoffs event through 2027. Also announced today was the return of the BMW Championship to the Chicago area in 2023 at Olympia Fields Country Club, which also hosted the event in 2020 with Jon Rahm outdueling Dustin Johnson in a sudden-death playoff.

“We would like to express our sincere thanks to BMW for their continued support of the PGA TOUR and the Western Golf Association through 2027,” said PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan. “The BMW Championship played an incredibly impactful role in launching the FedExCup in 2007 and BMW’s commitment to presenting a best-in-class event each year continues to elevate the FedExCup Playoffs. We are also very appreciative of BMW’s dedication to fulfilling the mission of the Evans Scholars Foundation, having impacted thousands of lives over the last 15 years.”

BMW joined the PGA TOUR family in 2007 as title sponsor of the BMW Championship at the inception of the FedExCup. Since that time, the BMW Championship has won the PGA TOUR’s Tournament of the Year award four times (2008, 2012, 2013, 2014). The 2022 event will take place August 15-21, at Wilmington Country Club in Wilmington, Delaware.

“For the past 15 years, we have worked with our partners at the PGA TOUR and the Western Golf Association to host the top 70 players in the world at what has become one of the best, and most exciting events on the golf calendar,” said Sebastian Mackensen, president and CEO, BMW of North America.  “The BMW Championship is not only a great way to showcase our brand and engage customers, but also a wonderful opportunity to raise money for the Evans Scholars Foundation and help so many young students to follow their dreams.”

Each year, proceeds from the BMW Championship benefit the Evans Scholars Foundation, which provides full tuition and housing scholarships for hard-working young caddies. Over the past 15 years, the BMW Championship has raised more than $40 million on behalf of the Evans Scholars Foundation and has helped send more than 3,000 students to college. This academic year, a record 1,070 caddies are attending 21 major colleges and universities on Evans Scholarships.

“Since 2007, BMW has been our valued partner and a steadfast supporter of both our championships and the Evans Scholars Foundation,” said John Kaczkowski, WGA president and CEO. “As title sponsor, BMW has fully embraced our mission, helping us transform the Evans Scholars Foundation into a truly national program. We’re excited and grateful for the opportunity to continue working together to change the lives of youth caddies nationwide.”

The more than 100,000 guests who attend the BMW Championship each year have the opportunity to engage with the brand in numerous ways including vehicle displays and other interactive experiences. BMW owners also enjoy the benefits of complimentary, preferred parking, and have access to an exclusive hospitality pavilion where they are invited to relax and enjoy premium concessions, and unparalleled golf viewing.

By extending its role as the title sponsor of the BMW Championship, BMW also strengthens its worldwide commitment to the sport of golf. In addition to the BMW Championship, the automaker has had a longstanding partnership with the Ryder Cup, through the European team, dating back to 2006. BMW also remains the title sponsor for two prestigious DP World Tour events: the BMW PGA Championship in England; and the BMW International Open, contested each June in Germany, which has been a staple on the Tour for three decades. Additionally, the BMW Ladies Championship in Busan, South Korea, recently made its debut on the LPGA Tour. Since 2002, BMW has sponsored the Korn Ferry Tour’s BMW Charity Pro-Am in South Carolina.

Formerly known as the Western Open, the BMW Championship is the longest-standing non-major championship on the PGA TOUR, dating back to 1899. The event boasts one of golf’s strongest lists of past champions, including all seven players with 50 or more career wins on the PGA TOUR: Sam Snead, Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer, Byron Nelson and Billy Casper. Recent winners include World No. 1 Rahm, as well as FedExCup champions Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas, Dustin Johnson and Patrick Cantlay.

Orlando Magic Announce New Partnership With Drop

The Orlando Magic is announcing a new partnership with the free rewards app, Drop. To celebrate, Magic fans can get $15 worth of Drop Points when they register using the invite code: “magicfriday” and link a debit or credit card before Friday, November 26, 2021. The Magic are the first sports team to partner with Drop.

The partnership will include several surprises for fans throughout the season, including in-game parachute “drops” of fun rewards; VIP fan experiences; a STUFF the Magic Mascot birthday party on Feb. 25 and many more rewarding surprises. To take advantage, fans are encouraged to download the free Drop app to stay in the know of all of this and more.

“The Orlando Magic are thrilled to work with Drop and proud to be their first sports partnership, helping them engage and welcome fans into their innovative rewards shopping experience,” said Magic Vice President of Global Partnerships, J.T. McWalters. “We look forward to surprising fans as the season goes along with special rewards and experiences. We encourage fans to get the Drop app now so they can maximize this great opportunity before Black Friday.”

Drop allows users to collect points for shopping at their favorite brands; users can then redeem points for gift cards. The popular app is used by millions of Americans and has become increasingly popular among Floridians. Drop uses intelligent programming to offer a highly personalized rewards experience based on what each user likes and where they already shop, eliminating the hurdles of scanning receipts, entering promo codes, or signing up for multiple loyalty programs.

“At Drop, we are constantly looking to provide our users with personalized and exciting reward experiences” said Derrick Fung, CEO of Drop. “We are thrilled to partner with the Orlando Magic to extend that personalized reward experience to Orlando Magic fans and make this season the most rewarding one yet!”

World Table Tennis Announce First Officially Licensed Table Tennis NFT

World Table Tennis (WTT) today announced the first-ever officially licensed table tennis Non-Fungible Token (NFT) to go on sale to celebrate the opening of the 2021 World Table Tennis Championships Finals in Houston, Texas.

This is the first time America is hosting the World Table Tennis Championships. Entitled ‘First Ball!’, the exclusive NFT is a digital artwork celebrating both this historical moment and table tennis.

The video clip showcases a table tennis ball ornated with the 2021 World Table Tennis Championships Finals logo and the USA flag’s colours in the background.

Discover ‘First Ball!’, the first officially licensed table tennis NFT!

This unique table tennis NFT is up for auction on OpenSea, the world’s first and largest digital marketplace for crypto collectibles and NFTs. Bidding will be open for the duration of the World Championships, until 23:59 (CST, UTC−06:00) on Monday 29 November.

The reserve price has been set to WETH 0.2021, in honour of the 2021 World Championships. WETH (Wrapped ETH) is used to buy and sell with auctions on OpenSea. It is worth exactly the same amount as ETH, the native cryptocurrency of the Ethereum platform, a decentralized and open-source blockchain with smart contract functionality.

From 23-29 November, the world’s best players will face each other with a revamped and expanded straight knockout format. Fans should be on the lookout not only for the incredible table tennis actions but also for the exclusive NFTs which will be announced by WTT throughout the competition.

This year’s championships are of even greater significance for the Table Tennis community when the 2020 event in Busan, Korea, was cancelled due to COVID-19.

As the commercial and events arm of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), WTT aims to transform how the sport is played and absorbed throughout the world while providing the fans of the sport with cutting-edge technology and new experiences which will build further the interest and awareness of table tennis. Ever since its launch, WTT has been leading the table tennis digital transformation and opening up new revenue streams for table tennis.

The launch of officially licensed table tennis NFTs is another milestone in the journey to make the sport one of the most recognised and followed in the world. WTT is planning to launch its own marketplace in 2022 where fans and collectors will be able to buy, sell and trade table tennis NFTs.

Next week, the world’s best players will face each other at Houston’s George R. Brown Convention Center. Follow all the actions online on World Table Tennis website.

Enlio Becomes Official Flooring Supplier of 2021 World Table Tennis Championships and WTT Cup Finals

World Table Tennis (WTT), the commercial arm of the ITTF Group, is delighted to announce Enlio as the official flooring supplier of the 2021 World Table Tennis Championships Finals and 2021 WTT Cup Finals.

Hebei Enlio Sports Goods Co., LTD, a supplier of a wide range of flooring including interlocking court mats and surfaces for general use in sports halls, has a long-standing relationship with the table tennis family.

An ITTF sponsor since 2013, Enlio has supported several world-class events such as the World Table Tennis Championships and the 2018 Youth Olympic Games.

The 2021 World Table Tennis Championships Finals will be kicking off in Houston on Tuesday 23 November. The star-studded field will compete for the coveted World Champion trophies on a custom blue floor specially created to complement the event visual identity.

Then, Enlio will provide black flooring to the inaugural WTT Cup Finals. The 2021 WTT Cup Finals is the new season-ending event of the WTT Series. The prestigious new event will see some of the world’s best men’s and women’s singles players battle it out to be crowned season-ending champions.

Li Yu, Enlio Chairman, said: “ITTF and WTT events showcase the highest level of table tennis and stringent requirements for its equipment, and we value the trust that has been placed in Enlio in delivering and exceeding these requirements. We are proud to be able to provide top-quality flooring specially customised to enhance the look and feel of these events, and we are excited for the millions of table tennis fans worldwide to watch the world’s best players compete on them.”

Matt Pound, WTT Managing Director, said: “We are happy to be continuing our long term relationship with Enlio for the two most important table tennis events at the end of 2021 – the World Championships and WTT Cup Finals. In addition, as the first-ever supplier of black flooring to a WTT event at the 2020 WTT Macao, it is symbolic that Enlio is a part of the Cup Finals to close off the first-ever WTT Series on this world-class flooring. We look forward to a long and fruitful relationship with Enlio.”

The ICC Appoints Geoff Allardice As CEO, Announces Global Growth Strategy

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has confirmed Geoff Allardice has been appointed as the organisation’s permanent CEO after more than eight months in the role on an interim basis.

Allardice, a former first-class cricketer, was the ICC General Manager, Cricket for eight years having previously held a similar role at Cricket Australia. 

Greg Barclay, ICC Chair said: “I am delighted that Geoff has agreed to take the role of ICC CEO on a permanent basis. He has shown tremendous leadership during an extremely challenging period culminating in the successful delivery of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021. 

“Geoff has unrivaled knowledge of the global cricket landscape and its stakeholders and has consistently demonstrated he is the right person to work in partnership with our Members to shape the sport for the next decade as we embark on delivering a new strategy and our next commercial rights cycle.”

 Geoff Allardice, ICC CEO added: “It’s a great privilege to be appointed as the CEO of the ICC and I would like to thank Greg and the ICC Board for the opportunity to lead the sport as we enter an exciting new phase of growth. 

“My continued focus will be on doing the right thing for our sport and working closely with Members to deliver long-term success and sustainability. I would also like to thank the ICC staff for their commitment and support over the last eight months and I’m looking forward to continuing to serve cricket with such a talented team.”

The ICC also launches global growth strategy

The International Cricket Council today unveiled its global growth strategy which places women’s cricket firmly at the heart of its long-term ambitions. The strategy which has been developed in partnership with ICC Members is aimed at strengthening, growing, and protecting the game with the vision of more players, more fans and more nations enjoying cricket.

The strategic pillars of strengthen, grow, and protect will be underpinned by digital transformation of the sport to support Members to connect directly with fans and build capacity.

Strengthen 

To strengthen the sport and drive greater engagement from what already exists, the ICC will deliver competitive cricket with context for all Members, invest in and grow women’s cricket, build cricket among Associate Members and deepen fans’ connection through digital transformation, including the ongoing development of ICC.tv, the direct to fan platform and with the development of a mobile game.

Grow

To grow the sport through more people and more places, the ICC will focus on getting more people playing and engaging with cricket through its criiio entry level programme and enhanced education programmes for coaches, officials, and curators. Female participation will be prioritised as will key identified new markets to drive targeted growth, the first of which will be the USA. Olympic inclusion is also considered a central plank of growing cricket globally.

Protect

Protecting the integrity of the sport and inspiring trust among fans is the third pillar of the strategic framework. Providing an environment that is safe for all participants and brings to life the spirit of cricket will be a key area of focus along with the continued commitment to leading the way in delivering a corruption free sport. Additionally, the ICC Cricket 4 Good programme will be developed to harness the power of more than one billion fans to build a better future.

In addition to the framework, six strategic priority projects have been highlighted in the strategy as the sport looks to build and consolidate on recent success.

ICC Chair Greg Barclay said: “This strategy is for the whole sport, and it will enable us to strengthen what we currently have, particularly around the women’s game and ensuring we’re delivering competitive cricket with context for all our Members. It also provides us with the opportunity to look at growing the game and getting more people playing and engaging with cricket through new markets and Olympic inclusion.

“Finally, it identifies the importance of protecting the integrity of our game and inspiring trust among fans and using the power of cricket to build a better future. This framework is something on which the whole sport is aligned and I’m looking forward to working in partnership with our Members to create a successful and sustainable future for cricket.”

ICC CEO Geoff Allardice said: “Our strategy is focused on more players, more fans and more nations enjoying cricket and we believe by working closely with Members we can build on the strength of what we already have but also grow the game in new markets.

“I am particularly excited by the commitment of everyone in the sport to investing in and growing the women’s game. Over the last four years we have invested in ICC women’s events and witnessed 86,174 people in the MCG to watch the final of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020 which is the best illustration yet of our research that tells us that two thirds of cricket’s 1 billion plus fans want to see more women’s cricket

“Digital transformation will play a crucial role in delivering the success of our strategy as we look to attract and engage more fans and build digital platforms that enable our Members to create direct relationships with 300 million fans by 2032.”