Bruno Fernandes Helps RealFevr Earn $1.5M In Revenue Via Sale Of Exclusive NFTs

RealFevr, a Portuguese startup specializing in fantasy football, made history by earning $1.5M in revenue through the sale of exclusive NFTs featuring the best moments of several world-class footballers, including Bruno Fernandes, Cristiano Ronaldo, Diogo Jota and many others. The packs became available to the public on August 12th and – and in little more than 24 hours – all 75,000 were sold.

The Portuguese company, which has experienced exponential growth since its founding in 2015, achieved impressive results in this first pack drop: the available 5,000 ‘SUPER RARE’ packs sold out in just one minute, followed by 15,000 ‘RARE’ packs, which sold in less than four minutes, for a total of $1M in revenue. Following the sale of roughly 55,000 ‘BASIC’ packs, the company declared the first public pack drop closed, just 27 hours after opening.

The highlight of the ‘First Edition Drop’ features Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes, with a Unique NFT created around the Portuguese international. Fernandes’ exclusive NFT celebrated a stellar volley he scored for Sporting CP in the 2017/2018 season. Keep your eyes peeled – an upcoming drop will feature a Unique NFT of Cristiano Ronaldo’s first official goal, when the football legend was a young Sporting CP prospect!

For RealFevr CEO Fred Antunes, the first drop “is a historic moment – not only for RealFevr – but also for Portugal. It is clear proof that Portuguese companies can compete internationally at the highest level and with impressive results. It is an honor to lead this team and we are not done yet. This is just one step on the long road we have envisioned and that motivates us to keep working hard.”

RealFevr-backed cryptocurrency $FEVR has also achieved big growth in the first weeks post-launch.

The NFT packs sale was facilitated through the FEVR token, a cryptocurrency which has achieved impressive results in the crypto market to date.

$FEVR was launched on July 8th on Polkastarter, one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency “launchpads.” The initial public price was $0.0006 but $FEVR currently stands at around $0.01 – representing a growth in valuation of over 1,600%.

Its market capitalization is over $20M and, compared to other crypto projects launched in the summer of 2021, it is the second-best performing cryptocurrency in the market, in terms of investment returns.

Liverpool FC Launches New Partnership With ThinkMarkets

Liverpool FC has welcomed global online trading broker ThinkMarkets as its new official global trading partner.

With offices in London, Melbourne, Dubai and Tokyo, along with hubs in the Asia-Pacific region, Europe and South Africa, ThinkMarkets will work with the club to bring quick and easy access to a wide range of financial trading markets to Liverpool FC supporters across the world.

The global partnership will focus on bringing forward market access and game-changing technology, providing ThinkMarkets with a high-profile opportunity to promote its brand as well as its multi-asset trading products and innovative platforms.

The partnership will also provide ThinkMarkets with digital assets, club hospitality and matchday sponsorship to drive acquisition and leverage engagement opportunities for its clients, while reaching fans through exclusive experiences.

Matt Scammell, commercial director at Liverpool FC, said: “A leader in its field that fosters innovation and delivers on quality experiences, values that resonate deeply through the club, we are very happy to add ThinkMarkets as our newest partner.

“Our worldwide following will generate global exposure for ThinkMarkets, whilst their core markets benefit from tremendous numbers of Liverpool FC supporters. Through this new partnership, we look forward to working closely together in offering our fans activities and experiences to bring them even closer to the club.”

Nauman Anees, CEO and co-founder at ThinkMarkets, said: “ThinkMarkets is proud to be the official global trading partner of Liverpool FC and excited to bring global market access to Liverpool FC fans around the world. We look forward to exploring the synergies between trading and football strategy throughout our partnership.”

Established in 2010, ThinkMarkets delivers some of the industry’s most recognised trading solutions, including its best-in-class platform ThinkTrader.

BioSteel Named Official Sports Drink Of The Los Angeles Lakers

Today, BioSteel Sports Nutrition Inc. (“BioSteel”) marked another milestone in its mission to provide Clean. Healthy. Hydration. to the world, announcing a multi-year sponsorship as The Official Sports Drink of the Los Angeles Lakers. The sponsorship is the ninth in the past year for BioSteel as it continues to expand its U.S.  footprint with retailers and distribution partners, in addition to strengthening relationships with some of the most exciting teams, professional athletes and health-conscious consumers across North America.

Through the multi-channel sponsorship, BioSteel will support the 17-time NBA champions’ performance with Clean. Healthy. Hydration., and the BioSteel brand and products will have a year-round presence on and off the court. This includes BioSteel Sports Drink on the Lakers team bench and integration of the BioSteel brand into the team bench set ups, locker room displays and in-arena signage.

“Fans worldwide know the Lakers as one of the most entertaining and storied franchises in all of sports, and we’re excited they’ve chosen BioSteel as their team’s official sports drink,” said Michael Cammalleri, Co-CEO and Co-Founder of BioSteel. “Spending the first part of my NHL career in LA, I take great pride in seeing this come full circle. We look forward to providing the Lakers with Clean. Healthy. Hydration. and to expanding on our message of providing a better for you product to athletes and consumers across the U.S.”

“We are committed to providing our players with the products and tools needed to improve their performance,” said Lakers President of Business Operations Tim Harris. “With quality clean ingredients and sustainable packaging, BioSteel leads the way in supporting the health and wellness of athletes, which makes them a perfect sponsor for our team. We are thrilled to welcome them to the Lakers.”

Founded in 2009 by Michael Cammalleri and business partner John Celenza, BioSteel has achieved a reputation for being the hydration product of choice for professional athletes looking for a healthy alternative. The brand is committed to using premium ingredients, maintaining product transparency and delivering essential nutrients needed to support physical activity. Each electrolyte-packed sports drink comes in an eco-friendly 16.7 fl oz Tetra Pak. The range of delicious flavors includes Mixed Berry, Blue Raspberry, White Freeze, Rainbow Twist and Peach Mango to keep consumers hydrated throughout the day.

OneFootball To Live Stream 2021 DFL Supercup On TikTok In Brazil

What was successfully tested by the Deutsche Fußball-Liga (DFL) back in 2019, can now be experienced by football fans for the very first time: the 2021 DFL Supercup between Borussia Dortmund and FC Bayern München will be broadcast in a “vertical video” format with OneFootball bringing the innovation to fans in Brazil.

After becoming the first football league to test 9:16 picture formats, which are optimised and primarily intended for use on smartphones and social media, the DFL is taking innovation one step further with selected broadcast partners, who will live stream Tuesday’s DFL Supercup match-up on their respective TikTok channels. The special 9:16 broadcast will be produced by nine cameras and a separate directorial team from the DFL.

As the exclusive broadcaster of the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 in Brazil, OneFootball is joining the DFL innovation showcase by bringing the live action to its TikTok channel in Brazil.

Nikolaus von Doetinchem, VP OTT & Media Rights at OneFootball: “Innovation is at the heart of OneFootball’s business strategy, and we always strive to improve the user experience. As user behaviour is evolving and the consumption of live football on mobile devices continuously increases, it was only a matter of time before dedicated 9:16 live broadcasts were tested and implemented. We are extremely pleased to be part of the DFL innovation showcase in partnership with TikTok in Brazil. We look forward to analysing the users’ feedback and data, which will be a first indicator of what the future holds for this technology in football.”

The 9:16 broadcast on OneFootball’s TikTok channel will be offered in addition to the regular 16:9 widescreen ratio broadcast on the OneFootball platform, which is live streamed for free in Brazil.

beIN Sports Partners With PTO For Live Collins Cup Coverage Across MENA, USA & CANADA

The Professional Triathletes Organisation (PTO) and beIN SPORTS have agreed a partnership that will see The Collins Cup screened live and on demand in the USA, Canada, and 24 countries across the Middle East and North Africa on beIN SPORTS.

The Collins Cup is the PTO’s inaugural flagship event taking place on 28th August in Šamorín, near Bratislava, Slovakia and is a new race format modelled after the Ryder Cup, which will see teams of International, European and USA athletes pitted against one another and put on display the excitement, rivalry, drama and personalities of the sport of triathlon.

As part of the multi-regional deal the entire Collins Cup broadcast of over 7 hours will be broadcast live on beIN SPORTS across the Middle East and North Africa, USA and Canada in addition to an hour-long highlights programme of the race action from The Collins Cup. beIN SPORTS will also air the PTO’s 2-part Beyond Human documentary produced by Noah Media Group, which follows the journeys of three of the biggest names in the sport – Lionel Sanders (Team Internationals), Sebastien Kienle (Team Europe) and Heather Jackson (Team US) in their quest to see who rules triathlon.

A beIN MEDIA GROUP spokesperson said: “The Collins Cup will be fantastic entertainment for triathlon fans, so we are thrilled to bring this unique competition to our subscribers in the United States, Canada, and across the Middle East and North Africa.”

Tim Godfrey, Chief Marketing Officer at PTO, said: “We are delighted to be able to work with beIN SPORTS  in Middle East, North Africa, USA and Canada to showcase The Collins Cup live as well as our behind the scenes documentary.”

Katie Sadleir Appointed New Commonwealth Games Federation Chief Executive Officer

The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) are delighted to announce that Katie Sadleir has been appointed as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

The New Zealander will take up the position from her current role at World Rugby, where she is the General Manager of Women’s Rugby. 

A Commonwealth Games medallist and an Olympian, Katie has a wealth of experience as both an athlete and sports administrator.

Born in Scotland and raised in Canada, Katie made New Zealand her home and represented her adopted country at the Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games in synchronised swimming, before competing at the Edinburgh 1986 Commonwealth Games two years later where she won the bronze medal in the women’s solo. She also served as the Assistant Chef de Mission New Zealand at the Victoria 1994 Commonwealth Games and has attended six editions of the multi-sport competition in various capacities. 

Katie led the establishment of the New Zealand Academy of Sport network in the late 1990s before becoming General Manager of Sport and Recreation New Zealand (now Sport New Zealand) from 2000-2006.

She has held directorships with both Sport New Zealand and High-Performance Sport New Zealand while she has been a director with the International Association of Elite Sport Training Centres, a board member of the New Zealand Swimming Federation and a member of the New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) Athletes’ Commission.

Katie has been General Manager of Women’s Rugby at World Rugby since 2016, where she has been responsible for spearheading the global development of the women’s game.

Amongst a number of key achievements at World Rugby, Katie successfully developed and implemented the transformational 2017-25 women’s strategic plan to promote, grow and commercialise the women’s game.

She will formally take up the CGF CEO position in November 2021.

CGF President Dame Louise Martin said: “Following an extensive global search, the CGF are excited to be welcoming Katie Sadleir as our new Chief Executive Officer.

As a former athlete and experienced administrator across multiple sports, Katie was the outstanding candidate for the position in what was a high-quality field. 

She will play a leading role in driving the future strategic direction of our organisation through Birmingham 2022 and beyond. 

We look forward to Katie joining us later in the year.”

New CGF CEO Katie Sadleir said: “I am delighted to be taking up the CGF Chief Executive Officer role at what is very exciting time for the Commonwealth Sport Movement.

With Birmingham 2022 fast approaching and the Games nearing its centenary in 2030, there is a fantastic opportunity to enhance our global sporting movement as one that is fully focused on community legacy, benefit and impact through sport. 

I look forward to working with my new colleagues at the CGF, CGF Partnerships and Commonwealth Sport Foundation.

I am also excited to closely collaborate with our Commonwealth Games Associations, International Federations, Games Organising Committees, Host City Partners and Commonwealth institutions to help achieve our collective goals.” 

World Rugby Chief Executive Alan Gilpin said: “World Rugby would like to wish Katie every success in her exciting appointment as Chief Executive of the Commonwealth Games Federation, a close partner of rugby. Katie leaves an impressive lasting legacy having successfully devised a transformational strategy to normalise, promote, grow and commercialise the women’s game. 

As we approach the halfway mark of the women’s strategic plan, a solid platform is in place for the sport to continue to press on and make impactful change that will continue to accelerate the development of women’s rugby and women in rugby globally, cementing its place as a leader in this priority area.

Katie, supported by all our unions and regions, has created an unstoppable movement and momentum that the rugby family will continue to harness and push forward to ensure the phenomenal advancement of women’s rugby and women in rugby continues to flourish.”

WTA Announces FanDuel As First Authorised Gaming Operator

The WTA and FanDuel today announced the designation of FanDuel as an Authorized Gaming Operator in North, South, and Central America. The new relationship brings America’s number one sportsbook and industry-leading daily fantasy sports products directly to WTA fans and marks the first time a women’s sport will have video highlights throughout FanDuel’s digital platforms and sportsbooks.

WTA will grant FanDuel access to its trademarks and FanDuel will also use WTA Tour’s official scoring data from Stats Perform, the Official Data Supplier of the WTA throughout FanDuel’s platforms. This integration will allow tennis fans in the Americas to join the growing engagement opportunities surrounding fantasy sports and further professionalize the legalized gaming category for tennis.

“The WTA is pleased to welcome FanDuel as its first Authorized Gaming Operator,” stated WTA President, Micky Lawler. “FanDuel is a premier destination for sports fans online and this relationship provides the building blocks for growing our fan base. This milestone not only delivers on the growing appetite fans have for a more personalized sporting experience, but also paves the way for us to have a proactive role in managing the responsible gambling standards and practices we wish to foster. Our top priority is providing our fans with more opportunities to engage with the sport in a fun and safe way.”

“We are incredibly proud of our commitment to supporting women in sports and are continuously looking for new ways to further raise awareness of female athletes, teams, and all women in sports,” said Amy Howe, President and Interim CEO, FanDuel Group. “Aligning with the WTA — the global leader in women’s professional sports – is consistent with our overall mission to elevate the profile for talented women in sports. We are delighted to partner with such a prestigious organization.”

Driven by the WTA’s sponsorship sales agency of record, CSM, the agreement with FanDuel represents the WTA’s latest innovation to strengthen the growth and exposure of women’s tennis. Following the announcement of Stats Perform’s data integration last November, FanDuel will showcase the next evolution of data-driven touchpoints and trusted betting products for WTA fans.

“Our platforms are now a destination for WTA content and highlights, which significantly enriches the sports betting experience, while continuing to expand our media and content capabilities,” continued Howe.

As part of the new strategic collaboration, FanDuel will work closely with the WTA on upholding best-in-class practices with a focus on integrity and promoting safe and responsible gaming. Demonstrating its commitment to promoting responsible gambling and the availability of prevention, treatment & recovery resources, the WTA has joined the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG). The WTA looks forward to working with NCPG on its Safer Sports Betting Initiative.

Tokyo 2020 Must Inspire Community Clubs To Drive Positive Social Change

After Team GB once again saw great success at the latest Olympic Games in Tokyo, Made By Sport’s CEO Sophie Mason looks at how the impact of the Games can be continued at the local level.

Waking up in the small hours to see how Team GB would fare at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, it struck me how great an impact sport has on society, exciting and enthralling the nation in equal measure.

Watching images of Tom Daley, Laura and Jason Kenny, Lauren Price, Max Whitlock and so many others win an incredible 65 Olympic medals provided another glimmer of inspiration and optimism in these otherwise difficult times.

“We’ve also seen Team GB’s Tokyo stars such as Katherine Grainger and Adam Peaty speak candidly about their mental health during this year’s Games.”

But we’ve also seen Team GB’s Tokyo stars such as Katherine Grainger and Adam Peaty speak candidly about their mental health during this year’s Games. 

For every elite athlete that makes it to the pinnacle of their sport, there are tens of thousands for whom sport provides triumph of a different kind.

An era of austerity coupled with the devastating social impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic has left a generation of young people feeling lost and uncertain, their mental health affected to the extent that more than three quarters have reported issues with sleep, panic attacks and urges to self-harm.

A 2021 Young Minds Survey showed 67% of young people believe that the pandemic will have a long-term negative effect on their mental health, whilst exercise was ranked as the second most helpful activity to help with their mental health in lockdown. 

That’s why I am especially proud of the amazing work Made By Sport’s #ClubsInCrisis campaign has done collaboration with Flutter Entertainment’s Cash4Clubs initiative.

“Since we launched in April of this year, we have donated £1.6m of the £4m fund to almost 800 community clubs.”

Since we launched in April of this year, we have donated £1.6m of the £4m fund to almost 800 community clubs, providing critical support to grassroots sports organisations from across the UK, with 2000 further applications in the pipeline.

Almost two thirds of those grants have been made to organisations helping young people with their mental health (21%) and supporting the development of life skills (45%) – providing a lifeline for those community clubs who have faced financial ruin and potential closure since the pandemic first struck.

While sport is so often rightly associated with fitness and addressing obesity, what we have found is that it’s the valuable life skills that are fundamental to the impact community clubs have on society.

Young people taking part in sport learn self-discipline, resilience, teamwork and routine – all of which give them the skills to contribute positively to society in the short and long term.

“Clubs are getting far stronger in articulating their social value and what they actually achieve for young people.”

Clubs are getting far stronger in articulating their social value and what they actually achieve for young people.

The #ClubsInCrisis fund itself is helping to teach them how best to articulate the importance of looking at sport differently: not just as activity but as a real way of delivering social benefit.

We still have substantial funds to offer community clubs in the form of unrestricted grants of £2021 to help young people to recover from the effects of the pandemic and other causes of mental health problems and wider social challenges.

Community clubs can apply for funding via – www.madebysport.com/clubsincrisis

British Cycling Appoints New Commercial Director With Focus On Growth And Sustainability

British Cycling is pleased to today announce that Darren Henry has been appointed as the organisation’s new Commercial Director. Darren joins from Premier League football club Southampton FC, with a clear focus to develop and enhance British Cycling’s long-term growth, sustainability and brand.

As British Cycling’s Commercial Director, he will be responsible for the development and execution of the British Cycling commercial strategy, securing commercial partnerships, promoting the development of membership and maximising opportunities from major cycling events.

Darren will take up his role on Tuesday 17 August having spent three years as Head of Partnerships at Southampton FC. During this time, he has been responsible for securing over £50 million of new commercial income including club record-breaking commercial partnerships.

Prior to joining Southampton FC as Head of Partnerships in 2018, Darren has worked in various commercial leadership roles at leading sporting organisations including Manchester United, IMG Golf, Harlequins FC, London Irish FC and award winning, data-driven sports marketing agency, Two Circles.

British Cycling Chief Executive, Brian Facer, said:

“As we build British Cycling into a commercially sustainable organisation it is essential that we develop a range of income streams, which in turn reflect all the different aspects of our organisation, such as the various cycling disciplines.

“Darren’s proven track record will be really important in helping us identify opportunities, make the most of them and then nurture lasting relationships which can benefit everyone involved. I’m looking forward to working closely with him as we take British Cycling into an exciting new era.”

Darren added: “I am really looking forward to be joining Brian and the team at British Cycling. It is a really exciting time for all aspects of the sport – from the team competing for medals out in Tokyo to the millions across the country getting on their bikes daily.

“From growing participation and keeping people active, to supporting a vibrant domestic sport, it’s clear that cycling has a vital role to play in our country over the years ahead – making British Cycling’s proposition a unique and compelling one for brands and prospective partners.

“Cycling has experienced incredible growth over recent years and the sport is positively impacting society, environment and sustainability, health and wellbeing, and the economy. This will provide new opportunities to accelerate the organisation’s commercial development – and I can’t wait to get started.”

Benfica Signs Two Betting Partners Betano And Premier Bet

Sport Lisboa e Benfica and Betano have just sealed a partnership for the next three years.

Betano is the first sponsor to appear on the sleeve of the official jersey of the club’s football team, an historic debut which is scheduled for next Saturday in the Portuguese League. The sleeve sponsor will also feature in Benfica’s matches in all European competitions. The sports betting brand joins the restricted nucleus of partners with visibility on the club’s jersey.

In addition to this exposure on the club shirt, the collaboration between the two entities also involves a set of features and activations in Benfica’s various channels, mainly digital.

For Benfica CEO Domingos Soares de Oliveira, “This is a partnership with great dimension for the club, with a brand that is well established in sports and entertainment. Betano stands out for its innovation, especially on digital platforms, something with which we identify ourselves. The presence of Betano on the sleeves of Benfica’s official shirts will give even more exposure and visibility to our new Official Betting Sponsor”.

George Daskalakis, CEO of Kaizen Gaming added: ” We are delighted to announce our partnership with Benfica. The Eagles of Lisbon are an incredible organization with a rich history and we are proud to become the club’s official partner in the gaming space. Through Betano, Benfica fans will be able to engage with their favorite team at a new level. We are excited to begin working with this great club and its people, together with whom we aim to undertake common social initiatives like we do with every team we partner with. This sponsorship clearly highlights our strong commitment to the Portuguese market, a commitment that we are determined to continue showing via our sustained support to Portuguese sports and society.

The club has also signed a deal with Premier Bet, who will become the club’s Official Betting Partner in Angola and Mozambique.

The commitment between these two leading brands presents an opportunity for Benfica to strengthen its presence in the PALOP (Portuguese-speaking African countries) region, where it has a long-standing and strong connection sustained by a large fan base, allowing supporters to get closer to the Club with the opportunity to win prizes, access content and enjoy unique experiences.

Furthermore, this partnership forms a central pillar in Premier Bet’s ambition to become the number one online operator across Africa in the coming years. The brand already operates in sixteen markets on the continent with millions of users on its online platforms, and the strategy is to expand to more countries.

Domingos Soares de Oliveira, CEO of SL Benfica, said of the agreement: “This is an important partnership due to the strong ties that Benfica has with Angola and Mozambique. The glorious history of this club has been built with many athletes from these countries who have contributed to countless titles. We have millions of supporters who passionately support us in all PALOP countries. This partnership is, therefore, a way for us to get closer to these supporters. It is also the first Regional Partner under the scope of our international growth strategy. We are sure that this relationship will be long-lasting.”

CEO of GOAT Interactive, Christopher Coyne says: “Benfica are a legendary footballing name around the world, particularly in Portuguese speaking countries. Their success, both at a domestic and international level, over a long period of time, is phenomenal whilst their conveyor belt of talent from their academy marks them as the best in Europe for producing world stars. As Premier Bet looks to strengthen its position in Angola and Mozambique, we intend for this unique partnership with Benfica to help create brand fame and cut-through, as well as providing their millions of Africa-based fans with new and exciting ways to experience Premier Bet. We’re excited to bring this partnership to all Benfiquistas in Angola and Mozambique!”