Panasonic And IOC Extend Young Leaders Programme Partnership Through To 2024

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced that Worldwide Olympic Partner Panasonic has extended its support for the IOC Young Leaders Programme through to 2024. As part of the extension and as the programme’s founding partner, Panasonic will further support the IOC Young Leaders through different initiatives. The company will for example provide its creative and technological expertise, along with its network of influencers and ambassadors, to inspire the Young Leaders and equip them with the skills and tools they need to enhance their projects.

Panasonic’s collaboration with the IOC on the Young Leaders Programme underlines both organisations’ commitment to youth engagement and empowerment. It also demonstrates the IOC’s renewed approach to working more closely with the Worldwide Olympic Partners on purpose-led initiatives that use sport as a tool for social change.

“We are delighted that Panasonic is continuing its commitment to the IOC Young Leaders Programme and investing in the young generation,” said Timo Lumme, Managing Director of IOC Television and Marketing Services. “Thanks to Panasonic’s incredible support, we have been able to continually expand and develop this initiative, allowing us to engage and empower the next generation of sports leaders, who inspire us all with their commitment to creating positive change in their communities through the power of sport.”

“As a Worldwide Partner of the Olympic Games since 1987, and of the Paralympic Games since 2014, we at Panasonic truly believe in sharing the passion and spirit of the Olympic Movement, which aims to achieve world peace through sport,” said Yoshiro Morii, Executive Officer and Director of the Groupwide Brand Strategy Division at Panasonic Corporation. “The IOC Young Leaders Programme represents exactly such a goal of inspiring passion for positive change among youth to create a more ideal society and empower younger generations. It was therefore a natural choice for us to extend our partnership with the IOC on such a wonderful programme and continue to share the passion and inspiration of various young talents around the globe to help build a better world – the same way Panasonic aims to solve social issues through various technological innovations.”

The IOC Young Leaders Programme

Launched in 2016, the IOC Young Leaders Programme empowers young people to leverage the power of sport to make a positive difference in their communities. So far, with the support of seed-funding from the IOC and a network of mentors, these inspiring young people have delivered over 116 sport-led projects in communities across the globe, promoting themes such as education, social inclusion, sustainability and well-being, and directly benefitting more than 30,000 people.

Previously known as the IOC Young Change-Makers Programme, the initiative was renamed in 2019 to reflect the increasingly important role these young people are playing at the heart of the Olympic Movement, with the Young Leaders also attending international events and conferences to spread the message that sport can be used for good across society. In addition, 18 IOC Young Leaders serve as IOC commission members, reinforcing the position of young people in decision-making on the future of sport.

In February, the latest 25 Young Leaders were selected for the new edition of the programme, which has been revamped to ensure that each participant is given the tools, resources and opportunities they need to truly reach their potential as a social entrepreneur.

The new edition will operate as an enhanced, four-year programme, with each participant receiving a total of CHF 10,000 in seed-funding over the four years, supported by weekly learning modules and leadership opportunities.

Worldwide Olympic Partner Panasonic’s continued support

As a founding partner, Panasonic has supported the IOC Young Leaders Programme since 2017 and continues to do so by providing both additional funding to be used as grants and audiovisual equipment, and by producing impactful storytelling that promotes the programme and the Young Leaders themselves. In expanding the scope of the partnership, Panasonic also offers Young Leaders experience-based opportunities such as internships and virtual tours of Panasonic Centre, and skill-learning opportunities to enhance their storytelling capabilities.

“We Are Fully Determined To Make Gymnastics As Accessible A Sport As Possible.”

Gemma Barton, Head of Participation at British Gymnastics, explains how the organisation’s recently launched participation programme ‘Rise Gymnastics’ can follow up the success of the Olympic Games and give new life to the sport in the UK.

I’m absolutely delighted to announce our brand new participation programme, Rise Gymnastics. It’s been a long time in the making (not helped by the pandemic!) and as the world looks to Tokyo, it feels like the perfect time to inspire the next generation of gymnasts.

With Rise Gymnastics, we wanted to provide our member clubs and delivery partners with the most inclusive, most interactive, and most fun programme we’ve ever had. The best way to do that? To work with our community directly to create something that everyone can connect with and make their own.

“The new programme is hugely innovative and will transform the way recreational gymnastics is delivered across the UK.”

As Head of Participation at British Gymnastics, I am extremely excited about what Rise Gymnastics will mean for the future of our sport – the new programme is hugely innovative and will transform the way recreational gymnastics is delivered across the UK. 

A community-centric approach is so powerful in sport; when you’re working with people who are passionate about what sport and activity can do, especially for young people, it makes every sense to put this community at the forefront of your development stage. 

We wanted to design a participation programme in Rise Gymnastics that was entirely collaborative, so we worked closely with clubs and delivery partners and in conjunction with the four home nations. The end result – a programme that prioritises the fun of the sport, providing an explorative environment where young gymnasts can express themselves to the full, facilitated by an accessible and frictionless digital platform.

One of the most exciting aspects to this new programme is the digital element, Rise Hub. This means coaches and teachers can plan and track their gymnasts’ progress in a more accessible way. We also wanted to ensure that parents and carers were taken on that journey too – and thanks to Rise Hub, we now have the capability to provide accessible, personalised updates on their child’s achievements and development. 

“As young people have been watching the likes of Max Whitlock MBE and Jennifer and Jessica Gadirova taking centre stage in Tokyo, we hope they will have been inspired to jump, forward roll or cartwheel into gymnastics.”

So as young people have been watching the likes of Max Whitlock MBE and Jennifer and Jessica Gadirova taking centre stage in Tokyo, we hope they will have been inspired to jump, forward roll or cartwheel into gymnastics. Our fantastic GB gymnasts will undoubtably inspire many, so let’s champion creativity, to be yourself and give young people the tools to experiment and explore gymnastics in whatever way they want. 

Using the feedback and input of the community, we have created something that will give gymnasts the opportunity to experience a progressive and positive holistic journey in the sport. We are proud of what we have achieved together and cannot wait for gymnasts, clubs and delivery partners to experience Rise Gymnastics for the first time. 

Not only did we work with clubs and coaches throughout, but the programme itself carries this collaborative ethos forward – every child can shape their own experience with their coach and engage with Rise Gymnastics in a completely unique way.  

Every gymnast goes on their own journey when participating in the sport, and we wanted to reflect this by ensuring the programme was highly individualised, where each gymnast is able to learn and develop in their own way, with enjoyment at the heart of their experience. 

Recreational participation is especially important as gymnastics is a foundation sport, providing a fantastic base for discovery and development in young people. It builds skills for life, supporting cognitive development, resilience, strength, co-ordination, teamwork and leadership. 

Our sport will be an essential part of developing a more active society over the next decade, and Rise Gymnastics will enable gymnasts to experience an immersive, creative and exciting programme, achieving amazing results at their own pace whilst building these key foundation skills. 

“We are fully determined to make gymnastics as accessible a sport as possible.”

We are fully determined to make gymnastics as accessible a sport as possible. With this goal in mind, we wanted Rise Gymnastics to be extremely adaptable, with gymnasts and coaches free to be as creative as they like with how they implement it. 

Whether clubs and partners follow the program to the full, or add elements to their own existing session plans, we can’t wait to see the injection of creativity that will bring Rise Gymnastics to life. 

The programme is available to all British Gymnastics member clubs and partners and is fully adaptable to different delivery environments, meaning there is no need for deliverers to invest in new equipment. As well as being used in any setting the programme can be easily tailored for all abilities too.

Above all, we are so excited about this innovative new approach and cannot wait to see it enjoyed widely by young gymnasts across the UK. It is our ambition that Rise Gymnastics will give every gymnast the opportunity to shine.

The programme will be available to British Gymnastics member clubs and partners from September 2021. To find out more, visit www.british-gymnastics.org/rise-runway.

Gemma Barton, Head of Participation, British Gymnastics

Burnley FC Announces Partnership With Pulseroll

Burnley Football Club is pleased to announce it has partnered with leading British muscle massage therapy brand Pulseroll as its Official Muscle Recovery Technology partner. 

The Manchester-based company will see its cutting-edge percussion-based recovery technology be made available to club physios across the men’s first team, Burnley FC Women, under-23s and under-18s next season. 

Pulseroll – which recently announced two-time Heavyweight Champion Anthony Joshua as joining its Board of Directors – will provide its vibration massage devices to the club from next season.

Fans will have access to a 10% discount, which will be made available to supporters who are part of the club’s free-to-join Clarets+ membership scheme with products available via the club’s retail system. 

Head of Commercial Partnerships Ella Cummins said: “As Burnley FC continues to push innovation we’re thrilled to be partnering with a brand which is truly at the forefront of recovery technology and we wish Pulseroll a warm welcome to the Clarets family. We’re delighted that the men’s, women’s, and academy teams will all have access to Pulseroll’s cutting-edge products to aid their recovery during the season ahead.”

The partnership will see Pulseroll provide the Premier League club with their range of vibrating foam rollers and balls, as well as their award-winning massage gun range. Players and training staff will be able to enjoy the benefits of Pulseroll’s vibration therapy technology which is proven to help increase range of motion by up to 14% and relieve muscular pain by increasing blood flow to the muscles by 22%.  

Burnley FC join a growing list of elite sports teams working with Pulseroll including British Rowing, British Gymnastics, Middlesex Cricket Club, as well as Norwich City and Sheffield United. 

Pulseroll Founder Paul McCabe said: “We are incredibly proud to partner with Burnley FC and supply them with our recovery products. The club has been on a fantastic journey to become an established Premier League club, which matches the plans and aspirations we have here at Pulseroll to become the leading provider of vibration therapy devices. We will work with the players and staff at Burnley to help them maximise the products and we look forward to seeing the benefits they will have on the team in the coming season.”

Everton Launch $EFC Fan Token With Socios.com

Everton Football Club,in partnership with Chiliz, the leading global blockchain providers for the sports and entertainment industry, has announced it is to launch an $EFC Fan Token on the Socios.com app.

Fan Tokens are collectible digital assets that will create new experiences for Everton supporters across the world and allow them to become part of a vibrant digital community on Socios.com.

Engagement opportunities for $EFC Fan Token holders will include the chance to have a say on Club initiatives by taking part in interactive polls that will run throughout the season.

Fans will also gain access to Everton content and experience Socios.com’s geo-location, augmented reality feature ‘Token Hunt’, as well as being able to put their skills to the test against other fans from around the world in Everton-themed games, competitions and quizzes. Taking part will allow Blues to compete in global leaderboards and earn real-life and digital Everton awards, benefits and experiences along the way.

The $EFC Fan Token will launch soon, and all existing Everton Season Ticket, Hospitality and Official Members will have the option to receive a free $EFC Fan Token for a limited time. More information on how to acquire a $EFC Fan Token and the exciting opportunities and benefits that will be available to supporters will be announced in the coming weeks.

A direct-to-consumer (D2C) platform, Socios.com leverages blockchain technology to provide the world’s leading sporting organisations with the tools to engage with their global fanbases.

More than 45 major sporting organisations have partnered with Socios.com to launch Fan Tokens, including FC Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus, AC Milan, Atlético Madrid, Manchester City, Inter Milan, Arsenal and the Argentina and Portugal national football teams, as well as a number of leading teams from F1, NBA, esports and cricket.

Created by Chiliz, the leading blockchain provider for the global sports and entertainment industry, Socios.com has major expansion plans for 2021 and is targeting many more Fan Token launches throughout the world.

The company has multiple office locations across the globe and has already opened new regional headquarters in Madrid, Istanbul, São Paulo and Buenos Aires, with a new office in North America imminent.

Alan McTavish, Commercial Director at Everton, said: “We are delighted to welcome Socios.com to the Everton Family in an innovative partnership that will help bring our global fanbase even closer to the club they love.

“With Socios.com, we will launch $EFC Fan Tokens that will provide supporters around the world with an opportunity to engage with the Club in a new and exciting way, including taking part in polls on Club initiatives. Socios.com are the recognised leaders in blockchain across the sports industry, and the introduction of $EFC Fan Tokens is an exciting opportunity that once again demonstrates the Club’s commitment to engaging with our global fanbase.”

Alexandre Dreyfus, CEO of Chiliz and Socios.com, added: “Everton is a club with great tradition and a passionate, loyal fanbase. It’s also a major name in the most followed football league in the world, with global appeal and a rapidly growing fanbase of followers from all over the planet.

“The Club is embracing Socios.com and Fan Tokens because it recognises the importance and massive potential of fan engagement on a global scale.

“$EFC Fan Tokens will allow Evertonians to become part of a global community of fans brought together by their passion for the Club, where they can enjoy influence, exclusive content, games, competitions and access to once-in-a-lifetime experiences and rewards.

“I’m delighted to welcome Everton on board as our third Premier League partner and can’t wait to bring our shared ideas to life. I also look forward to sharing more news about our exciting plans in the EPL soon.”

Sky Italia & International Swimming League Announce Broadcast Partnership For ISL Season 3

The International Swimming League (ISL) and Sky Italia are happy to announce a new partnership for the broadcast rights for the entire Season 3 of ISL in the Italian market.

Sky Italia becomes the ISL’s official Media Partner in Italy for all three phases of the innovative swimming competition during Season 3: the Regular Season in Naples, Italy, from 26 August to 30 September, the Playoffs from 11 to 28 November and the Finals in early January 2022. Sky Sport will show widespread coverage of all the matches featuring the world’s best swimmers competing in an exclusive and engaging “Champions League’’-style team format.

Federica Pellegrini has already confirmed her participation in Season 3, announcing that she plans to continue swimming after the Tokyo Games solely in the ISL.

Other stars set to compete in ISL Season 3 include Caeleb Dressel, fresh from winning five Olympic gold medals in Tokyo, Japan’s Yui Ohashi, Olympic champion in the 200m and 400m medley, 16-year-old 50m breastroke world record holder Benedetta Pilato, who is in search of redempton after the Olympics, and Australian Emma McKeon, winner of four gold medals in Tokyo.

Among the most awaited competitions include the best American and Italian sprinters going head-to-head in the 4x100m freestyle relay – in Tokyo the battle won by USA ahead of Italy. In the 100m backstroke Russians Evgeny Rylov and Kliment Kolesnikov (first and second in Tokyo) will compete against Italy’s Thomas Ceccon, fourth in Tokyo.

90 Tokyo medallists will be in Naples, divided into 10 teams, competing to win a place for their Clubs in the ISL 2021 Playoffs.

Konstantin Grigorishin, founder of ISL said: “Sky Italia is synonymous with excellence in sports broadcasting and we are really pleased to have concluded this partnership. We look forward to working closely together to tell the story of our great champions and grow ISL’s fan base. We are sure that Sky will play a fundamental role in promoting the International Swimming League to a new audience, amplifying the emotion and atmosphere that will be experienced in the pool.’’

(image credit: International Swimming League)

PGA TOUR And European Tour Reveal Details Of Historic Strategic Alliance

The PGA TOUR and European Tour today unveiled new details around their Strategic Alliance, with the PGA TOUR also releasing its 2021-22 PGA TOUR Season schedule.

The landmark agreement, announced in November 2020, further enhances and connects the ecosystem of men’s professional golf through a number of areas, including global scheduling, prize funds and playing opportunities for the respective memberships.

In terms of scheduling, the most significant piece of collaboration is the fact that three tournaments will be co-sanctioned in 2022 and therefore count on both the PGA TOUR’s FedExCup and the European Tour’s Race to Dubai next season: the Barbasol Championship; the Barracuda Championship; and the Genesis Scottish Open.

The latter event also has a new title sponsor in Genesis, the luxury automotive brand from South Korea, who will now title sponsor two tournaments on the PGA TOUR, with the Genesis Scottish Open joining The Genesis Invitational, which Genesis has titled since 2017; The Genesis Invitational will once again be played at The Riviera Country Club next year (February 14-20).

The Genesis Scottish Open (July 4-10), which is part of the European Tour’s Rolex Series, retains its place in golf’s global calendar the week ahead of The Open Championship (July 11-17), a date confirmed through to 2025. The player field will be a split between members of both Tours.

The tournament will also benefit from the continued commitment of the Scottish Government, managed by Visit Scotland – the agreement also running through 2025.

“We are delighted to welcome Genesis as a title sponsor of a European Tour event for the first time,” said European Tour Chief Executive Keith Pelley. “Genesis has a strong history of sponsorship on the PGA TOUR through The Genesis Invitational, and their commitment to the Scottish Open will further enhance one of our premier events of the season.

Although it will be on the PGA TOUR’s official schedule for the first time, the Genesis Scottish Open has a rich history on the European Tour, appearing in the Tour’s first two official seasons (1972 and 1973) and as part of the Tour’s International Schedule since 1986. It has also been part of the Rolex Series – the European Tour’s premium series of events – since the Series’ inception in 2017.

“Adding an existing, strong title sponsor in Genesis to our Strategic Alliance in the form of the Genesis Scottish Open – to be sanctioned by both Tours – is a significant step for the global game,” said PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan. “Coupled with their support of The Genesis Invitational at Riviera, we’re incredibly proud to forge a deeper relationship with this premier brand across the global game.”

Genesis will take over the title sponsorship of the event from abrdn, who are exploring ways for the decade-long partnership with the European Tour to continue moving forward. The venue for the 2022 Genesis Scottish Open will be confirmed at a later date.

“We are extremely excited to become title sponsor of the Scottish Open at this historic moment, as the PGA TOUR and European Tour announce details on their Strategic Alliance,” said Jay Chang, Global head of Genesis. “Genesis and golf share a culture centered on respect, mutual admiration and innovation. We will continue to strengthen our partnership with both Tours to deliver this spirit to golfers, communities and individuals around the world through successful tournaments.”

Paul Bush, Director of Events at VisitScotland, said, “We are thrilled the European Tour and PGA TOUR have identified the Genesis Scottish Open to further develop their Strategic Alliance, and there is no more fitting stage than Scotland, the Home of Golf, on which to embark on such a historic journey.”

In addition to the Genesis Scottish Open being co-sanctioned, there will also be access for 50 European Tour members to each of two PGA TOUR events in 2022 for the first time – the Barbasol Championship, which will be played concurrently with the Genesis Scottish Open, and the Barracuda Championship, which will be played alongside the following week’s 150th Open Championship at St. Andrews. Both events will be added to the Race to Dubai for European Tour members.

It was also confirmed today that as part of the Strategic Alliance and collaboration between the two Tours, the Irish Open will see a significant increase in prize money for its annual European Tour event – to $6 million, starting in 2022 – nearly double the amount on offer at Mount Juliet last month. In addition, the PGA TOUR will continue to work with the European Tour on commercial opportunities across the Tour.

“When we announced the Strategic Alliance at the end of last year, we said it was a landmark moment for global golf’s ecosystem that would benefit all members of both Tours,” said Pelley. “Today’s announcement underlines that promise, with further enhancements to the Genesis Scottish Open, a strengthening of the Irish Open for our members, and direct access for European Tour members to two PGA TOUR events.

“There has been considerable collaboration behind the scenes between our two Tours since November’s Alliance was unveiled, and we are delighted to share these initial developments, which demonstrate our commitment to working together for the betterment of our sport globally.  We will have more to announce in the coming months – this is most definitely just the beginning.”

“With today’s news, I am pleased to say that the PGA TOUR and the European Tour are both stronger than at any time in our history, as we are positioned to grow – together – over the next 10 years faster than we have at any point in our existence,” said Monahan. “We are committed to continuing to evolve and adapt, and with our ever-strengthening partnership with the European Tour, to take the global game to the heights we all know it is capable of.”

PGA TOUR Schedule Highlights

The 2021-22 PGA TOUR Schedule includes several significant enhancements and features a total of 48 official events – 45 during the FedExCup Regular Season along with three 2022 FedExCup Playoffs events. 

The 2022 portion of the schedule will kick off the PGA TOUR’s new, nine-year domestic media rights agreements with ViacomCBS, Comcast/NBC and ESPN. As part of the agreement, all three 2022 FedExCup Playoffs events will be broadcast domestically on NBC network television, beginning a rotation that continues with CBS hosting all three events in 2023.

Headline news includes the change in location and venue for the kickoff of the FedExCup Playoffs to TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee, starting in 2022, replacing the Regular Season event that has been held in Memphis since 1958. FedEx will serve as the title sponsor of the event, to be known as the FedEx St. Jude Championship (August 8-14), replacing existing title sponsor Northern Trust after this year’s playing of THE NORTHERN TRUST at Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City, New Jersey.

“FedEx is excited that the first event of the 2022 FedExCup Playoffs will be hosted in our hometown of Memphis, Tennessee,” said Raj Subramaniam, President and Chief Operating Officer of FedEx Corporation. “We are proud of our history and the community impact we’ve had since becoming title sponsor of our hometown TOUR stop in 1986. We look forward to the impact it will bring to our local community and will continue to use it as a platform to showcase the groundbreaking work being done by St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to golf fans around the world.”

“Since the inception of the FedExCup in 2007, we have made a number of changes to enhance the quality of the FedExCup Playoffs for our players, fans and partners,” said Monahan. “Thanks to the continued support from FedEx as the TOUR’s umbrella partner, we’re proud to bring the start of the FedExCup to Memphis and a course loved by our players. Not only will it be a great test worthy of Playoff golf, but we also anticipate tremendous enthusiasm from a community that has steadfastly supported the PGA TOUR for more than 60 years. And, of course, the important work of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital will continue to be front and center.

“In totality, the 2021-22 PGA TOUR Schedule, combined with the momentum we have with our now-entrenched partnership with the European Tour, puts the PGA TOUR in a position of strength within professional golf like never before. We’re confident this schedule will give the world’s best players the opportunity to do what they do best – inspire and entertain our fans around the globe while helping our tournaments make a significant impact in their respective communities.”

The 2022 FedExCup Playoffs will continue to include the BMW Championship (August 15-21), which rotates next year to Wilmington Country Club in Wilmington, Delaware, and the FedExCup Playoffs finale, the TOUR Championship (August 22-28), once again slated for East Lake Golf Club.

The PGA TOUR’s flagship event, THE PLAYERS Championship (March 7-13), will anchor a true Florida Swing in 2022, which features four consecutive events through The Sunshine State in the spring, including the Valspar Championship, which was played in April/May this past year. THE PLAYERS will be in year three of its March date and as a kickoff to the Season of Championships, with Justin Thomas returning as defending champion.

The Memorial Tournament presented by Workday (May 30-June 5) enters the first year of a 10-year agreement in 2022 with new presenting sponsor, Workday. Founded in 1976 by golf legend Jack Nicklaus and held annually at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio, the tournament partners for the first time with three-time NBA champion and two-time MVP Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors, and Ayesha Curry, an entrepreneur, host and New York Times bestselling author.

After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the RBC Canadian Open (June 6-12) in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, returns to the schedule in 2022 at St. George’s Golf and Country Club. Rory McIlroy won the last RBC Canadian Open, played in 2019.

Other notable items and changes to the 2021-22 PGA TOUR Schedule include (in chronological order):

2021

  • As previously announced, the Fortinet Championship (September 13-19), with new title sponsor Fortinet, kicks off the 2021-22 FedExCup Regular Season at Silverado Resort and Spa in Napa, California.
  • The Ryder Cup will be played the week following the Fortinet Championship, with nine official events played during the balance of 2021 for a total of 10 events to be played in the fall.
  • The reconfigured Asia Swing will begin with THE CJ CUP @ SUMMIT (October 11-17), which moves to the United States for the second year in a row and will be staged at The Summit Club in Las Vegas, Nevada, delivering back-to-back weeks of PGA TOUR golf in Las Vegas, as the Shriners Children’s Open will be contested October 4-10.
  • Following THE CJ CUP @ SUMMIT will be the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP and World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions, with additional details to be available in the near future.
  • As previously announced, World Wide Technology embarks on its first year of title sponsorship of the TOUR’s original event in Mexico, the World Wide Technology Championship at Mayakoba (November 1-7).

2022

  • The Sentry Tournament of Champions – a PGA TOUR winners-only event – leads off the 2022 calendar year (January 3-9).
  • The AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am (January 31-February 6) and the Waste Management Phoenix Open (February 7-13) trade spots in the schedule, as the TOUR’s event at TPC Scottsdale remains in its traditional date of Super Bowl week.  
  • The Puerto Rico Open (February 28-March 6) will be played as an additional event alongside the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard.
  • The Corales Puntacana Championship (March 21-27), in its first year under an extended term, will be played as an additional event alongside the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play.
  • The Mexico Championship (April 25-May 1) returns to the calendar as a PGA TOUR co-sponsored event, no longer under the World Golf Championships umbrella. With the field of 132 players, there is an anticipation of additional Mexican golfers in the field to help in inspire and grow the game in one of golf’s key emerging markets.
  • With the biennial Presidents Cup being held at the Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte in 2022, the Wells Fargo Championship (May 2-8) will be contested for one year at TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm in Potomac, Maryland.
  • The John Deere Classic (June 27-July 3), traditionally played the week prior to The Open Championship, moves one week earlier.
  • Following The Open Championship, the 3M Open (July 18-24), Rocket Mortgage Classic (July 25-31) and Wyndham Championship (August 1-7) close out the FedExCup Regular Season.

The European Tour will announce the initial portion of its 2022 schedule later this month, with the full season announcement to follow in due course.

IRONMAN To Return To The Netherlands

After a three-year hiatus, the Netherlands welcomes back a full-distance IRONMAN® triathlon event with the re-introduction of IRONMAN Maastricht-Limburg. The event will make its return on Sunday, August 7, 2022, marking its fifth edition of racing after the inaugural event in 2015. IRONMAN Maastricht-Limburg will feature an all-new course promising an exciting addition to the IRONMAN triathlon racing calendar in Europe.

The community in the southeastern part of the Netherlands have successfully hosted the Maastricht Multisport Festival since 2019 – consisting of IRONMAN® 70.3® Maastricht-Limburg, a 5150™ Triathlon Series Event, a 4:18:4 Short Course Triathlon and an IRONKIDS® race. The addition of IRONMAN Maastricht-Limburg to the weekend of triathlon festivities firmly positions the weekend as the country’s pinnacle triathlon event.

“We are delighted to be further growing the IRONMAN brand in the Netherlands with the announcement of IRONMAN Maastricht-Limburg,” said Stefan Petschnig, Managing Director of Europe, Middle East and Africa for The IRONMAN Group. “After announcing a return to the country last year with IRONMAN 70.3 Maastricht-Limburg and IRONMAN 70.3 Westfriesland, which was well received by both the community and our athletes, we believe adding a full-distance IRONMAN event to be the marquee of the Maastricht Multisport Festival further bolsters a great weekend of racing.”

Athletes joining IRONMAN Maastricht-Limburg will start their race at “St. Servaasbrug”, The Netherlands’ oldest street bridge, as they set out on a 3.8 km (2.4-mile) spectator-friendly swim course in the Maas River. Athletes then transition onto the newly designed 180 km (112-mile) bike course that leads along various beautiful hotspots in the South of Limburg. With a few small climbs and some straight roads, this bike course offers the best of both worlds. The final 42.2 km (26-mile) run course provides athletes with an unforgettable experience as they run through the historic city center and pass famous Maastricht city sites like “Onze Lieve Vrouweplein” and the cobblestones streets of “het Vrijthof”. Finally, athletes will be greeted by a red-carpet finish line moment as they cross the line in the city’s historic square, “de Markt”.

Rob Frambach of Extra Leisure B.V. and Race Director of IRONMAN Maastricht-Limburg added, “We are truly delighted by the return of the full-distance triathlon in the city where it all started for The Netherlands. Since 2019, we have been building on the concept ‘Sporting your entire life’ by offering the Multisport Festivals and of course the IRONKIDS races, with many of our athletes stepping up to do IRONMAN 70.3 events. We are incredibly grateful to the athletes, municipality of Maastricht and the Province of Limburg for the trust over the last few years.”

Tennis Australia Launch Venture Capital Fund Wildcard Ventures

Tennis Australia launches its own venture capital fund to help advance SportsTech startups from the very beginning of their journey.

Tennis Australia is set to follow the lead of America’s top sporting organisations NFL, NBA and MLB by launching its own venture capital fund to help advance SportsTech startups from the very beginning of their journey.

Wildcard Ventures invests in early stage companies that focus on technologies that will benefit the sports, health and entertainment industry. In a world-first, the opportunity is open to investors to join a syndicate alongside some of the biggest names in tennis.

“We’ve been on a journey of innovation for a number of years now as we work to increase our connection with fans across the world by looking at new ways they can play, compete in and consume our sport,” Tennis Australia CEO & Australian Open Tournament Director Craig Tiley said.

“Wildcard Ventures gives us the opportunity to identify new sports, health and entertainment technologies at the earliest stages, so we can lend our vast experience and global events platform to test and mould these start-ups into companies that will benefit all sports in the long run.

“By setting the fund up as a syndicate opportunity, it allows us to team up with like-minded investors who are also looking to advance the world of SportsTech so we can have a broader impact.”

The core Investment team comprises Techstars Managing Director Todd Deacon, Tennis Australia Head of Innovation Dr Machar Reid and Finance Business Partner Lauren Coridas. The team will be responsible for identifying early stage technology companies from around the world with ambition and the will to succeed in sports and entertainment.

The Wildcard Ventures Advisory Committee includes partners from some of the biggest venture capital firms such as Techstars, Greycroft Partners, Foundry Group, Blackbird, TDM Growth Partners and Rampersand to advise on the viability of the opportunities identified.

“Last year’s inaugural Techstars SportsTech Melbourne Accelerator demonstrated Tennis Australia’s experience in identifying and adopting cutting-edge SportsTech and I jumped at the opportunity to join the Advisory Committee of Wildcard Ventures,” Techstars Co-Founder & Chairman David Cohen said.

“My focus has always been on identifying early stage companies in the consumer internet and mobile communications markets and I’m really looking forward to working with Tennis Australia on Wildcard Ventures to bring an entertainment lens to SportsTech,” Greycroft Partners Founding Partner Dana Settle said.

About Tennis Australia & SportsTech

  • Tennis Australia took over the Host Broadcast of the Australian Open and lead-in events in 2015 and has since built its coverage hours and revenue substantially
  • The Australian Open was the first event to introduce coverage of every match court and now provides coverage of 21 courts, including five practice courts, guaranteeing that every point played during the tournament is captured
  • The Grand Slam also developed the use of NetCam in 2018, EyeCam embedded in the umpire’s chair in 2017 and GCam which is used to deliver Augmented Reality graphics from 2018
  • 360° immersive technology at AO 2021 gave fans a choice of more than 12 camera angles inside Rod Laver Arena via the Occulus headset
  • More than 150 cameras across the Melbourne Park precinct provide content for a dedicated behind-the-scenes feed, which gives greater insight into how players prepare for the Grand Slam
  • The development and integration of the player walk-on experience has brought the tournament’s history of champions into the digital age and enhanced the coverage globally
  • Launched and designed the ATP Cup with broadcast content in mind, providing unique insight into the players through team benches, data access and the strategy room
  • Launched the Laver Cup in 2017, retaining a 20 per cent stake in the event
  • Partnered with Techstars, Victoria University and LaunchVic to run the Techstars SportsTech Melbourne Accelerator last year. The second edition is due to commence in 2022
  • Developed the leading tennis console game AO Tennis 1 & 2 with Big Ant Studios, along with the free mobile edition which has had more than two million downloads
  • Partnered with Epic Games to produce the AO Summer Smash Fortnite esports tournament held during the AO
  • Held a hackathon with CrowdANALYTIX to find a way to automate the call of forced and unforced errors in professional tennis using machine learning
  • Introduced the Game Insights Group in partnership with Victoria University to provide a new set of statistical data to give fans a better understanding of the stories behind the points
  • Developed the Tennis Lab, which uses state-of-the-art tracking technology to analyse hundreds of players and test 80 per cent of the racquets on the market across the top five brands to build a world-first algorithm that recommends the best three racquets online
  • Partnered with start-up SwingVision to bring game-changing technology to coaches and players through real-time artificial intelligence video analysis from just a single smartphone or tablet.

About Wildcard Ventures

INVESTMENT TEAM

Todd Deacon, General Partner

Machar Reid, General Partner

Lauren Coridas, Operations Manager

ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Brad Feld, Co-Founder & Partner at Foundry Group

Dana Settle, Founding Partner at Greycroft Partners

David Cohen, Co-Founder & Chairman at Techstars

Hannah Brown, Ex Head of Investments at Sky (UK)

Nick Crocker, Partner at Blackbird Ventures

Ed Cowan, Investor at TDM Growth Partners

Paul Naphtali, Founding partner at Rampersand

Head to wildcardventures.vc for more information

Rajasthan Royals Owners Announce Acquisition Of CPL Franchise Barbados Tridents

Royals Sports Group (EM Holdings Ltd), the owners of the Rajasthan Royals IPL franchise, have acquired a majority stake in the Barbados Tridents, CPL franchise. The two-time CPL champions will be rebranded as the Barbados Royals, a partner franchise of the Rajasthan Royals, as the Royals sports group seeks to expand its global presence.

Royal Sports Group Chairperson, and lead owner of the Rajasthan Royals, Manoj Badale, commented: “We are delighted to have signed this deal with Manish Patel, to acquire a majority stake in the Barbados CPL franchise. We are extremely grateful to the Barbados government for their continued support, and we look forward to making a positive impact on both cricket and tourism for the country. We have ambitious plans for the Royals brand globally, and this is an important strategic step.”

Rajasthan Royals Director of Cricket, Kumar Sangakkara, whose role now includes the Barbados Royals, added, “Barbados Royals will be an important part of the Royals’ cricket ecosystem. With a fantastic talent pool of local players, we have the opportunity to innovate and develop strategies that will benefit the Royals Group. We are also excited at the prospect of how we can promote growth in the game of cricket.”

Manish Patel, principal of the Barbados Tridents franchise added, “We are extremely excited about the partnership with Manoj and Rajasthan Royals family, which will further advance cricket in Barbados and the region.”

Earlier in June, Rajasthan Royals had announced a groundbreaking collaboration with RedBird Capital Partners, the leading sports-focused investor in the United States. The acquisition of Barbados Tridents is a testament of the continued vision of the team to expand the Royals brand globally.

The Barbados Royals, led by the experienced Jason Holder, are scheduled to start the forthcoming Caribbean Premier League campaign on 26th August 2021.

UEFA Champions League And PlayStation® Renew Partnership Until 2024

UEFA has today announced the renewal of its UEFA Champions League partnership with PlayStation® for the 2021–24 cycle, continuing its long-running relationship which began in 1997. The agreement also includes sponsorship rights for the UEFA Super Cup, UEFA Youth League and UEFA Futsal Champions League in 2021, 2022 and 2023.

Guy-Laurent Epstein, UEFA marketing director said: “PlayStation has been a valued partner of the UEFA Champions League for more than 23 years, so I am delighted that we are able to celebrate a three-year extension to our relationship.

“UEFA’s long-term partnerships with innovative brands like PlayStation are invaluable to UEFA in promoting our competitions globally, and in particular in the digital space, so we look forward to continuing our relationship as we enter a new UEFA Champions League cycle.”

As part of the extended agreement, PlayStation will present the Official Player of the Match award at each UEFA Champions League encounter and the Player of the Week across UEFA’s digital channels. Furthermore, PlayStation will continue to support the UEFA Champions League Gaming Hub with the enhanced UCL Fantasy and Predictor games, which are available across both mobile and desktop applications.

Eric Lempel, senior vice-president and head of global marketing at Sony Interactive Entertainment added: “We have enjoyed a strong collaborative relationship with the UEFA Champions League for over 23 years, delivering unique football experiences to our community of PlayStation fans around the world.

“Football is integral to the PlayStation DNA, and we know many of our gamers are as passionate about football as we are. We look forward to our continued partnership and the excitement of the upcoming 2021-24 cycle.”

This is the seventh sponsorship announcement for the 2021-24 UEFA Champions League cycle, with Heineken, PepsiCo, Mastercard, Gazprom and FedEx signing new agreements, while Just-Eat Takeaway has joined as a new partner. The worldwide sales of all UEFA club competition sponsorship rights are being carried out by TEAM Marketing AG on UEFA’s behalf.