Zena Wooldridge Elected As World Squash Federation President

Zena Wooldridge has been elected as the new World Squash Federation (WSF) President following the WSF’s 2020 Annual General Meeting.

Wooldridge, from England, will become the 10th WSF President to serve since the Federation’s inception in 1967 and the second female. Wooldridge will serve a minimum four-year term after being elected by delegates representing 64 National Federations – a record number – who attended the 50th WSF AGM which was the first to be held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Wooldridge previously served six years as President of the European Squash Federation between 2013-2019. She replaces outgoing President Jacques Fontaine, from France, who was elected President in 2016.

During his four years as President, Fontaine was heavily involved in squash’s efforts to gain Olympic recognition at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and also strengthened ties with the sport’s professional governing body, the Professional Squash Association. Everyone at WSF thanks Fontaine for his service.

Fontaine said: “It has been a real honour to serve as WSF President for the past four years and I would like to thank all Member Nations for their support.

“I would like to wish Zena and the newly elected Board the best of luck in the future. I will be following the progress of the sport closely in the coming years.”

Two new Vice Presidents were also elected at the AGM, while Pablo Serna – former President of the Colombia Squash Federation – has been elected for a second term for four years.

He is joined by Karim Darwish, a former men’s World No.1 from Egypt, and Debendranath Sarangi, the President of the Squash Rackets Federation of India, who have been elected for four years and two years, respectively.

They will work alongside five-time World Champion Sarah Fitz-Gerald – who was elected as Vice President in 2016 – while Huang Ying How steps down after his four-year term.

This comes after American Peter Lasusa stepped down from his role as Vice President in August, 2020 due to ill health after being elected for a four-year term in 2016. WSF would like to thank both Peter and Huang for their service to the board and the Federation sends its well wishes to Peter and his family.

Speaking about the new appointments, Wooldridge said: “I am delighted to welcome Karim and Debendranath onto the board and I truly believe they will be superb additions to a strong team.

“I believe squash fits modern lifestyles so well and is well-suited to new technological developments such as InteractiveSQUASH. So we have a strong platform in place to do some really exciting things with squash and accelerate the development of the sport around the world, and I look forward to working with all stakeholders over the next four years.”

Jahangir Khan will serve a further term as Emeritus President of the WSF – a position the six-time World Champion has held for 12 years – while Chile and Libya have been approved as new Member Federations of the WSF.

Extreme E Partners Red Bee Media To Leverage Its OTT Platform

Extreme E, the new electric off-road racing series, has teamed up with Red Bee Media, which will support its broadcast package worldwide.

Red Bee Media will provide satellite distribution services to major broadcasters around the globe, picking up live signals from Extreme E’s Production gallery and transmitting these through resilient global satellite networks via its distribution hub in Hilversum in the Netherlands.

In addition, Red Bee Media will also provide a digital distribution hub/network which will be used to transcode and live stream Extreme E’s race content on all of its digital platforms. Finally, Extreme E will utilise Red Bee’s OTT platform for global live streaming on the championship’s website and other digital assets.

Ali Russell, Chief Marketing Officer at Extreme E said: “This support from Red Bee Media adds up to Extreme E being able to reach a truly global audience. In line with the championships environmental and sustainability missions, there will be no spectators on site, so it is imperative the broadcast product is right, and shared with as many screens as possible.

“I’m delighted to be working with Red Bee Media, a company that has a track-record in delivering content far and wide.”

Steve Nylund, CEO, Red Bee Media, said: “Extreme E is a truly inspiring initiative and we’re looking forward to delivering the excitement of the races to global audiences.

“The forward-thinking spirit and the commitment to a sustainable future is something that Red Bee shares with Extreme E, and we’re happy to be a part of delivering fantastic live media experiences, while increasing awareness about climate change at the same time.”

ParalympicsGB And Dreams Agrees Partnership Until Tokyo

ParalympicsGB and Dreams have agreed a new partnership as the team prepares for the rescheduled Paralympic Games next summer in Tokyo.

The agreement will see the UK’s leading bed retailer partner with ParalympicsGB in the build-up to and throughout the Tokyo 2020 Games.

The partnership comes with plans for the rescheduled Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games next year intensifying with ParalympicsGB now expecting a team of around 240 athletes to compete in 19 sports including newcomers Taekwondo and Badminton.

Mike Sharrock, CEO of ParalympicsGB, said: “Quality sleep, rest and recuperation is fundamental to athletes’ preparation and overall wellbeing. Through this partnership Dreams are demonstrating a genuine commitment to inclusion and we are really looking forward to working with them.

“This is fantastic news as the unprecedent postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games due to the Covid-19 pandemic has presented us with many challenges, so welcoming a new partner will give us a real boost in these final critical months of preparation.

“We are increasingly confident Tokyo 2020 will be a wonderful celebration of all that humanity can achieve after such a tumultuous year and with the support of the British public our talented ParalympicsGB athletes can inspire and unite the nation once again.”

Since being established in 1985, Dreams has become the UK’s leading bed specialist, making 10,000 mattresses, bases and headboards per week.

Mike Logue, CEO, Dreams, said: “We’re thrilled to be partnering with ParalympicsGB in the lead up to the 2021 Games. The athletes are demonstrating extraordinary talent and determination as they train for the rescheduled Games and quality sleep plays a hugely important role in this. We believe in better sleep for all and hope this partnership gives all the fantastic athletes that extra edge as they prepare for the most anticipated sporting event of the year.

“This builds on our existing Team GB partnership where we are the official sleep partners. We can’t wait to see all of our athletes well rested and in action next year.”

LaLiga Introduces FanCam To Stadiums

From a new initiative created last weekend, LaLiga fans can get a closer and more personalised experience of player celebrations while they are unable to attend matches.

FanCam is a camera installed at both ends of the LaLiga Santander and LaLiga SmartBank grounds, clearly labelled so that LaLiga stars know exactly where to head and where to look when they want to celebrate in front of their fans. The initiative seeks to create a special bond between the players and fans and has already led to some unique and memorable goal celebrations from the last matchday.

The introduction of FanCam follows its successful use in sports broadcasts in the United States. During its launch on LaLiga Santander Matchday 11, 62% of goals were celebrated in front of the FanCam and this figure is expected to rise to 100% over the coming matchdays.

With the introduction of the camera, LaLiga is also seeking to reintroduce the passionate aspect of player celebrations, which have been slightly muted at times due to the lack of fans in the stadiums. It will allow a clear, fixed shot to be broadcast that fans can watch live and in full from their homes.

“FanCam is another step towards improving and personalising our audiovisual product. We are going to give fans a much more personal and genuine view of the players, seeing up close how they celebrate their team’s goals,” explains Melcior Soler, the director of LaLiga’s audiovisual department.

In addition to enjoying live televised images during the match, fans will be able to catch them on LaLiga’s social media channels, where videos of the matchday’s best goal celebrations will be shared each week. LaLiga will also share these images with the players and clubs so that they can use them on their own social media channels and in their other applications.

“We trust in the players to realise the importance of celebrating their goals in front of the FanCam, because this puts them in direct contact with their fans,” added Soler. “That’s why we’re so convinced that their use of the FanCam will increase, to the point that it is used all the time.”

The British & Irish Lions Inks Licensing Partnership With Titleist

The British & Irish Lions has signed a new licensing partnership with world-leading golf brand Titleist.

The agreement is one of a number of new license deals secured by brand licensing specialist The Point.1888, who have partnered with the Lions to create a new range of products ahead of the eagerly awaited Tour to South Africa in 2021 to face world champions, the Springboks.

World-renowned as the game’s leading performance equipment brand, having earned the overwhelming trust of tour professionals, club professionals, competitive amateurs and dedicated golfers worldwide, Titleist, will offer a range of high-specification, Lions branded accessories including golf balls, golf bags and golf club head covers, as well as gloves and towels.

Today’s announcement comes off the back of the enormous interest in next summer’s Tour, with record numbers of travel packages and tickets being sold to Lions and Springbok supporters, as well as a spate of commercial partnerships recently being announced including Vodafone, Castle Lager, Canterbury and Famous Grouse.

“We are delighted to welcome Titleist to our growing family of licensees,” said Tom Halsey, British & Irish Lions Commercial Director. “Titleist products are top quality and, like the Lions, are known around the world for being a symbol of excellence.

“I am sure Lions supporters will be keen to take to the course with the number one ball in golf, featuring the famous Lions crest.”

“We are absolutely delighted to bring two iconic brands in golf and rugby together to offer fans a unique collection of products to celebrate the Lions Tour,” added Hannah Stevens, Head of Retail at The Point 1888.

“As a retail-first brand extension company we are actively planning for a truly spectacular summer of rugby with our retail and new licensee partners.”

The Premier League And EFL Agrees A £250m Rescue Package

The Premier League and the English Football League have agreed a £250-million rescue package as they finally put an end to months of uncertainty for lower-league clubs who are struggling financially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The EFL said clubs in Leagues One and Two – the third and fourth-tiers – would receive sum worth £50 million ($67 million).

The Premier League is also set to provide further financial help to the EFL in a bid to secure £200-million loan facility for clubs in the second-tier Championship.

“Our over-arching aim throughout this process has been to ensure that all EFL clubs survive the financial impact of the pandemic,” said EFL chairman Rick Parry.

“I am pleased that we have now reached a resolution on behalf of our clubs and as we have maintained throughout this will provide much-needed support and clarity following months of uncertainty.”

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said: “The Premier League is a huge supporter of the football pyramid and is well aware of the important role clubs play in their communities.

“Our commitment is that no EFL club need go out of business due to Covid-19. All football clubs continue to suffer significant financial losses as a result of the pandemic, but Premier League shareholders today unanimously agreed to provide additional funding and support for EFL clubs in real financial distress.”

The financial package for League One and Two clubs is reportedly locked at £30 million to be split between 48 clubs into those divisions with further access to another £20 million packages of monitored grants.

The £30 million is set to be paid immediately from the Premier League to help cover the loss from matchday revenue.

The monitored grants can be applied for by clubs in need, with a joint EFL and Premier League panel ruling on eligibility.

The Premier League has committed to cover up to £15 million in interest and arrangement fees to enable a £200 million loan to be secured for Championship clubs.

NFL UK Inks Partnership With General Mills Brand Old El Paso

General Mills brand Old El Paso and NFL UK will be bringing the party to the Super Bowl as they announce a season-long partnership.

The new deal sees the brand become to an Official Partner of NFL and Super Bowl LV in the UK and Ireland.

Old El Paso, which is the category-leading Mexican food brand in UK & Ireland, will be hosting the ultimate Super Bowl night in as they team up with footballer and NFL fan Bayo Akinfenwa to celebrate the climax of the NFL season in Tampa, Florida on Super Bowl Sunday, February 7.

During the run-up to the hottest event in the NFL calendar, Old El Paso and NFL UK will be encouraging fans to ‘Make Some Noise for Super Bowl’ as they watch from the comfort of their homes. Akinfenwa will be creating content on his social channels showcasing how the Old El Paso range is the perfect sharing game-day food with easy recipes to complete any Super Bowl party with friends and family.

This content will be promoted on both NFL UK and Old El Paso social channels in UK & Ireland along with a holistic plan including further digital support, bespoke e-commerce partnerships and targeted media activity on Sky Sports/Sky NFL.

NFL UK Commercial Director, Michelle Webb, said: “We are thrilled to continue our partnership with Old El Paso. They are the ideal ingredient to any Super Bowl party and will ensure our fans kick off the biggest event of the year in style. The brand resonates with our audience and it’s fantastic to see how their support has increased the popularity of the Super Bowl here in the UK. With the backing of brands like Old El Paso, and more places than ever to access NFL content, we will continue to see our fanbase grow here in the UK.”

General Mills Europe-Australasia spokesperson Arjoon Bose said ‘At Old El Paso, we’re passionate about creating the good noise that happens from connection via easy, talky, shared moments through food. We are excited to once again partner with a global cultural phenomenon that is Super Bowl which goes well beyond just a sporting event that transcends borders and unites friends and families.

“We want to become synonymous as the game day food of NFL here in UK & Ireland and inspire consumers to share all the joy and excitement of the NFL as they watch from home. Our content series with our Mexican-inspired recipes will hopefully help fans create the ultimate Super Bowl night in as they celebrate one of the biggest events of the year.’’

“The Absence Of Opportunities For Physical Activity Means That Those With A Disability Miss Out On Sport”

With today signifying International Day of Persons with Disabilities, iSPORTCONNECT is delighted to be able to feature a piece from 11-time Paralympic gold medallist Tanni Grey-Thompson.

In her piece, Tanni calls for further progress to be made in order to aid disability participants within sport, particularly at a time, in the Covid-19 world, where this is even more difficult than before.

There is no doubting that 2020 has been an incredibly tough year across the world and we must all be hoping that 2021 sees the end of the pandemic.

In the short-term many aspects of normal life will remain restricted, despite the UK’s move from a nationwide lockdown to a tiered system.  However, the return of grassroots sport is to be welcomed as it will provide a huge boost to the physical and mental health of the nation.

“For those who are mentally disabled, they need the support and benefit that organised sports activity can bring. It gives them not only the social interaction that they desperately need but also a sense of belonging.”

The lack of access to sports facilities such as gyms and swimming pools have had a damaging effect on mental and physical health, with the benefits that they provide to ease the pressure on health services.

Mental health is particularly being challenged as people find themselves more isolated and the absence of opportunities for physical activity means that those with a disability miss out on sport which in many instances is a lifeline for them.

It seems apt that the re-opening of sports facilities has coincided with The International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD), an event observed annually on December 3.

IDPD helps to promote the full and equal participation of persons with disabilities and to act for their inclusion in all aspects of society and development.

11-time Paralympic Gold Medallist Tanni Grey-Thompson

Of course, physical activity is about getting fit and having fun, but for those who are mentally disabled, they need the support and benefit that organised sports activity can bring. It gives them not only the social interaction that they desperately need but also a sense of belonging that they do not get elsewhere – and in some cases they do not understand why their access to sport has been denied.

Engaging with peers is fundamental for those with mental disabilities, who also learn valuable life skills that boost their confidence, health and enable them to make friends.

For those with physical disabilities, accessible facilities are also a problem, both in lockdowns and where more stringent social distancing and limited classes are concerned.

“We need to remember that sport brings young people together, it gives them an opportunity and a chance to think differently about themselves.”

At Laureus, Inclusive Society is one of the six Social Focus Areas towards which we provide funding and support to enable programmes to tackle, aligned to the United Nations Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs).

We have two decades of experience and understanding of the frameworks and soft skills required to create a society where young people and children embrace physical and mental differences and can thrive through sport.

We have to be really mindful that, as a Foundation, we have to support and make sure that the projects and young people come out of this in the best shape that they possibly can because those projects ultimately save lives.

We need to remember that sport brings young people together, it gives them an opportunity and a chance to think differently about themselves, to think differently about the decisions they make and how they want to live their lives. That is what sport and Laureus does. It gives young people the chance to think differently.

“Sport is unique in its ability to bring people together and break down existing barriers of discrimination and it’s no exaggeration to say that lives depend on it.”

Delivered in partnership with Allianz and InsightShare, we recently commissioned a report entitled ‘Empowering abilities through sport’ which showcased the real-life experiences of disabled young people from Ethiopia, Thailand and Jamaica, who have benefited from the support of our projects. In each and every case, we have seen marked changes in their attitudes, their confidence and their abilities to communicate.

Sport is unique in its ability to bring people together and break down existing barriers of discrimination and it’s no exaggeration to say that lives depend on it.

FuboTV Acquires TV Streaming Platform Balto Sports

FuboTV Inc. , the leading sports-first live TV streaming platform, has acquired Balto Sports, marking the company’s first move into the online sports wagering market.

Balto Sports is a Y Combinator company that develops tools for users to organize and play fantasy sports games. fuboTV intends to leverage its own proprietary technology along with Balto’s contest automation software to launch a free to play gaming offering.

In connection with the deal, Balto’s team will join fuboTV and will be instrumental in driving the company’s expansion into both free to play gaming and online sports wagering. The online sports wagering market is expected to reach $155 billion by 2024 according to Zion Market Research.

Additional announcements will be forthcoming.

David Gandler, co-founder and CEO, fuboTV, commented, “As we said in our third quarter earnings announcement last month, fuboTV sees the online wagering space as complementary to our sports-first live TV streaming platform. We believe there are significant synergies between consumers who enjoy wagering and our subscribers who enjoy streaming live sports, creating a flywheel opportunity. As we’ve previously expressed, one of our goals with wagering is to expand our total available market (TAM) by developing another important revenue stream for fuboTV, as we are doing with our growing ad sales business.

“The acquisition of Balto Sports will enable us to build a first class, free to play experience that brings consumers the best games around live sports. From there, we see a natural progression to layer on real money wagering in regulated markets complementing fuboTV’s live streaming video for a highly engaging user experience within our platform.

“We will be strategic in our approach to wagering as we consider and evaluate different opportunities and will adjust our plans accordingly. We’re excited to launch sports wagering, integrate it into our core offerings and deliver what we believe will be a truly groundbreaking live TV streaming platform to consumers.”

National Handball League Signs Liqui Moly As Main Partner

German manufacturer of oils, lubricants and additives for engines, Liqui Moly will become the main partner of the National Handball League as of July 1st, for a period of 5 years.

Through this partnership made through the agency Sport & Co, the brand associates its name with that of the LNH and in particular the French championship of the 1st division.


Leader in its market in Germany, Liqui Moly wishes to rely on French professional handball to develop its reputation and support its arrival in France. The NHL, through its 30 professional clubs, as well as through its various competitions and events, will offer Liqui Moly an effective promotional platform, throughout France, to support its business development plan.

David Tebib, President of the NHL : “In a context where brands are showing great caution, Liqui Moly places its trust in us to help achieve ambitious commercial objectives on the French market. This approach honors us. It is recognition of our ability to develop the reputation of our partners, and to integrate economic issues by accelerating the listing of their products. It also welcomes the place that handball now occupies on the chessboard of French professional sport. “

Ernst Prost, President of Liqui Moly : “LIQUI MOLY is a global company and France is a very important market for us, with enormous potential. The cooperation with the NHL through the LIQUI MOLY Starligue is a great opportunity for us to help our French distributors to develop this market successfully by increasing our brand awareness and creating demand. We are extremely proud to see that our brand and logo are now linked, for at least the next 5 years, to one of the most popular sports leagues in France. “