All India Football Federation (AIFF) has formally announced its candidature to host the AFC Asian Cup 2027 and deliver a Brighter Future Together for football in India and across Asia.

Unveiling its plans at the launch in New Delhi today, AIFF showcased the unrivalled potential of hosting Asia’s flagship football event in the world’s fastest emerging football market, home to 1.3 billion people.

The bid promises to take Asian football to new heights by working in partnership with the AFC to unlock new commercial opportunities, drive growth and build on an ever-growing love for the sport among the country’s youthful population.

President of AIFF and FIFA Council Member, Mr Praful Patel, said: “It has taken a lot of hard work to reach the level we are at today, where we can think of hosting international events year on year. The 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup in India left an indelible mark on our country and we’re now working towards ensuring FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup and the AFC Women’s Asian Cup go down as two of the most successful women’s international football tournaments.

“We’re continuously working on infrastructure upgradation and football development, and India would be honoured to be selected as the host for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup. It is an unparalleled opportunity to take Asian football to new heights and create a Brighter Future Together, for India, for the AFC and for our whole continent.”

Hon’ble Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports (I/C), Shri Kiren Rijiju, added: “Hosting Asia’s biggest football event, the AFC Asian Cup 2027 will be a huge milestone for Indian sports. Our nation is perfectly poised to host a mega sporting event of this magnitude. We have extensive experience over the last two decades of successfully planning, organising and staging some of the world’s biggest sporting events and are looking forward to hosting two more big events in 2022 – the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup and AFC Women’s Asian Cup. I assure you that all government support will be given in getting this tournament to India, and making it a memorable one for everyone involved.”

With modern, world-class stadia, well-connected and welcoming host cities, full and unwavering government and state support, and a proven track record of delivering major international events, India would guarantee a safe pair of hands as tournament hosts. In addition to the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2017 – the most attended FIFA youth tournament in history with a record 1.34 million spectators – India is also due to host the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup and the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in 2022.

Transformational legacy initiatives are already in place to harness these opportunities and fast-track the development of the game, from grassroots participation to elite performance. An Asian Cup 2027 in India would further accelerate growth, delivering tangible benefits for the sport, while placing the country firmly on the global football stage.

As hosts, India would deliver a vibrant and exuberant celebration of football, filling stadia and connecting fans across the region through a shared love of the beautiful game. Visitors would experience the nation’s diversity and warm hospitality built on the ethos of “Atithi Devo Bhava” (Guests are equivalent to Gods) and “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” (The World is one family).

The India 2027 campaign’s powerful logo, revealed at the launch, represents the ambition, commitment, focus and spirit of the bid, epitomised by the royal tiger. The tiger is also an emblem of India’s national team, the Blue Tigers. The slogan, Brighter Future Together, highlights the exceptional opportunity the bid presents for AFC and AIFF to work in partnership and take Indian and Asian football to the next level.

Microsoft, the Green Bay Packers, the Milwaukee Bucks, and the Milwaukee Brewers have combined forces to form the Equity League, a new impact investment division of venture capital fund TitletownTech.

This marks the first time the Brewers, Bucks, and Packers have partnered together for the shared purpose of fostering positive social change in Wisconsin and across the United States.

Adding to the historic nature of the collaboration, Microsoft, whose mission is to empower every individual and every organization on the planet to achieve more, joins the three teams as the founders of the new organization.

First announced in 2017, TitletownTech is a partnership between Microsoft and the Green Bay Packers that has created an exciting venture studio and fund, is located across the street from iconic Lambeau Field, and is now shepherding more than 20 new startups into formation with many beginning operations in Northeast Wisconsin. The Equity League is an investment network focused on building a portfolio of impact-driven technology companies and creating more opportunities for Black and LatinX founders. Equity League has a mission of creating a long-term, positive impact on society.

A founding principle of the Equity League is that while genius is equally distributed regardless of race, gender, or zip code, opportunity is not. When looking at Venture Capital-backed startups, only 1% of founders are Black and less than 2% are LatinX. On the investment side, just 3% of the employees at Venture Capital investment funds are Black or LatinX professionals.

The idea for the Equity League started with Mark Murphy, the President and CEO of the Green Bay Packers, in conjunction with Craig Dickman, Managing Director of TitletownTech. Building on the success of TitletownTech, Murphy shared this vision for an investment network with Rick Schlesinger, President of Business Operations for the Milwaukee Brewers, and Peter Feigin, President of the Milwaukee Bucks. They were on board and excited to play an active role in changing the ecosystem to better represent the diversity across the country and to create generational impact. “The shared values between the Packers, Bucks, Brewers, Microsoft and TitletownTech are what made this possible. It’s time for us to step up. I’m proud that we have all come together to drive meaningful change. The Equity League will help bridge a significant gap for Black and Hispanic founders, as well as benefit social impact companies,” said Murphy. 

“We are proud to forge a partnership with the Packers and Brewers to generate such meaningful opportunities for Black and LatinX founders,” said Bucks and Fiserv Forum President Peter Feigin. “Our state’s professional sports teams are excited to create long-term positive change together.” And as Rick Schlesinger said, “The Equity League will create more opportunities for social impact companies and minority Founders, which we believe will generate meaningful outcomes for all stakeholders.”

“The Equity League at TitletownTech is a meaningful step to help Black and LatinX founders get access to capital and support to grow their startups into thriving businesses. We are delighted to continue our support of TitletownTech through this unique partnership that brings together sports, business, and community leaders, said Brad Smith, President of Microsoft. “As an organization, we are committed to driving positive social change and using technology to open more doors of access and opportunity.”

Joining TitletownTech as Director of the Equity League is Israel Squires, a M&A/securities lawyer, entrepreneur, former collegiate football player, and Wisconsin native. Prior to his role at TitletownTech as the Director of the Equity League, he raised millions in Venture Capital funding, scaled startups in both the US and China and broke barriers as a LatinX tech CEO.

“We’re attacking a multi-faceted, generational problem with a multi-faceted, generational solution,” Israel Squires, Director of the Equity League states. “Our goal is to invest in companies and founders that have strong potential to produce both significant financial returns and large-scale social impact. Our strategy to achieve this is one that challenges the status quo and we’re excited to show how the venture capital and startup space can be used to facilitate long-term, positive change.”

The Equity League will target inequities that exist in the tech startup industry by prioritizing Black and LatinX founders and hiring minority venture fellows, while also investing in sectors including, but not limited to Education, Fintech, Digital Inclusion, Health Equality, Urban Innovation and Criminal Justice Reform.

SportAccord has announced that the inaugural ArtAccord will bring a new creative concept to the SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit 2021 in Ekaterinburg by showcasing the work of some of Russia’s best and brightest artists.

ArtAccord will take place during SportAccord 2021, which will run from 23-28 May, giving delegates the opportunity to experience pieces of art in an intimate, gallery-like setting after being introduced to some of the profiled artists.

The event will kick-off on Sunday, 23 May 2021 with Welcome Addresses from Dr. Raffaele Chiulli, President of SportAccord, and other prominent Russian figures from the Sverdlovsk Region and visual arts community followed by cocktails and canapés to allow attendees to take in the pieces and connect with other art enthusiasts.

The launch of ArtAccord builds on SportAccord’s embrace of art and culture at previous editions of the World Sport & Business Summit in Russia. Notably, delegates at SportAccord 2013 in Saint Petersburg were granted a private visit to the famous State Hermitage Museum, and the work of the late Tuman Zhumabaev, one of Russia’s most prominent contemporary artists, was featured in an Art Gallery exhibition at SportAccord 2015 in Sochi and SportAccord 2019 in Gold Coast.

Ekaterinburg, the host of the SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit 2021, has forged an international reputation as a hub of art and culture, as well as sport. The city is home to numerous globally renowned institutions, such as the Ekaterinburg Museum of Fine Arts and the Ekaterinburg State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre.

“We have always been keen to showcase local artistic and cultural offerings at the SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit, providing delegates with an insight into the fabric of our host cities, regions and countries,” SportAccord Managing Director Nis Hatt says.

“Ekaterinburg has a heritage that is steeped in arts and culture, and we have a wonderful opportunity to give attendees a unique experience through the inaugural ArtAccord. I would like to thank the Sverdlovsk Region, Ekaterinburg, and the Ekaterinburg Museum of Fine Arts for supporting this exciting initiative, which I am sure will prove to be a memorable addition to SportAccord 2021.”

Regional Minister of International and Foreign Economic Relations of the Sverdlovsk Region, Mr. Vasily Kozlov says: “ArtAccord will provide a platform for some of Russia’s most engaging artists to reach a wider audience through the international sporting community. We believe delegates will be inspired by what they see and experience during this innovative new part of the SportAccord 2021 programme in Ekaterinburg.”

The annual World Sport & Business Summit is a six-day event attended by leaders of the global sports community. As the only global sports industry event attended by all International Sport Federations and their stakeholders, SportAccord also brings together organising committees, hosting cities and regions, governments and administrations, rights-holders, agencies and athletes, as well as top-level experts and organisations from the sports media, technology, investment, medical and legal sectors.

Registration is open for the SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit 2021 in Ekaterinburg, the 19th edition of SportAccord’s flagship annual event. Organisations interested in becoming an official partner or exhibitor can contact SportAccord to discuss these investment opportunities by emailing sales@sportaccord.sport, with SportAccord also offering an interactive exhibition floorplan and 3-D flyover of the SportAccord 2021 exhibition space.

World Taekwondo (WT), the Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation (THF) and the International Bowling Federation (IBF) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) as part the initiatives to advance the global values of peace and development through sport.

WT President and THF Chairman, Dr. Chungwon Choue, and IBF President, H.R.H. Sheikh Talal Mohammad Al-Sabah, committed to the partnership in a virtual MoU signing ceremony. 

Under the terms of the MoU, the three organisations committed to developing close cooperation in the following areas:

• Promoting sport as a powerful vehicle towards peace, social development and integration of vulnerable populations;
• Uniting forces in offering sport for development and peace activities, in particular in Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation’s existing Taekwondo Humanitarian Centre in Azraq Refugee Camp, Jordan, and potentially other locations worldwide;
• Exchanging and sharing of expertise, know-how, information and publications.

Through the MoU, refugee children and youth will have opportunities to learn about both sports and participate in recreational activities, where they can learn about the values of teamwork and mutual respect. With the support of IBF Global Partner QubicaAMF a further commitment will be made to the enhancement of a QubicaAMF installed bowling centre in Paris to provide education and employment opportunities to refugees, which would help them to fit into society.

WT President and THF Chairman Dr. Chungwon Choue said: “It is my pleasure to represent World Taekwondo and the Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation in signing this partnership with the International Bowling Federation. The three organisations share the same missions of inspiring the most vulnerable and fostering positive social changes.”

“In particular, the bowling centre project in Paris is an innovative approach to support the humanitarian efforts in the city. The Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo has been a supportive advocate of advancing humanitarian values over the years. The City of Paris is also a THF Ambassador City, having signed a Common Agreement with THF on January 29, 2017. Therefore, I believe that our partnership with the IBF will contribute tremendously to the humanitarian efforts in Paris, and around the world.”

IBF President H.R.H. Sheikh Talal Mohammad Al-Sabah said: “The IBF is proud of entering this partnership with World Taekwondo and with the Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation. Under the strong and guided leadership of President Choue WT and THF have led the way in driving the global Sports Movement to command the focus of everyone in their support of those in greatest need through humanitarian initiatives with refugees.”

“Our mission to connect the world with the greatness of bowling. Connecting further, faster, for all. Tenpin, Ninepin, academy, para, male, female, young, old; whoever you are, wherever you come from, our sport crosses cultures. Truly inclusive, united by a passion for bowling, we bring the world closer together by championing the best of bowling. Guardians of our sport, we aim to show bowling at its best. Removing the complexity and barriers to play, without compromising the integrity of our sport.”

OneFootball, the leading football media platform, has acquired Dugout to reshape the football digital media landscape and form the world’s largest owned and operated digital football media business.

The acquisition will put fans at the heart of the football ecosystem. It will bring Dugout’s global video expertise, network and distribution to OneFootball, uniting the businesses to create the most comprehensive content offering. This includes live OTT streaming, highlights, behind-the-scenes and archive video content, news, scores and statistics.

OneFootball’s shareholders will now include Dugout founding clubs – Arsenal, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Juventus, Liverpool, Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid – as well as new shareholder Olympique de Marseille.

The business will have an unparalleled reach and engagement. OneFootball’s personalized digital experience will be enhanced by Dugout’s suite of products and platforms, including its network of 110+ premium publishers, to now reach more than 85 million monthly active users, globally.

Combining the businesses will bring benefits for the whole football ecosystem and create new opportunities to monetize OneFootball’s specialist digital football offering:

• Clubs, leagues and federations will benefit from increased global audience reach, data insights and a better understanding of their fans’ engagement, creating new and exciting direct-to-consumer and monetization opportunities
• Premium publishers will benefit from access to professionally produced, highly engaging and exclusive video content, delivered via a plug and play embed solution to complement their editorial
• For brands and advertisers, aggregating OneFootball’s first party fan data with Dugout’s unique fan profiling platform, FanPro™, will deepen audience understanding and increase targeting options through audience segmentation across the new platforms and global publisher network
• Most importantly, fans will benefit from a complete, accessible and flexible offering, with instant access to original and highly relevant content including live and archive footage, breaking news, scores, analysis, insights and features. More football will be more accessible to more fans around the world, anywhere, anytime, as a personalised experience.

Lucas von Cranach, CEO and founder of OneFootball, explains: “Since forming OneFootball, our ambition has been to become the ultimate destination for everything football, both on and off the pitch, and our acquisition of Dugout reflects this. This move will benefit the whole football ecosystem with clubs, federations and leagues able to increase audience reach and harness our powerful data insights to gain a deeper understanding of their fans’ engagement. Our brand and advertising partners will have access to new, contextually-relevant destinations to reach highly engaged football fans on a global scale, with a local approach.

“Welcoming 10 of the world’s biggest football clubs as shareholders is a special occasion and we will be working closely alongside them, and OneFootball’s existing shareholders, to create exciting direct-to-consumer opportunities. We will continue to provide a fan-first digital experience, with an enhanced content offering that is complete, accessible and flexible.”

Elliot Richardson, Chairman of Dugout, said: “Over the past 4 years we have delivered a number of industry transformational initiatives, with a single goal, that through collaboration we can deliver value to Clubs, Publishers, Brands and Fans via our truly unique company. Thanks to the hard work, ambition and commitment of our wonderful team and incredible support from all our shareholders, we have evolved Dugout into a highly influential, successful business, and built deep long-lasting relationships with our partner clubs, federations, leagues, sponsors, advertisers and publishers that is impossible to replicate.

“OneFootball acquiring Dugout brings together two great, complementary businesses with the most talented people in the industry and establishes the world’s largest B2B and B2C football media company. The newly combined business is now in a strong position to accelerate expansion and support our partners through the rapidly changing digital football landscape.

“The entire football ecosystem will benefit from this deal at a time when it is so important for everybody and will help define the future together working with a common purpose.”

Tyrell and Wildmoka have joined forces to address the UK & Ireland market needs.

Wildmoka have led the way in responding to the increasing audience demand for premium and time-sensitive digital content distribution, by creating a set of tools and an optimised production workflow that allows news and sports broadcasters to automatically tailor live and recorded content directly to their audiences.

Enabling them to publish content across multiple platforms in seconds, by using a simple web browser and a limited home broadband connection. Not only does this gives audiences a better viewing experience but it also opens up new revenue opportunities for broadcasters and content creators, as relevant ads and monetisation mechanisms can be triggered directly from the platform.

“There has been a seismic shift in how content is being consumed by all generations. This means a more agile approach is required by broadcasters and content creators to keep up with the increasing expectations and consumption models,” commented Dan Muchmore, Sales & Marketing Director at Tyrell. “Wildmoka talk about engaging with audiences through a content journey by publishing content in a matter of seconds across multiple platforms. They do this so well and are a truly exciting innovator.  We are proud to partner with them and their solution compliments the way we at Tyrell look at engaging audiences through innovation.”

Jamie Lakin, Sales Director for UK & Ireland at Wildmoka commented, “Wildmoka has identified Tyrell as a leading, trusted provider of media infrastructure and services across the United Kingdom and Ireland. In what has been a very busy time of scale-out for Wildmoka in region (and globally) in recent years, taking our time to identify the leading providers across our Media & Entertainment market has been an important period to bolster our channel strategy for key regions.

Tyrell are greatly respected for their long-standing relationships with household broadcasters & brands, their expertise and overall approach to projects and support. Wildmoka are delighted to engage in this channel partner journey with Tyrell and look forward to working together to meet market demand in what is a very buoyant vertical.”