RFU And Allianz Announce Landmark Partnership For Premier 15s

The Rugby Football Union has today announced Allianz Insurance as the new Insurance Partner of England Rugby and the title partner for the Premier 15s, with the official name of the competition being ‘Allianz Premier 15s’.

Allianz is committed to supporting the top-flight women’s domestic rugby competition in England as well as the England Rugby teams and the community game in line with its commitment to promoting inclusion, diversity and excellence.

As the Official Insurance Partner of England Rugby, Allianz will continue its long involvement in the sport, whilst supporting the RFU in building a sustainable and diverse future for rugby.

One of the largest general insurers in the UK, Allianz Insurance has a long history in rugby and is excited about turning its support and attention to the women and girls’ game which is a strategic priority for the RFU.  Together the two organisations will continue the strong growth trajectory of the sport through increased awareness activities and programmes like Inner Warrior.

Nicky Ponsford, Head of Women’s Performance at the RFU said: “This commitment from Allianz will have a significant and positive impact on the continued success of our women’s and girls’ teams.  Attracting a partner like Allianz is also a great honour and shows just how far the women’s game has developed.

Simon McGinn, general manager, Commercial & Personal, Allianz Insurance, said:  “We are delighted to announce this exciting new agreement with England Rugby as the Official Insurance Partner, which will see us become partner to the men’s and women’s England rugby teams. Allianz has a longstanding history with this fantastic sport and we are looking forward to continuing our involvement through this new partnership.

“Our partnership with the RFU also provides us with an excellent new opportunity to support women’s sport, as we become the title partner of the Premier15s and Inner Warrior, the grassroots programme to encourage girls and women into sport.”

Trondheim And Saalbach Elected To Host FIS World Championships 2025

Today, Saturday 3rd October, the FIS Council elected Trondheim and Saalbach as the Organisers of the FIS World Ski Championships in Nordic and Alpine Skiing, respectively. The final presentations by the four candidates for the FIS World Ski Championships 2025 preceded the election with the highly-anticipated decision announced at 17:30 CET, which was streamed live on the FIS Facebook and You Tube channels, and can still be viewed.

Trondheim (NOR) was unanimously appointed as host of the FIS Nordic World Ski Championship 2025 as the sole candidate.

“In confirming Trondheim as the host of the 2025 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships, we will bring our Nordic disciplines to the heart of the sport. Already in 1997 Trondheim staged an unforgettable World Championships with record crowds and an amazing atmosphere. I am certain what they will bring the world in 2025 will exceed all expectations,” said FIS President Gian Franco Kasper.

Alpine Skiing saw three quality candidates vying for the honour to host the FIS World Ski Championships 2025 with Crans-Montana (SUI), Garmisch Partenkirchen (GER) and Saalbach (AUT). Earning 12 votes, Saalbach won the election ahead of Crans-Montana and Garmsich Partenkirchen, who each finished with one vote.

“Much like with our Nordic World Championships, with Saalbach and Austria, we are going to the heartland of Alpine Skiing. Every time FIS has staged the FIS Alpine World Ski Championship in Austria, it is a special occasion with massive crowds and very professional organisation. There is not a doubt in my mind Saalbach will live up to this strong tradition.” said Kasper.

Case Study: How 100G Will Transform The Media Landscape

Research reveals that there were around 2.4 billion Internet users in 2014. By June 2019, that number doubled to 4.4 billion. That’s an 83% increase in the Internet user base in a span of just five years. For the media and telecommunications sector, this raises an all-important question: For the media and telecoms sector, how far can current underlying networks scale to accommodate the growing traffic on the Internet?

While the good news is that no one single network will need to support this burgeoning traffic, there remains some scepticism around existing networks and their ability to keep pace with the bandwidth demands of next-generation connected devices.

Businesses across various industries have already started upgrading to a networking speed of 10 gigabytes per second (GB/s). However, even 40-channel wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) systems operating on a 10 GB/s wavelength are fast reaching capacity across channels.

Fnatic Announces Global Partnership With Hisense

Fnatic are proud to welcome Hisense, the global consumer electronics and home appliances market leader, to our roster of partners with a multi-year partnership. Through this partnership, the two companies will produce a variety of content, including product reviews, video collaborations and social engagement, each featuring Hisense appliances and Fnatic’s prominent teams.

“We are thrilled to partner with Fnatic, one of the world’s top esports organizations, in a joint effort to bring a better quality of life to Fnatic and esports fans,” said Alex Zhu, the Vice President of Hisense International. “We hope to make Hisense TV and home appliances truly their friend and right hand in life by constantly exploring the needs of fans, so as to allow them to focus on enjoying every moment of esports games. Supported by the unique VIDAA operation system that launched at Hisense TV, we are dedicated to bringing more esports and Fnatic content to our big screens for fans.”

Hisense provides reliable smart home appliances including televisions, refrigerators, air conditioners, washing machines, cooking appliances among many others, that meet the demands of modern consumers. As a part of the deal, all Fnatic facilities will be upgraded with Hisense products. Fnatic will also have access to Hisense’s global network of customers, allowing for a wider audience and the potential to build a stronger fan base. This partnership represents another strategic milestone in Fnatic’s continued expansion into China.

“We are proud to partner with Hisense, a forward-thinking, innovative company, that is committed to bringing happiness into the homes of millions of families,” said Sam Mathews, Founder and CEO of Fnatic. “As a trusted partner, we are excited to share this collaboration with our fans, players and creators.”

ITU Rebrands To Become World Triathlon

As of 1 October 2020, the International Triathlon Union (ITU) will officially take on its new identity as World Triathlon, following a rebrand that will take the sport of triathlon and its world governing body forwards after 31 years as ITU.

The new identity has been developed to reinforce World Triathlon’s place at the centre of the global triathlon community. The new brand provides fresh impetus to its mission to continue growing the sport across the globe.

“The message behind the new name could not be clearer: World Triathlon represents the entire multisport community, from the first-time triathlete to the Olympic champion. It represents everything we stand for; innovation, ambition, collaboration and equality and will continue to be the leading voice shaping and sharing our sport’s incredibly bright future,” said World Triathlon President and IOC member Marisol Casado.

Starting in August 2019 and calling on members and stakeholders from across the triathlon family for their input, the rebrand has been a comprehensive process that gave an unprecedented level of insight into what ITU represented to its various stakeholders.

“Whether it is your first race or your fiftieth, our great sport has always been about pushing the limits of what you think you can do. It’s about being extraordinary, not just through racing but through everything that World Triathlon stands for; inclusion, sustainability, transparency and creativity,” added the World Triathlon President.

The three apex elements of the new World Triathlon logo represent the nine points of dynamic balance all triathletes share: Swim-Bike-Run, Mind-Body-Soul, Earth-Air-Water, represented in a palette of Transition Blue, Lawn Green and Sky Blue and with the planet in its soul.

“This rebranding exercise represents an important stage in the evolution of our organisation and the sport it represents on a local, national, international and Olympic level. We are now officially World Triathlon, and I am so excited about what this new identity means for our sport.”

“In only 20 years, triathlon has grown into one of the most popular sports on the Olympic programme, and that will only increase as our work sees more medal events added. We have never been an organisation that likes to stand still or look back, and the ways people interact and share their triathlon journeys has changed enormously over the past decades. The new look will help us appeal even more to the new landscape of young athletes, future partners and innovative sponsors as the governing body of the sport,” added Marisol Casado.

The innovative spirit that has always been a part of the organisation’s DNA will now be used with a fresh logo and look – both for World Triathlon and the five Continental Confederations – that open up exciting new possibilities for digital applications, event branding and sponsorship opportunities and will keep the World Triathlon profile at the apex of an increasingly competitive sports landscape.

Manchester City FC Announce New Global Partnership With AXI

Manchester City has announced a new multi-year global partnership with newly rebranded Axi to become the Club’s Official Online Trading Partner. 

Since its inception as AxiTrader in 2007, Axi has made giant strides to become a top 10 broker, developing a reputation for its innovative, customer-focused approach and advanced AI technology. Using the Axi trading platform, traders can buy and sell CFDs on international indices such as the UK100 and US30, trade major global currencies, and speculate on commodities like oil, gold and silver.

The partnership will help Axi create awareness of its new rebrand and tagline ‘Trade Your Edge’ through branding across the Etihad Stadium, content on the City website and also through activations with customers and fans online and at events, with a range of exclusive offers and promotions.

Tom Boyle, Head of Partnership Marketing EMEA at City Football Group, said: “We are delighted to launch this new partnership with Axi. We have been impressed by Axi’s ambition and drive to build such a successful business from just a two-man start up and see parallels between them and City in how they strive for success. With their recent rebrand we recognise that this is an exciting time for Axi and we are looking forward to Manchester City being part of this new chapter.”

Louis Cooper, Axi’s Chief Commercial Officer, said: “At Axi we’re all about giving our customers the edge. As we started looking into relaunching our brand, we felt there were many similarities with how the world’s leading football clubs are focused around gaining that competitive edge and Manchester City personifies this on and off the field.”

Alejandro Agag, Rafaelle Chiulli And Rodi Basso Unveil UIM E1 World Electric Powerboat Series

The world’s first electric powerboat championship was launched today at the Monaco Yacht Club with plans for a global series on seas and lakes that will drive forward the electric revolution in the marine environment.

The UIM E1 World Electric Powerboat Series is the brainchild of Spanish businessman Alejandro Agag, the founder of Formula E and Extreme E; Rodi Basso, former Director of Motorsport at McLaren, and Dr Raffaele Chiulli President of the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM).

Agag says the time is right to bring the spectacular advances that have been made with electric power in motorsport to the marine environment. He hopes not only to establish a new sporting classic but also to make a lasting contribution to improving the health of the seas and oceans.

“I am delighted that we are today able to announce this unique step forward in marine-based sport,” he said. “We believe this series will engage not only the sporting public, and boating and tech enthusiasts around the world, but also ocean conservationists who care about the future of our planet.

“The earth’s oceans, lakes and rivers are under huge environmental pressure and the E1 World Electric Powerboat Series will lead the way in electrifying water mobility for future generations.

“Right now the use of electric power on the water is still at an embryonic stage,” he added. “My ambition is for the E1 Series to accelerate the adoption of electric boats, to demonstrate how exciting they can be and to promote electric solutions and clean water mobility to marine travel worldwide.”

While Agag will be non-executive chairman of the new venture, Rodi Basso, an Italian former aerospace engineer who has worked with NASA, Ferrari and Red Bull in Formula 1, and Magneti Marelli and McLaren Applied Technologies in the high tech industry, will take the Chief Executive role.

Basso and Agag got together to brainstorm the new idea in London during lockdown.“The sea for me is something very important as an expression of nature and somewhere I always go to re-charge my batteries, so this project is the perfect way to celebrate that,” said Basso who is also a passionate sailor.

“During 20 years of competition in motor racing I have always dreamt of using motorsport to demonstrate and gain visibility around a technology and then build solutions with it in other fields.

“With this championship we are going to accelerate the take-up of electric technology in the marine industry by bringing the huge technological advances and expertise from motor racing. We are going to produce a thrilling and exciting sporting spectacle that will appeal to millions of fans worldwide,” he added.

Basso says the series, which will be associated closely with Extreme E, will develop on a tight timescale with an intense testing and build schedule for the new boats.

The UIM E1 World Electric Powerboat Series features high-performance racing boats powered entirely by electric propulsion systems racing on short courses at prestigious city-based and stunning remote locations around the world.

The futuristic RaceBird boats being developed for the Series incorporate hydrofoil technology, will be driven by single pilots and will be capable of achieving breathtaking speeds of up to 60 knots – 111 km/hr or 69 mph.

The boats are being developed by SeaBird Technologies, a start-up based in the UK that will partner with other companies involved in high performance water vessels to produce a super-fast and superlight, largely one-design race boat.

Designed by Sophi Horne, the boats are going to look like nothing else on the water. The concept will be developed in partnership with SailGP, a global racing league that features the world’s fastest sail racing. As part of the strategic partnership, SailGP will also provide support for event and logistics management.

“This is an incredibly exciting partnership that allows us to continue accelerating change toward a cleaner future,” said SailGP CEO Sir Russell Coutts. “We are powered by nature, and SailGP and E1 share a similar sense of purpose to be leading examples of sustainable technology.”

The plan is to attract up to 12 teams which will each purchase two boats, one based in Europe and one that will be stored on the St Helena, a refurbished former Royal Mail Ship that the Series will use as a “floating paddock” for races outside Europe. The pilots for the inaugural E1 Series are expected to come from a range of backgrounds with some from existing powerboating championships and others making a transition from road vehicle electric technology to the water.


Each E1 race weekend will comprise testing and qualifying and then a series of knock-out races leading to a final which will produce one winner. An annual overall world champion will be decided by cumulative scores throughout the season.  Success on the racecourse will depend not just on speed in varying conditions but on a pilot’s ability to preserve energy, with unlimited charging allowed for testing and qualifying each weekend, but a finite supply for the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final.

E1 will race in amazing remote locations in parallel with Extreme E and also in some of the most glamorous cities in the world. Fans can look forward to experiencing incredible landscapes and fabulous urban waterfronts as they follow the broadcast of the Series around the world.

The new Series has been exclusively licensed by the UIM, the international governing body of powerboating. Its President, Dr Raffaele Chiulli, who is also President of GAISF the Gloabal Association of all International Sport Federations, said the organisation enthusiastically supports a new event which aims to contribute to the preservation of the marine environment.

“As the IOC-recognised world governing body for all powerboating activities, we at UIM are excited to have this opportunity to support and foster the preservation of the marine environment and to establish and implement good practices towards a more sustainable future. 

“The UIM is delighted to support scientific research and its dissemination, as this will support awareness-raising activities on the many environmental and climate specific challenges that the world faces today. 

“The launch of this initiative signals the UIM’s ability to lead by example, and to take action to preserve a healthy marine environment, which is vital for the future of our planet. We are proud to partner with Alejandro Agag, Rodi Basso and E1, and I am confident that this initiative, alongside Extreme E, will accelerate sustainable mobility at global level.” 

NFL UK Renews Multi-Year Partnership With Virgin Atlantic And Just For Men

The National Football League in the UK today renewed two exciting partnerships; a three-year extension with Just For Men and a new five-year deal with Virgin Atlantic. The Virgin agreement sees the airline confirmed as the league’s Official Charter Airline Partner in the UK until 2025, while Just For Men will continue to be the Official Hair Care Sponsor of the NFL in the UK.

Just For Men will once again be an official partner of the NFL London Games and will remain at the forefront of the action on gamedays. The brand will be bringing back Beard Cam on the big screens, as well as their TV and digital content series.

Clare Want, Managing Director at Combe International Limited, Just for Men brand owners, said: “We are very excited to renew the partnership between Just For Men and the NFL. Over the last three years it has been exciting to be involved in the growth of the NFL while we increase awareness of products such as Just for Men Moustache & Beard.  We experienced great reactions from our brand’s consumers and NFL fans alike.”

Virgin Atlantic will be heavily involved with the NFL London Games. All NFL teams participating in the series from 2021 to 2025 will be treated to charters on Virgin Atlantic’s new A350-1000 aircraft. For their trips to the UK, teams will each be assigned a dedicated aircraft to transport players, coaching staff, ownership, team front office executive staff, VIP guests, football equipment and Gatorade.

During the flight to London, the teams will be served first-class refreshments with menus tailored to suit their diets, along with customised on-board entertainment.

Juha Jarvinen, Chief Commercial Officer at Virgin Atlantic commented, “We’ve always enjoyed a great relationship with the NFL UK and we’re delighted to renew our partnership, carrying their teams and their staff to the NFL London Games for the next five years. The NFL London Games continue to go from strength to strength and we’re delighted to play a part bringing this iconic US sport to the UK.”

Virgin Atlantic, which first became an Official Airline Partner of the NFL in the UK in 2011, has helped ensure the smooth running of 24 regular-season games to date. Just For Men has been a key part of the London Games since 2017. These milestone agreements will aid the continued success of the NFL’s London Games series in the UK.

“We are excited to be renewing our excellent relationships with Virgin Atlantic and Just For Men,” said NFL UK Commercial Director Michelle Webb. “As the new season gathers momentum, we’re delighted to see that these top brands have once again shown their commitment to supporting the growth of the NFL in the UK. Their exclusive packages of rights and activities will ensure our fans and NFL players have a first-class experience at the London Games.”

Parimatch Becomes Official Betting Partner Of LaLiga In The CIS Region

Parimatch, the global betting and technology company, today announces a two-year agreement with LaLiga, the  top professional league in Spanish football, which will see it become the league’s Official Betting Partner in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).  

Parimatch will be LaLiga’s official betting partner across 15 territories in the CIS region. All events organised by LaLiga in the region will feature Parimatch branding in line with local permissions, displayed through 3D carpets during match broadcasts while its marketing will feature in the away matches for Atletico Madrid, FC Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Parimatch will also gain access to all LaLiga logos, emblems, trademarks and image rights for seven active players, to use across marketing materials. Two LaLiga legends will also support Parimatch PR and marketing events and will appear in Parimatch TV advertising campaigns for broadcast in the CIS region.  In the future Pariamtch will also have access to LaLiga match tickets, which it will be able to offer as prizes and incentives for its players.

This partnership, which also includes the possibility of a one-year extension, will consolidate Parimatch’s leading brand position in the CIS region where the company already has 20% market share. Parimatch is one of the fastest growing bookmakers, known for forging partnerships which excite and attract sports fans across the spectrum, whether it be football, esports or UFC.

The agreement covers the following regions: Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.

Dmitriy Sergeev, CEO Parimatch CIS said: “This collaboration is strategically important for Parimatch and represents an opportunity for us to reach the loyal fanbase of one of the most popular football leagues in the world, whose players are some of the most iconic names in football today. This agreement will see our brand awareness increase not only in our key markets across the CIS, but also on a global level. LaLiga shares our commitment to the fan experience, so this partnership is a fantastic fit for us.”

Tamara Babits, Business Development Director Parimatch CIS: “At Parimatch, we are driven by our passion for sport and entertainment, so what better partner than one of the world’s most popular football leagues. We are so excited that our brand will now share the playing field with some of the greatest players in the sport today. We will work hard to build our both brands’ presence across the CIS together.”

Oscar Mayo, director of business, marketing and international development at LaLiga added: Strong local partnerships are key to making deeper connections with our fans and growing our global presence. In the CIS, our following has increased significantly in recent years creating an audience that is keen to get closer to our competition. Parimatch shares our ambition to create world-class entertainment and is an ideal partner with which to continue this growth across the region.

Durban To Host Historic 2023 ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals

The 2023 ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals will be staged in Durban, South Africa, after Member Associations voted during the 2020 ITTF AGM held on Monday 28th September.

It’s an historic first time that the ITTF’s most prestigious event is being held in South Africa and the first time on the African continent since Cairo, Egypt, in 1939.

The vote vindicates the new format for the ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals, coming into place in 2021, which sees continental qualification precede the Finals event, thus making it more feasible for more countries to host.

Durban won 90 votes (69.77%) to beat off competition from the other candidate city, Düsseldorf, Germany, who won 39 votes (30.23%).

Düsseldorf had been bidding to stage the event again following the resounding success of the 2017 edition.

“Congratulations to both South Africa and Germany on presenting very strong bids to host the 2023 ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals. We are continuing to see benefits from the forthcoming changes to the format of the World Championships Finals, which will be introduced from next year onwards, leading to more countries bidding from different regions of the world. This also reflects the ever-increasing international appeal of table tennis, which is extremely pleasing to see as we continue to work hard to make the sport more global in the future.” – Khalil Al-Mohannadi, ITTF Deputy President

“I am obviously ecstatic and beside myself with joy. The sleepless nights and all the hard work have paid off. I want to say to Germany that their presentation was absolutely superb. I did not want to take our success at all for granted, given all their experience, and I am certain that they will come up again (to host the World Table Tennis Championships Finals) in future. I want to thank the world of table tennis and the ITTF for entrusting us with the confidence with the team that we have, the city that we have, and the support from the government that we have to host this event. We are certain that we will make everyone who supported us extremely proud of having placed their trust in us to take the baton forward and host a World Championships worthy of the trust that you have given us.” – Joe Carrim, President of the South African Table Tennis Board (SATTB)

HISTORIC FIRST VIRTUAL ITTF AGM

For the first time ever, the ITTF AGM was held virtually to enable the safest possible solution amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

ITTF Deputy President Khalil Al-Mohannadi, ITTF Executive Vice President of Finance Petra Sörling, ITTF CEO Steve Dainton, ITTF Secretary General Raul Calin, ITTF Chief Financial Officer Michael Brown and ITTF Member Relations Director Mounir Bessah spoke from Doha, Qatar, to deliver messages across a number of key topics.

Speaking from Doha, Qatar: ITTF Deputy President Khalil Al-Mohannadi, ITTF Executive Vice President of Finance Petra Sörling, ITTF CEO Steve Dainton, ITTF Secretary General Raul Calin, ITTF Chief Financial Officer Michael Brown and ITTF Member Relations Director Mounir Bessah.

ITTF President Thomas Weikert was unable to travel to Doha, having come into close contact with a COVID-19 positive patient last week and therefore needed to quarantine until receiving the all clear on Sunday evening.

There was a special report on the impact of COVID-19 on global table tennis, as the sport prepares for a return to action via the #RESTART series in November 2020, among other key decisions.

TWO MAJOR GOVERNANCE REFORMS

Monday’s AGM saw major reforms to the ITTF Constitution with the creation of an ITTF Tribunal, which assumes the judicial powers previously belonging to the ITTF Executive Committee, and an ITTF Integrity Unit. Both reforms will provide yet another important step towards improving the ITTF’s governance.

TWO MAJOR MEETINGS IN 2021

The ITTF has voted in favour of holding one Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) in conjunction with the World Team Table Tennis Championships in Busan, Korea Republic, which has been rescheduled to take place between 22nd February and 1st March 2021 following its postponement this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The plans for the AGM are to be held towards the end of 2021, to serve as an opportunity to review what is set up to be an intense year for the sport with the introduction of World Table Tennis events and also the proposed Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games during the summer.