Community, Author at iSportConnect

International Growth Fuels LaLiga’s Rise Up The Brand Finance Rankings

LaLiga is not only renowned as a world-class football competition but, according to a new study, it also has a growing reputation at the brand level.

Every year, the global consultancy group Brand Finance calculates the Brand Strength Index of the world’s leading companies and organisations, awarding a score out of 100. For 2020, LaLiga has received a score of 81.7 meaning that the competition has moved up from eighth in the Spanish rankings to sixth, only behind BBVA, NH Hotels, Mercadona, Loewe and Stradivarius.

In addition, LaLiga remains one of the few organisations to be awarded the top ‘AAA’ rating by Brand Finance.

The Brand Strength Index is calculated by measuring the relative strength of brands through a balanced scorecard of metrics that evaluate areas such as marketing investment, stakeholder equity and business performance.

LaLiga is the only sports competition to appear in Brand Finance’s rankings anywhere in the world, which reflects the success of the competition’s own initiatives as well as underlining the importance of football to the international image of Spain.

“We continue to focus on building our brand identity and the value it represents; this ranking shows we are making good progress,” said Enrique Moreno, LaLiga’s global brand director. “Under our tagline ‘It’s not football. It’s LaLiga.’ we have shown that our competition represents more than a sport and that LaLiga can positively impact all of society. Our initiatives beyond the competition itself positively impact the image of Spain as well as our visibility around the world.”

Rapid rise in value

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To read the full piece and subscribe to LaLiga’s Global Futbol Newsletter, follow this link – https://newsletter.laliga.es/global-futbol/international-growth-fuels-laligas-rise-up-the-brand-finance-rankings

Bournemouth’s Vitality Sponsorship Increased To Include Main Shirt Deal Until End Of Premier League Season

.AFC Bournemouth are delighted to announce that Vitality will be their official shirt sponsor for the remainder of the 2019/20 season and have revealed the striking new 2020/21 Umbro home kit that will also be worn for the remaining nine games of the current campaign.

The Vitality logo will be featured on the front of the club’s new home and away shirts during the final games of the top-flight campaign, starting with next weekend’s historic home fixture against Crystal Palace.

Broadcast live on BBC One, the match is anticipated to record the highest-ever Premier League television audience in the UK.

The partnership is an extension of the long-term relationship between AFC Bournemouth and Vitality, which has seen the Cherries’ ground known as Vitality Stadium since the summer of 2015.

Vitality, which specialises in health and life insurance and investment, will also use a number of its contractual matchday assets – including LED advertising and interview backdrop space – to thank and pay tribute to NHS staff and key workers for their outstanding efforts during the Covid-19 pandemic.

AFC Bournemouth commercial director, Rob Mitchell, said: “Vitality has been a great supporter of the club over the past five years and I am delighted that we have been able to build upon this at such an important and exciting time of the season.

“Vitality is a brand which has a focus on health and wellbeing with a headquarters in the heart of our town.

“So, for a club which prides itself on community and healthy lifestyles, this is a perfect partnership and one that we love being a part of.”

Neville Koopowitz, CEO at Vitality, added: “We are delighted to be able to extend our partnership in this way with AFC Bournemouth.

“As a local employer in the town, we are pleased to be able to support the club, town and community in this way, and are proud to not only have Vitality’s name and brand on the shirts worn by the club’s players, but to be able use our sponsorship assets to call out and celebrate the vital role the NHS has played in past months.

“Sport brings us all together in a way very little else does and there is undoubtedly a unique opportunity for football to do this for us all at the moment.

“I look forward to the rest of the season with AFC Bournemouth and hope every single match not only brings us together but inspires many more people to get active and playing more football.”

AFC Bournemouth’s new Vitality-sponsored home shirt will not be available for purchase and is only being worn by the club’s first team during the final nine games of the current season.

WTA And SAP Partner To Support Players During Covid-19 With Launch Of WTA University

The WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) and global technology partner SAP have teamed up to launch a new educational platform for WTA players called WTA University. Created with SAP Litmos solutions, this online learning management system expands on the WTA’s fundamental Player Development Program aimed to enhance the lives and careers of players by offering resources for physical and mental health, as well personal and professional growth.

With the tennis season currently suspended, the WTA and SAP expedited the rollout of the platform in March, offering a host of new private and live sessions customized to support the needs of WTA players during the remote and uncertain nature of COVID-19. From financial coaching by certified specialists and leadership inspiration from Billie Jean King, to a variety of daily guided fitness classes and orientation courses for new players, the resources provided through WTA University serve as a modern extension to the WTA’s continued member benefits.

Since the introduction of the new platform, more than 150 WTA players have enrolled in WTA University’s educational courses globally, logging over 400 hours of learning. The WTA player community has access to the University’s online tools from anywhere, at any time, and across any device.

Currently enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program through the WTA’s partnership with Indiana University East, American CiCi Bellis recently explained how the new media training and mindful awareness courses were especially helpful in her business major coursework.

“It’s been incredible to have WTA University launch during this time. It’s given us new tools that allow us to focus our minds on something outside of tennis and improve our knowledge,” said Bellis. “It’s vital information, along with a variety of health resources too. I’ve really enjoyed having access to the yoga classes on demand. Even if I can’t make the live WTA session, I can still log on and stream any of the ‘It Takes Live’ daily fitness classes from my laptop or phone, wherever I am.”

Chief Revenue Officer of SAP Customer Experience, Paula Hansen added, “During these unprecedented times we have all found new ways to move forward and stay connected that have never been done before. In times of change and challenge, we see over 22 million users globally turning to learning. WTA’s brilliant use of SAP Litmos to continue to build skills on the court and off is a testament to the commitment they have to their players and we are thrilled to be a part of their transformative vision.”

With the successful launch of WTA University for players across six continents and more than 30 countries and regions, the organization plans to expand the innovative platform and its aggregated content to other areas of the sport. The WTA is presently working on its 2020-21 plan to further customize WTA University education for other segments of the tennis community, including WTA tournament staff, coaches and other player support team members.

European Tour And Challenge Tour To Resume In Austria With Dual Ranking Events

The European Tour and the European Challenge Tour will resume their 2020 seasons with back-to-back dual ranking events in Austria in July.

The Austrian Open at Diamond Country Club, from July 9-12, will mark the return of the Challenge Tour’s Road to Mallorca after a five month pause following the global outbreak of Coronavirus. It will be followed by the Euram Bank Open at Golf Club Adamstal, which remains in its original slot on the calendar but now begins a day earlier, taking place from Wednesday July 15 to Saturday July 18.

Both tournaments will have prize funds of €500,000 and will be dual-ranking events with the European Tour, which fully resumes its 2020 season with the Betfred British Masters Hosted by Lee Westwood at Close House from July 22-25.

It will be the third consecutive year the Euram Bank Open has been part of the Challenge Tour schedule, with Darius van Driel of the Netherlands and Callum Hill of Scotland winning in 2018 and 2019 respectively.

Jamie Hodges, Head of the Challenge Tour, said: “We are pleased to announce the resumption of the Challenge Tour season with the Austrian Open at Diamond Country Club and the Euram Bank Open at Golf Club Adamstal, two dual ranking events which will take place in consecutive weeks in July.

“Our measured approach to the 2020 season has mirrored that of the European Tour and we have been informed each step of the way by our Medical Health Strategy, led by our Chief Medical Officer Dr Andrew Murray, aligned to individual government safety advice.

“Part of this strategy is to play, wherever possible, in clusters in one territory and we are therefore grateful to the Austrian Golf Federation and the two venues, Diamond Country Club and Golf Club Adamstal for their support in making these events happen.

“We will continue to be guided by the European Tour’s Medical Health Strategy and we will announce details of subsequent 2020 Challenge Tour events in due course.”

Ben Cowen, the European Tour’s Deputy Chief Operating Officer, said: “These two dual ranking events provide vital playing opportunities for our members following the enforced period of inactivity since March.

“We are therefore grateful to both Diamond Country Club and Golf Club Adamstal, as well as the Austrian Golf Federation, for their support and we look forward to visiting Austria ahead of the European Tour’s full resumption with the Betfred British Masters at Close House the following week.”

International Growth Fuels LaLiga’s Rise Up The Brand Finance Rankings

LaLiga is not only renowned as a world-class football competition but, according to a new study, it also has a growing reputation at the brand level.

In addition, LaLiga remains one of the few organisations to be awarded the top ‘AAA’ rating by Brand Finance.

Rapid rise in value

…..

BT Sport Agree Deal To Show Coppa Italia And Turkish Super Lig

BT Sport has secured the rights to broadcast the Turkish Super Lig in the UK and Ireland, beginning with Goztepe v Trabzonspor tonight (12 June).

The Turkish top division, which resumes following a pause due to the Covid-19 pandemic, features the tightest title race in Europe with four teams separated by just four points who are in with a chance of winning the title. Trabzonspor lead the league on goal difference ahead of Basaksehir while defending champions Galatasaray are a point behind in third, followed by Sivasspor. Customers can catch the likes of former Newcastle strikers Papiss Cisse and Demba Ba plus Colombian hitman Radamel Falcao, Brazilian Robinho and Frenchman Gael Clichy.

BT Sport will broadcast three live games from each of the remaining eight match weeks, plus weekly highlights, marking the first time the competition has been broadcast in the UK and Ireland in English.

BT Sport viewers can also look forward to watching live football over the coming month including, twenty Premier League games, every fixture from the Bundesliga and the return of the FA Cup.

Coppa Italia Returns to BT Sport

Live action from the Coppa Italia returns exclusively to BT Sport. Juventus and AC Milan are the first sides back in play after Italian football was suspended back in March. The league returns with the second leg of the Coppa Italia semi-finals and the opening fixture gives fans the chance to see Cristiano Ronaldo back in action for the first time in three months.

BT Sport will also be showing the Coppa Italia final on Wednesday 17 June.

BT SPORT 1

Friday 12th June, 19:45

Coppa Italia – Juventus v AC Milan – Semi Final – Second Leg

Saturday 13th June, 19:45

Coppa Italia – Napoli v Inter – Semi Final – Second Leg

F1 Confirm Cancellation Of 2020 Singapore, Azerbaijan and Japanese Grands Prix

The 2020 Azerbaijan, Singapore and Japanese Grands Prix have been cancelled in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, Formula 1 has confirmed.

Earlier this month the opening eight races of a revised calendar for the 2020 season were announced, beginning with the Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring in the first weekend of July.

Since then F1 have continued to work hard to finalise the remaining calendar for the season, and are confident of having between 15-18 races by the time the season concludes in Abu Dhabi in mid-December. A new calendar is expected to be published before the season begins in Austria.

But today it was confirmed that the Azerbaijan, Singapore and Japanese races will not be part of the calendar for 2020.

A statement from F1 released on Friday morning said: “As a result of the ongoing challenges presented by COVID-19, we and our promoters in Azerbaijan, Singapore and Japan have taken the decision to cancel their races for the 2020 season.

“These decisions have been taken due to the different challenges our promoters face in those countries. In Singapore and Azerbaijan the long lead times required to construct street circuits made hosting the events during a period of uncertainty impossible and in Japan, ongoing travel restrictions also led to the decision not to proceed with the race.

“At the same time we have made significant progress with existing and new promoters on the revised calendar and have been particularly encouraged by the interest that has been shown by new venues in hosting a Formula 1 race during the 2020 season.

“We appreciate this is still a time of uncertainty and complexity around the world and will continue to ensure we proceed with the 2020 season in a cautious and flexible way. We have detailed and robust safety plans in place to ensure we begin our season in the safest possible way.”

On Thursday F1’s motorsports chief Ross Brawn explained that the plan for the second half of the season is coming together.

“Things are moving fast, but we still have time,” he said. “We have lots of different options and we’re very confident we’re going to have a great second half of the season.

“There is a contingency to have an extended European season with another one or two races if needed. I think Bahrain and Abu Dhabi will be the backstop of the season from what we can see at the moment. That gives us 10. We’ll find at least five or six good races in the middle.”

Brawn also revealed other European tracks are being evaluated, with the likes of Ferrari-owned Mugello, Imola, Portimao, and Hockenheim all understood to be under consideration.

“There are a number of good European tracks where we could add another one or two races on to make sure we have a comprehensive season,” he added. “We’re not going to declare it yet, as it’s still a work in progress.”

BT Sport Agree Deal To Show Coppa Italia And Turkish Super Lig

BT Sport has secured the rights to broadcast the Turkish Super Lig in the UK and Ireland, beginning with Goztepe v Trabzonspor tonight (12 June).

BT Sport viewers can also look forward to watching live football over the coming month including, twenty Premier League games, every fixture from the Bundesliga and the return of the FA Cup.

Coppa Italia Returns to BT Sport

BT Sport will also be showing the Coppa Italia final on Wednesday 17 June.

BT SPORT 1

Friday 12th June, 19:45

Coppa Italia – Juventus v AC Milan – Semi Final – Second Leg

Saturday 13th June, 19:45

Coppa Italia – Napoli v Inter – Semi Final – Second Leg

F1 Confirm Cancellation Of 2020 Singapore, Azerbaijan and Japanese Grands Prix

The 2020 Azerbaijan, Singapore and Japanese Grands Prix have been cancelled in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, Formula 1 has confirmed.

Earlier this month the opening eight races of a revised calendar for the 2020 season were announced, beginning with the Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring in the first weekend of July.

But today it was confirmed that the Azerbaijan, Singapore and Japanese races will not be part of the calendar for 2020.

On Thursday F1’s motorsports chief Ross Brawn explained that the plan for the second half of the season is coming together.

“Things are moving fast, but we still have time,” he said. “We have lots of different options and we’re very confident we’re going to have a great second half of the season.

Brawn also revealed other European tracks are being evaluated, with the likes of Ferrari-owned Mugello, Imola, Portimao, and Hockenheim all understood to be under consideration.

FIBA Launches International Esports Competition ‘FIBA Esports Open’

FIBA, the International Basketball Federation, has announced the launch of its first-ever international esports competition for National teams, the FIBA Esports Open 2020. FIBA is thrilled to be joining the esports movement together with its National member Federations, as part of this pilot project.

This inaugural series of exhibition e-basketball games will take place from June 19 to 21, 2020. The national teams participating include Argentina, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Cyprus, Indonesia, Italy, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, New Zealand, the Philippines, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Switzerland and Ukraine.

Each team will consist of seven players, five on the court and two reserves. Games will be played remotely on NBA 2K using the Pro-AM mode and allowing full customization of player avatars, uniforms and arena designs.

The entire FIBA Esports Open 2020 series will be produced from the brand-new FIBA Esports Studio located in Riga, Latvia, with a daily four-hour show featuring up to six games. Each game will be livestreamed on FIBA’s Facebook, Twitch and YouTube channels with live commentary in English.

“FIBA is extremely proud and excited to start its esports journey with the FIBA Esports Open 2020, a pilot project of exhibition games between national teams in collaboration with NBA 2K,” said Frank Leenders, FIBA Media and Marketing Services Director General. “The esports initiative was identified by the FIBA Central Board as important and consistent with the strategic objective to enlarge the FIBA Family. In these challenging times, we feel encouraged by the enthusiasm of some of our National Federations who are already active in this space and have been our charter partners during the last few months.”

“NBA 2K is honored to partner with FIBA in creating the FIBA Esports Open 2020,” stated Jason Argent, Senior Vice President of Basketball Operations at 2K. “Through these matches, we’re excited to be able to celebrate the global appeal of basketball.”