SportAccord Extend Gold Partnership With Macau Government

The Sports Bureau of Macau SAR Government has renewed its long-running Gold Partner status at SportAccord’s World Sport and Business Summit for the 2020 edition of the international sports movement’s most influential global gathering in Beijing, China.

As a Gold Partner once again next year, the Sports Bureau will be provided with a prestigious platform to connect with attendees from across the sporting world who will come together for a week of high-level meetings, engaging conferences and a bustling exhibition, from 19-24 April, 2020.

Nis Hatt, Managing Director, SportAccord, said: “The Sports Bureau of Macao SAR Government’s unwavering support for 13 uninterrupted years illustrates the organisation’s commitment, not only to SportAccord and the World Sport and Business Summit, but also to staying at the forefront of the international sporting community’s minds.”

“With a strategy that enables people to participate in sport from grassroots to elite levels, as well as hosting international sport events, Macau is a key contender as an international sports destination. We are grateful for their continued involvement and support as they build on a relationship with SportAccord that is becoming closer every year.”

Pun Weng Kun, President of the Sports Bureau of Macao SAR Government added: “We are honoured to return again as one of the Gold Partners, as we look forward to enhancing Macau’s profile as an active sport city, making contributions to the positive growth and development in the global sport industry and being a significant part of the success of the SportAccord World Sport and Business Summit.”

Heineken Becomes UEFA EURO 2020 Partner And Renews UEFA Champions League Deal

Heineken has become the official beer partner of UEFA EURO 2020, as well as extending its UEFA Champions League partnership for another three years.

They will now be sponsoring the UEFA Champions League until 2024 and will continue to expand their successful combination with UEFA by joining them for UEFA EURO 2020 next summer.

Guy-Laurent Epstein, Marketing Director of UEFA Events SA, said: “This is an incredibly exciting time for football in Europe. UEFA EURO 2020 will be hosted by 12 countries for the first time as part of the 60th anniversary celebrations of the competition, and the UEFA Champions League is going from strength to strength – firmly establishing itself as the world’s premier club competition.

“We know the value Heineken brings through its outstanding engagement with fans of the UEFA Champions League across the globe and we are delighted to extend this partnership for another three seasons. We are also extremely excited as we will be able to call on Heineken’s experience and innovative marketing campaigns in the build-up to and during UEFA EURO 2020.”

In addition to the UEFA Champions League, Heineken’s renewed three-year agreement as a UEFA club competitions partner will include sponsorship rights for the UEFA Super Cup from 2021 until 2024.

“Heineken has enjoyed an unrivalled relationship with football fans through our sponsorship of the UEFA Champions League,” said Heineken global sponsorship director, Hans Erik Tuijt.

“We are excited to be able to build the relationship further with the UEFA EURO 2020 partnership, meaning we will be involved in the leading European club and international tournaments. UEFA EURO 2020 will enable Heineken to create even more engaging experiences for fans across Europe and around the world. This partnership complements our other unique global platforms: Rugby World Cup, Formula One, and James Bond.”

David Levy Exits Brooklyn Nets After Two Months

David Levy and the Brooklyn Nets have agreed to mutually part ways after only two months.

Levy was named CEO of the NBA franchise in only September, with the reasoning for his exit yet to be determined. He had previously held the role of President at Turner Sports.

Joe Tsai, owner of the Nets, tweeted this following the announcement.

Oliver Weisberg, Chief Executive Officer of J Tsai Sports and NBA Alternate Governor of the Nets, has been named interim Chief Executive Officer of the Nets and Barclays Center.

Commenting on Levy’s exit Weisberg said: “I want to thank David for his collaboration over the past several months and wish him well in his future endeavors. As we enter an exciting next chapter of our organization, it’s important that ownership and management are completely aligned on our plan. We are proud of the culture of the Brooklyn Nets under the leadership of General Manager Sean Marks and Head Coach Kenny Atkinson, and we look forward to continue bringing the best experience to our fans.”

Honda To Remain NHL Partner Through 2021-22

Honda and the National Hockey League today announced a multiyear renewal of their partnership, which keeps Honda as the NHL’s Official Automotive Partner in the United States and Canada through the 2021-22 season.

The collaborative partnership between the NHL and Honda began in the U.S. at the start of the 2007-08 season, with the relationship expanding to include Canada during the 2014-15 season.

Honda will continue its presence at NHL tentpole events throughout each season, including title sponsorship of Honda NHL All-Star Weekend and as one of the League’s in-ice presenting partners of the NHL Winter Classic, NHL Stadium Series and NHL Heritage Classic.

As sponsor of the NHL All-Star Weekend, Honda will again be featured in the NHL All-Star Game event logo, including integration in the center ice emblem of the host venue, and included in NHL promotional materials leading up to NHL All-Star Game across linear TV, and digital and social media.

“Honda, a longtime, valued NHL partner demonstrates its strong commitment to our sport through engaging fan-focused activations,” said Kyle McMann, NHL Group Vice President, Business Development. “We’re excited to extend our partnership with Honda, and with it, a long-term title sponsorship of our mid-season jewel, the Honda NHL All-Star Game while also delighting fans with activations across our media platforms and season-long NHL events.”

Jay Joseph, Vice President of Marketing for Honda, added: “The National Hockey League has been a valuable partner with the Honda brand for the past 12 years. Our partnership with the NHL has helped Honda reach new audiences as we work together to create engaging experiences for fans who share our love for hockey. We look forward to creating truly memorable moments for hockey fans for years to come.”

Extreme E Heading To The Himalayas

The fourth location on Extreme E’s five-event calendar – its Mountain round – has today been confirmed, with the pioneering electric SUV off-road racing series set for Nepal’s Mustang District in the Himalayas.

Alejandro Agag, Founder and CEO of Extreme E, made the announcement alongside Yogesh Battharai, Nepal’s Minister for Tourism, at the race site (they are seen in photo above). Agag said: “Today we are here in the heart of the Himalayas, in the Mustang District, to announce that Extreme E will be the first race to ever be staged in the highest mountain range in the world, the Himalayas.

“The Himalayan region is a spectacular, unique environment with incredible terrain for off-road racing, which will provide the sternest of tests to the world’s leading drivers, engineers and teams. We are literally in the heart of the mountains here, it is a beautiful place.

“We’re going to bring this fantastic show, this great race, to a place where there’s never been a race. We will leave a positive legacy behind, working with the government and authorities that will help locals here and provide solutions for the region to make it more sustainable. This is a big step with big meaning – not only for the race, but in everything we will leave in place for the communities here.”

The championship will head to the Kali Gandaki valley – site of the deepest gorge in the world – 25 kilometres south of Jomsom, amid the stunning Annapurna region of Nepal, with the mountain range bearing the same name looming over the arena.

This Mustang District, approximately 400 kilometres from Kathmandu, hangs 2,750 metres above sea level. Drivers and teams will have to contend not just with the altitude but also elevation changes, coarse gravel, deep ruts and rocky obstacles, as well as the Gandaki river – one of the major tributaries feeding the Ganges.

Yogesh Battharai, Nepal’s Minister for Tourism, said: “We are extremely excited to welcome Extreme E to Nepal. The country has a unique natural and cultural diversity and harbours a number of instantly recognisable world landmarks such as Mount Everest – the tallest peak on Earth – and Lumbni – the birthplace of Buddha. We are confident that hosting this international series will serve to further our global appeal whilst being able to also shine an important spotlight on the climate issues which face our region and their solutions.

“Nepal is an exotic destination full of national treasures. Driving through our magnificent scenery with Extreme E’s pioneering electric SUVs will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the competitors, adventure enthusiasts and the fans watching on. The message is inspiring and it will be some spectacle!”

According to the UN, whilst Nepal itself sits well down the list of contributors to the climate crisis it ranks fourth in terms of its vulnerability to climate change. The Himalaya has the largest concentration of glaciers outside the polar caps, and some 66 percent of its ice – the lifeline of river basins and ecosystems across Asia – could be lost as a result of climate variability, directly affecting the water supply of hundreds of millions of people.

Extreme E is working with local experts and groups in each of its locations to implement positive legacy initiatives dependent on local needs. In Nepal, it has already begun consulting with the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) on ways to support regional programmes and institutional partnerships.

ICIMOD, based in Kathmandu, is an intergovernmental knowledge sharing centre serving the eight member countries of the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH): Nepal, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar and Pakistan. More than 240 million people depend directly on the HKH, with a further 1.9 billion relying on the zone for food, water and energy. Indirectly, more than 35 percent of the world’s population benefits directly from HKH resources and its ecosystem.

The region is undergoing rapid change, driven by forces such as climate change, natural disasters, economic growth, infrastructure development, globalisation, land-use change, migration and urbanisation. Each has major consequences on the HKH and its people.
A recent ICIMOD report, assessing the pressures on the HKH cited the need for immediate action at national, regional and international levels with a focus on further investment and co-operation – as well as concerted action to limit global warming to less than 1.5 celsius by 2100.

The report collated nine Mountain Priorities, in-line with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals:

1. End poverty in all forms everywhere in the mountains
2. Promote sustainable production systems to assure food security and income for mountain peoples
3. Achieve gender and social equity
4. Ensure year-round water supply
5. Ensure universal access to clean energy
6. Halt biodiversity loss and land degredation and manage ecosystems sustainably
7. Ensure integration between adaption to climate change, disaster risk reduction and sustainable development
8. Build resilient, equitable and inclusive mountain communities
9. Promote amountain-specific agenda for achieving the SDGs through increased regional co-operation

Policy messages defined in the report outlined a need for improved long-term hydrometeorological monitoring for more robust climate change analysis, more reliable projections for warming to discern cryosphere (ice) dynamics across the HKH and planning focussed on disaster warning systems, management and mitigation to combat extreme weather.

ICIMOD aims to further understanding of the impacts of human influence and climate change on the stability of mountain ecosystems and the livelihoods of mountain people, helping locals to adapt.

Dr David Molden, Director General of ICIMOD, said: “With its fantastic mountains, culture, biodiversity, and water resources, the Hindu Kush Himalaya is the pulse of the planet. When the pulse is fine, we know that humanity is taking care of the environment. Today we find that this pulse is under threat from climate and environmental change. We need to do all we can as a global society to raise awareness globally on these issues, and that is why it is important that Extreme E does draw attention to this region. We also appreciate that Extreme E’s legacy project will help us to protect the pulse.”

Extreme E’s purpose is to shine a spotlight on the environments in which it is set to race – each damaged by the effects of human interference and climate change – while promoting the adoption of electric vehicles in the fight to help preserve the environment and protect the planet.

Nepal is the fourth location to be announced for Extreme E’s inaugural 2021 campaign. It joins the Amazon Rainforest in Para, Brazil; Kangerlussuaq in Greenland; and Saudi Arabia, where the location is to be confirmed. The final location, which will be a coastal event is still to be revealed.

Further announcements on teams, partners, locations and drivers will be made over the coming weeks, with Season 1 to get underway in February 2021.

Saudi Arabia To Host Spanish Super Cup Until 2022

The Spanish Football Federation have agreed a deal which will see the Spanish Super Cup held in Saudi Arabia for the next three years.

Spain’s Super Cup has been revamped this year to include four teams playing a semi-final and final, with the 2020, 2021 and 2022 editions all now to be held in the middle-east.

It is reported that the cost the Spanish Football Federation will receive for holding this event in the country will be in the region of €120 million.

Four teams will now contest the Super Cup, rather than the current format which had seen the winners of the league face off against the Copa Del Rey victor over two legs. In this edition they will play a semi-final and final between the four competing sides.

The deal could be seen as a slight surprise given the opposition previously shown from some in Spain, including LaLiga president Javier Tebas, to holding fixtures in a country with some controversial human rights laws.

Sportradar And DraftKings Announce Partnership Extension

DraftKings and Sportradar have announced a new long-term extension to their current partnership which will see the sports data provider continue to be DraftKings’ supplier for data feeds and bet stimulation content.

As part of the extension, Sportradar will provide DraftKings with access to a variety of official sports data feeds, including the NFL, MLB, and the NBA for sports betting and daily fantasy sports

Neale Deeley, Vice President of US Sales and Gaming, Sportradar, said: “We are proud to extend our partnership with DraftKings, one of the most respected gaming companies in the US.

“DraftKings’ journey into sports betting has been a fantastic success, and we have been honored to be on that journey with them. We look forward to continuing that success for many years to come.”

Ezra Kucharz, chief business officer, DraftKings, added: “DraftKings’ goal is to build the best, most trusted and most customer-centric destination for sports fans and our expanded partnership with Sportradar provides us with superior support.

“This partnership will enhance customer experience by allowing us to provide faster turnaround time on our products and give us the opportunity to develop new, innovative offerings for our players.”

Formula 1 To Produce A Net Of Zero Carbon Emissions By 2030

Formula 1 have announced a new sustainability plan to be carbon neutral by 2030.

This initiative will cover the Formula 1 cars and on-track activity and the rest of the operations as a sport, aiming to eliminate the carbon footprint of the car.

The plan comes after twelve months of intense work with the FIA, sustainability experts, Formula 1 teams, promoters, and partners, resulting in an ambitious, yet achievable delivery plan.

Formula 1 also say carbon reduction projects will begin immediately to start the journey of becoming a more sustainable sport.

By 2025 F1 will also ensure all events are sustainable. This will mean the use of sustainable materials at all events with single-use plastics being eliminated and all waste reused, recycled or composted.

Additionally, F1 will provide incentives and tools to offer every fan a greener way to reach the race and ensure circuits and facilities enhance fan wellbeing and nature as well as providing opportunities for local people, businesses and causes to get more involved in the action during a Formula 1 race weekend.

Chase Carey, Chairman, and CEO of Formula 1, said: “Few people know that the current F1 hybrid power unit is the most efficient in the world, delivering more power using less fuel, and hence CO2, than any other car. We believe F1 can continue to be a leader for the auto industry and work with the energy and automotive sector to deliver the world’s first net zero carbon hybrid internal combustion engine that hugely reduces carbon emissions around the world.

“In launching F1’s first-ever sustainability strategy, we recognise the critical role that all organisations must play in tackling this global issue. By leveraging the immense talent, passion and drive for innovation held by all members of the F1 community, we hope to make a significant positive impact on the environment and communities in which we operate. The actions we are putting in place from today will reduce our carbon footprint and ensure we are net zero carbon by 2030.”

Jean Todt, President of the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) said: “Our commitment to global environmental protection is crucial. The FIA welcomes this Formula 1 initiative. It is not only very encouraging for the future of motorsport, but it could also have strong benefits for society as a whole.

“This strategy is in line with initiatives started some years ago by the FIA with the creation of the Environmental Accreditation Programme, more recently with the FIA Environment and Sustainability Commission, and researches on renewable racing fuel. With the involvement of the teams, drivers, F1’s numerous stakeholders, and crucially the millions of fans around the world, the FIA and Formula 1 are committed to driving development and ensuring motorsport grows as a laboratory for environmentally beneficial innovations.”

Munich To Host 2022 European Championships

Munich has been announced as the host of the 2022 European Championships event.

This will be the second time the competition has been hosted, after the first iteration took place in a combination of Berlin and Glasgow in 2018.

The European Championship 2022 board unanimously decided on the host city, with the dates the event will take place announced as the 11th to the 21st of August 2022.

Athletics, Cycling, Golf, Gymnastics, Rowing and Triathlon have already confirmed that they will be a part of the next edition. However, aquatics is currently off the list.

European Championships 2022 Board Chair and European Athletics President Svein Arne Hansen said: “I speak for all the participating sports in saying how delighted we are to be going to the wonderful city of Munich in 2022, and for athletics we are especially happy to be heading back to Germany, after the success of Berlin 2018, where we know there are so many passionate sports fans.

“It is testament to the fantastic legacy of the Munich Olympic Park that we will bring our individual European Championships together again there, on the 50th anniversary of the Olympic Games, and use many of its iconic venues. We are very pleased to partner again with Eurovision Sport, meaning that millions of sports fans will be able to experience the unique excitement of the European Championships 2022, via free-to-air broadcasters.”