ANOC Beach Games Debut In Qatar

The inaugural Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) World Beach Games Qatar 2019 starts on Saturday and will conclude October 16.

Fans will be able to watch live streaming of competitions on the official website – www.awbgqatar.com.

The Olympic Channel will also present LIVE streaming coverage on the global digital platform at olympicchannel.com and its mobile apps.

The event will feature 1240 athletes from 97 countries competing for 350 medals across 14 sports including aquathlon, 3×3 basketball, climbing-bouldering, beach handball, karate kata, kitefoil racing, skateboarding, beach soccer, open water swimming, beach tennis, beach volleyball 4×4, waterski, wakeboard and beach wrestling.

Qatar daily newspaper The Peninsula reports:

An eye-catching mix of new beach front locations and state-of-the-art permanent venues have been chosen to host the events.

The striking setting of Katara Beach, on the northern shores of Doha, will be the multi-sport event’s epicentre, hosting all of the medal events as well as the complete competitions for 3×3 Basketball, Kitefoil Racing, Open Water Swimming 5Km, Aquathlon, Individual Kata, Beach Wrestling, Beach Tennis and Beach Soccer.

Al-Gharafa Sports Club will be converted into a dazzling host venue for the Beach Handball and Beach Volleyball, while the world-famous Aspire Zone, in the heart of Doha, will open its doors to Bouldering and Skateboarding.

The Waterski Jump and the Wakeboard events will be held in the idyllic waters of the Ritz Carlton Canal.

Wetsuit Brand Huub Backs British Triathlons

Wetsuit and apparel specialist Huub has signed a strategic and long-term sponsorship agreement with the UK’s two biggest and most popular Triathlons, the Blenheim and London Triathlons.

The deal was negotiated by Limelight Sports, the agency of the active world, who took over the management of both events from IMG in 2019.

The Bloodwise Blenheim Palace Triathlon takes place on 30-31 May and the London Triathlon takes place on 8-9 August at the ExCel Centre and includes a cycle route on closed roads through central London. Both events attract thousands of participants, from first timers to seasoned amateurs.

Huub has secured a multi-year agreement across several categories. The sponsorship fee will also include providing participants with an extensive range of products and services. This new deal will add to Huub’s portfolio of sponsorships which includes an agreement with several of the UK’s top triathletes including the Brownlee brothers.

Limelight Sports CCO, James Robinson, commented, “It is fantastic to have a leading brand such as Huub involved in our two major triathlon events. We are very excited about developing this partnership with the team at Huub and bringing a range of quality products and services to our participants. Team Huub has over four decades worth of experience in the endurance sport market and its scientific and technological expertise is second to none.”

Dean Jackson, Founder of Huub commented, “We are delighted to be involved in the London and Blenheim Triathlons, two of the most important and high-profile events in the calendar. As increasing numbers of people get involved in triathlons’ we are committed to helping provide the best and most suitable equipment to help athletes achieve their personal goals. Limelight have huge experience in this sector, and we are really looking forward to working with them to develop these iconic events and help take them to the next level.”

TAG Heuer Creates New Premier League Award

Watch brand TAG Heuer is launching a new Premier League award for the 2019/2020 season, the TAG Heuer Young Player of the Season Award.

The award will sit alongside the already established end of season awards consisting of Goal of the Season and ‘Manager of the Season.

TAG Heuer is the Official Timekeeper for the Premier League,

The TAG Heuer Young Player of the Season shortlist will be released in April using official match data.. To be eligible, players must be aged 23 or younger at the start of the season.

The shortlist will then be voted on by the general public and the Premier League Awards Panel, with the eventual winner being announced in May 2020.

TAG Heuer will also be releasing episodic content videos throughout the season, featuring the top-performing young players who have made an impact in the previous months.

Enjoy this new video created for the launch.

 

 

Valencia CF Renew Partnership with Vueling

Valencia have announced that airline Vueling will continue as the club’s official partner after renewing their agreement.

With this agreement in place, Vueling will keep special offers for Valencia fans, including ticket raffles, and continue promoting the visibility of their brand around Mestalla and both online and in-game.

Vueling is one of Europe’s main airline companies and transported over 820,000 passengers last year. It has a strong presence at Valencia’s Manises airport, where it began operating in 2005.

 

iSportconnect Community Job Appointments

The FA have appointed a new Commercial and Marketing Director, with the role to be filled by Kathryn Swarbrick, who has joined from PespiCo, where she held the role of Vice President of Marketing across Western Europe and South Africa.

Dan Barnett has ended his time with U.S. Ski and Snowboard and heads to the Premier League, where he will take over as Commercial Director of Leicester City Football Club.

Other job changes this week:

Arnaud Hanset has become the Country Director in Spain, for Anheuser-Busch InBev.

Amiel Walia is now Senior Sales Manager, Partnerships at FIFA.

Anoop Desai will be Executive Director Business Development at Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment Inc.

Mo Bobat will become Performance Director for Men’s Cricket at the ECB.

Sam Smart has become Partnership Activation Manager at Formula E holdings.

Nicola Moloney is now the permanent Head of Events at the Rugby Football League.

Mike Cookson has joined Anzu as Chief Strategy Officer.

China’s Issue With The NBA Continues To Linger

The ongoing problem between the NBA and China is one that appears to not be settling down anytime soon, with more and more developments occurring every day.

Since Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey sent out a tweet last Friday in support of Hong Kong, a number of sponsors have suspended work with the franchise, and mixed messages being delivered from the league have done little to ease the tension.

Initially the NBA distanced themselves from Morey’s comments, however commissioner Adam Silver yesterday backed Morey’s right to speak his mind and have freedom of expression.

Chinese State television yesterday announced they would not be showing this week’s NBA pre-season games between the LA Lakers and Brooklyn Nets, with the first game set to take place on Thursday in Shanghai, something Silver described as ‘unfortunate’.

The NBA’s commissioner told a press conference: “It’s not something we expected to happen. It’s unfortunate. But if that’s the consequences of us adhering to our values, we still feel it’s critically important to adhere to those values.

“It’s my hope when I’m in Shanghai, I can meet with the appropriate officials and discuss where we stand and can put those remarks from Daryl Morey in an appropriate context,” Silver added, who visits the city for the game this week.

Both NBA sides have now had their NBA Cares events cancelled in the city over the past 48 hours, with the Lakers event supposed to take place on Wednesday falling victim to the fallout, something that was intended to benefit the Special Olympics, according to ESPN’s Rachel Nichols.

One thing that seems to be certain is that this issue has the potential to run and run, with no immediate conclusion on the horizon…

Arsenal Partners With 424 For Formal Clothing

Arsenal have joined forces with 424 to make the company the club’s official formal wear partner.

424 are a fashion brand based in Los Angeles who have signed a two-year partnership with the north London club, which will see them design suits for the first-team staff, players, club staff and Arsenal Women.

Hector Bellerin, Arsenal right-back, is a longtime friend of 424 co-founder Guillermo Andrade, who also happens to be an Arsenal fan. This partnership marks the first time 424 have ventured into the sports world.

“We are excited to welcome 424 as the Official Formal Wear Partner of Arsenal men’s team and, for the very first time, Arsenal Women,” Peter Silverstone, Arsenal Commercial Director, stated, “Their creative and innovative values match those of Arsenal Football Club and we look forward to collaborating with 424 to create exciting content and events to showcase their latest designs, whilst helping them reach a new audience and grow their brand internationally.”

424 co-founder Guillermo Andrade said: “This coming season a dream of mine will come true, as I have been invited to design the club suit for the players and senior staff of Arsenal FC, as the Official Formal Wear Partner. We are also proud that 424 will design formal wear for the Women’s Super League champions, Arsenal Women, for the first time in the club’s history.”

Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance Confirmed as Regional SportAccord Pan America 2019 Silver Partner

The Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance (CSTA) will support the highly anticipated Regional SportAccord Pan America 2019 as a Silver Partner of the inaugural gathering from 10-12 December in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA.

The CSTA – a non-governmental, member-based, capacity-building organisation dedicated to promoting sport tourism as a grassroots economic development initiative at the community level – will have a major presence at the event, where the Pan American, Olympic and International Sport Federation communities will congregate.

By providing services to more than 500 members across Canada, including 150 municipalities, 300 national and provincial sport, multi-sport and major games organisations and a variety of other sport and tourism industry partners, the CSTA is focused on expanding Canada’s flourishing sport tourism sector, which attracts approximately $6.8 billion in annual spending by domestic and international visitors.

Regional SportAccord Pan America 2019 will serve as a launchpad for collaboration between regional, national and international governing bodies and sports commissions, sports ministries, rights-holders, cities and regions, commercial entities and agencies. More than 50 international sport federations have already signed up to attend the event at the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center.

“Canada’s track record as a world-class host has been underlined by events such as the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in Vancouver, the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto and the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2015,” says José Rodriguez of the Regional SportAccord Pan America 2019 Local Organising Committee.

“As an influential and highly effective sports organisation with roots in the Americas, the backing of the Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance is unquestionably significant for the profile and prestige of Regional SportAccord Pan America 2019.”