Red Rum, Frankel and Kauto Star have joined the likes of Spider-Man, Black Panther and Captain Marvel by being immortalised in their own comic book, Magnificent Racehorses, being released in the run-up to the Randox Health Grand National at Aintree this weekend.

The world’s first comic book showcasing British racehorses as heroes has been published in an effort to increase the profile of the sport’s greatest stars and promote Britain’s second biggest spectator sport. The comic is the brainchild of The Jockey Club, which runs some of the world’s leading racecourses, including Aintree, Cheltenham, Epsom Downs and Newmarket.

The Magnificent Racehorses comic tells some of the greatest stories of British racing with its most iconic runners given the superhero treatment by Marvel artists Martin Griffiths and Simon Furman. The ten hero racehorses were selected after a poll by The Jockey Club involving several thousand racing fans.

Her Majesty The Queen, who is The Patron of The Jockey Club and has been a Champion Racehorse Owner twice, even makes an appearance in the comic alongside one of her prized horses.

Paul Fisher, Chief Executive of Jockey Club Racecourses, said: “Horseracing is the second biggest spectator sport in Britain and we want to ensure a new generation of fans are constantly discovering the drama and excitement of its stories.”

“Working with some of the best artists to immortalise British racing’s greatest stars in comic book form will hopefully appeal to our sport’s existing fans and inspire new ones including youngsters to experience the thrill of racing themselves.”

The 24-page Magnificent Racehorses comic is available for free via The Jockey Club’s website here.

 

 

 

The Rugby League World Cup 2021 has confirmed the appointment of Brian Barwick as the tournament’s newly appointed President, stepping down from his current role as Chair of the Board from July 2019.

Barwick wrote: “I was delighted to be the Chairman of the successful Rugby League World Cup 2021 ‎bid and subsequently the Chairman of the organisation tasked with delivering the biggest and boldest Rugby League World Cup there has ever been.”

“I will stand down from that post too, but am absolutely delighted to accept an offer to be the organisation’s President and will continue to do my bit in helping deliver a stand-out international event in this country, a World Cup that will encompass men’s, women’s and wheelchair team competitions staged in ‎some of the country’s finest stadiums and in the heartland of the game.”

RLWC2021 Chief Executive, Jon Dutton said: “Brian has been an integral part of the RLWC2021 journey from chairing the original bid back in 2016. Brian has overseen significant progress since that point including the recently announced selection of venues.”

“On behalf of the RLWC2021 Board I would like to record our appreciation to Brian for his significant contribution, leadership and guidance. His new role as President will give him the chance to continue to influence the tournament at a senior level.”

The RFL’s Nominations Committee will now agree the process for the appointment of a successor as Chair of RLWC2021.

Domestic appliance brand Beko has reached a new esports partnership deal with the European League of Legends Championship (LEC).

The activation will be built around Istanbul-based Beko’s ‘Eat Like A Pro’ initiative dedicated to encouraging healthier eating

The new deal includes rights for broadcast integration, activation rights, product placement, marks usage and category exclusivity.

Beko plans to develop exclusive content with pro players to promote healthy eating habits among gamer community, using the esports heroes as role models.

Beko CMO Zeynep Yalım Uzun said: “In parallel with our ties to more traditional sports this eSports sponsorship will demonstrate how Beko supports the lives and lifestyles of a younger generation of digital natives.”

“LEC is broadcast in six languages and increasingly becoming more popular. We believe that the collaboration will boost Beko brand awareness in target markets while helping us reach a greater audience with ‘Eat Like A Pro’ initiative aiming to encourage healthy eating.”

Alban Dechelotte, Head of Sponsorships and Business Development at Riot Games EU, said: “We are excited to partner with Beko. Together, we’ll be working on some exclusive contents to encourage healthy eating and showcase Pro players from across the LEC with some fun surprises in store. We look forward to working together with Beko to provide an experience for all League of Legends players across Europe.”

Members of the United States women’s soccer squad (USWNT) say their lawsuit against the national federation alleging gender discrimination is not just about wages but also improving the sport for women participating in it at all levels.

All 28 members of the squad were named as plaintiffs in the lawsuit, which was filed in federal court last month and says the women are not paid the same as their male counterparts.

Reuters reports:

While the U.S. men’s team have voiced their support, the U.S. Soccer Federation has said it was surprised by the lawsuit, with its president, Carlos Cordeiro, saying it strives for equal pay and has boosted its investment in female player development programs.

Midfielder Megan Rapinoe told Reuters in an interview timed with Equal Pay Day on April 2 that they were also pushing for systematic change.

“For us it is really important to really look at the bigger picture of the compensation piece,” she said.

“I don’t think you can talk about compensation articulately or intelligently until you have a conversation about funding across the board,” she said.

“So, whether that is youth teams or staffing for each team or promotion and sponsorship, you know, advertising for both teams, I don’t think that that is equal yet,” she said.

“So yes we are fighting for equal compensation but we are also fighting for this larger picture of investment in both programs equally.”

Since the lawsuit was filed, some companies have stepped in to help close the pay gap.

Nutrition snack company Luna Bar on Tuesday announced that it would give each member of the squad competing at the Women’s World Cup a one-time payment of $31,250 — the difference in the bonus paid to the men’s World Cup squad.

Sportswear company Adidas has also said that if the USWNT win the Women’s World Cup this year its sponsored players would receive the same performance bonus payments as their male counterparts.

The players said change was also needed outside the United States.

“We are hopeful that FIFA is doing things to put more women in executive positions and more women within FIFA in general,” striker Alex Morgan told Reuters.

“We still feel like they are very behind on the trend and we are hopeful that what we are doing today and the continual fight that we have will help FIFA proactively change the inner workings of the system that is very flawed within them as well.”

Morgan said the team hoped to improve the lives of the next generation of female athletes.

“I think we realize the opportunity we have and the resources we have are due to the generation before us and we hope to increase those opportunities and resources available for the generation after us,” she said.

“We might not see equal pay among athletes within our generation but the hope is that the future generations will.”

The women said the lawsuit would not distract them from their efforts to win back-to-back World Cups, and a fourth title overall, when they compete in France in June.

“Success for us is very simple and it is very clear from the first second that you get on the team, whether it is like a passing pattern or a small-sided game or a friendly or a World Cup final — it’s winning,” Rapinoe said.

“It’s competing to the best of your ability, it’s trying to be the absolute best that you can so for us the expectation is always the same, success for us looks like winning,” she said.

“It looks like winning the World Cup.”