UEFA receives nine declarations of interest to host 2020 Super Cup

UEFA has received declarations of interest from nine member associations to host the UEFA Super Cup in 2020.

The bidding procedure for the selection of the venue to host the UEFA Super Cup in 2020 was launched on 8 December 2017, with a 12 January 2018 deadline set for associations to express their interest.

Associations hosting matches of the 2020 UEFA European Football Championship final tournament were not eligible to bid for the Super Cup.

The nine associations that have expressed their interest to host the UEFA Super Cup in 2020 are:

Albania – Tirana – National Arena

Belarus – Minsk – Dinamo Stadium

Finland – Helsinki – Helsinki Olympic Stadium

France – Nice – Grand Stade de Nice

Israel – Haifa – Sami Ofer

Kazakhstan – Almaty – Almaty Central Stadium

Moldova – Chisinau – Zimbru Stadium

Northern Ireland – Belfast – Windsor Park

Portugal – Porto – Dragão Stadium

The UEFA Executive Committee will select the successful host association in May 2018.

Tie Break Tens heads to Madison Square Garden for first-ever US event

Tie Break Tens, the new short-form tennis format, is set to stage its first-ever US event at New York’s Madison Square Garden in March 2018.

Serena and Venus Williams will both compete in the all-women event, which represents the fifth tournament of the Tie Break Tens series.

Felicity Barnard, CEO of Tie Break Tens, said: “We’re thrilled that Serena and Venus are competing in the first Tie Break Tens to be played on US soil, in such an iconic venue.

“Hot on the heels of a sell-out men’s tournament in Melbourne this week, it’s clear that Tie Break Tens is fast becoming a regular fixture in the Tennis calendar.”

The first-ever Tie Break Tens competition was held in 2015 in London’s Royal Albert Hall and the concept has grown in popularity since. Events have also been held in Vienna, Madrid and – most recently – Melbourne.

Venus Williams said of the new tennis concept: “It’s unlike anything we’ve seen in tennis before and it helps bring in new fans to the sport.”

Kindred and Betfilter launch new social responsibility tool for gambling

Kindred Group have teamed up with Betfilter, who provide a tool blocking access to online gambling sites, to help prevent people under the age of 18 from being exposed to gambling advertisements.

Kindred has worked with Betfilter over the past year to help fund the development of the new social responsibility tool called AdBlocker, which will be available across all markets. The new tool can be installed on all devices where the user wants gambling ads to be blocked.

“I am happy that this new social responsibility tool is now ready and available to those who need it. We have always been very clear that our products are only to be used by adults over the age of 18, and therefore see this tool as an important addition to our responsible gambling toolbox.

“This project also follows our commitment to supply a joyful form of entertainment to our customers”, says Maris Bonello, Integrity Analyst Manager at Kindred Group.

“At betfilter.com we are proud to collaborate with Kindred Group on this project. Our company has always strived to help people with gambling problems and also ensure safety for children” says Per Albertsen from Betfilter.

“The new AdBlocker, which is initially available for Windows users, blocks gambling ads, thus preventing vulnerable people from being tempted. We believe this Out of Sight, Out of Mind method to be truly effective in promoting responsible gambling”.

Major League Soccer announces new competitive gaming league ‘eMLS’

Major League Soccer (MLS) has announced the creation of eMLS – a new competitive esports league – for EA SPORTS FIFA 18.

eMLS will pit the best FIFA 18 players from the US and Canada, representing MLS clubs, against each other to determine who will represent the league in the EA SPORTS FIFA 18 Global Series Playoffs on the Road to the FIFA eWorld Cup 2018.

“We’re honored to partner with MLS within the EA SPORTS FIFA 18 Global Series as we continue to help grow competitive gaming and soccer in North America,” said Todd Sitrin, Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Competitive Gaming Division at EA.

“We engage millions of soccer fans daily through FIFA and attract many more who view our competitions around the world. With the eMLS we accelerate our growth as players compete on the road to the FIFA eWorld Cup 2018.”

19 MLS clubs will participate in eMLS with each club set to pursue its own process to select a player from its region to represent it in eMLS competitive play.

Gary Stevenson, President and Managing Director, MLS Business Ventures, added: “This step forward into competitive gaming is a key component in our partnership with EA SPORTS to promote deeper engagement and connections between MLS supporters and the millions of FIFA players around the world.”

At The Races renews deal to broadcast Pegasus World Cup Invitational

At The Races (ATR) has renewed a deal to broadcast exclusive live coverage of the Pegasus World Cup Invitational from Gulfstream Park on Saturday 27th January.

The event has been dubbed the ‘world’s richest race’ courtesy of a record-breaking $16 million purse that reflects a prize-money increase of $4 million.

ATR plans to mix studio coverage with NBC output, presenting the Gulfstream Park undercard prior to the feature Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational.

Throughout January, ATR will build up to the event with regular news bulletins and previews, in addition to a specially shot feature focusing on Toast Of New York at Jamie Osborne’s Lambourn base. Attheraces.com and ATR app users will have access to exclusive editorial content from respected US pundits and other additional content.

ATR Director of Broadcast, Rob Dakin, said: “We’re delighted to once again secure exclusivity in the UK and Ireland for this coveted race, rubber-stamping our status as the home of top-class US racing.

“The outstanding achievements of horses like California Chrome, Arrogate and more recently Gun Runner have been hugely engaging for racing fans all over the world, so we’re proud to be a destination where these stories are told on broadcast, online and social media channels.”

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Will Chignell joins World Surf League as new CMO

The World Surf League (WSL) has today appointed Will Chignell as its new Chief Marketing Officer. Chignell will oversee global marketing, brand, social media, PR and communications.

Chignell brings with him significant experience, having held executive positions at the America’s Cup, where he served as Chief Marketing & Communications Officer, and at The Rugby Football Union.

Chignell said of his appointment: “I can’t wait to join such a talented, passionate team, and a brand and sport that has such enormous potential. There are many landmark events on the horizon, and the WSL, the sport and the athletes have an amazing story to tell.”

Sophie Goldschmidt, WSL CEO, said: “We’re very fortunate to have Will join the organisation. He’s a proven and respected leader in the Marketing and Communications arena, with broad experience across the world, in many events, in a variety of sports.

“As Chief Marketing Officer, he was instrumental in the success of the compelling, profitable America’s Cup last year, which WSL can learn from as we look forward. The future is bright for WSL and the sport surfing in the coming years.”

Betting on Football casts its eye over the sports betting world

Betting on Football 2018, held at Stamford Bridge from 20-23 March, will demonstrate its international appeal by delivering updates around the biggest sports betting jurisdictions.

Global Market Profiles, which takes place on the first full day of #bofcon2018 on Wednesday 21 March, is one of five main tracks at the event, which will feature a total of more than 40 sessions and up to 190 industry speakers.

OPTIMA CEO Jacob Lopez will get the ball rolling with a presentation on the new window of licensing opportunity in Spain, just a few months after Spanish regulatory body Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego (DGOJ) reopened the application process for the third time since 2011.

Lopez commented: “This event comes at a great time for us, as it falls within the 12-month window for online licence applications in Spain, that will enable new online operators to gain access to the market by working with OPTIMA.

“It also coincides with a period of considerable growth in the country – the regulated gambling market in Spain generated revenue of €140.5 million from 30 June to 30 September last year, a 37.3% increase when compared to the same period in 2016.”

The morning part of the seven-session track will also cover preparation for a World Cup-free summer in Italy and the success of start-ups across the Scandinavian region, featuring Danske Spil CEO Niels Erik Folmann, Mr Green CEO Jesper Kärrbrink, Better Collective CEO Jesper Soegaard and Jari Vahanen, Senior Vice President for state-owned Finnish operator Veikkaus.

Kärrbrink added: “Scandinavia is a hotbed of innovation because of its history – a history of entrepreneurship, of technology development, of successful companies such as Ericsson and Spotify, but also a heritage of gambling, which has been a key part of society for hundreds of years. If you add this together, you get a very interesting environment for technology driven betting companies.”

Folmann said: “The key challenge for the Scandinavian sports betting market is that we have full regulation in Denmark, and Sweden coming up, but Finland and Norway are not regulated yet, so you have this enormous pressure from our international competitors on both the commercial terms and innovation.”

Meanwhile, Snaitech CEO Fabio Schiavolin, Gazzetta dello Sport Managing Director Francesco Carione, Microgame CEO Marco Castaldo and Tonucci and Partners’ Quirino Mancini will pick out the positives in the land of the beaten Azzurri, as progressive betting regulations make for a significantly more attractive place to conduct business.

Following a lunch break, the focus will turn to tackling the changing laws in Africa and the move towards legalised sports betting in the US, as the state of New Jersey seeks to overturn the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), which prohibits sports betting outside of Nevada.

The list of confirmed speakers for the Africa session includes Web Analysis Solutions CEO Mathew Symmonds, BetBoss.co.ke Investor Ian Hogg and Martin Sack, the Group Manager of Online Business Development for Sun International Group Manager, while Pinnacle CEO Paris Smith will be talking about the potential for PASPA repeal in ‘‘Making America a great market again’, alongside Betradar MD of Sales Eduard Blonk.

Smith said: “The US has the potential to house the biggest betting market in the world, but it all depends on the Supreme Court. Though it’s now quite possible that New Jersey will win the right to reverse the federal ban on licensed sports betting, that does not mean that the PASPA will be fully repealed. Both from a neutral perspective, and with my Pinnacle hat on, it will be interesting to see how this progresses.”

The afternoon will conclude with a session on dealing with the opaque regulatory landscape in Asia, led by TCM Inplay CEO Jim Yu, followed by expert insight into the scale of the World Cup opportunity in Eastern Europe.

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VERO appointed lead communications and strategy consultants for Morocco 2026 FIFA World Cup bid

The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) has appointed London-based VERO Communications as the lead international communications and strategy agency to the Morocco 2026 FIFA World Cup bid.

VERO will work with the Federation and the Morocco 2026 Bid Committee to help shape the vision of a welcoming, passionate and authentic tournament in one of Africa’s most dynamic nations.

VERO will be the lead agency on all aspects of international media and social media communications and work closely with bid leaders on overall campaign strategy.

VERO’s appointment comes after a hugely successful 2017 for the agency, which included advising Paris in its successful campaign to win the right to host the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, as well as Andrew Parsons in his election as President of the International Paralympic Committee.

Mike Lee, Chairman of VERO Communications, said: “We are delighted to be joining the Morocco 2026 Bid at this time and look forward to this exciting journey all the way to the FIFA Congress in June.

“Morocco is a truly welcoming country with an authentic passion for football, providing excellent conditions for players, easy for fans to access and get around and all in a single time zone. Its location at the crossroads of Europe and Africa, and East and West, means it also offers FIFA a superb commercial proposition.

“This promises to be a very interesting campaign as a country from Africa seeks the honour to host the most important footballing event on the planet.”

Arsenal announce Hyde Park Developments as first official partner in Egypt

Premier League football club Arsenal has announced retail company Hyde Park Developments as their first official partner in Egypt.

The Gunners boast a significant fanbase in Africa and plan to use the partnership to help drive engagement with fans in Egypt, plus support Hyde Park Developments’ marketing strategy across two real estate developments: New Cairo and Coast82.

The club will co-host quarterly training camps at both developments, while Arsenal Legends will visit Cairo and first-team players will feature in content used to promote the developments.

Additionally, Arsenal supporters in Egypt and Hyde Park Developments’ residents will be able to access a range of club-related benefits.

Arsenal’s chief commercial officer, Vinai Venkatesham, said: “We are pleased to announce this landmark partnership with Hyde Park Developments, our first in Egypt.

“Arsenal has fantastic support in Egypt where we have our second largest Facebook following of more than 2.5 million. We look forward to working with Hyde Park Developments to help them fulfil their business goals and for us to engage further with our passionate supporters in Egypt.”

Hyde Park Developments chief executive officer, Amin Serag, added: “Since football is by far the most loved sport in the country, it is only natural that one of largest Arsenal’s fan bases has developed over here. We are planning to directly reach out to those followers and engage in common activities for the benefit of both brands.

“Partnering with Arsenal will allow us not only to enhance our brand perception through association with a globally recognised and respected brand, but also to cater to our living community’s lifestyles at Hyde Park, the New Cairo and Cairo overall.”

ITTF World Tour and T2 sign collaboration agreement

The ITTF World Tour and T2 Asia & Pacific Table Tennis League have signed a collaboration agreement with the aim of growing both properties for the betterment of global table tennis.

T2 will become the ITTF competition “laboratory”, where the ITTF can test new innovations such as ball tracking and the challenge system.

The collaboration will also involve the ITTF World Tour incorporating certain elements from T2, such as using multiple balls during matches, increased player promotion, player contracts and broadcast innovations.

Mr Frank JI, who is the Founder & Chairman of T2 as well as the Chairman of Seamaster, the title sponsor of the ITTF World Tour, said: “My goal is to create an environment where our table tennis players are adored and loved by millions across the world and not just by table tennis fans.

“An environment that would attract more media attention, more TV broadcasters, more fans and more money into the sport. I want table tennis to be one of the biggest sports in the world, and have our players become rich and famous! This is why I created the T2 league and sponsored the ITTF World Tour.

“I see many synergies between the two properties, which is why this collaboration makes sense, so ITTF and T2 can work more closely together and achieve my goal of table tennis being a flourishing commercial sport.”