Glasgow Warriors announce sponsorship partnership with SP Energy Networks

Glasgow Warriors have today announced a major three-year sponsorship partnership with SP Energy Networks.

The energy company, which operates across central and southern Scotland, will serve as the club’s Community Partner.

The distinctive SP Energy Networks logo will also feature on the Glasgow Warriors retail kit from the start of the 2018-19 season.

The pair will also work together on a range of community projects and key initiatives aimed at inspiring the next generation of rugby players from surrounding communities.

Nathan Bombrys, managing director of the Glasgow Warriors, said: “Our commitment to representing Glasgow and the West of Scotland is at the heart of the purpose of our club and it’s clear that SP Energy Networks have an even deeper commitment within our community.

“This partnership with SP Energy Networks is an example of how great things can happen when you put a genuine focus on serving your community. We look forward to developing this innovative community partnership over the next three seasons.”

SP Energy Networks Chief Executive, Frank Mitchell, said: “We are delighted that Glasgow Warriors will support our focus on community engagement.

“It’s vital that we support the communities we serve and we know the profile of the Warriors will give our messages improved resonance with many of them.”

Table Tennis England members vote in favour of governance reforms

Table Tennis England’s membership has voted in favour of governance reforms necessary for the sport to comply with the Government’s new Code for Sports Governance.

At an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) in Milton Keynes on August 12, the Board’s proposal was passed with an overwhelming majority of 96.96% of Company Members in favour – more than the 75% needed for the changes to go through.

The vote ensures that Table Tennis England is now on track to be declared compliant with the Code, which is a condition of the Sport England £9million funding award.

The funding had been suspended after the AGM in July, when the Board’s proposal was defeated by a margin of 0.07%.

Table Tennis England will also begin a thorough and wide-ranging review of all governance and Board structures that comply with the Code for Sports Governance to ensure table tennis is fit for the future.

Table Tennis England Chairman Sandra Deaton said: “This vote puts us back on track to meet our public funding obligations and allows us to continue to deliver key programmes. We are delighted that the necessary reforms have been passed and I’d like to thank our members for helping us to safeguard the future of the sport.

“The suspension of funding has caused cash-flow problems and reputational damage and restoring it was our top priority.

“Ahead of the EGM, the Board gave a written commitment to launch a public review and will now get that process under way.

“I cannot understate how important this result is for the future of our sport. It gives us the chance to move forward with confidence and to deliver our programmes for the benefit of all our members.”

Table Tennis England had been one of only two sports governing bodies, alongside the British Mountaineering Council, which did not have an agreed plan for complying with the Code.

Sport England have also issued the following statement: “Sport England is delighted to hear that Table Tennis England members have voted in favour of proposed governance reforms needed to make them compliant with the Code for Sports Governance

“We are also pleased to hear that the national governing body is conducting a wide-ranging, independently-led review which shows their commitment to improved governance.”

Just for Men announces UK sponsorship deal with the NFL

Just for Men has announced a UK sponsorship agreement with the National Football League (NFL).

The new deal will see Just for Men serve as the official sponsor of the NFL in the UK and Ireland, as well as in Germany and France.

Under the terms of the agreement, the undisputed leader in men’s hair colour will be integrated across the league’s major events and initiatives, including the London Games.

With research indicating that nearly half of NFL fans are more likely than the average male population to use colourants, Just for Men and NFL UK are well aligned to engage mutual audiences.

Just for Men aims to drive reach among its existing users while simultaneously targeting NFL fans, encouraging them to consider and trial products from the Just for Men portfolio.

Melissa Brown, NFL UK’s vice-president of commercial partnerships, said: “Just for Men has a long-standing link with sport so we see them as an ideal partner. We look forward to working with them to broaden the reach of the NFL and introduce more and more people to the sport.”

Clare Want, Managing Director of Just for Men, comments, “As the leader in grey-reducing male haircare, Just for Men is going from strength to strength with sales predicted to grow by 10% in 2017.2

“Partnering in the UK with the NFL – an international, heavyweight brand – is a great milestone for Just for Men and will help the brand to further stamp its authority on the market. We look forward to seeing how our fans react to the collaboration and we are excited to see how our fan base grows.”

IAAF World Championships London 2017 fulfills original bid promise to break records

World record ticket sales, historic firsts, entertaining presentation and a fun spectator experience have all combined to help make the IAAF World Championships London 2017 a hugely successful event.

Held in the UK for the first time ever, 2,200 athletes from 203 nations travelled to London while fans from across Britain and the globe poured into the London Stadium and onto the capital’s streets to make history.

The Championships will go down as the best ever for ticket sales after organisers were awarded an official Guinness World Record for the number of tickets sold for an IAAF World Championships in front of a packed London Stadium on the closing night.

The figure recorded on the official Guinness World Record certificate is 701,889 but with that taken two days before the end of the Championships, it will be updated to reflect the over 705,000 eventually sold. Session 12 on the morning of Saturday 12 August was the best ticketed session at 56,620.

The London Stadium was not the sole focus for the Championships with the men’s and women’s marathons, held on the same day of the Championships (Sunday 6 August) for the first time ever, and attracting 150,000 spectators around its landmark filled 10km loop course.


Niels de Vos, Championship Director and CEO of UK Athletics, said: “As the organising committee of the IAAF World Championships London 2017, we are extremely proud to have delivered a Championships that has received such great support from the athletes and the public, whether watching in the stadium or at home.

“Over ten days of world-class athletics both in Stratford and across central London, we have witnessed the world’s top sportsmen and women perform at their very best. The response has truly shown the impact athletics continues to have on the UK and beyond.

“From our record-breaking ticket sales to the fantastic dedication of our Runners and even to our official mascot Hero, it has been a pleasure to stage these Championships for every single one of the 2,200 athletes from 203 nations involved.”

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “The IAAF World Athletics Championships really captured the spirit of London and will live long in the memory as another chapter in an unforgettable summer of sport in our great city.

“We’ve seen medals won and personal bests smashed, and there’s no better honour for London than staging the final championship races of legends Mo Farah and Usain Bolt.

“More than 700,000 people filled the London Stadium, beating all previous attendance records, while millions around the globe have been watching what has been a truly memorable World Athletics Championships.

“I am so proud London was the first city to host both the World Para Athletics Championships and the IAAF World Athletics Championships in the same year, proving once again that London really is the sporting capital of the world.”

Simon Morton, COO of UK Sport and London 2017 Board member, said: “The World Athletics Championships has broken records and brought back the spirit of London 2012 to London and the UK.

“From our enthusiastic crowds, dedicated volunteers and of course this spectacular venue, we have once again shown why the UK is the best place in the world to host major sporting events.”

Doha 2019 organisers vow to stage ‘highly successful’ World Championships

Doha 2019 organisers have vowed to stage a “highly successful” IAAF World Championships at the Khalifa International Stadium in two years’ time.

Athletics’ flagship event is set to take place in the Middle East for the first time in history with approximately 2000 athletes from over 200 countries expected to compete.

Renovation works on the 40,000-capacity Khalifa International Stadium were completed earlier this year and President of the Organising Committee, H.E. Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani, is excited about the prospect of hosting the world’s third biggest sporting event.

He said: “Hosting global athletics’ flagship event is a natural next step on our historic journey.

“We will work hard to combine our passion for athletics, our experience and knowledge of hosting major athletics events and our warm hospitality and rich culture to organise a unique, memorable and highly successful World Championships.

“We will embrace this unique opportunity to introduce athletics to new audiences and new markets, inspire new athletes and capture the attention of new fans, ensuring that we maximise the full potential of our region’s first-ever World Championships. We cannot wait to connect the world of athletics in two years’ time.”

Vice-President of the Doha 2019 Organising Committee, Dr Thani Abdulrahman Al Kuwari, added: “It is an absolute honour for Doha to receive the IAAF flag from London 2017 and host the next IAAF World Championships in Athletics.

“We congratulate London for hosting a phenomenal World Championships and we thank all their teams for their support and guidance over the last two weeks in transferring their knowledge and expertise to our teams.

“We will rise to the occasion as we prepare to enter the next phase of our preparations to host the world’s third biggest sporting event.”

IAAF President Sebastian Coe added: “We look forward with excitement to our visit to Doha in two years, not simply because of their commitment to sport in their country but because it gives us the opportunity to take our Championships into a region in the world we have never been to before and that is also important.

“We need to continue to globalise our sport and it is the first visit to the Middle East for our World Championships. I know they will deliver a great event.”

Formula E teams wary of potential ‘arms race’ as new manufacturers join sport

FIA Formula E Championship teams are wary of the threat of a potential “arms race” as new manufacturers continue to sign up for the electric street racing series.

Formula E currently has a stringent set or rules that limit technical advances, with a particular focus on car batteries and aerodynamics.

Mercedes and Porsche have signed up for Season Six (2019-20) and there are concerns that additional teams could lead to the FIA straying from their original technical road map.

Renault technical chief Vincent Gaillardot told Motorsport.com: “The bigger costs that could come in the future is definitely a concern.

“We have to control the costs of any ‘arms race’ through the rules which are controlled by the FIA. We do not want to open [development of] the chassis, the aero, the battery.

“The championship is still young and we have to be careful we care for it as it is still a young child. We really have to take care and some of the new guys coming in have already stated they would like to see more freedoms.

“We have to be strong on these areas, otherwise it will hurt the rise of Formula E.”

Meanwhile, DS Virgin Racing Team Principal Alex Tai believes the future of Formula E is a bright one but is keen for the current technical road map to be adhered to.

“Formula E has probably got the brightest future because these are the cars we are going to be driving in the future, so the fact we have the interest of Mercedes and others that are coming in is just an endorsement to that fact,” Tai told Motorsport.com.

“It will drive more interest for all our partners to drive innovation harder. We relish the challenge. It is up to the stakeholders to battle against [an excessive rise in budgets].”

All That Matters announces largest conference programme ever

Organisers of the award winning All That Matters, Asia’s leading music, sports & entertainment industry conference, have announced the programme and speaker line-up for next month’s five-day B2B2Fan conference and music festival. The conference will be staged at The Ritz-Carlton Millenia, Singapore from September, 11-13.

With three weeks to go, event organizer Branded announces its biggest and most diverse conference programme yet, bringing together over 30 keynotes and 125 speakers who will participate in more than 70 sessions across the programmes’ five content tracks, encompassing Music, Sports, Gaming, Online and Marketing.

Speaking about the programme and speaker line up, Co-Founder and CEO of Branded, Jasper Donat said:

“The power is with the people! The digital media and entertainment industry is being blown wide open and the fan is most certainly in control. The programme for this year’s All That Matters is more diverse and more comprehensive than ever before reflecting the quantum change that this industry is enjoying. We have more keynote speakers talking at more sessions across more content tracks than ever before. We also have some of the very best names in their respective fields joining us to share their thoughts on the trends that will shape the future of our industry.”

“Aside from panel discussions and keynotes, we’ve also designed the programme to ensure that that there are plenty of breakout sessions, opportunities to network, to exchange ideas, and to socialise. I have no doubt that All That Matters 2017 will be insightful, highly informative and a lot of fun. We’re looking forward to it,” he added.

The last decade has seen an explosion of technological innovation in the music industry. Featuring keynote speakers including Lyor Cohen, Global Head of Music at YouTube and Hartwig Masuch, CEO at BMG, plus a dedicated China Music Forum, hosted by Tencent Music Entertainment Group which includes their CEO, Cussion Pang and the Music Matters Academy designed specifically for 200 up and coming artists, Music Matters will seek to explore the catalysts behind such fast-paced growth, while providing some perspective on the trends that look set to shape the future.

Presented by FOX Sports, Sports Matters will debate the continued convergence of sport and entertainment and will cover topics including the commercialisation of esports, rugby, golf, India, China and much more.

Chase Carey, Executive Chairman and CEO of Formula 1 will share his thoughts on the future of Formula 1. With all eyes on Japan, Cool Japan! The Road to 2020 will present a unique perspective on what Rugby World Cup’s debut in north Asia and the 2020 Olympics mean for both Japan and entertainment fans around the world. China is also a major focus for the conference. Speakers from Wanda, CMC, SECA, Alisports, CAA, and Johnson Yeh of Riot Games will elaborate on the upcoming League of Legends World Championships, hosted for the first time in the 90,000-seat Bird’s Nest stadium in Beijing. Attendees will also meet and hear from Italo Zanzi, Executive Vice President & Managing Director, Sports, Fox Networks Group Asia.

The online Gaming and eSports industry is possibly the most exciting area of the entertainment industry today and Gaming Matters will provide conference goers with an insight into some explosive industry trends and highlight how the development of e-gaming is creating opportunities for growth within other industries. Featuring Kevin Lin COO of Twitch, the world’s leading social video platform and community for gamers and creators with close to 10 million daily community members making the platform a true industry leader.

Online Matters goes to the very heart of the video revolution featuring some of the leaders of the biggest companies leading the charge including Rob Roy, VP Content Acquisition at Netflix, Hosi Simon, Global General Manager, VICE and Anil Nihalani, Head of Connected Media at Mediacorp.

Marketing Matters, in conjunction with the World Federation of Advertisers and Ogilvy, focuses on the buy side of the media and entertainment business and looks to provide marketers with new ways to reach audiences in 2020 and provide insights on marketing strategy optimization, automation, AI and more. Speakers include Vice President of Media at the world’s largest advertiser Unilever, David Porter, who will talk about getting the conscious, cognisant and connected consumers to talk to you, while a panel discussion featuring speakers from Publicis Media Group, Columbus and Lazada Group will debate Performance Marketing: The Convergence of Media, Content and Commerce plus much more.

At night and throughout the preceding weekend (September 9-10), All That Matters delegates will be given the opportunity to continue their networking as over 40 bands from around the world entertain delegates as part of the Music Matters Live festival at Chijmes.

All That Matters is the region’s premiere ‘Business-2-Business-2-Fan’ event experience. Taking place from September 9-13 at The Ritz-Carlton Millenia, Singapore, All That Matters will once again bring thousands of executives and music fans to Singapore to enjoy the entertainment and debate the trends that continue to shape Asia’s billion-dollar music, sports, entertainment and online industries.

Tickets are available to buy, priced from US$599 at www.allthatmatters.asia/main/. Attendees can also sign up to All That Matters Weekly Trends for the latest programme announcements and updates at: eepurl.com/bcVDiv

ITTF opens bidding process for 2020 World Team Table Tennis Championships

The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) is calling for expressions of interest to host the 2020 ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships.

Held since 1926, the World Table Tennis Championships is the biggest and most important table tennis event of the year, with high historical significance and high interest globally from players, fans, media and partners.

ITTF President Thomas Weikert is hopeful many different countries will show an interest in hosting the unique event: “The ITTF World Table Tennis Championships is a perfect way for countries and cities to showcase themselves to the world. The event is broadcast in over 120 countries and is seen by over 350 million people.

“I look forward to seeing as many countries show their interest as possible, not just from our tradition hosts, but new ones as well.”

The World Table Tennis Championships alternate between team and individual events annually. In 2020, the world’s best teams shall convene to fight for the title of World Team Champion.

Favorites for the title include China, Germany, Japan, Korea Republic, Singapore, France, Brazil, USA, and England.

The promotional reach is projected to be 355 million TV audiences in at least 122 countries across the world and millions more through ITTF’s 2.2 million social media fans.

The 2020 host will follow Halmstad, Sweden, and Budapest, Hungary, who will host the 2018 and 2019 editions respectively.

NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks seal Harley-Davidson shirt sponsorship deal

The Milwaukee Bucks and Harley-Davidson have signed a multi-year global agreement to feature Harley-Davidson’s iconic black, orange and white bar and shield logo on Bucks game shirts from the start of the 2017-18 season.

Shirt sponsorships were approved as part of a three-year pilot program by the NBA Board of Governors in April 2016.

The two globally renowned Milwaukee-based organizations made the announcement at the Harley-Davidson Museum in downtown Milwaukee.

“It’s a perfect fit for Harley-Davidson and the Bucks, two international brands with deep Milwaukee roots, to join together through this partnership,” said Matt Pazaras, Milwaukee Bucks senior vice president, business development and strategy.

“Harley evokes as much passion among its riders as the Bucks do for our fans. And with that passion, along with its iconic logo and what it represents, Harley is the coolest brand for our players to sport during games.”

Sean Cummings, Harley-Davidson senior vice president, global demand, added: “At Harley, our goal is to grow the sport of motorcycling across the country and around the world while building the next generation of riders.

“Our sponsorship with the Milwaukee Bucks not only unites two of the world’s favourite sports, it activates our brand in relevant ways to new, young adult audiences across the U.S. and around the world in over 200 countries and territories.

“We’ve been part of the fabric of this community since 1903 so it’s only natural that our brand is woven into the fabric of the Bucks jerseys.”

WWE and PPTV set to debut online streaming channel in China

WWE is set to launch its new online streaming channel, WWE Network, in China as part of a revenue sharing deal with PPTV.

The subscription video-on-demand service will feature all WWE live pay-per-view events, including WrestleMania and the upcoming SummerSlam.

The channel will go live on August 18 and WWE are hopeful the new venture will lead to increased expansion in a key market.

Godfrey Zeng, Executive Vice President of Suning Sports Media, parent company of PPTV, said: “When we began our exclusive partnership with WWE, we brought WWE’s signature programming, Raw and SmackDown, to PPTV and received a great response from WWE fans in China.

“In April, we offered WrestleMania as a pay-per-view event, and again, our fans responded enthusiastically. We are now launching WWE Network on PPTV and presenting the entire lineup of WWE pay-per-views and other premium content to continue to better serve WWE fans in China.”

Michelle Wilson, Chief Revenue & Marketing Officer, WWE, added: “PPTV is a tremendous partner, and has been key in helping us engage with WWE fans in China and further establishing our brand in this important market.

“With this launch, WWE Network is now available in every market, reaching more than 180 countries around the world, delivering all our premium live events and an archive of action-packed, family-friendly entertainment that has thrilled WWE audiences for years.”

WWE Network on PPTV is set to feature WWE’s major live events, original series, reality shows, documentaries and classic matches.

In addition to offering WWE Network as a subscription service, PPTV will also offer customers access to premium live events such as WrestleMania, SummerSlam, Royal Rumble and Survivor Series, plus other WWE Network Specials on a pay-per-view basis.

WWE short-form content will also be available on PPTV’s digital and social media platforms, including WeChat and Weibo.