Gfinity announce broadcast deal with BT Sport

Gfinity has announced a broadcast deal with BT Sport in addition to their ground-breaking partnership with the BBC.

The new partnership will help to bring esports, which is already watched by millions online, to an additional audience via a traditional television sports broadcast.

Gfinity’s Elite Series will be featured on BT Sport’s broadcast platforms and marks the first time British esports has enjoyed a dedicated esports arena, The Gfinity Esports Arena.

The Elite Series tournament showcases competitive gameplay from eight well-known franchises made up of today’s best professional players alongside newly drafted superstars of tomorrow.

Neville Upton, CEO, Gfinity plc said: “We are very pleased to launch this partnership and deliver the Elite Series to our fans on TV, through BT Sport.

“BT Sport has shown a commitment to be at the forefront of sports broadcasting and this is an amazing opportunity to bring esports to a new audience in the UK, showcasing the incredible engagement and passion of the gamers and fans. We look forward to working with BT Sport to grow esports in the UK through engaging and innovative new content.”

Andy Haworth, BT’s managing director of content and strategy, added: “This fantastic tie-up with Gfinity marks our latest move to support and engage with the passionate and extensive gaming community here in the UK.

“The popularity of competitive gaming is growing rapidly and we are excited to announce that the inaugural season of the Elite Series will be broadcast on BT Sport.”

READ MORE: Power up – number-crunching the incredible growth of esports

Paris 2024 welcomes Olympic hosting progress after Los Angeles statement

Following the IOC’s historic decision to jointly award the 2024 and 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Paris 2024 welcomes the statement by the IOC and the Los Angeles bid.

Paris 2024 is committed to a ‘win-win-win’ outcome and believes that today’s announcements help all parties move forward in a positive way.

Tony Estanguet, Co-Chair of Paris 2024, said:

“Paris 2024 is proud to be working together with the IOC and our friends in Los Angeles to reach a positive solution for both cities, the Games and the whole Olympic Movement for 2024 and 2028.

“Today’s announcements are a sign of the progress being made and the delivery of a good solution to the IOC Members in September in Lima.

“Paris 2024’s vision is built on sharing our project with every walk of society in France and beyond. It can rely on the unity of the five founding members to deliver – in coordination with the IOC – a fantastic centenary Games built on passion, purpose and engagement. We are ready for 2024.

“We are now looking forward to the opportunity of working with Los Angeles and contributing to successful Games both in 2024 and 2028.”

The Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic bid committee announced yesterday its intention to host the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in 2028.

Anne Hidalgo, Mayor of Paris, added:

“Paris and Los Angeles are two amazing global cities that are united in their support of the Olympic cause and we stand together now to help the Games thrive in 2024 and 2028.

“As the announcement shows, dialogue between the IOC and the two cities is progressing well. We are confident that a ‘win-win-win’ agreement can be finalised ahead of the IOC Session in Lima.”

Right to Play announced as charity partner for IAAF World Championships

London 2017 Ltd has named the children’s education charity, Right To Play as its charity partner for the IAAF World Championships.

Right To Play uses sport and play to improve the lives of vulnerable children in some of the world’s poorest communities.

Already a charity partner to British Athletics, Right To Play inspires athletics fans to give children around the world a sporting chance in life.

London 2017 Ltd Championship Director, Niels de Vos said: “Having supported Right To Play since June last year when they came on board as a partner to UK Athletics, I am delighted to have them as our partner for the IAAF World Championships. These Championships give us a fantastic opportunity to shine a light on their work, alongside the world’s best athletes.”

London 2017 Ltd and Right To Play are teaming up to show the positive impact that sport and play can have on young lives and to raise awareness and funds for Right To Play’s work.

The goal is to raise enough money over the course of the Championships to reach 100,000 children with Right To Play programmes.

Greg Rutherford, Olympic, World, Commonwealth and European Champion and Right To Play Athlete Ambassador said: “Many of us take playing sports for granted but not all children have the same opportunities in life. Right To Play’s approach is unique and effective and I’m proud to be their ambassador.”

“As a charity that has sport and play at its core, Right To Play is a natural partner for the World Championships,” added Nikki Skipper, National Director at Right To Play UK.

“The athletes competing here in London are the ultimate symbols of the power sport can have in helping individuals reach their potential. Our approach to education builds children’s confidence and life skills, enabling them to realise their own potential. Whether that is a child from a remote village in Ghana or a refugee in Lebanon – we make a real difference to children’s lives around the world.”

The IAAF World Championships London 2017 (04-13 August) are hosted in London this summer, with 2000 athletes from 200 countries set to compete.

 

IAAF announces ITN Productions as worldwide joint venture production partner

The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) has joined forces with ITN Productions to form a joint venture company for host broadcasting and media production of the sport’s biggest events.

The company will incorporate traditional and digital production at competitive events, plus 24/7 storytelling to cover the activities of the whole athletics family.

Pending completion of agreements and final approval from the parties’ respective governing bodies, the company is expected to commence operations in January 2018.

IAAF CEO Olivier Gers said: “This is a great sport with outstanding athletes and stories and I was delighted by the amount of interest we received to our Request for Information (RFI) when it opened in May.

“We have some exciting new ideas and were looking for a partner who shares our vision and is also prepared to think outside the box and bring the excitement, fun and spectacle of the sport to our fans all over the world.

“We look forward to starting this new venture and liaising with our Member Federations and local organising committees, strengthening the relationship between our competitions and our fans.

Mark Browning, Group MD, ITN Productions, added: “ITN Productions is one of a very few production companies that can combine live and outside broadcast production with editorial expertise, on a global scale.

“This is a true partnership and we share the ambition and vision of the IAAF to excite existing fans and entice new ones through creative flair and technical innovation.”

PGA agrees livestream deals with Twitter and GiveMeSport

The PGA has announced plans to livestream the upcoming PGA Championship on Twitter and GiveMeSport’s Facebook page in an effort to attract a younger audience.

As part of the agreement GiveMeSport’s website and Facebook page, which boasts over 26 million likes, will broadcast live coverage of all four-days of the tournament at Quail Hollow.

Supporters will be able to enjoy uninterrupted coverage via their mobile phones, laptops and desktop computers as golf’s elite battle for supremacy in North Carolina.

Jae Chalfin, GiveMeSport’s Chief Commercial Officer, said: “Bringing live TV sports rights to Facebook will open up the audience to golf in a completely new way.”

“The PGA of America is excited to bring the 2017 PGA Championship to millions of golf fans in the UK,” said PGA of America Chief Executive Officer Pete Bevacqua.

“By delivering this season’s final major to fans of all ages across BBC, Facebook and Twitter, we hope to serve the core golf audience and invite new fans to enjoy Major Championship golf across the platforms they frequent.”

Pro12 organisers confirm tournament expansion as South African sides join new format

The Pro12 rugby tournament will be expanded to include South African sides Southern Kings and Cheetahs from September, organisers announced today.

The expanded competition will be called the Pro14, with teams split into two conferences of seven sides. Each conference will contain two Welsh and two Irish sides, plus one team each from Scotland, Italy and South Africa.

Cheetahs and Kings will play their home games in South Africa, with five travel-free days prior to matches taking places.

The addition of the two new teams is reportedly set to boost revenue by £6million a year.

Martin Anayi, CEO of the Guinness PRO14, said: “The arrival of the Toyota Cheetahs and the Southern Kings marks a bold and exciting new chapter for the Guinness PRO14 as a global rugby Championship.

“As a country, South Africa is a rugby powerhouse of over 55 million people. These teams already operate to the high standards demanded by Super Rugby and they will add to the quality of our tournament.

“Our Unions and World Rugby are committed to broadening the game and this move is evidence of our ambition to lead the way in growing the club game beyond our own borders, which in turn will unlock the true potential of this tournament.

“This is a natural evolution for the Championship and not only will the calibre of the Toyota Cheetahs and the Southern Kings grow audiences, interest and the commercial base for the tournament and our clubs, it is a move that also lays the foundations for years to come.

“The appeal of professional club rugby has never been greater and we aim to be at the forefront of the game’s growth around the world.”

Bill Beaumont, World Rugby, Chairman added: “Following consideration of PRO14’s submission, including strategic goals and evaluation of the global rugby benefits, the World Rugby EXCO was unanimous in approving expansion.

“This approval was granted under the proviso that key strategic conditions will be met. This includes the implementation of a detailed player welfare plan, which we are delighted PRO14 are fully committed to. We look forward to the beginning of an exciting new chapter in the competition’s history.”

Conference A

Munster (IRFU)
Ospreys (WRU)
Glasgow Warriors (SRU)
Cardiff Blues (WRU)
Connacht (IRFU)
Zebre Rugby Club (FIR)
Toyota Cheetahs (SA Rugby)

Conference B

Scarlets (WRU)
Leinster (IRFU)
Ulster (IRFU)
Edinburgh (SRU)
Benetton Rugby (FIR)
Dragons (WRU)
Southern Kings (SA Rugby)

iSportconnect 2017 Regatta date confirmed as SAP and LaLiga enter teams

iSportconnect is thrilled to announce that our 2017 Corporate Regatta will take place in Portsmouth on October 6.

SAP and LaLiga have already entered teams for the event, which will represent a thrilling experience for all participants.

The event offers a unique opportunity for sports business executives to experience a taste of world-renowned Clipper Round the World yacht racing combined with networking among some of the most influential people in the sports industry.

The Regatta creates a compelling environment through which to do business and build relationships as participants will learn how to work together within a cohesive racing team under the guidance of Clipper’s professional skippers and mates before taking part in a series of races.

During racing, Clipper’s team will take a back seat and allow attendees to take control, while also offering strategic racing advice to ensure everyone remains safe throughout. Proceedings will come to a close with an award ceremony and reception.

Team and individual packages are available for the event. Please contact Rags (rags@isportconnect.com) to register your interest.

For more information, please click here.

Testimonials:

Tony Scholes – CEO at Stoke City FC
“As ever iSportconnect gathered together a good range of interesting people to share knowledge and experiences with and I thoroughly enjoyed the different environment and the various challenges that it presented throughout the day.”

Zita Vimi – Business Development Manager at Intercontinental
“This was a truly fantastic event, which raised our attention to the importance of teamwork, created a unique atmosphere to network not only with our own team members, but all other invitees as well.”

Los Angeles and Paris deal on 2024 and 2028 Olympics ‘very, very close’, says Eric Garcetti

An agreement between Los Angeles, Paris and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on the allocation of the 2024 and 2028 Games is “very, very close”, according to Eric Garcetti.

The prospect of a double allocation for the Games was made possible earlier in July when the ground-breaking plans received unanimous approval from the IOC in Lausanne.

Negotiations have been taking place in recent weeks and the Los Angeles Mayor, who has been a key player in his city’s bid, believes an agreement in regards to who should host which event could be found as early as Friday (August 4).

“We’re getting close, very, very close,” Garcetti told the Southern California News Group. “Our conversations have been going very well.

“This coming week we should probably have things [settled] but I thought two weeks ago we’d have an agreement.

“Both cities have talked to them about ’24 and ’28, so ’24 is not off the table, but we have talked about what we would need to engage for 2028.

“I’m optimistic that an agreement could be reached by next Friday, for sure,” he added.

The IOC Executive Board are due to convene in London this week for a joint meeting with the International Association of Athletics Federations ruling Council, during which a decision could be formally approved.

UFC to stage first event in mainland China as November date is confirmed

The Ultimate Fighting Championship will stage its first ever event in mainland China later this year.

International and homegrown UFC fighters will take part in the landmark event, which is set to be staged in Shanghai on November 25.

“We are always asked when the UFC will be making its debut in mainland China,” UFC senior vice-president of international and content, Joe Carr, said.

“We are honoured to confirm that Shanghai will be the home of the very first live UFC event in mainland China and to say that we are excited is an understatement. The entire organisation is looking forward to making history this year.”

Michael Ma, the chief executive of the China division of the UFC’s parent company, the WME|IMG agency, added: “MMA is developing rapidly in China and amassing a large fan base. This is an exciting first step to making the sport a mainstay here.”

UFC’s move into the Chinese market comes as the sport embarks on a busy schedule during the closing stages of 2017, with 12 events in six countries planned between October and late December.

Other venues include Las Vegas, Sao Paulo, Sydney and Gdansk, Poland.

Athletics Integrity Unit and UK Athletics unveil robust anti-doping programme for IAAF World Championships London 2017

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) and UK Athletics (UKA) today announced their plans for a robust anti-doping programme at the 16th edition of the IAAF World Championships, which takes place from 4 – 13 August 2017 in London, United Kingdom.

At the heart of the AIU’s testing programme will be the collection of over 600 blood samples prior to the Championships for the purpose of continuing to build Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) profiles and to detect prohibited substances, such as human Growth Hormone (hGH). A further 600 urine tests will also be conducted onsite at the London Stadium during the competition in order to detect a wide range of substances including EPO and steroids.

“The Athletics Integrity Unit is pleased to announce a very comprehensive intelligence based anti-doping programme for the IAAF World Championships,” said Athletics Integrity Unit Chair, David Howman. “What is key to this programme is the significant work that has been done by the Unit and its partners in the ten months leading up to the Championships to ensure that athletes competing in London have been part of a robust testing programme,” he added.

The announcement of the anti-doping programme follows an intelligence-led out-of competition testing strategy enacted in the 10 months prior to the Championships, with testing targeted at athletes likely to compete in London. This 10-month out-of-competition testing period – which included over 2,000 blood tests and approximately 3,000 urine tests – is a cornerstone of the AIU anti-doping programme with no advance notice of testing given to athletes.

The AIU also collaborated with federations and National Anti-Doping Organisations (NADOs) to ensure that its own out-of-competition testing would be maximised, and to concentrate on filling the gaps where no effective national testing programs exist.

Capitalising on the 10-year statute of limitations set out in the World Anti-Doping Code (Code), the AIU will continue the strategy first initiated by the IAAF at the World
Championships in Helsinki in 2005, in which all samples collected at the event will be transferred to, and stored in, a dedicated and secure facility for the purpose of re-testing at a later date after the initial analyses.

To-date, the re-testing policy established by the IAAF in 2005 has resulted in 27 positive cases. As part of its strategy to be a forward-thinking organisation that adopts new technological trends, the AIU is also pleased to announce that during the World Championships and beyond, it will replace the traditional paper-based collection of doping control data with a more streamlined, harmonized and ‘real-time’ paperless process supported by established technology.

The paperless process will reduce the possibility of human error and increase effectiveness of the doping control process. Education and Prevention Programme A joint Education and Prevention Outreach Campaign will be carried out in London for the duration of the Championships under the Clean Athletics programme of the host
Federation. The education programme for athletes and support personnel will be organised at the team hotels and competition venue.

To create greater awareness amongst the athlete community of the need to speak out against doping and other forms of misconduct, the AIU in collaboration with the IAAF Athletes’ Commission has created an Athletes’ Pledge in multiple languages that will be signed by competitors at a handful of locations. The WADA Athlete Committee will also be lending support to the campaign by signing the pledge in London.

The IAAF Athletes Commission and the AIU will also organise seminars and open sessions for athletes and support personnel, with anti-doping and integrity matters to be two of the focus topics.

“I am delighted that UK Athletics’ Clean Athletics programme will be driving the education and prevention outreach activities during the IAAF World Championships London 2017,” said UK Athletics Chief Executive, Niels de Vos.

“Alongside the comprehensive AIU testing programme in place, we know that the anti-doping efforts have been robustly planned, and we are pleased to be playing a significant part in the delivery of this essential work.”