India is ready to witness an adrenaline-fueled extravaganza like never before as it gears up to host its inaugural MotoGP event. iSportConnect’s Taruka Srivastav spoke with Pushkar Nath Srivastav, Founder of Fairstreet Sports which is organising the MotoGP Bharat to know more.
How was India chosen as the host country?
India is the world’s largest motorcycle market, with 18 Million plus bikes sold annually growing at a healthy pace of 13%. Even though the belly of the market is the lower cc segment the pace of growth for the higher cc bikes is on the rise with a currently growing percentage of 6% bikes in the > 250CC segment. Interestingly the market size of premium bikes is pegged at a whopping 45K Crores which means that the mindset for premium motorcycles is growing.
India being one of the youngest countries in the world with a median age of under 35 means that motorcycling as a culture is widely accepted and projected to be a form of lifestyle for a majority as well. In short the timing for the India GP couldn’t have been better because India is poised to transform as a motorcycling epicentre and building a race IP will only mean that a strong road for the future is paved by imbibing the culture of premium bike racing and motor sports.
How are the preparations going?
The preparations are going on a grand scale to say the least. As it is a global race there are strict guidelines and SOP’s which have to be adhered to as there is no room for error or sub optimal approaches. To briefly share about our preparations, the Buddh International Circuit which is a global renowned name, is going through a complete overhaul with multiple international teams deployed on track and the circuit, other backend teams from various functions have also been engaged to create an experience which goes much beyond the race.
What is the kind of agreement that India has with Dorna Sports?
Fairstreet Sports, has received the promoter rights and the commercial licence in collaboration with FMSCI, to hold MotoGP, Moto2 and Moto3 races in India for 7 years, from 2023 onwards.
The Buddha International Circuit was originally built to organise F1 racing. What are the changes that were made on the track?
The fundamentals of a racing track remain the same, though FIM (the international federation for two-wheeler motorsport events) had a specific set of requirements with regards to the infrastructure and track modifications which had to be made. For instance, the banking curbs and gravel zones had to be re-laid and extended to ensure they comply to the FIM perquisites, other than that the overlaying of the bitumen and other chemical compounds to renew the track has been done by the global race technicians authorised by FIM. Overall, the track is race ready and the final touches are being carried out and a world class tarmac is all set to experience one of the best racing events this country has ever experienced.
How many people are expected to attend MotoGP live?
The MotoGP Bharat race is the biggest motorcycling spectacle to happen in the history of motorcycling sports in the country with over 250,000 spectators watching the race live, over the 3 day event. But what makes this event an even bigger attraction is that the weekend will see unlimited excitement and engagement making BIC a sought-after destination which will see a diverse range of audience from all across the country to have an experience of a lifetime with experiential Fan zones, Sunburn Festival and Food Festival that are planned for the weekend. In terms of crowd management, the UP Government has deployed a special task force from various departments which include local authorities, the Gautam Buddh Nagar Police and Fire Department to name a few which are geared up to make this event a smooth and memorable experience.
How many jobs do you expect to generate thanks to this event?
The number of employment opportunities, through the preparation and execution of this event, is expected to be more than 5,000.
Nottingham Forest has announced a two-year partnership with Kaiyun Sports, the prominent Asian digital sports platform, as the Club’s official front of shirt partner.
This collaboration will see the Kaiyun Sports logo featured on Forest’s men’s first team shirts for the 2023/24 campaign. The partnership is set to kick-off this evening, debuting in Forest’s Carabao Cup second round match against Burnley at The City Ground.
Renowned across Asia as a leading digital sports platform, Kaiyun Sports are continuing to build on their extensive partnerships with some of Europe’s leading clubs, including Real Madrid and Inter Milan.
The addition of Nottingham Forest to their partnership portfolio underscores the Reds’ growing presence back in top flight football and its ambitious strategy for growth on and off the pitch.
A Club spokesperson said: “We look forward to working closely with Kaiyun Sports on a number of exciting activations and initiatives to engage with new and existing audiences in Asia and across the world. Kaiyun Sports have a reputation for redefining the fan experience for global audiences of the Premier League and other dominant European leagues.”
Byrne Howard, Chief Marketing Officer of Kaiyun Sports, said: “The collaboration with Nottingham Forest Football Club will be a milestone for us to step onto the global stage.”
Kaiyun Sports’ innovative app integrates sports and entertainment, providing users with an immersive online and offline interactive service and sourcing its games from across more than 30 different sports worldwide.
Information for supporters who wish to have the partner logo applied retrospectively to this season’s shirts will be provided in due course.
SailGP has announced an expanded collaboration with T-Mobile for Business for Seasons 4 and 5 spanning 2023 through 2025.
SailGP will leverage a 5G Hybrid Mobile Network from T-Mobile’s 5G Advanced Network Solutions (5G ANS) portfolio to further elevate fan experience with innovative, immersive views of live race action and provide SailGP athletes advanced on-water performance analysis.
For fans, T-Mobile’s 5G Advanced Network Solutions technology is now powering new action cameras mounted on SailGP’s 10 F50s — 50-foot flying catamarans that race at speeds upwards of 60 mph — that provide live POV broadcast feeds to help bring fans into the on-board action from the athlete’s point of view.
Here’s how it works: all SailGP’s F50s are now 5G-connected and feature POV cameras that are used to stream live, high-definition video from each F50 to SailGP’s London broadcast studio. These wireless cameras are embedded with 5G modules making them ideal for mounting where needed on the F50s, and can utilize AI to track athlete movement, ensuring that every moment of action is captured.
“We’re constantly pushing the boundaries of what 5G can do for consumers and businesses,” said Callie Field, president, T-Mobile Business Group. “Delivering fast and reliable analytics along with immersive viewing experiences in a tough offshore environment is a literal game changer.”
5G is also enabling another breakthrough for athletes. During the Oracle Los Angeles Sail Grand Prix, SailGP strategists on board carried 5G-equipped handsets that provide live race data to help them make key tactical decisions in real-time — all while flying over the water at highway speeds with nine other F50 catamarans in close proximity.
“SailGP and T-Mobile for Business are committed to pushing the boundaries on innovative ways to bring fans into the middle of the action through on-board, live camera views,” said Warren Jones, SailGP’s chief technology officer. “Plus, our athletes can now access real-time data, which further accelerates the decision-making capabilities for our 10 national teams.”
Across the SailGP F50 fleet, 125 sensors are mounted on each F50, sending 300,000 data points every second through T-Mobile’s 5G routers, resulting in 48 billion data points in just one race day. “Our F50 catamarans are essentially massive Internet of Things (IoT) devices that also provide incredible entertainment for fans whether they’re in person or watching from around the world,” said Jones.
As the official 5G partner for SailGP events in the U.S., T-Mobile for Business will be prominently featured at each of the four U.S. events in 2023/24’s Season 4, including next summer’s Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix in June, 2024 and the SailGP Season 4 Grand Final in San Francisco in July, 2024. Additionally, T-Mobile for Business continues as the official 5G partner of the United States SailGP Team.
Who’s hot in Sports Tech? Who is doing deals, launching new products and generally doing some of the best work in the sector? That’s what the Index attempts to dig into. Whether established players or the up-and-coming stars, we go a little deeper for you…
Edition number seven of the sports tech index sees Fanbase (fan engagement platform) hold on to the #1 spot for the third consecutive week following another six new client announcements (including four British Basketball League clubs) in the month of August.
Genius Sports (sports data) achieve their highest position so far at #2 as a result of fresh announcements of an expanded partnership with British tabloid newspaper, The Sun, and a new partnership with the Pro Pickleball Tour. They are followed in the top 5 by Sport:80 (NGB and sports membership management) at #3, Sportradar (sports data) at #4 and both Ticketmaster (ticketing) and Seat Unique (ticketing) who ranked fifth equal.
Appearing in our top 20 for the first time are Piing (massive multiplayer games) at #17 and Iterpro (all-in-one sports data management platform) at #20, who both announced new deals in August which, on top of sustained activity over the past 12 months, was enough to get them into our top 20.
Want to know more?
Subscribe to the SportsTech Match monthly newsletter for an overview of the activity that generated points towards the index this month (via the footer on the website).
The iSportConnect Sports Tech Index is designed to help rights owners and investors quickly assess who is “hot” from a product and new business perspective and provides sports tech vendors with an incentive to focus their PR announcements on what matters to the market. It follows a simple scoring system (see below).
The iSportConnect Sports Tech Index is published on a monthly basis on iSportConnect.com.
Clickhere to read more about how the Index is calculated.
Girls Down Under are on Top of the World: How the FIFA 2023 Women’s World Cup Changed the Laws of Gravity for Women’s Sport. Major international events advisor, Michael Pirrie, outlines the lessons and legacies from the ‘Best Ever World Cup.’
INTRODUCTION
It began with dawn raids on a luxury five-star Swiss hotel and ended eight years later with a football showdown in a sporting galaxy far, far away.
The FIFA Women’s World Cup travelled to novel territories in Australia and New Zealand to create a new future for the world game and for FIFA.
By the time Spain’s football conquistador, Olga Carmona, launched a strike deep into the net’s bottom left corner, like a guided missile, it would soon be tournament over and mission accomplished.
The great Spanish sporting nation had won its inaugural women’s world cup (only the second after Germany to win the men’s event as well); and FIFA had turned a deeply flawed organisation into a more positive global presence, heralding an unlikely renaissance.
The Swiss hotel raids netted 14 FIFA officials on corruption charges, paving the way for a string of far-reaching reforms that culminated in the Spain-England final, bringing the curtains down on the first World Cup selected under Gianni Infantino’s changes.
The planning and administration improvements surrounding the tournament have helped to correct important governance issues involving the world game and its flagship events.
These were plunged into darkness and uncertainty when the lights almost went out at FIFA headquarters in 2015, following the hotel raids, arrests and charges.
“They (FIFA officials) were expected to uphold the rules that keep soccer honest. Instead, they corrupted the business of worldwide soccer to serve their interests and enrich themselves,” US Attorney General at the time, Loretta Lynch, said at a news conference in New York.
The turnaround from the police raids and corruption probes has been almost unparalleled in modern sport, culminating in the success of this world cup.
If the Argentina-France final rescued the Qatar World Cup from international condemnation over scandalous human rights violations and venue construction deaths, this tournament also helped to push FIFA forward from the sins of the past.
While the final of the Qatar cup was epic, the Women’s Cup in Australia and New Zealand was epic from start to finish.
By the time the football kicked off a long list of firsts had already been ticked off – biggest tournament, most tickets sold and first dual host nations.
BEST EVER CUP
The success of this cup, in locations and conditions distant from football’s epicentres of Europe and South America, was almost as unexpected as it was unprecedented.
The Cup witnessed the birth of a new football nation in real time as Australia’s national Matildas team progressed deep into the tournament, racking up record broadcast, digital and attendance numbers.
The Australia-New Zealand double act also worked for FIFA in other ways, opening another gateway into Asia, the world’s most populous continent where Cup success has been harder to find than Olympic gold medals.
The success of the mega event followed initial doubts the tournament would survive the move from France in 2019 to Australia and New Zealand, soccer minnows, located on the planet’s football perimeters in faraway Oceania.
The factors behind the Cup’s success are now being studied by major events organisers, governments, multinational companies and sport governing bodies as statistical data emerges.
Modifications to FIFA’s host nomination process were the game changer; fundamental to the choice of Australia and New Zealand as presenters of the tournament, widely acclaimed as best Women’s World Cup since the first in China in 1991.
Even the most optimistic supporters of women’s sport could not have predicted the scale of interest and engagement in women’s football coming from tournament.
– In Australia 9 in 10 households watching TV during the national Matildas team semi final against England tuned into the game.
– Aggregate national tournament viewership topped 24 million
– Almost 2 million fans attended matches, 500,000 over initial projections
– Stadium occupancy was over 84 % across Australia and New Zealand
– Australia’s seven tournament matches attracted 403,136 fans with an average of 57,591 for each match and reaching 99.2% of capacity at each venue
– Optus Sport, the tournament host broadcaster, saw social media views of Cup content of over 75 million
– FIFA’s digital platforms experienced a 130% increase in visitors compared to the 2019 Cup, with over 3 billion content views.
Discoveries in medicine and science – from black box flight recorders, ultra-sound imaging and clinical applications of antibiotics to space-shuttle heat shield technology, wi-fi and other breakthroughs – have helped to highlight Australia as a clever country.
Australia, however, is rarely happier than when competing in or hosting a major international sporting event.
The nation was doubly joyful therefore at staging and appearing in one of the world’s biggest sporting events at a home World Cup.
There was perhaps even triple joy – and much relief as well – at FIFA’s declaration of the Cup as ‘Biggest and Best Ever.’
This matched the famous declaration by the former late IOC President, Juan Antonio Samaranch, that the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, also was the best ever.
CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS
The Cup’s success was ultimately due to an irresistible combination of a global sporting event hosted by two nations captivated by sport with popular and competitive teams
The tournament also reflected the prominent roles of women in the political, sporting and social history of the host nations.
While New Zealand (1893) and Australia (1902) were the first countries in the world to grant women the right to vote, women have represented Australia at the Olympics since 1912.
That trail blazing tradition continued at the Cup.
Morocco defender, Nouhaila Benzina, created tournament history when she became the first senior level player to wear a hijab during a FIFA Women’s World Cup game. Korea’s Casey Phair became the youngest at just 16.
“This FIFA Women’s World Cup has been truly transformational, not only in Australia and New Zealand, but all over the world…,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino said in wrap up comments.
Australia is now one of the few nations to have successfully hosted both mega events.
WOMEN’S SPORT TRANSFORMED
The Cup demonstrates women’s football as a major force in sport and wider society, no longer looming on the horizon.
The tournament smashed through sport’s glass ceiling and competition from overlapping major international events, including the Fukuoka World Aquatics Championships, Ashes Test Cricket series, and other prominent fixtures.
The Cup’s success reflects what happens when you bring the world’s best footballers and teams together and give them the right venues and environment to perform in.
“This has probably been the most amazing four weeks of our careers,” Australia’s captain and Chelsea striker, Sam Kerr, said, reflecting on the team’s performances.
It may have also been among the four most amazing weeks in recent times for the co-hosts as well.
FOOTBALL FANTASY
While life in Australia and New Zealand has returned to a more normal routine, the Cup created a sense of wonderment that transfixed vast sections of the host populations and beyond.
The euphoria reached Australia’s political capital, in Canberra, where Prime Minister Anthony Albanese even floated the prospect of a public holiday if the Matildas won through.
Well prepared and operated venues and diverse local social and cultural conditions provided a rich environment for teams, fans, and visitors.
The multicultural communities of New Zealand and Australia – where immigrants from every nation in the world have settled – filled venues with their love of sport, especially soccer.
This produced an electrifying international competition setting for teams and players from all backgrounds, generating compelling football, including 164 record goals.
Almost 25,000 fans gathered for a group stage match between Columbia and Korea at midday on a Tuesday.
Stadiums, fan zones and public spaces were filled with a party atmosphere that radiated out from the venues across host cities, nations, and global celebration sites on giant screens, on-line video and social platforms and communities.
The final was staged at the home of Australia’s biggest sporting events, the main Sydney 2000 Olympic Games site, at Stadium Australia, attracting over 75,000 fans.
The final was also the fifth time the stadium reached full capacity during the tournament, and set an audience record for football in Spain, with nearly 8.9 million unique viewers.
“Incredible,’ was how 23-year-old Spanish captain Carmona described the occasion.
“When you go to bed this is what you dream about constantly.”
WINNING FEELING
The Matildas run was perhaps the single most important factor in the tournament’s overwhelming success, confirming the importance of host nation performance as paramount in major global events.
The pathways and planning for the Australian team’s success were as important as preparations for marketing, ticketing and sponsorship.
Australia is only the second nation to host a world cup and finish in the top four after the USA.
The Matildas progress and Australia’s joyful embrace of the team’s triumphs and set backs against football’s traditional super power nations was pivotal to driving national and international engagement.
This reached fever pitch during the Matildas 10 kick penalty climax against France, producing one of the most gripping moments in recent world sport, which almost brought Australia and the Cup to a standstill.
Video of tense, anguished and cheering passengers, following the drama mid-air in their jet, is believed to have been viewed 24 million times on social within just hours of the spectacle.
The success and positive impact of the Matildas and the tournament was also vital to the Australian government’s decision to allocate $A200 million at the end of the Cup to women’s sport.
NEW CUP MODEL
The Cup changed the narrative for major international sporting events, organisers and host governments, often forced to defend budget blow outs and little return on investments.
The use of existing facilities and support services in Australia and New Zealand eliminated the need for expensive additional stadiums.
This slashed costs and removed the risk of new, highly priced infrastructure becoming dormant and dusty post tournament, without the tournament upsetting local communities seeking new schools and hospitals instead of ghost sports sites.
CONCLUSION – EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED
This Cup accelerated the development and revealed the enormous potential of women’s football like never before.
This has helped to restore credibility in FIFA’s signature event.
The Cup had a broader fan base than previous women’s sporting events and was more in tune with women’s lives on and off the pitch.
The Cup was a sporting, social and digital phenomenon, soaring more rapidly on the sports hits chart than a Taylor Swift download.
The Cup was poetic and powerful, and like Swift’s music, it was also ‘Fearless.’ The resale platform for Cup tickets was even said to be in as much demand as Swift’s concerts later this year.
Commercial innovations were successfully introduced, enabling the Cup to break even for the first time, separately selling broadcast and sponsorship rights to the tournament instead of packaging the deals as part of the men’s World Cup. This generated more than $570 million.
“We didn’t lose any money and we generated the second highest income of any sport besides, of course, the men’s World Cup, at the global stage,” said Infantino, adding “there are not many competitions, even in men’s football, that generate more than half a billion dollars.”
The Cup also broke down geographic and time zone barriers, setting new viewing records in key markets around the world and around the clock.
Two of the four women’s teams matches began overnight or early morning but averaged 3.8 million viewers, up 2 per cent for the first four matches in 2019.
The television broadcast figures for the Matlidas round of 16 match against Denmark were extraordinary, out rating Australia’s two biggest men’s sporting events, including the grand final of the Australian Rules Football league, one of the biggest domestic competitions in the world.
If sport floats hope, this Cup soared to new heights as the ultimate expression of femme football, and more Cup teams (32) gathered on the world stage than ever before.
While the FIFA president said pre-tournament that “the future is women,” the Cup also highlighted key restrictions that still hold women back. These include, again, the enormous disparities in wages and returns, highlighted by the $US 440 million prize pool for the men’s World Cup in Qatar last year, compared to just $US 110 million for this women’s Cup.
The safety of girls and women in sports settings so they can fulfil their dreams and potential, remains more urgent than ever.
The removal of Luis Rubiales seems inevitable as the Spanish inquisition and international outrage continue as part of the process to remove sexism and men behaving badly.
The fallout from the Rubiales storm will not overshadow the accomplishments of Spain’s Cup winning team, nor other national teams who participated in the Cup as some fear.
The global show of solidarity for Jennifer Hermoso and her team is also a reflection of how the World Cup class of 2023 has made football and society a better place, and they will be remembered in a league of their own.
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, LLC and Sportradar announced a four-year extension of their long-term media data rights partnership, which now includes official betting data.
This expanded agreement will result in Sportradar fueling not only NASCAR’s digital media partners with live timing and scoring data, but also driving the continued growth of betting on the sport.
As an official data partner of NASCAR, Sportradar provides the fast, accurate and reliable data the media and betting industries rely on across the sanctioning body’s three national series: the NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR Xfinity Series™ and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series™, totaling 97 races annually.
NASCAR made its foray into legal sports gambling in September 2020 when it became the first league to partner with the American Gaming Association (AGA). Since then, sports betting on NASCAR has increased exponentially as betting operators saw a 51.5% increase in the total amount of money wagered on NASCAR in 2022 compared to the previous year. NASCAR’s authorized gaming operators include BetMGM, FanDuel, and Penn Entertainment.
“As the sports industry’s leading technology company and a trusted partner of sportsbooks and media companies, Sportradar is uniquely positioned to support NASCAR in capturing commercial opportunities,” said Eric Conrad, EVP, Strategic Partnerships & Content, Sportradar. “Our ability to leverage these rights in the marketplace will ultimately enrich the NASCAR experience for fans.”
“Our partnership with Sportradar is foundational to our sports betting strategy from ensuring the integrity of our product to quickly providing authorized gaming operators and media partners with accurate, reliable data,” said Joe Solosky, NASCAR managing director, sports betting. “Adding official betting data to the partnership will continue to catalyze NASCAR’s rapid growth in the sports betting space and allow fans to further engage with the sport.”
As one of Sportradar’s earliest U.S. league partners, this deal builds upon a longstanding multi-faceted relationship. Since 2015, NASCAR and Sportradar have agreed to several contract extensions related to media data rights. Additionally, in April 2022 the two organizations entered into a separate multi-year integrity services agreement.
The eagerly awaited return of SportAccord will take place in Birmingham, England, from April 7-11, 2024, bringing together more than 1,500 delegates from around the world.
The re-launch in the city that hosted the 2022 Commonwealth Games puts the most important event of the year back at the centre of the international sports business calendar.
SportAccord 2024 will be held at the award-winning International Convention Centre in central Birmingham.
Reflecting the enormous changes in recent years, especially in technology, it seems that the relaunched SportAccord has the aim of reaching beyond its traditional identity as the annual gathering of the Olympic Movement and host cities, to embrace the world of commercial sport and related businesses more fully as a true global summit.
SportAccord has been called the ‘Davos of Sport’ and the new direction would better enable the event to live up to that nickname with a more inclusive conference and exhibition programme alongside the dozens of formal meetings scheduled by the international federations, the associations of the Summer and Winter Olympic IFs and others.
SportAccord is almost certainly the only entity that can make it happen.
Because of its official status within the Olympic Movement, it has a unique position in global sport. And that uniqueness is tangible and practical. No other event can build on a foundation of being guaranteed to bring together the presidents and top executives from about 120 IFs and Olympic decision-makers every year.
And while SportAccord over the years has welcomed speakers from professional sports and brands and agencies and service providers, there is an ambition to make the rights owners and partners of commercial sport an integral part of the conference and exhibition to facilitate collaboration and shared learning.
“Today’s challenges are basically the same for the federations entrusted with sports governance and the most commercially minded leagues and events,” said iSportconnect CEO Sandy Case. “They need to find new and better ways to future-proof their businesses, deliver value for the brands that invest in them and be sustainable. SportAccord is the only event that can address the wide range of needs of all of sport at the same time in the same place.”
Ivo Ferriani, President of SportAccord, said: “We are thrilled Birmingham is Host City for the next edition of SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit in 2024. I can think of no better place than the West Midlands to build on the momentum of the brilliant Birmingham Commonwealth Games by hosting SportAccord.
“A city of inventions, iconic landmarks and firsts, Birmingham’s rich tapestry of history, heritage and culture will provide a unique delegate experience.
“With superb facilities, as well as accommodation all highly accessible within a square mile sports leaders and decision makers can focus on what really matters in this new era for sport – unique networking and valuable insights from a dynamic line-up of world-class speakers.
“We look forward to bringing the magic of SportAccord to Birmingham in 2024.”
The 2024 edition in Birmingham will be the 17th SportAccord. Since its creation in 2003 the summit has been held in Madrid (Spain), Berlin (Germany), Seoul (South Korea), Beijing (China), Athens (Greece), Denver (USA), Dubai (UAE), Quebec City (Canada), Saint Petersburg (Russia), Belek (Turkey), Sochi (Russia), Aarhus (Denmark), Bangkok (Thailand) and Gold Coast (Australia). The Olympic Capital of Lausanne in Switzerland has twice been the host city.
SportAccord 2024 in Birmingham will be the second time the event has taken place in the UK. London welcomed the event in 2011 ahead of hosting the 2012 Summer Olympics.
In this week’s View From Africa piece Cynthia Mumbo, CEO of SportsConnect Africa, puts a spotlight on the work being done by non-profit organisation Giants of Africa.
Giants of Africa is an admirable non-profit organization that utilizes basketball to empower the youth of Africa through education, leadership, and teamwork. It was established by NBA Executive Masai Ujiri in 2003 and has been conducting basketball camps throughout the continent every summer for young girls and boys aged 15 to 19. Additionally, the organization constructs basketball courts and implements outreach programs to create more opportunities for African youth.
In 2023, GOA celebrated its 20th anniversary with a festival in Kigali, Rwanda. The festival brought together hundreds of youth from over a dozen African countries for a week-long celebration of basketball, education, culture, and entertainment. The youth participated in basketball clinics, leadership workshops, and cultural events. They also had the opportunity to meet and learn from NBA players and coaches.
The Giants of Africa Festival was a great success. It demonstrated the unifying and inspiring potential of basketball among young people from all over Africa. Additionally, it emphasized the significant efforts of GOA in empowering African youth through sports.
Giants of Africa not only holds basketball camps but also builds courts in underserved communities, facilitates outreach initiatives promoting health and education, and has created a scholarship program for African youth to attend college.
Giants of Africa has positively impacted over 40,000 African youth in 17 countries, helping to develop some of the continent’s top basketball players like Pascal Siakam, Serge Ibaka, and Bam Adebayo.
Giants of Africa has not only had a significant influence on basketball but also on the communities it serves. The basketball courts provided by the organization have become a popular spot for young people to gather, and its outreach programs have contributed to improving health and education in underserved areas.
Giants of Africa is an inspiring model of how sports can make a positive impact on the world. The organization offers African youth a chance to enhance their abilities and talents, along with the essential life skills required for a successful future.
Here are some of the specific impacts that Giants of Africa is having in Africa:
Empowering youth: Giants of Africa is empowering African youth by providing them with opportunities to play basketball, learn life skills, and develop their leadership potential. The organization’s basketball camps and outreach initiatives are helping to create a more positive and productive environment for young people in Africa.
Increasing access to basketball: Giants of Africa is increasing access to basketball in Africa by building basketball courts and providing basketball equipment. This is helping to promote physical activity and healthy living among young people in Africa.
Promoting education: Giants of Africa is promoting education in Africa by providing scholarships to African youth who want to attend college. This is helping to create a more educated workforce in Africa, which will lead to economic development.
Improving health and well-being: Giants of Africa is improving health and well-being in Africa by promoting healthy living habits and providing access to healthcare services. This is helping to reduce the incidence of chronic diseases and improve the quality of life for people in Africa.
Job creation: Giants of Africa has built basketball courts in underserved communities, which has created jobs for local construction workers. The organization has also provided scholarships to help African youth attend college, which has led to more young people entering the workforce with the skills and knowledge they need to get good jobs. According to estimates, Giants of Africa has created over 5,000 jobs in Africa over the past 20 years.
Giants of Africa is a valuable asset to Africa. The organization is making a positive difference in the lives of young people and communities across the continent.
The BCCI had issued an Invitation to Tender Title Sponsor Rights For BCCI Events (ITT). Pursuant to the tender process, the BCCI has announced that IDFC First Bank Limited was the successful bidder with respect to the ITT process (subject to definitive documentation and other formalities being completed).
During this association, IDFC First will be the Title Sponsor for all international matches (both women and men), domestic cricket matches like Irani Trophy, Duleep Trophy, and Ranji Trophy organized by the BCCI as also all junior cricket (Under 19 and Under 23) matches, held in India.
This sponsorship and the activations around the Title Sponsor are aimed at enhancing IDFC First’s connect with cricket lovers across the country and beyond. With this association BCCI & IDFC First will mutually strive to extend unmatched experiences and engagement with the cricket fans.
The collaboration will kick off with the 3-match ODI series against Australia, scheduled to begin next month. This tournament will mark the beginning of an era where IDFC First and BCCI come together to create unparalleled experiences for cricket enthusiasts.
Mr. Roger Binny, President, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said: “We are pleased to welcome IDFC First as the title sponsor for all our home matches. Their commitment and vision resonate with cricket’s spirit, and we look forward to a successful collaboration that benefits the game and its dedicated fans.”
Mr. Jay Shah, Honorary Secretary, BCCI said: “A new chapter begins in India cricket as IDFC First takes the centre stage as the title sponsor for BCCI’s home matches. Together, we are excited to co-create an unforgettable journey for fans, players, and all stakeholders involved. We have found a partner who shares our passion for excellence and innovation. With their support as the title sponsor, we are set to redefine cricket experiences and further enhance the growth of our great game.”
Mr. Rajeev Shukla, BCCI Vice-President, said: “The BCCI welcomes IDFC First on board and we are extremely excited to announce our title sponsorship of BCCI’s international and domestic home matches. Cricket is not just a sport; it is a phenomenon that unites millions across the nation. This partnership allows us to contribute to the growth of both cricket and the banking industry.”
Mr Ashish Shelar, BCCI Treasurer, said: “We are thrilled to welcome IDFC First as the exclusive title sponsor for our prestigious events. This collaboration marks a significant milestone for BCCI, and together, we will elevate the experience for cricket fans worldwide. We look forward to creating memorable moments for fans together.”
Mr Devajit Saikia, BCCI Joint Secretary, said: “The title sponsorship adds a new dimension to our events, enabling us to reach new heights in terms of engagement and impact. We’re delighted to have them on board as we continue to showcase the best of cricket to the world. Cricket is a sport that unites people across borders, and our partnership with IDFC First embodies this spirit.”
Mr. Madhivanan Balakrishnan, ED & COO, IDFC FIRST Bank said, “This partnership between IDFC FIRST Bank and the BCCI brings together two strong brands with a shared commitment to provide exemplary experiences to billions of fans. We are delighted to be the Title Sponsor for all international cricket matches played in India and all domestic tournaments, for the next 3 years. As a firm believer in the unifying power of sports, this collaboration perfectly aligns with our ambition to connect with Indians across the length and breadth of the country. This partnership is an important milestone in IDFC FIRST Bank’s journey towards creating a world class bank.”
Magnifi.ai will be organising a virtual webinar on ‘How AI Can Boost Fan Engagement in Sports Video’ where we explore how sports properties and broadcasters can monetize content using customized and AI-driven video experiences.
The speakers include:
Kelvin Watt, Managing Director, Capitalize Media Limited & SuperSport Schools Adam Kemp, Director of Sales, IMG Arena Daniel Evans, Senior Vice President of Sales, Magnifi Jay Stuart, Content Director, iSportConnect (Moderator)
During the webinar, the thought leaders will discuss: – How technology has evolved over the years – and the needs of the sports fan with it – How teams, leagues, and broadcasters are adapting to the needs of consumers – What challenges do these organizations face from a content production standpoint – How AI helps solve these challenges and what the future holds for AI in sports media
Date and Time: Thursday, 31 August, 3 PM UK Time/7:30 PM IST/10 AM ET
