UEFA Signs A Cooperation Agreement With SIGA

UEFA has signed a cooperation agreement with the Sport Integrity Global Alliance (SIGA) to encourage dialogue aimed at safeguarding the long-term integrity of the game in Europe.

The agreement aims to use the organisations’ strengths to foster the development and implementation of the highest standards across sport in general, and football in particular, in the areas of good governance, integrity, ethics and the protection of vulnerable participants throughout Europe.

UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin said: “The challenges facing sport and society cannot be resolved by individual action. Knowledge-sharing and constructive dialogue are essential to make sure that organisations are in the best position to tackle those issues. This agreement with SIGA is therefore an important step in this direction.”

SIGA CEO Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros added: “This landmark Cooperation Agreement ushers in a new era for sport integrity. Founded on a strong reformist spirit, this agreement will give rise to an integrity programme of global standing and embed the highest standards of ethics and governance in the game across the European continent.

“UEFA and its President Aleksander Čeferin continue to blaze a trail for integrity in football. This is a shared pledge and sends a powerful signal to all organisations who care about integrity in sport. Now is the time to join with SIGA and UEFA, and support our proposals to deliver ‘clean sport’ at all levels.”

 

Sheffield United Signs Biggest Partnership

Sheffield United, newly promoted to Premier League, has agreed its biggest commercial deal with USG.

Under the three-year agreement, the Australia-based global multi-asset broker will become the club’s principal partner. The brand will also feature on front of shirt and sleeve.

United CEO Stephen Bettissaid: “We are really excited to have USG on board as we begin our journey back in the Premier League. Having an international sponsor on board shows just how far the club has come both on and off the pitch”

USG Chief Executive Shay Zakhaim, said: “We are honoured to have a partnership with a club with such a rich tradition and history. We are excited to be at beginning of a new chapter in the club’s story. United and the Premier League offer worldwide exposure for our business and that is something we are very keen to embrace.”

ICC World Cup Audience Hits Record One Billion On Digital

ICC is all set to shatter World Cup audience records as video views hit one billion.

According to an official statement form ICC, ICC digital and social media channels have delivered more than 1 billion video views so far, on track to becoming one of the biggest sports event on digital.

Hotstar, ICC’s official licensee in India, delivered a record 15.6 million peak concurrent live viewers for the India v Pakistan match – a record for an international cricket fixture

In the UK Sky Television boast their highest viewing figures for ODI cricket in over a decade.

The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019 is on track to shatter previous digital and TV records and become one of the world’s biggest ever sports events – having already delivered over 1 billion video views across digital content on ICC’s platforms and social media channels.

ICC Chief Executive Manu Sawhney said: “This is a remarkable level of fan engagement which cements the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019 among the world’s biggest and best sporting events. The positive trends that we are seeing around the number of fans engaged at this stage of the tournament gives us great confidence that all previous records will be shattered.

“Providing a mix of platforms including TV, digital and social, means we’re widening our reach and providing greater opportunities for fans to engage with our sport and content more than ever before and clearly demonstrating the power of live cricket to aggregate huge audiences.”

Granada FC Seals Nike Deal Until 2023

The newly promoted Spanish soccer side Granada FC has signed a kit deal with Nike until 2023.

The club has reached an agreement with the American multinational to be its new technical sponsor and will go on to wear, in addition to the first team, its lower categories, women’s teams and schools.

With this new union, Granada CF and Nike begin a journey of the hand that begins with the return of the team to the First Division and which aims to continue growing as an entity

Man City And COPA90 To Publish Women’s Football Study

Manchester City and COPA90 have joined forces to publish an international study which aims to deepen the understanding of who the women’s football audience is.

The research is focused on three key markets – UK, US and China – to identify the similarities and differences in the behaviours, emotions and attitudes of current and prospective women’s football fans aged 16 – 24 across the world.

The ‘Women’s Football Audience Report’ focuses on five key areas of exploration to identify the similarities and differences in the behaviours, emotions and attitudes of current and prospective women’s football fans across the world, and will be used by both organisations to support their continued commitment to grow and develop the women’s game.

Manchester City’s Chief Marketing Officer, Nuria Tarre said: “The popularity of women’s football is skyrocketing with record breaking crowds, broadcast viewing numbers and investments being regularly announced. However, growth comes in ebbs and flows and the need for consistency remains a key challenge for those on a domestic level.

“This research will help us better understand how to captivate and engage with both existing and new audiences, and translate support for this summer’s FIFA Women’s World Cup to the domestic league year-round. Importantly, it will also provide a clearer sense of what the drivers of change are, to support the growth of the women’s game over the long-term.”

Trinidad And Tobago To Host The 2021 Commonwealth Youth Games

The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) have chosen Trinidad and Tobago to host the 2021 Commonwealth Youth Games.

Trinidad and Tobago are set to host the 2021 Commonwealth Youth Games, the seventh edition of the competition, from 1-7 August.

Trinidad and Tobago were bidding against Gibraltar for the right to stage the competition and both Commonwealth Games Associations (CGAs) were praised as excellent bidders by the CGF Evaluation Commission following visits in January and February this year.

The CGF Executive Board voted for Trinidad and Tobago as the host of the 2021 Games at their Executive Board Meeting at the Macdonald Burlington Hotel in Birmingham following impressive presentations from both CGAs.

Trinidad and Tobago’s success builds on the back of the Bahamas hosting a successful Games in 2017 and continues the CGF’s commitment to small states and island states.

CGF President Dame Louise Martin DBE: “We are delighted to award Trinidad and Tobago the opportunity to host the 2021 Commonwealth Youth Games. We had a very strong bid process and the Board felt at this point in time, the Caribbean offers a fantastic platform for the Commonwealth Sports Movement to build upon.

“We look forward to working closely with Trinidad and Tobago in the lead up to the Games in what we are confident will be a fantastic event for the aspiring young athletes of the Commonwealth. Finally, the Board would like to thank Gibraltar once again for submitting their bid to host the 2021 Commonwealth Youth Games. We will now work with the Gibraltar CGA to identify opportunities to host future Commonwealth events.”

Brian Lewis, the President of the Trinidad and Tobago Commonwealth Games Assocation who led the bid team, said: “This is awesome and historic. On behalf of the youth, and young people of Trinidad and Tobago, thank you to the Commonwealth Games Federation.

“Its an honour to be entrusted with the 2021 Commonwealth Youth Games. I would like to acknowledge Rheeza Grant, Kwanieze John and Chanelle Young; the three young women who conceptualised, developed and envisioned the Trinidad and Tobago 2021 bid.”

Trinidad and Tobago joined the Commonwealth in 1962. It is the most southerly of the West Indian island states and is situated 11.2kms off the Venezuelan coast. It consists of two islands, Trinidad and Tobago.

Having made their debut in the 1934 Games, Trinidad and Tobago have attended every Games since, apart from the 1950 and 1986 editions.

CGF Agrees To Include Women’s Cricket In Birmingham 2022

Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) has decided to include women’s cricket at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in 2022.

Apart from women’s cricket, beach volleyball and Para-table tennis are on the programme. All the three sports have been approved by the executive board of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF).

ICC Chief Executive Manu Sawhney said: “We are absolutely delighted that women’s cricket has been nominated for inclusion in Birmingham 2022. I’d like to thank everyone at the CGF and Birmingham 2022 for the nomination and it would be a real honour to become part of the Commonwealth Games family.

“We are committed to accelerating the growth of the women’s game and breaking down barriers and gender stereotypes along the way. We share our ambition to deliver greater equality, fairness and opportunity in sport with the Commonwealth Games Federation. The platform of Birmingham 2022 will provide a springboard for women’s cricket and will inspire and engage young girls around the world to be part of this wonderful and inclusive sport.”

Ian Reid, chief executive of Birmingham 2022, said: “Our recommendation of adding women’s cricket, beach volleyball and Para-table tennis is the result of a thorough review and we believe these sports would help us to enhance the existing programme and reach new audiences, while showcasing the sports to our local community, spectators and fans across the world watching on TV.

“It’s also a selection that could help ensure that the 2022 Commonwealth Games will be the most inclusive in history, with a potential for the largest-ever Para-sports programme, and more female medallists than ever before, representing a great story not just for Birmingham 2022, but for women’s sport in general.”

Tom Curry To Ride With Land Rover As Brand Ambassador

Land Rover has named Tom Curry, the England international and Sale Sharks forward as its brand ambassador.

Curry was the recipient of this season’s Land Rover Discovery of the Season Award which recognises the most impressive young player in Gallagher Premiership Rugby and rewards them for their outstanding contribution to the competition.

Anthony Bradbury, Marketing Director for Jaguar Land Rover UK, commented: “Tom Curry has had an outstanding season and was a deserving recipient of this year’s Land Rover Discovery of the Season Award. We are delighted to welcome such an exciting talent to join as an ambassador and look forward to working with Tom throughout the season.”

Land Rover ambassador, Tom Curry, said: “It was an honour to have won the Land Rover Discovery of the Season Award this year, especially with the calibre of nominees on the shortlist. I really enjoyed last season and can’t wait for next. I am thrilled to become a Land Rover ambassador and represent a brand who truly lives and breathes the game I love.”

Lille Onboards Boulanger As Jersey Sponsor

French football club Lille Olympique Sporting Club (LOSC) has named the Boulanger Group as new jersey sponsor.

Boulanger brand will be on display on the Dogues’ chest, in matches (Ligue 1 Conforama, UEFA Champions League) as well as in training, but also as an official partner of the Women’s and eSports teams. The partnership will also be expressed by numerous digital and event activations with the communities of these two northern institutions.

Marc Ingla, CEO, LOSC said : “It is a great satisfaction for us to associate ourselves even more strongly with Boulanger, who has been with us for several seasons now. It is a pride to be able to engage in our project a sign of this dimension, a northern multinational which we share the origins, but also the ambitions. This association is also the fruit of a strong human relationship that we have with Étienne Hurez, the CEO of the group, whom I wish to thank on behalf of LOSC for its trust.

“Together and through a passionate and professional collaboration, we have the ambition to represent in the best way the success of the North and the Lille Metropolis, and to export it with a lot of determination, dynamism and energy. enthusiasm on a European and international scale. ”

Étienne Hurez, CEO of Boulanger Group said: “Since 2009 alongside the Dogues, we are pleased to strengthen our partnership of heart and meaning at a key moment in the implementation of the major project of LOSC. Convinced of the common values ​​of the world of business and the world of professional sports, it is an alliance between committed teams, competitors and putting the collective at the heart of their daily lives.”

 

Cricket Australia Signs HCL Technologies For Digital Growth

Cricket Australia (CA) has signed a multi-year partnership with HCL Technologies.

HCL Technologies will now become CA’s digital technology partner and will service the organisation’s platforms including cricket.com.au, the CA Live app and MyCricket.

The new deal will see HCL manage and elevate CA’s suite of digital products, including community cricket applications such as the MyCricket platform and community.cricket.com.au.

CA chief executive Kevin Roberts said: “Cricket is rapidly evolving here and overseas, and part of that evolution involves advancements in technology and the digital landscape. Cricket Australia is connecting with fans and participants through our digital platforms every minute of the day, through the stories and live match data on cricket.com.au right through to participants and community volunteers using our MyCricket platform.”

“The usage of these platforms continues to grow significantly, so partnering with a leading global technology provider to harness this growth and help us take advantage of our leading position is a natural next step. HCL, as our Official Digital Technology Partner, will help take our digital offerings to the next level and allow us to better connect with and inspire communities through cricket.”

HCL Executive Vice President & Country Manager, Australia & New Zealand, Michael Horton, said: “We believe that this partnership will serve as a blueprint for organisations worldwide who are exploring technology platforms that can scale existing value chains into ecosystem-centric business models, resulting in inspiring and exceptional experiences.”

“The vision of this partnership is to continue igniting passion for the game and to grow lifelong fans. We look forward to providing the Australian cricket community with leading-edge digital technologies that support real-time, engaging, personalised and unified experiences.”