Also In The News…

  • Mike Darcey has been appointed as the new chair of British Gymnastics. He is currently the Chairman of M247, the private equity owned B2B technology services business, as well as a board director for Sky New Zealand and for Arqiva. “I am delighted to be appointed the next British Gymnastics Chair and to continue the good work of Matt Neville,” he said. “Gymnastics played a big part in my life growing up in New Zealand and it is exciting to think I am getting back involved at such an exciting time for British Gymnastics.
  • The Olympic Channel will now be available on Amazon Fire TV. Content on the new app will include a 24/7 live stream, documentaries, memorable moments and more than 400 episodes from original series in the Olympic Channel library.
  • MMA promotion Bellator has announced a partnership with UK broadcaster Channel 5, which will give its European fight series a live on free-to-air window in 2019. The broadcaster will hold exclusive rights to at least six UK and European-based Bellator events.
  • Rugby League team Catalans Dragons has named Opro as its official mouthguards provider. The company will supply mouthguards to all of the French club’s squads. Opro are now the official partner of nine of the 12 Super League teams. Based in Perpignan, the Dragons are the only Super League team from outside England.
  • Marshmello’s concert at Fortnite’s virtual Pleasant Park arena was viewed over 11 million times as he performed a live digital concert inside the online digital game Fortnite. Developed by Epic Games and released in 2017, the game since has been a cultural phenomenon, with several footballers using Fortnite emotes as victory celebrations, including England players Dele Alli and Jesse Lingard.

Also In The News…

  • Mike Darcey has been appointed as the new chair of British Gymnastics. He is currently the Chairman of M247, the private equity owned B2B technology services business, as well as a board director for Sky New Zealand and for Arqiva. “I am delighted to be appointed the next British Gymnastics Chair and to continue the good work of Matt Neville,” he said. “Gymnastics played a big part in my life growing up in New Zealand and it is exciting to think I am getting back involved at such an exciting time for British Gymnastics.
  • The Olympic Channel will now be available on Amazon Fire TV. Content on the new app will include a 24/7 live stream, documentaries, memorable moments and more than 400 episodes from original series in the Olympic Channel library.
  • MMA promotion Bellator has announced a partnership with UK broadcaster Channel 5, which will give its European fight series a live on free-to-air window in 2019. The broadcaster will hold exclusive rights to at least six UK and European-based Bellator events.
  • Rugby League team Catalans Dragons has named Opro as its official mouthguards provider. The company will supply mouthguards to all of the French club’s squads. Opro are now the official partner of nine of the 12 Super League teams. Based in Perpignan, the Dragons are the only Super League team from outside England.
  • Marshmello’s concert at Fortnite’s virtual Pleasant Park arena was viewed over 11 million times as he performed a live digital concert inside the online digital game Fortnite. Developed by Epic Games and released in 2017, the game since has been a cultural phenomenon, with several footballers using Fortnite emotes as victory celebrations, including England players Dele Alli and Jesse Lingard.

Manchester United Gets Stylish With Remington

Manchester United has named personal care brand Remington as official Electrical Styling Partner for both its men’s and women’s team.

As part of the partnership, both brands will collaborate on a campaign titled ‘The Story of You’ which aims to celebrate the individuality and the power of inner confidence.

Manchester United’s Group Managing Director, Richard Arnold said: “Remington is one of the most famous and established brands in their field and they are a great addition to our family of commercial partners”

“Our partnership is not only about bringing our fans high-end styling products, it aims to inspire and encourage individuality though powerful activations and campaigns with both Manchester United’s men’s and women’s team.”

You can check out the star-powered video produced for the new partnership here.

Re-Elected UEFA President Aims To Strengthen Unity

UEFA will give more money back to its sport than any other sports federation in the world, UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin told the 43rd Ordinary UEFA Congress in Rome, where he was re-elected unopposed yesterday to serve until 2023.

During the Congress, the Slovenian expressed his opposition to FIFA’s plans for a new club tournament. “We don’t agree with the new FIFA Club World Cup they want to put in place,” he said. “We ask for respect from FIFA and that they listen to us, nothing more. We also don’t agree with the global League of Nations that has been proposed.”

Čeferin, meanwhile, voiced UEFA’s support for plans to “design the club competitions of the future” with the European Club Association.

“While we lead these two organisations,” he said, “there will be no ‘Super League’. It is a fact.”

Čeferin told the Congress in his opening speech: “Thanks to income of around €5.7 billion and a redistribution rate of over 80%, we will be giving more money back to our sport than any other sports federation in the world.”

In his opening speech, he further spoke about the crucial step in strengthening the unity of European football which had been the reinforcing of relations with key football stakeholders and including them in the decision-making process.

“More money for participating and non-participating clubs and national teams, more money redistributed through HatTrick V, and more resources for everyone to develop football in our continent. That is solidarity.”

The HatTrick V solidarity and development programme has been earmarked to receive €775 million in its next four-year cycle, from 2020–24. This represents an increase of almost 30% from the €600 million available for HatTrick IV (2016–20). Each association will therefore be able to receive up to €14.1 million over four years.

On women’s football, he expressed his view that women’s football does not need to be developed just because it is a good thing to do, or because political correctness requires it. He said. “It needs to be developed because we believe in it, and because, in 2019, men and women should be treated equally.”

On UEFA’s recent decision to introduce a third UEFA club competition for the 2021–24 competition cycle, he said: “New competitions that, at last, enable every single national association to play matches that actually mean something. The UEFA Nations League is unique. The UEFA Nations League, already a tremendous success, represents the future.”

Also In The News…

  • Confederation Africaine De Football (CAF) has named 1XBET as the official sponsor of its tournaments.The partnership will see 1xBet sponsor CAF’s main events across Africa through the Clubs tournaments (Total CAF Champions League, Total CAF Confederation Cup, Total CAF Super Cup) and CAF’s flagship tournament the Total Africa Cup of Nations. 1xBet bookmaker company will activate its sponsorship on CAF’s official digital platforms as well as official stadiums of the competitions.
  • Envision Virgin Racing is expanding its operational headquarters at Silverstone Park, to further develop and improve the team’s race preparations. The UK-based outfit moved to its new state-of-the-art facilities – located just a stone’s throw from the home of British motor racing – in 2017, ahead of the fourth season of the FIA Formula E Championship.
  • Sports are going to be a major catalyst for live streaming and streaming is a much-needed tonic for sports leagues facing lower ratings and ad revenues, according to the new State of the Broadcast Industry report from Ooyala.  “Streaming live games helps leagues gain access to younger audiences that have cut the cord, or were never attached to the cord in the first place, and it helps mitigate the ongoing decline in viewership,” the report says.

Also In The News…

  • Confederation Africaine De Football (CAF) has named 1XBET as the official sponsor of its tournaments.The partnership will see 1xBet sponsor CAF’s main events across Africa through the Clubs tournaments (Total CAF Champions League, Total CAF Confederation Cup, Total CAF Super Cup) and CAF’s flagship tournament the Total Africa Cup of Nations. 1xBet bookmaker company will activate its sponsorship on CAF’s official digital platforms as well as official stadiums of the competitions.
  • Envision Virgin Racing is expanding its operational headquarters at Silverstone Park, to further develop and improve the team’s race preparations. The UK-based outfit moved to its new state-of-the-art facilities – located just a stone’s throw from the home of British motor racing – in 2017, ahead of the fourth season of the FIA Formula E Championship.
  • Sports are going to be a major catalyst for live streaming and streaming is a much-needed tonic for sports leagues facing lower ratings and ad revenues, according to the new State of the Broadcast Industry report from Ooyala.  “Streaming live games helps leagues gain access to younger audiences that have cut the cord, or were never attached to the cord in the first place, and it helps mitigate the ongoing decline in viewership,” the report says.

FIFA Forms Qatar Joint Venture For 2022 World Cup

FIFA and Qatar have announced a joint venture to deliver the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

As per the joint venture, the new body FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 LLC will be responsible for the planning and delivery of operations and services for the tournament.

FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 LLC is a limited liability company wherein FIFA will hold 51% of the shares, and the Qatar 2022 Local Organising Committee will hold 49%.

FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura said: “Today we take a major step in the organisation of the biggest single-sport event in the world. Created in accordance with the FIFA President’s vision and together with our Qatari counterparts, the joint venture aims to reorganise the way we work at the operational front and avoid inefficiencies.

“I am convinced that this new approach to planning, delivery and legacy, always hand in hand with our colleagues based in Qatar, will help to ensure that the World Cup continues to be the most eagerly awaited event by billions of fans worldwide.”

H.E. Hassan Al Thawadi, said: “The formation of this new joint venture comes at a strategically important time on Qatar’s World Cup project, as we shift our focus from delivering stadiums, training pitches and the transportation required for 2022, to fan and player experience and event operations.”

 

Eleven Sports Acquires Copa Del Rey Rights

Eleven Sports has acquired the rights for the Copa Del Rey Semi-Final between Barcelona and Real Madrid in the UK, Ireland, Belgium and Poland.

As part of the agreement, Eleven Sports will showcase three El Clasico clashes in 24 days. They will also be showing both legs of the other semi-final between Real Betis and Valencia.

Marc Watson, Eleven Sports Group CEO, said: “Barcelona and Real Madrid are two of the world’s biggest clubs with a rivalry drenched in history. We are delighted to be bringing fans a hat-trick of El Clasico matches in the space of just 24 days. Each clash will be a fantastic spectacle that will complement the exciting finale to the LaLiga season.”

 

Arsenal Picks Gaming Software Partner

Premier League club Arsenal has named BetConstruct as its official gaming software partner.

The UK-based company aims to grow its brand awareness via the partnership with the London team.

Peter Silverstone, Arsenal’s Commercial Director, said: “BetConstruct has grown dramatically since its formation eight years ago and has built an excellent reputation as an innovative leader within the gaming software industry.”

“We are looking forward to helping BetConstruct to continue building its name around the world with consumer and business audiences.”

Vigen Badalyan, BetConstruct’s founder and CEO, said: “Becoming an official partner of Arsenal, a club whose history spans three centuries, is a mark of distinction and a great opportunity for BetConstruct to introduce its ground-breaking technology and services to Arsenal’s global audience.”

 

Also In The News…

  • Tony Aquila has been named as the Global Chairman of the Sportradar Group Board. He is Founder, Chairman and CEO of global tech company Solera Holdings, Inc. An inventor with 100+ patents, he was named EY’s National Entrepreneur of the Year in 2013 in the Technology category.
  • 1xBet has reached a deal with the Confédération Africaine de Football to sponsor its main events including the Africa Cup of Nations, the CAF Champions League, CAF Confederation Cup and CAF Super Cup.
  • Aston Martin Red Bull Racing has announced a first F1 cryptocurrency partnership with FuturoCoin. The multi-year agreement will see FuturoCoin branding feature on the Aston Martin Red Bull Racing RB15, team transporters and drivers’ overalls.
  • British Triathlon has agreed a partnership with online training platform Zwift. British Triathlon Home Nation members who subscribe to Zwift will be able to claim a free Zwift RunPod.