International Judo Federation Collaborates With Choicely To Launch Digital App

The International Judo Federation has this week launched its brand new ‘IJF Judo’ app powered by Choicely for the World Judo Championships.

The app features Judo news, live videos of every contest, information about judoka and exclusive statistics in a portable format. The app is available for all the Judo lovers at both App Store and Play Market. Fans can follow their favourite athletes competing for titles at the World Judo Championships Hungary 2021 by downloading the app – https://judofederation.page.link/app

https://twitter.com/KaiusMeskanen/status/1401537665737150468?s=20

Marius Vizer, President of the International Judo Federation said: “It is an honour to have secured a partnership with one of the leading IT companies in the world. The International Judo Federation always strives to improve and in the field of technology we know Choicely will provide the solutions we need to make a progressive step forward making more information readily available to our judo family, while creating an interactive online space we can share.”

“This App will allow judoka around the world to follow competitions, analyse all judo statistics and stay up to date with IJF projects. Thank you Choicely for your contribution and friendship; we know we have made the right choice.”

“The app serves as a new easy-to-use mobile optimised platform for the global Judo community with inspiring features and exclusive statistics.”

Kaius Mekanen, Founder of Choicely said: “I’m proud to announce the International Judo Federations’s new IJF Judo app Powered by Choicely. The app serves as a new easy-to-use mobile optimised platform for the global Judo community with inspiring features and exclusive statistics.

“We’re already working on the next features, including personalised push messages that enable one-click access for the judo community to the live streams of the judokas that they follow in the app. I’m happy to build something that adds such value for the global Judo community.”

Juventus Agrees Partnership With Television Brand Skyworth

SKYWORTH, a leading global television brand has announced a new brand partnership with Juventus, the world-leading Italian Serie A football club.

In line with the theme of “Partner Together, Lead the Future”, SKYWORTH and Juventus will roll out multiple activities to celebrate their upcoming football matches with global fans. The Club recorded exclusive video messages for the partnership, featuring David Trézéguet, a Juventus legend player and one of the highest goal scorers in the club’s history, as well as Juventus First Team players Federico Chiesa, Leonardo Bonucci, Dejan Kulusevski and Matthijs de Ligt.

The partnership of this scale is a first for SKYWORTH, fueling the brand’s ambition to expand its global footprint. SKYWORTH has continued to see consistent growth in the international arena, and at present has 10 global R&D centers, three of which are based in Europe, and nine manufacturing sites worldwide, with continued plans for expansion on the horizon. The partnership will enable SKYWORTH to bring its suite of leading immersive entertainment experiences to a global stadium.

Leo Tang, Chief Brand Officer of SKYWORTH TV, said: “SKYWORTH believes in the importance of togetherness and we have been championing that through delivering top-quality TV experiences. Football is a sport that brings players and fans from around the world together. We are excited to support Juventus right now, as football recovers from the pandemic. This partnership also represents a major milestone for SKYWORTH in our global business expansion plans, and we are excited to establish a new era of entertainment and connect with audiences, who share the same passion for entertainment and sports as we do.”

The perfect collaboration stems from the all-round fit between the two brands. As leading players in their respective fields – SKYWORTH, with the brand spirit of “Be Innovative, Be Bold”, and Juventus, with the faith of “Perseverance Forever, Ambition Wherever”, they are both founded in the commitment to break the boundaries, achieve greatness, and lead the future. The partnership will propel SKYWORTH and Juventus to move ahead, explore possibilities and reach new heights.

SKYWORTH is Juventus’ official partner in the TV and related smart home products for TV category, recognizing SKYWORTH’s continuous contributions in leading technology innovation in the industry.

Federico Palomba, Managing Director of Juventus APAC, said: “We are thrilled to welcome SKYWORTH as a Juventus Official Partner. Together with SKYWORTH, we cannot wait to bring more of the action to fans across the globe and create meaningful experiences that will enable fans to feel and share the excitement with us.”

“It’s Not About The Money. It’s Just About Better.” Says Premier Golf League

The Premier Golf League, a proposed competitor tour to the PGA and European Tour has today released a statement further detailing their proposal, with more details to come later this week according to the BBC.

This statement comes a day after the BBC’s interview with Andy Gardiner, head of the World Golf Group, who told the BBC that a start date for the competition of January 2023 is “entirely feasible.”

Anticipated pushback against any form of breakaway league has been huge from the PGA Tour, who have not been shy in stating that they would advocate for bans for players who sign up to any competition such as this.

The statement reads:

An open letter to the world of golf,

There’s been a lot of rumour and speculation flying around recently regarding the proposed future of professional golf.

Firstly, we’d like to make clear that our proposition — the Premier Golf League — has been a labour of love for 6 years. We haven’t entered into this lightly, we’re unabashed golf fans with backgrounds in golf media sales and buying, broadcasting, sports production, golf tournament operations, golf rules officiating, team operations, digital operations and the law. In other words, we have the expertise and the financial and operational ability to deliver.

We are also entirely separate from the SGL.

We’re doing this because we believe professional golf can and should be better, for the fans, players and golf’s wider community. Our sole objective is to get more people watching and playing the game we love. For decades to come.

To us, that means dream fields and match ups, the best versus the best each week, a compelling team dimension with added storylines and rivalries, no cut, 3 days, team play-offs, relegation and promotion, a 5-hour broadcast window, exceptional production and a range of viewing options to suit a range of fans, existing and new.

We want those who ordinarily only watch the Majors and The Ryder Cup to tune in each week; appointment viewing, 18 times a season, as we see in other sports. And for those who don’t watch golf to realise what they’re missing.

Plus, we want those who come to spectate to be desperate to come back again.

There has been talk of possible player bans, suggesting they should not be free to choose how, when and where to play. We’d rather engage in discussion with the existing tours to understand why they think the status quo is better for fans, sponsors, broadcasters and the world’s best golfers.

Indeed, we plan to go further and gift 50% ownership of the Premier Golf League to golf’s community (please see our website for more detail and an explanation as to why, for legal reasons, this does not constitute an offer of any securities for sale).

Because for us it’s not about the money. It’s just about better.

It’s also about truly engaging with fans, without whom there would be no sponsors, broadcasters or purses. The fans who will pick the 51 wild cards each season to play for our 13th team.

If you like the sound of this or would just like to know more, please take a look at our website (premiergolfleague.com). We’d love to hear your opinion and we hope you will be as excited as we are about the launch of the Premier Golf League.

See you on the first tee,

The PGL Team

TSM Strikes $210m Deal With FTX Trading

TSM, the premier global esports organization has signed a $210 million, multi-year partnership deal split between FTX Trading Limited and West Realm Shires Services Inc, owners and operators of FTX.com and FTX.US respectively. 

FTX.US has partnered with TSM in relation to the US, and FTX.com internationally.  As part of this historic new relationship, FTX.com and FTX.US have, together, secured exclusive naming rights for TSM, which will now be known as ‘TSM FTX’.

With this strategic partnership, TSM FTX will embark on a new set of industry-leading initiatives and specifically seeks to invest these resources into esports and gaming over the next five years. The partnership’s strategy includes a focus on massive expansion into new platforms such as mobile, accelerating existing global reach with the opening of offices in Asia, Europe, South America and more and building on existing performance infrastructure, and increased investment in talent development. Additionally, TSM FTX will distribute cryptocurrency to each of its players and employees as well as purchasing $1 million in FTT, FTX’s native token.

“When I met Sam Bankman-Fried, I immediately knew we had to work together,” said Andy Dinh, Founder and CEO of TSM. “Not only did TSM FTX fit perfectly as a brand, Sam is an innovative CEO that is in every way ahead of his time. Against all odds as a young ambitious entrepreneur, he has been able to disrupt markets by making smart decisions and by surrounding himself with smart people. He has proven that you can build a multi-billion-dollar business that can grow incredibly fast at scale – all while charging a fraction of what other platforms charge, and creating a culture of community and focus on social impact.

“This deal is extremely important to the future of our organization, but it was equally as important for me personally to partner with such a visionary leader. Just as a shared passion of gaming connects people around the world across ages, continents, and language barriers, Sam built a company that connects the world around a shared value of currency. I am extremely proud he chose to work with TSM.”

Sam Bankman-Fried, Founder and CEO of both FTX.com and FTX.US, commented on the news, “We’re really excited to work with TSM. Their team has gone above and beyond both in-game and out, and rightfully established itself as the premier team in esports. We’ve also been really impressed working with them: they have the drive, creativity, communication, and generosity that we find combined in very few places. 

“In the end our partnerships will only be as strong as we make them, and we think that TSM will be able to help massively expand the presence of digital assets outside the traditional landscape. We’re also proud to work with them to give back to the world.”

To align with TSM FTX’s mission and focus on social impact and giving back, the partnership is set to feature a soon-to-be announced major philanthropic initiative, focused on the shared goals of increasing educational opportunities and developing financial literacy.

Debbie Hewitt Named As Chair Of The Football Association

The FA Board has nominated Debbie Hewitt MBE to become the new Chair of The Football Association, with effect from January 2022.

Hewitt was the unanimous choice of the seven-member selection panel, led by independent non-executive FA director Kate Tinsley, and subject to ratification by the FA Council, will succeed the interim FA Chair, Peter McCormick OBE.

The panel were in full agreement that she has the outstanding Chair and governance expertise, across an extensive range of business sectors, as well as the proven leadership qualities and character required for the role.

Debbie has an extensive non-executive career spanning over 15 years in Listed, Private Equity backed and privately-owned companies, across many different sectors.

She’s currently the non-executive Chair of Visa Europe, The Restaurant Group plc, BGL Group and White Stuff.

After six years at The Restaurant Group plc, she will step down from this business when she joins the FA in January. She’s previously held non-executive Chair roles at Moss Bros plc, Evander Group, HR Owen plc and the HPI Group. Debbie was awarded an MBE in 2011 for services to business and the public sector.

“I’m delighted to be nominated for the role of Non-Executive Chair of The Football Association,” she said.

“As the events in recent months have shown, this is a significant moment in time for English football, with a clear purpose for all stakeholders to secure the long-term health of the game at all levels.

“I’ve been passionate about football from a very young age and I’m excited by the opportunity to play my part in shaping the future of something that means so much to so many.

“I’m looking forward to working alongside our CEO Mark Bullingham and the team across Wembley Stadium and St. George’s Park, and relish the opportunity to Chair an organisation that has the potential to be a very positive force for good throughout the game and across society.”

Kate Tinsley, Independent Non-Executive FA Director and chair of the selection panel, said: “This is an excellent appointment for the FA and English football in general.

“Debbie was the outstanding candidate from a talented and experienced field. She immediately demonstrated her passion and ability to positively influence the direction of the FA on a domestic and global stage, providing strong and principled leadership along the way.”

Peter McCormick OBE, interim FA Chair, said: “We’re delighted to nominate Debbie as our new Chair. Her experience across many different areas of business and general approach will allow her to work collaboratively across the game, while providing her own insight, experience and judgement on the issues that matter most. I very much look forward to working with her.”

The FA Council will be asked to formally ratify the new Chair at its next meeting on 22 July 2021 and conditional on this, Debbie Hewitt will start the role with effect from January 2022. Peter McCormick will remain in position as Interim Chair until this date.

CVC Capital Partners In Talks For A $600m Merger Of ATP And WTA

CVC Capital Partners, the former owner of Formula One motor racing is in negotiations for a $600m deal that could transform the face of global tennis by combining the organisers of the men’s and women’s tours under a single commercial entity.

According to Sky News, CVC is aiming to get the approval from the ATP and WTA boards later this month.

CVC is also in the process of buying a stake in the Six Nations Rugby championship, although that deal has attracted interest from the Competition and Markets Authority.

CVC already bought a stake in the International Volleyball Federation’s commercial rights, while it is also examining deals in the US’s NBA basketball league and women’s football in England.

World’s Top Swimmers Form Independent International Swimmers’ Alliance

Today marks the formal launch of the International Swimmers’ Alliance, an independent organization established for athletes, by athletes that aims to fight for swimmers’ rights and provide them with an independent global voice.

Formed in response to the calls from professional swimmers worldwide for independent representation, the International Swimmers’ Alliance has a goal to improve personal and economic opportunities for all elite swimmers by elevating the sport into the modern era.

The non-profit International Swimmers’ Alliance aims to engage in positive dialogue with the IOC and swimming’s international governing body, FINA, to bring about the change required to modernize the sport. The Alliance’s goal is collaboration but at the same time hold those accountable at FINA when not acting in the best interest of the athletes. While all modern professional sports leagues have an average athlete to administrator ratio of 1:3, the IOC’s administration structure is 1:50 respectively. Additionally, all modern professional leagues have revenue sharing agreements with athletes of roughly 50-50, swimmers receive no compensation for competing either at the Olympics or World Championships. Swimmers have united to address these glaring comparisons.

The Alliance’s main objectives, which will be decided by the swimmers include:

  • Promoting the advancement of all swimmers and the sport.
    Improving and maintaining relations with all governing bodies and event organizers.
  • Improving economic conditions of swimmers (including, at the appropriate time, the establishment and maintenance of pension plans, health insurance plans or other benefit plans for swimmers),
  • Developing enterprises aimed at expanding benefits for the Alliance and its members (including, at the appropriate time, the sponsorship or organization of professional competitions).

“Very little has changed in the business structure of professional swimming since Tom Jager and I were the first true professional swimmers in America three decades ago. This fact is not lost on today’s top swimmers.” said Olympian and International Swimmers’ Alliance Manager Matt Biondi.

The International Swimmers’ Alliance has also agreed to a strategic partnership with Global Athlete, a progressive athlete start-up movement aiming to inspire greater athlete representation in organizations across the world of sport. The partnership brings together two organizations with similar values to collaborate on projects, share insights and drive change that will ultimately benefit the athletes and the sport.

“Global Athlete is proud to be a partner with the International Swimmers’ Alliance. Establishing an independent association is a critical step in enhancing athletes’ rights. It is so important for athletes to have their own professional representation and they are in good hands with Matt leading the charge.” said Rob Koehler, Global Athlete Director General.

London Marathon Replaces Virgin Money With Tata Consultancy Services As Title Partner

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) will become the title partner of the London Marathon from 2022, following this year’s race on October 3.

TCS has a historic track record with major marathons across the world, including New York, Amsterdam, Singapore, and Mumbai. London will be the second Abbott World Marathon Major where TCS is the title partner and the fourth where TCS is the partner, as well as its seventh title partnership globally.

TCS plans to use digital innovation to further enhance the event experience for all future races which will continue to be a hybrid of physical and virtual events. This year’s ambition is for 50,000 runners to take part in the mass participation event from Blackheath to The Mall, and a further 50,000 in the virtual event.

“The London Marathon was founded on the core belief that the family of mankind can be united. TCS is building innovative and impactful technology solutions to help realize this belief, and inspire people to believe in themselves,” said Amit Kapur, Country Head, TCS UK & Ireland. “We are pleased to take on the role of title partner and lead the way in driving the future success of physical and virtual London Marathons.”

“We are delighted to welcome TCS as the new title partner of the London Marathon from 2022. This is a landmark day in our history, and we look forward to working with TCS to evolve and grow our digital reach, inspire millions more to become active and develop opportunities to raise even more for charities.

TCS has been an integral part of the Marathon for the past five years, delivering the latest technology to enhance the marathon experience for participants and spectators. This new title partnership marks the dawning of a new era in what we can achieve together,” commented Hugh Brasher, Event Director of the London Marathon.

Javier Tebas And European Leagues: “All Clubs Are Important, From The Smallest To The Largest”

The breakaway league project may have been quickly rejected by leagues, clubs and fan groups, but Javier Tebas has issued a warning that clubs across domestic leagues must unite to prevent attacks on football’s meritocracy returning.

The LaLiga President (and representative of European Leagues on the UEFA Executive Committee) was speaking at European Leagues’ Club Advisory Platform (CAP), which brought together more than 300 professional clubs from 32 competitions to discuss the next steps for football across the continent.

Tebas discussed the flaws of the ideology behind the breakaway league in detail and the need for the industry to remain true to core principles.

“The first principle that is in danger is that of meritocracy,” he said. “It is the first key element of European football and we can never put that in danger. The ability to dream is essential for fans and clubs. Closed leagues do not work. All clubs, from the small to the big, have a right to success and we can’t lose that.”

“Second, our principle of autonomy can’t be eliminated, nor can the principle of one club, one vote,” he added. “We can’t move towards something that isn’t one vote for each club, to something that is instead based on bank balance, assets or incomes that a club has.”

Read more – https://newsletter.laliga.es/global-futbol/javier-tebas-european-leagues-cap-defending-all-clubs?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Global+Futbol+%7C+May+2021+%282%29&utm_content=11495333&utm_source=sendgrid.com&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=website

E1 Series Collaborates With The Public Investment Fund

Electric Sea Racing Limited (‘E1 Series’) and PIF (the Public Investment Fund) have entered into a partnership that will see PIF support in creating the world’s first electric powerboat racing championship.

The partnership represents a significant step forward in the long-term development of the championship, providing a strong foundation on which to build from and enabling the series to further accelerate preparations for the inaugural season, scheduled to take place in early 2023 – with Saudi Arabia to be one of the considered race locations.

As a major contributor to the global economy and partner of choice for innovative companies and investors, PIF’s investment in E1 is in line with its 2021-2025 strategy announced earlier this year, which focuses on 13 key strategic sectors, including sports and entertainment, and renewable energy. This includes major investments in renewable energy companies, such as ACWA Power and the Sudair Solar Energy project, as well as in the development of electric vehicles through its investment in Lucid Motors.

Series creators Alejandro Agag, Chairman of E1, and Rodi Basso, CEO of E1, were both joined live in the studio by the President of the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM) Raffaele Chiulli, as well as SeaBird Technologies Founder Sophi Horne, and Founder & CEO of Victory Marine Brunello Acampora to present the RaceBird powerboat.

The vessel is a completely new design and was co-created by Horne and Acampora following an extensive validation process. The RaceBird is inspired by nature and birds flying low over the water and features an outboard motor, enclosed safety canopy and hydrofoil technology.

Using innovative hydrofoil technology, the electric RaceBird powerboats will rise high above the water’s surface, allowing for minimum drag and maximum energy efficiency. Being lifted above the waves will not only improve performance, but it will also promote close and competitive racing with a reduced wake when following an opponent.

The RaceBird is specially designed for foil-to-foil racing and is capable of reaching speeds up to 50 knots (93 km/h or 58 mph), with pilots showcasing their skills using tight and technical circuits located close to shore in the heart of urban areas.

With the design now validated, the RaceBird has entered into the production phase with the expert engineers at Victory Marine concentrating their efforts and resource over the coming months on manufacturing a full fleet of race-ready electric powerboats.

Alejandro Agag, Co-Founder & Chairman of E1, said: “It gives me great pleasure to welcome on board PIF as a new partner in this exciting venture. To get the backing of PIF at this early stage of development emphasises the importance of our mission to electrify marine mobility. With the new design of the RaceBird boat you see today, we hope to accelerate change in the marine industry and provide sustainable solutions for future leisure craft. The new powerboat that Sophi and Brunello designed looks like a spaceship. I’ve compared electric racing cars to podracers from Star Wars in the past, but the RaceBird looks even more futuristic. Working together with PIF, I look forward to ushering in a new era of electric powerboat racing.”

Rodi Basso, Co-Founder & CEO of E1, said: “We’re thrilled to be working together with PIF to jointly shape the future direction of powerboating. Forming a strong partnership with a global investment powerhouse such as PIF provides a solid foundation on which to build a new sport. The RaceBird presents a unique challenge and one that the teams at SeaBird Technologies and Victory Marine have delivered on. They’ve managed to develop an innovative powerboat with an eye-catching design and factored in practical solutions ready to go racing. Shortly we’ll also be announcing our powertrain and electronics partners; we’re on schedule to hit the water soon.”

Commenting on the announcement, HE Yasir Al-Rumayyan, Governor of the Public Investment Fund, said: “This exciting investment in a new premier sport format aligns with our strategy to enable innovation globally and unlock new industries, as well as build strategic partnerships with real value add to Saudi Arabia. We believe our support for future sports will also contribute to the growth of various sectors globally.

“Our partnership with E1 will help drive the development of innovative sustainable technology, which in turn positions Saudi as an enabler in the industries of the future and the creation of new opportunities.”

Sophi Horne, Founder of SeaBird Technologies, said: “It’s amazing to finally be able to share the new RaceBird design with the world. Obviously, I’ve seen it on a screen quite a lot in the past few months! But it’s great to show the new look of the boat that the pilots will race with. The bodywork and shape of the vessel is inspired by nature and birds flying above the water’s surface. What has been interesting is trying to find a balance between how you envisage the design and combining that with optimising both performance and efficiency. The solution we settled on fortunately doesn’t compromise on either the looks or performance capabilities.”

Brunello Acampora, Founder & CEO of Victory Marine, said: “Today’s announcement is the result of many months of hard work, creating a completely new design and simulating it in a competitive racing environment. I’ve really enjoyed working together with Sophi to produce the vessel that will compete in the world’s first electric powerboat championship. Now that the design has been fully validated, we’ll begin engineering and manufacturing the boats in preparation for prototype testing and ready for the teams to receive their first delivery. For us at Victory Marine, the E1 Series is the greatest test bench for cutting-edge solutions that will change the future of navigation forever.”

Dr. Raffaele Chiulli, President of the UIM, said: “At the International Powerboat Federation, we’re delighted to be part of this groundbreaking development in the powerboating sport. The futuristic RaceBird design combined with the use of hydrofoil technology in the E1 Series reflects the pioneering spirit of this initiative and are an inspiring answer to today’s challenges facing marine mobility. It’s an exciting moment for our sport and I cannot wait to see the RaceBird on the water.”