Ban Ki-moon To Address The Virtual International Federation Forum

H.E. Ban Ki-moon, the 8th Secretary General of the United Nations (UN) and the Chair of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Ethics Commission, will address the fully virtual International Federation (IF) Forum on 25 May, SportAccord has announced. 

H.E. Ban Ki-moon will deliver a Member Keynote Address focusing on ‘Lessons We Are Learning from a Global Crisis and How Sport and Society Can Emerge Stronger’ – the theme of the IF Forum.

The former South Korean Foreign Minister championed the world’s vulnerable by putting sustainable development, climate change and gender equality at the top of the UN agenda. He was appointed to his role at the IOC Ethics Commission in 2017, the year after his 10-year term at the helm of the UN concluded.

H.E. Ban Ki-moon provided the SportAccord Summit’s Opening Welcome Address and also participated in the United Through Sports Youth Conference at the SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit 2019 in Gold Coast, Australia.

At the IF Forum 2021, H.E. Ban Ki-moon’s address will follow welcome remarks by IOC President Thomas Bach, an opening address by Dr. Raffaele Chiulli, President of SportAccord and GAISF (Global Association of International Sports Federations), and a Keynote Address by Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO).

“H.E. Ban Ki-moon leadership, vision and accomplishments over the years have had a significant impact on the lives of people across the globe,” Dr. Raffaele Chiulli said. “As the global sports movement continues to learn essential lessons from the challenges of the pandemic, we look forward with anticipation to hear what His Excellency has to say about how sport can play a part in recovery efforts worldwide in the coming months and years.”

The 15th edition of the invitation-only IF Forum will adopt a fully virtual format with expert speakers from across the global sports movement, including representatives of the IOC, umbrella sports associations and individual IFs, as well as sports industry executives.

Presentations, updates, case studies and panel sessions will be provided on several topics, including ‘Moving Forward, Pivoting and the Lessons We Are Learning’, ‘A Return to Competition and Lessons from the Bubble’, ‘Athlete Mental Health’, ‘Commercial Approaches for IFs in the New Normal’ and ‘The Virtual Experience and its Home within IFs’.

The invitation-only IF Forum 2021, which will be staged virtually via the Olympic Capital of Lausanne in the Canton of Vaud in Switzerland, will bring together more than 300 leaders from over 125 IFs, plus other virtual delegates and speakers.

IF Forum 2021 Host City partners are: City of Lausanne and Canton de Vaud and the Official Partners are: City of London, Marsh, One Plan and Sport Event Denmark.

Immediately after the closing remarks of the IF Forum, a #SA2021 Virtual Launch Celebration will take place via the same platform for the SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit 2021, less than six months before the event in Ekaterinburg, Russia, from 7-12 November.

Basketball Africa League Signs Data Partnership With Genius Sports

The Basketball Africa League (BAL) and Genius Sports have announced a data partnership that makes Genius Sports the Official Provider of Real-Time BAL Statistics.

The announcement comes following the BAL’s debut, which tipped off this Sunday, May 16 at the Kigali Arena in Kigali, Rwanda, with 12 teams from across Africa competing in the new professional league. The first BAL Finals will be held Sunday, May 30. 

Through this partnership, Genius Sports will provide the BAL with its FIBA LiveStats data collection tool, which will be used to capture advanced play-by-play statistics from courtside at every BAL game, including shot, foul and turnover locations to highlight the league’s top performers and provide real-time updates for fans to follow the live action.   

Genius Sports is a long-term data technology partner of FIBA and its more than 200-member leagues and federations worldwide. The data captured by FIBA LiveStats will underpin the BAL’s new digital ecosystem, powering its website, live broadcasts, media partnerships and in-arena scoreboards.

“The BAL will showcase and develop the most exciting basketball talent from across Africa and we’re very proud that our statistics technology will be at the heart of this new competition,” said Genius Sports CEO Mark Locke. “For more than 15 years, we have worked closely with FIBA to drive the development of world basketball and we’re thrilled to be working alongside the BAL to extend the sport’s reach and profile.”

The BAL, a pan-African partnership between the NBA and FIBA will feature 12 of the best club teams from across Africa playing a total of 26 games. Champions from the national leagues in Angola, Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal and Tunisia earned their participation in the inaugural BAL season. The remaining six teams, which come from Algeria, Cameroon, Madagascar, Mali, Mozambique and Rwanda, secured their participation through BAL qualifying tournaments conducted by FIBA Regional Office Africa across the continent in late 2019.

EuroLeague Final Four To Offer Fans Virtual Reality Experience

Fans can get closer than ever to the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four with the ground-breaking launch of a unique virtual reality experience for this month’s season finale in Cologne.

The Final Four VR Pass will offer unprecedented up-close access to the on-court action, bringing home the emotions of the live event like never before.

A digital control room will let fans curate their own viewing experience by choosing among 12 live feeds, including four 180-degree cameras on the backboards and in the area of the courtside seats. Users have the freedom to switch between cameras in real-time to decide which ones they watch and how they watch them.

The pass may be bought as a virtual ticket at a base price of 15€. A code can then be redeemed in the EuroLeagueTV VR App, available on Android, iOS and Oculus, giving full VR access to all four games of the Final Four.

Due to the inability of fans to attend the Final Four this season due to health and safety protocols surrounding the global pandemic, the Final Four VR Pass is a chance to witness the event in a whole new way.

Passes will be limited to the number of regular tickets, 14,210, that would have been sold for the Lanxess Arena under normal circumstances. The VR Pass will be offered to those fans who had bought tickets for the cancelled 2020 Final Four and to current EuroLeague TV subscribers with a 50% discount.

The Final Four VR Pass is a collaboration between Euroleague Basketball and Yerba Buena VR Inc. (YBVR), a leading developer of end-to-end VR video streaming solutions and services. YBVR has a special focus on premium quality video and easy-to-deploy experiences, using patented immersive technology to offer 8K streaming at 60 frames per second with zero-buffering, instant camera change capability.

Alex Ferrer Kristjansson, Euroleague Basketball Marketing and Communication Senior Director, said: “Since the cancellation of last season’s Final Four we have been working hard to bring our fans the best possible experience during their absence from the arenas due to the pandemic. The VR Pass will allow our fans to live the Final Four almost like a player.”

Hector Prieto, Co-Founder and CEO of YBVR, said: “It is exciting to work hand-in-hand with Euroleague Basketball in pioneering a Virtual Reality experience. The most rewarding thing is allowing devoted basketball fans to really feel the emotions of the live Final Four, experiencing the action at home as if they were courtside in Cologne.”

McLaren Racing Teams Up With Sports Betting Brand Entain

McLaren Racing has entered a new multi-year partnership with leading sports betting and entertainment group Entain, which will see the group’s PartyCasino and PartyPoker brands feature as team partners from the Monaco Grand Prix. 

Entain and McLaren are technological leaders within their own sectors, therefore this partnership is built on a shared track record of delivering entertainment through cutting-edge innovation, underpinned by a common approach to safety and responsibility. 

In addition, Entain will use its partnership with McLaren to explore strategies to promote safer betting and gaming, benefitting from the team’s unique perspective on maintaining control and managing risk.

Zak Brown, CEO, McLaren Racing, said: “Fan entertainment is a major focus for our team and sport. Like McLaren Racing, Entain brands such as PartyCasino and PartyPoker place a high importance on providing moments of safe and responsible excitement for their customers.

“We look forward to starting our partnership with Entain from this weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix and the activity we have planned together in creating moments of excitement for fans and customers.”

Jette Nygaard-Andersen, CEO, Entain Plc, said: “We are immensely proud to be partnering with McLaren Racing, a team who are synonymous with creating thrilling entertainment by constantly innovating and staying at the cutting-edge of technology. This is the same approach we take in providing moments of excitement for our customers and we are truly excited about the opportunities we have to create new content for our PartyCasino and PartyPoker customers as well as bringing these great brands to new audiences.”  

NWSL Bolsters Sponsorship Portfolio With Mastercard Partnership

Mastercard is joining the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) as an official partner, strengthening the brand’s commitment to women’s soccer and its fanbase.

Mastercard and the NWSL will work together to elevate the experience for fans, with one of the top NWSL players, Crystal Dunn, joining the all-star roster of soccer players who serve as Mastercard Global Brand Ambassadors.

“We are excited to welcome Mastercard as one of our Top Tier Partners, a brand with a storied history of creating priceless fan experiences,” said NWSL Commissioner Lisa Baird. “We have the best fans out there. Their commitment to the sport is unrivaled. They deserve to have an experience on par with any major sports league, and that time has arrived. The planned Mastercard activations have the power to unite and energize not only our current fan base, but to bring even more fans in, truly benefitting our players and women’s soccer overall.”

To celebrate the new partnership, Mastercard will begin rolling out Priceless experiences both virtually and in-person. Starting today, the VIP Game Day Experience is live on Priceless.com, with many more to come. This first experience is to be held in-person, outdoors, at NWSL games, in accordance with all local COVID guidelines and abiding by all state regulations.

  • The VIP Game Day Experience will give fans the opportunity to watch their favorite National Women’s Soccer League team at a regular season match from the best seats in the house. The fan and three guests will receive a VIP game day experience for the NWSL team of their choice to enjoy pre-game warm-ups, premium seats, prepaid Mastercard for food and beverage, and a team gear swag bag.

“Growing passions and fostering connections is core to what Mastercard stands for,” said Raja Rajamannar, chief marketing and communications officer, Mastercard. “We are honored to support the very passionate NWSL fan base. Together with the league, we look forward to elevating their game day experiences all season long, bringing fans closer to what they love.”

The NWSL sponsorship also underscores Mastercard’s commitment to diversity and inclusion on and off the pitch. As part of this partnership, Mastercard will create a soccer-themed curriculum for its signature science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) program, Girls4Tech™. Mastercard will also dedicate time and resources to educating players on their own financial wellness, better enabling them to pursue opportunities that will bring more ubiquity to sports across gender.

“I’m thrilled to be a global ambassador for Mastercard,” explained NWSL star player and Mastercard Global Brand Ambassador, Crystal Dunn. “Our values are aligned in connection, diversity and inclusion. I am confident that together we will build priceless opportunities for women’s soccer fans and players across the country.”

Discovery And AT&T Agree On A Streaming Merger

AT&T Inc.and Discovery, Inc. have signed a definitive agreement to combine WarnerMedia’s  premium entertainment, sports and news assets with Discovery’s leading nonfiction and international entertainment and sports businesses to create a premier, standalone global entertainment company.

Under the terms of the agreement, which is structured as an all-stock, Reverse Morris Trust transaction, AT&T would receive $43 billion (subject to adjustment) in a combination of cash, debt securities, and WarnerMedia’s retention of certain debt, and AT&T’s shareholders would receive stock representing 71% of the new company; Discovery shareholders would own 29% of the new company. The Boards of Directors of both AT&T and Discovery have approved the transaction.

The companies expect the transaction will create substantial value for AT&T and Discovery shareholders by:

  • Bringing together the strongest leadership teams, content creators, and high-quality series and film libraries in the media business.
  • Accelerating both companies’ plans for leading direct-to-consumer (DTC) streaming services for global consumers.
  • Uniting complementary and diverse content strengths with broad appeal — WarnerMedia’s robust studios and portfolio of iconic scripted entertainment, animation, news and sports with Discovery’s global leadership in unscripted and international entertainment and sports.
  • Forming a new company that will have significant scale and investment resources with projected 2023 Revenue of approximately $52 billion, adjusted EBITDA of approximately $14 billion, and an industry leading Free Cash Flow conversion rate of approximately 60%. 
  • Creating at least $3 billion in expected cost synergies annually for the new company to increase its investment in content and digital innovation, and to scale its global DTC business.

For AT&T and its shareholders, this transaction provides an opportunity to unlock value in its media assets and to better position the media business to take advantage of the attractive DTC trends in the industry. Additionally, the transaction allows the company to better capitalize on the longer-term demand for connectivity:

  • AT&T shareholders participate in a leading media company with a broad global portfolio of brands, tremendous DTC potential and strengthened combined assets.
  • Creates substantial value opportunity for AT&T shareholders through stepped-up investment in growth areas – mobile and fixed broadband.
  • Capital structure improvement after closing will position AT&T as one of the best capitalized 5G and fiber broadband companies in the United States.
  • Results in two independent companies – one broadband connectivity and the other media – to sharpen the investment focus and attract the best investor base for each company.

The new company will compete globally in the fast-growing direct-to-consumer business — bringing compelling content to DTC subscribers across its portfolio, including HBO Max and the recently launched discovery+.  The transaction will combine WarnerMedia’s storied content library of popular and valuable IP with Discovery’s global footprint, trove of local-language content and deep regional expertise across more than 200 countries and territories.  The new company will be able to invest in more original content for its streaming services, enhance the programming options across its global linear pay TV and broadcast channels, and offer more innovative video experiences and consumer choices.

The “pure play” content company will own one of the deepest libraries in the world with nearly 200,000 hours of iconic programming and will bring together over 100 of the most cherished, popular and trusted brands in the world under one global portfolio, including: HBO, Warner Bros., Discovery, DC Comics, CNN, Cartoon Network, HGTV, Food Network, the Turner Networks, TNT, TBS, Eurosport, Magnolia, TLC, Animal Planet, ID and many more.

The new company will be able to increase investment and capabilities in original content and programming; create more opportunity for under-represented storytellers and independent creators; serve customers with innovative video experiences and points of engagement; and propel more investment in high-quality, family-friendly nonfiction content.

The companies announced that Discovery President and CEO David Zaslav will lead the proposed new company with a best-in-class management team and top operational and creative leadership from both companies. 

Discovery’s current multiple classes of shares will be consolidated to a single class with one vote per share.

The new company’s Board of Directors will consist of 13 members, 7 initially appointed by AT&T, including the chairperson of the board; Discovery will initially appoint 6 members, including CEO David Zaslav.

John Stankey Said: “This agreement unites two entertainment leaders with complementary content strengths and positions the new company to be one of the leading global direct-to-consumer streaming platforms. It will support the fantastic growth and international launch of HBO Max with Discovery’s global footprint and create efficiencies which can be re-invested in producing more great content to give consumers what they want. For AT&T shareholders, this is an opportunity to unlock value and be one of the best capitalized broadband companies, focused on investing in 5G and fiber to meet substantial, long-term demand for connectivity. AT&T shareholders will retain their stake in our leading communications company that comes with an attractive dividend. Plus, they will get a stake in the new company, a global media leader that can build one of the top streaming platforms in the world.”

David Zaslav said:”During my many conversations with John, we always come back to the same simple and powerful strategic principle:  these assets are better and more valuable together.  It is super exciting to combine such historic brands, world class journalism and iconic franchises under one roof and unlock so much value and opportunity. 

“With a library of cherished IP, dynamite management teams and global expertise in every market in the world, we believe everyone wins…consumers with more diverse choices, talent and storytellers with more resources and compelling pathways to larger audiences, and shareholders with a globally scaled growth company committed to a strong balance sheet that is better positioned to compete with the world’s largest streamers.  We will build a new chapter together with the creative and talented WarnerMedia team and these incredible assets built on a nearly 100-year legacy of the most wonderful storytelling in the world.  That will be our singular mission: to focus on telling the most amazing stories and have a ton of fun doing it.”

LaLiga Extends DAZN Agreement For Germany And Austria

DAZN and LaLiga extend their successful cooperation in Germany and Austria for another five seasons.

For the next five years, fans will continue to be able to watch all matches of the Spanish Top Division, LaLiga Santander live and exclusively on DAZN.

All LaLiga matches including ElClásico live and exclusive

Fans can continue to enjoy exceptional players such as Lionel Messi, Toni Kroos, João Félix and Ivan Rakitić with their LaLiga powerhouses FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atlético Madrid and  Sevilla FC on DAZN. Of course, DAZN also broadcasts  ElClásico as well as the Madrid and Seville derbies. But also fans of other clubs like Cádiz CF, CA Osasuna and many other teams can watch all the matches of their favourite team live on DAZN. 

“Almost exactly five years ago, DAZN set out to revolutionise the way fans experience their favourite sports. LaLiga has been by our side all these years and is therefore a fundamental part of our broad portfolio of top-class football. So it’s even nicer that fans in Germany and Austria will be able to watch all the games from the Spanish Top Division live and exclusively on DAZN for the next five years,” says Thomas de Buhr, Executive Vice President DAZN DACH.

Melcior Soler, Audiovisual Director at LaLiga added: “DAZN has become a key part of the sports landscape in a short space of time and we are proud to continue our successful partnership with them.This long-term renewal offers the best opportunity for fans to discover the full breadth of our competition in one of Europe’s leading football markets.“ 

The championship decider on the last LaLiga matchday 2020/2021 this Sunday live on DAZN in a multi-match livestream

LiveScore Signs Cristiano Ronaldo As Global Brand Ambassador

LiveScore, the global sports media business has announced Cristiano Ronaldo as its Official Global Brand Ambassador.

The groundbreaking deal will see the world’s most famous footballer and five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo unite with LiveScore as the brand continues its rapid evolution as a major global sports media force. Launching ahead of the upcoming European Championship this summer, the relationship will span at least two domestic football seasons and next year’s World Cup.

Central to the partnership will be a global ATL creative campaign, including LiveScore’s first TV spot, amplified by a digital campaign which will harness the power of both LiveScore and Ronaldo’s vast global audiences. Cristiano Ronaldo’s image will be used across LiveScore’s digital inventory and content, closely aligning the Portuguese legend with one of the world’s leading real-time sports updates providers.

LiveScore captivates sports audiences by delivering premium content and engaging products to fans across 200 territories worldwide. Cristiano Ronaldo’s role as the most high-profile and influential player in the game is shown by his combined social media following exceeding half a billion fans, representing a hugely relevant audience for LiveScore to connect with.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Official Global Ambassador for LiveScore, said; “I’ve used the LiveScore app to keep up to date with the latest scores for many years, so I’m really excited to begin such a natural new partnership. Throughout my career every goal has always been about more than a score to me, and I know LiveScore has been there every step of the way, to keep my fans across moments that have defined me.

LiveScore and I are connected by a drive to be the greatest at what we do every single day. I cannot wait to unite our combined audiences of football fans with amazing content, moments and goals in the next exciting stage of my career.”

Ric Leask, Marketing Director at LiveScore, said; “In a year that has seen LiveScore rapidly evolve as a global sports media business, this landmark new relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo is without doubt the biggest moment so far. There is simply no bigger sportsperson – past or present – than Cristiano Ronaldo, who continues to captivate fans around the world with his brilliance on the pitch.

With a world record 777 career goals and 31 club and international honours, we believe he truly is the ‘Greatest of all Time’. We should know, as LiveScore has been there to bring news of every goal to millions of fans around the world. Combined with the fact that his game is built on speed, reliability and simplicity, key strengths also synonymous with the LiveScore brand, there could be no more authentic and better fit for our business. We can’t wait to kick-off our partnership and bring our global audience closer than ever to the GOAT.”

Titleist To Provide Personalised Golf Balls For RLWC2021

Titleist, the ball in golf, has announced a partnership with Rugby League World Cup 2021 (RLWC2021) to provide official personalised golf balls for the new event that will see the men’s, women’s and wheelchair tournaments run concurrently for the first time between 23 October and 27 November 2021. 

As a licenced partner, Titleist will give golfers the chance to add the tournament logo or any of the participating teams’ marks to their industry leading golf ball line-up via the My Titleist platform – consisting of the premium performance Pro V1, Pro V1x and AVX, in addition to the performance Tour Speed, Tour Soft, Velocity and TruFeel golf balls. 

Titleist joins a roster of brands partnering with RLWC2021 including apparel, accessories, publishing and collectibles, ahead of what promises to be the biggest and best Rugby League World Cup to date.  

Speaking on the partnership, Edward Shirley, Titleist Corporate Sales Manager, said: “Partnering with a world first event like this demonstrates Titleist’s determination to join forces with globally recognised properties to help increase awareness and engagement across multiple sports and audiences. The partnership is an extremely exciting one for Titleist and we look forward to working with the Rugby League World Cup this year.” 

Jonathan Neill, Commercial Director at RLWC2021, said: “Titleist is a brand that symbolises sporting excellence, and another partner who shares our vision in delivering the biggest and best Rugby League World Cup ever.  

“Titleist are not only committed to producing industry leading products but have also demonstrated a desire to collaborate with other sports and major events through their customisation offering and digital platform which will support the tournament’s ambition of reaching new audiences.”  

CSM Live To Provide Look, Wayfinding And Signage For Birmingham 2022

CSM Live, the branding and live experience division of CSM Sport and Entertainment, has been appointed as the Official Provider of Look, Wayfinding and Signage for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Following a competitive tender process, CSM Live will be responsible for scoping, producing, installing and de-rigging all elements of venue dressing at competition and non-competition venues. This remit includes the Look and Feel, field of play branding, wayfinding and information signage, sponsor recognition, media treatments and Host City dressing, applying relevant experience from previous multi-sport events including the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

In line with Birmingham 2022’s sustainability pledge, which includes plans to deliver the first ever carbon-neutral Commonwealth Games, CSM Live will work to design and provide an entirely sustainable solution, maximising the re-use of the hardware with the aspiration that none of the produced materials goes to waste after the Games.

CSM Live has also committed to work with local companies, suppliers and staff on the programme with a target to procure over 65% of its requirements locally, in order to deliver tangible benefits to the business community in the region.

Working alongside the Birmingham 2022 Organising Committee, venue scoping will begin immediately, with production due to commence in the early stages of next year. CSM Live will also engage with local students on the design process for the Wayfinding and Signage programme.

The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games will see athletes from 72 nations and territories compete in 19 sports across 14 competition venues from 28 July until 8 August 2022. The event is expected to have a global TV audience of 1.5 billion and attract more than one million spectators.

Giles Stanford, Director, Global Events at CSM Live, said: “We are thrilled to be working with Birmingham 2022 as we seek to deliver a sustainable, innovative and carbon-friendly Commonwealth Games. We have a strong pedigree in providing sustainable branding solutions for major events and combined with the expertise of the local business community, we hope to deliver a spectacular event for all those involved.”

Ian Reid, Chief Executive Officer of Birmingham 2022, said: “It is fantastic to have CSM Live join us as our Official Provider of Look, Wayfinding and Signage for Birmingham 2022. With a strong track record of working on major sporting events, I know we can rely on their expertise to help us deliver the most sustainable Commonwealth Games to date. In addition to their work on competition venues, CSM Live will also be working with us on our community engagement activities, which will support us developing positive relationships within local communities across the West Midlands.”

Commonwealth Games Federation President Dame Louise Martin said: “With CSM Live, we have the ideal partner to deliver the look and feel for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. I am delighted by the important pledge from CSM Live to ensure that no product used in its operations will go to waste after the Games.

A further commitment to work with local companies will ensure there will be positive benefits for the West Midlands from the Games. My thanks also goes to our CGF Partnerships (CGFP) team as they continue bring on board world-leading organisations to support the delivery of Birmingham 2022 as well as our long-term ambitions.”