Hisense Returns As Official Sponsor For Qatar 2022

Hisense, the world-renowned technology company, has entered into a partnership with FIFA to become an Official Sponsor of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, creating an exclusive connection between the tournament’s worldwide audience in unique and compelling ways.

By joining the roster of Commercial Affiliates for the upcoming tournament, Hisense will be involved in a programme that will range from on-site engagement opportunities and logo visibility across various platforms to global advertising campaigns. The collaboration, which began in 2017 prior to the FIFA World Cup™ in Russia, also provides Hisense with an occasion to present specially created, video-on-demand programming to its customers using past FIFA World Cup content, delivered through its integrated VIDAA smart TV platform.

“It gives me great pleasure to welcome Hisense on board as an Official Sponsor of the FIFA World Cup, and we are delighted to partner with this internationally respected brand, which also has a growing presence in the sports market,” said FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura. “FIFA and Hisense are both focused on technology, innovation and giving people the best possible experience. I am confident that this collaboration will support the global objectives of both organisations and contribute to the success of what is sure to be an amazing event next year.”

“Continued investment in world-class sporting events represents Hisense’s determination to become a global brand,” said Jia Shaoqian, the CEO of Hisense Group. “It helps Hisense build stronger relationships with its global consumers and accelerates the company’s globalisation process. It also creates a solid foundation for Hisense to compete with the world’s most innovative and leading brands in order to also become a premier global brand.”

According to research around the event, the company’s sponsorship of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ boosted awareness of Hisense TV in China PR by 12% and globally by 6%, with strong performances in the United Kingdom, France, Canada, Russia, Spain and Japan.

Red Bull Racing Esports Strikes Partnership With HyperX

The Red Bull Racing Esports Team is set to take its competitive edge to the next level thanks to a new partnership with US gaming experts HyperX.

As the Esports Team’s Official Peripherals Partner, our drivers will have access to HyperX’s market leading gaming mice, keyboards and the HyperX Cloud Gaming Headsets, designed specifically to give gamers a competitive edge through increased comfort.

Over the past decade HyperX has built an unrivalled reputation among gaming communities around the world by creating peripherals that enhance the gaming experience and provide comfort and playability that allow competitors to stay sharp and focused whether a race lasts for 30 minutes or six hours.

HyperX Cloud Gaming Headsets not only offer top quality audio, ensuring our drivers don’t miss out on crucial information, they are also light weight with memory foam earcups and headbands to guarantee comfort and adaptability.

Commenting on the partnership, Red Bull Racing Honda’s Chief Marketing Officer, Oliver Hughes, said: “We are incredibly proud of the growth and success of our Esports Team, which is in turn enabling us to partner with other market leaders in this space. Competing in such a wide variety of sim racing series relies on maintaining absolute focus and concentration during training and competition. Our drivers process a huge volume of audio and visual information incredibly quickly and need to react in an instant without distraction. Having the right peripherals is crucial and our new partnership with HyperX will enhance the audio experience and competitiveness of our sim racers.”

Paul Leaman, Vice President, HyperX – EMEA adds: “Red Bull has been a longstanding partner of HyperX, whether running LIVE arena tournaments or competitions, so it was a natural progression to expand our partnership to include sponsorship of the Red Bull Racing Esports team. We also see a lot of synergy between our brands as Red Bull ‘gives wings’ to people and ideas. HyperX is driven by passion to shape the culture of gaming and empower each individual to achieve their best.”

Bundesliga Extends Nordic Entertainment Partnership In A Historic Agreement

Nordic Entertainment Group (NENT Group), the Nordic region’s leading streaming company, and Bundesliga International, a subsidiary of the DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga, have extended their media rights partnership until 2029 in nine European markets in an historic agreement.

Football fans in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland will be able to follow global superstars and local heroes in the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 every week on NENT Group’s Viaplay streaming service, along with studio programming and local language commentary.

NENT Group will show more than 300 live Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 matches every season. The deal also includes the exclusive rights to the German Supercup and the Bundesliga relegation play-offs.

The deal marks the longest media rights agreement that either NENT Group or Bundesliga International has ever entered into, highlighting the strong relationship between the two organisations. Over the duration of the contract, the Bundesliga will become a cornerstone of NENT Group’s sports streaming offering, and both parties will seek to grow the Bundesliga fan base even further throughout NENT Group’s broadcast markets.

More than 60 players from nine NENT Group markets currently feature in Germany’s top two divisions, including star names such as Robert Lewandowski (FC Bayern München/Poland), Erling Haaland (Borussia Dortmund/Norway), Emil Forsberg (RB Leipzig/Sweden), Thomas Delaney (Borussia Dortmund/Denmark), Alfreð Finnbogason (FC Augsburg/Iceland) and many more.

With some of the most distinctive and unique clubs in the world, the Bundesliga is renowned for fast exciting football and has consistently featured as the top European league for number of goals per match.

Wigan Warriors Signs War Paint For Men As Official Health And Wellbeing Partner

Wigan Warriors have announced a ground-breaking multi-year partnership with War Paint For Men, who will become the Club’s inaugural Training Kit Partner and Official Men’s Health and Wellbeing Partner. 


 
Marking their first partnership within rugby globally, War Paint For Men’s branding will feature on the front of the first team squad’s training kit, with the partnership set to deliver a range of tailored campaigns and programmes to address mental health.


 
Founded by Danny Gray, a body dysmorphia sufferer and men’s wellness advocate, War Paint For Men is a specialist men’s makeup brand seeking to break the stigma of makeup being exclusively for women by helping men feel comfortable and confident via any means necessary.
 
The brand is experiencing staggering growth globally with growing retail partnerships including John Lewis, Harvey Nichols and REISS plus international expansion across North America, Asia and Australia.
 
Wigan Warriors executive director, Kris Radlinski, commented: “We are delighted to welcome War Paint For Men as our first ever designated Training Kit Partner and Official Men’s Health and Wellbeing Partner.
 
“After hearing Danny’s inspirational story and what he is seeking to achieve, which is far more than just selling makeup, we realised that this partnership is a natural fit for the Club.
 
“On the face of it, many fans would not expect a Rugby League team to be partnering with a makeup brand which makes this partnership even more important as we see this as a vital opportunity to break misconceptions and to make a genuine difference to both the sport and our wider community. 
 
“We want to use the partnership to inspire confidence amongst men, encourage wellness and raise awareness of topical mental health challenges which are just as prevalent in professional sport as they are in everyday life, particularly given the last 12 months for all of us.”
 
War Paint For Men founder, Danny Gray, said: “I was inspired to create War Paint due to my own mental health struggles and I couldn’t be more proud to see that our brand growth can result in working alongside Wigan Warriors to help us address the issue.     


 
“I can’t wait to unveil some of the ground-breaking initiatives we have planned to help people with mental health issues and raise awareness amongst the Rugby League community.”

Players Pull Out Of The Indian Premier League Amidst Covid-19 Cases; Newspapers Suspend Coverage

As India battles out its second wave of the COVID-19 reporting more than 300,000 cases for days, setting new daily global records and overwhelming the local health system, The Indian Premier League is facing a crisis as four of the tournament’s players have opted out of the competition, including Indian superstar Ravichandran Ashwin.

The Sydney Morning Herald today revealed that many Australian players are ‘nervous about securing safe passage back home after the Australian government reduced the number of incoming passengers allowed from India.’

Indian off-spinner Ashwin has opted out from the ongoing Indian Premier League saying that his family is currently “putting up a fight against Covid-19” and he wants to support them.

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Indian cricketers have come under heavy fire for not speaking about the ongoing COVID-19 crises in India and several newspapers like the New Indian Express have suspended coverage of the IPL.

Three Australian players, Andrew Tye, Adam Zampa and Kane Richardson, have all decided to head back to their home country and will quarantine for two weeks on arrival.

Meanwhile, their national teammate player Pat Cummins has pledged 50,000 Australian dollars (USD $39,000) to the PM Cares Fund, specifically to purchase oxygen supplies. In a Twitter post he wrote:

“India is a country I’ve come to love dearly over the years and the people here are some of the warmest and kindest I’ve ever met.  To know so many are suffering so much at this time saddens me greatly. There has been quite a bit of discussion over here as to whether it is appropriate for the IPL to continue with Covid-19 infection rates remain high.

“I’m advised that the Indian Government is of the view that playing the IPL while the population is in lockdown provides a few hours of joy and respite each day at an otherwise difficult time for the country. At times like this it is easy to feel helpless. I’ve certainly felt that of late. But I hope by making this public appeal we can all channel our emotions into action that will bring light into people’s lives.

“I know my donation isn’t much in the grand scheme of things, but I hope it will make a difference to someone.”

The IPL is worth such a huge amount to its broadcasters, sponsors and the BCCI that it seems hard to see a potential cancellation due to how much money it would cost so many organisations, especially with no opportunity to rearrange the rest of the tournament to later in the year, as was done in 2020, because of the ICC T20 World Cup in India.

Simone Biles Ditches Nike To Partner With Athleta

Athleta announces a long-term partnership with Simone Biles, the most decorated gymnast in World Championships history, in a shared vision designed to empower women and girls.

Biles joins Athleta in a wide-reaching partnership that will bring to life the brand’s mission of fostering community, igniting activity, and inspiring the next generation to be the best version of themselves.

Biles and Athleta will work together on initiatives with a particular focus toward Athleta Girl – encouraging millions of girls to rise and own their limitless potential. Biles will collaborate with Athleta’s design team in development of signature products for aspiring athletes, including plans for multiple capsule collaborations for Athleta Girl.

“Using my voice has been very empowering for me and I am grateful to embark on this new journey with Athleta to inspire young girls and women to do the same,” said Biles. “The opportunity to encourage young girls to reach their full potential and be a force for change is incredibly powerful. I admire Athleta for their commitment to recognize and support women’s individual and collective strength and, together, I believe we can help girls to confidently and passionately take on the world in their athletic endeavors and beyond.”

Biles, widely regarded as one of the greatest female athletes of all time, will connect directly with girls through Athleta’s active and engaged community to inspire honest conversations and help develop programming focused on supporting and lifting up young women and girls.

“We are excited to welcome Simone to the Athleta family and work together to further our mission of empowering women and girls,” said Mary Beth Laughton, president and chief executive officer of Athleta. “Simone believes in championing the next generation of female athletes as much as we do, and we are confident this partnership will continue to build community with our customers and enrich our brand.”

As her exclusive active and athleisure apparel partner, Athleta plans to co-create Biles’ own signature activewear line that will bring a piece of her to girls everywhere.

“Simone embodies our brand through her advocacy, mentorship and work in the community,” said Jana Henning, chief product officer of Athleta. “Our team is looking forward to working collaboratively with her to bring the same elements of confidence, strength, and grace she demonstrates on and off the mat into future collections for girls.”

A brand for women by women, Athleta is committed to diversity, inclusion and representation for all. Biles joining Athleta further reimagines the traditional athletic sponsorship – Athleta’s holistic approach to partnerships prioritizes authenticity and shared values while uplifting all aspects of their life. Athleta has successfully supported Allyson Felix, the most decorated woman in U.S. track and field history, in her advocacy efforts and is uniquely positioned to celebrate Biles and Felix as voices for change and empowering the next generation.

ESPN Collaborated With Marvel To Launch Marvel-Inspired NBA Presentation

ESPN and Marvel are collaborating to launch the first-ever Marvel-inspired alternate presentation for the Golden State Warriors vs. New Orleans Pelicans game on Monday, May 3.

The exclusive alternate presentation, NBA Special Edition Presented by State Farm: Marvel’s Arena of Heroes, will start at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2, ESPN+ and ESPN Deportes with the traditional game telecast on ESPN. This marks ESPN’s second live NBA game on ESPN+.



The latest development in Marvel and ESPN’s long history of sports content collaboration, the telecast will integrate elements from an original Marvel story and iconic characters including Iron Man, Black Panther, Captain Marvel, Captain America, Black Widow, and Doctor Strange throughout the live game, including 3D virtual characters, custom graphics and animation packages.



After a narrow victory over an invading alien army, the Avengers receive an ominous threat from the enemy who vows to return in greater numbers and force. The Black Panther and Iron Man quickly realize they will need more help and form a plan to expand their ranks to fight this impending threat. Recognizing the superior physical abilities, agility, and tenacity of Earth’s greatest athletes, the Avengers will hold a series of contests where the winners earn the right to train and fight alongside them as Marvel’s Champions! The Avengers will begin their recruitment with the NBA elite and observe the battle between the Warriors and the Pelicans, focusing on three star players from each team.



ESPN commentators Ryan Ruocco and Richard Jefferson will provide commentary in a fully customized Marvel-themed studio at ESPN’s Bristol, Conn. campus. Additionally, the special presentation will include commentary and analysis from Marvel expert Angélique Roché.

“We’re eager for fans to experience this unique, innovative presentation that will pair Marvel and ESPN’s exceptional storytelling and production,” said Matt Kenny, ESPN vice president, programming and acquisitions. “We are proud to showcase the ‘larger than life’ abilities of these NBA stars in a manner in which only Disney and Marvel can deliver.”

“Marvel and ESPN have brought the worlds of sports and Super Heroes together for years through comics, documentaries, and other stories celebrating athletes and their extraordinary abilities,” said Mike Pasciullo, vice president, marketing and communications, Marvel Entertainment. “The new Marvel’s Arena of Heroes telecast will be the first of its kind to bring Marvel’s storytelling directly to the real-time experience of a NBA game, and we are excited for fans to be able to watch their favorite players through the lens of Marvel’s mightiest heroes.”

Clive Reeves Joins PwC As Director

Clive Reeves has joined PwC’s Strategy& practice as a director focusing on the firm’s sports clients.

Clive joins from PwC’s Switzerland firm where he worked in the Sports Business Advisory practice as a Senior Manager.

At PwC, Clive will lead and build on the firm’s deals, strategy and value creation offerings to its sports industry clients. Clive will advise sports organisations on strategy and deliver commercial due diligence services to investors.

Clive has 13 years experience in the sports industry and has previously held senior roles within English football. In his advisory work, Clive has advised a range of sports organisations in the English Premier League, Premiership Rugby, English Cricket, the Australian Football League and the NBA. He has also worked with a number of international governing bodies, sports media companies, sports tech businesses and esports organisations.

Clive Reeves, said: “I am very pleased to join PwC’s UK firm and I’m excited by the opportunity to grow our sports business. Through combining my industry expertise and business advisory experience, I look forward to working with our clients to navigate a path through today’s unprecedented challenges and to build stronger organisations for the future.”

Nick George, Strategy & partner, said: “We are pleased to have Clive joining our deals practice where his knowledge and experience will bolster our team and enable us to better support our clients in the sports sector.”

David Trunkfield, head of hospitality and leisure at PwC said:“Clive is a great addition to our team and will help bolster our sports offering to our clients.”

Professional Triathletes Organisation Appoints IMG For Global Media Rights Distribution

The Professional Triathletes Organisation (PTO) has announced that it has appointed IMG to assist in distributing global media rights for the PTO’s flagship event – The Collins Cup in addition to future PTO owned events for the next three years.

The Collins Cup is a first-of-its-kind global annual competition which will see teams of the best professional triathletes from the USA, Europe and the Internationals competing for $1,500,000 – the largest prize purse in the history of the sport – to determine which region rules triathlon. It will take place on 28th August 2021 at the extraordinary x-bionic® sphere in Šamorín, near Bratislava, Slovakia and aims to create and leverage the excitement, rivalry, drama and personalities of the sport of triathlon to attract a wider fan base.

The multi-year deal covers the distribution of media rights for The Collins Cup, future PTO owned events and more broadly helping the PTO devise their long-term media rights and distribution strategy. IMG’s first objective will be to deliver global coverage and broadcast partnerships for The Collins Cup with a focus on key territories such as the USA, UK, Germany, France and Spain and to further amplify distribution in other international territories.

Tim Godfrey, Chief Marketing Officer of the PTO, stated: “Bringing this level of strategic media experience to Professional Triathlon is absolutely core to the remit of the PTO. IMG is truly the best in the business of building televised sport and we look forward to building on the success from working together on the PTO 2020 Championship with the upcoming Collins Cup and for our future events in the coming years.”

Hillary Mandel, Executive Vice President, Head of Americas and Global Media Partnerships at IMG, said: “The PTO has enormous potential with their ambitious plans to professionalise the sport around top tier major events, with best in class production and athlete focussed story-telling. Their unique approach to athlete ownership and innovative new formats like The Collins Cup makes for a compelling broadcast proposition to take to the broadcast market.”

The Ageas Bowl And Southern Vipers Signs 3-Year Agreement With Hambledon Vineyard

The Ageas Bowl and Southern Vipers are pleased to announce a new partnership with Hambledon Vineyard.

The partnership is part of a three-year sponsorship agreement which will see England’s oldest commercial vineyard become the lead shirt sponsor for Southern Vipers until at least the end of 2023.

As part of the agreement, Hambledon Vineyard’s iconic sparkling wines will also be served across The Ageas Bowl’s food and beverage locations, including BEEFY’S by Sir Ian Botham and Lakeview Bar & Terrace within the venue’s hotel, Hilton at The Ageas Bowl.

Based in Hampshire’s Hambledon village, widely known as the birthplace of cricket, Hambledon Vineyard is among England’s leading sparkling wine producers and includes state-of-the-art facilities which feature the only fully gravity fed winery in the UK

Georgia Adams, Southern Vipers captain, said: “I am absolutely delighted that Hambledon Vineyard will be the official partner of the Southern Vipers this year. This season will be our busiest summer of cricket yet, and I know all the squad are thrilled to have their support for what is sure to be an exciting year ahead.”

Ian Kellet and Anna Krits-Kellet, Hambledon Vineyard Owner, said: “We are delighted to be able to marry our Cricket DNA and the ‘soul’ of Hambledon Vineyards with such an inspirational team as the Southern Vipers. We’ll be cheering them on as they break records, perceptions, and perhaps even break open a bottle or two of Hambledon to celebrate their victories along the way.”

Hambledon Vineyard will host luxury alfresco ‘Dining in the Vines’ events starting next month with slots to be available for bookings shortly. A tasting room and visitor centre are also under construction and due for completion later this year.