IMG Inks New Deal to Expand Alpari World Match Racing Tour Brand

IMG Media, find a division of IMG Worldwide, stuff the global sports, fashion and media company, has signed a long-term partnership with the Alpari World Match Racing Tour to increase global viewing of the leading professional sailing series.

The engagement will see IMG Media distribute a series of highlights programs from each event, as well as a daily video news release (VNR) to all forms of media, including digital, throughout the series which begins with the first event in Langenargen, Germany, from May 15-20.

Sanctioned by the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) with ‘Special Event’ status, the series awards more than U.S. $1.5 million in prize money with points awarded at each event culminating in the crowning of the “ISAF Match Racing World Champion.”  The prize fund includes a U.S. $500,000 overall Tour Bonus for the top teams in the Championship.

James Pleasance, Executive Director of the Alpari World Match Racing Tour, commented: “This is a very exciting partnership for us. IMG is a global player in television programming and has a solid track record in distributing some of the best known sporting events all over the world. The Tour is a growing series and to have the expertise and resource of IMG behind us will be a great asset for us.”

Melissa Payne, Director of Event Coordination IMG Media, said, “Match racing is fast, competitive and highly strategic with in-shore racing engaging and exciting sailing fans of all ages. The Alpari World Match Racing Tour is ideally suited to all forms of media and we are confident with our expertise and worldwide network that we will be able to increase exposure and drive awareness of the Tour and its events globally.”