Sports Business

26Oct By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Business

E-Bike Grand Prix: Dubai to host first race of new series

E-Bike Grand Prix (EBK GP), a new international cycling sport, will launch its inaugural series in 2022 and the first race will be held in Dubai, UAE. The ten-race grand prix series will showcase groundbreaking E-Bike technology while working with global host cities to raise awareness of climate change challenges and promote cleaner, healthier cities. The series will take place in cities around the world, with races along public roads, showcasing iconic landmarks and cultural sites, as part of a high-speed, thrilling sporting spectacle. Coverage of the Dubai event and the series will be broadcast internationally via television and digital media. Ten competing franchise teams will each field two squads, one male and one female, and BMC Switzerland will be the exclusive bike partner, b...

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25Oct By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Hotels & Resorts, Sports Business, Sports Travel

Quinta do Lago launches pro-athlete training breaks at The Campus

Quinta do Lago resort on the Algarve, Portugal, has launched its new “Pro-Athlete Training Break” packages which are tailor-made for athletes who are in between competition seasons.  Located 15 minutes from Faro airport, Quinta do Lago is a renowned sporting destination which offers elite training facilities at its new multi-sports hub, The Campus. It is the ideal destination for training, rehabilitation and recovery with more than 300 days of warm sunshine per year and at least 12 hours of daylight each day. The resort offers relaxed accommodation at The Magnolia Hotel combined with a hive of activity in the surrounding regions and provides a safe, secure and Covid friendly environment. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiHfxY-Q-OY About the packages The Pro-Athlete Train...

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24Oct By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Sports Business, Sports Travel

Ski instructor marketplace Maison Sport expands to Scotland

Maison Sport, a platform created to connect people with the best independent ski and snowboard instructors, will expand into all major winter sports resorts in Scotland, including Cairngorm Mountain, Glencoe Mountain, Glenshee, Lowther Hills, Nevis Range and The Lecht. Building on success in France, Italy and Switzerland, the expansion will support instructors whose qualifications are recognised across Europe, but will now be unable to work in Europe this winter unless they find a way to obtain a work visa. Each instructor will have gained approval from the local ski resort that they can work alongside other ski schools in the area. Co-founder and CEO Nick Robinson, a former member of the British ski team, said: “Covid-19 and Brexit have undoubtedly hit the ski industry hard, but we ...

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24Oct By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Business, Sports Travel

Destination Sport Experiences launched by Portman Travel Group

Destination Sport Experiences has been launched by Portman Travel Group and joins Clarity Sports, Sportsbreaks.com, inspiresport and Amaze in the group’s ​​growing sports travel division. Catering for athletes who want to participate in the best events around the world, Destination Sport Experiences will offer travel packages and guaranteed entry to marathons, cyclosportives and long distance triathlons. It will also offer VIP hospitality access to many of the top professional cycling events, starting with L’Etape du Tour 2022 which is available now. L’Étape du Tour is an organised mass participation cyclosportive event that allows amateur cyclists to race over the same route as the Tour de France stage. Taking place on Sunday 10 July 2022, it will replicate Stage 12 of the 2022 Tour...

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24Oct By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Sports Business, Sports Travel

Three German cities at ‘candidate phase’ to host NFL games

The National Football League (NFL) has confirmed that three cities in Germany are in discussions to host regular-season games. The NFL, which has staged 30 matches in London since 2007, is aiming to find a partner city for a possible expansion of the International Series into Germany. After an initial period in which expressions of interest were received from multiple cities, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt and Munich have been invited to proceed to the “candidate phase” of the process. Those cities will now participate in deeper conversations about staging games in Germany. “Regular-season games are a key part of continuing the development of our German fan base by creating more excitement for the sport and more connectivity with fans and communities,” said Brett Gosper, NFL Head of Europe an...

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24Oct By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Sports Business

NBA and Formula 1 reveal promotional partnership

The National Basketball Association (NBA) and Formula 1 (F1) has announced a first-of-its-kind content and promotion partnership. This will bring together the global fanbases of both brands in celebration of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary season and the return of F1 to the United States at the 2021 F1 US Grand Prix in Austin, Texas.  To commemorate the US Grand Prix and the NBA’s anniversary, exclusive imagery featuring F1 cars in custom liveries representing all 30 NBA teams will be posted on NBA and F1 social channels around the world, with the first ten cars showcasing the central and pacific divisions. On 21 October ESPN hosted F1 drivers as they battled it out off the track in a free throw challenge at an NBA 75th Anniversary-themed basketball half-court within the Circuit of the Ameri...

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24Oct By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Sports Business, Sports Travel, Trips & Experiences

New senior leadership team announced at Sports Tours International

UK-based Sports Tours International has announced a new senior leadership team, bringing a range of new skills and experience to the specialist sports travel business. As well as a series of internal promotions chief executive Chris Bird has welcomed a number of new additions to the team based in Walkden, Greater Manchester, England.   The new executive team includes Claire Dyson as deputy CEO. Dyson is the longest serving member of the team with 26 years in the business. Still maintaining her role as head of sales and customer services for Club La Santa UK & Ireland, Dyson will support Bird in the day to day running of the business, enabling him to focus on future strategy and development.   New to the executive board are three new appointments and three internal promo...

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29Aug By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Business, Sports Travel

Sports event in focus: Super League Triathlon 2021 championship series

Super League Triathlon’s 2021 championship gets under way on 5 September with the opening event of the series in London.  Following the championship opener in the UK capital, the swim-bike-run series will continue with back-to-back events in Munich, Jersey and Malibu, which will crown the fastest triathletes in the world.  Super League Triathlon 2021 Championship Series- 5 September: London, UK- 12 September: Munich, Germany- 18 September: Jersey, Channel Islands - 25 September: Malibu, USA The final start lists for the 2021 Super League Triathlon championship will contain 20 male athletes, 20 female athletes and a number of wildcards - who will confirmed ahead of each event. Race formats include Enduro, Triple Mix, Equalizer and Eliminator. Spain’s Mario Mola, who wo...

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21Aug By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Sports Business, Sports Travel

Football with no fans: study reveals effect of empty stadiums during the Covid-19 pandemic

With the 2021-2022 English Premier League season kicking off with crowds of fans cheering on their teams, new research has revealed the hugely negative effect of playing professional football games in empty stadiums last season, with home advantage almost halved. Home advantage describes the benefit a sports team playing at their own venue is said to enjoy over the visiting team. This could be attributed to the effect of fans on the players or referee; playing in familiar surroundings and the effects of travel on the visiting team. The new study, by researchers at Northumbria University and the University of Leeds, used the unique opportunity presented by the Covid-19 pandemic to test whether home advantage applies when fans are not present in the stands. The researchers found tha...

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15Aug By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Sports Business, Sports Travel

SportsNOVA: new sports tourism alliance launched in Northern Virginia

The destination marketing organisations of Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William, and Stafford counties have announced the launch of SportsNOVA, a new regional sports tourism partnership that will market Northern Virginia as a premier destination for sports travel events.  With the goal of generating economic impact and fostering community development in the US region, destination partners will work collaboratively to attract multi-sport and large single-sport events that can only be accommodated through a collective effort. Along with this new brand announcement, the group also launched its website – SportsNOVA.com – to promote the region’s top-tier sports facilities, full- and select-service hotels, world-class attractions, shopping, award-winning wineries and breweries, and convenient ...

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9Aug By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Hotels & Resorts, Sports Business, Sports Travel, Trips & Experiences, Venues & Stadiums

Olympic fever points the way to Paris 2024

Team GB secured 65 medals in Tokyo, an amazing haul during any normal Olympic Games, but truly historic when considering this achievement against the backdrop of COVID. Tokyo sits in the history books as Team GB's second-best overseas Olympics and may well be the springboard to greater things in three years time for Paris 2024! France officially becomes the proud host nation of the next Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games (the Games of the 33rd Olympiad), receiving the flag from Tokyo at its glittering Closing Ceremony yesterday. Set to take place exactly 100 years after France's last summer Games, Paris 2024 will be the largest event ever organised in the country, running from Friday 26 July until Sunday 11 August 2024. It promises to be an inclusive, interactive and sustainable celebr...

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29Jul By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Sports Business, Sports Travel

Delving into Australia’s Sporting Heritage

Cultural Attractions of Australia (CAOA) is a collective of some of Australia’s most iconic landmarks, each with their own heritage, narrative and position in the country’s DNA. The CAOA forms part of Tourism Australia’s initiative “Signature Experiences of Australia Program”. CAOA introduces the global travel industry and traveller to some of Australia’s most iconic landmarks, through ‘experiential’ means, allowing them to engage with the deep-rooted culture of the nation using all the senses. These behind-the-scenes experiences are aimed at bringing to life the many cultural, creative and sporting stories of Australia, and to give voice to the bricks and mortar of these venues which have witnessed so much; “If only these walls could talk” is a well-used adage, yet CAOA is a vehicle which...

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27Jun By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Business, Sports Travel

2021 F1 British Grand Prix set for full capacity at Silverstone

The 2021 Formula 1 Pirelli British Grand Prix has been included in the latest phase of the UK Government’s Event Research Programme (ERP) allowing a full capacity crowd for the event from 15-18 July. Silverstone will be in touch with all ticket holders in the coming days with further details about how the Formula 1 British GP will run as a pilot event. Ticket holders will be asked for either proof of a negative lateral flow test taken within 48 hours of arrival at Silverstone, or proof of full vaccination, the second dose having been received at least 14 days prior to the first day of attending the British GP. The Silverstone team will be working closely with the ERP experts and particularly the Director of Public Health in Northamptonshire on the specific conditions of entry that wi...

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19Jun By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Business

The Open: 32,000 daily capacity confirmed for 149th championship

Up to 32,000 golf fans will be allowed to attend each day of The Open Championship. The 149th Open will be taking place from 15-18 July at The Royal St George’s Golf Club in Sandwich, Kent, England.  Last year’s event was postponed due to the Covid pandemic and there had been concerns over the capacity for the 2021 edition, Sky Sports reports. However, it has been confirmed that the championship will be included in the UK government’s “Events Research Programme”, which will enable a number of events to take place with higher capacities than present guidance permits. Of the 32,000 fans allowed each day, this will include existing ticket holders and hospitality guests who have already purchased tickets. Martin Slumbers, chief executive of The R&A, said: “We are pleased to now be ab...

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19Jun By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Sports Business

Video: ‘It’s a Wimbledon thing’ campaign pays tribute to tennis fans

With The Championships just around the corner, the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) has launched a new campaign - It’s a Wimbledon thing - to celebrate the “uniqueness of Wimbledon fandom”.  The campaign focuses on “the passion that goes beyond tennis”, AELTC said. “No matter where they are around the world, Wimbledon fans take the traditions for which our tournament is known and loved, and make them their own. This campaign is a tribute to them.” After being cancelled last year due to the pandemic, the 2021 Championships will start on 28 June and fans will be welcomed back to SW19.  AELTC chief executive Sally Bolton OBE said of the new It’s a Wimbledon thing campaign: “Last year’s cancellation provided a timely reminder of the immense passion that our fans have for Wimbledon...

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19Jun By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Sports Business

Lions partner with British Airways for rugby tour of South Africa

British Airways has been named as the global airline partner of the 2021 Castle Lager Lions Series. The airline will fly the British & Irish Lions rugby squad to South Africa for the summer tour and both the Lions and Springboks will be carried across the country to matches by BA’s franchise partner, Comair.  The Lions play Japan at BT Murrayfield in Edinburgh on 26 June and a day later the 37-man squad will board a BA charter flight from the Scottish capital to Johannesburg. In South Africa the Lions will play five warm-up matches and then three Tests against the Springboks.  Sean Doyle, British Airways’ chairman and CEO, said: “We are honoured to be flying the British & Irish Lions to South Africa ahead of their tour. After a difficult year, we look forward to uniting the n...

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14Jun By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Sports Business, Winter Sports

Sport + Travel interview: Holger Gassler, head of markets & events, Tirol Tourist Board

Holger Gassler is head of markets & events at the Tirol Tourist Board in Austria. He grew up in the Alpine village of Nassereith in the Tyrolean “Lake District”, right on the border to Bavaria. Travelling the world for Holger, continues to be a lifelong passion, in order to "learn about new cultures and gain new insights"; he has lived and worked in Chicago and Melbourne too. With nearly 20 years' experience under his belt with the Tirol Tourist Board and a passionate sportsman who hikes, mountain bikes, road cycles, swims, skis, ski-tours and dives, we are delighted he has found time to be our next interview guest. Here at Sports Tourism Media we love to cover anything related to Austria, one of Europe's great active, adventure and sports travel destinations and have found the ri...

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11Jun By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Football, Hotels & Resorts, Sports Business

Lionel Messi signs for Hard Rock International as a brand ambassador

Hard Rock International is 50-years-old this year and to celebrate its milestone anniversary the restaurant, entertainment and hospitality brand has announced a partnership deal with superstar footballer Lionel Messi. The Argentina and FC Barcelona forward has become a brand ambassador for five years - the first athlete to partner with Hard Rock.  “I am honoured to partner with such a renowned brand as Hard Rock, and even more so at this historic moment – its 50th anniversary!” Messi said. “Sports and music are an integral part of my life, a perfect combination between my profession and my leisure time. Uniting both is a great success, and I am very happy that they have counted on me for this special outcome. It is an honour to be the first athlete to partner with a brand who has a hist...

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23May By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Sports Business

Valentin Popescu interview: an expert look at sports marketing in Romania

Valentin Popescu is the director of sports marketing for the Alexandrion Group. Alexandrion is a global producer of Spirits & Wines, with divisions and investments in the renewable energy, agricultural, tourism and real estate sectors. Under the stewardship of the founder and president Nawaf Salameh and his philanthropic pursuits, the company inaugurated the Alexandrion Foundation in 2003 which supports the Cultural, Creative and Sporting endeavours of Romanian nationals. Three major gala events have evolved under the patronage of the foundation: the ‘Constantin Brâncoveanu Awards Gala’, the ‘Matei Brâncoveanu Awards Gala’ and the ‘Alexandrion Trophies Awards Gala’. The latter supports and rewards sporting achievement at the highest level. Sports Tourism Media puts some questions to Ro...

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15May By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Business

Chess & Company: newly launched sports agency will focus on chess talent and events

Whether you are a chess player or not, it is most likely you have watched or at least heard of Netflix’s hit show The Queen’s Gambit. Released in October last year, the series amassed a staggering 62 million viewers in its first 28 days  and set in motion a renewed passion for chess. In November The Guardian reported that the show, based on the 1983 novel by Walter Tevis, had “sparked a huge boom in people playing the game in the US and around the world". Similarly, Bloomberg also reported a “surging popularity of chess spurred on by the success of The Queen’s Gambit and this has has spilled over from retail to websites and streaming services, adding to the growth of chess content online during the pandemic”. Image: chessandcompany.com Following the huge success of the show it is ...

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