Industry Shorts: Ioc, British Cycling, La Liga

The IOC and the WHO have announced a new ‘Cooperation Agreement’ which will see the pair strengthen their efforts to promote healthy lifestyles, including physical activity, sport and active recreation, as a tool for health across the globe.

The agreement was signed by IOC President Thomas Bach and WHO Director General Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus (both pictured above) at the WHO headquarters in Geneva. The pair say it demonstrates their shared commitment to promoting healthy society through sport, in alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, as well as to contributing to the prevention of non-communicable diseases. 

British Cycling says that, if towns and cities follow the Department for Transport guidance and quickly implement new temporary infrastructure, up to 14 million UK adults will ‘spark a cycling revolution.’
 
As part of its relaunched #ChooseCycling campaign, British Cycling will introduce new measures, including: interactive tips and videos for prospective cycle commuters; a live webinar for local and regional authorities led by British Cycling Policy Adviser Chris Boardman; and activating its nationwide network of over 10,000 volunteers to provide support for new riders in their communities.

The Spanish government has given LaLiga clubs permission to move to the next phase of the league’s Return to Training Protocol, as it looks to restart in June.

Clubs will be allowed to resume group training up to a maximum of ten players, and will follow the league’s protocol independently of the de-escalation measures currently in place in each of Spain’s regions and provinces.

CVC Capital Partners has launched a period of exclusive negotiations with Serie A over a €2.2bn deal to reshape the league, according to reports in the Financial Times.

The private equity firm is said to be proposing to acquire 20% of a company set up to manage the league’s broadcasting rights from 2021 onweards, as well as its international trademark and its commercial development.

A new infrastructure fund – partly financed by CVC – aimed at constructing and maintaining stadiums in the league is also said to be part of the potential agreement.

Everton has confirmed all fans with tickets for the club’s remaining five home Premier League fixtures of the 2019/20 season will be able to claim a refund.

The club has acknowledged that – should the remaining games be played – they will likely take place behind closed doors. 

Season ticket holders will be entitled to a credit or refund on a pro-rata basis for the five games. The club says they will also be given the option to forgo part or all of their balance to be given as a donation to Everton in the Community if they so wish.

League Two clubs have unanimously ‘indicated a preferred direction of travel’ to end season at its current point, according to the EFL. Reflecting on the costs and risks involved with finishing the season, the league’s clubs have all said they would prefer to end the season as it stands, but have asked for consideration to be given to suspending relegation to the National League. The EFL says it has made no commitments on the issues, but its Board will consider the implications at its next meeting.

League One clubs, however, will undergo a ‘further period of reflection’ after some clubs indicated their wish to continue the campaign, with others wanting to end the season early. The EFL says all parties emphasised ‘the need to find innovative and creative solutions’ as well as to take decisions quickly.

Global sport sponsorship rights-fees will fall by 37% year-on-year in 2020, according to projections from sports marketing and technology agency Two Circles.

The agency’s CEO Gareth Balch, however, believes the innovations that will take place to deliver value for brands during the lockdown period will strengthen sports sponsorship as a marketing platform after the pandemic.

He said: “Though every corner of sport is hurting, we remain certain that sport’s economy will thrive in the long-term, and when the impending recession bottoms-out, all sectors will rely on the best marketing platforms available to grow their businesses.”