Industry Shorts: Lta, Ukactive, Wateraid

The LTA has announced a three-year extension to its partnership with ClubSpark.

The deal will see the pair continue their relationship which administers the LTA’s online booking platform, free of charge to all LTA registered venues and accredited coaches. 

The updated agreement will also see the platform rebranded as LTA ClubSpark, and will add new features to the platform to ‘improve the experience and support for coaches and venues’.

The LTA says the move is geared towards supporting its Tennis Opened Up vision by making it easier for the public to booko courts and coaching sessions.

Nike and ukactive Kids have announced the England-wide roll out of their campaign to champion primary school staff who inspire physical activity among children.

The pair launched their Active School Hero Award for the third year, expanding its reach across England from its ‘previous focus’ of London and Birmingham. 

The scheme will see finalists nominated from across all nine English regions, before an overall winner is announced at a special ceremony in July. READ MORE

British Paralympic swimmer Ellie Simmonds has encouraged the public to sign up for a new swimming challenge in support of charity WaterAid.

The international organisation will host a Swim Marathon challenge this summer, which will complement its role as the Official 2021 Charity Partner for the Great Swim Series, which takes place in June. 

As a WaterAid ambassador, Simmonds visited Uganda with the charity to see the impact a lack of clean water has on people’s lives, and will support the Swim Marathon event, which will raise awareness and funds for the charity, which provides access to clean water to people around the world.

Commonwealth Games England has appointed two new Non-Executive Board members, who will join from 1st May 2021.

Former rugby player and Northampton Saints coach John Steele, who is currently Executive Director of Sport at Loughborough University will succeed Ian Metcalfe as Chair 2022 when the latter’s eight-year term concludes after Birmingham 2022.

Meanwhile, former middle distance athlete and Commonwealth Gold Medallist Diane Modahl will replace Nigel Walker as Chair of the Board’s Sport Committee.

SailGP has announced details of its broadcast coverage, with comprehensive deals spanning 175 territories confirmed for its second season, which will begin this weekend.

Coverage of the event will feature a ‘multi-platform experience’ and ‘data-driven enhancements’ which will see ‘augmented graphics’, explainers for those new to the sport, and enhanced on-board audio and camera feeds. 

The series’ Official Partner Oracle will provide real-time data analysis and team comparisons, while the global broadcast will be seeded out from SailGP’s remote production hub in Ealing in a bid to reduce its carbon footprint.

Sky Sports will continue to broadcast the series in the UK.

A new book, authored by Two Circles Co-Founder Matt Rogan and Journalist Kerry Potter, will show how sport can guide society in the future, after the devastation of the coronavirus pandemic.

All To Play For will argue that sport is entering its golden age, and is undergoing a ‘dramatic transformation’ that will positively impact lives on and off the pitch.

From the shared experience of a nationwide event to the mental and physical health benefits of taking part and the growing political leverage of the athlete voice, the book aims to present a roadmap for the way that sport can unite the public in the worst of times. READ MORE

The ECB has confirmed a restructure of its selection system for men’s international teams, abolishing the role of National Selector – currently held by Ed Smith – and giving the Head Coach more responsibility for squad selection.

The new structure, developed by Managing Director, England Men’s Cricket, Ashley Giles, will see the Head Coach work with respective red-ball and white-ball Captains work together on final selection.

The ECB has also announced that the selection system will be supported by a ‘resource that will provide intelligence from performance analysis, talent ID, scouting, medical and sports science’.

Warwickshire CCC has confirmed a new three-year partnership with sports betting brand Dafabet, which will become its Exclusive Betting Partner.

The brand will gain prominent positions for advertising at Edgbaston, and will also work closely with the club to ‘enhance’ its live stream of T20 match days, as well as working with it on digital content creation. 

Dafabet will also provide support for the community programmes that are delivered by the Edgbaston Foundation, the club’s Official Charity.

Clarity Sports has announced a new partnership with League of Ireland Premier Division side, Dundalk, becoming the team’s Official European Travel Supplier.

The partnership will see Clarity Sports provide the Oriel Park outfit with team travel to next season’s UEFA Europa Conference League fixtures, with an initial two-year contract agreement.